Identifying the traumatic event that originated an addiction, depression, or pain is a massive first step into one's recovery. Yet, to truly heal, we must understand what happens in our bodies when the emotions produced by those traumatic events show up.In this episode, the inspiring Bob Gardner joins us to share his unique and fascinating approach to true freedom, happiness, health, and well-being. Bob is a Transformational Specialist, Author of "Built for Freedom," and the Host of the "Free and Alive" podcast. After almost two decades of dealing with addictive patterns that led him to depression and even entertaining the idea of committing suicide, Bob decided to stop living the life he was living yet remain alive. He founded The Freedom Specialist, a body-based approach to happiness, health, and well-being, which has already helped thousands of people leave their struggles behind and find absolute freedom and joy.Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Bob's journey of self-healing and personal growth and his passion for helping others understand that "freedom is a skill, not a pill." Bob shared his thoughts on healing through body awareness, practical tools to dissolve trauma and achieve lasting freedom, how to build a desire to change, and why it is so hard "to let" others make their own choices.Tune in to Episode 416 and discover how to turn your thoughts into the golden pathway to happiness, health, and well-being. Some Questions I Ask:What are the root causes of trauma? Is it helpful to understand that? (8:40)What things could people do to dissolve trauma and achieve lasting freedom? (14:00)In This Episode, You Will Learn:A bit about Bob's background and upbringing (3:10)What led Bob to make helping people overcome their addictions his passion (6:50)You can read the label form inside the jar (10:20)How does someone build the desire to change (18:10)Everything is related to our breath (24:00) Connect with Bob:WebsiteAlive and Free podcast with Bob GardnerGet Bob Gardner's book, "Built for Freedom: Adventures Through Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, Trauma, Pain, and Our Body's Innate Ability to Leave Them All Behind" Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you noticed we overcome trauma at the same pace we get used to waking up to a breathtaking view? Our brain is an adaptation machine working tirelessly to keep us alive, yet that tendency to habituate to everything might also diminish our happiness. In this episode, Professor Tali Sharot joins us to reflect on habituation and its impact on daily happiness. Tali Sharot is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Experimental Psychology and The Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry at University College London and on the faculty of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT. Her research integrates neuroscience, behavioral economics, and psychology to study how emotion and motivation influence people's beliefs and decisions. She is also the director of the Affective Brain Lab, a sought-after speaker and the author of two award-winning books, "The Optimism Bias" and "The Influential Mind," and her latest, "Look Again." Throughout our conversation, Tali shares bits of her research on habituation and adaptation, how they affect our happiness, and what we can do to "make what's thrilling on Monday, also thrilling on Friday." We also discuss her first book, "The Optimism Bias," the impact optimism has on our motivation, and why an optimistic attitude is crucial. Additionally, we talk about the link between habituation and dishonesty, habituation and creativity, the transformational power of trying new things, and more. Tune in to Episode 415 and learn how to turn every day into your best day so far. Some Questions I Ask:Please share a one or two-minute overview of The Optimism Bias, your first book (4:20)Do you think habituation is cousins with complacency? (8:30)Is there a link between habituation and dishonesty? (22:30) In This Episode, You Will Learn:A bit about Professor Tali Sharot's background (1:30)What moved Tali Sharot to write "Look Again" (6:20)How can we turn what's thrilling on Monday into thrilling on Friday, too (10:10)Why change translates into happiness (14:00)The importance of trying new things (26:10) Resources Mentioned:Book: Tali Sharot - The Optimism Bias: Why we're wired to look on the bright sideBook: Tali Sharot - Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always ThereTED Talk: Tali Sharot - The optimism bias Connect with Professor Tali Sharot:Website Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How often do you check with yourself, your progress, strengths, and weaknesses?  Self-assessment is crucial for creating ambitious goals and also for tracking progress. It's also essential for evaluating our strengths and spotting where we should improve to make informed decisions about what needs to be done to achieve desired outcomes.   In this episode, you'll learn three simple yet powerful tools to assess yourself, clearly know how close you are to your goals, and what changes must be made to achieve them. You'll hear about the DISC Personality Test, a free online tool to help you identify your personality type, your strong and weak points, and the parts of yourself you should focus on to keep evolving.   Additionally, you'll learn to assess your values and relationships, and you'll also learn to assess your emotional, physical, and mental health.   Tune in to Episode 414 of Becoming Your Best, take ownership of your flaws, identify areas of your life that can be improved, and draw a clearer line to your goals.  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why is it essential to discover your personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses (2:10) What every personality type should be aware of (6:40) How to improve your relationships by assessing your values (10:00) Why it is crucial to evaluate your physical, mental, and emotional health (13:50)  Resources Mentioned: DISC Personality Test Brain HQ  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although science couldn't (yet) establish a reason for it, Alzheimer's and dementia rates have massively increased over the last 50 years. Regardless of the reason behind that increase, reality tells us these conditions will touch our lives eventually, and today's guest, Dr. Thomas Bird, joins us to teach us the best way to prevent, deal with, and protect ourselves from them.   Dr. Thomas Bird, MD, is a neurologist, medical geneticist, and Professor Emeritus from the University of Washington who belonged to the UW Medicine, the UW Division of Neurogenetics, and was the UW Department of Neurology Chief. Part of his over 40 years of work in the field includes identifying new and unusual genetic diseases of the brain and neuromuscular system. He also collaborated with molecular biologists to identify the underlying genes of diseases including Familial Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, Huntington's Disease, Hereditary Ataxias, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathies, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, and Muscular Dystrophies.  Throughout this episode, Dr. Bird talks about the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia, what changes we can make to prevent them, and recommends healthy habits for people in their 20s to 40s. We also talk about genetic testing, who and when they should get one, causes, red flags, treatments, and more.   Tune in to Episode 413 of Becoming Your Best and learn more about these tools that will help you enjoy an active, healthier, and happier second half of your life.   Some Questions I Ask: Heart disease and other things have skyrocketed since the '70s. What do you think is the reason behind that increase (11:50) Someone in their 20s, 30s, and 40s? What are things that they ought to be thinking about, brain-health related? (17:50)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Dr. Bird explains the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia (4:20) What are the causes of Alzheimer's and dementia (9:00) Alzheimer's doesn't stand alone (15:40) What should someone interested in taking a genetic test do to get one (22:10) Dr. Bird shares his thoughts on how the fight against these diseases will evolve (32:00) Is there any link between COVID-19 and degenerative diseases? (34:30) Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nothing better than the beginning of a new cycle to renew our hope of achieving great things and gather resources to feed our desire to grow and evolve. But as we all know, goals without a plan are just dreams.  In this episode, Rob Shallenberger joins us to talk about how to find happiness and joy, good health, and be professionally successful in 2024. Rob is an F16 Fighter Pilot, a family man and scholar, but also one of the world's top thought leaders in productivity and time management and how to prioritize your time.   Throughout our conversation, Rob shares three simple yet powerful tips that propose a whole new way of looking at what we want to achieve in 2024 and how to do it. You'll learn to improve your time-management skills, be more specific and intentional with your roles and goals and be less reactive toward unexpected events and setbacks.   Tune in to Episode 412 of Becoming Your Best and learn how to set up for happiness, good health, joy, and professional success in 2024.  In This Episode, You Will Learn: How do we make 2024 great? (3:00) How to create time for self-improvement (5:10) What is the most important thing to you? (7:30) Life happens; have faith in the process (10:20) Why having your goals on sight will make the difference (16:30) How to make our cup larger (20:40)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"They say blood pressure is a silent killer because it has no symptoms, right? But it does; they're subtle, and you don't necessarily see or think about them. The same thing is true in a business." - Steven L. Blue.In today's episode, the internationally recognized business transformation expert Steven L. Blue joins us to talk about leadership, growth, and innovation for CEOs, Executives, and team leaders. Steven is the President, CEO, and Director at Miller Ingenuity, a global supplier of high-technology systems that protect assets, preserve the environment, and save lives. Steven also authored five books, including "Mastering the Art of Success," a book he co-authored with Jack Canfield, and became a best-seller on its second day of publication.Throughout our conversation, Steven shares his thoughts on (not-so) silent business killers, the importance of embracing conflict instead of running from them or pretending they don't exist, and the only way of dealing with toxic employees. Steven also talks about his challenging upbringing and how that molded his spirit, how to create healthy environments for innovation, how to develop a Cirque du Solei culture in your company, and much more.Tune in to Episode 411 and learn how to double and even quadruple your company's growth by applying Steven's principles.Some Questions I Ask:You are a troubleshooter. In other words, people can turn to you to get things done. How do you do that? (5:40)What are the silent business killers? And how can they be avoided? (12:20)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Steven's background and upbringing (3:00)Conflict should be embraced, not avoided (13:40)It is not possible to fix toxic employees (17:30)Steven's advice to be successful (23:00)Resources:Book: Jack Canfield, Steven L. Blue, et al. - Mastering The Art of SuccessConnect with Steven:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInTwitterFacebookGet Steven's booksBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The end of December marks the arrival of one of the world's most celebrated holidays - Christmas, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Regardless of our individual beliefs, Christmas is a time for cherishing one another, creating lasting memories, and sharing in each other's joy.   In this special episode, we brought together some of our beloved guests, dear friends, and kindred spirits to share their personal experiences, thoughts, and heartfelt reflections on this holiday.  You’ll hear the warmest Christmas wishes and anecdotes from Thibault Relecom from Belgium, Melanie Gentry from Florida, Chuck Spaulding from Costa Rica, Dr. Brad Nelson from St. George, Utah, Grace Mugabekazi from Rwanda, Rick Taylor from Alaska, Ron Williams from St. Louis, Missouri, Mark & Wendi Holland from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Alohalani Aran from Honolulu, Hawaii.  Tune in to Episode 410 of Becoming Your Best and join us as we celebrate the Christmas spirit around the world.  In This Episode, You Will Learn: About the Mauritanian tradition that inspired today's show (1:50) Thibault's desire to make every Christmas a wonderful moment, just as it was for him when he was a kid (6:20) About Melanie's life-changing Christmas experience in Tortugas (8:50) Creating joy in the house and having fun. Chuck's primary purpose during the holidays (13:05) Dr. Brad Nelson's beautiful memories of delivering presents for other kids (16:50) Dancing, having fun, sharing meals, and quality time with their loved ones. Grace Mugabekazi and her 6-month-old daughter message (21:40) Rick Taylor's beautiful memory of his mother taking 20 or 30 kids around the neighborhood carolin (25:00) Ron Williams and the meaning of the three gifts (29:30) Mark and Wendy highlight the importance of traditions that keep family and loved ones together (33:30) Faith, hope, and charity. Alohalani Aran's beautiful Christmas message (37:00)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there a point where we should stop striving to become our best?   Our guests today, Clarence and Sheila Blair, are living proof that doing that would be the worst of mistakes. Married for almost 70 years, retired for over 20, and after visiting more than 50 countries on 7 continents, they still work daily on improving themselves as individuals and as a couple.   In this episode, Sheila and Clarence share the most significant lessons they learned in almost a century of life and their views on how, despite the rapid changes the world saw in the last 50 years, basic principles like respect, hard work, commitment, and resilience can still make a difference in everyone's life. They also talk about why we must learn to laugh at ourselves more often, avoid taking ourselves too seriously, be comfortable with failing, and much more.   Tune in to Episode 409 of Becoming Your Best and learn simple practices from this powerful couple that'll massively impact your happiness, health, and prosperity.   Some Questions I Ask: Sometimes, we run against people who make things complicated. Clarence, how do you remain at peace and create the best outcome in those situations? (7:10) Sheila brought up that both have just been continuing to learn. Please share with our listeners how you've done that (14:20)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Just put one foot in front of the other (5:40) Avoid getting out of your way just to annoy others (6:50) Don't take yourself too seriously (9:50) Learn to be comfortable with failure (17:20) Learn to enjoy your spouse (21:10)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the end of 2023 approaches, it is natural and expected that we think about future goals, new challenges, and the transformations we expect to experience. Although remaining ambitious and maintaining a strong will to improve is crucial, we can't overlook that we will also be a year older. Therefore, focusing on improving our health, longevity, and vitality should be treated with the same emphasis as our personal and professional growth goals.   This week, we go through handpicked recommendations on how to stay healthy, boost vitality, and ensure longevity made by health specialists, wellness experts, and highly successful people like Dr. Russell Jaffe, Dr. Mao Shing Ni, Tony Robbins, Dr. Mehmet Öz, Ron Williams, and many more. You'll hear great advice on meditation and self-development, nutrition, wellness, and fitness, and why having a clear purpose is crucial to keep you fresh, focused, and motivated.   Tune in to Episode 408 of Becoming Your Best and learn how to unlock your health and longevity superpowers.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: About Tony Robbins's book and how modern science can contribute to longevity (4:00) Dr. Russell Jaffe and his recommendations to take care of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system (7:10) Dr. Mao Shing Ni's take on nutrition and plant-based diets (8:50) Dr. Mehmet Öz's advice on addictions (14:20) About Ron Williams's recommendations on what and how we eat (18:10)  Resources Mentioned: Book: Summary Of Life Force By Tony Robbins, Peter H. Diamandis & Robert Hariri: How New Breakthroughs in Precision Medicine Can Transform the Quality of Your Life & Those You Love  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cultural changes we've seen in recent years might make us think that 21st-century etiquette is utterly different than the 20th century’s. Yet the only difference is that when Gen Xers and Baby Boomers were growing up, it was okay to ignore or even ridicule certain groups of people. Etiquette remains the same; what has changed is the acknowledgment and recognition of those whom society used to push to the margins.And at the center of this revolution, just like every human revolution, is language.In this episode, Dr. Suzanne Wertheim joins us to share her expertise in inclusive language and its impact on both personal and professional relationships, how to learn it, use it properly, and correct ourselves when making mistakes. Suzanne Wertheim is a Keynote Speaker, Workshop leader, Anti-bias Consultant, CEO of Worthwhile Research & Consulting, and the Author of "The Inclusive Language Field Guide." She specialized in her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley, in theories of language endangerment, sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology, and post-Soviet studies.Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Dr. Suzanne's thoughts on inclusive language and pronoun presentation at the workplace, proper use of language in highly productive environments, and language bias and how it affects communication. You'll also hear about Dr. Suzanne's book and why she decided to write it, why she states that words can cost tons of money, how to address people according to their gender identity, and much more.Tune in to Episode 407 and learn more about the massive difference little words can make in someone's life.Some Questions I Ask:What are the biggest minefields or things that should be more inclusive that you see might trip people up? (7:50)Why are people putting their pronouns next to their names in their bios, and what's the benefit of it? (17:20)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Dr. Suzanne talks about the moment she realized the importance of inclusive language (3:50)Language is the most complicated skill (10:40)How do we repair things when we make an inappropriate use of language (21:00)Dr. Suzanne talks about the link between inclusive language and productivity (23:20)Connect with Dr. Suzanne:WebsiteLinkedInGet Dr. Suzanne's book, "The Inclusive Language Field Guide"Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Executive coaching is about being courageous enough to raise and have tough conversations, show vulnerability to your coachees, and make it clear that as a coach, you come from humility, kind directness, and a learning mindset.To our guest, Antonia Bowring, excellence in leading leaders has more to do with internal work than accumulating qualifications, or, in her words, it requires more "mesearch" than research.In this episode, Antonia Bowring joins us to talk about transformational coaching, leadership, and personal and professional growth. Antonia is a Highly Credentialed Consultant, elected Top NY Coach in 2021, Strategic Facilitator, Sought-after Speaker, and Author of "Coach Yourself! Increase Awareness, Change Behaviors, and Thrive."Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Antonia's thoughts on executive coaching as a two-way learning experience, what inspired her to write her book, the C.O.I.N. framework, and her work supporting leaders with A.D.H.D. You'll also hear about self-coaching, the importance of conducting tons of "mesearch" to become a great leader, and much more.Tune in to Episode 406 of and learn how to coach yourself up, and improve your leadership and management skills.  Some Questions I Ask: Please tell us about your book, Antonia. How did it come about? Why did you write it? (5:00)What is C.O.I.N.? What's its purpose? How is it helpful to a person or a team? (13:20)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Antonia's background and her first steps in coaching (3:30)Antonia talks about her real mission as a coach (7:40)Can someone coach themselves (18:50)Why do leading leaders require tons of "mesearch" (22:20)Antonia's final words of wisdom (27:10) Resources: Book: Antonia Bowring - Coach Yourself! Increase Awareness, Change Behaviors, and ThriveConnect with Antonia: Website LinkedIn Instagram TikTok  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are two ways of looking at the pain of doing something hard; you either see it as a cave that you get into and laid down in a fetal position in the darkness, coming out the same entrance you got in, or as a tunnel, a transformative journey that sees your evolution as you get out of it on the other end a changed person, a victor.   In this episode, you'll get inspired by the extraordinary Rebecca Rusch, Adventure Athlete, World Champion, two-time Hall of Fame Inductee, Speaker, Best-selling Author, and Emmy Award Winner. Among the many accolades of "The Queen of Pain," Rebecca is a 7x world champion in the ultra-adventure/endurance MTB (Mountain Bike), was recognized by Outside Magazine among the Top 40 Women Who've Made the Biggest Impact, set the FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the Arkansas High Country Route, clocking 1,041 miles in 8 straight days of pedaling 12-15 hours per day, wrote "Rusch to Glory: Adventure, Risk & Triumph on the Path Less Traveled," and got an Emmy Award for her film Blood Road, which documents her pedaling of the 1,200-mile Ho Chi Minh trail in search of the crash site that claimed my father's life in the Vietnam War.   Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Rebecca's thoughts on how aiming for peak performance in physical activities motivates us to find our best version in other areas of our lives and how being a high-performance athlete impacted her leadership abilities. We also talk about her nickname, "The Queen of Pain," her unique view of pain's transformational power, her funniest experiences on the bike, the Be Good Foundation, and much more.   Tune in to Episode 405 and get the inspiration you need to, regardless of the mountain you're about to climb, just take the first step.   Some Questions I Ask: As a world-class, ultra-endurance athlete, what have you learned in all your outdoor endeavors around the world? (7:30) How have you navigated your career in sports and leadership? How do you combine those all to balance essential areas in your life? (16:00)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Rebecca's background and accolades (3:00) Rebecca's realization she was training for life, not only the competitions (8:20) Rebecca explains her nickname's meaning (11:00) 4 simple steps to live like a high-performing athlete (19:20) Rebecca talks about the funniest experiences she had as an ultra-endurance athlete (21:10) Connect with Rebecca: Website LinkedIn Instagram Twitter YouTube FacebookBook: Rusch to Glory: Adventure, Risk & Triumph on the Path Less Traveled  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Understanding their values and living in unity with them is one of the smartest moves a leader can make. That will help them identify those values in others with ease and get clarity on why they do what they do.   Leading groups of like-minded people who share core values create the perfect environment for every leader to stay motivated and ask themselves the same question: what does my best look like? In this episode, I'm joined by the Executive Coach, Speaker, Author, and Leadership Development Expert, Debbie Collard, to talk about excellence in leadership, personal growth, and self-awareness. The oldest of five children born in rural poverty, Debbie had to figure out her path to getting a college education since her parents couldn't afford to pay for it. She figured a military career would open a few doors, so she joined the Air Force. Fast forward many years, Debbie built an astonishing leadership career at Boeing for over 30 years, and after "graduating" from it (retirement), she knew she had more to give, so she started Season Leadership alongside her partner, Susan Ireland.Throughout this episode, you'll hear about Debbie's fantastic story of resilience, personal growth, and almost obsessive pursuit of excellence throughout her professional life. Debbie shares her thoughts on what becoming her best version means, how accepting jobs no one wanted to take helped her, and what kept her motivated to constantly improve herself throughout her career. Additionally, you'll learn how to achieve excellence in leadership, Debbie's top leadership tips, what inspired her to write her book "The Making of a World-Class Organization," and much more.Tune in to Episode 404 and learn how to reach excellence in leadership and transform yours into a world-class organization.   Some Questions I Ask: Please tell us, what does becoming your best look like to you? (5:00) What are some of the most important things that make a world-class organization? (13:30)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Debbie's upbringing and background (3:20) Challenges are opportunities to shine (8:20) How to reach excellence in leadership (18:00) Two things every leader should focus on (20:50)  Resources: Book: Debbie Collard, David Spong - The Making of a World-Class Organization  Connect with Debbie: Website LinkedIn  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caring for our health becomes much easier when we make it an enjoyable, non-restrictive, conscious choice; it's about romanticizing our lives. It's understanding that health is a lot more than the absence of disease; it's who we surround ourselves with, the quality of the thoughts we ruminate on, the food we choose to eat, and the time we schedule for rest and recreation.   This week, the inspiring Renée Marie Joyal joins us to share her unique approach to physical and mental health, wellness, and nutrition. Renée is a Keynote Speaker, Coach, and the Author of the Amazon #1 Best-seller, "Live Beautiful: A Compassionate, Balanced Guide to Everyday Wellness & Well-being." Two near-death experiences marked Renée's life: a life-threatening illness in early adolescence and a drunk-driving accident in her mid-20s. The radical change Renée created in her life as an answer to her autoimmune disease brought her health back and prepared her mentally and physically to recover from the accident.   Throughout this episode, you'll hear Renée's inspiring story of resilience, self-love, and commitment to making her body a temple of health where her mind can rest and expand. We talk about the health issues that put her on her knees and the adjustments she made in her diet, daily routines, and thought processing to reach peak health.   Additionally, Renée talks about her book and what inspired her to write it, and she shares dozens of tips to improve mental and physical health, change eating habits, and more.   Tune in to Episode 403 and let Renée show you the path to living a beautiful life and enjoying your best physical, mental, and emotional health.   Some Questions I Ask: What's your passion in life? What are the things that really get you excited? (9:00) What are some of the things that people can do to create optimal health and happiness? (20:30)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: About Renée's two near-death experiences (3:00) What inspired Renée to write her book (12:10) Why creating sustainability is crucial for improving your health (22:20) Don't do everything at once. Focus on improving 1% every day (28:30)  Connect with Renée: Website InstagramBook: Live Beautiful: A Compassionate, Balanced Guide to Everyday Wellness & Well-Being  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Statistics show that one in two veterans struggle to rejoin civilian life. Some fight silent battles against anxiety, depression, or PTSD; others don't even realize or admit they are struggling. For all of them, there are resources, answers, thousands of ears willing to listen, and hundreds of hands ready to help. It's our job to clear the path and spread the voice so this help can get to those who need it. Today, Bob Taylor joins us to raise awareness of veterans' mental health, spread an optimistic message for those transitioning from military to civilian life, and explain his service to success formula. Bob is the CEO and Founder of Alliant Healthcare and the Author of "From Service To Success: New Mission, New Purpose, and a New Journey to a Great Life." He served in the US Air Force for 21 years as a B-52 navigator, KC-135 navigator, and an Air Force Academy liaison officer. Bob's civilian life after service turned quite bumpy after a few years, which led him to develop mental health issues and deprived him and his family of his best version for almost 16 years. In understanding his struggle was the struggle of thousands of veterans, Bob found a new meaning and purpose for his life. Throughout this episode, you'll learn about Bob's inspiring story, the issues he had to deal with, and how he repurposed them into a whole new meaning in his life. You'll also hear about why Bob decided to join the Air Force, the values he learned there that helped him develop as an inspirational leader, the six years of research that birthed his book, his thoughts on the power of gratitude, and more. Tune in to Episode 402 and learn how to stretch a helping hand for those who put their lives on the line for the rest of us.   Some Questions I Ask: Can you share your experiences navigating the gigantic B-52? (5:50) What are your findings as the primary reasons veterans struggle to transition to civilian life? (16:40)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Bob talks about what inspired him to write his book (9:20) Why finding your passion outside the military life can literally save lives (19:00) Bob talks about the importance of finding hobbies (22:50) Why having a clear vision is crucial to live your best life (26:00) It is darkest before it is lightest (29:20) Connect with Bob: WebsiteLinkedInBook: From Service To Success Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willpower is the catalyst to starting healthy habits, yet it's not enough to substantially change our health, fitness, and longevity. We must spice it up with other ingredients, like discipline, commitment, and a clear goal.In this episode, Ron Williams visits us to unravel the secrets to longevity, staying healthy, and enjoying the perks of an active life. Ron is a 21 times natural bodybuilding world champion, served as a Master Fitness Trainer for the US Army, was awarded the Natural Bodybuilder of the Decade distinction, is a former Professor of Exercise Physiology and Nutrition, and has been a Life and Fitness Coach for over 35 years. Life hit him hard right from the get-go. Dropped at a babysitting house at age three, Ron went through over 20 houses before he was 15, suffering all kinds of abuse and the devastating sensation of not being loved. But he never stopped believing in himself, and a few years later, he found in a mindset change the secret ingredient of the success formula.Throughout this episode, you'll hear about Ron's impressive life story, bulletproof resilience, and the immense self-love that rescued him from the darkest places. Ron also shares golden nuggets on improving fitness and overall health, the secrets to longevity, and the benefits of resistance training. Ron also explains the benefits of stress reduction, proper nutrition, and much more. Tune in to Episode 401 of Becoming Your Best and learn Ron's secrets to improve your health and fitness, enjoy an active life, and maximize your longevity.Some Questions I Ask:What changes did you make in your mindset to overcome the challenges in your youth? (9:20)Can you talk about the importance of the right nutrition program? (19:40)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Ron's rough start in life (4:30)From illiterate to professor (8:20)Ron's advice for optimal overall health and longevity (12:30)Turning willpower into lifestyle (25:40)How to become successful (33:00)Resources:Iron Chest MasterBook: Ron Williams – Faith and Fat LossConnect with Ron:WebsiteLinkedInYouTubeBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes, the golden brass ring in front of us is so shiny that it can block the sight of better things coming our way. Learning to let go of it might open new possibilities we didn't even imagine or help us achieve new goals, and it will always make us grow and improve ourselves.   In today's special episode, Randal K. Quarles joins us to share some golden nuggets on leadership, teamwork, and task prioritization and showcase irrefutable evidence that you are never too old to become your best. Randal is a seasoned leader with broad experience leading financial services in the United States, who has been involved in a number of the largest financial mergers ever completed, was a partner of the Carlyle Group, and held senior financial policy positions in four different presidential administrations over the last 35 years. In 2014, Randal brought together the group that founded The Cynosure Group, where he is currently an Executive Chairman.   Throughout our conversation, you'll hear about lessons that helped Randal in his prolific leadership and management career, his experiences as a Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve, and his thoughts on teamwork and self-development. You'll also hear Randal's tips and advice to become better leaders, learn to prioritize important things in life, and more.   Tune in to Episode 400 of Becoming Your Best and learn self-development tools from Randal Quarles that are worth more than the world's biggest treasure.   Some Questions I Ask: Randal, tell us a bit about your background (4:50) What would be one or two things that you would say about what it means to be a great team member? (11:30)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Randal shares lessons that helped him improve in his personal and professional life (6:50) Focus on "what can I contribute" instead of "what will I obtain" (12:20) Randal talks about how it is to work in the Federal Reserve (14:40) Why getting good at prioritization is so important (18:50)  Connect with Randal: The Cynosure Group TeamLinkedIn Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Without discipline, you live with your commitment as words. With discipline, you live with your commitment as conviction, and that conviction is what takes you beyond where other people stop."    In this episode, the inspiring Richard Flint shares his extraordinary life story. We learn about his exceptional mental strength to overcome childhood trauma while rediscovering his self-worth and the transformational power of discipline, commitment, accountability, and integrity. Richard is a Keynote Speaker, Podcaster, Trainer, Coach, Mentor, the CEO of Richard Flint Seminars, and the Author of 19 books.   Throughout our conversation, Richard talks about his childhood traumas, how he dealt with rejection, and his decision on a seventh-floor window ledge that transformed his life. Richard also shares his thoughts on confronting what we refuse to validate, the transformational power of discipline, the four questions you must answer to be successful, and much more.   Tune in to Episode 399 of Becoming Your Best and let your behavior be the guide toward the kind of success you never thought possible.  Some Questions I Ask: What are some of the lessons learned that would help our listeners be successful and happy? (13:20) How do you define an exceptional leader? (22:40)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Richard's traumatic childhood (4:10) Somebody is going to need me today (9:40) What you don't confront, you validate (14:30) Four questions you must answer to be successful (17:20) Every choice we make creates a direction (25:50)  Connect with Richard: Website LinkedIn Listen to the Let's Talk Human Behavior podcast Success House website  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regardless of how sharply edited an educational video is, or how well-written the textbook we share, nothing teaches better than an environment with a set of rules of engagement that allow kids to discover their value-creation superpower.   In today's episode, Lee Benson joins us to utterly change our vision on education, positive reinforcement's true potential, and how we conduct ourselves as leaders. Lee is a Best-selling Author, Founder, and CEO of Execute to Win and EXECUTE™ MasterMINDs, a serial entrepreneur who founded over 7 companies in the last 25 years, and the Creator of the MIND Methodology. Throughout our conversation, Lee kindly shared dozens of insights on education, team leading, and management skills. We learned about his background, value creation's three buckets, and the difference between leaders who "simply manage" things and leaders who inspire. Lee also talked about his books, "Your Most Important Number," and "Value Creation Kid," some of the tools the reader can find in them, and practical examples of how those tools transformed people's lives, the Gravy Stack Method, and more. Tune in to Episode 398 and learn more about Lee's unique perspective on leadership, conveying values, and preparing children to become their best. Some Questions I Ask: Please tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have significantly impacted you (2:50) How do you describe the value creation superpowers? (6:00)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: The tree buckets of value creation (4:30) How to awaken children's value creation superpowers (6:50) The Gravy Stack Method (10:40) Grant at least 30 minutes to absorb something that took you 30 years to figure out (18:20) Learn to trust the struggle (24:00)  Connect with Lee: Website LinkedIn Visit GravyStack's websiteBook: Your Most Important Number: Increase Collaboration, Achieve Your Strategy, and Execute to Win Book: Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As an executive leader, you need a trustworthy group of people, and if asked, you would easily describe the exact moment they earned your trust. Yet if we flip the question, you wouldn't know how you gained their trust. In fact, you might not know if they trust you. So, what is trust? How do you earn it? Can it be built or repaired once it's broken?   In this episode, the extraordinary Darryl Stickel, Ph.D., gives us a masterclass on the secrets of building trust as leaders in our organizations, with our kids at home, and with our significant others. Darryl is an Independent Child and Family Counselor, Government Research Analyst, and Management Consultant with McKinsey & Company, a Global Leader in practical approaches to building trust, and the Author of "Building Trust: Exceptional Leadership in an Uncertain World."   Throughout our conversation, you'll hear about Darryl's background and how growing up in a small, isolated community in northern Canada shaped his way of seeing the world. Darryl talks about the 10 levers to build trust, how to build a culture of trust within an organization, and shares practical ways of implementing his model using the 10 levers of trust.   Additionally, Darryl explains how to build trustworthy personal and professional connections, why giving ourselves the space and the grace to be imperfect is crucial, and much more.  Tune in to Episode 397 and discover the secrets to building trustworthy connections with your team, family, and business partners.   Some Questions I Ask: How can CEOs or key leaders of an organization build trust with their teams and organizations? (7:30) Is it possible to fix trust in broken relationships? (16:30)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Darryl ‘s upbringing (4:00) Practical tips for building trust in a relationship (14:00) How can partners and lovers build high trust (20:20) Give yourself grace and space to be imperfect (24:10)  Connect with Darryl: Website LinkedIn Email: darryl@trustunlimited.comBook: Darryl Stickel, Ph.D. - Building Trust: Exceptional Leadership in an Uncertain World Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Library Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous was not sufficient to prevent our slipping, and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct." - Benjamin Franklin.   In today's episode, we have fun interviewing one of the founding fathers of the United States, drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the first postmaster general of the United States, Benjamin Franklin. The writer, scientist, inventor, diplomat, and one of the leading intellectuals of his time talks about the 13 necessary virtues and how to stay focused on them so we can turn them into habits.   Throughout this episode, you'll learn about Ben Franklin's 13 virtues, what inspired him to create them, and how they inspired us and later became a transformational template for Steve's first book, "Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders." We also go through each virtue, learn how to turn them into habitual practices, how each of the 12 principles can help you become a highly successful leader, and much more.   Tune in to Episode 396 of Becoming Your Best, learn to cultivate and flourish the 13 virtues, and let them guide you through building a life by design and a more intentional existence.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why some old habits must be broken (4:20) Ben Franklin talks about the 13 virtues (6:50) How to stay focused and turn the 13 virtues into habits (12:00) The 13 virtues as a transformational template for "Becoming Your Best" (16:10) 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders (20:20)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part of becoming a great leader is not only overcoming the challenges of leadership itself but our personal limitations as well. The first step is identifying them and knowing and understanding their origin. Then, we must equip ourselves with the tools and resources to obliterate them: an antidote to eliminate their effects.   This week, I share the best advice from the noblest of companions, the one who holds long life in the right hand and wealth and honor in the left, one that is worth more than silver and gold and is more valuable than jewels: wisdom. We discuss Roy Baumeister's "Negativity Effect" and John Gottman's relationships' "4-Horsemen of Apocalypse."   Throughout this episode, you'll hear Roy Baumeister's brilliant responses to Jennifer Graham's interview about the "Negativity Effect," and you'll learn why most of us spend more time on negative thoughts, ideas, and feelings. We'll also discuss John Gottman's "4-Horsemen of Apocalypse" in professional and personal relationships, origin, meaning, and antidote.   Tune in to Episode 395 of Becoming Your Best and discover these fantastic tools that'll help you keep improving and get close to your best version.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about the inspiration for today's episode (2:30) Why wisdom is such a valuable attribute (5:00) The Negativity Effect (11:40) Roy Baumeister's tips on parenting (15:00) What are the "4-Horsemen of Apocalypse" for relationships (20:30) The antidotes for each horseman (22:20)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Have you ever had the frustrating experience of having the same conversation over and over at work or at home? Because if you have, that's your indicator, your canary in the coal mine telling you there's a lot more to that conversation you're missing."In this episode, I'm joined by the extraordinary Marsha Acker to discuss how to identify and crack down on stuck patterns of communication that get in the way of performing at the highest level. Marsha is a Leadership and Team Coach, Author, Sought-after Speaker, Host of the Defining Moments of Leadership podcast, and the Founder and CEO of TeamCatapult.Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Marsha's thoughts on the most common communication issues and their devastating effects on organizations, families, and personal and professional relationships. Marsha also shares tips to enhance our communication skills, reduce the noise's interference to the minimum, and create sustainable change.You'll also hear about Marsha's background, what inspired her to become a facilitator, create the Model for Leading Change, and much more.Tune in to Episode 394 and learn to identify and crack down on the communication issues holding you and your team back.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us about your background, including any turning points that massively influenced you and your work today (3:10)What are some good communication tips for us today? (9:20)In This Episode, You Will Learn:What led Marsha to work as a facilitator and become a communication expert (6:20)Learn to separate the WHAT from the HOW (12:40)What happens when an individual keeps coming back to a core issue (16:10)Tips to maintain sustainable change (21:30)Be welcoming to opposing ideas when communicating (25:20)Resources:Book: Marsha Acker - Build Your Model for Leading Change: A Guided Workbook to Catalyze Clarity and Confidence in Leading Yourself and OthersDefining Moments of Leadership with Marsha Acker podcastConnect with Marsha:WebsiteLinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A massive portion of the decisive events in our lives are intimately linked with things we can't control, like luck, destiny, other people's attitudes, or God's will. Still, by incorporating certain habits, we can augment our probabilities of success and make them less dependent on chance. In today's episode, I share three leadership tips from one of the best leaders and businessmen I've ever known, Dave Clark, that'll help you reduce luck's influence in your life as a team leader, keep your business growing, and your personal and professional relationships glowing. We will also go through excellent advice from the late Gardner Russell, former BYB Board Member, who mentored and guided me since I was a young buck when I met him in my early 20s. Tune in to Episode 393 of Becoming Your Best, and access these simple yet powerful tips that'll support you in the process of becoming your best.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Think of and determine your roles and actions before the week starts (1:40)The importance of keeping constant and real growth in sight (5:30)Be aware of possible threats always (6:40)Why it is so easy to get complacent and why you should never do it (8:30)Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How we say what we say is crucial; a speaker whose voice and body language don't match the message screams: I don't believe what I'm saying. For a leader to be credible and trustworthy, their voice, gestures, and message must look, sound and feel the same. This week, I'm joined by the extraordinary Jaqueline Farrington, President and CEO Coach at Farrington Partners, Author, Speaker, Consultant, and Customized Communications Expert. Her latest book, "The Non-Obvious Guide To Better Presentations," is full of practical and actionable tools to create congruency in gesture, voice, and expressions to create trust. She uses neuroscience to help speakers perform at their best and make engaging and appealing speeches, even in online environments. Throughout this episode, you'll hear Jaqueline's best advice and tips to elevate your public speaking abilities, take your presentations to the next level, and become an engaging, trustworthy, and credible leader. You'll also hear about Jaqueline's acting background, what inspired her to write "The Non-Obvious Guide To Better Presentations," and how to make your voice and body language match your speech. Additionally, you'll hear Jaqueline's thoughts on Executive Presence, how to become better at "thinking on one's feet," the differences between presenting in-person and online, and more. Tune in to Episode 391 and learn how to present like a pro and use your communication skills to spark transformation and innovation.Some Questions I Ask: How did you end up working in the communications field? (4:00) Why are voice and body so important in leadership communication? (9:00) In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Jaqueline's background (1:30)What inspired Jaqueline to write "The Non-Obvious Guide To Better Presentations" (7:10)How to make your voice and body language match your message (13:00)Is it possible to learn to think on one's feet? (19:20)The differences between presenting online and in person (26:30)Connect with Jaqueline: Farrington Partners website LinkedIn Book: Jaqueline Farrington - The Non-Obvious Guide to Better PresentationsBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Understanding that life happens for you and not to you is a revolutionary concept that can change your life. For instance, when misfortune knocks on your door, instead of asking why me, you can appreciate the light-hearted people that helped you and be grateful for those who inspired and motivated you to keep going. In today's episode, I'm joined by the inspiring Michael O'Brien, Ripple Creator, Meditation Teacher, Speaker, Executive Coach, Cyclist, and the Creator of The Pause, Breathe, Reflect Meditation App. After a cycling accident that almost killed him, which kept him bedridden for months, Michael saw himself forced to pause, breathe, and meditate about his mindset, life perspective, and actions. The accident put him on a new path to create better tomorrows for his work and life, which helped him find his passion for business leadership development and Peloton Executive Coaching™. Throughout our conversation, we go through every lesson Michael's almost fatal accident taught him. You'll hear his thoughts on gratitude, mindfulness, meditation, and how understanding that “everything is neutral until you label it" dramatically changed his perspective on life. Michael also explains the benefits of pausing, breathing, and reflecting before taking action, shares some meditation tips and advice, and more. Tune in to Episode 391 and discover how to access the tools you need to build better tomorrows for your life.   Some Questions I Ask: How did you end up doing what you're doing today? (4:30) What is mindfulness, and what is it not? Why is it important to us, Michael? (20:40)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: About Michael's near-death experience (4:10) Stop chasing happiness and focus on finding it in the present moment (10:40) Everything is neutral until you label it (15:00) Practical use of mindfulness in the corporate world (22:40) Take small bites at the apple at a time (24:50) Michael shares practical tips for meditation (26:40)  Resources: Book: Michael O'Brien - My Last Bad Day Shift: How to Prevent Bad Moments from Turning into Bad Days Get the Pause, Breathe, Reflect Meditation App!  Connect with Michael: Website Pause, Breathe, Reflect Movement LinkedIn InstagramBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paychecks reinforce one behavior from your team members: showing up to work daily. But does it ensure their voluntary effort in giving their best safety, productivity, and quality-wise? Absolutely not; the only way to guarantee team members' commitment to excellence at work is through positive reinforcement, coaching, and servant leadership.  This week, I'm joined by the brilliant Bill Sims Jr., world-renowned Keynote Speaker, President of the Bill Sims Company, Author of "Green Beans and Ice Cream. The Remarkable Power of Positive Thinking," and Positive Reinforcement advocate. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Bill worked with companies like Dupont, Coca-Cola, Siemens, and Disney to create and reinforce a safety, excellence, and accountability culture. Throughout our conversation, Bill explains why leaders must learn to provide and measure positive reinforcement and what are the best ways to provide it. He talks about how writing a book about what he thought was wrong in the employee reinforcement recognition field transformed him into a motivational speaker. Additionally, Bill shares practical ways leaders can use to demonstrate a genuine interest in their team members, talks about the three rocks that support his world, explains why his goal in safety is going beyond zero injuries, and more. Tune in and make sure you deliver the ice cream to your team after they eat all the green beans. Some Questions I Ask: What led you to do the work you do today? (2:40)What are the best ways to provide positive reinforcement? (9:00) In This Episode, You Will Learn: The three rocks that support Bill’s world (4:20)About the systems and tools every leader must have in place to provide positive reinforcement (9:30)Questions every leader should ask to establish and demonstrate a genuine interest in their team (13:00)When you should never give negative reinforcement or coaching feedback (17:50)Why every company's goal should be to reach a beyond-zero injury rate (25:00) Connect with Bill: WebsiteLinkedInBook: Green Beans & Ice Cream Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Making a Google search is so common the act already became a verb: googling something. There's nothing wrong with it, yet we should pay more attention to some things. For instance, relying mindlessly on one source of information is agreeing to that source's motivations, values, and interests. In today's episode, thanks to our guest, Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, we learn about AREA, an evidence-based decision-making system she created to counter cognitive bias to expand knowledge while improving judgment. Cheryl developed the AREA method after over two decades as an award-winning investigative journalist writing for The New York Times, Foreign Policy Magazine, Barron's, and Harvard Business Review. Cheryl is a Founder and Author of multiple books on leadership and self-development, a TEDx Speaker, and the Creator of the AREA Method. In January 2008, she founded Decisive, a leadership training and professional development company. Throughout our conversation, Cheryl explains why she believes decision-making is a skill that can be learned and developed, debunks the idea that decision-making is an individual activity, and describes the five problem-solver profiles. We also discuss Cheryl's AREA Method, why she describes the AREA Method as the opposite of googling, how to "clean" bias' dirty windshield, and more. Tune in to Episode 389 and prepare yourself to develop your decision-making skills and make big decisions better. Some Questions I Ask: Please, tell us about AREA; how did it come about? What is it? And how do you apply it? (6:20) Why do we need to investigate our decision-making? Why is that important? (12:10)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Cheryl's background (3:20) There is a massive difference between the map and the terrain (9:10) The 5 Problem Solver Profiles (14:00) An example of how Problem Solver Profile approaches an issue (17:10) It is possible to leverage your skills and mitigate your blind spots (23:20)  Connect with Cheryl: Website LinkedIn Cheryl's Cheeta Sheets Get a copy of Cheryl's books  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although we can't control what kind of phone call we'll receive first thing in the morning, nor the content or the tone of the first email in our inbox, we can choose how to react to it. Triggering messages and negative feedback will cause an emotional reaction; that doesn't mean they'll drive our behavior. Choosing greatness is about choosing our focus intentionally and carefully; we decide what's relevant and what we should worry about.This week, we'll learn from Christina Curtis' brilliance. The Thought Leader, Founder, and Author of "Choosing Greatness" joins us to discuss leadership, emotional reactions, personal and professional relationships, and greatness. Christina is the President, Founder, and Master Coach of Curtis Leadership Consulting, where they combine neuroscience and psychology to enhance leaders' trajectories, productivity, and performance.Throughout our conversation, we learn about Christina's background, passion for human behavior, and emotional reactions. We talk about habits that hold us back and actions that move us forward, the importance of choosing what to focus on, and purpose-driven work.Additionally, we talk about how to keep leaders motivated, accept failure as part of the process, choose the energy we bring to places carefully, and much more.  Tune in to Episode 388 and create the habit of choosing greatness in your personal and professional life.Some Questions I Ask: Please, tell us about your background and any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on your career (3:00) What habits hold you back, and what choices move you forward? (6:00)In This Episode, You Will Learn: About Christina's passion for human behavior (4:10) Be ruthless when choosing your focus (7:20) Think of your life in chapters (11:00) Failure is part of the process (14:20) Energy is the most contagious element on the planet (18:00)Connect with Christina: Website Instagram LinkedIn TwitterBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should a leader do when the program they oversee receives nothing but criticism and doubt from outside? How important are leadership, team building, and team management skills to absorb the pressure and turn a program from possible failure to a resounding success?In today's episode, the inspiring Betsy Clark and Tom Burbage join us for a great conversation about leadership, management, and the keys to building high-performing teams, inspired by the story depicted in their book "F-35: The Inside Story of the Lightning II," where they gift us with an inside look to the creation of the most advanced aircraft in the world.Throughout our conversation, we learn about Betsy and Tom's background and unique perspectives: Tom's as the leader of the entire project, and Betsy's as a member of a review team from the US Department of Defense. Together, we explore the importance of leadership and management, why they decided to write the book, and several crucial leadership concepts.Additionally, we explore the challenges the F-35 program faced from start to finish, how Tom turned around a program that was inches from failing, Betsy and Tom offer valuable leadership and management tips and advice, and much more.Tune in to Episode 387 and learn more about the creation of this fascinating aircraft and the valuable leadership and management lessons that can be extracted from the F-35 program.Some Questions I Ask: Tom, tell us a bit about the F-35, and Betsy, what moved you to write this book? (7:50) Betsy, could you share some insights the readers of "F-35: The Inside Story of the Lightning II" will find in the book? (14:10)In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Betsy and Tom's background (4:30) Why the F-35 became much more than an aircraft (9:10) How Tom transformed a project on the brink of failure into a success (17:30) Betsy and Tom share valuable leadership and management concepts (23:20) Be a contributor, be a doer (27:40)Resources: Book: Betsy Clark, Tom Burbage - F-35: The Inside Story of the Lightning IIConnect with Betsy: LinkedInConnect with Tom: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Storytelling has existed since humankind's dawn; it has always been a handy tool to share experiences, prevent others from dangers, teach, and create a sense of belonging. We are so connected to stories that hearing one generates chemical reactions in our brains.If you want to learn how storytelling can transform and take your leadership to the next level, you can't miss today's episode.This week, I'm joined by Mark Carpenter, Serial Storyteller, Founder, Trainer, Consultant, and Speaker. He co-authored "Master Storytelling", a book about how to turn everyday experiences into stories that teach, lead, and inspire.Throughout our conversation, Mark explains why storytelling is so compelling for most people and teaches us the basics of creating captivating stories. We also talk about transforming day-to-day experiences into authentic, persuasive, and engaging stories and why most leaders fail to see storytelling's massive potential.Additionally, Mark explains how to get better at storytelling, build trust through telling stories, what's behind a story that generates an emotional reaction, and much more.Tune in to Episode 386 and discover the true power of storytelling.Some Questions I Ask: Please tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that impacted what you're doing today? (2:50) What's in the book? How can it help me or any person to do better utilizing storytelling? (9:30)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Reasons why storytelling is so compelling to most people (5:30) Why storytelling is so underutilized by leaders (8:00) Three biggest mistakes people make at storytelling (10:50) How can you find impactful stories (14:00) How to get better at storytelling (20:50)Resources: Book: Mark Carpenter, Darrel Harmon - Master Storytelling: How to Turn Your Experiences into Stories that Teach, Lead, and InspireConnect with Mark: Website LinkedIn Get Mark's ebook FREEBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although change can be scary sometimes, especially when it pushes us out of our comfort zone, it is also an agent for growth, evolution, and legacy creation. As leaders, we should always take advantage of an opportunity to change.This week, we’re joined by the inspiring Julie Noonan; she is an Executive and Leadership Coach, Change Strategist, Speaker, Founder, and CEO. After decades of success in Corporate America, Julie became her own boss. She founded Julie Noonan Consulting to coach leaders to legacies of success. Using her proven coaching method, The RIDE Method, Julie helps mid and late-career leaders remain relevant in this ever-changing business climate.Throughout our conversation, we talk about Julie's love for change management and organizational development, new technologies and old leaders, legacy, and how ready boomers are to leave the workforce. Julie also shares her thoughts on how different retirement looks nowadays, how to remain technology relevant, and much more.Tune in to Episode 385 of Becoming Your Best, and learn how change can be your best ally for legacy creation.Some Questions I Ask: Tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that impacted what you're doing today. (2:40) How are boomers preparing to leave the workforce, and what specific challenges are they facing? (10:00)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Julie's reaction to a massive wake-up call (5:10) Retirement isn't what it used to be (11:50) How to stay technology relevant (13:00) The importance of in-person interaction in the workspace (16:10) What a leader can do to leave a lasting legacy (24:30)Connect with Julie: Website LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is excellence in leadership?Contrary to what many people think, excellence has nothing to do with the results we get but how we do things. Excellence is not about the outcome; it is about the process.Today, I'm joined by the inspiring Mac McNeil, a top-performing executive and an accomplished leader with a diverse military intelligence, business, and financial management background.Mac is the Author of the leadership book and newsletter "My Great Aunt EDNA" and was named among the 10 Most Influential Black Corporate Leaders to Watch in 2023 by CIO Views Magazine. Over the years, Mac has held key positions at the most prestigious financial institutions in the world, like JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America.In this episode together, we hear about Mac's backstory and how growing up in Germany in the '80s, plus his experiences in the US Army, contributed to molding what excellence means to him. We talk about leadership, leading by example, and the experiences that inspired Mac to create EDNA's leadership principles.Additionally, Mac shares a fantastic story about leadership inspired by the great Miles Davis, talks about "the broken mirror," and so much more.Tune in to Episode 384 of Becoming Your Best, and learn more about Mac's leadership principles.Some Questions I Ask: Please, tell us about your Great Aunt EDNA; tell us about your book (5:10) What does the spirit of excellence mean for you? (6:40)In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Mac's background (3:50) Mac shares a lesson learned from a teller working at the Bank of America (8:50) The leadership style of Miles Davis (12:00) Mac explains the leadership principles of EDNA (17:10) How to know you are doing things right as a leader (22:20)Resources: Book: Mac McNeil - My Great Aunt EDNA: The Golden Girl of LeadershipConnect with Mac: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you know what your leadership style is?Leaders who prefer a directive approach might end up succeeding or becoming dictators, and servant leaders can also thrive and empower their teams or turn into doormats. In leadership, there isn't a magic recipe; there are different styles, and their success depends on which one fits better with the leader's personality.In today's episode, I'm joined by JB Steenkamp, Speaker, Author, Founder, and World-Renowned Educator, to talk about leadership. JB is the Co-founder and Executive Director of AiMark, and has written multiple books, including "Retail Disruptors," "Global Brand Strategy," "Brand Breakout," which was selected as Best Business Book in 2013, "Private Label Strategy," and his latest "Time To Lead: Lessons for Today's Leaders from Bold Decisions that Changed History."Throughout our conversation, JB shares his thoughts on leadership styles, the importance of recognizing which one is ours, and how to evolve from one to another and become better leaders. We also discuss JB's self-assessment tool and the historical figures like Nelson Mandela that inspired JB's research and motivated him to write "Time To Lead."Additionally, JB highlights the importance of grit and resilience to become better leaders, how to improve our leadership abilities, and more.Tune in to Episode 383 and take a moment to discover your leadership style and how to improve it.Some Questions I Ask: Is there one type of leadership style that's best? (3:30) What do you suggest when someone discovers their leadership style? (10:40)In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about JB's background (2:00) The four styles of leadership (6:40) The importance of self-assessment and finding out what kind of leader we are (15:40) Why grit and resilience are instrumental to becoming a good leader (18:00) JB's recommendation for leaders (22:00)Resources: Book: Jan-Benedict Steenkamp - Time to Lead: Lessons for Today's Leaders from Bold Decisions that Changed HistoryConnect with JB: LinkedInTwitterBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson's, and most other horrible neurodegenerative diseases share a root cause: neurons dying. Chad Pollard, our guest for today's show, discovered a way to identify the early death of those neurons and trace them back to the specific part of the brain they belong. With only a blood sample, it is possible to identify neurodegenerative diseases in their early stages, even before symptoms start showing up.  In this episode, Chad Pollard, Co-Founder and CEO at Wasatch Biolabs, shares details of the discovery that will revolutionize how we diagnose diseases. Chad Majored in Genetics, Genomics, and Biotech and is a Ph.D. candidate in Cell Biology and Physiology at BYU (Brigham Young University). On his path to becoming a Neurologist, Chad needed to get involved in research, so he signed up at his mentor's lab. Little did he know that decision would change his life and redirect his career.Throughout our conversation, Chad talks about his discovery and how it revolutionizes the scenario of neurodegenerative diseases' diagnosis and early treatment. We also talk about therapeutics, how Chad's discovery can dramatically expand people with neurodegenerative diseases' lifetime, how it can even change the concussion protocol in sports, and much more.Tune in to Episode 382 and learn more about Chad's revolutionary discovery that'll change how we diagnose diseases.Some Questions I Ask: Please, walk us through the progression of what you discovered, what you're doing, and why this matters. (5:10) A person that takes your blood test will know for certain what's happening in your body on a cellular level. Is that correct? (13:20)In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Chad's background (3:10) How Chad's discovery will revolutionize neurogenerative diseases diagnosis and early treatment (7:00) What you can do with valuable information about your cellular health (16:10) Chad's discovery and the concussion protocol in sports (19:20)It is all about awareness (21:00)Resources: Wasatch Biolabs websiteConnect with Chad: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our ego is made of our mindset, beliefs, and unconscious habits. That means 99% of our decisions are driven by our ego, which is not necessarily bad if we think our ego is both our weaknesses and strengths. In a way, we owe our success to our ego; it pushed us through challenging times and helped us reach the top.Yet CEOs, team leaders, and managers need other people to meet them at the top, and that’s where the ego gets in the way.In this episode, Christie Garcia, President of Mindful Choice Coaching, teaches us how to become better leaders by understanding the ego's influence in our decision-making process. In over 12 years in business, Mindful Choice Coaching helped many individuals reach their leadership potential, from companies like Airbnb, Twitter, Oakley Inc, and DemandForce, to name a few.Throughout our conversation, Christie talks about the 30ft fall that changed her life and the question she had to answer three times to realize "she wasn't okay". We learn about the three types of ego and how they operate, how to prevent our ego from running our company, how to develop a healthy, balanced, and optimal ego, and so much more.Tune in to Episode 381 of Becoming Your Best and learn how mindful choices can produce real change in your leadership abilities.Some Questions I Ask: Please tell us about your background and how you got into what you're doing today (2:50) How do we develop a healthy, balanced, optimal ego? (14:10)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Christie talks about the 30ft fall that changed her life (6:00) Are you really "doing okay"? (8:20) The three types of ego (12:20) How ego sabotages our happiness (17:10) The communication component of ego management (21:10)Connect with Christie: Website LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most of us misunderstood the "and they lived happily ever after" phrase; it doesn't mean they never argued or had different thoughts on the same matter. It means they grew together, supported each other, and made the other person's happiness their own.Today, I'm joined by the inspiring Dr. Frieda Birnbaum, a National Media Psychologist and Personality, fellow podcaster Host of The Dr. Frieda Show, sought-after International Speaker, and Author of "Life Begins at 60: A New View on Motherhood, Marriage, and Reinventing Ourselves."We had a fantastic conversation about what makes couples stay together, the foundations of a happy marriage (not perfect), and how emotional prenups can prevent marriages from ending. Dr. Frieda also shared details of her background, what inspired her to focus on couples' happiness, what makes an effective emotional prenup, and the importance of creating personal space in a relationship.Tune in to Episode 380 and discover the foundations of a happily ever after marriage.Some Questions I Ask: Please tell us about your background and the things that have happened that helped you get to where you are today? (3:20) What is an emotional prenup? (6:40)In This Episode, You Will Learn: An encounter in a supermarket that changed Dr. Frieda's life (4:20) The criteria we look at before marrying someone (7:50) How to create a meaningful emotional prenup (11:40) The importance of learning to listen (14:10) Why we should praise personal space within a relationship (19:00) The difference between mutual understanding of happiness and forcing the other to see and think like us (23:40)Resources: The Doctor Frieda Show podcast Book: Dr. Frieda Birnbaum - Life Begins at 60: A New View on Motherhood, Marriage, and Reinventing OurselvesConnect with Dr. Frieda: Website LinkedIn Twitter FacebookBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Library Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our brain's priority is keeping us alive whenever our health is threatened. Even if it costs us gut issues, anxiety, or any disorder, it doesn't matter; it considers the job done as long as it keeps us alive. Yet, after the threat is over, the brain doesn't go back to default; it gets stuck in survival mode. Because it worked.Today's episode is a true game-changer because Dr. John Hatch joins us to talk about brain rehab, a subject that is not mentioned enough and has the potential to literally change lives. Dr. Hatch is a Neuroplastician, Functional Neurologist, Speaker, and Author of "The Basis of Brain Rehab" and "Brain Rehab and The Patient Experience."He is also the Founder of the Brain Rehab Clinic, where he uses receptor-based therapies to stimulate the brain and restore a healthy balance by creating new pathways to learn new skills.  We had a fantastic conversation about brain rehab's massive potential, Dr. Hatch's process at the Brain Rehab Clinic, and practical tools to evaluate our brain's overall health and enhance its good shape. We also learn about Dr. Hatch's background, why he started working with brain rehab, how it can help deal with autoimmune diseases, and much more.Tune in to Episode 379 and learn more about the incredible potential of brain rehab.Some Questions I Ask: Can you walk us through the nutshell version of your work and why this significantly impacts the brain? (11:50) What is physically happening in the brain of someone practicing brain rehab? (25:30)In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Dr. Hatch's passion for rehabbing brains (3:10) Dr. Hatch’s experiences treating his first patient (6:00) Why brain rehab is crucial to keep our brains healthy (8:40) The 3 fundamental gold standard brain exercises (21:40) The importance of challenging yourself to keep your brain healthy (23:10) Brain rehab and autoimmune diseases (31:50)Connect with Dr. Hatch: Website LinkedIn Instagram YouTubeDr. John Hatch's booksBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes an employee want to stay in an organization for a long time? There are roughly 10 million open positions in the US, yet if we give every unemployed American one of those jobs today, we'd still have 5 million unfilled jobs tomorrow.There is no staffing shortage; there is a great jobs shortage. - Joe Mull.In this episode, Joe Mull visits us to share his captivating views on leadership, employment, motivation in the workspace, retention, and his latest book, "Employalty: How To Ignite Commitment And Keep Top Talent In The New Age Of Work." Joe is a renowned Keynote Speaker, the BossBetter Leadership Academy's Founder, the Boss Better Now podcast Host, and the author of three books.Throughout our conversation, we learn about Joe's background and the origin of his passion for being in front of people, what is "employalty", the term he coined, and the 3 ways to create employalty and commitment in the workspace. Joe also talks about stopping treating people as a commodity, how to tie up employees' growth with the company's growth, the excellent job shortage, and more.Tune in to Episode 378 and learn tips for becoming a better boss and creating an ideal work atmosphere.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us about your latest book. Why did you write it? Describe the title. And how can it help us? (5:50)How do we make the shift to stop being transactional with our employees? (10:30)In This Episode, You Will Learn:A bit about Joe's background and his passion for leadership (4:10)What "employalty" is and where does it come from (6:00)What makes people feel they have a great job (12:10)How to tie up employees' growth with the company's growth (17:00)The thing that took baby boomers decades to learn and new generations already know (21:10)Resources:Book: Joe Mull - Employalty: How to Ignite Commitment and Keep Top Talent in the New Age of WorkJoe Mull booksBoss Better Now podcastConnect with Joe:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramYouTubeBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a company is in trouble, i.e., not generating cash, it can't invest in products, sales, and marketing, it can't hire or reward talented employees, and it bleeds cash. The domino effect continues as customers stop trusting the brand, and investors refuse to lend them money. Our guest, Sandeep Chennakeshu, has a formula to "fix" broken companies in three steps: figure out how to become profitable again, set a distraction-free strategy, and ensure the entire team is engaged.In this episode, the Author, Business Transformation Veteran, and Technologist, Sandeep Chennakeshu, joins us to talk about culture, crisis management, leadership, and senior management. In his over two decades of experience in the corporate world, he was a C-level executive of Ericsson Mobile and Sony Ericsson, Ericsson Mobile Platforms, AMD, Freescale, and Blackberry Technology Solutions. He is currently the COO at Uhnder Inc., a pioneer in digital-imaging radar, and is on the advisory board of several startups.Sandeep recently published "Your Company Is Your Castle", an inspiring piece of art for leaders, with proven methods for building resilient businesses. Throughout our conversation, Sandeep shared brilliant insights on leadership and management and how to put broken companies back on track and prevent them from missing their path to success. We also talk about why many companies fail after 10 years and what's the key to bringing transformation into a business.In addition, Sandeep explains how to keep a company and their employees focused and engaged, shares advice for new and experienced CEOs, and more.Tune in and learn how to fortify your company.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Significant turning points that have impacted Sandeep’s life (3:50)What companies and castles have in common (6:50)Why many companies fail after 10 years (8:40)Three steps to building a successful company (11:20)How to keep your company focused (14:40)The best way to keep your teams engaged (17:10)Advice for new and experienced CEOs (22:50)Resources:Book: Sandeep Chennakeshu - Your Company Is Your Castle: Proven Methods for Building a Resilient BusinessConnect with Sandeep:WebsiteLinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Practicing self-care actively and being compassionate, resilient, or kind to yourself doesn't mean you are soft or weak. Besides, part of treating yourself well is being firm and holding yourself accountable.We all have a massive potential for positive change; we just need to find (or build) the right conditions for it.This week, I'm joined by Dr. Grant Brenner, a board-certified physician-psychiatrist, an entrepreneur, teacher, speaker, and co-author of several books: "Irrelationship: How We Use Dysfunctional Relationships to Hide from Intimacy," "Relationship Sanity: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Relationships," and the most recent, "Making Your Crazy Work For You: From Trauma and Isolation to Self-Acceptance and Love."Throughout our conversation, Dr. Grant talks about his upbringing and how growing up in a very intellectual environment enticed him to enjoy learning and constantly pursue self-development. He kindly shared tools he uses to motivate self-help readers and self-development seekers, like the GRAFTS assessment or the 40-20-40 model.Additionally, he explains how to nurture and cultivate healthy, resilient responses, how leaders can spot their professional blind spots, how to give and ask for feedback safely, and much more.Tune in and learn more about how to make your crazy work for you.Some Questions I Ask:Please, tell us about your background and the turning points in your life that led to where you are today (4:01)How do you use the GRAFTS assessment? (10:35)In This Episode, You Will Learn:What the GRAFTS assessment is (7:10)About Dr. Grant's books. A hybrid of self-help books and self-help workbooks (11:11)How we can use our trauma for good (16:12)Give yourself room to reflect. Become your best buddy (21:09)How to detect (and learn from) our professional blind spots as leaders (23:54)What does practicing deep self-care look like (31:19)Resources:Book: Mark Borg, Grant Brenner -Making Your Crazy Work for You: From Trauma and Isolation to Self-Acceptance and LoveConnect with Dr. Grant:WebsiteInstagramTwitterFacebookBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although there are plenty of resources for leaders to improve their leadership skills, with brilliant books and articles with on-point observations about the struggles of leading high-achieving teams, sometimes we need more specific answers. That's the idea our guest, Dr. Elizabeth Moran, had in mind when she wrote: "Forward: Leading Your Team Through Change."Dr. Elizabeth Moran is a Consultant and Executive Coach with decades of experience as VP and Talent Specialist in global companies like Lehman Brothers, Bloomberg, and ADP. She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach and holds a master's and doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology.In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Moran visits us to share some golden nuggets from her latest book, talk about her career before making the leap of faith and working full-time as a coach and mentor, and discuss the levels of empathy every leader should have.Throughout our conversation, Dr. Elizabeth explains the five simplified neuroscience concepts that every change leader should know, the four most common reasons why every leader hesitates to communicate change, and shares her advice on handling tough decisions and avoiding the fear of losing control.Tune in to Episode 375 and learn practical ways of communicating better, developing consistent leadership, and becoming better leaders through change.Some Questions I Ask: Could you tell us about yourself, your background, and any turning points in your life that significantly impacted you? (3:03) Can you walk us through the five simplified neuroscience concepts every leader should know? (9:10)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Getting a doctorate as a detour (4:03) Writing a book as a playbook for leaders (7:47) How to avoid uncertainty when communicating (9:35)What are the analytic and the empathetic networks (15:01)Dr. Elizabeth’s experiences leading through change (21:28)Four of the most common reasons why leaders hesitate to communicate with their teams (22:11)Resources: Book: Dr. Elizabeth Moran - Forward: Leading Your Team Through ChangeConnect with Dr. Elizabeth: Website LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Happiness lives in the present moment."Think about a time when you felt fulfilled, joyful, and happy. There was no time to be worried about paying your mortgage or something you regret you didn't say in your last argument, and that is because you were there, living the moment; you were present.In today's episode, I'm joined by Dr. Greg Hammer, a pediatric intensive care physician and anesthesiologist, professor at Stanford University Medical Center, and best-selling author of "GAIN without pain."Throughout our conversation, Dr. Greg shares the story of how he fell in love with critical care medicine and why he went through the pediatric medicine path. We also discuss happiness, how to be consistent in pursuing it, the teamwork between thoughts and feelings needed to achieve it, and the elements that impede happiness.Additionally, Dr. Greg explains how to use the GAIN method to rewire our brains, the attitude we must adopt facing adversity, how the environment can affect our happiness levels, and more.Tune in to Episode 374 and discover how to get into the path to happiness that lies right in front of all of us.Some Questions I Ask: Please, tell us about your background and the turning points that significantly impacted your life (3:21) How can we use GAIN to rewire our brains? (20:13)In This Episode, You Will Learn: The moment Dr. Greg had to choose between the very micro and the very macro aspects of life (4:57) We all want happiness. How can neuroplasticity help us get there? (8:01) Happiness lives in the present moment (10:59) How to use the GAIN method to achieve happiness (14:39) What's the environment's influence over our happiness (23:05) Dr. Greg shares advice to enjoy good nights of sleep (26:29)Resources: Book - Dr. Greg Hammer - GAIN Without Pain: The Happiness Handbook for Health Care ProfessionalsConnect with Dr. Greg: LinkedIn FacebookBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comparing ourselves with others is one of the greatest disservices we can do to our personal and professional development. We should concentrate our efforts on something other than fitting into what society dictates as being successful.This week, I'm joined by Drexwell Seymour, a Certified Public Accountant, Managing Partner at HLB TCI, Business Owner, Columnist, YouTuber, Host of Financially Speaking, a weekly radio show, and intrinsic motivator, devoted writer, and author of the international best-seller, "Rise Up and Take Your Position".Throughout our conversation, Drexwell shares his experiences of struggling with an inferiority complex almost his entire life, how it was for him to grow up on the small island of Turks and Caicos in a low-income family, and the moment he embraced his purpose in life.We also explore why people struggle with inferiority complexes, people's most significant obstacles, and how to defeat the fear of failure. Drexwell also talks about his book, why he decided to write it, and much more.Tune in to Episode 373 and learn more about Drexwell and his fantastic story of resilience, self-development, and success.Some Questions I Ask: From your point of view, from your experience, why do people suffer from an inferiority complex? (5:36) How can people discover their purpose? (10:13)In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Drexwell's backstory (3:07) About Drexwell's desire and decision to go to college (12:31) Why people are so afraid of failure (14:36) Drexwell's decision to document and share his story (17:28) Stick to your goals, do what you believe in (19:45)Resources: Book: Drexwell Seymour - Rise Up and Take Your Position: Don't give up. Find your Gift and Cultivate it Drexwell's websiteConnect with Drexwell: LinkedIn YouTube Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our brain is a specialist in entertaining us with stories. Although most of them are meant to protect us, those holding us back are likely untrue.Whenever you hear your inner voice telling you you are not good enough or less than someone else, it is just a story and is definitely a lie. After listening to today's episode, you'll undoubtedly walk away with a delightful surprise: you'll recognize there's nothing wrong with you.In today's episode, Todd Sylvester visits us to share his inspiring story of resilience, redemption, and hope. Todd is a powerful Mental Fitness Coach, speaker, author, and podcaster who loves helping those struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, anxiety, depression, or self-hatred. He didn't grow up in a favorable environment, yet he managed to excel at his favorite thing in the world: basketball. Years later, after losing the scholarship he and his family fought so hard to get, he fell into a dark place of alcoholism and violence.Throughout our conversation, Todd talks about how a lemonade stand helped him change his life, stop substance abuse, and change his inner voice's speech. He also talks about how knowing precisely who we are can be a game-changer in practicing self-love, being consistent in our self-development, and becoming inspiring leaders.Tune in to Episode 372 of Becoming Your Best, and let yourself be inspired by Todd's extraordinary transformative powers.Some Questions I Ask: Please, take us through where it all evolved up until today (3:30)What do you tell people? How do you help them? (20:35)In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Todd's background and his inspiring story (3:42) The most powerful weapon on Earth is a soul on fire (13:38) Self-hatred can be more destructive than any addiction (20:14) Why is it so hard to answer who we are? (26:27) There is nothing wrong with you; that is the truth (30:39)Resources: Todd's Beliefcast Todd Inspires website Todd's booksConnect with Todd: Instagram FacebookBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We live in such a skeptical world that suggesting leaders and businesses would benefit from being naive would be considered, at least, a crazy statement to make. However, our guest, Joshua Berry, thinks otherwise.In today's episode, Joshua Berry highlights the benefits of being purposefully and openly naive and how it can change how we see business, leadership, and personal and professional relationships. Joshua is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Econic, an innovation, transformation, and strategy consulting company, and the Author of "Dare to Be Naive: Unleash Ripples of Impact in Life and Business."We had a fantastic conversation about how leaders can instill and encourage innovation within an organization and the results they can expect from it. We also explore Joshua's soon-to-be-published book, what inspired him to write it, how being naive can enhance our health, increase ROI, develop and nurture a company's culture, and much more.Tune in to Episode 371 of Becoming Your Best and learn how daring to be naive can transform your life.Some Questions I Ask: How in the world do you set up an innovation lab? What's that like? (4:44) Please, tell us about "Dare to be naive". Why did you write it? (7:08)In This Episode, You Will Learn: How to instill innovation within an organization (5:11) Naivete is a spectrum; it is not binary (9:16) The forgotten origin of the word "naive" (11:52) How being naive can create great ROI (14:17) Joshua shares his thoughts on being naive and its influence on emotional intelligence (18:09)Resources: Joshua's website Book: Joshua Berry - Dare to be naive: Unleash Ripples of Impact in Life and BusinessConnect with Joshua: LinkedIn Twitter YouTubeBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if that harrowing nightmare that makes you jump out of bed was actually a blessing in disguise?This week, I'm joined by Kelly Sullivan Walden, the "Doctor Dream". Kelly is an Inspirational Speaker, Award-winning Dream Expert, Celebrity Dreams Analyst, International Best-Selling Author, and Host of the Kelly Sullivan Walden Show podcast. For Kelly, nightmares are just unfinished dreams, and she developed a system to get back at them, even without falling asleep, finish them, and walk away empowered.Throughout our conversation, we go through Kelly's background and how she became the "Doctor Dream". We discuss how magical generating empathy through vulnerability can be, what inspired Kelly to write about dreams and nightmares, and we learn an innovative way of looking at tragedies.In addition, Kelly dissects the OGLE method that transforms challenges into blessings, explains how to get into the habit of using OGLE, and so much more.Some Questions I Ask: Could you talk about your background and include any turning points that significantly impacted your life? (3:15)Let's talk about deciphering nightmares. What's your experience there? What have you learned there? How can they be a help? (12:41)In This Episode, You Will Learn: About the book that started everything (4:45) How to jump from victim to victor (8:04) How to get comfortable enough to share our inner world (11:31) Are nightmares a blessing in disguise? (14:08) What OGLE is, and how we can use it to deal with setbacks (18:09) You don't need to be asleep to work with your nightmares (23:18)Resources: Kelly's website The Kelly Sullivan Walden Show podcast Book: Kelly Sullivan Walden - A Crisis Is a Terrible Thing to Waste: The Art of Transforming the Tragic into Magic Kelly's booksConnect with Kelly: Instagram TikTok Twitter YouTube FacebookBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Library Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fear is as natural as unavoidable; we can't run from it, yet we can prepare ourselves to deal with it in the best way possible.This week, our guest, Colonel Kim "KC" Campbell, takes us right into the face of fear flying 1,000 miles per hour at 45,000 feet of altitude. In her soon-to-be-published book, "Flying in the Face of Fear," Kim narrates how facing the scariest situations as a fighter pilot transformed her views on leadership and teamwork. The inspiring colonel served in the Air Force as a fighter pilot and senior military leader for over 24 years. She is also a Keynote Speaker, a Best-Selling Author, and a Leader.We had a delightful conversation about Kim's experiences and learnings as an Air Force fighter pilot, vulnerability, and courage. We also talk about the moments of terror Kim lived under Bagdad's sky and how her training saved her.In addition, Kim shares her thoughts on fear, courage, how to be prepared for life's defining moments, and more.Some Questions I Ask:Please tell us about your background, including any turning points that have significantly impacted you (3:29)Could you tell us about some of your most memorable experiences in the Air Force? (9:15)In This Episode, You Will Learn:The Challenger's launch and how it impacted Kim's life (4:19)The longest 20 seconds in human history (10:01)About the importance of chair flying in every defining situation (17:41)We tend to be too harsh on ourselves (22:13)Why we should always act and lead with courage (29:01)Resources:Book: Col. Kim KC Campbell - Flying in the Face of Fear: A Fighter Pilot's Lessons on Leading with CourageConnect with Kim:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramTwitterBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you could tap into your subconscious mind and get answers from it? What if you could know why you attract people that are harmful to your life or discover the root cause of a condition doctors can't cure or explain why it keeps showing up?In today's episode, I'm joined by Dr. Brad Nelson, former holistic Chiropractic Physician and Medical Intuitive and an internationally renowned expert in the emerging Bioenergetic Medicine and Energy Psychology. He is the best-selling author of "The Emotions Code" and "The Body Code" and the creator of The Body Code app.We had a fantastic conversation about Brad's background and the extraordinary story of his first encounter with holistic doctors at a trailer house in a wheat field. We learned why he decided to write "The Emotion Code" and the message he got one morning, which led him to write "The Body Code." We also dipped our toes into the unlimited potential of Bioenergetic Medicine, how to balance the body's 6 key areas, and so much more.Tune in to Episode 368 and learn more about Bioenergetic Medicine's massive potential and healing power.Some Questions I Ask: Please give our listeners a little bit more background on you as a person (3:17) "The Body Code" is incredible, and it builds on "The Emotion Code" in a new way that wasn't even available 10 years ago. Could you elaborate on that? (29:56)In This Episode, You Will Learn: About Brad's first experience with holistic doctors at a wheat field (6:05) If the brain is a computer, why not ask questions to it (9:23) What The Body Code is (16:10) Why most people refuse to get their energy aligned (21:15) Is it possible to check and align our energy by ourselves? (31:45)Resources: Discover Healing website Book: Dr. Brad Nelson - The Emotion Code: How to Release Your Trapped Emotions for Abundant Health, Love, and Happiness Book: Dr. Brad Nelson - The Body Code: Unlocking Your Body's Ability to Heal ItselfConnect with Dr. Brad Nelson: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When was the last time you checked in with your happiness?In today's episode, our guest, Dr. Dravon James, invites us to acknowledge and recognize why self-awareness is critical for good leadership. Dr. Dravon is a motivational speaker, transformation specialist, radio host of the Dr. Dravon James Every Day Peace live show, author of "Freedom Is Your Birthright," and the Founder of Next Step Leadership Academy.Her humble origins in South Side Chicago didn't stop her from earning a doctorate in Pharmacy from Creighton University and becoming a leader in the healthcare industry for more than three decades.Throughout our conversation, Dr. Dravon talks about the book that inspired her to become someone who inspires and empowers people to be who they are supposed to be. She explains why leaders must improve their self-awareness to thrive and make their teams thrive and the difference between humility and meekness. In addition, Dr. Dravon shares five tips to improve self-awareness and much more.Tune in to Episode 367 of Becoming Your Best, and learn how self-awareness can improve your life and the life of those around you.Some Questions I Ask: Please tell us about your background, including any turning points that highly impacted your life (4:59) Let's talk about self-awareness. What are the benefits of it? (14:32)In This Episode, You Will Learn: About the book that changed Dr. Dravon's life (5:16) What should we be self-aware of (9:36) The difference between humility and meekness (17:36) Five tips to improve your self-awareness (19:51)Resources: Dr. Dravon James' website Book: Dr. Dravon James, Mr. Jack Barnard - Freedom Is Your Birthright (Stepping Stone Series) Book: Dr. Norman Vincent Peale - The Power of Positive ThinkingConnect with Dr. Dravon: LinkedIn Instagram FacebookBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if we could change the way we see fear? What if we could transform it from the burden that slows us down into the fuel of our actions?This week, I'm excited to welcome Scott Simon, Author, Speaker, and Founder of the Scare Your Soul movement. He is passionate about connecting people with their courage, helping them thrive, and guiding them into a courageous and vibrant life.You'll hear about Scott's fantastic story of resilience, the day he decided to face a 35-year-old fear he had been carrying, and the Facebook post that went viral and changed his life. Scott shares several golden nuggets on how to face our fears, how to turn them into our fuel, and why he believes courage is a muscle that can be trained, just as our gratitude muscle.In addition, we talk about his book, "Scare Your Soul: 7 Powerful Principles to Harness Fear and Lead Your Most Courageous Life," what moved him to write it, how to regain power from forgiveness, and so much more.Tune in to Episode 366 of Becoming Your Best, and learn how to transform your fears and use them in your favor.Some Questions I Ask: What is the one thing that really holds most people back in life? (7:21) How do our brains produce fear? And how can we use that to our advantage? (8:53) If you say, “I am excited to do this. Your body releases endorphins and chemicals, and your physical state matches the mental state you're creating.” Is that what you're saying? (19:21)In This Episode, You Will Learn: An experience in fourth grade that will last 35 years (2:59) What does science say about fear and how it is created (9:12) How to tone up the courage muscle (16:19) How to recover our power through forgiveness (24:13) Why you should have that difficult conversation you've been avoiding for a while (28:26)Resources: Scare Your Soul website Scare Your Soul Instagram Book: Scott Simon - Scare Your Soul: 7 Powerful Principles to Harness Fear and Lead Your Most Courageous LifeConnect with Scott: LinkedIn InstagramBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Email: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What kind of 2023 do you wish to experience? A highly successful one, or, to put it in Og Mandino's words, one that you are just a sheep waiting to be prodded by your shepherd? All of us can avoid the "slaughterhouse of failure" and thrive not only this year but for as long as we wish to; we only need to be prepared. In today's episode, we get you ready to experience a highly successful year; we share a powerful tool kit with just four life-changing items. Among some of the things we explore, you will learn how turning planning into a habit can save you tons of time, correct your trajectory, and clear tons of space in your mind. We also go through behavioral changes you can implement with ease to enhance your performance and some valuable resources you can use to help yourself implement them. Lastly, we delve into Og Mandino's gift to mankind, his book "The greatest salesman of the world," and analyze some of the most inspiring quotes from the ten scrolls. Tune in to Episode 365 of Becoming Your Best, and prepare for a highly successful 2023.In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the massive difference a planner can make in your life (4:36)The difference high-performing habits can make (7:12)How can the principles of highly successful leaders change your perspective (12:21)How much time does it take to acquire a new habit? (17:52)What does it take to become the greatest salesman in the world? (14:52)Mentioned In This Episode:Book: Og Mandino - The Greatest Salesman in the WorldBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceDo What Matters Most - Digital PlannerFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a leader, what is the feeling that gets you out of bed every morning? The overwhelming pressure of making sure you don't make a mistake or the excitement of leading your team through learning and enhancing experiences?   Our guest, Annie Leib, believes there is only one way of practicing proper leadership: when you feel aligned with your true self.   Meet Annie Leib, Executive MBA, and Certified Professional Executive Coach and Facilitator. Creator of the BREATH Framework™ Program and Founder and CEO of Annie Leib, LLC.  In this episode, we delve into Annie's journey of becoming an Executive Coach, moved by the desire to make an impactful change as a leader. We talk about the BREATH Framework, its peculiar conception, and its unique way of enhancing leadership. Annie also highlights the importance of reclaiming our power, how leaders tend to unnoticeably give it out, and so much more.   Tune in to Episode 364 of Becoming Your Best, and let Annie teach you how to breathe your way through right into your true self.   Some Questions I Ask: Could you tell us about your journey and how it led you to create BREATH? (4:39) What gets you up in the morning? (10:00)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: The importance of knowing where we begin (5:57) What it means to reclaim our power (6:47) Finding your way through, not around (11:54) Being uncomfortable and unhappy in our lives is not mandatory (12:54)  Resources: Annie Leib website  Connect with Annie: LinkedIn  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would happen if you applied, in your company, the same principles and processes of one of America's most prestigious armed?Meet Marty Groover, who decided to apply his training at the U.S. Navy to the corporate world and optimize productivity, automatize processes, and promote constant training in the workplace. Marty is a Partner and Chief Technology Officer at C5MI; he is the Author of the book "Speed of Advance", and counts more than 20 years of experience as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy.In this episode, we learn about Marty's role in the U.S. Navy and how his time there inspired him to improve the corporate world and help companies take their productivity to the next level. Marty also explains what it means to "command by negation" and how that concept can transform how companies and leaders see and develop their team members.In addition, we delve into the importance of pre-planned responses, constant training, and so much more.Tune in to Episode 363 of Becoming Your Best, and learn about the U.S. Navy concepts and principles that can transform your company.Some Questions I Ask: Could you tell us a bit about your background? (2:47) Marty, what does it mean to harness the power of technology to drive untouchable results? (10:21)In This Episode, You Will Learn: The moment Marty learned the importance of effective communication (5:50) How Marty applies U.S. Navy principles to the corporate world (8:03) How can "command by negation" transform a company (13:07) The importance of having pre-planned responses (16:51) How to improve productivity by increasing and stimulating training (18:37)Resources: Book: Marty Groover - Speed of Advance: How the U.S. Navy's Convergence of People, Process, and Technology Can Help Your Business Win in the 4th Industrial RevolutionConnect with Marty: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A big part of how we feel, act, or think about things is determined by our emotional DNA inheritance; our actions, feelings, and thoughts could be a repetition of an emotional DNA blueprint. To change the patterns that keep us stuck, we must first identify them.In this episode, Judy Wilkins-Smith shares the keys to ending limiting cycles and reframing them into lasting breakthroughs. Judy is a Transformational, Executive, and Leadership Coach, Author, and an Expert in Emotional DNA, Systemic Constellations, and Ancestral Trauma.Throughout our conversation, we learn about Judy's passion for creating massive and life-changing breakthroughs and how she helps people to "get out of the tailspin." She kindly explains the importance of being mindful of how we feel, act, and think about ourselves and every situation, how to discover the patterns that keep us stuck, and, most importantly, change them.We also learn about the importance of having and nurturing dreams, what it is and how Systemic Work and Constellations can help us, the money mindset, and so much more.Tune in to Episode 362 of Becoming Your Best and learn to avoid following an emotional DNA rut that no longer serves you.Some Questions I Ask: How can we identify these patterns that we may have inherited? (6:12)How can we change our thoughts, feelings, and actions? (13:25)How can Systemic Work and Constellations reveal and help transform hidden issues from family or business? (21:33)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Judy's background and how she developed her passion for creating life-changing breakthroughs (3:10) How to create future memories (8:13) The shift from a survivor to a creative brain (15:03) Why we are so reluctant to dream (19:47) How to decode our emotional blueprint (28:09)Resources: Judy Wilkins-Smith website Book: Judy Wilkins-Smith - Decoding Your Emotional Blueprint: A Powerful Guide to Transformation Through Disentangling Multigenerational PatternsConnect with Judy: LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Facebook TikTokBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best Library Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding our purpose, the "why" that takes us out of bed every morning, and what we are really passionate about is not something that'll come into our minds through introspection or contemplation; it'll come out by trying a whole bunch of different things.In today's episode, Adam Tank joins us to talk about purpose, sustainability, and self-improvement. Adam is the Chief Customer Officer at Transcend. He founded a robotics company inside General Electric, spun it out of the Fortune 100 behemoth into a Fortune 50 behemoth, and sold it to a publicly traded company. Adam also invented a revolutionary robotic device that helped over 60 million people to get clean water.Throughout our conversation, Adam shared how he got in touch with his purpose, the books that inspired him to pursue entrepreneurship and interrupt the "9 to 5 way of seeing life" he grew up in. We also talk about Adam's project on helping people access clean water, his work with convicted felons, the teachings from working with them, and so much more.Tune in to uncover the path to get in touch with your passion.Some Questions I Ask:Please, tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that impacted you and what you are doing today (4:20)What is the most important thing you've learned from working in prisons? (10:55)What advice would you give young people about finding their passion? (16:43)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the two books that helped shape Adam's life (6:06)Why following your passion can turn you into the most fortunate person (8:47)The best way to light people and help them turn into their best version (14:23)Put your thoughts out there; let the universe know what you are up to (20:11)Why it is crucial to start with the end in mind (25:25)Resources:Book: Napoleon Hill - Think and Grow RichBook: Stephen Covey - The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective PeopleBook: Napoleon Hill - How to Be RichBook: Joseph Grenny, Kenny Patterson - Crucial ConversationsConnect with Adam:LinkedInwebsiteBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best Library Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The things we put our time and focus on will come to fruition, regardless of whether that time and focus were devoted intentionally to create that outcome. This means that if we don't focus on anything in particular for 3 or 4 months, we will almost surely accomplish nothing throughout that quarter. But it also means we can develop an intentional way of creating our reality.In this episode, we go through some tips to start the new year, focusing on what matters most: making 2023 your best year ever. Studies show that over 80% of New Year's resolutions are abandoned two weeks into the new year. To solve this issue, we developed a simple yet powerful technique to create a measurable and achievable action plan to stick to and crush your goals.You'll learn about the big three habits that will help you design your vision and goals, measure your progress, and keep yourself accountable. We also discuss the differences between vision and goals, how to set them clearly, and why developing a vision for each key role is crucial. You'll also learn the words you must avoid at all costs when setting your goals, how to rely on others to help you keep yourself accountable, and so much more.Tune in to Episode 360 of Becoming Your Best, set yourself up for success, and make 2023 your best year ever!In This Episode, You Will Learn: Where focus goes, energy flows (2:16) The importance of having a written personal vision (7:12) Work on developing a vision for each of your key roles (8:37) The words you should never use in goal setting (14:17) The number one habit and predictor of success (18:48) A short story about the importance of time (20:21)Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Do What Matters Most - Digital PlannerFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, as we get ready to celebrate Christmas, we dive into three stories that perfectly represent Jesus' work and influence in our lives.First, we analyze Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation and his encounter with the authentic Christmas Spirit. Then we enjoy the overview of "It's A Wonderful Life," the movie written and directed by Frank Capra, which shares the story of George Bailey, and it's a constant reminder that the world wouldn't be the same place without us.Lastly, we dive into "The Christmas Spirit Strikes Again," a true story published in Reader's Digest that narrates the love between two sisters during the holiday season.Tune in to Episode 359 of Becoming Your Best, let yourself be flooded with Christmas Spirit, and be the best you can be during the holidays.In This Episode, You Will Learn: About the trip to Mauritania that inspired today's episode (2:21) The beautiful message behind "A Christmas Carol" (4:49) Every one of us makes a difference. George Bailey's story (9:31) The Christmas Spirit strikes again (16:13)Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Do What Matters Most - Digital Planner Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although planning is a crucial part of any mission, its success relies more on the ability to adapt to unexpected changes and improvise than on the plan itself.In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Marty Strong and hear about his unique perspective on leadership, planning, and goal achieving. Marty is a combat-decorated Navy SEAL, a thought-provoking writer and speaker, and a leader and business consultant. He is an accomplished novelist and the author of "Be Nimble: How the Creative Navy SEAL Mindset Wins on the Battlefield and in Business" and the soon-to-be-published "Be Visionary: Strategic Leadership in the Age of Optimization."Throughout our conversation, Marty shared golden nuggets from his decades of leadership and business consultant experience. We talk about his background and upbringing and how his time as a Navy SEAL prepared him to become a successful leader. We also discuss Marty's book, "Be Visionary," what motivated him to write it, and what leaders can get from it.Additionally, Marty shared his unique perspective on what becoming an excellent leader looks like, how to make excellent hirings for our team, the hidden power of humor, and much more.Tune in to Episode 358 to hear about Marty's fascinating life story and the Navy SEAL's way of planning and executing.Some Questions I Ask: Please share with our listeners what the new book is about. And why did you write it? (8:49)How can we improve our visionary skills in a way that can be applied personally and professionally? (12:07)In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Marty's upbringing and first encounter with adult life (3:45)The importance of not letting the victim mentality get in charge (7:24)Start with a vision and start planning backward from that future point (13:59)What a perfect plan and preparation looks like (16:15)When things are bad, stick to those joking about it (23:14)Resources: Marty Strong websiteBook: Marty Strong - Be Nimble: How the Creative Navy SEAL Mindset Wins on the Battlefield and in BusinessBook: Marty Strong -Be Visionary: Strategic Leadership in the Age of OptimizationConnect with Marty: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best Library Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship. Parents with their kids, friends, partners in business, co-workers, leaders, and their teams, if they don't trust each other, there is no way of creating a long-lasting, healthy, and productive relationship. If you’d have to guess, what would you say is the easiest way to build trust in a relationship?In today's episode, the inspiring Dr. Maky Zanganeh joins us to share her unique view on leadership, relationships, and courage. Maky is the Founder and CEO of Maky Zanganeh & Associates; she is the Co-CEO at Summit Therapeutics, a Board Member of Pulse Biosciences, and the author of "The Magic of Normal." Maky is also a mother, a breast cancer survivor, and one of the responsible for the second-largest biopharma sale ever in the industry, leading a struggling biotech company into a deal for $21 billion.We had a fantastic conversation about Maky's career in the pharmaceutical industry, the $21 billion deal with AbbVie Inc, and how she relied on her relationship-building abilities during that period. Maky also talked about her battle with breast cancer and how it changed her views on motherhood, family, and life.Plus, we talked about her book "The Magic of Normal," what moved her to write it, what it can teach us about overcoming challenges, and so much more.  Tune in to Episode 357 and get inspired by the unstoppable force of Dr. Maky Zanganeh.Some Questions I Ask: How important is it, Maky, to build strong relationships? (6:30)You are a breast cancer survivor. Can you talk about that journey? (11:20)What do you hope others learn from your story and from reading "The Magic of Normal"? (17:52)Resources: About Maky's journey in the pharmaceutical industry and the $21 billion deal (4:13)Transparency's role in relationship-building (7:54)Using technology to break the barriers of time and geographical locations (12:53)The two ways of looking at challenges (17:19)Maky's view on how connections and how the way of connecting changed over the last couple of years (20:50)Resources: Dr. Maky Zanganeh websiteBook: Maky Zanganeh - The Magic of NormalConnect with Dr. Maky: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All our experiences, studying, learnings, and preparation are only 49% of what we need to turn an idea into a success; the other 51% is just starting.In today's episode, Mike Evans, Founder of GrubHub and Author of "Hangry," visits us to share his story of how he turned an idea into a business empire. Mike is an MIT graduate who felt getting a pizza online was too complicated, so he decided to fix that issue, and "magically," 12 years later, he sold GrubHub in a public offering. He is also the Founder of Fixer, a company that connects customers with skilled, friendly "fixers" in the Chicago area.We had a fantastic conversation about Mike's journey as a founder and entrepreneur; he took us through the 12 years process of creating GrubHub and explained why every founder must have a perfect balance of arrogance and humility.We talk about the difference between quitting and giving up, why starting failing is the only way of starting, how to connect with a great mentor and get the best of them, and more.Tune in to Episode 356 of Becoming Your Best, and learn about Mike's impressive story of transforming the will of fixing a problem into a successful business.Some Questions I Ask: Please, tell us about your background, including any turning points that had a significant impact on you (3:43) What messages do you hope readers will take away after reading your book? (6:42)In This Episode, You Will Learn: How do you define success, and why it’s important (4:19) An overnight success that took 12 years (7:47) Who the best mentors are, and what do we need to offer them (12:11) Work, play, and learning are the same thing (16:29) 51% of success resides in starting to do the thing (19:47)Resources: Mike Evans website Book: Mike Evans - Hangry: A Startup JourneyConnect with Mike: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the week of Thanksgiving, we take a couple of minutes to celebrate and appreciate how blessed we are; we take a deeper look at all the magnificent people and the things in our lives we are grateful for.We go through a quick recap from arguably the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 between the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians to the present day, where the holidays became a national festivity and an excellent excuse to practice gratitude.In addition, I suggest three simple yet powerful activities you can practice yourself and with your family or team members that will help you make the spirit of Thanksgiving meaningful in your life every day.Tune in to Episode 355 of Becoming Your Best, and let the spirit of Thanksgiving guide your actions this week and every day of your life.In This Episode, You Will Learn: The first-ever Thanksgiving celebration (2:59) Thanksgiving's second celebration, two years later (8:33) About the first annual Thanksgiving holiday established in NY (10:01) Thanksgiving is one of the celebrations that spans cultures, continents, and millennia (13:30) Three actions to make Thanksgiving's spirit meaningful every day of your life (14:43)Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In times of extreme political polarization in society, where the internet is used to spread hate and misinformation at lightspeed around the globe, taking a moment to value and cherish civility is crucial.This week, Shelby Scarbrough visits us to discuss the importance of practicing civility, instilling the plurality of voices in every political discussion, listening to learn, and learning to listen.Shelby is a Speaker, Entrepreneur, and Author of "Civility Rules!" a book that invites the reader to learn about the history and essence of civility through the lens of G. Washington's "Rules of Civility." Former U.S. Department of State protocol officer, Shelby was a Presidential Trip Coordinator in President Ronald Reagan's White House Office of Presidential Advance and coordinated several President Reagan appearances, including the 1988 Reagan–Gorbachev Summit, the Statue of Liberty's Centennial Celebration, and a meeting of the NATO Alliance in Brussels.In this episode, we delve into Shelby's unique view of civility, the oxymoron political civility has become these days, and the role civility plays in turning society more civil. Shelby gave away some golden nuggets from her book, suggested new ways of encouraging constructive discussions, and highlighted the crucial role of promoting the plurality of voices in every political debate.Tune in to Episode 354 of Becoming Your Best, and learn how to use political differences to transform and unite our society.Some Questions I Ask:Please tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have significantly impacted you and what you're doing today. (3:25)Why should society care about what George Washington had to say about civility? (6:57)What role does personal responsibility play in becoming more civil in our society? (9:31)In This Episode, You Will Learn:From making hamburgers to the White House. A bit of Shelby's background (3:41)Listening to learn and learning to listen (11:24)Never overestimate your importance, and never underestimate your influence (15:51)How to deal with differences in political views (21:01)Is the other side of the political aisle always the uncivil one? (26:35)Resources:Shelby Scarbrough websiteBook: Shelby Scarbrough: Civility Rules! Creating A Purposeful Practice Of CivilityConnect with Shelby:TwitterBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The time and resources America dedicates to developing men and women in the armed forces make our military and retired military one of the country's greatest resources. Our soldiers are prepared and encouraged to be at their best 24/7 since there is no room for mistakes in their line of work. But what happens when those refined men and women take off their uniforms? What do we do with all that investment?In this episode, Lt. Col. Kathy Gallowitz visits us to discuss the other end of a veteran's service. She shares bits of her background, her upbringing as the daughter of an active-duty officer, and how she developed a strong sense of belonging in military environments. She explains what it means to be a veteran champion, how employers can be veteran champions, and the proper ways to recognize and thank veterans for their service.Additionally, she talks about her book, Beyond "Thank You for Your Service", what inspired her to write it, veteran hiring politics, and so much more.Tune in to Episode 353 and learn the best ways to give back to those who sacrificed a lot for the greater good.Some Questions I Ask: Please tell us about your background and any turning points in your life that have significantly impacted you. (3:48) How do you define a veteran champion? (10:13) What can everyday citizens do to be veteran champions? (12:21)In This Episode, You Will Learn: How Kathy developed a massive sense of belonging in the military (4:37) Military service shapes people beyond their tactical training (9:19) Examples of how to thank veterans and avoid empty phrases (17:17) Why unemployment among veterans is lower than ever (19:52) The three components of a Corporate Citizenship Program (22:28)Resources: Vanguard Veteran website Vanguard Veteran Facebook Book: Beyond "Thank You for Your Service:"Connect with Kathy: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt your boss was all about themselves, perhaps self-centered and careless about how they might make you feel? Or have you worked for someone who knew they were ineffective leaders but didn't care? What about the kind of leader that, even having nothing but good intentions, was making your life at work hell because of their disorganized and dysfunctional working style? These are examples of bad bosses: the mercenary, the illusionist, and the believer.What about you? Have you ever been a bad boss?This week, Michelle Gibbings visits us to talk about bad bosses, how to deal with them, how to survive working with them, and how to be aware if we have become one ourselves. Michelle is a Workplace Expert, Speaker, Award-Winning Author, Media Commentator, and lifelong learner.We chat about her latest book, "Bad Boss: What To Do If You Work For One, Manage One, Or Are One", about Michelle's experiences with bad bosses and the challenging moment when she realized she had become one. We also discuss how to turn the workplace into a happier space in the post-pandemic scenario, what employees are looking for, and the best way to generate a genuine connection with them.Tune in to Episode 352 and learn everything you need to know to avoid becoming a bad boss.Some Questions I Ask:Please tell us about your background, including any turning points that's had a significant impact on you (3:45)What inspired you to write "Bad boss"? (6:02)If you think you have a bad boss, what do you do in that situation? (12:35)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Michelle's background and experiences in the corporate world (3:53)What defines a bad boss, and how to recognize them (7:59)What you can do if you feel you've become a bad boss (14:13)How employees want to be treated and what they're looking for at their jobs (21:47)How curiosity and maintaining a hungry-for-knowledge spirit can serve you (23:36)Resources:Michelle Gibbings websiteMichelle Gibbings booksConnect with Michelle:LinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeFacebookBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your BestBook: Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the first day of his seven-year sentence in a federal prison, the third and last time he would be in jail, our guest, Weldon Long, had a moment of clarity. His life was heading directly to make his worse fears come true: living and dying in prison, not being a good father to his three-year-old son, and ending up broke, homeless, and feeling like a total loser.He knew he had to make a radical change and that all odds were against him. In today's episode, you'll learn about Weldon's incredible story.Weldon Long is a Keynote Speaker, NYT Best-selling Author, CEO and Founder, and Mindset and Sales Expert. He transformed his life from a high school dropout and homeless three times convicted felon to a successful entrepreneur, business owner, and present and loving father.Our conversation spins around Weldon's extraordinary comeback, the habits he built over time to make a 180° change on a personal and professional level, and the experiences that inspired his books. Weldon shared several golden nuggets of wisdom he learned throughout his life, the challenges he faced and overcame, and so much more.Tune in to Episode 351 and learn about the extraordinary power of focus, commitment, consistency, and leading your life by vision.Some Questions I Ask:Could you share whatever you think is relevant about your life, including any turning points that significantly impacted you? (6:15)What are some of the critical things, realizations, or insights that were most helpful to you? (13:44)In This Episode, You Will Learn:The influence our thoughts have on what we end up becoming (3:37)What we can learn from successful people? (8:40)We can live in our imagination or our past; the choice is ours (14:44)Becoming the best version of ourselves is a daily job (20:42)It is not about what we know; it is about what we do to become successful (23:11)The Power of Consistency (25:44)Resources:Weldon Long websiteWeldon Long booksConnect with Weldon:LinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your BestBook: Conquer AnxietyFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt that there is something more for you and your life, even if you can't put your finger on it? You're a successful professional and have a loving family, and yet, there is an elusive, persistent longing you can feel from within. It is a calling to reconnect with your true self, to be happy, and there is only one way to listen, to see these love notes from the universe: through stillness.Meet Jeanine Thompson, a Speaker, Author, Transformational Coach, Reiki Master, and former Fortune 50 HR Executive passionate about helping others reach and live at their highest potential. After an incredibly successful career in corporate America and almost a decade in the medical field, working as a psychotherapist, followed by several years volunteering with hospice clients, Jeanine decided to explore human's infinite potential.In this episode, we delve into Jeanine's journey, the people who inspired her and set the foundations of her life, and the turning point when she decided to notice and acknowledge those love notes the universe was sending her. We talk about her latest book, "911 From Your Soul," the discoveries she made through it, and how the book can help us explore ourselves in stillness.In addition, Jeanine explained the benefits of actively practicing stillness, how to get there, the difference between stillness and meditation, and more.Tune in to Episode 350 to learn how to achieve more and live more authentically by "doing nothing" through stillness.Some Questions I Ask: Would you tell us about your background and any turning points that have significantly impacted you? (3:15)Can you give us a little overview of 911 From Your Soul? (10:54)You're talking about stillness. What role does that play? And what are you referring to specifically? (16:34)In This Episode, You Will Learn: How we influence and are influenced by others. (3:53)How Jeanine's book came to life (7:42)The three benefits of embracing stillness (18:17)How to read universe's love notes (20:49)Nature knows what to do, and so do you (26:37)Resources: Jeanine Thompson's websiteBook: Jeanine Thompson - 911 from your SoulConnect with Jeanine: InstagramBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With all the things happening in the world threatening peace, prosperity, and even the environment, living a happy, joyful, and hopeful life might seem a bit utopic. Still, it takes no more than a couple of minutes to realize that happiness, joy, and hope's source lies within ourselves; we are responsible for enhancing our HJH, and today, you'll learn how.In this episode, we go through the four principles you can apply to your life to generate positive outcomes and create a joyful, happy, and hopeful life. You'll learn about the E+R=O formula, the benefits of surrounding yourself with the right people and resources, and how being aware of how you respond to things can be a game-changer.In addition, we explore the benefits of focusing our energy on the things we can influence and change, three powerful ways to help us identify and take the right action, and so much more.Tune in to Episode 349 of Becoming Your Best to discover that the root of a happy, joyful, and hopeful life might be closer than you think.In This Episode, You Will Learn: A simple formula to influence your life's outcomes (4:36) You are free to choose, seize the day (7:22) From all the things that bother you, which ones can you control? (8:41) Three ways to choose the right action to take (11:37) Every time life gets you down, keep swimming (18:23) Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spending long hours at work to support your lifestyle becomes a paradox if you are never present to enjoy that life. The time you spend with your spouse and kids is as important, if not more, than the benefits of a wealthy lifestyle. Still, it is not a matter of choice; it is not an either-or situation. It's about organization and planning.In this episode, you'll learn why prioritizing what matters most is a life-changing decision to make. We look closely at one of the most powerful tools ever created to get the best out of every day: pre-week planning. We explain how to set it up the right way, create a powerful WHY that will work as fuel, and approach it properly from a personal and professional point of view.Tune in to Episode 348 of Becoming Your Best, commit to pre-week planning, and see your life and the life of those who matter most to you improve weekly.In This Episode, You Will Learn: Three short stories with a powerful message. (2:26) Time is your most valuable asset. Are you spending it wisely? (6:43) A couple of extra tips on how to get the best of pre-week planning. (10:17) What are you doing with "your dash"? (13:21) Four steps to get pre-week planning right. (14:35) Lead a life by design, or live a life by default. The choice is yours. (22:31)Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every time we try to achieve something, there are two possible outcomes -- we either succeed or fail. That is why most people believe that failure is the opposite of success, which is not. Failing is just a possibility; the opposite of success is giving up.In this episode, we focus on one of the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, most precisely the 12th principle: Never Give Up. We explore and get inspired by those that succeeded not because they didn't fail but because they kept going despite failing countless times, like Elon Musk, Michael Jordan, Viktor Frankl, and Thomas Edison.We learn about the power of having a dogged determination, keeping trying after failure, and never considering quitting as an option. We also go through two real-life examples of how our mind can trick us into thinking of giving up as an "honorable exit" and the lessons we can learn from that.Tune in to Episode 347 of Becoming Your Best, and get the motivation you need to never consider giving up as a viable option.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why you should trust the process and keep going despite failure (4:47)Some examples of people who accomplished great things thanks to dogged determination (6:01)How weird mental gymnastics can trick us into quitting (8:54)The importance of quit doubting ourselves (10:37)The Iron Cowboy and his inspirational challenge (13:11)Always start with a vision, not with a problem (15:58)Five inspirational quotes to remember when quitting feels like an option (18:57)Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you have to think about your primary focus, would you say it's your achievements or your relationships? Do you spend most of your time, thinking of new strategies and business plans or nurturing personal relationships with your loved ones? Although we all crave recognition, success, and money to provide a comfortable life for our families, none of that would mean anything if we don't have a meaningful relationship with them. In this episode, Rick Eyre, the first-ever guest on this podcast, revisits us to share another set of golden nuggets, this time about grandparenting and relationship building. Rick is a best-selling author, podcast host, facilitator, and speaker. He and his wife Linda are two of the most popular speakers in the world on parenting and families. They've been featured in virtually every popular talk show in the US, including the Today Show, Prime Time Live, 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, and Oprah, to name a few. We explore the importance of building tight relationships between the three generations of a family and how grandparents can gain a relevant role in their grandchildren's lives. Rick shares details of why he got into writing and teaching about grandparenting, the unexpectedly massive response he and his wife got to their courses, and some fun memories from those events. Rick also explains how most of his teachings about grandparenting apply to leadership and team building, and much more. Tune in to Episode 346 to learn more about the value of getting three generations closer and working as a solid unit, and find the balance between family and work. Some Questions I Ask:What caused you and Linda to shift from teaching about parenting to working with grandparents? (7:17)You mentioned that three-generation families are the future. Can you talk just a bit more about that? (15:27)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why and when grandparenting became a thing (5:26)Grandparenting is done 1 on 1; the same principles apply to 2 grandsons or 34 (9:11)Why relationships are more important than our achievements (14:13)The moment Rick and Linda realized they had to write two separate books about grandparenting (20:57)If there are problems we can anticipate and be prepared for, why don't we learn about them (26:39)Resources:Grandparenting 101 websiteEyres On the Road podcastRick and Linda Eyre's booksConnect with Rick:TwitterYouTubeBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are simple things we can add to our routines that, once they become habits, can be massively impactful in our lives. Being in celestial or divine time is one of them, and in this special episode with our cameo guest, Rob Shallenberger, we'll learn everything about it. Today, we explore the concept of being in divine time, what it means, how we can organize our lives around this idea, and how to turn it into a habit. Rob shares his experiences with divine time at the Air Force and narrates how they developed a culture and standard procedures based on it. We also go through 8 benefits of actively practicing being in divine time, how it can improve our lives and the lives of everyone around us, make us better team players, build trust, and be more productive, among many other benefits. Tune in to Episode 345 of Becoming Your Best, and learn the secrets of this life-changing habit that can literally help you be more often in the right place at the right time. In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the origin of being in divine time concept (1:59)Our cameo guest, Rob Shallenberger, shares his experiences with the divine time at the Air Force (3:12)How being in divine time can positively affect how we feel about ourselves (8:29)The divine time and its stress-reducing properties (10:22)How to prevent accidents and increase productivity by adding the habit of being in divine time (13:35)What are the things we should avoid when getting ready for a meeting (14:40)Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After many years of being surrounded by the wrong people and investing his time and energy into ephemeral things, our guest, Jefferson Rogers, realized he was not only heading on a path with no future but also destroying his life. Slowly but surely, he started to pay attention to the voice that echoed from within until an unavoidable truth hit him -- we are one decision away from a completely different life.Jefferson K. Rogers is the Founder and CEO of JKR Windows, a multimillion-dollar company built from scratch in less than five years. He is also a speaker, mentor, author, and host of the ALL IN podcast.In this episode, Jefferson shares the tumultuous path he went through before becoming a successful entrepreneur and depicts how different his life was just five years ago. We explore the importance of listening and letting ourselves be guided by our core values and how crucial it is to rely and focus on our family to grow and develop ourselves personally and professionally.Jefferson also shares his particular take on motivation, the power of trusting the process and being patient, and how critical it is to surround ourselves with the right people.Tune in to Episode 344 and let yourself be inspired by Jefferson's fantastic story and unstoppable desire to become his best.Some Questions I Ask: Could you tell us about your background and how you ended up where you are today? (3:33) For people that are struggling to get started or to really grow their business, how can they stay motivated through that whole process? (12:41) Can you talk about how important it is to have a strong network and mentors? (20:03)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Sometimes we need to reach a shallow point before realizing we need to change something (4:33) Dramatic changes are not about a magical moment; it is about a process (8:16) The importance of building our life on a foundation of solid principles and habits (15:13) Why surrounding ourselves by inspiring people is paramount to our future (20:08) Some of the most important lessons Jefferson has learned throughout his life (25:31)Connect with Jefferson:websiteLinkedInInstagramFacebookALL IN podcastBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we explore the subtle difference between empathy and compassion. Although the distinction might seem barely noticeable, understanding it can not only change our lives and how we see the world, but it can help us have a more significant impact on the lives of others.Throughout this episode, we analyze the intrinsic value of empathy and compassion and establish the logical pathway they'll lead us to, the effects of exposing ourselves to them for long periods, and how they affect how we see the world.We also go through three examples of compassionate people who made a massive difference in Rob's life with simple, compassionate acts and certainly influenced how he understands the power of compassion. In addition, we learn three simple yet powerful actionable items to be more compassionate in our lives.Tune in to Episode 343 of Becoming Your Best, to learn the difference between empathy and compassion. It can change your worldview, your interactions with others, and the impact you can have on their lives.In This Episode, You'll Learn: A brief story of what inspired today's episode (2:15) The difference between empathy and compassion (3:46) Why empathy alone can be emotionally and physically draining (6:17) Three brief stories of how compassion impacted Rob's life (8:52) How we can actively practice compassion in our lives in three simple steps (14:45)Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's special edition of the show, we revisit five of the most impactful and meaningful interviews in recent times.   We start our journey with the interview with the President and CEO of FJ Management Inc, Crystal Maggelet, who shared a compelling set of leadership principles and revealed the secret of creating a unique culture among several companies.    Then, we revisit the interview with Stephen McGarvey, President and Partner of Solutions in Mind, where we learned how our thoughts influence our behavior and feelings about ourselves. Stephen also gave us valuable advice on the constructive use of the word "why" and how to lead people into a positive state of mind.   The next stop is at our fun interview with my dear friend, Mark Holland, Chief Executive Officer at Ascend Staffing. Mark delved into the importance of communicating with the truth and how crucial networking is for career development.   The CEO at ASEB (Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay), Micheal Pope, is the fourth interview we highlight. She discusses the importance of learning from our mistakes and shares two of the most important lessons she learned throughout her life.    The last interview is the one with the inspirational Dorothy Russell, the 97 years old lady who served as a Civic, Political, Business, and social leader across several countries, who I met at a mission in Uruguay and Paraguay. In this opportunity, Dorothy shared precious advice on life and treasured relationships.   Tune in to Episode 342 of Becoming Your Best and listen to these unforgettable interviews with these fabulous guests to keep improving, and take a step further in becoming your best version.   In This Episode, You'll Learn: The powerful leadership principles shared by Crystal Maggelet (2:56) The power of your thoughts and emotions with Stephen McGarvey (5:46) The importance of networking and relationships with Mark Holland (9:52) What can we learn from our mistakes with Micheal Pope (14:32) The best life advice from Dorothy Russell (19:42)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most of us grow up with many questions and mysteries about money and finances, mostly because none of us received financial education at school. This lack of information certainly makes things harder regardless of our economic situation; financially uneducated wealthy people are more likely to lose their money, and those who aren't wealthy will struggle more than they should.Todd Skousen joins to help us understand the money game and ensure we protect our assets and enjoy a turbulence-free retirement. Todd is a Financial Consultant, Managing Partner at Links Consulting, and part of Decisive Investor, a software developed to help people navigate the market and grow their personal investment accounts.Throughout our conversation, Todd translates the intricate financial language into layman's terms. He explains the importance of having an economic blueprint and building our "financial house" based on it where our future self can rest comfortably without worrying about running out of money.Todd shares the principles of building a robust financial attitude; he explains how to deal with the #1 expense in our lives and why we must consider the "three trees" when considering our investment portfolio. We also discuss the importance of preserving wealth, leaving our emotions out of our finances, and more.Tune in to Episode 341 and learn a simple yet efficient way to manage your finances so you can protect your money and retire wealthy.Some Questions I Ask:Finances can be confusing sometimes. From your perspective and experience, where should someone start? (4:01)Let's talk expenses. What are some of the most significant expenses in our lives? (9:21)If you're talking with someone not wealthy, where should they start taking care of their finances?In This Episode, You'll Learn: The book that helped Todd understand finances from a young age (4:07)The importance of having a plan for our finances (5:13)The three steps to building a solid financial plan (8:41)How we should look at our investment assets through the three trees example (10:16)Todd shares his thoughts on what are the best options for people to start investing (22:26)The importance of wealth preservation (29:29)Resources: Decisive Investor websiteBook: George Classon - The Richest Man In BabylonBook: Robert Hagstrom - The Warren Buffett WayBook: Clayton Christensen - How Will You Measure Your Life?Connect with Todd: LinkedIn todd@decisiveinvestor.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inspiring leaders are passionate about their vision and act congruently with it. They also pay close attention to their wording and their actions' subconscious messages. Today, the world-leading authority in unconscious communication, Stephen McGarvey, invites us to look at leadership from his unique perspective.  Stephen is a Life and Business Strategist, a Persuasion and Influence Expert, International Speaker, Philanthropist, and a USA Today's #1 Best-selling Author. In his latest book, "Ignite a Shift," Stephen takes his readers on a journey to explore the subtleties of persuasion and teaches valuable resources to influence oneself and others.In this episode, we delve into Stephen's past, his love for learning, his dislike for school, and how being labeled as "learning disabled" in elementary school propelled his career. Stephen shares his thoughts on how to build positive and influential leadership skills, how to engage with remote teams, and the most effective ways to build relationships in the workspace.Stephen also unravels influencing techniques, like the paradox of why, how powerful it can be to replace certain words and avoid using others, the power of using positive statements, and more.Tune in to Episode 340 of Becoming Your Best, and discover a new way of achieving influential and constructive leadership.Some Questions I Ask: Could you tell us about your background and a crossroad you've gone through that helped you get to where you are today? (3:03) What sets apart a good leader from really a fantastic leader? (5:29) What tips do you have to help professionals communicate effectively in remote work environments? (9:23)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Stephen talks about his book and why he decided to write it (4:39) The importance of congruity and integrity (7:12) The importance of understanding people's stories to engage with them more authentically (14:01) The paradox of why and how to change a conversation's outcome by simply choosing our words carefully (15:33) Why using the word "try" sets a person to failure (19:21)  Resources: Solutions In Mind website Book: Stephen McGarvey - Ignite A Shift  Connect with Stephen: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your BestBook: Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary Laney joins us today to discuss the deep connection between leadership, influence, and relationships.Gary is a two-times best-selling author, a Startup Entrepreneur, a former Hi-Tech Software Executive, Keynote Speaker, Founder of SBL Mastermind, and Former CEO of Trustegrity. Gary recently published "The Power Of Strategic Influence," a book where he sums up the most valuable lessons about leadership he gathered throughout his extensive and successful career in sales, management, and startups.In this episode, Gary shares his thoughts on how influential leaders can modify entire teams' performances and outcomes. We delve into his background and the values he learned from his parents that he applied to his life.We talk about his most recent book, why he decided to write it, how he dealt with the creative process, and which experiences inspired him the most for the job. Gary also talks about leadership, what attributes he believes every leader must have, and the importance of relationships, connections, and surrounding ourselves strategically with people that can add value.Tune in to Episode 339 and learn about Gary's unique view on leadership, values, and being a positive influence for those around us.Some Questions I Ask: Can you tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that significantly impacted you? (3:56)Tell us about your book. Why did you write it, and what's in it? (5:42)How do you define leadership? (8:18)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Gary talks about the process of writing his latest book (7:18)What every good leader must do (9:19)Why PDFs (Personal Driving Forces) are so crucial for leaders (11:48)The Strategic Influence Assessment matrix and how we can use it to improve our leadership (12:31)Gary shares some of the life lessons he got along the way that helped him polish his leadership abilities (19:35)Resources: Success MastersBook: Gary Laney - The Power of Strategic Influence!Connect with Gary: LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During a battle, the side with more chances of getting out of it victorious isn't always the best equipped, experienced, or brave; generally, it is the one with the most cohesive team. Our guest, Colonel John Spencer, divides cohesion into two groups, social and task cohesion. In his over 25 years of experience in the military, he learned that leadership is critical to guaranteeing a team's cohesion, success, and survival.Colonel John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, is a veteran, a widely published author, considered one of the leading experts in military operations in cities, a teacher, and a leader with a Master of Policy Management from Georgetown University. In his over 25 years in the military, John has held ranks from Private to Sergeant First Class and Second Lieutenant to Major.As an Army officer, he was deployed twice in Iraq as an Infantry Platoon Leader and Company Commander. Colonel John Spencer is also the Co-Founder, Strategic Planner, and Deputy Director of the Modern War Institute at West Point.In this episode, we delve into Colonel John's journey in the military and how serving his country and traveling the world changed his perspective on life, purpose, and vision. He describes his realization of how writing can change lives, his passion for studying, researching, and teaching about war and its intimate connection with leadership.We also have a closer look at his family life and the experience of staying home with his children while his wife, whom he met in Iraq, was deployed for combat.  Tune in to Episode 338 to discover a world where leadership and survival go hand in hand.Some Questions I Ask: How did you end up in the military? (4:44) If there's a young person that ranges 16 or 17, what advice do you have for them as they consider joining the military? (9:23) If you look back and think about the things that bring you satisfaction, what would those things be? (19:43)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Colonel John’s dream job and the opportunities he got thanks to his military career (6:13) Colonel John describes the experience of staying at home with his children while his wife was deployed for combat (11:10) The importance of forming cohesive teams (12:13) The differences between the two forms of cohesion (18:43) Colonel John talks about the search for identity and purpose (22:01) The two ways in which people form strong bonds (27:29)Resources: Colonel John Spencer's website Colonel John Spencer's booksConnect with Colonel John Spencer: LinkedIn Instagram Twitter YouTube FacebookBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it possible to double or triple our competitors' revenue in an industry where almost every business sells the same products at barely the same price?In today's episode, Kent Coleman shares how he increased his auto repair shops' revenue without lowering prices, offering the same products their competitors offer, and without being a car guy himself, having little to no knowledge about cars whatsoever.Kent is a Speaker, Consultant, Author, and Big O Tires Franchise Owner. He owns six Big O Tires in Utah, and his stores are among the highest-producing stores in the nation. Kent is also a family man, a husband to Crystal, and the father of four children. He recently published "It's not about the mangos."Throughout our conversation, we delve into Kent's unique approach to sales, culture, and making connections. He shared details of his upbringing, the lessons he took from his failures before acquiring Big O Tires, and the values he got from his family and applied to his life.We also talk about Kent's book, how he came up with the idea of writing it, and the fascinating story of how learning to make connections saved his business. In addition, Kent shared his thoughts on employees' retention, culture, and more.Tune in to Episode 337 to learn how making authentic connections can transform into a shortcut to running a successful business.Some Questions I Ask: Would you please tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have significantly impacted you and mainly what you're doing today? (4:23) What have you learned about some of the essential things you can do to make people the main thing? (18:17) How do you care for your people so they want to stay? (23:54)In This Episode, You Will Learn: The moment Kent realized the corporate world wasn't for him (5:56) Kent talks about the experience of acquiring an auto repair shop without being a car guy (9:05) The story that inspired Kent’s book (10:56) How Kent manages to hire the best people to work for him (21:51) How the best way to benefit an organization is through focusing on its people (30:13)Resources: Big O Tires Utah website Tire Guy Kent website Book: Kent Coleman - It's Not About the MangosConnect with Kent: LinkedIn FacebookBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Email: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Effective communication is at the center of any successful interaction, whether at work or in our personal lives. We know it requires practicing active listening and being transparent, assertive, and firm when speaking. Still, most of us get it wrong, even those who reached reasonable success in business. Today's guest, Dr. Rick Brandon, has a lot to teach us about communication, active listening done the right way, and how to help our teams transcend into their best version.Dr. Rick Brandon, Ph.D., is the Founder and President of Brandon Partners, a globally respected firm that offers workshops on interpersonal and political savvy. Dr. Rick co-authored the Wall Street Journal bestseller "Survival of the Savvy" and recently published "Straight Talk," the book that sums up the workshop Dr. Rick has been presenting and teaching worldwide for the past 20 years.In this episode, Dr. Rick explains how to acquire the Straight Talk mindset and how it can transform and upgrade our communication skills. We navigate his early passion for communication, his past as an educator, and the turning points that defined his path.Dr. Rick also shares the fundamentals of the GAIN commitment, the massive cost of faulty communications, the misconceptions about active listening, and much more.Tune in to Episode 336 to discover how to fully embrace the power of next-level communication.Some Questions I Ask: Could you share your background and the turning points that helped you get to where you are today? (4:36) Could you tell us about your book, and why you decided to write it? (7:34) Can you explain how to implement the Straight Talk mindset to communicate? (21:03)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Dr. Rick talks about why he was a communicator before he was born (5:41) Why the soft skills are actually hard skills (10:38) The misconceptions about active listening (14:44) Dr. Rick goes through the GAIN commitment (21:43) Dr. Rick explains how to proceed when someone simply doesn't want to talk (26:58)Resources: Brandon Partners websiteBook: Dr. Rick Brandon - Straight TalkBook: Dr. Rick Brandon - Survival of the SavvyConnect with Dr. Rick: LinkedIn  Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building and nurturing our relationships intentionally is essential to living a life by design. Personal relationships are one of the top predictors of longevity; therefore, we hold tremendous power by choosing what kind of relationship we establish with those around us.In this episode, we go through 10 tips to revitalize our relationships and be more in touch with our closest ones' emotional needs. We'll begin by laying the foundation and establishing what we need to implement before starting and what to expect from these 10 tips.We analyze and understand emotional calls and why we must pay attention to them. We also learn how pre-week planning and scheduling time for specific love demonstrations, developing rituals, and identifying our vision can help us develop long-lasting healthy relationships.Tune in to Episode 335 of Becoming Your Best and learn how being intentional in relationship building can change your life and the life of those around you.In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why we must take care of our personal relationships, regardless of our success at work (2:15) The importance of patience, time, and effort (4:03) What is an emotional call, and how can we address it (6:13) The power of anticipating what we need to do and making space for what's essential (7:49) How morning rituals can boost our days (11:31) The six seconds daily kiss (12:29) How focusing on our vision instead of on the challenges can help us (15:23) The importance of finding time to acknowledge and praise our partner's attributes and skills (19:35) Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our brains ignore most of the information they receive. This makes total sense from a practical standpoint; it'll be impossible to concentrate on an email we must send if we think of the temperature, the light, the clothes touching our body, or counting every time we blink.Although our mind's auto-mode was designed to make our lives easier, an imbalance in this default setting can be detrimental to our mental health, causing anxiety or depression. Our guest, Dr. Paul Jenkins, developed a model designed to see, understand, and modify our automatic responses to reality, liberating ourselves from anxiety and depression and creating genuine positivity in our lives.Dr. Paul Jenkins is a Positivity Psychologist, Author, Speaker, and Positive Parenting Crusader. Dr. Paul is also the host of the successful podcast Live on Purpose Radio and the Live on Purpose TV YouTube channel, with over 360,000 subscribers.In this episode, Dr. Paul teaches us how paying attention to some of the obvious things our mind does by default can help us change our reality and reach a positive state of mind. We better understand the root cause of anxiety and depression and learn how to create hope and gratitude -- their antidotes. We also discuss the benefits of practicing metacognition, mental hacks for anxiety and depression, and more.Tune in to Episode 334 and learn how taking a moment to think about your thoughts can help you make your own life easier.Some Questions I Ask: What exactly is positivity from a psychological perspective? (6:38) Isn't it interesting that when our minds go forward to the future unless we're conscious and intentional about it, the default almost seems to be to the negative? Why does this happen? (26:23)In This Episode, You Will Learn:What metacognition is and how we can use it to enhance our lives (3:31)The two automatic processes our mind does in every situation (9:29)The importance of comparison on how we feel about what we know, see and feel (15:08)Dr. Paul explains what makes us feel depression (18:21)Dr. Paul talks about the root causes of anxiety (25:58)Why hope and gratitude are the antidotes for anxiety and depression (29:04)Dr. Paul's final tip: thinking matters (38:35)Resources: Dr. Paul Jenkins's websiteLive On Purpose Radio podcastLive On Purpose TV YouTube channelGet Your Positivity Model Graphic FREE!Connect with Dr. Paul Jenkins: LinkedInInstagramBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reaching a calm and balanced state of mind is crucial to preparing ourselves to advance in our journey of becoming our best version and, therefore, achieving outstanding results in our professional and personal lives. One of the best ways of doing it is by reflecting and practicing meditation in any of its forms.Today's episode is an invitation to pause for a moment and take some time to reflect and think about life's essential things. Together, we delve into stirring quotes to help us reflect on friendship, success, empathy, freedom, and humor, to name some of them. We explore inspirational quotes from Abraham Lincoln, the importance of meditation, and how we can use it to calm our minds and soul.In This Episode, You'll Learn: What is the reason why we meditate, and why it is so important to our mental and physical health (1:51) The several ways of meditation we can choose from (2:24) Inspiring quotes from Abraham Lincoln (4:27)Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perhaps one of the worst things we can do as leaders is to compare ourselves with others' accomplishments, styles, or strategies in an unhealthy way. Of course, we can borrow tools and resources from other leaders, but only if they enhance our skills and elevate our game. Our guest, Clint Hoopes, has developed a method to help leaders be at the top of their possibilities without unnecessary competition, free of comparison, and become their best version at work and in their homes.Clint is a loving husband, proud father of six, host of the top-rated podcast Unrivaled Man, and a Married Businessmen Coach. Through one-on-one coaching, Clint uses his Unrivaled Momentum Framework to help men thrive and become better fathers, husbands, and leaders.In this episode, our conversation revolves around Clint's principles and guidance on becoming better leaders for our teams and inspiring members of our household. We also talk about how to upgrade our identity, create a clear vision, and be "where our feet are" in our personal and professional lives.Tune in to Episode 332 of Becoming Your Best to learn how to become an unrivaled leader without neglecting the most important people in our lives.Some Questions I Ask:How can the ladies listening in today take advantage of our discussion? (2:07)Could you tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have significantly impacted you? (4:00)Your podcast is the Unrivaled Man. What does that mean? What's the purpose of it? (9:50)In This Episode, You'll Learn:Being a leader can be lonely sometimes (4:19)The story that made Clint realize he had to make a change in his leadership style (5:47)What it means to be an unrivaled man (10:13)What is and how to reach the Unrivaled Momentum (13:41)Why we shouldn't overlook and appreciate moments of pause and reflection (25:23)Connect with Clint:websitepodcastLinkedInInstagramFacebookEmail: clint@flavorofleadership.comBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not having enough time to tick the boxes of our daily tasks is a sensation many people can relate to. It's not surprising, honestly, considering the constantly bombarded with information and fast-paced societies we live in.Proper delegating and staying in our zone of genius is huge for getting the best out of our energy and knowledge; still, it's not enough. Our guest, Donna McGeorge, figured out there is another tool we can use to maximize our time, and she joins us today directly from Australia to share everything about it.Donna McGeorge is a Global Authority in productivity. She has over ten years of experience as a dynamic change agent in Australia's leading corporate environments. She is an Online Speaker, Mentor, and Best-selling Author of several books on productivity and how to get the best out of our time.Throughout our conversation, we unravel Donna's unique view on time usage and the vital importance of the time of the day we choose to perform each task. We talk about Donna's extraordinary upbringing surrounded and influenced by military discipline and art. We also talk about the four parts of the day and maximize time working from home and the office.Tune in to Episode 331 to learn how to get a time refund, and help your best version to get the best out of every minute.Some Questions I Ask: Could you tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have significantly impacted you and what you're doing today? (3:09) How do we find the best way to protect our time when all those little chirping birds want it? How do you do it? (7:28) How do you handle the interruptions, the unexpected things that come up during the day? (16:24)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why the first two hours of our working day are the most important (5:41) The four parts of our day (8:55) The best activities to do after lunch (11:48) How to set healthy boundaries to protect our time (19:01) What are the things we can do to make our future self's life easier (22:47)Resources: Donna McGeorge's websiteDonna McGeorge booksConnect with Donna: LinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebookBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us today to talk about mindset, self-improvement, and accountability is Walter Bond, Keynote Speaker, Business Coach, Author, and former NBA player. Although Walter made it to the NBA and played for the Utah Jazz with great stars like Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Mark Eaton, he felt embarrassed about himself after failing at one thing when he realized the world was bigger than just sports. He is also the CEO of Walter Bond Worldwide Inc and the author of the best-selling books "Swim," "Always Looking Forward," and "All Buts Stink!"In this episode, we are entertained and informed by Walter's energy and wisdom on leadership, self-development, and coaching. He shares the lessons he got from his experience as an NBA player and college student and the moment Walter realized he missed something in his life. In addition, Walter explains The Sacred Six -- six steps to reach a shark's mindset and rule our lives as sharks rule the ocean. Tune in to Episode 330 of Becoming Your Best and learn everything you need to know to stop making excuses and start reaching your goals and making your dreams come true. Some Questions I Ask:Could you tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that significantly impacted you? (4:03)What advice do you have for parents with a young adult child struggling in school and want to help them turn around at that critical time? (6:24)Can you give us some tips on having a shark's mindset? (10:15)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the moment Walter realized he had failed despite all his success in sports (5:15)The reason why sharks run the ocean (8:42)The Sacred Six. Tips and advice for a shark's mindset (11:02)The best way to stop making excuses (16:21)Accountability will set us all free (21:12)Resources:Walter Bond websiteBook: Walter Bond - Swim!: How a Shark, a Suckerfish, and a Parasite Teach You Leadership, Mentoring, and Next Level SuccessBook: Walter Bond - Always Looking ForwardBook: Walter Bond - All Buts Stink! How to Live Your Best Life and Eliminate ExcusesFree Ebook: Walter Bond - NextConnect with Walter:LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Developing a long-lasting stormproof vision is an essential part of our journey to becoming our best. Whether it is an organizational or personal vision, it'll provide direction to our teams, ourselves, and even our customers. In this episode, we analyze the transformational effects of setting a powerful vision. Using the 3 Little Pigs story as a case study, we unravel the benefits of having a well-thought, consistent vision that inspires those around to do their best to live and work according to that vision, which will also help them find their way back when they get out of track. We analyze several examples of companies that made their own and their customers' lives easier by providing a clear, short, and concise vision of how they conduct their business and what values they expect to deliver. We also look closely into a few details to consider when writing our personal vision, the pitfalls to avoid, and why it is crucial to check and review our vision from time to time. Tune in to Episode 329 of Becoming Your Best and learn the nuts and bolts of building a solid and transformational vision to lead your business and your life. In This Episode, You Will Learn:Three experiences that inspired today's episode (2:14)The inspirational drive of a kids' story (6:51)You want a vision that is made of bricks (12:59)How to use a personal vision to inspire and guide others (14:24)Tips and advice on how to write a personal vision (16:32)How concise and clear visions can help build a solid business (19:48)Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are fewer better examples of what visionary leadership can do than the Rwandan progress. After the tragic civil war of 1994 that killed nearly 1 million Rwandan citizens in less than 100 days, leaders of the fourth-smallest country in Africa realized that they had to start by improving their leadership skills to change their country's fate. Less than 20 years later, they decreased poverty and unemployment significantly, increased life expectancy, and established universal health care. Rwanda is a leading country in gender equality, its economy keeps growing, and malaria and maternity mortality rates dropped. Emery Rubagenga, CEO of ROKA Global Resources, the leading ore mining, processing, and exporting company in Rwanda, visit us to talk about the remarkable Rwandan progress. Emery is also a board member of the African Wildlife Foundation. Thanks to his participation in the Eisenhower Fellowships 2022 Global Program, we were lucky enough to get a hold of him. In this episode, we get to size the power of proper leadership using the Rwandan example as a point of reference. Emery kindly described his home country's beauties, the challenges they faced throughout history, and the impressive changes they're experiencing. We also talk about how technological improvement impacted rural areas and students' lives and the reality-change effects of instilling the right mindset of excellence in leaders. Tune in to Episode 328 of Becoming Your Best and learn about the Rwandan experience and their commitment to becoming the best version of themselves. Some Questions I Ask:Could you talk about your experiences at the Eisenhower Fellowships 2022 Global Program? (4:33)What factors are creating such a powerful difference in the success of Rwanda today? (15:41)In This Episode, You Will Learn:How was Rwandan reality, and how it has dramatically improved during the last years (4:37)Emery shares some of the experiences lived during his visit to America (8:111)About a visit to the Rwandan jungle and learning how to say 'hi' in the Gorilla language (11:50)The story of Clare Akamanzi and the results of adopting a mindset of excellence (20:19)Connect with Emery:LinkedInTwitterBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being in a leadership position implies that we must set the pace and direction our teams should follow. However, that does not mean that we have all the answers, and there is nothing out there for us to learn. In fact, it's quite the opposite; the more we maintain our curiosity and the urge to learn new things, the bigger the chances are of becoming better leaders for our teams.In this episode, we focus on one of the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders: applying the power of knowledge to our lives.Establishing a mentally and physically healthy life with solid finances, strong relationships, and a strong brand as our vision, we explore how the power of knowledge can help us get there.We dive into four powerful sources of knowledge all of us have access to -- with proven results for many successful and high-performing leaders -- that can immediately impact our lives: mentors and coaches, books, forums or mastermind groups, and the last one, podcasts, seminars, webinars, and any other social broadcasts.Tune in to Episode 327 of Becoming Your Best to learn how to make your curiosity push you into being in a constant learning process.In This Episode, You Will Learn:·     Setting a clear vision, the mandatory first step (2:14)·     About the multiple challenges that show up as we run our business (3:01)·     Curiosity is at the foundation of learning (5:09)·     About my mentors and how they've helped me (8:51)·     What reading does to our brains and how to increase the number of books we read by 100% (13:06)·     How being around other successful and high performing people can elevate our game (18:46)·     Why podcasts and seminars are such a great source of information and excellent curiosity triggers (22:41)Resources:·     Book: Ron Chernow - Alexander HamiltonBecoming Your Best Resources:·     Becoming Your Best Website·     Becoming Your Best University Website·     Becoming Your Best Library·     Email: support@becomingyourbest.com·     Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders·     Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance·     Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When was the last time you checked in with yourself, your habits, and your personal and professional relationships to see how they are serving you in becoming the best version of yourself?In today's episode, I share seven ways to make sure we are living a life by design and focus on our inside game, which will, eventually, reflect on our outside game. We delve into the importance of being aware that situations are neutral; our attitude towards them matters. You’ll also learn how to use the G.I.G.O model in your favor -- Greatness In, Greatness Out.In addition, we value the importance of having a deep and meaningful connection with God, being aware that we are not our thoughts (initially), and embracing the power of Pre-week Planning. You’ll also find out why you should constantly invest in yourself and the crucial role people around you play in your life. Tune in to Episode 326 of Becoming Your Best, to learn all you need to know about the best ways to check in your inside game, so your outside game can harvest the results.In This Episode, You Will Learn: Checking our attitude is something all of us should be doing quite often (2:56) Greatness In, Greatness Out (6:48) Pre-week Planning to enhance our inside game massively (9:32) Our thoughts don't define who we are, but we must certainly be aware of them (12:28) Being connected with a higher power is crucial to having direction, purpose, and hope (16:14) We must constantly be sharping our saw (18:31) People matter. Why we must be aware of who we surround ourselves with (19:49)Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

True leaders are lifelong learners. Those in leadership positions must have an inherent love for learning new things and be humble enough to understand they don't know what they don't know. This thought is one of the many valuable lessons our guest, Shawna Schuh, learned throughout a life of working with and forming leaders from virtually every industry. Raised in a modest home, Shawna was sent to finishing school, where she ended up teaching for over 20 years. Shawna would teach young girls and help them achieve their dreams of becoming models, but after many years of guiding hundreds of teen girls on how to put themselves together, she discovered her true passion: forming leaders. Shawna Schuh is a lifetime adventurer, entertainer, and leadership expert. She holds a Master's Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and worked with Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Fashion Group International, and the National Speakers Association. Shawna also has two TEDx talks to her credit and a passion for helping leaders lead their teams effectively.In this episode, we dive deep into Shawna's unique and infectious view on leadership. We talk about her upbringing, the influence finishing school had on her life, her thoughts on what makes a good leader, and why she believes leaders should become masterful questioners. Shawna also shared the three things most leaders do that limit their possibilities and the massive importance for leaders of having a clear intent guiding their actions. Tune in to Episode 325 and enjoy Shawna's leadership masterclass. Some Questions I Ask:Tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that's had a significant impact on you and what you're doing today (3:25)Tell us about finishing school? What do you teach these young ladies? How did you prepare them? (7:22)What are some of the limiting things leaders do? (21:05)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About why Shawna's mother sent her to finishing school and Shawna's breakthrough moment being there (4:40)The primary purpose of being a leader is to make things easier for others; it is about helping people come out with their own brilliance (10:22)Shawna shares some tips to become a master questioner (15:04)Three things leaders do that limit them (21:08)The power of placing a question behind an affirmation (29:48)Resources:Book: John Gottman - Eight DatesBook: Richard Rohr - Immortal DiamondConnect with Shawna:websiteLinkedInInstagramBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up, Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe's mother would tell her she was a problem solver, an agile thinker, and bound to do hard things. Dr. Robyne's mother had steadfast confidence in her child; she knew her child was an extraordinary being. What she didn't know, however, was that those words would save her daughter's life.Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe is a Keynote Speaker, Writer, and Educator. She specializes in resiliency. She helps people navigate stress, change, leadership, and personal wellness in the workplace. She is the author of Calm Within the Storm and the protagonist of an incredible survival and resiliency story.In this episode, Dr. Robyne shares her impressive survival story of escaping from death's fingers in a river's cold waters. We have an inspiring conversation about resilience, self-awareness, peace, and values. We also talk about the massive difference a consistent champion can make in a child's life, the importance of accepting that having hiccups along the way is normal and expected, and how to increase our abilities to bounce back when we fail.Tune in to Episode 324 to know the benefits of staying calm under the storm, and learn the best ways to incentivize your resiliency.Some Questions I Ask:Could you talk about your background, including any turning points that helped you get to where you are today (3:09)Tell us about the book; how did that come about? (10:30)What does it really mean to be resilient? (12:09)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Dr. Robyne shares her breathtaking survival story (4:15)How can self-awareness, peace help us build resilience (16:31)The power of finding the peace that connects our values (19:52)Dr. Robyne shares some key points of her book (23:02)Our nervous systems just want to keep us alive; it doesn't care about our happiness (28:32)Resources:Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe's websiteBook: Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe - Calm Within the Storm: A Pathway to Everyday ResiliencyConnect with Dr. Robyne:LinkedInInstagramTwitterBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many years before becoming a world-class communication expert, Richard Newman struggled to make friends at school and interact with other kids. Unaware of his condition, high functioning autism, which wasn't diagnosed until he was 44, Richard recognized his major flaw was his communication skills. He became passionate about upgrading his communication skills, so he read every communication book that fell into his hands. Following his passion for becoming a better communicator, Richard decided to live in the foothills of the Himalayas in a tiny Tibetan monastery, where he spent 6 months teaching English to the monks and learning Nepali.Richard Newman is the Founder & CEO of UK Body Talk. He is also a Keynote Speaker, an award-winning writer, and a Communication and Pitch Coach.  In this episode, Richard shares his story of becoming a communication leader and expert. We talk about his experiences living with the Tibetan monks, his life as an actor, and the incredible techniques he learned about body language, how we express ourselves, and what we generate in the receptors of our message. Richard debunks some myths about communication; he highlights the power of storytelling and gifts us with two pro communication tips for leaders and entrepreneurs.Tune in to Episode 323 and learn everything you need to know about how to communicate in a fun, engaging, and productive way.Some Questions I Ask: Tell us about your background, including any turning points and what got you into the world you're in today (3:43) What are some tips that you can share with our listeners about how they can physically carry themselves when communicating? (12:34) Can everyone become a better communicator? Or are some people just born better at this than others? (19:39)In This Episode, You Will Learn: Richard shares where his passion for body language comes from (7:19) To be a great leader, you must be a great communicator (12:31) Gestures really matter (17:10) Keys to good storytelling (24:25) The importance of congruency and lift (29:06) Everybody can improve their communication skills (30:38) Resources: UK Body Talk websiteUK Body Talk TwitterConnect with Richard: LinkedIn InstagramBecoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regardless of their age or how long they have been together, couples experience tension, arguments, or discussions at some point. The outcome of those moments and whether they turn that moment into a huge fight or a friendly conversation depends entirely on how they respond to their spouse's comments. If they feel attacked, they'll react aggressively. If they put their senses together and acknowledge how much they love the person in front of them, they will respond differently.There are several techniques really easy to implement in our lives to prevent us from getting into unproductive arguments, and our guest, Alisa Goodwin Snell, visits us to teach us exactly how to do it.Alisa Goodwin Snell is the Nation's #1 Dating and Relationships Strategist. She is an author, podcast host, and the creator of the Lasting Love Academy, a platform that supports singles and couples to find the formula for loving and lasting relationships.Throughout our conversation, we delve into Alisa's personal story and why she decided to help people find their way into healthy and lasting relationships. We talked about the three red flags all of us should be aware of when we meet someone new, how to train ourselves to detect those red flags in a short time, and the ESP and the ARE model. We also dive into the difference between being a master or a disaster communicator, how to avoid falling into our ego's traps, and preventing unnecessary arguments with our spouses.Tune in to Episode 322 and learn everything you need to know about the best way to solve issues without getting into an argument with your significant other.Some Questions I Ask: Tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that led you to where you're at today (3:33)You talked about ESP; could you explain what it means? (7:28)What are the four horsemen of disasters of communication? (24:35)In This Episode, You Will Learn: How to recognize almost immediately any of the three red flags (7:38)How we can get into secure attachment with our couple using the ARE model (10:11)The difference between being a master or a disaster of communication (15:05)What are the self-soothing techniques, and how can they assist us in preventing arguments and discussions (22:52)Resources: Lasting Love Academy websiteLasting Love PodcastBook: Sue Johnson - Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of LoveAlisa Goodwin Snell's booksConnect with Alisa: LinkedInFacebookInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From all the myths and misconceptions around spies and their abilities, perhaps the most utterly inaccurate is thinking that spies are supernatural humans or extraordinary people with mad out-of-this-world skills. They are not; they are ordinary people. Extremely well trained and prepared, but regular people.In today's episode, our guest, Andrew Bustamante, will help us debunk lots of those myths around spies and help us incorporate some of his own training as CIA Intelligence Officer in our lives.Andrew Bustamante is a Former CIA Intelligence Officer, Founder of the EverydaySpy training platform, Private Intelligence consultant, and host of the Everyday Espionage podcast.We had a fantastic conversation about the possibilities hidden in feeling hopeless, the power of asking questions, the advantages of understanding people's perceptions and perspectives, and why realizing that everyone acts pursuing their best interests can change the way we see other people and their actions. Andrew shared how he became a CIA spy; he unraveled some of the most common misconceptions around spies and highlighted the vital importance of being committed to practice, training, and education.Tune in to Episode 321 and learn about the power of asking questions, removing ourselves from the starring role, and gaining an unfair advantage with it.Some Questions I Ask: Tell us about your background, including any turning points, and how you ended up in the CIA? (3:36) What is the most effective spy skill that has helped you succeed outside of the CIA? (6:36) How have you used spy tactics and techniques to build your business? (10:07)In This Episode, You Will Learn: How Andrew discovered that superpowers hide behind weakness (5:38) The power of asking questions, and the difference between open and closed-ended questions (7:25) Andrew shares a five-minute spy hack to read people's minds (11:43) Andrew debunks one of the biggest misconceptions around spies and their abilities (18:38) The power of realizing that fear is a future-oriented feeling (20:31)Resources:EveryDaySpy websiteEveryDaySpy YouTube channelEveryDaySpy RedditEveryday Espionage podcastConnect with Andrew:InstagramFacebookTwitterBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Stop right there! That is a terrible idea, and I'm going to tell you why." Those were the words Art Bell heard from HBO's Head of Programming just a few seconds into pitching his idea of creating a comedy channel. In the following 15 minutes of that meeting, Art heard a long list of reasonable objections to his idea, and all of them made a lot of sense.But Art had a vision; it wasn't only a crazy idea. He had a vision, and he was passionate about it, so he didn't stop there. Since HBO wasn't going to do it, he had to figure out how to put his comedy channel out there.Our guest, Art Bell, is a Former TV Executive, Founder of the Comedy Channel -- which eventually became Comedy Central -- Podcast Host, and the Author of the memoir: "Constant Comedy: How I Started Comedy Central and Lost My Sense of Humor."Throughout this episode, Art shares details of how he created Comedy Central, the humbling experience of being told his idea was terrible, and the importance of his passion and vision to turn the odds around and make such a successful network. We delve into some leadership lessons HBO's Chairman, Michael Fuchs, taught Art, how competition makes us better, and the importance of relying on our passion for finding solutions.Some Questions I Ask:Could you tell us a little more about your background and any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact? (3:06) How did writing your memoirs come about? And how did you put it into a book? (10:17) Did you get your sense of humor back? And how do you get your sense of humor back? (22:47)  What would you recommend to others? What are the critical things people must have to bring innovation and succeed? (27:14)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Art talks about his relationship with Economics and why he decided to get a Major in Economics (4:20) The more Art talked about his idea of creating a comedy channel, the more objections he would hear (7:08) What Art believes is a hallmark of success (13:21) The comedy business is pretty insular (17:03) Michael Fuchs, HBO's Chairman, demonstrates great leadership skills (19:43)Resources: Art Bell's website Book: Art Bell - Constant Comedy: How I Started Comedy Central and Lost My Sense of Humor The Constant Comedy Podcast with Art Bell & Vinnie FavaleBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is a real treat; we are blessed with Dorothy Russell's presence on the show for the second time. She'll be 97 in April, and she just stepped away from managing her real estate properties last year. She had served as a civic, political, business, and social leader across several countries in North, Central, and South America, along with her husband, Gardner Russell.We had an inspiring conversation about Dorothy's secrets and advice for a happy, long-lasting, and fulfilling life. We discuss the central role of nurturing relationships, the importance of focusing on the positives, whether from those around us or the everyday events, and being mindful about our nutrition and exercises routines. Dorothy also shared valuable insights on marriage, friendship, and business. Tune in to Episode 319 of Becoming Your Best and get inspired by Dorothy's beautiful soul. Some Questions I Ask:What was it like managing your properties for so long? And how was it for you to decide to get out? (4:16)Relationships have always been important to you, haven't they? (5:58)What are the things you can do to maximize that longevity and be healthy? (8:49)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About how Dorothy decided to work with real estate (3:10)How Dorothy manages to stay in touch, and the importance of keeping relationships as a priority (6:12)Dorothy's advice on nutrition and exercising (11:53)How taking a step back from a conflict can help us get a different perspective on the issue (13:56)Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It never occurred to our guest, Jeanene Dutt, that a book she read as part of her doctoral program would massively impact her life. She got a copy of "Becoming Your Best" and applied the 12 principles of highly successful leaders to her personal development, losing 40 pounds and improving her personal and professional relationships in the process. Jeanene then decided to extend the transformational power of her experience and develop the several teams she was leading.The next step was becoming a facilitator and training her leadership team to create a shared leadership vision and goal. Creating a common language and vision was the foundation stone; they revolutionized the school, instilling growth and personal development in both students and teachers.Jeanene Dutt is the Principal of North Warren Regional High School; she holds a B.A. in Spanish from Moravian College, an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from East Stroudsburg University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Centenary University.In this episode, Jeanene shares her experience applying the 12 principles of highly successful leaders from "Becoming Your Best," the Six Steps Process from "Start With The Vision," and the leadership tips from "Do What Matters Most" into her personal and professional life. We delve into how incorporating the books into her leadership radically changed not only the workflow from North Warren but her team's holistic approach to leadership, teaching, and, most importantly, students' perspective on their own future and possibilities.Tune in to Episode 318 and glance at the transformational power of leadership focused on growth and personal and professional development. Some Questions I Ask:How were you introduced to Becoming Your Best? And then let's get into what have you done with your teachers? (6:24)What have you been hearing from the teachers? What's been some of the feedback from them? (9:37)From a parental perspective, what things could they do to positively influence the lives of their own children? (23:10)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Education was instrumental in Jeanene's life. She shares bits of her past as an educator and facilitator (4:38)About the personal development, Jeanene experienced applying the 12 principles of highly successful leaders in her personal life (8:04)The implementation of BYB with students in school suspension and its impressive results (15:05)The importance of supporting our kids in their own desires and goals and understanding they can be very different from the ones we created for them (25:07)Resources:North Warren Regional High School websiteBook: James Kouzes, Barry Posner - The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in OrganizationsConnect with Jeanene:Email: jdutt@northwarren.orgBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the worst mistakes we can make as leaders is retaining control. Being responsible for the outcome doesn't mean we must control everything; it's quite the opposite. The moment we learn to hand over control, we empower ourselves and our teams, and extraordinary opportunities emerge. Leading without thinking of handing over control buys excellent opportunities for the present by selling the future.Our guest, Peter Docker, created the concept of leading from the jumpseat in a life-or-death situation he had as a Senior Pilot of the Royal Air Force. In less than two seconds, and with his life and all the passengers' lives on the line, he had to make a decision that would directly impact the outcome of that emergency.Peter Docker is a Keynote Speaker, Teacher, and Author of "Leading from the jumpseat. How to create extraordinary opportunities by handing over control." After a flawless 25-year career in the Royal Air Force, Peter spent over 14 years and counting partnering with businesses worldwide, including Google, The Four Seasons Hotels, and NBC Universal, to name a few.Peter kindly shared the experiences that helped him develop his ideas on leadership, the difference between values and non-negotiables, and the benefits of making a stand rather than having a position. We delve into the concept of leading from a handing over control mindset, the strength we find in empowering others, and the driving force of our non-negotiables. We also talk about embracing vulnerability as a form of leadership and where love, fear, and leadership intersect.Tune in to Episode 317 and discover how empowering leading from the jumpseat can be.Some Questions I Ask:Tell us about your background, and include any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on you (4:22)Let's talk about the non-negotiables. How do you identify these so that they're clear to you and resonate? (14:01)How does the perspective of commitment and the role of fear, love, and courage apply to business and life? (26:37)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About how our purpose impacts our life and every single decision we make (7:04)The moment when the leading from the jumpseat concept was born (10:19)How we can discover what our non-negotiables are (16:11)The differences between position and stand (18:54)Becoming comfortable with leading without having all the answers (24:13)What is humble confidence and how it can empower everyone around us (27:12)Resources:Lead from the Jumpseat websiteBook: Peter Docker - Leading from the Jumpseat: How To Create Extraordinary Opportunities by Handing Over Control.Connect with Peter:LinkedInInstagramBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Beijing hosts the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, feeling the Olympic spirit hovering around is inevitable. The athletes who spend four years training to compete for a couple of minutes, in some cases just seconds, are, at minimum, inspiring.The phrase "Citius, Altius, Fortius" pronounced by the Dominican priest Henri Didon before a school competition in 1881 was adopted by the games and slowly but surely, turned into an Olympic symbol, just like the Olympic flame and the Olympic rings. Citius, Altius, Fortius; faster, higher, stronger. The phrase sums up the Olympic spirit, and it is as inspiring as the athletes themselves. It pushes us to always give our best, work consciously and consistently to achieve our goals, and never surrender.Today's episode is about pouring the Olympic spirit into our personal and professional lives. We travel back to 2002 when the Tabernacle Choir performed John Williams' "Call of the champions" during the Winter Olympics to listen to its inspiring sound and take a moment to nurture our most profound desires of becoming our best. We also go through three of the most significant lessons we can learn from the Olympics and explore how to translate them into our lives. In addition, we remember two stories from the Olympic Games, Derek Redmond's heartbreaking ending in 1992 in Barcelona, and one of the greatest swimming comebacks of all time in Beijing, in 2008, when the US team conquered gold in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.Tune in to Episode 316 and let the deep desire of overcoming obstacles and working every day to be your best version invade your life.In This Episode, You Will Learn:What can "Citius, Altius, Fortius" represent in our lives (4:03) Tabernacle Choir plays John Williams' "Call of the champions" (5:57) The three main lessons we can get from the Olympics (11:10) The story of Derek Redmond's 400 meters race (15:10) Jason Lezak and the greatest swimming comebacks of all time (19:18) Resources: The Tabernacle Choir's Olympic Opening Ceremony Connection Book: Malcolm Gladwell - Outliers: The Story of Success Derek Redmond's Emotional Olympic Story - Barcelona 1992 Olympics Beijing 2008 - The greatest swimming comeback of all time? Inspirational Quote - Theodore Roosevelt  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best Library Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It took almost 30 minutes of a presentation for our guest, Micheal Pope, to realize she had lost her audience at the beginning of her exposition. The experience taught her a valuable lesson; she had to listen first, be humble, and never assume audiences are willing to receive her grandiose knowledge about a subject. Her grandiose knowledge must match the needs and ideas of the audience, and not the other way round. That day, Micheal understood that the most important thing a leader can do is listen with intention and clarity. Micheal Pope is the CEO at ASEB (Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay). She is a professional leader with several years of experience in Public Speaking, Community Outreach, and Non-Profit Organizations. Micheal is also the Host of the Life is a Sacred Journey podcast and a Conference Lay Leader of the California/Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church. In this episode, we had a fantastic conversation about leadership, the power of intentional listening, the art of building cohesive teams, and how to form team members who support each other. We also talk about the importance of balancing our personal and professional lives and the courage required to move beyond what we think we know to learn new things. Micheal kindly shared the most valuable lessons she got in her personal and professional life that helped her become the leader she is today and her passion for building relationships and working with diverse populations, and more.   Tune in to Episode 315 and let yourself go into Micheal's infectious positive energy, hope for a better world, and fantastic leadership skills. Some Questions I Ask:Could you tell us about the Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay? (3:16)What are some of your key lessons learned, professionally, that have helped you, your teams, and the organization to be successful? (8:01)If you had the chance to sit down with someone joining your team, what would you say to them about what it means to be a great team member? (14:41)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Micheal’s hard but fulfilling work at the Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay (4:51)Micheal talks about her podcast and what made her start it (6:15)The most important thing a leader can do is listen. Micheal shares a valuable lesson she learned along the way (9:13)About Micheal's imbalance in her professional and personal life, and how she solved it (19:41)Not everybody who looks or acts in one way will end up being who you think they are. (23:24)Resources:Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay websiteMicheal Pope Productions websiteLife Is A Sacred Journey podcastConnect with Micheal:LinkedInBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best Library Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A random act of kindness can completely change someone's day, and it doesn't have to be something huge; a simple thing will do the trick. We can make a positive comment about someone's outfit or skills, let a person behind us in line take our place, or we can let someone in and take the higher road in traffic. The best part of it is that kindness is a choice, and each one of us can choose to be kind to others, to lift their day, and feel better about ourselves.   This episode is about the human superpower of being kind for no reason, with people we don't know, and moved by the selfless choice of turning kindness into one of our core values. We talk about the need for kindness to deal with the polarized world we live in, the effects of kindness on others and ourselves, and why answering with kindness, regardless of how chaotic things are around us, is always the best way out.   Tune in to Episode 314 of Becoming Your Best and discover the power of kindness and how we can use it to change our day and the day of everyone else around us.  In This Episode, You Will Learn: How can we be catalysts of kindness (2:51) Being kind to our friends and relatives is relatively easy. We must also practice kindness with strangers (3:42) The difference between self-care and seeing the world through a selfish perspective (6:12) The need for intentionality around kindness (7:50) The story about the pregnant lady at the airport and a stranger's random act of kindness (8:40) There are opportunities to practice kindness around us all the time (11:45)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every day of our lives is an invitation to take a step closer to our life's purpose, find it if we haven't yet, reassess and correct the course of our direction towards our goals if needed, and challenge ourselves to become better than the day before.  Having an inspiring and motivating purpose is a life enlarger; it makes us want to improve, learn new tricks, and set and achieve new personal and professional goals.   Today's episode is an invitation to live by a purpose, to have weekly, monthly, and or annual goals, and develop a system to keep us accountable for them. We go through a couple of personal stories to illustrate the power and the benefits of designing a purpose and committing to achieving it, the 5,000 shot goal, and the life-changing experience of turning a dream into a plan.   Tune in to Episode 313 of Becoming Your Best and get inspired to seek a purpose, design a plan to achieve it, and have a fun time doing it.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: No one wants to be guilty of the description "old dogs can't learn new tricks." (3:27) The possibility of reflecting on our personal vision and purpose (5:06) The 5,000 shot goal (5:41) Having an inspiring purpose as the secret for longevity (13:11) Turning dreams into plans (14:59)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brandon Steiner received his first lesson in entrepreneurship when he was 12; it was free and given by his own mother. He was after a prize of a candy bars box for whoever opened up the most accounts on a paper route. After days of not getting any new clients and seeing him devastated by his repeated failure, his mother gave him a piece of advice he would carry his entire life and make part of his core values as an entrepreneur.   "Stop selling; you can't expect people to just buy a product from you. Differentiate yourself, be a solution-oriented salesperson. You have to solve, you have to serve, stop selling."  Brandon Steiner is the Founder and President of The Steiner Agency and CollectibleXchange, Motivational and Inspirational Speaker, and Author. Brandon has spoken to world-class organizations such as the New York Yankees, BMW North America, Nike, and Live Nation, to name a few. He is the author of "Living on Purpose: Stories, About Faith, Fortune, and Fitness that Will Lead You to an Extraordinary Life," "The Business Playbook: Leadership Lessons from the World of Sports," and "You Gotta Have Balls: How a Kid from Brooklyn Started From Scratch, Bought Yankee Stadium, and Created a Sports Empire."  Today, in Brandon's second appearance on the show, we decided to divide our episode into two halves. In the first half, we talk about entrepreneurship, and in the second, about parenting. We delve into the three stages of entrepreneurship and why mastering them is crucial, and Brandon kindly shared bits of his past and how he became a successful entrepreneur. We also talk about parenting, what are parents' most common mistakes, and how we can help our kids by "loving them a little less."  Tune in to Episode 312  and learn about Brandon's secrets to being a successful entrepreneur and inspiring parent.   Some Questions I Ask: Where would you start with entrepreneurship? What do you think every entrepreneur should have? (6:53) Parenting is one of the most exciting, rewarding, challenging roles a person can have. Could you share some insight on what parents should do and avoid doing? (20:19)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: About Brandon's journey in entrepreneurship (2:53)Brandon's first lesson in entrepreneurship: stop selling (11:23)It's when we have our back against the wall that growth happens (15:57)The three stages of entrepreneurship (16:31)"Loving our kids a little less." Brandon's thoughts on parenting (20:42) Resources: CollectibleXchange website Book: Brandon Steiner - Living on PurposeBook: Brandon Steiner - You Gotta Have BallsBook: Brandon Steiner - The Business Playbook  Connect with Brandon: LinkedIn  Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early in his career, Dr. David Burns asked his mentor, Aaron Beck, what to do with hopeless patients, the ones medicine didn't have an answer for. Beck's answered he never gave up on a patient, and that David should build his own policy in that regard. As a result, Dr. Burns adopted that philosophy and never gave up on a patient; he happily assisted thousands of patients with a 100% recovery rate.   Our guest, Dr. David Burns, is one of the world's leading authorities dealing with anxiety, depression, and other mental conditions. He received his M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is also a Podcast Host and Author of several books, including "Feeling Good - The New Mood Therapy" and "Feeling Great - The Revolutionary New Treatment for Depression and Anxiety."  After over 40 years of research and working with tens of thousands of patients, Dr. Burns developed revolutionary and effective tools to deal with anxiety and depression. He is moved by a genuine desire to help people feel better, and for the last 25 years, he hadn't prescribed a single medication to any of them.   Dr. Burns kindly shared bits of his lifetime research in this episode, dropping countless golden nuggets of wisdom and inspirational thoughts. We also talked about the real reason behind why we feel depressed and anxious, illustrated by a beautiful experience Dr. Burns had with one woman in front of an entire audience.   Tune in to Episode 311 and listen to what Dr. Burns has to say about our mood, thoughts, and how they combine to make us feel how we feel.   Some Questions I Ask: Could you share a little of your background? (2:36) From your perspective, what are you seeing in the world right now about anxiety and depression? (6:24) What would you say is the starting point for someone listening to this right now? (23:24)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: About the tools we had and the ones we have now to deal with anxiety and depression (8:04) Everyone has some level of anxiety. The danger of starting to generalize anxiety (11:13) Anxiety and depression as a result of what is right with us, not what is wrong with us (11:31) The case of a woman who recovered in front of an audience (13:14) Some of the things Dr. Burns learned along the way and some people find controversial (28:45)  Resources: Feeling Good - Dr. Burns website Dr. David Burns books Feeling Good Podcast  Connect with Dr. Burns: Facebook Twitter  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watching her mother create beautiful pieces on a white canvas and her father, a self-made real estate agent, flipping houses with ease, Ariel Ganter learned early in her life she could create whatever she wanted and live her life without having "a real job."  Pursuing her desire to help people have a better life, Ariel got in touch with a brain-computer interface system, EEG, capable of reading brain waves and providing real-time feedback on brain activity. Fast forward many years, Ariel would use EEG to develop a technology capable of helping people untangle their busy minds with the power of mindfulness. Ariel Garten is the Founder and Chief Evangelism Officer at IteraXon Inc, responsible for creating MUSE, The Brain Sensing Band. MUSE makes meditation easier by sensing the brain activity and sending that information to a phone or tablet, providing the user with real-time audio feedback to help take the guesswork out of meditation. In this episode, Ariel shares bits of her past and her parents' influence in becoming who she is today. We talk about her almost 20 years-long journey to create MUSE, how the brain sensing band works, and how it makes people's lives better. Ariel kindly explained why meditation is so good for us, how many meditation types are available, and how long it takes to start seeing the results of meditating consistently. We also talk about how our brain works while sleeping, the MUSE digital sleeping pill, and much more.  Tune in to Episode 310 to learn about the benefits of meditation and proper sleeping, and what we can do to improve them.   Some Questions I Ask: Tell us about your background, including any points in your life that significantly impacted you (5:38) Tell us about meditation. What is it? How do you do it, why it works, and what happens in the brain when we meditate? (8:51) Do you have a favorite type of meditation that you'd like to do? (14:09)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: From trying to help people control things with their minds to teaching people how to manage their minds (6:24) For how long should someone meditate to start seeing positive results (12:55) How our brain works during sleep (15:20) About MUSE digital sleeping pill (20:26) What trauma does to our brains (27:02)  Resources: MUSE website MUSE Instagram MUSE YouTube MUSE Twitter MUSE Facebook  Connect with Ariel: LinkedIn  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year has been a roller coaster full of unexpected turns. But 2021 is just about to end, and what we need to ask ourselves is, “How will I go into 2022 focused, ready, and aligned with my inner self so that it can be a great year, regardless of what comes?”   Focusing on what matters most empowers you because now your attention goes to the things that are within your control, your sphere of influence, instead of being taken aback by the unexpected events that are not in your power to change.  In this episode, the final one of 2021, we’re going to share with you the three habits that will make 2022 your best year. These habits are ever-green and they have proven time and again to be powerful for the people that constantly apply them. And you can see the results for yourself with a little discipline needed to follow our advice today.  So, listen to Episode 309 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how developing a vision, writing clear goals, and doing pre-week planning can help you stay laser-focused on doing what matters most. We guarantee you that they will improve your relationships, your professional life, as well as have a positive impact on your personal self.  In this episode, you will learn:  Why 85% of New Year’s resolutions are broken by January 15th. (01:36) The Five Predictors of Longevity. (05:25) How to develop a personal vision that focuses on what matters most to you. (06:09) The power of written goals. (10:48) How to word clear goals so that they last past January 15th. (11:54) The importance of pre-week planning. (16:36) The four steps of pre-week planning to correctly shift out of reactivity and into proactivity. (18:20) Our definition of ‘discipline’. (21:41) A couple of examples of people who’ve done the pre-week planning and how that impacted their life. (22:26)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com   Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we get close to the end of December, one of the most celebrated holidays in the world approaches; we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Still, regardless of the beliefs or traditions we might have, Christmas is about respecting and loving each other, creating meaningful memories, and sharing.   In this special episode, we reunited some of our guests to the show, friends, and dear souls to share what Christmas means to them, their best memories, thoughts, and feelings around this holiday.   We are thrilled to hear from Thibault Relecom from Belgium, Melanie Gentry from Florida, Chuck Spaulding from Costa Rica, Dr. Brad Nelson from St. George, Utah, Grace Mugabekazi from Rwanda, Rick Taylor from Alaska, Ron Williams from St. Louis, Missouri, Mark & Wendi Holland from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Alohalani Aran from Honolulu, Hawaii.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: About the Mauritanian tradition that inspired today's show (1:47) Thibault's desire of making every Christmas a wonderful moment, just as it was for him when he was a kid (6:14) About Melanie's life-changing Christmas experience in Tortugas (8:46) Creating joy in the house and having fun. Chuck's primary purpose during the holidays (13:05) Dr. Brad Nelson's beautiful memories delivering presents for other kids (16:43) Dancing, having fun, sharing meals, and quality time with their loved ones. Grace Mugabekazi and her 6-month-old daughter message (21:42) Rick Taylor's beautiful memory of his mother taking 20 or 30 kids around the neighborhood carolin (25:01) Ron Williams and the meaning of the three gifts (29:31) Mark and Wendy highlight the importance of traditions that keep family and loved ones together (33:31) Faith, hope, and charity. Alohalani Aran's beautiful Christmas message (37:03)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Casually reading a magazine in one of the hotels she managed, our guest, Minda Zoloth, discovered several ways of helping locally and thought: gosh, I could do that. Right away, they put together 50 bags of food and donated them. That was the first step of "For The Kids," an organization that donates thousands of hundreds of bags with food every month.   Minda Zoloth is the Director of Revenue Management for seven hotels, Marriott, Hilton, and IHG. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of For The Kids Organization. Besides donating food, For The Kids incorporated a developing and mentoring program for kids; they also help them with reading comprehension, have a local baseball team, and offset costs to play sports.   In this episode, we had an inspiring conversation about For The Kids' immense work and their contribution to the community. Minda shared details of her background and what inspired her to volunteer, donate her time, and spend it with kids in need. We also talk about For The Kids' powerful message: giving them hope by showing them that many people care. Minda kindly shared valuable leadership lessons she got working for so many years managing big groups of people, her motivations to get out of the comfort zone, and much more.   Tune in to Episode 307 of Becoming Your Best, and learn about Minda's fantastic work and her loving contribution to thousands of kids and their families.   Some Questions I Ask: Could you tell our listeners about For The Kids? What is it? What do you do? And how does it work? (4:37) Can you explain to our listeners what your Thanksgiving Day holiday was like? (7:53) What are some of your key lessons learned professionally? (14:22)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: How For The Kids started (5:10) About Minda's childhood difficulties and how they shaped how she sees the world (10:59) What is leadership about, and how to do it properly (16:01) How powerful leading from our vision can be (20:22) What is Minda's most significant vision for the forthcoming years (24:57)  Resources: For The Kids website For The Kids Instagram For The Kids Twitter For The Kids Facebook  For The Kids LinkedIn  Connect with Minda: LinkedIn  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation that exploded in your face, and when you look at what caused the problem, you realize it could've been avoided with a simple action some time ago? Whenever these things happen, they sprain the relationships between people, whether they are professional or personal.   These time-bombs might have dozens of origins, like forgetting to make a phone call, not preparing ourselves for a presentation, or not following up with someone else's job. But they can also be avoided; we can strategize and put systems in place to help us reduce them to the minimum, and if they happen anyways, deal with them the best way possible.   In this episode, we dive deep into preventing and avoiding time-bombs, and if they happen to explode, minimize their damage. We go through some examples of what can cause these explosive situations, what we can do to avoid them, the tools available to deal with them, and how to put them into practice. We also talk about the three things we can do to deal with time-bombs: develop the habit of doing what matters most, create a system that eliminates time-bombs, and be easy on people and hard on the problem.   Tune in to Episode 304 of Becoming Your Best, and equip yourself with new tools to avoid time-bombs and their devastating effects.  In This Episode, You Will Learn: The time-bomb Jim let for Mary (1:56) Time-bombs come in different shapes and forms; however, all have the same effect (5:29) What is a time-bomb, and what can be the cause of it (6:13) The importance of developing the habit of doing what matters most (9:17) How to create systems and processes to eliminate time-bombs crisis (14:10) What is perfection, and why it is essential to chase it (18:09) Be easy on people and hard on what causes the problem (20:49)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether we are conscious of it or not, many of the most significant changes we experience today in our lives result from many small actions in our past. That means every decision we make today, even if it looks small, has a massive impact on our future. In other words, we are the product of our choices.   In this episode, we talk about the impact of being intentional in our everyday small acts. Considering that "the door of history turns on small hinges, and so do people's lives," as one of my mentors wrote, we talk about the three gates that only we can open, and that will lead us into a successful life. We go through these three gates, exploring them and understanding how they can change our lives: the gate of preparation, action, and gratitude. We also talk about the importance of accumulating happy memories, the S.M.A.R.T method to create clear written goals, the importance of being exceptional at our work, and much more.  Tune in to Episode 305 of Becoming Your Best, join us in this conversation about small things, and learn about the great things they can help you achieve.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why it is crucial, we address the connection between everyday small acts and our lives' outcomes (2:48) What are the three gates we must open to be intentional in our small actions (4:48) What is the gate of preparation, and what can we do to be ready to open it (5:07) What is the gate of action, and how can Pre-Week Planning help us open this door (11:37) Why it is crucial to open the gate of gratitude (18:55)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The week of Thanksgiving is a great time of the year; it is an excuse to gather the family together, share some time with people we don't see very often, and why not, eat delicious food. It is the time of the year we take a step back, look around us, and appreciate the people in our lives, we thank what we have, what we achieved, and the things we learned along the way. It is a time for being grateful, and gratitude is a choice we can all make, regardless of the circumstances.   In this special episode, we explore the origins and meaning of Thanksgiving through time. We also go through Forbes' 7 scientifically proven benefits of practicing gratitude, the etymology of the word gratitude, and how gratitude can improve several areas of our lives like energy level, relationships, academics, and even tragedy and crisis.   At the end of this episode, we hear stories of gratitude from four Becoming Your Best family members: Clayton Snyder, Jamie Thorup, Hanna Fabrizio, and Tommy Shallenberger.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: What is the meaning of Thanksgiving in today's world (3:10) Without gratitude, life can be lonely, depressing, and impoverished. Dr. Robert Edmonds take on life without gratitude (4:19) Seven scientifically-proven benefits of gratitude (5:51) Clayton's story of gratitude (8:54) How practicing gratitude changed Jamie's life (9:53) Hanna's gratitude story (11:45) The picture of the little hand holding on at Tommy's finger (12:25) Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrating success makes sense only if we look at the path we went through to get there. It is not about the victory itself; it is about the breakthroughs, the sensation of overcoming setbacks, of crushing challenges, the sensation of gratitude for not having given up in the darkest moments.   Today's episode is about not giving up; it is about discovering that our best often is realized through a spirit of determination, endurance, and faith in ourselves, our skills, and our strength. We go through the stories of famous personalities who achieved great success, changing the course of world history, literature, sports, and politics. We also discuss the importance of removing negative thinking from our vocabulary and the four essential habits to achieve our triumphs.   Tune in to Episode 303 of Becoming Your Best, and learn about the magical power of turning the darkest moments into the fuel to achieve our goals.  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Never give in. About Churchill's inspiration and inspiring speech during World War 2 (2:33) The incredible story of J.K. Rowling (7:03) The astonishing story of Roger Bannister (12:09) The most miserable man alive. Abraham Lincoln's story (18:26) Four essential habits to achieve your triumphs (22:23)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our decisions in our darkest moments distinguish who we are and the legacy we will leave behind. When things get really challenging, our next decision will set who we really are and what we will be remembered for. Ben Kjar learned that early in his life, thanks to his mother, who told him to step up and make a difference in the world. She told him to make his situation a situation he can rise from and thrive, and not just survive.   Ben Kjar is the Owner of the Kingdom Training Center. He is an International Speaker, Believer, Real Estate Investor, Wrestler, a loving Father and Husband, and Victor. Ben was born with Crouzon syndrome, a cranial facial anomaly. He had to undergo several reconstructive surgeries throughout his life, and doctors told him he would never be able to practice contact sports.   Still, Kjar had different plans for himself. He always knew the only one capable of saying what he could or couldn't do, was himself, so he became Utah Valley University's first All-American in wrestling after participating in the 2011 wrestling National Championship.   Today's episode is an inspirational one, and I guarantee you'll come out of it motivated, changed. Ben kindly shared bits of his past growing up, looking different from the other kids, the cruelty he experienced from other kids and adults, and the life-saving message his mother imprinted in him. We also talk about love, forgiveness, compassion, treating failure as an opportunity to bounce back, and always being ready to say yes, and go for what we want in our lives.  Tune in to Episode 302 of Becoming Your Best,  and find out the story of this incredible and inspiring human being.  Some Questions I Ask:Could you tell us a bit about yourself? (3:21)You were born with Crouzon syndrome. Could you tell our listeners what that actually is, and how has that impacted your life? (5:23)What are one or two of the biggest things that you took away from that whole journey that has impacted your life? (21:28)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Ben experiencing cruelty from an adult and the conversation with his mother that would change his life (8:01)One of Ben's happiest days in his life contrasting with the awful people online (14:11)The awesomeness of being abnormal and the hard choice to turn the other cheek (16:31)Step in, bounce back, and win before you win (20:43)Connect with Ben:InstagramFacebookBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.com Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by something you knew was coming, like an important business meeting, a presentation, or a job interview? What if we told you there is a powerful visualization tool that can help you navigate those situations mentally before they actually happen, letting your mind and body be perfectly tuned for it and, using fighter pilots' terminology, ahead of the moment.  In this episode, Rob Shallenberger brings a fantastic tool fighter pilots use before their training exercises and combat missions - chair flying. Rob takes us through the step-by-step process of how pilots chair fly their missions, how it helps them perform better, and how we can chair fly our day-to-day tasks. We also share some practical examples of chair flying an entire presentation at a convention in front of over 100 people, a football game, and an important meeting with a State Level Coordination Committee.   Tune in to Episode 301 of Becoming Your Best, and discover this fantastic visualization tool that will help you be the best you can be in every challenging situation.    In This Episode, You Will Learn: What it means to chair fly a situation or event (2:26) Being ahead of the jet. How chair flying can help us enhance our performance (6:37) Steve's experience chair flying an entire presentation (10:49) Nailing a multimillion contract by chair flying an important business meeting (16:44)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We know that successful leaders lead with a vision, and there is no better example of it than our guest for today's show, Crystal Maggelet. When FJ Management had to change and restructure back in 2010, after seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2008, Crystal knew she had to find a way to tie different businesses together. She and the company’s executives decided that FJM's new mission would be building value to last. They added three elements for its vision to this powerful mission: mutual respect, integrity, and excellence. They figured that if they managed to instill this vision among their employees, they would succeed -- and they weren't wrong.   In this hallmark episode, our number 300 together, we brought a special guest, an outstanding leader, accomplished professional, wife, and mother, Crystal Maggelet. She is the President and CEO of FJ Management, a diversified family business that includes wholly-owned subsidiaries like Maverik, a 350 c-store chain, and Big West Oil, a petroleum refinery. FJM also has a minority stake in Pilot Flying J. Crystal is the Founder of Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites and the recipient of the 2018 E & Y Entrepreneur of the Year for Family Business award.   We had an inspiring conversation about Crystal's unique approach to leadership, inspiring colleagues and associates, and problem-solving. We talk about how important it was for FJM to create a culture that supports its mission and vision and Crystal's most important professional and personal lessons learned along the way. We also discuss nurturing a culture where speaking up, sharing ideas, and pointing out errors are standard practices, adequately rewarded and encouraged.   Tune in to Episode 300 of Becoming Your Best to learn more about Crystal's next-level leadership.   Some Questions I Ask: You're now involved with petroleum lodging, banking, and healthcare. How do you create a culture across these companies that are so unique? (4:13) What are some of the vital professional lessons learned that have helped you succeed in your business? (6:55) What would you say to a new employee about what it means to be a great team member at FJM? (10:26) How do you inspire your employees to be excellent, to get amazing results? (14:19)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: The coolest store on the planet. How Maverik vision came about (6:46) Honesty before anything. One of Crystal's first lessons in the professional realm (8:28) The best way to encourage team members to speak up, share their ideas and suggestions (12:01) The importance of being surrounded by the right people. How Crystal balances her professional and personal life (18:53)  Resources: JF Management website  Connect with Crystal: LinkedIn  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Running a business is about a lot of things; every industry has its particularities, and all differ in countless details that make them unique. Still, the most crucial part of any company is the same in any industry: their people. Therefore, investing in human relationships at any level in any company is the best kind of investment any leader can make. That is one of the many lessons our guest, Ashley Cole, learned along the way as an entrepreneur. Ashley Cole is the Founder and CEO of Cecelia New York. She is a shoe and accessories designer, passionate about business and fashion. She grew up in an entrepreneurial environment; her father is the founder of JetBlue Airways and Azul Brazilian Airlines. Her mother set an inspiring example and provided a great model in raising nine dynamic, caring children. One of her grandfathers had the first 24 hours’ convenience store in the State of Utah, and her other grandfather also owned several businesses. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology; she is a wife and a happy mother of six kids.  Our conversation revolves around Ashley's impressive determination and will to become the best version of herself. We explore Ashley's background, her parents' influence on her entrepreneurial spirit, and the influence on her own kids, who also started showing entrepreneurial traits. We talk about the lessons the years of entrepreneurship taught her, her motivations, her desire to constantly evolve, and much more.  Tune in to Episode 299 and meet this wonderful mompreneur who thrives in chaos.  Some Questions I Ask: Could you tell us a bit more about Cecelia New York? How did it get started, and a bit about your journey? (6:01) Could you share some professional lessons that have helped you and your business be successful? (11:08) How have you balanced being a mom and a spouse with your career and work demands? How do you do it? (22:03) In This Episode, You Will Learn: How learning to let go of some things in her company helped Ashley grow her business (8:34) Some of the biggest lessons Ashley learned in her entrepreneurial journey (11:23) What it means to be a great team member, according to Ashley (18:43) About the importance of enjoying where we are and enjoying the present more than anything (27:07) Connect with Ashley: LinkedInResources: Cecelia New York website Cecelia New York Instagram Cecelia New York PinterestBecoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are all exposed to unexpected events, setbacks, or even accidents; things like getting caught in torrential rain or a flat tire in the middle of nowhere may happen, and there is nothing we can do to prevent them. What we can do, however, is to choose how we respond to them. Fortunately, it is possible to learn how to react positively to adverse situations and get the best out of them: develop the habit of controlling what we can control.  Today, we learn about controlling what we can control, the habit that brings greater success, productivity, happiness, peace, and focus. We dive into two great examples of how putting this habit into practice can help us get positive outcomes from unfortunate events: the fire that destroyed Thomas Edison's plant in 1914 and a series of challenges I recently faced myself during a trip to the mountains. We also explore the 7 things we can start doing now to get immediate and future results.   Tune in to Episode 298 of Becoming Your Best, and learn more about this simple yet life-changing habit.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: The true definition of success (2:21) The things we can control, and the ones we can’t (3:31) Thomas Edison's response to the fire that destroyed his plant (7:26) About the challenges I faced during a trip to the mountains (10:59) The 7 things we can do to nurture the habit of focusing on the things we control (17:12) The 21-day challenge to develop this powerful habit (21:56)  Resources: Book: Ryan Holiday - The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph Book: Matthew Josephson - Edison: A Biography Quote: Edward Everett Hale - "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early on in his life, Paul Cardall would understand that life is fragile. He went through heart surgery on his first day on earth, and his parents, instead of picturing his graduation, his first love, or job, were wondering if he would survive his first year. Paul grew up feeding himself from his parents' optimism, visiting doctors, spending long nights in hospitals, and wondering why life was so hard on him, what was the purpose of all these scars in his body, and why his parents were spending fortunes to keep him alive.   He would find peace and all the answers he needed in music - his gift, and savior.   Paul Cardall is a gifted pianist and a prolific composer. He is the Founder of All Heart Publishing, LLC and CEO of Worth of Souls. Paul is also a speaker and philanthropist; he regularly narrates his congenital heart disease experiences at medical conferences all over the country and serves as the keynote speaker at both the Texas A&M Leadership Conference and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiology Conference.   In this episode, Paul reveals the healing power of music. We dive deep into the lessons life taught him the hardest way; he describes how he turned music into a lifesaver when everything around him seemed to sink and what kept him alive despite all odds since he was a baby. We talk about his heart transplant, the challenges he faced before and after that major surgery, and the crazy experience of feeling his donor feelings. Paul kindly shared his most valuable life lessons and a bunch of beautiful life messages.   Tune in to Episode 297 of Becoming Your Best, relax, open your heart and your mind, and get ready to meet a beautiful soul.   Some Questions I Ask: Could you tell our listeners a little bit more about you, your background, and your experience? (2:19) What was that journey like for you? Once you discovered that music was something that was a part of your life and your DNA? (6:30) What's one of your biggest takeaways from going through all these traumatic things in your life? (14:49)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: About Paul's challenging journey since he was born and the priceless help and inspiration from his parents (3:27) How Paul started his healing journey through music (6:16) Life is fragile. One of Paul's most profound lessons ever learned (15:08) Invest in memories. One of Paul's biggest takeaways from his life experiences (17:12) About the importance of taking a step back, slowing down, and going out to look at the sun (25:31)  Resources: Paul Cardall website All Heart with Paul Cardall podcast  Connect with Paul: LinkedIn Instagram  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We already know about the immense power of habits. We are aware of their role in our long-term goals and how we can generate outstanding results by adjusting them. Still, the tricky part about habits is that they're so embedded in our routines that we go through some of them by default, and that makes it hard to identify which one doesn't serve us very well.   The inevitable question is, how do we know which habits are not serving us the way they should? The answer is quite simple; we must get curious about everything.   In this episode, I'm excited about sharing some fantastic results I got by exploring the power of curiosity. We look at the possibilities curiosity can open for us by asking simple questions about our habits, our fears, the things that make us angry or even anxious. We take a step back to look at ourselves, the way we act and think, and get curious about our thoughts and actions. Today's show's purpose is to empower ourselves by asking questions and use curiosity to open the door of imagination.   What You Will Learn in This Episode: Rating ourselves from 1 to 10 so we know where we need to move the needle (2:20) Why curiosity is crucial for personal development (5:16) The questions we must ask to discover thought loops (6:57) How powerful it can be to get curious about love (13:19) Curiosity can be the external force we need to change the course of the habits that are not serving us (15:51)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are many ways of reaching our highest potential; many books were written teaching different theories. They all have at least two things in common: they aim for our greatness, and their systems are reliable and predictable. Predictable and reliable systems are easier to implement, follow, and keep you accountable for. To apply these systems and ensure their success, we've created many tools along the way, like the Continue Start Stop Sheet, The Trust Meter, or The External Environment Analysis.  In this episode, we explore one of the most powerful tools ever created, the Relationship Agreement. This four-step tool is so easy to implement at work or with our family as it is effective. To better understand the Relationship Agreement tool, I share with you some examples of how it helped me solve professional and personal situations for years.   Tune in to Episode 295 of Becoming Your Best, to learn about this powerful tool that helps you navigate the most challenging decisions ensuring the best outcomes.  In This Episode, You Will Learn: About the reliable and predictable system bombers used during WWII (1:45) What makes the BYB 12 Principles reliable (4:10) Some powerful tools we developed along the way (5:50) What is the Relationship Agreement tool, and how it works (8:58) The main reason why employees experience frustration at work, and what can we do to solve it (9:53) The four elements of the Relationship Agreement tool (11:24) Some examples of how the Relationship Agreement helped me at work and with my children (15:16)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The definition of success varies from person to person; for some, it means to be wealthy, for others to be loved, impact lots of people, or change people's lives. But what happens when everyone but us thinks we are successful? It might look fantastic from the outside, and still, we'd feel miserable. When success is not intimately linked with purpose, it feels empty.   John Ramstead's company was doing great; everybody would pat his shoulder and congratulate him for his success, but he couldn't shake this smoldering discontent. He then realized he was living under the "tyranny of they." John was doing everything "they" considered fantastic, valuable, and he was showing up the way "they" believed he should. John knew he needed to make a significant change in his life, and then he got in an accident that almost took his life.   Today's guest, John Ramstead, is a former Navy Fighter Pilot, Int'l Speaker and Podcast Host, Leadership Coach, and Author of On Purpose with Purpose. He is passionate about empowering leaders and their teams to reawaken the joy, vitality, and clarity eroded in their way to success.   In this episode, John shares his inspiring story of profound change, driven by his unstoppable urge to become the best version of himself. We talk about recovering from adversity, inspiring others, and being a giver before asking for anything. We explore the power of mentoring, being a servant leader, how creating habits can change the course of our lives, and much more.   Tune in to Episode 294 of Becoming Your Best, and listen to John's remarkable story of resilience, bravery, and success.   Some Questions I Ask: Could you give our listeners a brief background on who you are? (1:59) What do you think is the value of mentorship? And how do you find a great mentor? (17:10) Could you share one or two most significant lessons learned from all of your adversity and your experience? (28:42)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: How John realized he was living under the tyranny of they (4:17) How was John's life after the accident (13:39) The value of mentoring and how people around you can help you overcome the most challenging moments of your life (17:18) The mindset needed to overcome adversity. (28:26)  Resources: John Ramstead website. Beyond Influence Book: John Ramstead - On Purpose with Purpose: Discovering How To Live Your Best Life Eternal Leadership podcast with John Ramstead Book: Dale Carnegie - How To Win Friends and Influence People Book: Horst Schulze - Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise Book: Carol Dweck - Mindset: The New Psychology of Success  Connect with John: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Twitter YouTube  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach the end of 2021, the idea of just tossing the towel and being a little careless for the rest of the year and start focusing our energies on 2022 might sound tempting. But actually, with a bit of recalibration, a slight course correction, we can achieve each and every one of the goals we set for ourselves back in January 2021. That is the primary purpose of today's podcast, a reminder that there is still so much that can be done in the next four months.   This episode is a gentle reminder that we still have time to accomplish our goals and get to our destination, ticking every box in the itinerary. I share a couple of stories illustrating the importance of mid-year check-ins and how simple details adjusted today can make a vast difference later. In addition, to offer guidance on adjusting or recalibrating our course, I've prepared some questions regarding our vision, roles and goals, and pre-week planning.   Tune in to Episode 293 of Becoming Your Best, and make the necessary adjustments to align and empower us to do what matters most.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: Listening to this episode is the first step to start recalibrating our course towards our goals (3:02) The missing document and the visible goal drop-off (4:04) An epiphany flying at 50,000 feet (6:43) Some questions to start adjusting what is loose (8:54) How often should we look at our roles and goals (13:22) Why being consistent on pre-week planning can change our lives (18:37)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A child wanting to become a pro snowboarder in America is not unusual considering the sport's popularity in the country. However, for a kid born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where there are no mountains, it might sound like an unexpected choice. Many people told Chris Naugle it was a silly choice; he wouldn't have a place to practice. But Chris did something that would maintain throughout his entire life, and that would help him succeed: never listen to those telling him what he could or couldn't do. He built ramps out of sand traps, trained, practiced, and became a professional snowboarder some years later.   Chris Naugle is considered America's #1 Money Mentor. He is the Founder of The Money School and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier. He has built and owned 19 companies and had his businesses featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his own HGTV pilot in 2018. Chris is also a renowned speak, mentor, and host of the Real Estate Money School podcast.   In this episode, we have an honest conversation about money. Chris shared his background, taking us through the several ups and downs of his financial life and the valuable lessons he learned from his failures. We spoke about how to make money work for us, the limitations of exchanging time for money, and what it means to "move the money." We also talked about the money mindset, the snowball effect of mental victories, and American's most significant problem when dealing with their money.  Tune in to Episode 292 of Becoming Your Best, and learn what we can do to put our money to work for us.   Some Questions I Ask: Could you share with us a bit of your background? (2:58) What are some of the things that wealthy people do differently? (8:36) What are some other ideas that you've come across that can have a significant impact on people? (18:24) What are your thoughts if someone doesn't have debts, and they do have significant equity in their home? (23:18)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: About Chris' first adventure in the entrepreneurial world (5:35) What banks do with your money (13:01) The importance of changing our money mindset (16:37) How to own nothing but control everything (24:18)  Resources: Chris Naugle website Book: Chris Naugle, Brent Kesler - Mapping Out The Millionaire Mindset Book: Chris Naugle - The Private Money Guide  Connect with Chris: LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Facebook  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When US Senator Kohl decided he would not seek re-election, Darcy Luoma, who has been working with him for 12 years, had a huge decision to make. Her family, friends, and colleagues assumed she would stay working in the political field, but she had other plans. Darcy felt the need to start her own business, put herself out there, and create a legacy. Using her experience and knowledge, she started her own coaching and consulting company, becoming one of America's most highly credentialed coaches.   Darcy Luoma is the Founder and CEO of Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting. She is the Creator of Thoughtfully Fit and author of the book with the same name; she is also a Master Certified Coach, Professional Speaker, Author, and Dynamic Facilitator. She helps people and companies stop wasting time and energy dealing with frustrating problems to focus on what they do best. Darcy specializes in team building, leadership development, improving communication, and working through conflict positively.  In this episode, we talk about Darcy's journey into coaching and consulting, the Thoughtfully Fit method, and how what she teaches to others saved her in one of the most challenging moments of her life. Darcy kindly shared some nuggets from her book and valuable insights on how to train our thinking process to react appropriately in extreme situations.   Tune in to Episode 291 of Becoming Your Best, and learn the secrets of being thoughtfully fit, less reactive, and more creative.   Some Questions I Ask: Darcy, if you don't mind, tell us about your background (2:53) How did you set yourself up so that you could ultimately be successful? (6:12) Let's talk about your new book. Give us the background on it; how did you come to write it? (8:27) Can you give us an example of using the Thoughtfully Fit method? (13:55)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit of Darcy's background (3:04) Conquering her inner trash talk. The story behind Darcy's company (5:27) Using the Thoughtfully Fit method to save herself (10:35) Three questions to ask ourselves before reacting (21:14) What to expect from the Thoughtfully Fit training (24:35)  Resources: Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting website Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting Facebook Book: Darcy Luoma - Thoughtfully Fit: Your Training Plan for Life and Business Success  Connect with Darcy: LinkedIn Instagram Twitter  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After spending 10+ years as an F-16 fighter pilot and finishing his career as a US Air Force Weapon School instructor, Steven C. Shallenberger is grateful he didn't listen to the Air Force instructor who visited his school when he was in seventh grade and told him he'll never be a fighter pilot, that it wasn't for anybody.   Today, I am pleased to welcome one of my sons, Steven C. Shallenberger, CEO of ElementOne, a startup focused on restoring clean air while allowing the continued use of our modern transportation economy. He holds a BS in Engineering Mechanics from the United States Air Force Academy and an MBA in Financial and Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Pennsylvania.   In this episode, Steven shares his experiences as a fighter pilot, the challenges he overcame during that time, and how those experiences helped him upgrade his leadership abilities. We have an inspiring conversation about leadership, humility, resilience, and situation awareness. Steven kindly shared the mantra that helped him successfully carry on with the privilege of being part of the 1% of pilots and technicians that turn into instructors of the Weapons School.   Tune in to Episode 290 of Becoming Your Best, and enjoy the inspirational insights Steven shared with us.   Some Questions I Ask: Could you give us a little background and share a couple of key points from the Air Force experience? (3:06) For anybody interested in getting into the Air Force Academy, could you tell us what the process is? (4:21) Can you talk about some of the adversity that you had? How are you able to overcome adversity and setbacks? (13:17) From your experience, what are the traits of a successful leader within the fighter pilot community? And how can these be applied in everyday life? (17:26)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Steven talks about the sensation of making his dreams come true by getting into the US Air Force (7:05) The relevance of having a clear purpose for overcoming adversity (8:09) What it was like to be in hostile environments as a fighter pilot (10:52) Steven talks about how understanding the struggle between humility vs. ego helped him overcome setbacks (13:20) Steven explains the mantra: being humble, approachable, credible (17:34)  Connect with Steven: LinkedIn  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It doesn't matter how long we've worked in any industry; there is always room to improve and we must be humble enough to recognize it and dedicate time to educate ourselves constantly. That is one of Dr. Kizzy Parks' secrets to success; she is aware that she does not know it all, and she let herself go following her curious nature.   Dr. Kizzy Parks is the CEO of KPC, GovCon Winners, AmPar, and Adult Fluent. She specializes in helping service-based small business owners learn how to win profitable government contracts, and she is the host of the Adult Fluent Podcast. Kizzy holds a B.S. in Psychology from Alfred University, a Master of Science, and a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology.   Since she was little, Kizzy knew she would be an entrepreneur; her adoptive parents instilled in her the idea that everything is possible. Kizzy's household was the mecca of positive reinforcement, and so she became what she wanted.   In this episode, Kizzy shared her infectious optimism and experience. We had a fantastic conversation about her expertise and her teaching methods, like her CTC technique to win profitable government contracts. We also spoke about her background, her first experiences as an entrepreneur, and why she decided to dedicate her efforts to teach others and help them grow. Kizzy talked about what is, in her opinion, a straight path to becoming the best version of ourselves, and then she explained how she maximizes her teams' performance.   Tune in to Episode 289 of Becoming Your Best, to enjoy Kizzy's expertise in winning government contracts and lead successful teams.   Some Questions I Ask:  Our listeners would love to hear about your background. And how did you know this is what you wanted to do? (2:59) Something that's been in your heart and mind is becoming the best at what you do. So what does becoming your best mean to you? (8:56) How do you maximize the performance of your team? (15:50) What do you look for in a leader? (19:19) If someone would ask you for advice on how to be successful in business or be successful in life, what would you recommend to them? (25:37)  In This Episode, You Will Learn:  How Kizzy discovered her passion for helping others to clinch government contracts (4:12) The difference between teaching what others should do, and teaching from first-hand experiences (7:19) The perks of staying humble and always willing to learn (10:13) How Kizzy maximizes her teams' performances (15:44) The importance of taking time to experience; there is no rush nor the right moment to do something (27:13)  Resources:  K. Parks Consulting (KPC) website AdultFluent Podcast Sam.gov website  Connect with Kizzy: LinkedIn  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hearing about self-compassion and "soft" stuff like hugs and empathy made Steven think that wasn't for him; a 6'5", 240 pounds, former boxer and football player didn't resonate with all that. But after some exercises his mentors suggested, he started realizing that being in our corner, being there for ourselves facing adversity and setbacks was actually excellent. That would be the first step of an incredible and transformational journey for Steven, where he would learn the power of self-compassion and kindness to himself.   Steven Griffith is the Founder of High Performance Coaching. He is also a Psychology of Productivity, Time Management & Performance Expert, Speaker, and Author of " The Time Cleanse," a book that provides a proven system to eliminate time waste, acknowledge our full potential, and invest our time in what matters most. Steven is a former Chicago Golden Glove Boxer and Illinois State Heavyweight champion. For the last 25 years, he has helped as a trusted advisor and coach to CEOs, entrepreneurs, Olympic athletes, the U.S. Military, Jimmy Kimmel, NBA players, and many more.  In this episode, we had an inspiring conversation about time management, self-compassion, the A-Game, and mindfulness. Steven kindly shared the three steps of his self-compassion formula and some brilliant insights about how we can help our children thrive in their personal and professional lives. Then, we talked about Steven's most significant challenges of his life and their effect on his development as a coach and as a person.  Tune in to Episode 288 of Becoming Your Best, to learn more about timefulness, the importance of self-compassion, and what matters most in life.   Some Questions I Ask: Can you please tell us a bit of your background, and who you are? (1:59) What are the core concepts that make up the A-Game? (2:57) What are some of the biggest challenges that you see facing student athletes, parents, and coaches today? (11:57) What are some things parents can do to support their kids' success? (20:07)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: What mindfulness is really about, and how it can help us perform at the highest level (4:57) The three steps to self-compassion (7:39) What changes when we start being compassionate to ourselves (11:01) The meaning of timefulness, and its effect on our lives (17:05) It’s not about the scholarship or the championship, it’s about who they will become (29:26)  Resources: Steven Griffith website Book: Steven Griffith - The Time Cleanse: A Proven System to Eliminate Wasted Time, Realize Your Full Potential, and Reinvest In What Matters Most  Connect with Steven: LinkedIn Instagram Twitter YouTube Facebook  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having a successful business and being a prosperous entrepreneur was a priority for Randy, but his driving force and inspiration came from his parents. Seeing his friends coming up to his house to hang out with his father gave Randy a clear picture of what he was supposed to pursue in life: being a good husband, father, and friend was way more important than anything else.   Today, I have the pleasure to receive a dear friend and a great person, Randy Garn. Randy is an Entrepreneur, Investor, Advisor, and Coach. He is the author of the book "Prosper", recently re-edited and relaunched. Randy specializes in guiding leaders through a personal and professional transformation; he is a High-Performance Coach and Partner at High-Performance Institute with Brendon Burchard.   In this episode, we had a fantastic conversation about the journey of becoming who we want to be, how our habits impact our lives, and the importance of valuing people over things. Randy shared some takeaways from his book and some nuggets of wisdom about the 6 high-performance habits. We also talked about gratitude, personal and professional relationships, and the relevance of defining our goals.   Tune in to Episode 287 of Becoming Your Best to learn more about Randy and his quest for making the world a better place.   Some Questions I Ask: What's one thing that you learned from your parents that has really stood out to you through the years? (4:59) What's the big picture of "Prosper"? What's the book about? (7:42) Let's talk about something you're really passionate about - high-performance habits (18:55)  What challenges did you go through in your life that you would feel comfortable sharing? (24:14)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: People are most important than things. One of Randy's biggest takeaways from his father (5:51) Articulating the balance between wealth, happiness, and sustainability (8:44) If you don't have a goal, someone will use you to reach theirs (10:16) The purpose of challenging times and how they can help us find who we are surrounded by (26:31)  Resources: Randy Garn website Book: Randy Garn - Prosper: Create the Life You Really Want  Connect with Randy: LinkedIn Instagram Twitter Facebook  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being able to breathe, walk, or talk are some of the things we get used to and most often take for granted. The same happens with freedom; we are so used to choosing a religion, having access to clean water, or the right to express our political opinion that we lose sight of how valuable it is.   In this special episode, we want to celebrate our Independence Day by honoring freedom, highlighting its importance, and talking about our role in keeping it. We explore some aspects of freedom most of us take for granted and reflect on how grateful we should be for such a wonderful gift. Today, we remind ourselves that freedom is not free, and we honor those who gave their lives for us to experience it. Finally, we travel back in time and relive the moments that gave birth to our country and remember the people that made their dreams, our reality, possible.   Tune in to Episode 286 of Becoming Your Best, and let's celebrate and value our freedom together.   In This Episode, You Will Learn: The price of freedom (2:07) The world we live in is not the same a lot of people get to live in (3:53) How can we appreciate our freedom for what it really is (5:03) One generation away from extinction. What is our role in maintaining our freedom (6:39) Our flag was still there. The poem after the bombardment of Fort McHenry (9:14)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Book: Do What Matters Most: Lead with a Vision, Manage with a Plan, Prioritize Your Time Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Traveling lowers the chances of heart disease; it enhances our creativity and the sense of happiness and satisfaction. It is also very efficient for relieving stress and anxiety - and the list of benefits goes on and on. And if we pay enough attention, it can be a teaching experience; we can grow and change the way we see things.  In this episode, after coming back from a trip to Peru with my family, I wanted to share some of the beautiful experiences we had in this fantastic place and the four lessons I've learned. I talk about the things we discovered about ourselves throughout the entire trip, the value we got from enjoying simple things, and how important it is to take ourselves out of our comfort zone and explore new things.   If you would like to join me on this trip of amazing discoveries and breathtaking views, tune in to Episode 285 of Becoming Your Best.  In This Episode, You Will Learn: The power of perseverance and trust in ourselves (3:15) It is about the journey AND the destination (6:03) How powerful and fulfilling it can be going outside (9:24) Freedom requires effort. The importance of being involved in our communities (13:08)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, we prepared something special. This episode is about inspiring and motivating you to become the best version of yourself. I'll share more than 50 motivational phrases and aphorisms I've collected over the last five decades that helped and inspired me along the way.   These are phrases a friend, a guest to the show, or a colleague at work told me, and quotes from brilliant minds I've read or heard that impacted me - and I hope they do the same to you.   If you would like to experience a wave of inspiration and get some motivation to stay on the tracks of becoming the best version of yourself, tune in to Episode 284 of Becoming Your Best.  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Thomas Edison and the beautiful story with his mother (4:05) The right way to approach today's business (7:21) The one that survives is the one who adapts better to change (9:04) Great advice from my great, great uncle, Mark Twain (12:01) The best way to deal with the past (15:49) The thing that couldn't be done (21:47)  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode, Steve is joined by James “The Iron Cowboy” Lawrence, really, a truly an amazing person. A World record holder, 50 Ironmans, in 50 states, in 50 days. Who do you know in the world that’s done that? He’s the one. The myth and the legend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Steve Shallenberger tells the story of the first Thanksgiving and shares his thoughts on the importance of gratitude. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode, Rob Shallenberger talks to Michael Bernoff. Michael is the president and founder of the Human Communications Institute. It comes as no surprise that a big focus of his career is communicating and teaching effective communication skills to others. He's a leader in the personal professional development industry.He works directly with individuals and executive level corporations. His tips can dig deep, be a good influence in your life and change your business perspective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ep. 121 - The Secret To Happiness https://www.becomingyourbest.com/ep-121-the-secret-to-happiness/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Family Inc. A Roadmap To Financial Security With Doug McCormick http://becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Create A Culture By Design With Travis Anderson http://becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 118 - Win At Communication Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Develop Confidence in Your Leadership Skills http://becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Are The 12 Principles That Will Change Your Life? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Debrief and Evaluate Your Results? - The Transformation Challenge http://becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Develop and Implement Your Plan - The Transformation Challenge https://www.becomingyourbest.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 113 - How To Find The Best Options - The Transformation Challenge https://www.becomingyourbest.com/ep-113-find-best-options-transformation-challenge/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 112 - How To Identify The Real Issue - The Transformation Challenge https://www.becomingyourbest.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the Current Reality? - The Transformation Challenge http://becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the Vision? - The Transformation Challenge http://becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 109 - What is the Transformation Challenge - Solve Any Problem in Six Simple Steps.mp3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Have Your Best Year Ever - Vision, Goals, And Pre-Week Planning Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Christmas Message and Universal Principle for Good - Live The Golden Rule http://becomingyourbest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Unlock Addiction - Discover A Cure https://www.becomingyourbest.com/how-to-unlock-addiction/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Communication on a Scale of 1-10 https://www.becomingyourbest.com/communication-on-a-scale-of-1-10/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Becoming Your Best | The Principles of Highly Successful Leaders https://www.becomingyourbest.com/building-vibrant-culture-course-101-lessons-japanese-bee/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Principles of Transformational Leadership - The Stack https://www.becomingyourbest.com/3-principles-transformational-leadership-stack/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[PODCAST] One Powerful Way to Increase Happiness and Transform Your Reality Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Power of Hope https://www.becomingyourbest.com/the-power-of-hope/ Welcome back to the Becoming Your Best podcast! This is Rob Shallenberger. I'm excited to be with you today to talk about something that is a huge deal in our lives, especially in the w Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Less Stuff More Life with Courtney Carver https://www.becomingyourbest.com/less-stuff-life-courtney-carver/ Steve: Welcome to all our, Becoming Your Best Podcast listeners, wherever you might be in the world today! This is your host, Steve Shallenberger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Glory of the Start Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Can I Be Less Cynical? Hello, this is Steve Shallenberger, your host today with the, Becoming Your Best Global Leadership podcast. And this is an ongoing set of podcast on leadership principles that contribute to highly successful results. And today, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to all of our "Becoming Your Best" podcast listeners, wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger, and we have a terrific guest with us today. I'm so excited to be able to visit with him, especially about the s Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Being A BYB Leader Means To You Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Heart, Head, And Hands Of Change With Barbara Trautlein Steve: Welcome to all of our Becoming Your Best Podcast listeners wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger and we have a very talented guest with us today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing Weeders into Leaders with Jeff McManus https://www.becomingyourbest.com/growing-weeders-leaders-jeff-mcmanus/ Steve: Super. Welcome to all of our Becoming Your Best podcast listeners wherever you might be today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger, and I am so much looking forward to our guest today. He's unlike any other that I've had on this show. Our guest has an earthy background that has had a big impact taking principles from nature and helping recognize those in a leadership application. So, welcome, Jeff McManus.     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Create a Positive, Vibrant and Engaged Culture https://www.becomingyourbest.com/create-positive-vibrant-engaged-culture/ This is Steve Shallenberger welcoming you to this becoming your best podcast today. We're so grateful to have you listen in in Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Is A BYB Leader? https://www.becomingyourbest.com/what-is-a-byb-leader/ All right welcome to All of our Becoming your Best podcast listeners, wherever you are in the world today.This is gonna be a short yet, but what I hope will be a powerful podcast for you, and it really is something that is a result of you. And what I mean by that is there have been organizations and people out there that start to talk to their managers and leaders and start to say to them, you know, "Thank you for being a BYB leader." And this came back to us and has filtered through and around, and we've heard this and we thought you know, let's define a little bit what that is. I mean what's different about a leader versus a BYB leader, a becoming your best leader? And so our team went to work on developing a manifest, or a creed over the last couple of weeks of what that means and what that looks like, and what this means to you as you lead your family, your personal life, your team, your community in whatever capacity you're leading in. And so this is a part of a movement, a becoming your best movement. And one of the things that means is that BYB leaders are a new breed of leaders who no longer satisfied with mediocrity. BYB leaders strive daily to be their very best in each area of their life and to treat each other right. BYB leaders are committed to excellence, they find a way to do the impossible. BYB leaders are confident, optimistic, and determined to make a positive difference in their homes, schools, organizations, and certainly the world. Negativity, pessimism, and complaining have no part in their lives. BYB leaders know that they don't have to compromise their personal life, or family to be successful contrary to what many other entrepreneurs believe. And lastly, this is part of a family of true leaders. And so what is a BYB leader? It's someone who encompasses the 12 principles and is no longer satisfied with mediocrity and wants to strive for excellence. Is no longer satisfied with the status quo. So BYB leader is true to character, they lead with a vision, manage with a plan, prioritize their time, live the golden rule in business and in life. They build and maintain trust with their key peers, and associates, and family members. They're effective communicators and listeners, they aren't quick to anger or wrath, and they're quick to listen, slow to anger or wrath is a better way to say that. They innovate, they're cannibal, constantly seeking new knowledge. Living in peace and balance, and they have an attitude of never give up. And that's a BYB leader, it's not just a leader. That's why we're no longer satisfied with the status quo and you are part of a, becoming your best movement that is gonna encompass the world. It already is spreading to some many different parts, and you're the movement. I mean were hearing stories from people and we don't even know how they came to find becoming your best, except that they heard it from a friend a family member. And that it's really starting to transform their life as they start to think like a BYB leader, rather than just an average, or normal, or regular leader if you will. So welcome to the movement, this is something we're all in together. We're no longer satisfied with mediocrity its something that we're striving to do personally in our homes and certainly in our businesses. Now, as we think about what it is to be a BYB leader, I wanted to share with you a couple of personal stories from the last two weeks. One of those is when I had a chance to go down to Mexico, about 15, 14 days ago and join my son who's down there on a piano tour with a small group of about eight people. And they did some performances in Mexico City, then down in Medethane which is in the Yucatan area, and then lastly they went to Costa Rica and played in several different locations there in Costa Rica. It was an incredible experience for them, they were gone for two weeks and I just joined them for those three days down in Medethane, the Yucatan. And one of the things we did while we were together is we went swimming in these Mayan pools, they call them cenotes down there. And one of these was the coolest experience. I mean each one was this very unique and different cenote. Well, the last one we went to we walked down this set of stairs into this dark cave and our guide had a little flashlight. And we went out and stood on this pier and here's the water, and its more than 40 or 50 feet deep so you can't touch the bottom and it's this dark cave so you can just visual and imagine this. She shines her flashlight out past the pier, so it extends out maybe 10 feet and she just asks everyone to jump in and wait for her. And yeah, I'm on a little life jacket there, so it's not like you're at risk sinking there. So we all jump in, you have the teenagers in there with us, it's just cool. We're in this totally dark cave you can't see anything that's behind you and the only thing you can see is her light there on the pier shining in. Well, after everyone had trickled in, it's completely black, she jumps in there with us and she told us she's gonna take us on a little tour and to follow her, to follow the light. And so sure enough, she starts to slowly wading around the outside of this area. And so we're all just following her, and the only thing we have to rely on is her light. And it was the most incredible sensation, I thought what we were doing was going around what felt like a lazy river. So if you've ever been to a waterpark in the summer and been on the lazy river you know what that's like it's just this little, call it a river maybe 10-15 feet wide. And it felt to me like we were going in a circle, we're going left, left, then gradually starting to curve right, totally disorientated as to where we were. I thought the entrance was way back behind us somewhere. So after doing this for maybe 10-12 minutes and going into what I thought was a big old circle, she stops and she's showing us all these stalactites coming out of the ceiling and floor at the sides, it just an amazing cave and place. And then, she paused and the lights flipped on in the place, she turned the lights on in the whole place. And what it was, was this circular cave that was probably 150 feet by 150 feet, totally different than where I thought we were. I thought that there was this big old rock in the center and that we were going on this lazy river type experience around this rock and that we were eventually gonna circle our way back to where we started. That wasn't the case at all, we had stayed in this single cave the entire time and when the lights flipped on my perspective of where we were, totally changed. I had no idea that we were in the same open cave the entire time, and that we could have just swam back and forth across in the dark. And all of us are just like, "What, are you kidding me? We've been in the same place the whole time." It was just astounding to me that, that is what had happened. And I thought, you know, this is a real applicable life lesson. Are we just cruising through life focused on a very narrow area of life and not seeing all the possibilities that are around us? And this is part of what a BYB leader does is, they don't have tunnel vision of what's in front of them. We see much more of the picture around us, rather than this little narrow focus, and a BYB leader lives a life by design, rather than a life by default. And there's a big difference between those two, one is very intentional and focused about leading their life by design and being intentional about their day and their time. Focusing on those principles that will help make them a great leader as they lead their own life, their family, and their teams. And so just like with the cenote here, how many times in life do we think we're in one place figuratively speaking, and the reality is we're in a totally different place if we could simply turn on the lights and see what's around us? And the thought from this is that, you know, when one door opens, most people would say, another closes. What I've learned is that when one door opens, another opens, and then another opens, and then another, and another. And the more that we grow our knowledge, and you start to apply the principles in your life, just like I've tried to do in my life, these doors start to open, our perceptive changes, our paradigm shifts. And we start to see an entirely new world around us that we didn't see before. And I've seen this happen all over the world, in different companies and organizations. Lives and it doesn't really matter who the person is, when they apply the 12 principles, they start to become a BYB leader, and their expanse and their paradigm opens up. And I'll just give you one more example of this. I've had people ask, you know, "How do you give someone desire?" And it's a great question, and I don't have all the answers to that one yet. There are two things that I've been able to see have an impact on people's desire in my life. Number one, is when they start to read. Reading is a powerful habit, 43% of college graduates will never read another book the rest of their life. It's certainly one of the habits of the most successful leaders. Great leaders are readers. And so reading books can open up a world of possibilities in our life. It can give us desire that we may not felt like was there, or it can boost our motivation. I mean, how many times have you ever felt down or like you're a little on motivation or desire? I just don't want to do that. Man, that's when you need to start reading, it activates parts of our brains that otherwise will stay dormant, so that's one. The other that I get asked, and this all ties back into being a BYB leader, because we're talking about your children, your employees and even you, and I. The other thing that I would suggest makes a huge difference is to put ourselves in situations where the spark and fire can ignite. And so part of that is investing back into ourselves we do this religiously. We'll find one or two seminars were we can go out and be a part of their seminar to keep our skills sharp. And so, for example, last week I went and spoke to the FBLA Annual Convention. It was their 75th Anniversary, the Future Business Leaders of America. So here are 14,000 people in this amazing convention center in Anaheim, California. Incredible youth, I mean when we say the future business leaders of America, I'm confident that in that room you have a future President of the United States. You have people who are gonna discover the cure for cancer, how to colonize Mars, and discover how to travel at speeds that take us outside our solar system. So truly, that was a room of the future leaders of the world. It was very inspiring to be their keynote speaker, I mean it was just incredible to watch them. In that process, I took Bella with me, my 12-year-old daughter. Why? I mean she's already an amazing young lady, I wanted to give her a chance to have another spark, to see something that sparks an idea in her. So that when she sees that a doors open, she walks through the door, and sees that there are three more doors that open up as a result of it. And sure enough, we hadn't been back from that convention more than two days when I noticed that she was outside watching the sunset. Okay, what's she doing? She came back in and I asked her, "Bella what are you doing out there?" She said, "I was watching the sunset, and dad I got an idea for a new book." I started laughing and I told her, "Well, you better go write it down." And so I went into her room, maybe 20 minutes later, and she had a page and a half of notes of this new idea of her book. And if you're one of our podcast listeners that frequently listen, you know that her and I together published a book called, "A to Z, The Best in You and Me" and it's an awesome book designed for kids between 5 and 12 years old, so their parents can sit down and read it with them. And just as a side note, her website is, thebestinyouandme.com. thebestinyouandme.com that's where you can get her book, just a side note. So here she's done a book and after this conference that sparked some sort of new idea in her. She went out watched a sunset and boom, there's the flood of ideas. She now has like 2 or 3 books lined up in her cue to write, and she's 12 years old, turning 13 in September. And so what are you doing right now in your life to spark an idea of possibility? Are we just leading our life by default? Are you leading like a BYB leader and living your life in an intentional way to where you can open a door and there's another three that are sitting open right through that door? And so this is a short podcast, I simply wanted to share with you this movement that you are now a part of with us. That jointly together we're going out there to transform the world as BYB leaders, and not just your normal leaders.That we're no longer satisfied with mediocrity, that you and I strive daily and commit to do our very best and that's a commitment to excellence. We find a way to do the impossible when many other people would say, "You know, that's impossible, you can't do it." We go out and do it and that's part of what being a BYB leader is. So I hope just this few minutes that we've had together today have been helpful for you. Quick 12 minutes together, the thought is now what does this mean to you? Is it a one-time thing, or is it something you really wanna take the journey on for a lifetime? I had a....we're gonna wrap up with this. I had a person who recently emailed and I'll say three months ago about. And they said, "Oh, Rob, three-week planning has totally changed my life in almost every way." Now, this particular person said, you know, he was spending more quality time with his kids, he started killing it as a CEO, he was so much more productive than he had ever been. And he also said, "You know, I have a total sense of peace and fulfillment." Those are powerful words to be able to say that coming from where he was. Now, what's interesting is you fast forward a few months later, and I saw him and he said, "You know, I really hadn't been doing my pre-week planning I bet I just missed it." So I just asked him, well, why not? He said, "There's no reason, you know what, I have no idea it had totally transformed my life. It was such a powerful part of my life." He couldn't figure out why he stopped doing it. Now, he recommitted to jump back on that horse because it had been so impactful and the irony is I asked him how are you feeling now and you know, what do you think his response was? "Yeah, I'm stressed, I feel I'm losing control of my life again." Well, hello were all in the same boat. Let's do the things that work and commit to do those things. And if we drop the ball once or twice, let's get back on the horse and not allow that to deter us from this movement of becoming your best. So this is what it is, it's a commitment to excellence. Go out and memorize a couple of inspirational quotes each week. Figure out ways that you can be transformational in whatever sphere and part of the world you're in because a BYB leader goes the extra mile. They do things that most other leaders don't think about doing. And thus this new movement that is starting to sweep the world. The hope is to reach a billion people and everyone of us plays a key part in this. It starts with you and your life, and leading your family and showing them what a great leader looks like whether you're a mother, or a father, showing them what it looks like to be a transformational personal leader. So start in your home, and then it goes to the business, your organizations, and what does that look like and not being satisfied with the status quo? So we hope you have a wonderful day, we'd love to hear from you and your stories, support@becomingyourbest.com. Next week stay tuned for an incredible podcast and interview and if you haven't already, go look at the Breakthrough Leadership Conference in October, as well as the Breakthrough Entrepreneurs Conference designed for entrepreneurs this coming September. And if you're listening to this down the road, then check the website becomingyourbest.com for the current dates. Hey, we're wishing you a great day, go out there and make a difference in whatever sphere and arena you're in, and let us know how it's going for you. Let's go have a great week. https://www.becomingyourbest.com/what-is-a-byb-leader/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We welcome you to this Becoming Your Best Podcast today wherever you might be in the world today. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host, and today we are going to talk about how to stay motivated, and you might ask for what or who is this for. Well, it's in sales, it's for life, it's for marriage, a student, work, a CEO, coach, a teacher, a lawyer, doctor, caregiver. Really, we're all included and have a need to stay motivated. This is really inspired from an email from one of our listeners, and this person indicated that, "I have a good life, a good spouse, good income, a nice home, wonderful children, but something is missing. Sometimes I just don't feel happy. Our marriage doesn't have the same magic that it used to have. So what can I do to get back on track?" Well first of all, congratulations to this person for wanting to get back on track, to be fully happy. And so, this really ties back into maintaining the motivation throughout our lives that gives us the capacity to stay happy, to find solutions to our challenges, to stay productive, to stay on top, and especially when we're knocked down, and especially when things get tough, when we may not even want to try. I like to share an experience I have recently while I was out exercising and I was listening to a talk on concentration. I love to go out and exercise and listen to TED Talks, the podcast inspirational talks. This particular speaker asked his audience and it was a large audience, "How many were formally taught concentration in school?" And he said, "Really formally taught how to concentrate?" Two hands went up in the entire group audience. And then, he said, "Okay. How many of you were told to concentrate by a parent or a teacher?" And all of the hands went up. And then, another question, "How many tell your children or employees today, 'Well, concentrate.'" Well, again, all the hands went up. This person went on to talk about how we really are distracted all day long and it just racks our capacity to really concentrate. And what happens is we're frequently told to concentrate but not really taught how to concentrate. And then he went on to give some suggested ways of how to concentrate and focus. Well, today we will not just talk about motivation and focus we will talk about the things that you and I can do to stay motivated, and motivation is not just a flash in the plan or pan accomplishment, don't get me wrong. We will all take those high water mark accomplishments that we can in life. Those high water marks can bring great satisfaction in life, but we're talking about sustaining a high level of motivation that produces what we call an ever inclining program, always improving, always progressing, steady, solid, upward throughout life. And that type of sustaining accomplishment that far exceeds our high water marks by the end of our lives. And so sustaining a high level of motivation is at the very heart of what we do, it's the very heart of becoming your best. And that is why the spirit of becoming your best is a movement for people everywhere. We've actually been thinking about becoming your best manifesto, and I'd like to share how we see that. A manifesto to becoming your best manifesto is about a certain type of leader of becoming your best leader. It's a new breed of leader who is no longer satisfied with mediocrity. And becoming your best leader strive daily to be their very best in each area of their life and treat others right. Becoming your best leaders are committed to excellence in finding a way to do the impossible. Becoming your best leaders are confident optimistic and determined to make a positive difference in their home, schools, organizations and the world, and negativity passes and complaining have no part in their lives. Becoming your best leaders know they don't have to really compromise their personal life or family life to be successful. And becoming your best leaders know that life matters and what you do matters and your organization matters. And so we are part of a becoming your best family, and we are leaders that make a difference. So there are certain things that becoming your best leaders do to help you and I stay motivated. So let's talk about a few of them right now. I'm going to talk about five things that you can do to stay motivated. The first one is to control the things that you can control. Take responsibility for the outcome. Refuse to spend time on things that you cannot control. So for example, you can't control the weather, what others think, what people say about you or about your organization. You can't control the competition out there, people being mean or nice, or if you have an accident or you forget something or something bad happens, natural disasters. None of these things can you control, but you can control serving others, being kind, what you think about, forgiving others, filling your mind with good, your speech with good. You will find great power in writing down what you can control and then being determined, discipline to focus only on those things which you can control and watch the immediate power for good that comes into your life. Here is a second thing that you and I can do to stay motivated, and it is to focus on your vision, goals and pre-week planning. This combination of tools really and resources helps to focus your mind on positive action now. They will help you get unstuck. They help to provide direction and meaning. And as you consider and reflect on your vision, the direction, your goals, they're far different. Goals are things that help us get to our vision, and pre-week planning they will help you stay focused on the things that matter most. And it's helpful to think of these three things in terms of the roles of your life. So for example, wherever we go as we talk about roles, we'll ask people to shout them out. Well, they include yourself, your personal life and this encompasses the physical aspect, mental, spiritual, emotional, and financial. And so this is one of the roles we have in life. Another key role might be a spouse or a partner. Another key role would be family, a family member, or a son or daughter, or a parent, or a brother and sister. Another key role is work, our professional aspect, the things we do professionally, or being a student, or community or church. So, these basic roles that we have do not frequently change or something that we have in life so as we think about our vision, our goals and our pre-week planning in terms of our roles, it gives a whole different meaning and set of the dimensions of how we spend our time. And those are the things that matter most in life. By thinking of roles it gives balance. And so one tool that will help you is becoming your best planner. Now just trust me on this, really. Whether you use a paper-based tool or an electronic planner, becoming your best planner helps you to stay focused on the right things, and it is one of the most important investments that you and I can make to help us stay focused on the things that matter most, and it's inexpensive but it's worth its weight in gold. So, to get more information about the becoming your best planner just go to becomingyourbest.com, go to the store and you'll be able to see that. There's a medium-size and a large-size, it's very portable, but it makes such a difference. And we want to just remember, of course, the vision is the direction, the purpose and the cause and it usually just takes up one sheet. And in the planner, there's a place to write it down from The Becoming Your Best book. The 12 principles of highly successful leaders. There's a whole chapter dedicated just how to develop your own personal vision. Then the course next are your annual goals. We're really saying what will I accomplish that keeps me motivated and excited to get up each morning? And these annual goals are broken down by roles and what you'll do. They are amazing. And you wanna stay with them until they really do create this excitement within you. And they are inspirational, and they are different than just a transactional gold. They're transformational for you and you can fill 'em in your heart that they make a difference. And of course, pre-week planning is taking a few minutes during the weekend 20 or 30 minutes to prepare for your week. What will I do this week? And ultimately, it gets down to each day that makes a difference, and these are the things that are really power up the motivation. They help your mind stay focused and not wander around on things that are less important, on things that you can't control. And these are things that I do that are fun, that they're uplifting, that they do make a difference. And so, these things by the way really are so helpful to us, and one of the parts that we wanna keep in mind with our vision, goals and pre-week planning is taking care of ourselves. And so getting adequate sleep, a healthy diet and regular exercise, these things will help keep you strong and give you the energy to maintain a consistent high level of motivation. So they become a very central part as we describe our vision. I am fit and I am healthy. And then in my annual goals it is to exercise five times a week, to get the sleep that I need. I need seven or eight hours a night of good sleep, and to have a healthy diet. And then when I do my pre-week planning I actually sketch out when I will do it. So I conquer this battle mentally before it ever comes up physically, because all of us have so many things that are going on in life. We wanna slay this Dragon before it ever comes up, and then if something really more important comes up, it's already really programmed into our mind, we will do it and we'll find a way ultimately to make it happen. Okay that's number two. First one is control the things you can control. The second, focus on your vision goals and pre-week planning. Oh my goodness. What a big impact that has on our levels of motivation. And number three is share your dreams and goals with others, and don't be fearful of asking for advice. I'd like to just share an experience I had with one of our daughters-in-laws. She came up, we have five boys are all married, we have a daughter, she's married. And one of these daughter-in-laws wrote me an email a week and a half ago indicating that she wanted to get some advice. And so we had the chance to be together a few days later, and we sat down and talk. I hope it was helpful to her. It was good for me because it really became the motivation for this podcast today. It caused me to thinking how do we stay motivated even when we have the normal challenges that come to us in life. Sometimes we get stuck and simply sharing, talking helps to get us moving in the right direction again. So I'd like to thank that daughter-in-law for taking the time to contact me. She's a wonderful person and we all benefit by this. I reflect on my life and I've taken challenges, difficult challenges to my mentors, people that I care about and I've shared then with them and what a wonderful transforming experience this is to do that. Number four. In other words number three is, don't be afraid to ask others and in the short and long-term it's very helpful, to consult with others, to coach with others. Number four is to fill your mind with positive stuff. And you all have heard this comment, this acronym which is GIGO, it stands for what? Garbage In and Garbage Out. Well, how true, we'd like to change that around a bit and say Greatness In, Produces Greatness out. And one of the ways to do that that I have really enjoyed doing and I believe every one of us can do this is to memorize good stuff. Memorize things that we can, when the things get hard, that we can hearken back to and it inspires us ourselves, and you can start small which is very simple things to memorize. And then, as you strengthen this part of the memory you can expand the type of things. For example, I actually have in some of my past organizer that had all the sheets. I called them "Steve's prize literature and quotes," things that I love, things that inspired me and pumped me up, but they're genuine and powerful. They're quotes by great people. Here is one that when I was 23 years old I was out selling books during the summer as my summer job. And I went to church in this small community in a remote area and the speaker share this quote. It's entitled "Just Keep On." I memorized it and I used it day in and day out but many others I'll share some of these, "Just keep on livin' and keep on a givin' and keep on tryin' to smile, just keep on singin' and trustin' and clingin' to the promise of an after while, for the sun comes up and the sun goes down and the morning follows night. There's a place to rest like a mother's breast and a time when things come right. Just keep on believin' and hidin' all your grievin' and keep on tryin' to cheer. Just keep on prayin' and lovin' and sayin' the things we love to hear, for the tide comes in and the tide goes out, and the dark will all turn bright. There's a rest from the load and an end to the road, and a place where things come right." Oh my goodness. I love that and said it many times over the years, so many others that I've enjoyed by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, "And one ship sails east and one ship sails west. By the selfsame wind that blows. Tis the set of the sail. And not the Gail. That determines the way it goes. And like the ships of the sea or the ways of fate, as we journey along through life. Tis the set of the soul that determines the goal, and not the calm or the strife." And they just go on and on. You find things that will just really touch your heart and inspire you. So, listen to podcast and TED Talks and good stuff, only good stuff, positive, upbeat. One of your annual goals can be to read at least 12 good books during the year, one per month. Okay. That's number four of things we can do to stay motivated. Number one, control the things that you can control. Number two, is to focus on your vision, goals and pre-week planning. Number three, share your dreams and goals with others, ask for advice. Number four, fill your mind with positive stuff. And number five, is work, work, work, and never give up. Get busy carrying out your goals, trust in the future, have faith that things will work out because they will. If there is any one lesson from history, it is as you focus on the good, doing the things that highly successful leaders have done for years, for centuries, for millenniums, you will ultimately be successful and victorious. You will find success in unexpected moments. And as you balance around what matters most, what is most important in life, your roles, doing the things we have this discussed, you will ultimately succeed. So we invite each one of our listeners to be determined, to be part of this movement of making a difference. We're all leaders, but let us be this new breed of leaders who are no longer satisfied with mediocrity, leaders who strive daily to be your very best in each area of life and treat others right, be wide, be leaders who are committed to excellence, and defined in a way to doing the impossible. They're confident, optimistic and determined to make a positive difference in their homes, and their schools and organizations and the world, and negativity and complaining have no part in our lives. And we know we don't have to compromise our personal lives or family to be successful. And we're like everybody else, we get knocked down, we'll have setbacks but a BYB leader keeps getting back up and will stay motivated because of what is going on inside of our head and our heart, and we know that life matters. What you do matters, your organization matters. So this is Steve Shallenberger in this podcast today reminding each one of us that you make a difference. We wish you all the best. Thank you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to all of our Becoming Your Best podcast listeners wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host Steve Shallenberger. And we have a tremendously interesting guest today. Our guest is a successful business leader and has influenced many many people for good. Welcome to our show today, Tim Sanders. Tim: Hey great to be with you Steve. Steve: I've been looking forward to this. Tim: Me too. Steve: Well, good. All right. Now, before we get started, I'd like to tell you a little about Tim's background. He spent his early career on the cutting edge of innovation and change. He was an early stage member of Mark Cuban's Broadcast.com, which had the largest opening day IPO in history. After Yahoo acquired the company, Tim was tapped to lead their Value Lab, and by 2001 he rose to a Chief Solutions Officer. And today he's one of the top-rated speakers on the lecture circuit. Tim is also the author of four books including The New York Times best seller "Love is the Killer App," which is an awesome book, "How to Win Business and Influence Friends," I really enjoyed reading that. Tim's book has been featured in Fast Company, USA Today, The New York Times, Boston Globe, and so on. He is a master storyteller who offers his listeners actionable takeaways that produce results right away. So I have been looking forward to having Tim here in our interview today. And to get going, Tim, can you tell our listeners maybe a little about your background, your story? What was it like growing up? And maybe some experiences that helped you see that you could be successful? Tim: Thank you. I grew up in Clovis, New Mexico. It's a farming community just east of the West Texas border. I'm sorry, just west of the...West Texas border. And I was raised by my grandmother. I was a special education student from second to fifth grade, which really, you know, taught me a lot of things. It taught me how to bounce back. That's for sure. Taught me how to fit in when people didn't understand who I was. But most importantly, my childhood taught me that anything is possible if I'm willing to put the preparation work in and seize the opportunity. In my adult life I had a period of time, say 15 years or so, where I was gainfully employed and successful to some degree but just not laser-focused on what mattered. You might say I was in a mediocrity trap. In 1997, I went to work for Mark Cuban about a year after I had gotten out of that trap and had a real paradigm shift about what it was gonna take for me to be successful for my family. When I worked for Mark Cuban you can imagine 1997, the dawn of the internet explosion. It was such a breathtaking opportunity Steve. But I remember those times mostly as being a student of the game. Something I learned from him. And I was a voracious book reader. I was a mentor to anybody I did business with. And by 2001 after he'd sold the company to Yahoo, I became Yahoo's Chief Solutions Officer right after the dot-com crash of 2000. So my team and I went out to rebuild hundreds of millions of dollars of lost business because all of those companies, like eToys, our big advertisers, had gone caput. And through those experiences, I built up a perspective that if we commit ourselves to lifelong learning, and we lead with love in our hearts for other people and expect nothing in return other than that they improve and pay it forward, you can accomplish anything in this world we live in. Steve: Wow, what a rich background and then to be able to take that background and, like, Clovis, New Mexico? You mean you can be successful if you were born in Clovis, New Mexico? Tim: I'll tell you something. Let me tell you something about Clovis, New Mexico. Little town, 30,000 people. I was on the debate team in high school, Steve. And we wanted to be nationally ranked. Now, it was a real kind of a pork chop circuit, right. There was the Las Cruces tournament, the El Paso tournament, the Odessa tournament. We had to get in our cars and drive over two hours to Lubbock, Texas, to go to a decent library to research for our debate. And we had to compete with, you know, Houston's Bellaire and Dallas' St. Marks and all these great folks in New Mexico, and all the big schools from Albuquerque and Santa Fe. But I'll tell you something, my senior year, we won state championship, and we went to the national tournament, and we didn't have nearly the resources of anybody we competed with. But man, I gotta tell you, and I thank my coach for this, we had heart. Steve: Wow! Well, I'll tell you I can attest that people from the salt of the earth communities like this can have a big difference in the world. Tim: Yeah. And I think too Steve, is that there's something in our values raised in that environment that makes us really good connectors. And I also think it makes us hungrier to find some way to get back that edge. And to look for those invisible resources that are out there, like knowledge that can really give us a leg up. And it makes us wanna give back too when we become successful, you know, there's a natural, very deep set generosity. And I gotta tell you, I come from it very honestly. I mean, the patriarch of our family is my great-grandfather the late great Tommy King. And he was one of the founders of Clovis when it organized into a city back around it, you know, after the Great Depression. And he was a successful farmer. And one of the things he did before the Dust Bowl era, right before it, was he engaged with some agricultural technologist and became the first farmer in that part of the country to use a circular farming techniques, which when the Dust Bowl hit, helped his farms survive if not thrive while others withered away. And in our family, one of the most poignant stories about Tommy was how much he gave back to other farmers who were in crisis. The ones that bullheaded, they wouldn't try circular farming knowing that the science said there was something coming in a drought. He was happy to give them microloans. He never collected on them. He would just tell people, "When this happens in the future, you pay it forward." And I believe that his philosophy really represented, you know, small town America. Steve: Oh, that's a great story. And then to actually go from being a special ed student to being successful, that's got to give hope to special ed students anywhere because, you know, they're behind a gun. And so, is there hope? I mean, like, can we make it? Tim: It's tough. I mean, you know, more background here. So my grandmother raised me because my mother abandoned me when I was in four. And it manifest into tremendous depression when I was a little kid. And it exhibited itself in discipline issues. And during those days, Steve, they really didn't have much to do with a kid, you know, when you're seven. So, all they really can do is put you in special education. And that experience was really challenging because it's not just that you're taken out of school, that you're ostracized. And when you go to church you're treated differently because, you know, you go to the other school. And I picked up the nickname Shortbus, and I really didn't shake that nickname till junior high. But I think the thing that I got out of the whole situation is when they put me back into the general population in the sixth grade. I had to deal with bullies for the first time. You know, when you're different you're gonna deal with bullies. For parents, this is a great challenge when a child is singled out into a program like special ed or frankly like gifted for that matter. And I'll tell you, I think my point of view about how I dealt with that traumatic sixth and seventh-grade year had to do with how I felt about love. I'll give you a classic story. So, in the seventh grade, the day that you wear your nice clothes and your nice white shirt for the picture, you know, for the yearbook? Steve: Yup. Tim: I went in and this bully who went to church with us demanded my lunch money and I hesitated. So he punched me right in the nose and I bled all over my shirt. Not gory but I bled on my shirt. It ruined me for the picture that day. When Billy, my grandmother, came to pick me up, I thought she was gonna just, you know, have it out with that boy's mom, or at least give him a good talking to. So when Billy and I are sitting in the vice principal's office and we're alone for a second, she turns to me and she looks at me and she says, "You know the problem here is that you don't love those boys enough." I remember looking at her and I point at my shirt and I said, "What do you mean? He's mean. He's a mean boy." And she said, "In our family, you don't love people because of who they are. You love people because of who we are." And she goes, "That's gonna go a long way with you fitting in at the school." And so she said I should invite him over after church. Because she believed that people were inherently good and when they were mean, or when they were bad, there was something about the story that you don't know. And so he came over after church and stole some of my stuff and still kind of picked on me but he didn't punch me in the nose. And then I guess he felt the duty to invite me over to his house a few weeks later on the other side of the tracks where he lived. And when I visited his home that Sunday afternoon, I realized why he was a bully. His father, a drunk, swore at him coming in through the front door. His older brother whipped him with what, like a horse bridle, in front of me. Later, and I realized that this guy had been going through a lot more than I was. And that he was manifesting it. He was a big guy. He was manifesting it by picking on the only thing that he could get away with picking on, that's a little guy called Shortbus. And once I had that breakthrough, Steve, it really changed the way I thought about people. I truly began to understand that if we give someone our love and we care about them, whether it's on a personal level like this or on a professional level like say someone that I manage, you'd be surprised how many of their problems go away. And how you can convert a bully into a blocker. And I gotta say, that guy and I became good friends. And a little bit more than four years later, he put up posters for me when I successfully ran for senior class president and won. And I realized that for the rest of my life, I'm gonna go out into the market and love people because of who I am, and it's very easy to find things about them that are incredibly easy to love. And that I'm assuming when people don't give back, when they don't do the right thing, when they're mean spirited. I'm assuming that there's something about their story or struggle that I have no knowledge of. And it's made me a much deeper listener and a much more curious person in a good way. Steve: Well, that's a fantastic experience and thank you for sharing it. How grateful are we for the people in our backgrounds that help us grow and develop and overcome maybe some of the deficiencies that we might have that we may or even may not be aware of, that help us start becoming what we're capable of becoming. So that's really an inspirational story. And then love is so powerful and we may talk about it more after our interview but after...well, I was going through my college career I sold books back East. And one of the great books that I read was "The Greatest Salesman in the World", "About the Scrolls," and "I Will Greet This Day With Love In My Heart," and "How Will I Greet Those That Treat Me Poorly Love." And, oh, my goodness, you just fill this tremendous power that comes from it. So I'm so glad you shared that. Tim: Well, thank you. And I will tell you, there's real science or at least there is real psychological research behind this. And if you think about it, this is a manifestation of Maslow's hierarchy, right? Abraham Maslow studied something he called B-love, that is being love. That is a detached form of caring about another person, like I care about another person whether or not you care about me. I care about that person solely because I wanna help that person grow. I don't care about that person because I need a new friend. D-love, Maslow brought about this, a deficiency based love, says, "I need to be loved." So everything I do from being friendly to making, you know, advances, whatever you do to try to go out and help people, you're doing it to solve one of your problems. So, next we'll talk about the idea that when we feel fulfilled in terms of how much we think we're cared about, and that the way we think about love and other people, again, whether it's personal or professional, when we do that, we are making the leap to becoming like self-actualized, if you will. And that it's the most powerful way to think about loving other people because there's no anxiety in those relationships because you're not expecting anything in return. And that's what makes them so beautiful. And I found in my business life, that as a leader, as a manager, as a colleague, this works even more. Because, you know, we need people to encourage us at work. We need people to care about us as customers. And I believe too many people are just traders, transactionalists, and don't bring that Maslovian, you know, B-love to work every day. Steve: Okay. All right. Well, that's a powerful point of view and force in our work lives. Now talking about how to be successful in what we do in business, in our work, and in life generally, it does take work and effort and doing certain things that make a difference. So you shared earlier, that as we visited, that you had made a discovery in your mid-30s that led to ten promotions and helped you achieve a strong financial position and financial security. Can you talk a little about that? What was that? Tim: So this is like 1996, 1997. I had been coming back into my studentship, and I had gone from just need to know in terms of learning to being a voracious reader of books. And not just on stuff that mattered to my current job but anything that was adjacent to it. Anything that I thought was interesting to know in the future. I was at a point Steve, where I would read a book a week. I would burn through these books. I'm not talking novels either I'm talking about complex books in some situations. And what happened was I began to talk about different things with clients. So when I go to work for Cuban, I had this mentality kind of fed by Leo Buscaglia as love on one hand and Steven Covey on the other. I had this mentality that I'm gonna go out and I'm gonna promote other people's success during a time of great change. Because you know the internet was disrupting everything. So I worked a lot with the retailers. So I would go out and work with Neiman Marcus or Victoria's Secret or whomever. And I took it upon myself to learn everything I could about their business future and their business challenges, and then share that with them. And that's where I had the big aha. That if my business practice was to aggregate my intangibles, my knowledge, my network of relationships, my ability to care about people. If I build those up so I can give them away, and systematically help other people make the leap without expecting anything in return, that faith would repay me with endless referrals, a powerful brand, and a magnetic value proposition inside my company. Because I make decisions with Mark, I start to adopt the style. I was a sales person of service out in the community. We accomplished a lot of great things. He sells the company two years later to Yahoo if you remember back in those days. When I transfer out to the West Coast at Yahoo, I've really refined the system of building relationships by sharing my knowledge, and my network, and my compassion in every interaction. And it was like the doors swung wide open. Because now it's 2000, now it's right after the dot-com crash. This idea about helping people finds success during times of great change and expecting nothing in return. Boy, it worked crazy good in Silicon Valley and that's when I begin to train the young Yahoos on this philosophy and this set of values. And that's where I begin to write down the steps I was taking to really document you know how I read books and how I chose books, and why I read books instead of articles, and what I talked about when I was networking. And that's where "Love is The Killer App" came from a few years later. And since then, you know 15 years, I've been traveling around the world meeting people, comparing notes and really building upon that philosophy. Steve: Oh, that's great. And as we've talked about with our listeners the twelve principles of highly successful leaders, these are the things that are present across the board for high achievers. Also they were able to sustain, really, success over a long period of time, both personally and professionally. And one of those was applying the power of knowledge. In other words, gaining knowledge in the first place, and one of the primary ways is being a reader. And so this is a great reminder to every one of us listening here today of the power of reading good books on a regular basis because they're just totally stimulating, aren't they? They just fire... Tim: They are. Steve: ...your mind. Tim: And what I like about books is that books require you to take a deep dive into usually a narrow subject. And you don't just learn a couple of data points and one story, you learn a construct. It's got a thesis, and it's got supporting anecdotes, and it usually has research and it's really meaty. And you can deeply understand the topic so you can give it away, right? So the twist here Steve, is read good books but have a mix. And what I say about this is every third book you read, read for someone else's benefit. I call it prescriptive reading. Think about what... Steve: What's an example of that? Tim: Yeah. Think about information challenges that the people have and go study on their behalf because talk about expanding your resume. Steve: Right. It gives you a whole different perspective to maybe a different discipline. Tim: Absolutely. That's made a big difference for me. And that was another part of my turnaround in the late 1990s that really shifted me away from the idea that, you know, I read books to help myself. No, I read books to help the world, and sometimes it helped me too. And that philosophy will keep you from being too laser-focused on what's in front of you and not focused enough on what's coming in the future. Steve: Okay, great. That's a powerful influence on our success. And you told this wonderful experience that you had personally, this story about the bully and your grandmother saying, "Listen, we need to love him." Tim: That's right. Steve: See things from a different perspective. So you must have learned, Tim, somewhere along the line that love can be applied across the board, in business and as an entrepreneur. What have you found? Have you been able to make the jump of using that in your personal life to a professional life, and what's the experience? Tim: Yeah. I've made it my professional strategy, you know, for the last 20 years or so. I mean, when I say love in a professional sense, Steve, I mean, that I have a set of emotions about you. I care and I am now committed to promote your success by sharing my intangibles with you, my knowledge, my network, my compassion. I want you to think about, for those of you listening, I want you to think about the mentor in your life who's made the most difference to you. There's maybe one. There's maybe two. Maybe some of you might have three, but there's maybe one, right? And I want you to really think about how that person felt about you. And I want you to think about how open that person was to loving someone like you, not as a family but just as a person maybe at work or just a person maybe they did business with. I'm talking about unleashing the capacity to do this every day. I developed strong emotional aspect for almost every single person I do business with, and I don't make them earn it, Steve. It happens quick. Maybe I start out by liking him and I look for things that other people don't look for. I wanna hear their story so I can admire their values and understand their point of view. I find things that are familiar about them. I experience their passion so I can really understand what makes them a unique person. I think our capacity to care about people that work quickly and then maintain that over time. I think that is oxygen for leadership. Steve: Absolutely. That's so powerful. I mentioned the research that we've done for 40 years and these principles that are present, you're doing them? Tim: Well, you know, we're thinking alike buddy. Steve: We are thinking alike. I mean, one of those was living the golden rule, really exceptional leaders. I mean, you can have leaders that are good in different contexts but when you put these together, and exceptional leaders also one that really cares about people. And this is manifest in how they treat others, how they learn about others so that they can bring the best out within others. And this is what starts creating excellence, so great going on this. Tim: Thank you. Thank you so much, man. Steve: And by the way, Tim's book "Love is The Killer App." He talks about these three things, knowledge, networking, and compassion. Would you mind touching on the compassion part a little bit? And I'd like to go back to the networking because you said one thing that is important, and that is how a mentor maybe ought to perceive others with this love, learning what their story is? How do you bring out the best? And you'll find mentors that have done this the same way for you. So, how can you be a good mentor? That's one question. And then we'll hit this other one before we're done. Tim: Absolutely. So, the best way to be a mentor is to remember that the mentor is usually a benefactor, a teacher of sorts. And their job is to give the hero a gift that will enable the hero to make it to the next stage of her journey. When you think about Homer's Odyssey, with the character mentor, when you think about the archetype of mentorship stories in very modern culture, like, say, Star Wars, with, you know, Yoda, or with Karate Kid in Miyagi, that's what it's all about. It's about finding that person that has heroic qualities. That's going somewhere a little too fast. You've got a gift for them, maybe it's your personal experience. You've been where they've been. You have knowledge that they need and you give it to them. You expect nothing in return but that they apply that knowledge and learn and improve. All the mentors, they gain enthusiasm from the student learning. And when they need to, they go beyond just sharing information and perhaps make vital connections to create alliances, to help that hero deal with upcoming adversity. As a mentor I just want you to think a little bit like Yoda. And I want you to not really think so much like a person who's like a fire hose of information, a person who's gonna "Take somebody under their wing." I think you need to think about your role very transitionally. But most importantly, you need to expect nothing in return other than that they hero seizes the opportunity, right? I think that is what changes the game. And by the way, you know, I know you talk a lot about how to be successful over a long period of time. My philosophy that we give without expectation, this is not lip service, Steve. I literally expect them to pay it forward but I don't expect them to pay it back. And I'm telling you that is liberating, because when I meet leaders who were generous for years and years and years and then they "Burned out." This is why they got burned out. Because just enough people didn't pay them back or give them credit or whatever their reciprocity was supposed to be and they were disappointed. And I call it ego economics. And it sets in on a lot of people in their career. Super generous in their 30s, a little bit jaded in their 40s, super protected in their 50s. I'm 55 years old, I've never been more generous because I'm not disappointed in people. And I think that's what comes with being detached about what you get back. Steve: Oh, great. You know that's great. I think even the savior of mankind, Jesus Christ, if you...regardless of what you believe, as it was described when he healed the lepers, and he had one return and thanked him. Nine did not. And if your expectation is that people are gonna thank you, you're probably gonna be somewhat disappointed. Tim: Absolutely. You will. Steve: If that's your expectation. Tim: And it's interesting. So, you know, I love that story and I appreciate that example. I think that, for us, the secret to a long-term career is a very flexible perspective. And I think that if we're willing to go against the grain that there's a quid pro quo. I think we really open up our opportunities in life. You just continue to be great until the day we die. Steve: Wonderful. What a refreshing wonderful perspective. I had a friend, Tim, that I had lunch with last week. He is a facilitator for a very successful training company. He has been, really most of his career 30 years, he's gone all over the world. And one of the things he talked about was precisely this, is that his observation is one of the keys for companies to get ahead today to be able to be a best in class, be the best in their industry, is to have active healthy coaching program within the company where people are able to coach each other. And I think it's really these type of qualities you're talking that would help that be successful. Tim: Absolutely. And for leaders, whether it's a small business or an enterprise, you can create a culture of coaching. So even if there's not a funded program per se, it can be the habit inside that organization. So Tom Ward was brought into Barton protective in Atlanta to turn that company around several years ago and he created that culture. He had something called Vision Quest. These values cards everybody carried with them. It was a huge part of the cadence that he had in that company. And the third value was love. "Do you care about me as a person?" He hired based on it. He rewarded based on it. He promoted or did not promote based on it. It made a big deal to how people behaved, because culture at work, culture at work is a conversation that's led by leaders about how we do things here. And that's like software that runs a company, right? So, when you as a leader go to work and say, "We coach other people because of who we are as a company," then the habit sets in. And it's very attractive, Steve, to today's millennial, to have a reputation for a company where we bring each other up as opposed to where we internally compete. So I just want everybody listening to know this is within your power. And you don't need a big checkbook, but you do need to have consistent cadence because you need to manage that conversation about how we do things here successfully. Steve: Yeah, absolutely. Well, I am, like, speechless that we are out of time. I can't believe it. Tim: It goes that quick, man. It goes that quick. Steve: It has been fast today. Now, any...what's one last bit of advice, or any tips you would like to give our listeners before we wrap it up today. It's been fun Tim. Tim: Hey, it's been fun buddy. So I'll tell you a place where you can get some stuff about me, but before that, I'll just give you one of my...it's kind of my new little piece of advice I like to give people. And I can't say that I came up with it but I can tell you I'm championing this idea. If you want to be a happier person in, life in traffic and in work, the next time somebody irritates you, does something that is seemingly rude to you, I want you to assume that that person is operating under the best intentions. I want you to assume that you don't know the whole story. Because more often than not, Steve, people are operating under the best intentions. It's just that their needs clash with our needs. And we spend a lot of our time judging those people instead of inquiring about the rest of the story. So like I said, next time somebody cuts you off in traffic, you might wanna consider that she's trying to get somebody to the hospital before you honk your horn and shake your fist. And this goes double for you as business owners and leaders. Steve: Oh, that's great advice. I hope I can get this right. This comes from an article I read yesterday and it really left a deep impression on me. It was given by the leader of a worldwide organization, a humanitarian service organization. And the fellow talked about 50 years ago, he had a mentor. And the mentor said, "Every time you meet somebody, if you'll say to yourself this person is dealing with a serious challenge," he said, "You're gonna be right 50% of the time." Tim: And guess what? Before, when you just reacted and judged that person, you were wrong 50% of the time. Steve: Exactly. Well, he said, "Man I thought my teacher, my professor was a pessimist," he said, "But I have come to learn what wise advice that was." Because indeed as we look around what's going on in the world, it is often true. And I love your comment that half the time we're wrong. So let's give everybody a lot of slack here, right? Tim: On that, you know, again, yeah, let's put our self in another person's shoes. And let's find out more. You can learn and grow so much more. You can expand your thrive so much more. And, again, you can just avoid those regrettable mistakes we all make. Steve: Yup. Well, these are some great things that we can do to make a difference, to lift others, to build others. Tim has done a great job in sharing these. What a tremendous background. And, Tim, if you'll share how our listeners can learn more about what you're doing, and which is tremendous? We'd love to hear about it. Tim: Absolutely. We've set up a special page for your listeners, Steve. It is timsanders.com/byb. That's timsanders.com/byb. I'll have a huge download excerpt of Love is The Killer App for you to read. I'll also have a way you can connect with me on LinkedIn, and find other resources like videos and other such content on my site. Steve: Well, that's terrific. Thank you Tim Sanders for being part of this show today. This has been enlightening. It's been wonderful. Tim: Oh, absolutely. It's been a pleasure Steve. I really enjoyed it. Steve: Well, you bet. We wish you all the best as you're making a difference in the world as well Tim. Tim: Thank you. Steve: And to all of our listeners, never forget, you are creating a ripple that can never be counted for good as we do the right things, good things. And they do make a difference. They lift our own lives and they lift others. And they help us be more successful, happier and have fuller lives. I'm Steve Shellenberger with Becoming Your Best Global Leadership wishing you a great day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maximize Your Health To Live In Peace and Balance with Ron Williams Welcome to our podcast listeners wherever you may be in the world today. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host. And we are excited to have a wonderful friend and guest with us today, Ron Williams. Welcome, Ron! Ron: Steve, thank you so much, man. I'm glad to be with you. Steve: Now, Ron is a repeat visitor on this podcast series. I met Ron, for the first time, about a year ago and we had Ron talk about fitness. He told us about his background which is an amazing background and to what he's doing today which is helping people all over the world to improve their fitness, their health, and of course, that leads into their happiness. So as we think about The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, each one of those has a big impact on our life. But they come together to help us be highly successful leaders as we touch not only our own lives have an influence in our relationships but also help contribute to best of class, world class organizations. So one of those principles is to Live In Peace and Balance. Part of that is how do we maximize our own health: our fitness, our mental health, emotional health? Well, it just so happens that that is exactly what Ron does. And when we had the chance to visit a year ago, I mentioned to Ron on the air that I have been trying to lose 10 or 15 pounds for maybe 10 years. I mean, I'm not like really overweight but it's always there. Do you know what I'm talking about? Can anybody that's listening relate to this? And it just kind of rubbed me wrong. I felt like I could do better but it was just really hard to knock it off. And so I asked Ron what his thoughts were, and we talked about a few ideas. At the end of our session, we turned off the equipment and I told him, I said, "Ron, really, I'm serious about this. I'd like to lose 10 or 15 pounds." And Ron said, "Well, I'll tell you what, I'll think about this and I'll call you tomorrow." And so on the phone the next day, he said, "Well, I've been thinking about this and you don't need to lose 10 or 15 pounds." And I threw my hands up and I said, "Yes." And he said, "You need to lose 20 to 25 pounds." And I gulped and I said, "Okay, but I'm going to need your help." Over the next few months, I did indeed lose 25 pounds. It was an amazing process, and the fact is it wasn't a torture for me. It was a positive upbeat process. And one of the things that I found as I went to my periodic checkup with the doctor, he was amazed, first of all, but second, we noticed that my blood pressure had decreased. It wasn't really particularly high before, it was in good shape, but it had gone down. My cholesterol levels had gone down, and this is tracking a 16-year baseline that I had with this particular doctor. And so we had all of this data, and you can push a button right there and it automatically graphs everything. And so you see this graph, and it kind of goes up over the years and all of a sudden, a big drop. Found that my weight had a big drop, and that this was a correlation throughout across the board and that I was much healthier. And so, first of all, I credit Ron. There's a number of things we did, and we're going to have the chance to talk about some of those today. First of all, Ron, I'm just going to invite you to share anything that you would like to about what's been happening in your life over the last year. I have also recommended Ron to a couple of friends and they've had similar experiences. So why don't you bring us up to speed on anything that you would like to talk about, experiences that you're having, what you're seeing? But what would you like to just introduce yourself with? Ron: Awesome. First of all, I want to say thank you, Steve, for all that you have done for my business. One of the things that I found with working with Steve was this is that here I am coaching this guy, thinking,"You know what, I'm doing him a great service," and you know, we lost the 25 pounds, but the little nuggets that I got from him let me know that I needed a coach. And he became my coach. So Steve is my coach today, and I want to appreciate him in what he does. But some of the things that have happened over the year is that I'd been able to put together programs for corporations that have drastically changed the face of you know, the companies, and we've really been enjoying that. And we realized that the principles of what we teach cross boundaries, meaning that we work in several areas: faith, family, fitness, and finances. And with that being said, regardless of what direction you're moving in, there are universal principles that actually cross those boundaries and we call them "Champion Principles," and if you apply it as far as your fitness is concerned, those same principles apply in your business, in your relationships, and across the board, Steve. Steve: Well good. Well, all right. So since we're having this discussion, Ron...and Ron has been a great coach for me, and I'm glad that we've been able to be of help to him. It's been fun to see some of the things that have happened. Ron, together with his wife Tanya, have created a 9-week fitness program that they have shared with a few special clients. Would you mind telling us about that and how it's designed, and what some of the end results that you're having? And the purpose of doing this is that I'd like to have our listeners today have some hope, have some encouragement that if they do certain things, they can get to a better place that makes them feel better, frankly. Ron: Absolutely. This 9-week program is really just a basis and a starting place because our complete desire is to develop lifestyle. And that's what I can see in Steve, is he's developed a lifestyle. You know, he lost the weight, but if you look at him today, he looks better now than he did at the completion of the program. You know why? Because he's continuing in that same lifestyle. And that's what we want to do is to develop these principles so that it becomes a lifestyle to you. But one of the main principles is never to allow yourself to be hungry. It's very important because you send your body a signal of starvation. When many times, what people think is that it's willpower, "If I can starve myself and just have the will to keep going." But that sends a signal to the body of starvation. So eating and making sure you're never hungry is very important. Another principle would be to eat in combinations. Combinations are so important. If your desire is to decrease body fat, you never ever want to eat a carbohydrate by itself. The reason why, I'm going to explain this as short as I can, when you eat a carbohydrate by itself, it spikes the blood glucose level which causes the pancreas to secrete the insulin where the insulin is the culprit of the excess body fat. Your blood sugar level comes down when the insulin is secreted, but it converts those calories into triglycerides which is blood fat, and it pumps it directly into the fat cell. So we want to move away from that. If you don't eat enough calories, then your metabolism slows down, and when you do eat, those calories convert to body fat as well. There are 75 reasons why people are overweight and obese, so we have to find out individually what are yours and which ones belong to you. Reverse that, we can get rid of the body fat. Steve: Okay, all right. Well, that's good advice. Now, the first time we got going on this, Ron explained this to me, the example that he used for me was that if you eat an apple...And you correct any of this if you don't mind, Ron. But if you eat an apple by itself, it's the carbohydrate. It will be digested by the body within 20 minutes. Is that about right? Ron: Absolutely. Steve: But if you'll take that same apple and it goes right to fat, as Ron just explained...On the other hand, if you eat that apple together with the protein together with an essential fatty acid, it takes four hours for the body to digest this and it goes directly to energy. Ron: Wow, that's awesome that you remember that principle. Yes, and this is for those that are trying to decrease body fat. If you're an athlete and you have a high metabolism, this would not apply for you because sometimes you would take in pure sugar to propel you forward in whatever activity you're competing in. But if your desire is to decrease body fat, Steve is 100% spot on. Steve: Okay, and so that was really helpful. So that's a good tip for today is whenever you eat any type of foods, be sure you have at least three things on your plate: a carbohydrate, a protein, and the essential fatty acids. Right? Ron: Absolutely. Beautiful. Steve: Okay, that's if you're trying to, you know, lose body fat. And that's what I was doing, and I still do that by the way. I'm trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle of an ongoing diet that I know I can sustain. People often ask "Well, what are essential fatty acids?" That's raw almonds, avocados. What are some other sources of that, Ron? Ron: Wheat germ oil would be another one. You know, you said avocado. There's a new oil called avocado oil. I love the avocado oil because I can put it in any of my drinks and it's hard to even taste. Steve: Oh, okay. All right, good. So, Ron, what are some problems that you see are common in our society concerning excess body fat? Have we already talked about it? Have we covered that or...? Ron: Well, one problem I see is that we in America are getting fatter. You know, years ago, it was hard to find a person that was more than 300 pounds. Now we're 600, 700, 800, 900, even a thousand pounds. I mean, that was unheard of. The body is so resilient and I don't know how the body can handle that. But we're becoming more overweight and obese because of being sedentary and the other thing is poor eating and some of the things that we're putting in our bodies, and we have to reverse that. That's a real passion of mine. Steve: Okay good, all right. Well, so in terms of the eating do you... I'd like to just get back to that. Are there some things that our listeners can do to have a healthy set of eating habits? Like I know that you sent to me, originally, the Champions' Nutritional Guideline as I recall. Ron: Yes, sir. Steve: I don't know if that addresses it but maybe you could take a minute to just talk about, well, what are types of healthy eating. Ron: Okay, types of healthy eating depending on where you are, if you need to lose 15 pounds, if you need to lose 30 pounds, if you need to lose 70 pounds, or if you're in a class that we considered a hard-loser. A lot of people go on diet, after diet, after diet and what you end up doing is retarding your metabolism. When you retard your metabolism, it doesn't function properly the way it should. And then we have those people out there that are insulin resistant. And all of these create a huge problem. So what you have to do is find out, first of all, which category you're in, and then, you want to start off by detoxifying the body. Because we have what you call "fat-loss resistant chemicals" along with estrogen mimickers, and what estrogen mimickers do is they create excess body fat. And we want to get those toxins out of the body so that the body will function the way it should properly. There's certain things that 200 years ago, we weren't privileged to put in our body, you know, and we want to go back to nature as much as we possibly can. The way God originally created food is the way we should ingest it. God didn't create the Oreo cookie. I know some of you think he did but he really didn't create the Oreo cookie. And what I do is I study out different ingredients, where they came from, how we came about it. And when you look at an Oreo cookie, the center of that Oreo cookie that you take...you open the Oreo cookie and you scrape that white stuff on your teeth. Do you know what that is? It would be equivalent to Crisco oil or that Crisco-thick saturated fat that you're scraping on your teeth that has some sugar and has a little vanilla flavoring. But you're putting that directly into your body and it clogs the arteries and creates excess body fat. Well, if we go back to nature, we'll find out those things that we originally ate were to bring health, life, and longevity. So I would say, first of all, let's learn a little bit about good nutritional value. Eat those things that are very nutritious. Eat organic as you possibly can. Fresh is better than frozen. Frozen is better than canned. And try to get back to nature as much as you possibly can. Steve: Okay. Well, those are some good guidelines. And as I started adopting this, I didn't know what to expect but what I found is that eating, for example, the steamed vegetables were amazing. I don't know how I had missed these before. So yellow squash and steamed broccoli and the cauliflower, and there are so many amazing things that are so good. And I've loved the celery, the carrots. All of these things are so good, and I think they're part of what you're talking about. Ron: Yes. sir. Absolutely. Steve: kay, good. All right, well, let's just wrap up with a couple of thoughts here. What are a few things that we could implement today that would aid in decreasing body fat? Maybe we've already talked about it, but...And then, I'd like to talk about...the final thing is the role of exercise versus diet. Ron: Awesome, awesome. Well, one thing, it's very, very simple but it's huge, and that's change the type of water you drink because water, you know, it's the number one nutritional thing that we can put in our bodies. At one time, you could get water for free, but good quality water you have to pay for. It is very, very important because we're made up of 70% water. In water, just because it's clear does not mean that it's clean. We have different things in our body: fat-loss resistant chemicals along with estrogen mimickers, medication. Some people are taking hormone therapy. All of that gets into the water, and you think it gets cleaned out but it really doesn't. The other things...we have chlorine. Now, an estrogen mimicker, you've probably wondered where do they come from: pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, chlorine, perchlorate, which is jet fuel. All of those have estrogen mimickers. Heart medication, they'll tell you with some heart medication that it creates tenderness of your breast or your chest which become breast, and that's because there's an estrogen mimicker in there. When little girls go through puberty they get that tenderness, and that starting to happen in men along with other excess body fat throughout their bodies. So a good source of water is distilled water that's fortified with the minerals, that's pure water. So that's really important. You can implement that starting today. Steve: Now, let's just hold on a second. Where did they get that? Ron: Distilled water, you can either distill it yourself by having a distiller or you can just go on the Internet and google distilled water in your area or you can find it on the grocery store shelf, distilled water. But fortify it with the minerals. Even on our website, if you're looking for the minerals, they should cost you somewhere between $17 to $19. If it cost you more than that for a 90 day supply, way too expensive. We have some on our website for just $14.95. Steve: Okay, all right. Well, let's take this last question. It's been a good interview and good ideas today and hopefully, some encouragement for people and keeping it simple on a way forward. How big of a role does exercise play? How big of a role does the diet play? Ron: Well, as a competitor, exercise is a very, very small percentage, something like 20%. And the nutritional part of it is somewhere around 75% to 80%. I mean, the nutritional part of it is huge, but the combination together, utterly, utterly important. You can go on a diet by itself and you'll receive some results or you can do exercise by itself and depending on the type of metabolism you have, you may get no results. But the combination together, scientifically, is the best thing you could possibly do. Steve: Okay, and then one last question, Ron. What have you found is the best way to get this distilled water? Do you just buy it from a store around or can you get it in a larger container? What's the easiest way? What have you found the best way to get it? Ron: The best way to get it is have it brought to your house. It's really inexpensive. If you have a store that's fairly close, and as I said just google it, they will actually bring five-gallon containers to your house for less than 60 cents a gallon. If you go to the store, it may cost you $1.25 or maybe even higher. And another thing is distilled water... you can only drink that for two weeks. It'll help detoxify the body but after two weeks, start putting the minerals in. Steve: Okay, yeah. That's a critical part, right? Because it can actually hurt your health if you continue with the distilled water without the minerals. Ron: That's right because water, by itself, it has open bonds, and as we receive rain, it goes through the atmosphere but it collects the asset that's in the atmosphere then it hits the ground. But when that water is completely distilled, it has open bonds. And when it goes to your body, it does the same thing. it collects the dirt and the filth but it also absorbs those minerals and will pull the minerals out of your system. So get the water distilled, two weeks, it'll help you detoxify. But after the two weeks, apply the minerals. Steve: Okay, good stuff. Well, this is been a great interview. Hopefully, you have received a few good ideas. And if this is an area of interest, then certainly, the diet that we've talked about, the way you eat, the number of meals, and then try to have a consistent exercise program to supplement what you're doing. The distilled water... Ron: Absolutely. Steve: With the minerals. Okay, good start. Now, Ron, how can they find out about what you're doing or learn more? Ron: Well, one is we have a YouTube channel which is just, Ron Williams YouTube Channel. The next thing, you could go to our website which is ironchestmaster.com or rwfitness.com. You can find me on the Internet just google Ron Williams. Steve: Okay, good to know. Well, thank you. It's been a great interview. And Ron, I can't wait to see what happens in the next year. Ron: Absolutely. Steve: All right. Well, we're signing off and remember that every one of you is making a difference in your own life. And I'd like to give you hope and encouragement that if you've had 10 or 15 pounds or whatever that you've been trying to lose, you can do it, and it's just a steady effort and you can have fun doing it. It's an adventure. Well, we wish you all the best. This is Steve Shallenberger signing off with Becoming Your Best. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

https://www.becomingyourbest.com/5-simple-innovative-ways-great-time-manager/ Welcome to our podcast listeners, wherever you may be in the world today! This is Steve Shallenberger. Your host for the Becoming Your Best podcast series.   Today, we have an exciting subject. It is Five Simple, Innovative Ways to Great Time Management. And to preface this a little bit, I'd like to share an experience that I had not long ago.   We were visiting our son and his wife, west of Phoenix, Arizona near the White Tank Mountains. It is beautiful but it's rugged mountain terrain. One morning we hiked up three miles up a ravine and we arrived at a waterfall. We enjoyed the captivating area where the American Indians made their home and we decided to jog down the trail.   Now, this was an interesting experience. As we navigated the trail at about four miles per hour, I was utterly amazed at how my mind and body worked together. Knowing exactly how to adjust to an ever-changing terrain. A boulder here and a dip there, a rattlesnake slithering along the side of the trail, literally, a spiny cactus.   As we gradually went up and down, descending safely back to where the cars were parked. This experience caused me to reflect on how our body system works together, as we navigate through the daily challenges of life. Just as our body adjusted to the terrain as we jogged, over a trail in the mountains. Or your mind or heart adjusts to the terrain of relationships, your work, and everything you face from moment to moment. This is amazing, this great tool that we are blessed to have. It's literally, this principle of prioritizing time allows us to merge our heart, and mind, and memory consistently. So that we can achieve a sustainable best and doing the things that really count most in our life.   Repetition is crucial to the development of both muscle memory and heart and mind memory. One moment of creativity or being quick to listen really helps as we solve issues. Day to day they make us more effective in time management. This is really powerful as we're going to talk about these five simple, innovative ways to be great time managers. So, here we go.   The first one is one we've talked about in the past. But it is absolutely a fundamental game changer. And it is to spend a few minutes each weekend doing pre-week planning. We use the example of you happen to be a pilot, let's say a commercial pilot or a fighter pilot or even a private pilot. If you had a complex flight coming up, going from one coast to the next. Or navigating through some desolate areas, how many of you would just go jump in the plane and take off? Well, no. It'd be crazy to do that. Suicide is what it would be. Well, how many of us do the very same thing as we start each week? We just go in from week in, week out with no thought. We jump in the cockpit and we show up to work. We do whatever we're doing. Well, we get the same type of results frequently. This little process of pre-flight planning in the pilot world assures the highest probability of a successful flight. Unless something just unusual goes wrong. Well, this is the very same way with our week. Pre-week planning allows us to assure, with some probability, some things could happen, that we're going to have a great week. That's just the way it turns out.   Listen to the full episode...https://www.becomingyourbest.com/5-simple-innovative-ways-great-time-manager Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Secret to Peace, Confidence, Success and Trust Welcome to our listeners wherever you might be today. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host of the Becoming Your Best Global Leadership podcast. Now, what thing can you do to bring you greater peace, confidence, internal, strength, greater trust with others? Open many doors to opportunities and just generally provide for a happier fuller more abundant life? More success professionally with other people? Well that leads us to today's subject, which is being True to Character. It's interesting as we think about character there's really a couple of different components to it. One is being honest. Notice the word “being”. This is really an internal quality. It's who we are. Being honest, doing the right things. There's a different component and that is integrity. It's interesting to look at the root words of integrity. It has to do with “being whole” or “complete”. So we might think of the example of a ship hull having integrity or the frame of an aircraft having integrity. It's being whole, this is what people see. Our integrity is really defined by those that are around us. They see that we are whole and especially in the terms of leadership. When we have integrity we create a wholeness. A predictability that people can count on within an organization. It's these two traits, if you will, these two factors: 1) being honest and 2) having an integrity. That literally create a character, something that people can count on, that is both internal and external. So being true to character is really based on being true to those things that consistently make a difference. Or what we frequently call correct or timeless principles. These then define an outcome we have. So being true to character means your actions reflect your beliefs. Your beliefs are based on these guiding correct principles and it's at the very bedrock of character. It's this integrity, honesty, respect for others in alignment with these principles. When you're true to character the feeling is good, solid and confident. The impact is remarkable! Added confidence, increased opportunity, stronger relationships, expanded influence, and certainly an enviable reputation. Now each of us is endowed with a conscience. In other words, you know right from wrong… To listen to the podcast to get the complete episode and Steve’s continued discussion of Being True to Character: https://www.becomingyourbest.com/secret-peace-confidence-success-trust/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s Your Innovation Quotient? - Interview with Tamara Kleinberg Steve: Welcome to all of our "Becoming Your Best" podcast listeners, wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger. And we have a very interesting guest with us today. Our guest has helped and inspired many people on how to improve their lives and be more effective. Welcome, Tamara Kleinberg. Tamara: Thank you so much for having me. Steve: Oh, we're excited to have you. And before we get started today, I'd like to tell you a little about Tamara's background. First of all, this is fun. She's part of an elite group of TED speakers for completing three Tough Muddlers. Tell us what a Tough Muddler is, Tamara. Tamara: Oh, they are these...I don't know if you've done one yet...but they are these extreme sport events. It's usually 12 to 16 miles, 20 obstacle courses, and things like getting dumped in water so cold you can't breathe and electric shock wires. It just...it tests your limits, both physical and mental, every time you do it. Steve: Lovely. Well, we know what the Spartan event is. We've had a number of our family members that have participated in that. I think quite similar. Tamara: I love Spartan events. Steve: Yeah, they're great. And Tamara's life is about breaking through the status quo for game-changing results. And I'll just tell you a little bit more about her. She is the founder of LaunchStreet, an online innovation program, and the creator of a proprietary Innovation Quotient Edge, which we'll talk a little bit about later in the program. It's the only assessment able to help you discover your unique innovator archetype, and we'll talk about that, so that you can innovate on demand. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, CrossFit addict, and a knee-high sock lover. She lives in the Colorado area, has two young children, a husband, and they are rocking and rolling. Tamara: Don't forget my dog. My dog would be very upset if you didn't mention her. Her name is Zoe, and she's a 90-pound mastiff. So she's part of the family. Steve: Well, that's perfect. Okay, well, Tamara, what was life like growing up for you? And what experiences helped you to see that you could be successful? Tamara: Yeah, that's such a great question to open with, you know? So I was telling you a little bit offline that we moved every four years of my life. And the reason for that was my dad was an entrepreneur. So we basically bounced from business to business, and that required moving as well. And while that sounds horrible to a lot of people, what I will tell you is it taught me how to talk to everybody, because I had to start over every four years. I became the queen of reinvention I think before I was 18 years old because I always had to. And, you know, I kinda looked back on my life, and, you know, I realized that that entrepreneurial spirit was inside of me very early on. My very first business was when I was 14 years old. I turned my teenage girl's dream closet into a business of renting clothing, and keep in mind, just to date myself, it was the 80s. So the clothing was bad, and it was before the Internet and [inaudible 00:03:19] could rent everything. But, you know, I was always looking for opportunities to just do things a little bit differently. I think a lot of us have that inside of us, that little spark, and it ignites every now and again. And sometimes we shut it down. And sometimes we let it grow. But in that case, I let it grow. And that summer, I had a ton of money. It was great. But, you know, you would...one of the things that you would ask in a previous thing was, you know, kinda what are some of those defining moments in your childhood. And I would tell you a quick story, because I think this really kinda set up how I viewed life and how I ultimately was able to achieve success. When I was in third grade, I got the most awesome homework, which was, you know, come back on Monday morning and tell the class what you wanna be when you grow up. And I was so excited. And that's the best homework you can give a third grader ever because the possibilities at that point in your life are endless. So, you know, I spent all weekend. I really...I took it very seriously. And I got back to school, and I stood up there, and I was the first to raise my hand. So I got up, you know, in front of that dirty chalkboard. And to see if my...you know, kids in front of me in those low tables, and I said, you know, "I'm Tamara. And when I grow up, I wanna be president of the United States." Steve: Woo-hoo! Tamara: And, you know, then I waited... Yeah. Well, that's what I was hoping for. Thank you. You know, I put my head down waiting for the like obvious standing ovation that was coming. But instead, I got laughter. And it wasn't actually the other kids. It was the teacher. Yeah. She looked to me, and she said, "Tamara, don't be silly. You can't be president of the United States. You weren't born here. You need to come up with a new dream." So I wasn't born here. I was born in Israel. But I...I was born on dual citizenship. And it doesn't matter. In third grade, that's not the point, right? Steve: Right, right. Tamara: You know, I went home in tears, and I went into my dad's office because he's working from home at the time. And I said, you know, "I was told that those are the rules. So I can't be president." I was so upset and ready to be very dramatic. And my dad is very brass tacks about everything. And he looked up at me, and he just said, "Well, Tamara, then go change the rules." I was like "Oh my God." Like that opened my eyes to everything in life. So I can't change the rules to be president. Frankly, at this point, I'm really glad I never pursued that path because it looks like a really hard job. But what it did teach me in life and what I've always applied is how can you go around those brick walls and those rules? How do you go under them, over them, through them? There's always a different way to accomplish what you wanna accomplish. And when I was in third grade, what I was really saying was I wanna make an impact on the world. That's really what I wanted. So when I thought about that in a different way, I was able to do different things and get to that goal. Steve: Oh, I love it. Oh, thanks for that background. And this is a great reminder too. We who have the opportunity to work with others, to give them encouragement, to give them hope, to... I love the assignment. You know, to stoke that curiosity and creativity and... Well, great going! That's terrific. Now, how about...you've been moving along. That was a great setback right there, a little challenge. But what's been some of the biggest challenges in your life or a challenge, just pick one, whether personal life or professional, and how did you handle it, and what was the impact? Tamara: Yeah. So, you know, I think we all have a lot of challenges. And sometimes there are tiny little ones that seem to add up over time. And other times there are, you know, big ones that are slapping us around and leaving a little bit of a sting on our face. And I know...I think when I look back, the biggest challenges have been these tiny little things that constantly added up. And, you know, it really led to...it was me always trying to push the limits and always trying to do something different and getting pushed back. And, you know, when I was...and so when I left university...I graduated from UC Berkeley and went out to New York City because I wanted to be in advertising and on Madison Avenue, which in the '90s was a big deal, you know, different now, but it was then. And I remember getting my first job there. And I was an administrative assistant. And that's not what I wanted to be. I wanted to be in account management. But because I didn't have an in, a connection, a referral...I was new to New York. I moved there not knowing anybody. I mean it was me and my apartment for the first six months of my time in New York City. And I had to take the job that I was provided because that's all I could get. I couldn't get the one in accounts because, you know, I didn't know anyone. However, once I got in, I was able to make my imprint and get to where I wanted to be. So, you know, it seemed like a really big challenge, and I had to look at it and go, "Well, how do I do it differently so that I get to my goal, but do it in a different way, because that path I thought I would get is just not open to me?" The beauty of it, though, the thing I learned, not just that, is I learned how hard it is to be an administrative assistant and how that is they are the gatekeepers to everything. So not only did I learn, you know, what I needed to do to get to where I was trying to be, but I also learned what it really meant to take on that role, which was not easy. But that's really all the challenges...every moment that I remember another time I was working at this, you know, prestigious brand strategy and innovation firm. And I used to get in trouble for going home at four because I would be done with my work, and I would do it well, but I was done because I figured out a different way to prioritize my workflow and not do it like everybody else and get even more accomplished in a shorter period of time. But I got in trouble for it. So, you know, I kind of kept having to push boundaries and I kept... What I learned along the way is I had to keep pushing back. I had to keep pushing back. It was my job to keep that flame going, nobody else's, because they were not gonna do it for me. Steve: Okay. Well, now, I just love it. I love the fact that Tamara is out there pushing the horizons, thinking about possibilities. This is one of the things that we need to do to reach our fullest potential. We just gotta reach down inside and say, "Wow, what is it out there that...where can I make my contribution? Where is my area of interest?" and go for it. Don't let things hold us back. And that might be in the different roles that we have in life. And so great going, Tamara. Tamara: Well, thank you so much. You know, I think this is kinda how life works, isn't it? Like it's...I saw this great quote on Facebook from Sylvester Stallone in what...a movie he's I think recently in. I didn't get to see the whole thing, because, you know, you're on Facebook, you scroll through. But, basically, it's like "Look, life is gonna slap you around harder than anybody else. And it's our job to get back up." And I think that's really how I've tried to lead through life. And when you tap your innovative mind, which we all have the power of doing... I know we don't always feel that way. But it's true. We can talk a little bit about the research that led to that and kinda, you know, the assessment that goes along with it. But when we approach things in a more innovative way, we're able to make a greater impact and go around some of those big barriers that we face. Steve: Okay, good. Well, let's talk about innovation. This is one of your specialties. And it plays such a huge role in our success in life. And I was just reading through my personal vision this morning, which I've had for 25 years. It's been inspiring for me. And on the personal level, one of the aspects was when I have setbacks and challenges, I think of options, options, and options. And then I move again. Tamara: I love that. Steve: Well, this is kind of it, innovation. So what's the greatest barrier to innovation? Let's really help our listeners out today of how we can get to a better place. Tamara: Yeah. So there's a couple of barriers that I wanna talk about here. And let me just back up by sharing my definition of innovation so we're all on the same page because I think oftentimes we think of it as a new product, new technology, or, you know, relegated to a certain point in time, exercise, the brainstorm with scented markers, you know, and [inaudible 00:11:08]. But that's really not it. What innovation is and the definition that I'd like, you know, us to move forward with is people each thinking differently about what's right in front of them to create differentiated value. And that really ultimately comes back to us in how we view things and shifting our own perspective and trying out new things. I think that one of the greatest barriers to innovation is thinking that we're not capable of it and that, you know, Greg down the hall with his blue streak in his hair and his funky glasses and, you know, going the cafes to work. He is the innovative guy. But it's really not me, whether that's because of my, you know, how I've been trained over life or my job description or just how I view myself. And that couldn't be more wrong. I think what we've discovered in our 20-plus years of work and research over here at LaunchStreet is that being innovative is actually universal. We all do it. But how we innovate is unique to each of us. But we gotta own that we're innovative people. You now, we all go to the movies, and we suspend belief, and we watch these crazy sci-fi movies, and we think nothing of it. Yet, we come home, and when we ask ourselves to work and we ask ourselves how to think differently about something, and we shut down. We got to bring that back up. Steve: Okay. Well, that's great, yeah. And I love your definition, thinking differently to get better results to how do we be... As you know, one of the things we talk about a lot is helping people become their best. And this is the thinking is we can do it. We can come up with ideas, and we are capable of it. So as we get into this process, Tamara, why do most ideas die before they even have a chance to get going, before someone leaves the conference room? Tamara: Yeah. There's a couple of reasons for it, and it's so sad, isn't it? I mean even asking the question sounds sad, like "Oh, ideas die." It's so sad, but they do, and they do for a couple of reasons. One is we confuse collaboration and consensus. So if we're working in a team, you know, we would have an idea that we wanna either bring forward or we have a problem we're trying to solve and we get together to form a solution for that, what we do by accident, in an effort to create collaboration, is we pull everybody together at the table. Now we've got everybody's opinion. And frankly, it's too many. And we need to replace consensus with collaboration, real collaboration, which I would define as the right people sitting at the table at the right time discussing the right things. That's not everybody. That's the appropriate people together. So that's number one is, you know, we end up doing this consensus decision-making, and that just waters everything down to nothing. Nobody is excited about it, and we leave with this blah, wet clay-looking idea. That's number one. The second thing is...and this was a really painful lesson that I learned along the way from someone who I called Mr. Mustache, because I don't remember his name, but he had a really big mustache. It moved before he spoke. And he shut down every one of my ideas in this meeting where I was presenting ideas. It was actually to Johnson & Johnson baby care. He worked for them at the time. And what I learned that day was that most ideas die because we don't have the language to champion them and get other people along for the journey with us. We assume that the idea is gonna stand on its own, like "Oh my god, this water bottle is so amazing. How could they say no to this?" But they do say no because they weren't along for the journey of the creation of it. And now we're throwing this one-way tennis ball, you know, across the court expecting them to pick it up. And they don't. What I have discovered, and we have a lot of these tools on our LaunchStreet on demand...I think it's part of the reasons why our clients come back year after year for more and more tools. We have this whole language of innovation method because what we discovered is that when you change your language, you change your outcome. But it is just really unfortunate to think the number of ideas that never see the light of day because we just don't know how to champion them. Steve: Okay. Oh, those are good thoughts. I'd be interested in your thoughts about this. What role...I'm just thinking that sometimes people don't have confidence in their ability to innovate, to be a creative force, and so they're a little shy about it. Would that also be a reason that an idea dies that they don't have enough confidence? Tamara: Yeah, you know, it's so interesting, and it's great that you really kinda brought that up to the surface. We don't give ourselves permission to innovate. So oftentimes...we hear this all the time, don't we? Like "Oh, they don't get it. They don't understand. They're not innovative enough." But what we forget is that we don't even give ourselves permission to innovate. So we...before we ever even say an idea out loud, we put layers of judgment on it. We say, "Well, that's not good enough. I mean who am I to share this? I don't have the experience. They'll never go for it. It'll never work. I'll sound stupid. I'll sound like I don't know what I'm talking about. Obviously, if it was a good idea, somebody else would have said it." So we talk ourselves out of bringing those ideas forward. And in doing that, we're shutting down all of that innovative thinking and keeping it inside. Yet, the question we have to ask ourselves is how do we expect to get to those breakthrough ideas or results in our work and life if we're not even giving ourselves permission to innovate? And, you know, when I keynote, I talk a lot about...we do this exercise when we're together in keynote that really brings this to life about how... It's really incredible. We self-sabotage before we even get it to the world. Steve: Right. Now, that's a great insight. If you don't mind let's talk a little about your innovator profile. I've noticed that in your information you have a unique IQE. Tell us what that is. And how can a person use it to get good results, to get innovative results that are helpful? Tamara: So the Innovation Quotient Edge or the IQE, as we call it for short, is the only proprietary tool that helps you understand how you innovate so that you can innovate on demand, so basically so you can tap your greatest asset, which is your innovative mind, as we talked about, that we all have. And part of the reason we decided to create this tool over at LaunchStreet was because we were tired of seeing people say, "I'm not innovative." It's so and so down the hall. Or "I just don't have it in me," or "I want to. It's in me, but I don't know how." And what we realized is if we can help people understand how they innovate, they're more likely to do more of it. I mean we do more of what works for us and less of what doesn't. We wanna tap our strength. And that's what this allows us to do. So we discovered there's nine triggers of innovation, and it's the combination of the top two that make your unique innovator archetype. And here is kind of the cool thing, and I'll use myself as an example. I am a risk-taker and an experiential. Those are my two things to come together for an archetype. And what that means is that the experiential side of me is I have to learn in motion. I have to innovate by doing. So if you ask me to think in theory and hypothesize and leave things on PowerPoint presentation, I shut down. And the funny part is that's how I used to work because that's how you're expected to work. That's how we're trained in our nine to five jobs to get stuff done. But I was actually working against myself, and it was showing up in my work. It wasn't innovative. I wasn't getting recognized for the value I was bringing to the table. I didn't have a strong enough voice because I wasn't playing to my strength. And then I flipped it around. Now when I build an idea out, I build it out with duct tape and scented markers because I need to see it in real life to be able to innovate. And I can now take things to the finish line. So when you understand how you innovate...it's plain and simple...you work smarter, not harder. And the cool part is if you stay in that...you know that zone we always talk about, that flow, you get to stay there longer because you're bringing that innovation to life. Steve: Well, very good. Now I'm gonna put you on the spot here, Tamara. Tamara: Uh-oh. Steve: Yeah. So what's an example? Share an example of someone that used this and the result that they got. Tamara: Yeah. Ooh, oh, this is like the Oprah question. I'm sitting on a couch, okay. So I'll give you actually an example of a company and some of the people inside their company, because there's two great examples out of this. So the company is called Footers Catering. It's one of the largest catering companies in Colorado. So they do very well. The founder, the president, Anthony, had his team take it. And two really interesting things came out of it. First, I'm gonna talk about Kara. So Kara is...one of her archetype is inquisitive. So that means she innovates by asking questions. For her innovations and the questions is not the answer. And you know her archetype because they're the one... You know them. It's 11:30. You got a quick meeting, and you're dying to get to lunch, and they're over there with their hand up like "I just have 10 more questions, just 10, I swear." But that's because they go deep. They pull back the layers of the onion and challenge assumptions. That's how they innovate. So when Kara recognized this, her team understood this about her, because they talked about their result. And now she's able to leverage that. Where before people saw it as kind of an annoyance, like "She's got 10 more questions," now she understands that's how she innovates. So she's empowered to ask the hard question, and her team understands it and actually...and expecting her to ask questions and is okay with it. So it really opened up her ability to add value to the team in a way that she wasn't able to do before. The second one is named Stephanie. And she's a futuristic. That's one of her two power triggers, which means that she's always 10 steps ahead. She's envisioning what it could be, what the possibilities are. She's solving today's challenges by creating tomorrow's opportunities. So she was in a role that was purely administrative. And she was dying on the vine. It was so hard for her. When she realized this, she and the president, Anthony, got together, and they created a new role for her where she's creating themes for their clients when they bring food to their events, whatever it is. So now she's been put in a role that's all about creating the future versus managing the past. And she is doing incredibly well. And the last I'll share with you is an entrepreneur who is outside of that realm who is a collaborative, which is all about pulling disparate people and ideas and experiences together to create innovation. And so they're all about the conversation, the team dynamic. They're very magnetic in that way, but it's because that's how they pull the data pieces together to create innovation. She had this business. She had a product. It was online. It's doing incredibly well. And she was so frustrated because she felt like this wasn't her vision, her dream. She was stuck in a silo in her house with no one to talk to. So when she realized that she was missing the thing that was feeding her soul, this collaborative innovator, she actually created an entire feedback loop with her customers. When they buy the product, they now have this opportunity to engage with her on a regular basis. Because of that, she's able to bring more and more innovation to the table because she created a business that matched how she innovates. She created a collaborative business instead of a solo business, which is what she was doing in the past. Steve: Okay. So that's excellent. So it helps both the individual and it helps the team of how to work better together. Tamara: That's exactly right. That interplay is really interesting. And what we see is when you understand how you innovate, you bring more of that to the table. And we you understand how other people innovate, you respect and seek out their opinion because now you've got a 360-degree view, different ways to tackle a challenge. The results are 10 times better. Steve: Okay. So, Tamara, what's one thing that our listeners can do right now to up their innovation quotient? Tamara: Well, the first thing I do is say go take the assessment and find out what you are. Like I said, there's nine triggers. That means there's 35 different unique combinations that could be you. If you go to gotolaunchstreet.com, that's the way to do it. But let me give your listeners, if it's okay with you, just a little something they can do right away in their everyday life that's one of my favorite innovative exercises. Can I have a minute to do that? Steve: Yes, yes. Tamara: Okay, excellent. So it's what I call geek out. So you mentioned in the very beginning that I'm a CrossFit addict, which is totally true and a knee-high sock lover. I'm wearing knee-high socks right now. I'm very proud to say. So one of the things, the challenges we have with being innovative is we look in our center, you know, in that same box with the same information with the same people over and over again, and then we don't get any result, and we get frustrated. A great way to bring innovation to your world is to go wide, go far out, and then bring that information back. The easiest way to do that is to think about how the innovative brands and products you love...how they do things and how they might solve your challenges. So for example, for me, I always think about...because I love CrossFit...how would they solve the challenge I'm having with the usability of my website. How would Southwest engage with customers in this challenge? How would Trader Joe's bring this idea [inaudible 00:24:26]. Suddenly, it becomes so easy to think differently when you put yourself in the shoes of the brands and the businesses that you love for being innovative. I mean do you have a few that you absolutely love that you could talk my ear off about? Steve: Yeah, sure. Tamara: Yeah, we all have them, right? So when you do that, it becomes super easy to be innovative because you just put yourself in their shoes. Steve: Okay. Well, that's great. I'm always amazed at how fast time goes. Our time is up. And so how can our listeners learn more about what you're doing, and how can they find out about your information? Tamara: Yeah. So the best way is to go to our website, gotolaunchstreet.com. So it's gotolaunchstreet.com. Or you can find us on social media. We're on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and it's all @LaunchStreet. Steve: Okay, that's terrific. Well, this is a great resource for people. Thank you, Tamara, for being part of our show today. Really excellent ideas. And you're just touching a lot of people. So we congratulate you on that and on making a difference in the world today. Tamara: Well, thank you for providing a platform to share with your listeners. It's a wonderful show. So I appreciate being on. Steve: Yeah, you bet. And to all of our listeners, never forget, you too make a difference every single day, your leadership, the light that you have as you work on these grows brighter and brighter, and it influences everyone around. So we congratulate you as you're in this journey as well. And I'm Steve Shallenberger with Becoming Your Best Global Leadership wishing you a great day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Radical Abundance - It's a Way of Thinking Steve: Welcome to all of our Becoming Your Best Podcast listeners wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger, and we have a fascinating guest today. I'm really looking forward to our conversation. She has helped and inspired many people on how to improve their lives. So welcome Dr. Sharon Spano. Dr Spano: Thank you so much, Steve. I'm very excited to have this time with you today and to share what I have to offer to your listeners, and to learn more about you as well. So, looking forward to this opportunity. Steve: Well, thank you. Well, now, before we get started, I'd like to tell you a little about Sharon's background. Sharon has a P.h.D. in Human and Organizational Systems. She's an author, a corporate business strategist, a workforce expert, professional speaker, former radio host of Work Smart Live. She and her husband actually run three businesses. And so she understands what it's like to have business challenges, and success, and setbacks, and overcoming those. She empowers business leaders and entrepreneurs to maximize performance. Also works on employee engagement and how to increase bottom-line results. She is a certified professional coach, she loves helping other people, and especially, stepping into radical abundance. And we're gonna talk about that shortly. Her research focuses on wisdom, adult development and leadership, and her work and her new book, The Pursuit of Time and Money: Step into Radical Abundance and Discover the Secret to a Meaningful Prosperous Life. So there you go. This is somebody we wanna have some fun and listen to. Dr Spano: Well, I appreciate it, Steve. I appreciate it. What a great introduction, thanks so much. Steve: Well, you bet. All right, well, let's jump right into things. So, tell us about where you grew up, what it was like growing up, and what experiences, Sharon, helped you to see that you could be successful? Dr Spano: Well, I think that's a great question, Steve, because we all have our story, right? And so, my early childhood story. My parents were divorced and I was literally dropped off at my paternal grandmother's home at probably around the age of five, my sister and I, in the inner city of Los Angeles. And so, we were kind of thrust into this different lifestyle as children, and it was a pretty intense environment back in the day. I can remember growing up and there were gangs and a lot of things like that. But my grandmother in her wisdom, put us in catholic school, which was not an easy thing, even at $15 a month. I mean, we were very poor, so it was difficult for her to make that happen. But that was the saving grace, I think, because she was worried about us being in the public school system with all the gangs and the things that were going on at that time. And I got a very, very good education with the nuns. And so a lot of my success, I attribute to those early years, because the emphasis was on literary work, and reading and writing, and I learned early. I'm a lifelong learner and I'm an avid reader. And so I would say, most of my success, if I could attribute it to any one thing, which of course there never is just one thing, is there? But it has to do with my willingness to learn, but also the ability to communicate, both in the written and spoken word. That has been really, just a big plus for me throughout my entire career. Steve: Well, that is quite a background, not only cultural, from Los Angeles, and that kind of experience in the inner city, but also that type of a tremendous education. Your grandmother must have been some woman. Dr Spano: Yeah, she was. She had nine children, she buried two husbands, lost her younger son in the war, which I've just recently learned his story because I grew up kind of under this cloud, if you will, of an uncle that she always expected to come home. She believed that he was captured by the Japanese. And I only just literally a month ago found out that he actually went down with the USS Houston. So, it was interesting in many ways, in that, I now have come to see how she prepared me spiritually, but she also prepared me for loss of a son, because I lost my own son in 2008. And so, her strength, her spirituality, her wisdom, you know, sometimes when you're growing up, you don't realize how all that's impacting you, but it's really had a tremendous impact on how I've carried myself through the adversity in my own life. You know, and particularly learning Roy's [SP] story now, in my later years and realizing how she handled, you know, that grief and that uncertainty, you know, never knowing for sure what had happened to him, was quite an amazing thing to grow up, you know, under and have within the household. And I didn't realize how much it prepared me, you know, for the loss of a child. Watching her, you know, witnessing her strength all those years. Steve: Having great role models like that have a far greater impact sometimes than we realize, and how fortunate. And I'm grateful for the wonderful women who have had such a big impact on my life, as well as the great role model men. So, good going on that. So, Sharon, what's been the biggest challenge or maybe one of the biggest challenges in your life, whether personal or in your business life, and how did you handle that? Dr Spano: Well, I think it's really to what I alluded to a moment ago. My husband and I, you know, met, I was pretty young when we met. We've had a very strong and long lasting marriage for over 43 years. We've been very blessed in that. Steve: Way to go. Dr Spano: But our son Michael was born in 1981 with a very rare metabolic disorder. So that was sort of the first adversity that hit us. As a very young couple, that certainly wasn't what we had expected to have happen. And he was at that time diagnosed, he was supposed to live till the age two. So those first years were very, very challenging for us. But we transitioned from Los Angeles, moved to Florida for my husband's business in the early 80s. And Michael wound up living till the age of 27. So we had a very full and rich life with this young man, who was wheelchair bound throughout his life. But there were a lot of adversities and ups and downs, as you can imagine, through that process. And we're both entrepreneurs, running our businesses, you know, trying to stay ahead of the game with him. And his death was certainly, probably without a doubt the biggest challenge of my life. Because he was critical for four years, in and out of hospitals. And of course, my business was booming at that time, and, you know, you're at the height of all of that, and of course, if you knew that you're near the end of, you know, this journey with him, I probably would have quit everything, but you don't know that. You're just kinda living day to day thinking tomorrow is gonna be a better day. And as it turned out, it was a very great opportunity for me to exercise resilience, because managing the business and managing his illness, you know, my husband and I just, again, that was the value of being entrepreneurs. We would just pitch ship for each other, and, you know, be what we needed to be for him first, but still kept the businesses going somehow. And then when he passed, in '08, that in and of itself was such a dramatic event, but one that really made us appreciate the sacredness, I guess, of that kind of life transition. We both buried parents, grandparents, but obviously, it's a very different thing when you burry a child because it's unnatural, right? That our child would pass before us. So, you know, really helped me grow spiritually, helped me appreciate the work that I have and how God has blessed me to serve people in the corporate environment. And I love the work that I'm about. I feel very purposeful in it, and I just have a very, very passionate perspective on the value of life and the legacy that I wanna create moving forward. And I feel like God's timing was perfect, in that, if we had to lose Michael, we lost him at a time where we'd had a wonderful experience with him. Really, as a family, you know, we did so much together. And then, yet at the time of his passing, we're both young enough to still, you know, carry forth our businesses and contribute. I mean, that's really what I want, you know, the fourth quarter, as they say, to be about. How do I contribute to making people's lives better and offer what I can in terms of my wisdom and knowledge to those in business and in corporate America. Steve: Yeah. Well, that...I appreciate you being willing to share about that experience. I'm certain that our listeners, every one of them have challenges. Some are more severe than others at different times in life, and just like the type that you've described anyhow, it's probably different for everybody in a sense. But nonetheless, in many ways, it feels the same way, which is, we wanna do what's important and balance things, and... So, if you were to give some advice to our listeners in the midst of their adversity, the challenge, these heavy weights, and yet still try to balance life. Any thoughts on that? What would you suggest? Dr Spano: Well, I think for me it goes back to purpose, you know. I mean, whatever role or whatever business you're in, you know, how do I be the best in that every given day? Steve: I like the sound of that. Dr Spano: Well, and just fulfill that purpose, you know. And I know that sounds very cliché for some people, and if you're in a job or a position where you hate what you're doing, you know, that's certainly a bigger challenge. But part of the work that I'm about Steve, and I know that you're about is, how do we help people really dive deep enough to figure out how to be their best version of who they are. You know, for me, that's a very spiritual matter because I've been blessed in growing that spiritual line of development and knowing who God is and what he's called me to do. You know, for someone who may not have a traditional belief system to lean on, you know, there is so much out there right now to help people, and that's what I love about the integral coaching work that I do, is we really...we're less about goals in our interaction. When I finish with you today I'm going to meet a CEO who is very clear on his purpose, but he's struggling with some of the changes in the economy and the systems and whatnot. So it's, how do we take all of his strengths and match them to another level of purpose such that we maybe shift his consciousness so he can step up into this new role, in a bigger and better way. So, for me, it goes back to purpose and then staying focused. And then how do I continue to develop my own consciousness so that I'm growing, and moving forward, and adapting. Because as you know, today's leaders have to adapt constantly. I mean, every day, things are moving and shifting so quickly. And we're a global diverse society now. And so, that requires a different type of leadership than we've seen certainly, in generations before. And I think it's exciting, you know, it's an exciting opportunity for each of us to dig deeper and ask ourselves that question. You know, what can I do each and every day to make the world a better place? And for me, when I get up with that perspective, there is usually something miraculous that happens in the course of my workday. And that's kind of what I try to get my clients to see is, what is...even in the most adverse moments, what am I being called to learn? What am I being called to lean into, in terms of my own growing edge? And how can I step up and into that growing edge, such that I become a bigger better person, and realize my potential on the other end of it. You know, certainly through the years of my son's adversity and suffering, I had to dig really deep to be what I needed to be for him, for my husband, and for my clients. And I know I'm bigger and better and stronger on the other side of it for having risen, you know, to that adversity. That's part of my research around wisdom, by the way is, we know that leaders who exhibit wisdom handle adversity a bit differently, and they do a lot of what I've just talked about. When they're in the midst of it, they're looking for what is the lesson here and how can I be my best self in the midst of this. Steve: Okay. Well, let's talk about leadership a little bit more. Every one of us, each one of us is a leader of course, and the mental construct that we have on how to be successful is such an important influence in our personal lives as we deal with others, as you've mentioned, relationships, and professionally. So, let's discuss for a second some different aspects of achieving success, and especially from the point of view that, from your background, your experience. So let's start with radical abundance. It's part of your book, what is it, and why is it important? Dr Spano: Well, I think it's vital and it's a lot of things, in that, it's more about a mind shift, less about what you actually have. And of course the focus of the book is on the experience of time and money, and I'm looking at it through a developmental lens. And by that, I mean, what we know through the research is there are 12 of what we call stages of human development. Obviously, beginning from, you know, birth on up. The average American, we know that 60% of those Americans fall within what we call the expert and achiever levels. And so, part of what I'm exploring in this work is, based on your level of development, what are your paradigms or belief systems around time and money? And I came into that quite by accident, if you will, because I saw so much human suffering in corporate America around these two very important resources that impact us daily, and in every decision and choice that we make, but often at subconscious levels that we're not even aware of. So when we talk about radical abundance, I'm talking about developing, again, those growing edges, the awareness of consciousness, such that you can have a meaningful life of joy and prosperity, no matter what your life circumstances are. No matter how much time or money you actually have. It's a place to come from more than it is a place to get to. And so, I'm really trying to open the conversation, getting people to examine their worldview, their paradigms, and often in the contest of those early childhood stories, because that's where it all begins. What were the things you were taught or heard about time and money, you know, and how is it impacting you in terms of your daily choices today. And what we're finding is, when we can open the discussion, and of course, we have instruments where we can actually measure where people are developmentally. That helps a lot, for them to see where they are and to see that you don't have to be stuck there, you can grow in these developmental, what we call developmental lines. There actually 26 lines of development that we enjoy as human beings, that we're aware of today. And I focus in my integral coaching work and in my strategic work with leaders on six of them. And so we can literally see where people are and where there might be some short falls or some faulty premises, as I like to say. Ideas or ways of being, ways of action that are inhibiting you from realizing and maximizing your potential. And then when we can do that, we can coach or help people shift those paradigms, such that they step into more radical abundance. Steve: Okay. So you're saying radical abundance is something that's within us? It's a way of thinking? Dr Spano: Yes. I'm saying that it's a way of thinking, it's a consciousness, if you will. And if you think of the stages, kind of the easiest way that I explain it, even though they're not a hierarchy per se. If you imagine a mountain top, Steve, and you're climbing that mountain. Stage one might be at base camp, okay? And then as you mature, and grow up and into higher states of consciousness and stages of consciousness, imagine yourself at the top of the summit. So, one is not necessarily better than another, but it is a broader perspective. So, for someone who grew up in the inner city like I did, your story, the story that's given to you as a child is, you can never get out of here. You're not smart enough for an education, and you'll never get a really good job. And so, you know, that's why people get stuck in ghettos, right? For some reason, that never resonated with me, and I don't know why, because I always knew I will become educated, and I will get out, and I will have a different life. But for many, they don't even know there is another life outside of that environment. And that's part of the opening that I'm trying to create. Because as you mentioned moment ago, we're all leaders. And I've taught that for years and years, because I don't believe that leadership is a title. I believe that it's...also, it's a mindset, it's a place to come from. You know, you can step into leadership and whatever role you play within an organization. And so, that's part of the exciting work that I've been blessed and able to do, is to help people see, when we change your paradigms and the actions flow from that. And more importantly, when we can shift your consciousness and your whole way of seeing the world, anything is possible. I mean, it really is. And so, you know, that's the work that I wanna be about, and that's the conversation I wanna open up within people whenever I can. Steve: Okay. Well, that's very exciting. So you're really working on transformation with people. And so, it sounds like what you're saying is the experiences we have in our childhood has a big impact on how we see time and money? Dr Spano: That is what we've been researching and we're seeing more and more evidence of that as a reality. And so, one of the examples that I like to give for instance is, as a child, I grew up, again, living with my grandmother and my dad who was supposedly to be the provider, really never was around very much, right? My dad, you know, did his best as most of our parents did, but he wasn't a guy that was really invested in his children. And so, I grew up hearing stories of, "Your dad isn't around. Your dad isn't paying for you. You're a charity case. You know, you're lucky to be here." That was from my aunts, not from my grandmother, of course. And so, the message that I received was, my parents don't value me and I'm not really worth their time and money. Now, as a child, you don't know that. You know, I didn't internalize it to that degree. But later in life, it played out, in that, I didn't think I was worth, you know, the salary, or the raise, or the promotion. You know, and it took me many years to unravel that. Well, then fast forward years later, I'm seeing this in CEOs, I'm seeing it in clients, you know, left and right. And when you get down to, you know, what is the scarcity mentality that's running you? Whether it be corporate wide or just in terms of your own personal life. Almost always they'll go back to a story that says, "Well, that's what I was taught." And the interesting thing, Steve, that I'm finding, that I'm so excited about is, it's fairly simple when we look on the spectrum because we have an assessment that we've developed called, "the time lining instrument." And it's an inventory that will help the individual see where they fall on the spectrum between scarcity and abundance. Scarcity is fairly clean and obvious as is abundance. Where it gets really challenging is when you're in the moderate range. Because for instance, someone who's in moderate scarcity might look like and believe themselves to be highly responsible. And so, they're doing all these theoretically right things that might look like they're coming from abundance, but often, those very same things are fear driven. And so, for instance, it's the father who, and this is a real example that I often share. Who saves, and saves, and saves, you know, from the time he's a young man for retirement, but he saves to the point where, you know, they can't even go to dinner or his kids have never been to a theme park because we don't have money for that because we're saving...we're doing the responsible thing and saving. So the lifestyle is affected. And what the children learn is how to be fearful and worry about both time and money, because that's what dad does. Steve: Okay. Dr Spano: Does that make sense? Steve: Yeah. And there is a big difference between the scarcity mentality and an abundance mentality, and how we treat everybody, and our experiences. So that's a very interesting level of research that's going on. How do we help somebody that may not have had the type of childhood that positions them for the type of success they could have. How do you give them hope? How do you help them with that transformation? Where do you focus? Dr Spano: Well, I think, you know, for me, I always say that with the first moment of awareness comes opportunity for change. And so, what I find is, a lot of the things that I'm talking about here, particularly get into the scarcity, they're very much at a subconscious level. So I might know for instance, that I'm worried all the time, that I'm fearful all the time, or that I feel like I'm being chased by the clock, but I don't know what to do about it. And so, part of the work that I do with groups or even with individuals is, we bring those thought processes to a level of awareness. And then we start to talk about what would a new way of being look like. You know, I'm this way now, but what if I were this way. What would that look like? Because the other thing that we know about development is that people, particularly in the earlier stages, don't always have the capacity to see things moving forward. Like, they can't see things a year out or two years out. Or they don't often understand consequences of certain actions. And so, when you start to connect the two, when you think this way and behave this way, this is the outcome, you start to... I mean, it's literally like you put a mirror in front of them and they're seeing themselves for the very first time. And it takes a while, but once they have that awareness and then you start to, together, paint a picture of how things might be differently. And then of course, obviously, when I'm working in companies, we're looking at infrastructures and systems and processes and all of those kinds of things. Because a leader, whether it be corporate or entrepreneurial who's coming from scarcity, it's gonna impact obviously not only how he leads, but how he builds or fails to build the infrastructure for the organization. And so, you know, we get into a lot of that. And it can be sometimes a very quick process. It can lean on just how open the individual is to change. And sometimes it takes months and months and months, maybe even years. And a lot of times I work with a leader who goes off, and then I hear from them two years later because now they're at another...what we call another growing edge. They're moving into another stage of consciousness, and so now we have to kinda revisit things again. But that's what's cool is, you know, the progress is being made and it's a process. Steve: So, these things that cause success and you talk a lot about, Sharon, time and money and how it correlates to what we value most in life, right? Dr Spano: Right. Steve: So, there is hope for people then, that they can develop these skills? Dr Spano: Well, the skills are the outcome of the shift in consciousness. So, one of the things that I talked about is the cycle of freedom, which I believe begins with understanding the essence of stewardship. And that's a big word that means a lot of things. You know, some talk about it in terms of sustainability, but I'm talking about it in the context of, where your treasure is, there is also your heart. So, I'm gonna put my time and money, I'm gonna utilize these two most important constructs or resources based on what I value and treasure the most, right? So, stewardship is a part of how I make those choices and decisions. And then from that, I believe grows greater compassion, generosity, a greater sense of gratitude, and then eventually, even a greater love for myself and others, because self is a part of it. You know, if I don't value myself, I'm not gonna take the time for instance to nurture my mind, body, my spirit, you know, those things. And then that translates to how I love and care for others, and even my love and care for greater humanity. So, it's letting go of the fear and then stepping into this radical abundance of, there's enough for me and for others, and for me to be generous and to give, and to focus my attention. So like, one of the examples that I like to talk about is, there's this young child that comes from an environment where nobody wanted to invest in me. And then I meet this amazing man who lives in abundance, who believes in the flow of money, and that there is always enough. And when there isn't, he just creates. But he's always invested time and money in me. So, he's kind of the opposite of what I knew as a child. You know, he's the nurturing, loving, caring, generous husband, who, you know, is the president of my fan club, who is always willing to invest in whatever it is that I'm about. And that's a pretty big deal for someone like me because I could have just as easily married an abusive guy, coming from the environment that I came in. Steve: Got it. That's a good example. Dr Spano: I mean, it's truly a blessing, right? That I kind of stumbled into the right guy. I don't know what that says about me, but... Steve: No, I had a friend one time who is the CEO of a major utility company in the United States. And I was the young man and he said, "Now, let me just share with you the three biggest things that will have the greatest impact on your happiness." I said, "Okay, great. I've got my pen ready." He said, "Number one is the person that you choose to spend your life with, to marry." He says, "That's one of the three biggest decisions that will impact your happiness." And it's fortunate that you've found that somebody that helps you see what can be possible. In our language, that helps you see that, you know, you can work on becoming your best. And it's different for really everybody, but to have people like us that can help like that is helpful. Number two, he said is the career that you choose. So you wanna choose a career that you can love, that you can make a difference in. And then number three was interesting, is the first major company that you work with. He said, it will have a huge impact on, you know, on your future, your career. So this kinda deals with what you've just been talking about of creating an abundance mindset, and how it affects everything else. Your time, your money. Well, tell us as we wrap up. I'm always amazed how fast time goes, what was the impetus behind you writing your most recent book? Dr Spano: Well, a lot of what I've discussed and I think anyone can...who's been in business can relate to the idea or the experience, I guess I should say, of hiring someone who wasn't the right fit. And years ago, I had a guy that I hired that I thought had great potential, and he was quite brilliant, and I just was never able to get this guy to make money. I mean, he couldn't get any clients, he couldn't make any money, and I just couldn't figure it out because I had invested quite a bit of time, money, and energy into him. And one day I just asked the question, "You know, what do you believe about people who have money?" And he said, "I think they're oppressive, greedy, and egocentric." And in that moment, Steve, I went, "Well, wow. No wonder I can't get you to make any money. Why would you wanna be like those guys?" And he was one of those guys who came also from the inner city of New York, and he'd had a rough life. And even though he was brilliant, he just could not step into the type of radical abundance, you know, that I'm talking about. So he sabotaged his entire career and even his home life. And it kind of opened my eyes and it began, kind of it was like the first stages of curiosity for me to begin to study this further. And then of course, once I got into the developmental work, I started to see the correlations between where people were developmentally. And I just got very excited about, you know, wanting to be an interruption to some of that in a more concrete way. So that was really the impetus behind the book and some of that earlier research. I mean, my whole body of work is not only on time and money, but time and money to me are just the symptom of the other things that are going on within this. Because again, there are two very important resources that can define, you know, our life if we let them. And what I'm really saying is, have awareness of how you utilize them. Have awareness of how they're impacting your relationship so that you can make better choices, and live a life of radical abundance. Steve: Okay. Well, that's great. Yeah, I had a friend one time say, "You know, money is not the most important thing in life." But it is right up there on the list with oxygen. Dr Spano: Yes, it is. Unfortunately, it is, and we have to learn to be good stewards of it. Steve: Exactly. Okay, well, Sharon, tell us how our listeners can learn more about what you're doing, tell us about your book. I think it's coming out, right? Or is it here already? Dr Spano: Yes. Well, the pub date is August 1st, and they can go to the www.timemoneybook.com/becomebest/, and we have some resources there. One is a manifesto that I've written on radical abundance. The other is, they can have access to our research based time, money, inventory. It's all confidential, but it'll help them see where they fall on the spectrum between scarcity and abundance. So that's the timemoneybook.com. And certainly, they can visit my website, which would also get them there, at sharonspano.com, to learn more about my overall work and the work that I do, you know, as a consultant and integral coach. Steve: Well, congratulations Dr. Sharon Spano. What a great job you're doing. Dr Spano: Well, thank you, Steve. And I would say the same to you. And I appreciate so much the opportunity to be on your show, and to hopefully, have an impact on some of your listeners on some of the thing that they're thinking about, as they too, begin to embrace what it means to maximize performance and step into radical abundance. Steve: Well, great. Well, I'm sure that that will be the case and we appreciate you being part of the show today, you've done a great job. We certainly wish you all the best because you're certainly making a difference in the world. Dr Spano: Thank you, Steve. Steve: And to all of our listeners, never forget, you too can make a difference every single day of your life. I'm Steve Shallenberger, with Becoming Your Best Global Leadership, wishing you, a great day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m Possible vs Impossible! https://www.becomingyourbest.com/im-possible-vs-impossible/ ‎ Have you ever had a dream? Everything was working in your favor and your dream with was within your grasp. Suddenly a random accident cut his dreams short? That’s the story of Jeff Griffin. Jeff recounts, “I always dreamed of playing sports on the ‘big stage’! As a kid I envisioned playing college football as a receiver. I was one step closer to fulfilling this dream until the following summer when a construction accident left me broken and paralyzed from the waist down. The 'experts' told me the bad news that I would never walk or run again...EVER!” After Jeff’s construction accident he picked up the pieces of his shattered dreams. He realized he had a decision to make. He could either stay down and quit or get back up and succeed. He chose the latter! Jeff has turned the impossible to the possible! Jeff’s experience helped him find a formula for success! It's helped motivate himself as well as others to find a definite purpose in life. Jeff’s purpose is to inspire millions to Desire, Dream, and Do one step at a time. “I’ve turned this tragedy into a triumph! I have since fulfilled my lifelong dream of performing on the ‘big stage.’”, says Jeff. In today’s Becoming Your Best Podcast, Rob Shallenberger interviews Jeff Griffin. Jeff is a wheelchair athlete who earned his Master’s degree in Education and knows how to win. He played in the 2004 Athens Olympics, holds a Guinness Book of World Records, and is a four time NWBA All-Star MVP. He enjoys mentoring youth, distributing wheelchairs, and providing Peer Training Materials through his humanitarian efforts with LDS Charities, which he currently sits on the board. “These successes, all though impressive, do not define who I am. What really defines me is my ability to overcome life’s great challenges one step at a time! And inspire others to do the same.” - Jeff Griffin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dogged Perseverance - The Power to Never Give Up Today, we are going to talk about a principle that gets down to our very core, and is what allows us to see everything else through. It is perhaps one of the most noble, necessary, and powerful forces in our life. It's the principle of never giving up. Welcome to the "Becoming Your Best" podcast series. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host today. We welcome you here from wherever you may be in the world. I'd like to share an experience I had many years ago when I was a college student. I had been in South America for a couple of years and returned to my university studies to get an accounting degree. A friend of mine had sold educational books in the South and throughout the country the summer before. He made enough money to pay for his expenses for school. And so, he wanted to know if I'd like to go out and sell with him, this is door-to-door sales, but I said, "Yeah. Hey, let's go do it!" He was a good person and a big influence in my life. And so we headed off at the spring break, at the end of the springs semester, to Nashville, Tennessee with the Southwestern Company. This is going to be a place where we would be working 80 hours a week. The idea was to work as hard as you could during the summer. Make as much money as possible, so that you could pay your expenses for the whole school year and focus really on your studies. Well, anyhow, we had a week-long training, that's called "sales school," it was a great experience. And then we headed off to our assigned area. My assigned area happened to be just north of Aberdeen, Maryland. Communities such as, Bel Air, and Havre De Grace, and Churchville. Wow, what an experience that was. I'll never forget what took place as I had my first Saturday on the job. This is the very first day. I started at 8 a.m., and as I had been taught in that sales school, I went out on time, a little bit early. I was scared to death. And my first house was on a country road and it didn't seem like very friendly country, you know all the mind games that people can play. My first knock brought the reply, "What in the heck do you want?" Only it wasn't heck. I said, "Nothing," I shouted before hustling down the road. The next house I approached with some trepidation. I could tell that it was occupied by ferocious, big dogs. Those dogs were barking and they had deep voices, and I didn't dare to go on to the front door. So I stood outside, outside of the gate and just clapped my hands, which is what people do in South America in place of knocking on the door. And I felt like an idiot. There I was out there clapping away, early Saturday morning. I probably looked like one too, but eventually, a woman came out and after I explained what we were selling, she actually let me into the house. Before I went in I said, "Let's see, have your dogs eaten this morning?" Well, she assured me they were more barkers and not biters. And the woman was very kind and receptive to what we had to offer. She bought the full set of books. I had only visited two houses. I had been on that street just one hour, my career was launched. I got out my calculator and figured out that if I kept on at this pace I'd earn $16,000 in commissions by the end of the summer, so that's not bad for the early '70s. But it didn't quite work out that way. I'd peaked a little too soon. I sold nothing for the next two days. I mean, I knocked and I knocked, I knocked, I knocked, and I knocked, and I was rejected, and rejected, and no, no, no, no. Well, my future earnings calculator dropped to $334 for the entire summer as I figured it out, but I kept at it. And my hard work, slogging from door-to-door, eventually paid off. I hit my stride, and I hit my goal, making enough money to pay for my tuition expenses for the following year in college. Well, what I learned was that if just kept working, putting one foot in front of the other, I would eventually get enough yeses. As a matter of fact, I learned that the more no's I got the more yeses I also got. And so, I discovered the harder I worked the better I did. This is one of the greatest lessons that I've ever learned. That may have been one of the hardest jobs I've ever done, and I figured that if I could make it there, I could make it at anything. I actually made it a game to see how many no's I could get, trying to figure out how to have fun being a failure. I also learned a great deal from failure. It causes a great deal of introspection, and how can you improve? But by the very fact that I kept at it, I was able to build upon those things, and by the end of the summer I was getting a lot of yeses. The next summer I built upon those principles. I became a manager and I made four times the money the summer after that one, and the next summer, five times as much. As a matter of fact, I think about some of those experiences out there. I remember particularly one very difficult street, I wondered what I was doing out there. It was no, after no, after no. I got to the end of the street and I sat down on my sales case, on this busy freeway. I remember thinking, "What am I doing out here?" And as I paused about that I thought, "Well, I'm out there because I felt right about it." It was the right thing for me to do. I took a little look up to heaven and gained new strength. I ran across that highway safely, and I sold in the next three houses in a row. I mean, this is just how it goes in life, and we have these challenges, we have these setbacks. And so this powerful principle is what keeps us going. You know, it is one of those principles. If you master all the other principles, but give up at some point during your journey, you may fail to reach your destination. If, on the other hand, you choose to never give up, in other words, keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep working, we have a much better chance to succeed. And we certainly may have to make corrections along the course, but as long as we refuse to give up, your goals will be much more within reach. So what can we do to be successful as we move forward? It's so interesting to hear some of the statistics about rejection and about being successful. So, for example, did you know the average person has been told no, or that his targeted goals are unattainable about 148,000 times by the age of 18. Well, heavens, is it any wonderful that successful people put aside a "no" and continue to go? It's not easy. We need to work through that and develop a mindset that we're going to move forward. Did you know? In the sales world, for example, 90% of salespeople, on average, give up after four unsuccessful contacts. Yet, 80% of sales are made after five contacts? So what's the difference between the highly successful salesperson and those who gave up? Well, it's the will to be politely persistent despite the challenges and rejection. And if you're in a sales organization imagine the difference of just one more contact, and the impact that would have. Many salespeople give up way too soon. I love what Henry David Thoreau said, "All endeavors calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, to shape the last plan, to endure the last hour's toil. The fight to the finish spirit is the one, the characteristic we must possess if we are to face the future as finishers." So what are some things that you and I can do to never give up? Every single one of us is going to have: setbacks, challenges, disappointments, we'll all be beaten down at some point. So how can we get back up? How can we keep going? I would like to suggest four things that you can do, that I can do to keep moving forward, to keep putting one step in front of the other even though we are pushed back. Here are the four, very quickly. See failure as a stepping stone to success. Number two, when you're beaten down keep your inspiring vision in front of you, remind yourself of the direction that you're going. And number three is to have faith that things will work out. And number four is work, work, work, and keep taking one step forward. And when we get pushed back, then we take two more steps but we keep pushing forward. Now, this is the way it goes in virtually every profession and every walk of life. We have family members or friends that may disappoint us, or we may disappoint them, but we can't give up. We can never give up. I'll never forget, I'm going to share a personal story here that has had a profound impact on my life. When I was 16 I'd had the opportunity to work for Milton Dunlap for two or three years. I did lawns and Mr. Dunlap had lost his wife of many, many years, and he turned to alcohol. He was a wonderful reporter for the Associated Press, known throughout the country. And so, at any rate, he asked me also if I'd clean his house and just help generally, which I did. He had one daughter way back on the east coast, but they weren't able to see each other a lot. So I loved Milt Dunlap. He was a good man. He encouraged me, but I was so disappointed to see that he would fall into this trap of turning to alcohol and a lot of it. He would buy a fifth of whiskey a day, and so, we had a game out of it. I would hide it. I'ld encourage him not to drink. But finally after one point, I wrote a note to him. I said, "Mr. Dunlap, this is gonna kill you," and I said, "I just can't be here anymore and work for you anymore around this type of a situation." And to his extraordinary credit, he quit drinking cold turkey. I mean, it was amazing. He was able to go back to work and just make such a difference. About nine months passed and he's fighting this battle, essentially, alone, and he turned back to the alcohol. And after about two or three weeks, he lived about ten houses from our home, I went in and he was in a stupor, and finally I said, "Mr. Dunlap," I said, "I give up." I said, "Here's all the alcohol you have. Just drink as much as you want." And I left the house. About three or four days later I returned and found him in a coma. I called 911, and the ambulance came, and unfortunately he died that afternoon. I honestly felt like much of that was my fault. The reason being, is because he heard the last words he heard from my mouth, of this young boy, 16, was, "I give up." I vowed that I would never give up again in my entire life on anyone, on anything. And so this is the type of resolve that each one of us needs. We are going to have challenges, these are learning opportunities. We can see these failures as stepping stones. When we're beaten down. Renew your vision. Keep getting back up. Remind yourself of the direction that you're going, have faith, have faith that it will work out. And then work, work, work, and trust in the end outcome, that things will get better. So this wonderfully power, powerful principle, "Never give up," is every part of our fiber to make a difference. This is one of the grand one that makes a difference. As you look back over the history of all the world. Recent history, in the last 100 years. In the last 2,000 years, we see the example of people that have made a difference doing these things. The fact is that you and I can do them as well. It's ordinary people that become extraordinary, as we do these things, and have faith that all will turn bright. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host, from "Becoming Your Best Global Leadership." And, remember, every single day you are making a difference. You're lifting, and building, and leaving the world a better place. Wishing you a great day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lift and Sustain by Applying the Power of Knowledge - Steve Shallenberger Hi, this is Steve Shallenberger, your host for this podcast, the "Becoming Your Best Global Leadership." And today we're going to talk about an exciting principle, which is...and hold onto your seats, folks, because this has a huge impact on us all over the world, and it is apply the power of knowledge. Well, a number of years ago, two of our sons were cadets at the United States Air Force Academy, and during the Parents Weekend we were provided with a tour of the beautiful campus nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. And on the main quad I stood in front of a large statue depicting a falcon and her chick. And the inscription at the base of the statue reads, "Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge." Well, the inscription uses words like "flight" which is wonderful, "sustained" which is so important for our success in life, and "power" in relation to knowledge. And indeed, one can be lifted and flight can be sustained by the power of knowledge and the wings of knowledge and enlightenment can help you soar to great heights in your personal life, in your relationships, and at work. And the lack of knowledge leaves you on the ground and at times renders you totally defenseless against the forces of the external environment. So, this knowledge and this metaphor is wonderful as we move through life in thinking about, "Well, how can I be my best?" Because that's really the vision of life, is to be the very best that you and I can be, and in our professional life, to be among the best at what you do. And so, I mean there's such an explosion of knowledge going on today. I was just reading a professional...excuse me...journal, and it talked about the number of abstracts had been increasing exponentially. So, for example, it talked about the number of abstracts published by the 12 leading publishers of secondary science had gone from 550,000 articles published in 1957 to in 1997, just a few years later, 3.7 million articles. Think about that. But that's just one discipline of knowledge. I love getting the Astronomy Magazine. I'm captivated by the universe. And the last article, the front cover said, "Well, astronomers have now said their original estimates were off a little bit by the number of galaxies they thought there were in the universe," and then there was a pause, a hyphen, that said, "by one trillion universes." So here we go. In my life alone, I was just thinking in about 1984. I'm a young businessman and I'm commuting to California to supervise one of our companies, and so I took my portable computer, which was the size of a small suitcase. You could actually unhook the keyboard and it was a three by five green screen and you put in floppy disks. And now we have all of this many, many times over in our devices in our pocket. And so, I think about computers. Internet has come on, the devices, and now digitization, which is going to trump most everything that we've seen in the past, may have as three to five times an impact on us that the internet has had. But this affects us in the economy, world affairs, politics, health, relationships. So the stakes are high. So what do we do about this? I would like to suggest there's two aspects, if you will, to managing this knowledge. And we all have the same challenges. Where do we start? How do we get ahead? I read an article not long ago and talked about the different...the faces of learning, if you will, and how it has also morphed from the nomadic learner to the ageless educator to the lifelong learner. And that's really what it's become, hasn't it? If we're going to get ahead, if we're going to become our best, we have to be a lifelong learner. I saw an article that said, "Well, there's no more three Rs, reading, writing, arithmetic, but it's the four Es and the three Cs." So, what are those? Well, this is an interesting way to think about it, then we'll get back to our two aspects of knowledge and how do we manage. But they're the four Es, which is: exposing knowledge, employing information, expressing ideas compellingly, and ethics. Okay, the four Es. And the three Cs that go right along with it: creativity, communication, and collaboration. Well, these all have to do with this principle, 1 of the 12 principles that I've identified with highly successful leaders, high achievers, and that is, apply the power of knowledge. That's the principle. That's what I've observed that has always taken place with those that have been able to make a difference. And so, here are the two aspects. The first aspect is to gain the knowledge in the first place. You can't apply something that you don't have. And so, how do we gain knowledge on a consistent basis? I love the rule of five. This is five hours. Investing five hours a week into yourself. This is really the minimum of being able to stay ahead of the game, and these five hours we utilize in fitness, physical exercise, but also gaining knowledge. So what are the ways to do that? I'm always thinking about acronyms. Here's a good one. Think of this one, arrl, A-R-R-L. Oh, you're saying, "Well, that's Steve." Well, here's what it stands for. And it is a great way for us to gain knowledge, and that is to ask. Ask for other people's opinions. Ask for their insights. I was...yesterday I had the opportunity to be in Seattle and I was with one of the best financial planners, the most successful planners in the United States, and I asked him, I said, "If a young man or an individual, a young lady, would like to become among the best as financial wealth advisers, what would you recommend?" He thought for a second and he said, "I would recommend that they connect, that they go in business together with someone that is like 65 or 70 years old and that is interested in retiring but they've got it down, they're among the best, and go work with them and learn. And then after 5 or 10 years then they're in a position to succeed the efforts of that person." And there's the opportunity to have a buyout, but this is a very successful profession. Well, this is essentially asking. It's a little bit more of a long-term ask but you can do it on a short term. You may have an issue. Ask people that you trust. You can ask a group of people, "I've been thinking about this and what are your thoughts?" That's the first one, is ask. The second, we have two Rs now. And the first R is to read. There is no doubt that readers are leaders, and this is one of the real signs of how we can get ahead. But we want to read the right materials. So, it comes back to this vision. What's our vision? Well, it's to become our best and to be among the best at what you do, whatever profession that is, a teacher, a professor, a coach, a CEO, a salesperson, a scientist, an engineer, a lawyer, a doctor, whatever it might be, this is clearly something we keep doing. We read about how do we become our best. We stay ahead of the game. And so, every single day we make the habit to be reading. We like to say read a book a month at least and this is a good target. Twelve books a year of things that will lift and inspire you. The second R is ongoing research. Oh, by the way, when we read we're reading books and magazines and news information, so newspapers. And also the same thing with research, that's the second R, if you will, we're researching articles that help us get to a better place, to have a better understanding. And then the fourth one, the ARRL, can't forget that L is to listen. And so, we turn our cars into a university, and if you spend any time at all in your car, you can listen to books, you can listen to podcasts, you can listen to TED Talks also while you're exercising. This is another perfect time to listen to these uplifting things that helps us gain knowledge. I've got to tell you some of the absolute most inspiring times is when I've gone out to exercise, and I put on the earphones and I listen to something that is helpful to me in the field that I'm trying to work on. That's it. Gain knowledge every single day. Just take a few minutes to do this. This will help us stay ahead of the game. Now, of course, the next part of this principle is to apply the power of knowledge. We had a friend do a seminar for our group, Jason Hanson. Jason's a former CIA officer and he has now dedicated himself to helping people stay safe, and if they happen to get into a really bad situation, how to escape. He's wonderful. And what he taught us was what happens if you ever...the first thing you do if someone comes up or threatens you, what do you do? Well, you run. Statistics show that gives you the very best opportunity to preserve yourself to stay out of the situation. So run and don't be bashful about it. But let's say that you do, you're caught, you're abducted. The preferred way to subdue a victim is through duct tape. And so, what Jason teaches us how to do is to get out of duct tape in two seconds. How many of our listeners would like to have that knowledge, that skill set? Well, so he would actually demonstrate it. We would put our arms up and he would tie the duct tape around our wrists and, through a process, he would show us how of putting your hands above your head and you quickly come down with a full thrust at your waist, pulling your hands apart, and just like that it's gone. So you have options. This is what it teaches us. We have options of things that we can do. Even if you're in the trunk, heaven forbid, you can saw it off and then try to escape. But there are these options. You keep trying to get away. Okay, so that's with this knowledge. Now you have the chance to save your life. And this is the whole deal. Once you have the knowledge, then you can apply it. Well, this applies in every area of your life. I'd like to recommend every person that's listening, if you don't have one now, that you acquire a notebook. This becomes your thoughts book. And as you're gaining information just on a freestyle, starting at the very front page, you can write down your thoughts, your inspiration, your ideas, and this helps you look for ways to apply those thoughts. And as we think about curiosity and communication and collaboration we look for these three ways and ways to apply these to our situation. So whether it's fitness, our own health, whether it's improving a relationship or a professional application, we're always thinking about these areas of how can we do better. And this idea of good, better, best, never let it rest, til the good is better and the better is best is both the mindset and the skill set. And so, this clearly is mindset, how can I do better in these areas, but it takes the skill set to gain the knowledge and then apply the knowledge. And so, essentially what we do is we get the knowledge. We say, "Okay, I'm gonna take my good to better and my better to best. Let me try it. Let me apply it now." And so, essentially you practice it, you talk with others, you create the strategy, you apply the transformation challenge, the six steps to planning an execution, and you go to work. One of the things we like to say is that you, first of all, practice, practice, practice, and you nail it then you scale it. And this is the idea. This is how we apply the knowledge. One of my favorite approaches as we're working on doing this is to share your idea with others. I've been thinking about this, and if we're to apply this, I think this is what could happen. What are your thoughts about this? And this is how we do it. This is the two-prong approach. Gain the knowledge and apply the knowledge, ARRL. So, what do we do, is we ask, read, research, and we're listening. Turn those surroundings into a university, an ongoing university. Well, I invite each one listening to think about how they gain and apply knowledge and work on doing this on a consistent basis in a way that helps you to become your best, to improve your happiness, your joy, health, and prosperity, to strengthen your relationships and teams, and to teach your teams how to do this. Make this application of this principle cultural and deep so that we're creating cultures by design that are effervescent, that are energized and helping one another. And then this leads to not only prosperity individually but professionally. This helps our companies and organizations to consistently be the best of class. This principle, apply the power and knowledge, in conjunction with the other principles of highly successful leaders, puts you at the very top of your profession and allows you to consistently make a difference for good. Well, this is Steve Shallenberger. It's been a thrill to be able to spend a few minutes with you today, an honor, and a delight, and I wish each one of you the very best as you make a difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Do Walt Disney, Florence Nightingale, Thomas Edison and Nelson Mandela Have In Common? https://www.becomingyourbest.com/innovate-like-waltdisney-and-thomasedison/ Hi, this is Steve Shallenberger with "Becoming Your Best Global Leadership". I'm your host today for this podcast and today we have an exciting principle that we're talking about: Innovate Through Imagination. So what do the following people have in common? Walt Disney, Florence Nightingale, Thomas Edison, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Ford, J.K. Rowling, Marie Curie, and many more. What do you think? If you guessed that they all had an active imagination and each one has had an enormous impact on our world, you would be exactly right. Now what's interesting about these people, much like we are, is that they learned to flip on and engage their imagination to innovate and improve with the roles, responsibilities, or vocation that they had. In other words, they took their strengths, their abilities, and built upon them by using their imagination. And get this, there was no instruction book for them. So what did they do? How did they do it? It's interesting to think. How would you explain the 21st century to a time traveler from the Medieval times? It's difficult knowing where to begin. Think about how far we've come and now think about the possibilities that lie ahead of us. Digitization of all things, mind-controlled robotic limbs, 3D printers, space tourism, autonomous vehicles, electric cars, smartphones, and much more. We've already seen that but we haven't even seen the beginning of it. Of course, the many medical miracles that will continue, wearable computers that are part of our body. So all of these things come about from this very same thing which is imagination or innovating through imagination. And from research into what makes individuals, companies, and organizations successful, we've identified common success factors in the long-term highest achievers. And one of them was this ability to tap the powers of imagination to innovate and remain relevant over many years and decades. And it's about creating opportunities and possibilities in both your personal and professional lives. The human imagination is capable of producing endless opportunities and possibilities. And with them come hope and the belief that there are solutions to problems, even the most difficult ones. There are ideas waiting to be acted upon. There are many options available. This is the spirit of innovation driven by imagination. And imagine the effect it might have on your company or your family if each employee felt empowered to constantly find innovative ways to serve your customers and clients better and to make your product or service better. World-class companies have risen to the top of global business by tapping the imaginations of the best and brightest of their resources. And what about your business? What about your family? How might it benefit from inspired and imaginative employees or family members who are constantly striving to do things better, faster, and smarter? This indeed is the spirit of becoming your best. Ideas must be conceived in our minds before they can become a reality. And once an idea is developed, it starts growing and it takes shape. However, you must first dare to use your imagination to get the ball rolling. And as we think about it, every invention sprang from someone's imagination. Elon Musk imagined an electric car that was not a compromise but an advanced in technology and he's created Tesla. The innovative minds at Google imagined wearing a computer and they produced the Google Glass. J.K. Rowling, a struggling single mother, imagined the Harry Potter novels which delighted and engaged millions of fans and transformed her own life as well. Now, these breakthroughs arose from the imagination of regular, ordinary men and women who were working to stay ahead of an ever-changing world. And can you recall a time when you imagined an outcome and then it happened? Well, of course. And this is the ability to keep turning on this switch that we have. I wake up every day and I say, "Is my imagination switch on?" So as we think about imagination, this is the very same for you and I. You are the navigator to plot the course of your life and professional development. This course comes from your intellect and impressions and feelings that you have, research and analysis and thinking. And perhaps the most important is using the foundation of your imagination. So the real question for you and for me is how can you flip and how can I flip this switch to on? And how do you spark your imagination? How do you avoid getting stuck in the mud and stale? Well, I'm going to suggest just a few things that may be helpful to you that I have seen across the United States and the world, where people have been able to turn on that imagination. So number one...I'm gonna suggest three things that we can do. Number one is think of the issue, the problem, or opportunity that you would like to improve. I recommend that you write it down. And can you more clearly describe what it is? Be as precise as possible. And is it the real issue or the real problem, the real opportunity? This is one of the ones that's most important. So we have a piece of paper, we have a device of some type. Let's get it down, let's look at it, it's front and center. Now once we have this idea in front of us, here are four things that we can do to develop that idea. What have or what are others doing right now? The internet is a tremendous resource, so go right in and just research what's happening regarding that issue that you have identified. Another thing that you can do is ask others for their advice. So identify somebody that's already traveled this way or somebody that you respect and just throw out the idea. Say, "Listen, I'm working on this idea. I'd love to get your thoughts about it." And get two or three or four people. This might be people that work right within your own organization. This might be family members. But you would be amazed at how this gets you unstuck. This gets you going. Another powerful tool that you can use is the skill set of brainstorming. Brainstorming is wonderful. What you're really working on is the quantity, getting down as many ideas in a shorter period as possible, and then going to back and adding the quality dimension, which are the best ideas? This can be done by yourself or you ca invite in a small group of people. Put a time, leave it on there 5, 10, 15 minutes, and give the instructions. No criticism. What you're doing is just trying to spark one idea after another, get the best ideas. And then from there take it and watch what happens. And these are all things that we can repeat time and time again. We don't see it as a one-time setting or a checklist. Imagination is wonderful because it's a process of starting got get it out on the table and we actually move in levels. History and research clearly shows this. Not long ago, my wife and I, Roxanne, had the opportunity to visit Egypt. And it was interesting to see where the idea of pyramids actually came from in the first place. There was kind of a crude type of what we currently see as a pyramid. There was a series of platforms on top of one another that a king devised to honor his service and burial so that people could see it. Well all of a sudden, this idea started developing. Hey, we can improve upon it. So this is how it goes. And then the last thing that you might consider doing as you're working on that particular issue or problem or opportunity is mind mapping. This is a vibrant, energetic, current day, virtual technique experience. I might say also another skill set that you develop simply by doing what we just talked about. You put idea in the middle of the page, put a circle around it, and start drawing arms off of that. Let's say that for example, my circle in the middle is fitness. I want to be more healthy and fit. So one arm might come off and it might have exercise. And another arm might come off and it might have diet. And another arm would come off and it would be cardio. And so you just keep going, your mind gets going, and under fitness you have two or three more arms come off of possibilities. Well, these are all things that you can do to flip the switch on immediately . Never sell yourself short. I mean, you have this capability. Everyone single one of us as human beings are endowed with an imagination. It's part of what we have. Now once we have all of these ideas that we start generating, the next thing we do, the second thing of the three is you pick the best ideas that you have come up with. And once you've exercised this creative process, you say, "What are the best things that I can do?" Maybe rank them one, two, and three. And the third thing is to move into action. Do something, try it out, see how it goes, experiment, test. And once you get some experience with this, you can start scaling the idea. So that's it, three things. One is identify the issue and then use your curiosity. These things that I just talked about all are a curiosity asking questions that you might have. And the more questions you have, it sparks this imagination. Number two then is pick the best ideas once you're done with the process. And then three, move into action. Do something. Who's gonna do what, when? So these three things will help us and then we evaluate how it went. We can go back and do it again and again and again. These are things that will spark your imagination. And practice it to reflex and you're on your way to a fuller and more abundant life. And you will be among those that help to innovate to success, regularly solving problems, developing valuable opportunities, and changing the world in the process. Just one last reflection here as we step back now and think about this, I'd like to give a couple of examples. Thomas Edison was born in 1847 and he was an inventor, a scientist, and a businessman. Edison had patented...had over 1300 different inventions. They were all patented, that's a lot. And those inventions included the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting practical, electric light bulb. He greatly influenced life around the world and the list of his inventions staggers the minds. And their impact is so vast that's impossible to measure. Not long ago I recent attended a speech by a modern day creative genius who is following the Edison footsteps, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, and I came away convinced that the imagination is even a more powerful force when it's paired with modern technologies. And it's interesting because Dr. Soon was born in 1952, 100 years after Edison. And Dr. Soon is surgeon, a medical researcher, CEO, a philanthropist, and professor at the University of California at Los Angeles. And he is one of the preeminent scientists and medical minds of world today. I just love it hearing the things that he did. Dr. Soon has a great creative vision. He's pioneered treatments for diabetes and cancer publishing more than 100 scientific papers, and finally more than 95 U.S. patents. He performed the world's first encapsulated human isolate transplant, which involves transplanting an isolated mass of tissue from a donor's pancreas into another person to stimulate the production of insulin as a treatment for type 1 diabetes. This remarkable man has also performed the first pig to man isolate cell transplant in diabetic patients. And in addition, he pioneered the use of a process for the treatment of breast cancer. And this a groundbreaking drug and it's now in trials for treating lung, gastric, and pancreatic cancer and melanoma. Dr. Soon is an entrepreneur as well. He's developed and solved two multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical companies. So as I think about Dr. Soon, how can anyone accomplish so many things? Well, highly successful people fire up their imagination with an insatiable desire to understand how things work. Their curiosity is boundless and their lives and accomplishments are built upon creativity and drive as well as powerful intellects. I love what Walt Disney said. This is something we can all do. Remember--and I feel this way--a very ordinary person trying to do these things it helps us do extraordinary things. Here's Walt Disney's quote: "Around here, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things. Because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." Isn't that great way to think? Well, this is the idea, folks. Hopefully, you've gained a couple of ideas. Let's just keep this in mind that as you and I continue to flip that switch on, we will continue to have new ideas, finding ways to solve problems and developing these opportunities in an ever-changing world. And in the process every single day you will be making a difference. This is Steve Shallenberger with "Becoming Your Best Global Leadership", wishing you a great day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Everybody Ought to Know About Trust Hi, this is Steve Shallenberger, your host for the "Becoming Your Best" podcast series today. And today we're going to have the opportunity to talk about one of the very powerful principles of highly successful leaders. Yes, those that make a difference, that create a culture by design and not a culture by default. And this particular principle we're talking about today is building and maintaining trust. Trust is like a...it's like a reservoir. It takes a long time to build and once the reservoir is full, it brings life and beauty to all around. It can withstand droughts and earthquakes and setbacks and continue to provide this type of life and sustaining to the environment around. And if it's well-maintained and managed, it will provide an ultimate benefit to everything within its reach. And just like a reservoir, if there is a break in the dam, all of that good that took years to build, can be depleted in just a few short hours. And it takes a significant repair and replenishing of the water before that trust is high enough that people can count on it again. Well, think about trust just for a moment. When trust is high, it's much easier to solve even the most complex problems together with other people. But when trust is low, it's difficult to solve even the easiest of problems and including the fact you may not even want to be in the same room with the other person where there's this low trust. I'd like to invite you to think of someone with whom you have low trust. And just think for a moment, why is there a low level of trust with that person? What have they done that may have bankrupt the trust bank if you will, and so the trust meter is at empty? So just think about that for a few second. What are the events, what are the actions, that broke that trust? And I hope that you have somebody in mind specifically. And there may have been one time or it may have been a repeated set of actions and we're going to talk about something called the trust meter in a moment and you'll see how those actions either drive that trust meter down or push it up to full. Now on the converse, I want you to think of somebody with whom you have a high level of trust. Why is there such a high level of trust with that person? What does that person do that deserves such a high level of trust? And what are the things that you do? Well, as you keep those two different examples in mind, building and maintaining trust is a choice. And it is one of the principles of highly successful leaders. It's something that we do unilaterally really, it's better when you have two people or a team or a whole organization. In other words, when it becomes a total culture. And I've seen that in many instances and this is where you have very successful organizations on a sustained basis. However, let me ask another question. How many people does it take to build and maintain trust? Well, really it takes one person, doesn't it? So regardless of where trust is today, one person can make a difference by the choices and actions that they make to improve trust. It's really this unilateral choice that I was just talking about. Now I'd like to have in your mind's eye, have you think about a gas gauge. And imagine yourself driving through the desert, late at night, on a very cold kind of wintery night. And you look down and the gas gauge is at full. How do you feel? Well, yeah. You feel confident, you feel happy, you're not worrying about if you're gonna make it to the other end of the desert. Okay. You can enjoy the trip. It's far more pleasant if there's other people in the car, you can enjoy a nice conversation and you can focus on the things that really matter most. Now on the other hand, let's say that you look down to the gas gauge and it is showing empty. Now how do you feel? Well, now of course, there's apprehension, you're upset, you're wondering what's gonna happen, you certainly can't enjoy the trip, you're thinking of all the options, "What happens if I ran out of gas in the next 10 minutes? Here I am in this cold environment." Well, you get the feeling. Well, trust is just like that and we call this taking a...having a trust meter. And it's very much just like a gas gauge. And so, when that trust meter is on full, then that means that your relationships are strong, they feel good, they're solid. On the other hand, if that meter, the trust meter is what we call it, if it's at a quarter tank or going down or even at empty, think how that relationship feels. It's far different, isn't it? Well, this a powerful metaphor that you and I can use to measure levels of trust with family members, friends, fellow workers, a boss, direct reports, customers and clients and even competitors. And it is uncannily accurate. All you have to do is in your mind's eye is hold up this trust meter in front of you with the gauge that's free moving and it can move to full or empty. And now just hold it up to each relationship that you have. It might be a son or daughter. How does it look? It might be a spouse or a partner. Or any of these individuals that I just mentioned and pay close attention to where the needle's going. And then once you seen where that needle is, then the real question is what can you do to improve, build and maintain a high level of trust? What can you do to move that needle up to full? And I think this is really the set of questions of things that we can do. Here, for example, are a few example...and by the way, one of the great exercises that we have in our seminars is for people to...on the left-hand column is to list specific relationships that you may have in mind, similar to the ones that I just mentioned. So for example, it might be a spouse or a partner, specifically by name. A son or daughter, specifically by name. And a customer, perhaps someone that you work with, a brother or sister. And then, out to the right by each of those names, what are some specific actions that you can take to move that needle up, to get that trust needle up to full on every single relationship? That's really the objective. And this is what you can do unilaterally. And my experience has been, that as you do this to other people, they have a desire to want to do the same thing to you and what happens then you have this culture that starts building between people and teams and organizations and customers and clients. And it leads directly to excellence. It leads directly to moving the level of performance to a high level of performance. It is what creates the environment of going from good to better to best. And so, what are some things, examples of things that you could do? I'm just gonna list a few of those. Here are some specific, unilateral actions that you can take, that you can do to be the difference. Here's one. Be determined to be a world-class communicator. And so, you're working with other people especially if you're the leader. Paint the picture, paint the vision and confirm that they understand what you're trying to accomplish. Everyone appreciates this on projects or on where we're going as an organization. So that's one thing you can do. How about this one? I love this when we do this frequently. My partner and I, Dave Clark, as we're working with some of our key associates or key managers, we'll just be walking through the office and we'll stop and we'll say, "Well, how are things for," whoever it is. Let's say, Matt. "How are things for you, Matt?" Matt has the chance to just visit and...but then we're gonna go a little bit further. So what are Matt's goals for the next one to three years? In other words, "What do you want to accomplish, Matt? What's important to you?" And we just listen. And this is so engaging because as a leader, now that I know what Matt's thinking about, I'm in a position to help him reach his goals but I can also be better informed on how we can work together to create excellence. So imagine the impact that this would have. What does it do for trust, how does Matt feel, especially if we're really sincerely listening? Well, we're all better off. Here's another one of things that you could unilaterally do. This was one that came through on an email today from somebody that was working on their pre-week planning. I love it. They listed about 10 or 15 things on their pre-week planning that they could do that essentially equated to building and maintaining trust. That was the result. Here was one of them. Take a walk with my wife. Great. I think that's way cool. Think of all the things that can happen. And then just listen. Ask how are things going. Here's another thing you can do that unilaterally allows you to build and maintain trust. Take a client to lunch or call someone on their birthday or write a thank-you note. I thought you might appreciate this experience that I read about in the Washington Post. And by the way, I've been at this for a while and...but even though I've been working on leadership for a long time, I found that these principles apply at all levels. Whether you're millennials, next generation, these powerful principles are what allow us to be...to develop the skills of being great leaders ultimately. All right, well, here you go. Here's the experience. The "Washington Post" reported that just a couple of years ago, the Facebook founder and Chief Executive, Mark Zuckerberg challenged himself to write one thank you note each day. The young entrepreneur, who was just 19 when he established Facebook in 2004, had grown sensitive about his reputation for being critical of people and especially his employees. So he decided to make an effort to build and maintain trust by being more appreciative of those around him. And this started changing Mark's thinking and interchanging, interfacing with the people within his organization and started creating a higher level of trust. You know, Zuckerberg is not alone in seeing the value of this. There is a former CEO of Campbell's Soup Company, Douglas Conant. He told "Post" reporters that during his 10-year tenure with that major food brand, he's written at least 30,000 thank you notes to connect with employees. And Conant said that he takes at least an hour a day to write thank you notes to employees who have done well. And he recommends the practice to other top executives who tend to over-develop their critical muscles. And so, this is a way to bring balance. And this is exactly like the reservoir that we're talking about, building up the strong reserve so that people can have a healthy relationship and work in the crucible of challenges, day-in and day-out and freely give and take and...but there's ultimately a foundation there. Well, these are things that you and I can do. Pre-week planning, by the way, is a great tool to help you consistently build and maintain trust. I will never forget an experience that I had three or four years ago as I've been invited by someone to Washington D.C.'s National Prayer Breakfast. This is where the president, the majority of senators, congressmen, the legislative body, members of the Supreme Court are all invited to join leaders from around the nation to pray, to ask regardless of your party, for help to work on unity. This is a powerful experience and in conjunction with this, they also have workshops. And I will never forget as I noticed one of the workshops that was being conducted by an executive by Chick-fil-A. And it was on building relationships. Well, I thought this is interested because at the time, Chick-fil-A was having some challenges because they'd taken a stand on a number of social issues. And this has become a tense and awkward public battle. Many people were picketing various Chick-fil-A locations. So this executive, as I attended this workshop, arranged to sit down with some of the protesters. But he didn't have high hopes for a positive resolution. As a matter of fact, he had a lot of trepidation about what might take place. And as they sat down, the Chick-fil-A executive...all of a sudden it occurred to him rather than just getting into it, to ask one of the principles from the picketing group about his background. He said, "I'd love to hear how you became an advocate for this cause." And so, the fellow said...you know, the executive appeared sincere and so he did, he started responding. And the picketer said that he lost his father 16 years earlier when a drunk driver had killed him in an accident. And then he gave a brief history of his involvement in this cause. Well then, the Chick-fil-A executive said that he was grateful for the man taken a few minutes to share his story. And then the executive said that he too had lost his father to a drunk driver 30 years earlier. And sharing their backgrounds, the two potential adversaries had established a common ground which is where trust begins. And they made a significant progress regarding the issues at hand and agreed to work toward shared goals. This is what I am talking about in creating a culture that allows people to work together because the trust is a higher level of trust. So one of the things that you and I can do is ask people, "What is your story? What's your story?" And then, just listen. We do this frequently in our seminars. We'll have people be put into pairs and working groups and we'll say, "All right, share what a dream is that you have? Or something that really inspires you or something that you would like to accomplish. In other words, what's your story?" And inevitably, at the end of that short exercise, there's such a high energy in the room. Such a connect between people that they maintain the connection after the seminar. So mastering this principle of building and maintaining trust, will bring you greater peace and happiness personally. Especially as you unilaterally take the high ground when the difficult situations come into your life and you just say to yourself, "I will only do things that move the needle up." That takes discipline and willpower. But 100% of the time, every time, you will end up in a better place. It will build greater and stronger relationships. It will build your business and be responsible for millions of dollars of business in the things that you do. So may you find the internal power and peace that comes from unilaterally doing things that push the trust meter gauge towards full. And as you hold that trust meter up and assess your relationships, just fill it inside, you'll know where it's at, then you will make the right decisions to do the right things. And you will make a difference every single day to lift things to good, to make them better and best. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host today with "Becoming Your Best", Global Leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All right, welcome back to all our Becoming Your Best Podcast listeners. Excited to be with you today, wherever you are. Driving in a car, at work, at home, what an honor that you would take the time to listen. And I really wanna make this worth the few minutes that we have together, and this is gonna a quick hitter. I was just talking with someone, a good friend of mine named Dean, and he said, "You know what I love about these podcasts, is they're short and sweet. I can listen to it on the way to work during a 20-minute drive." And he just...he really commented that, you know, "I love the power of it in a short amount of time," and he's exactly right. And that's the intent, is that you can listen to this and have some quick hitting ideas that can really impact your life in a short amount of time. Now this focus is on principle number five, Live the Golden Rule in Business and in Life. Now normally, this would be an outward focused principle, treating others right. I mean, I love what Maya Angelou said. She said, "People won't remember what you said or what you did, what they'll remember is how you made them feel." And typically, isn't that the truth? This principle also has to do within the business setting of creating a world class customer experience, both for the internal and external customer. Well, today is gonna be a little different, because I've really over the last month been focused on people, and watching people and observing, and trying to learn from them. You know what, what makes the difference in their life? And someone asked me the question that sparked this curiosity about a month ago, and the question was, "How do you give someone desire?" Oh, now that's a doozy of a question, isn't it? Like the trillion-dollar question if you could really answer that. And actually, I've been trying to answer that for three years. That was a book I wanted to write, desire, and I still wanna write that book. And so I've really been fascinated by that. How do you help someone have desire? And how does that question pertain to this principle? Well, let's turn this principle inward for this particular podcast, because what I found is, it's really difficult to be transformational and help lift someone to a better place, if we don't see ourselves in a positive light. And so a lot of this is a reflection of ourselves and how do we view ourselves. And as soon as we turn those tables and flip that switch, where you start to view yourself in a positive light and we start to see ourselves differently, it becomes much easier to then turn around and help others and help them get to a better place. And that really starts with desire. I mean, let me just give you an example here. I'll only use first names. I just finished an event in St. Louis, met some incredible people, and there's always a handful, one or two or three that just really stand out. I mean, like a light...like a lighthouse, and one of those was Jim. And within maybe 20 to 30 seconds of him talking with me, I knew that he was an incredible person. And since then, he's shared a couple of emails, I mean, this all in last couple of weeks here. He's just on fire. And his comment during the event was, "Man, I just feel like the rust is falling off here. I'm just feeling this fire starting to come within me that I used to feel, but I had lost along the way." And I'm so excited to watch what's gonna happen with Jim here over the upcoming months and year. And then there's another person who, Jamie, who's our VP of Business Development just talked with, and I'm just gonna make up a random name and her name is Jill. And she's with a company, she heads their HR department, and she was interested in bringing Becoming Your Best in to do some training for their company at some point the future, and she has the book. And the way she responded to Jamie on this call, he just had a few minutes go with her was, "Yeah, I really wanted to get around to this Jamie, but I've just been so busy. I haven't been able to even look at anything." And here is the irony, Jamie just asked her, "Have you read the book?" And she said, "No, no, no, no, I haven't, but I'll get to it eventually." And he just commented, "Hey, you may wanna consider chapter four on prioritize your time. There are some great ideas there that really can help you with time management." And her response was just awesome. She said, "I'm the queen of time management. I don't need it. I've got everything figured out. When it comes to time management, I'm the best." And she had just got done telling him how chaotic her life was and how busy she was. And let me contrast that with an email that Jim just sent regarding pre-week planning and the impact that it's having in his life. He said, and this is a quote from his email. "I'm amazed at the results of my first day using pre-week planning. I got so many meaningful things done today and it truly seems like I did nothing. So productive, but not busy. Ah, that's transformational. Such high leverage activities, I'm gonna have to come up with more activities." He said, "I couldn't believe all the things I got done, but I truly never felt busy in the process." And this is coming from someone who prides himself on being busy. "I now seek to be productive." In other words, there's a total difference in mindset between Jim and this lady who we'll just call Jill on the phone. And so I would ask each of us to look inward at ourselves, and are we more like Jim, where we just have this hunger and thirst to better ourselves or are we more like Jill, where we shut out potential learning and growth for ourselves, because we say, "I've got it all figured out, I don't need that." And we miss some enormous opportunities that could potentially be right in front of us. And so that's the beginning of this podcast is, each person listening, first turning that mirror on to themselves and each of us looking in the mirror and asking, "Where are we at in our receptivity? Are we willing to learn? Do we have a humility about us?" And I'm gonna assume that if you're listening to the podcast, then the answer is absolutely yes. Now let's go back to what we talked about here and turning the mirror inwards and helping someone to include ourselves, get that desire. There are two focuses on this podcast that would really have an impact on each one of us. And the first of those, if you have a pen and paper, I'd even ask you to write this down. So if you're in a place where you can write, go ahead and grab a pen and paper. Write down these words. Have, do, be. Have, do, be. And this is what unfortunately a lot of the world thinks, is, first they need to have something, then they can do it, and then they will become that. I mean, I've heard some people say, "Yeah, once I get money, then I'll be able to do all these great things and become this really generous person. I'm gonna give a lot of those resources away once I have it." And they're seeing life exactly backwards. Have, do, be. And I wonder internally, how many times I've thought that in different capacities. How many times have you thought this? Where first, once you have it, then you can do it, and that will allow you to become that. And it's really, in my experience, exactly opposite. It's be, do, have. And this applies both personally and professionally. You wanna be a great manager, you wanna be a great mother, father, it doesn't matter. Across the board, it's first, we become that, then once we are that person, that allows us to do, and then we have. And that's why so many people wonder, well, why don't I have? Because we're looking at the equation backwards. It should be, be first, that allows us to do, and then the rewards come. The results start to show up and that's in the form of the have. Well, how do you be first? And this starts to go back to desire. And here's a few thoughts for you. There's one called the five-hour rule, and this is a powerful Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, they live by this. And this is investing one hour a day back into yourself. In other words,... Maybe it's called your power hour. Whatever you wanna call it. There's different terminologies for it. It's your power hour, it's for you, it's one hour invested back into you. It could be exercise, it could be meditating. This morning I got up and read for 45 minutes from three different books, and just had an incredible amount of ideas about what I could do in my life, and it was just awesome. That was 45 minutes of reading, and then I went over and took about 10 minutes to work on some charts for the stock market, sharpening that skill. So there was an hour invested in myself this morning. What can you do every day to invest an hour back into yourself? That's part of being. It's not having first, it's being so that you can do and then ultimately reap the results and have. If you wanna lose weight, well, be first mentally there, take the time, invest so that you can do, and then you are gonna have the result you want to have, as an example. Well, here's another one. Once you incorporate the five-hour rule, set aside at least 5% of your income to invest back into yourself. So if you're making $100,000, that's at least $5,000. Some of the most successful people we know will take 10% to 15%, because think about what your most valuable resource is, it's your mind. And it's those tools and skills that we put in our minds. So Jill, that hypothetical person, she had all these skill sets in front of her, but not the mindset to actually use them. "I'm the queen of time management, I don't need any help in this arena." For me I would never say those words. That would be a huge internal red flag for me that I've stopped learning. As soon as I've stopped learning, it's time to hang up the hat. It's time to be done. So now this really gets into the question that I asked at the beginning the podcast, which is, how do we get desire, help someone else have desire so that they can be first, do, and then have. And this is a reflection of ourselves first, right? So here are two things that I found that will help give someone a desire, and it helps in the be, so that we can then do and have, and that is to read often. And if you're not actively reading, I invite you to try this. Choose a few books, either around leadership, motivation, whatever it might be, and take 15 minutes a day, and start your day reading. Just see what that does to your mind, it's gonna be like a fire that starts growing within you, when you have this as a habit. The second way to get desire and to really begin this process of be, do, have, is to put yourselves in an environment where a seed can grow. And that's what I've done in becoming your... We have several coaching clients and others who say, "You know, this has totally transformed my life, the 12 principles. Becoming Your Best, I just...and this fire, it's been an incredible year, but my spouse doesn't want anything to do with developing a vision or talking about goals. She just doesn't wanna do... You know, she doesn't want anything to do with this," or vice versa. "He doesn't want anything to do with this." Well how do you help them have desire? Helping give someone an opportunity to put that seed in the ground and allowing it to grow is one of those things. And so, attend seminars where you can. Make it a fun way. We have the Breakthrough Leadership Conference as an example. It's actually gonna start for us in two days, the next will be in October. People come out as a couple, sometimes they bring their team, and it's an incredible experience because now they're talking about the same things. They have a similar beginning point. And so that's number one, is, instead of have, do, be, shift the equation to be, do, have. And being is first of all, us looking at ourselves asking, "What can we do to see ourselves in a more positive light, to invest in ourselves." The five-hour rule, one hour a day for you. 5% of your income back into your own development. Getting a personal coach. Attending a seminar that will allow you to see things differently and think differently, sharpening your saw. That's number one. And number two in this equation, to help us see things differently and help you see yourself in a positive light, is to really watch your words. This has become an increasingly big deal in my life as I watch this. And it requires more and more self-restraint on my part not to say something when I see another person really tearing their own selves down. Sometimes we are our own hardest critic. Now think about this, if someone was to record your thoughts and write them down after an entire day, what would that conversation look like? In other words, how do you talk to yourself? What kind of words go through your mind? What kind of conversation are you having? Is it an upbeat conversation of all the things you can do and what you can accomplish? Or, like 70% of people, are your thoughts trending towards the negative side of all the things you can't do and why you're not good enough? And it's very easy to slip into that mindset of, "Oh, Johnny can do this. Well, they can do this, but, man, I can't do this." Let me give you some examples here. And as I give you these examples, think about what would happen if all the words that you said and physically uttered out of your mouth became a reality. How careful would you be about your words if everything you said became a reality? Let me give you an example. I know you've heard people say these kind of things, and maybe we've said them ourselves. Have you ever heard someone say, "Oh, I could never do that?" Well, what have they just done with their words? The person has just sealed their own fate in that area. I could never do that. Well, now I never gave a chance for that particular seed to grow. How about this one, I've heard people say this, and this is one that requires self-restraint. I get sick every year this time of year. Well, that almost becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, because the word becomes a reality. And what I wish we as human beings understood more, and I'm just beginning to understand this, is how powerful our words are. That when you say something, there is a creative force to your words. And oftentimes, those tend to become a reality. In fact, our biochemistry oftentimes will change with our thoughts and words. And that's why it's so important to be careful with your words. I was on my way to a football game last year with my son, he said, "Dad, there's no way we can beat this team." Well, where was he already defeated? Right there in the mind. And so we talked about that, and he shifted his words, and shifted his thinking on that. Because you gotta give a chance for the seed to at least grow, right? Think about this, if your mind was this fertile field, what's gonna happen when you plant the seed? Well, it's gonna take life, it's gonna grow. And there's a great book out, there's actually two that I would recommend. One is called, The Four Agreements, and the other is called, The Tongue, a Creative Force. Both great books, referencing these ideas about your words and your thoughts becoming a reality. So think of your mind like a field. And from that book, The Tongue, a Creative Force and The Four Agreements, what happens is, we tend to make these internal agreements. And I'll even bring Star Wars into the analogy. Who did the force work well on? When someone was trying to use the force on someone else, who did it work well on? It was usually those of a weak mind. Who did the force not work on? It was someone that had a strong mind and wouldn't allow someone else to act upon them. So either we will act or be acted upon. And in the book The Four Agreements, they take this from a different light and so, let's just look at this from this particular light. I like the way they do this as an analogy, as a sample. Treat yourself like a wizard. And I don't care if your net worth is worth $200 million and you're the CEO of a large publicly traded company. I don't care if you stay at home and have a few children, and that is your world. Think of it the same way because it's the same concept. You're a wizard here. When you say something, you're casting a spell on someone else, when you say something to them. And for the fun, we can call this black magic or white magic. Either you're sending poison at them in the form of black magic with your words or you're sending white magic. Words of encouragement, uplifting words, seeds that will help them grow and develop or poison that will destroy the seeds in their fertile soil of their mind. And more importantly then what we say to others is what we say to ourselves. And that's why I come back to this whole concept of watching your words. Sometimes, without even knowing it, we're planting the seeds that are filled with poison in our own minds, and we don't even allow ourselves to be in the first place. Be, do, have. That's why that five-hour rule, 5% of your income to read and attend seminars is so critical. That's what allows us to plant those seeds in our own mind and then have that growth. And I was just sitting around the dinner table earlier in the week talking about this with our children, and I didn't know if they got it or not. And then ironically, this morning we came back to this idea of how important our words are. And so I used an example of what happens if someone calls you stupid. And then my nine-year-old daughter Lana, she goes, she jumps right out and she's like, "Dad, that's someone throwing their black magic at you and you have to wave it off and replace it with happy thoughts." And how powerful of a response is that from a nine-year-old actually. And that's exactly what happens. People are gonna say things to you where they're gonna cast their black magic or their spell at you. Now you have a choice, do you plant that seed that they gave you in your mind or do you wave it off because your self-worth and the way you see yourself is already so solidified that you don't need someone to tell you you're great? You don't need someone to tell you that you're bad. You have your own self-worth regardless of what other people say to you. So number one, what kind of words are you uttering to other people. And even more importantly, for this podcast, what are the words that you say to yourself on a daily basis, and how do you shift those? Here's one last example of this, of black magic, white magic, casting a spell, whatever you want to call it. Programming someone else's mind. There's a story of a mother who came home from work, she'd had a long day and so she has a headache, and, you know, it's just been one of those kind of days. Well, her daughter, and I think, we'll just say around six, seven years old, her daughter was singing. And she was all excited, and she was playing this instrument that she had made, and she was going to town. Well, because of the long day that her mom had, this just amplified her headache. And so in a moment of, we'll just call it weakness, she lashed out at her daughter and told her, "Will you quit singing, you have a terrible voice. You can't sing anyway." Now, in that moment of weakness, she casted a spell, she throughout these words that were poisonous words. And in a young fertile mind, it planted a seed. Now, how did her daughter respond to this, in this hypothetical scenario? Well, now she started to believe her mom. She didn't have a good voice so she quit singing. In school, she used to talk to people, she used to be alive and voracious, but now, because of these self-conscious thoughts of being, you know, a terrible singer, maybe she's bad at performing in front of people, she started to look inward anymore. She didn't talk to her friends anymore, and this just continued through her years of middle school and high school until as an adult, she considered herself a strong introvert, which there's nothing wrong with being an introvert. That she didn't have any musical talents or gifts at all, and so on and so on. Well where did this all start? It was that seed, it was that, we'll just call it "a spell" from her mother, where she cast out those poisonous words, indeed her daughter planted the seed, and it grew to be can become a reality. And so I would just ask you to think about this, what are the words that you say to yourself on a daily basis? Are they uplifting to you or are they filled with poison? And we've got to eliminate the poisonous words from our vocabulary. Second, how do you talk to other people? Are you casting out white magic, words and seeds that would lift people or are they black magic, something that would tear other people down and hurt them in the process? So this is all tied back to the principle of, Live the Golden Rule in Business and in Life, which normally as I mentioned at the beginning of the podcast, is outward focused. Well in this podcast, we turned that back on to ourselves and really hopefully had a chance to look in the mirror. What kind of conversations are you having? Are you open to learning and development? Well, if you're on the podcast, my guess is the answer to that is yes. We're more like Jim and not necessarily the hypothetical Jill. And so, when we have that desire, how do we shift that conversation? And you remember number one was, making the shift from having first, do and be, to becoming, be, do, have. And the only way to do that is to develop our own mind, so that there's a strong self-worth in each one of us. And that puts us in a position where we can really lift others, and with our words, make a big difference. Not only in our own growth and development, but in helping others. It's been my experience though that rarely does someone cast out their seeds of white magic, we'll just call it that for today, if they're not in a place to do so, and if they're not in a place where they see themselves in that positive light to be able to do that in the first place. So I hope this podcast has given you some ideas. What I'd hope that you take away from this is that you teach maybe some open coworkers about it, maybe not. If you're not in a work environment like that, then teach your children, bring it up with your spouse, and then really be cognizant of your words as you go throughout today. And if you find yourself uttering a word that you would not want to become a reality, then replace it with something positive, shift that word. And watch what happens to your own self-worth as you start to only use light filled words, rather than these poisonous words that can tear yourself down or tear others down. Well, hey, it's been a pleasure being with you, that's the invitation. Let us know how it goes, email us at support@becomingyourbest.com. We would love to hear your story. And then just something to put on your radar, every April and October is the Breakthrough Leadership Conference, where you have two days of content focused exclusively on you and helping you achieve and accomplish your dreams. So take a look at the website, becomingyourbest.com, and pencil out those dates. Invest in yourself and make that time so that we really can have that fertile soil. We try to walk just as much as we talk the talk because we're all the same. We all need that development so that we can be, do, have. All right, we're wishing you a great day, and remember that one person can make a difference. We'll see you next week, have a wonderful day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All right welcome back to the Becoming Your Best podcast. This is your host Rob Shallenberger and hope you're having a wonderful day wherever you are in the world today. Well today's podcast is focused on principle number two of highly successful leaders and that is leading with a vision. So let me ask you a couple of questions and just think about what comes to mind. When you wake up in the morning are you excited to get up and get out of bed? In other words, how do you feel in the morning when it's time to wake up? Are you excited and anxious to face the day because it's going to be another great opportunity or is it one of those where you just feel like you're kind of dragging yourself out of bed? Well here's another question. Do you have a clear vision or direction for your life? So if I was to ask you what's your vision, you know, where do you want to be in five in ten years? What does that look like? Would you be able to describe that? And this is one of those characteristics over and over and over that we saw in the most successful leaders is they had a clear vision of where they wanted to go. So, for example, look at you know great leaders through history such as George Washington, having a vision of a free liberated country. Or Bill Gates having a desktop computer in every home. Mahatma Gandhi to liberate a nice nation peacefully. You know, it's these simple visions that created a powerful direction for a lot of people. And that's what a vision can do in your life as it gives you a very specific direction. Amongst a team, if you're running or leading an organization, it creates that alignment with your team members. And that's the idea that everybody listening to this podcast is a leader in some form or fashion. At a minimum you're leading your own life. You may have a family and in that case you're leading your family. Or you may have a team and you're leading a team. In every one of those circumstances a vision is a critical piece of that puzzle. In other words, when you're speaking of your team, what's the direction your team is going? Well if you're talking about a family or you as a couple, what direction are you going as a family, as a couple? And then especially personally which way are you going personally? What direction are you going? And so the focus of this podcast is really those three areas and that is how to develop a vision for a team or a company. How to develop a vision for your family. And then, what I consider to be most important, how do you develop a personal vision? So let's start with the company vision. And, as you're thinking about the why, the why is always important to understand. Now think of this from a leader's perspective. You will have a culture by design or a culture by default. And that's one of the things the great leaders do is they establish a culture by design. In other words, it's not gonna happen on accident. If you're not focused on developing the right culture then it's going to evolve into whatever it evolves into. And that's what a vision can do, is it aligns and starts to create that culture a direction for the entire team an organization. So imagine in your mind a bunch of arrows and if those arrows are all pointing different directions and you start to move them, you know, there's no energy. Everybody's going a different direction. However, now imagine in your mind a bunch of arrows that are all aligned pointing the same direction and that's what a vision does. It aligns those arrows, it aligns employees and resources so that they're all moving the same direction. I mean, think about this. Almost everyone listening to this podcast has been a part of an organization or at least walked into a company where you could quickly tell that nobody was aligned. And you could feel that energy in that type of team. At the same time you've probably been with an organization at some point along the way where you felt like they were firing on all cylinders, all going the same direction they knew what the direction of the team and organization was. And there was this power behind that. And that's exactly what a vision can do for your team. So, for example, Southwest Airlines. Their vision is this, "We operate with a warrior spirit, a servant's heart and a fun loving attitude." And this really dictates the culture that exists at Southwest. You know, when you see a captain outside loading bags for an on time departure. And they're all about the fun and they're all about creating that environment, where it is a warrior spirit, a servant's heart and a fun loving attitude. They don't cater to the first class group, they don't have that premium of level service. It's about, "Hey get people on, give them a fun experience, get 'em there on time." And that's their vision and they do a great job of living and supporting that vision. So, on that note, the question then is how do you do this within your team? So here's the best place to start. There are four questions that I'm going to give you and what I would suggest is that you ask your team members these four questions and have them actually write down the answer. And when I say your team, you know, this really depends on the size of your organization. So if you are a manager and you have five sub managers, then maybe we're talking about those five sub managers. If you have sixty employees that you lead you don't need to do this with all sixty. So with a handful of people, your key team, ask these four questions. Number one, what are the top three most important areas of focus for our team or company? Number two, what are the operating principles and values that will help our organization be the very best? Number three is what do you care most about? And number four is have them write a sample of what they think the vision for the team or organization should be. And then you're going to take those as a leader, you're going to compile those and come up with a draft vision. So taking all of their input you come up now with a draft. What does that do? It creates buy-in, they've been a part of developing the vision. So you take their input, you develop a draft vision and then go around and ask a few employees, what does this vision mean to you? And if you're getting a similar response or answer, you've got a vision that's creating alignment. There's a focus there. If you're getting different answers from all different employees and they're saying, "Yeah it means this." And someone else answers this, then it's not there. That's not the vision. It's got to create that alignment and that focus and it's got to get people somewhat excited to be there and feel like they're a part of something. So if it's all around money, well that may or may not be it, you know? So you really want to ask employees and test it and see what they feel and how they respond. Once you get their response take that vision and really make it a part of the organization team. Put up posters. You don't want to become a wall ornament, you want the vision to burn deeply in the organization. So put up the posters, develop rewards around the vision. So a quarterly reward around customer service if that's the focus of your vision. So if I was Southwest I'd create a warrior spirit award, a servant's heart award and a fun loving attitude award. And then give those out quarterly and recognize people. And that way you're reinforcing that vision. And that's how you really develop a team vision and get started on that. Now how about the family vision? And it's interesting in a group of about one hundred people, just to use easy math, during a seminar I'll often ask the question, well how many people in the room have either a written family vision or a personal vision? And on average one out of one hundred hands will go up. And so this is a huge deal for a lot of people and it's been amazing to hear the feedback from couples who say, "You know we just started doing this for the first time ever in our marriage and it's made an incredible difference." Or to say, "We sat down with our children we started asking them what's most important? Where you think we should go as a family?" And now you're getting the kids involved. And so this can be a really fun, cool experience if you have a family or if you have children. Even if you have a partner, sit down with your partner and come up with that vision. So here's an example of our Shallenberger vision and we have four kids ages 6 to 15. And can this be changed? Of course it can. So this is one that we actually recently modified about a year ago. And it says this, "Shallenbergers are kind." And the letters K-I-N-D are big and highlighted. And each of those letters is separated out. So K in the word kind says. "Keep the commandments. I, imaginative. N, we're nice to others. D, do our best." And this is why we go back to the vision as family. If a son or daughter comes up and says hey how do I solve this or what do I do about this? Well it's our vision. Imaginative. Okay So let's imagine some ideas, what do you think? And it's teaching them to lift up their eyes and go after that vision rather than, you know, head down and focusing on the problem. So it's a real shift. So if you don't have a family vision already, one of the invitations from this podcast is within the next week craft a draft of your vision for your family and see what that looks like. And now, most importantly... So that's number one, the corporate vision. Number two is the family vision. And number three, most importantly, at least in my opinion, is the personal vision. And I was out on a walk about six months or so ago and just walking along thinking about, you know, what is the real impact of a vision? And this thought came to mind that our personal visions, your personal vision, is the seed of your legacy. Now think about that, what happens when you plant a seed in fertile soil? Well it can grow into a massive tree, can't it? However if you never plant the seed, the tree can never really grow, it never has a chance. And so this is what you're doing by articulating your personal vision and writing it down, is you're planting the seed. Then you can develop a plan to make that vision a reality. And some of you have heard this analogy of the dash. Think about this. When you go to a cemetery and you look at a headstone, What do you often see there? You'll see a birth date, a dash and then that death date. And we really don't know a whole lot about that person, but imagine all the things that are in that dash. And what you're really doing there with your personal vision is articulating what your dash looks like. In other words, when people look back at you how are they going to describe and think of you? What is that going to look like? What impact are you going to leave within your family and your neighborhood in the world. And that's what you're doing with a personal vision. Now there's some questions that can help you get started on your personal vision. So let me give you these three questions. If you're in a place where you can write them down, write them down and maybe take two to three minutes and just answer them as you feel best or whatever comes to mind. They're pretty simple questions. This will help you as you start to get ready to craft your personal vision. So number one, where would you like to be and what would you like to have accomplished in 10 or 20 years from now? So, in other words, shifting out to the future aways, what are some things that you would like to accomplish? Just brainstorm with yourself and write some of those answers down. You're not going to capture everything, and some of the things you put down here may not make it into your vision and that's okay. Question number two, think of a mentor or a person who's had a significant influence for good in your life. What are some of their traits or characteristics that you admire? This is a great one. You think about the sphere of influence, the people who have made the biggest difference in your life. What was it about them that really stood out to you? What is it that you admired about them? And then the last question is this, in fifty years from today, where many of us might be gone after fifty years, how do you hope others will describe and think of you? What would you like them to say about you? "He or she was kind, they were caring, they gave often, they were charitable, they made a difference, they took time to listen?" What is it that you would like people to say about you? Now once you've taken a few minutes to answer each of those, come up with a draft of your vision. And there's a way that I would suggest doing this, or at least invite you to try, that many people haven't thought about. And that is your vision by roles. So let's focus on women here. If you happen to be married, one of your roles might be a wife, a spouse. You might be a mother, that might be one of your roles. You might be a manager. You might be a son or daughter if your parents are still alive. So you think about those different roles and then craft a one to three sentence vision in each of those roles. And the most important role that you need to be thinking about here is your personal role. In other words, self. Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually what is your vision look like for you? And then think about what your vision looks like in those other roles. And that really describes you and your personal vision. Now how does this apply to you? Well, as an example, in the role of husband a small part of it is to help Tanya my wife feel like 10. So that really dictates the behavior. If i'm driving around and I'm a little upset with her I can go home and we can get into an argument and we all know how that works out. Or, as an alternative, if the vision is to help her feel like a 10, well I can go home and what are some of the things that I could do to help her feel that way? So if you're married and you had a spouse and your vision was help your spouse feel like a 10, what are some things that you would do today to help achieve that vision? And so what does this mean to you to have a team vision for your company, a family vision or personal vision? It's what gives you that clarity in that direction. And here's the real litmus test. And that is when you wake up in the morning and you look at your personal vision, does it get you excited? And if you can look at your vision and say, "You know what, this gets me pretty fired up. This isn't where I'm at today. This is where I want to be." That's a pretty good start to a vision. Remember, it's the seed of your legacy. So you're planting that seed in your heart and your mind. Unless it's written down though, it's all just a good intention. And so what you're taking is these good intentions and you're being very purposeful now about your life, your family and your team and you articulating that on paper. And once you've got a vision whether it's a team vision for your company, for your organization. Whether it's a vision for your family or whether it's your own vision, make sure you write it down and put it in a place where you can see it often. And especially for your personal vision. I would highly encourage you to memorize that. It becomes a part of your DNA that drives your decision making. So hopefully this is then helpful. One of the invitations today is to look at each of those areas of your life, where you're at and if you haven't done any one of those to start that process within the next week. The sooner the better. Too many people that we've worked with in seminar suffer from paralysis by analysis. In other words, they just never actually get to doing something because they're always analyzing. And so you know that it's a tough person to be around sometimes and they're always analyzing and never doing because they just get caught in this vicious cycle. So let's not get stuck in the paralysis by analysis and just get started. It does not have to be perfect. Having something is far better than having nothing. Now there are some additional resources for you that can help you. If you'll go to becomingyourbest.com you're going to see a place where you put in your name and e-mail in there. Go ahead and put in your name and email. You're going to get some additional resources that can help you with this along the way. If you haven't read the book already go to Amazon and invest in the book. And you're going to find there, in chapter number two, under principle two, "Lead With a Vision" with additional specific ideas that can help you develop both your team, family, and personal vision. The other incredible opportunity...now some of our listeners have already attended the Breakthrough Leadership Conference and had a great experience there. If you haven't been this is a great opportunity to get away for two days, come out to Utah, into the mountains, in either the spring or the fall and really focus on you, your family and your business. So it's a two day Breakthrough Leadership Conference and you can find the dates on the website becomingyourbest.com. See if those work. And if you're married we highly encourage you to bring your spouse if that's doable. If she can't come or if he can't come that's fine. You coming is still better than not. If you come with a partner or someone from your team, that's great as well. And you're gonna get very focused on each of these twelve principles and how they apply to you in these different arenas, just like the vision. So hopeful this has been helpful. Just to set you up for next week, next week's podcast is designed for entrepreneurs. In other words, how many people listening today have ever had an idea and you think to yourself, "Well, how do you take this idea and build it into something, you know, a thriving reality where it's generating cash flow? It's really making a difference in people's lives. You're having impact in the world." Whether it's a small or big idea doesn't matter. How do you take that idea and make it into a reality? So the invitation for today, work on your personal vision, your team vision and your family vision at some point the next week. Get those started. Put the pencil to paper and get going on it. If you haven't looked at the Breakthrough Leadership Conference or invested in the book, go look at those today, becomeyourbest.com and that will really accelerate you and put you on the path to get there. So just remember that one person can make a difference. You're that one person and we'll look forward to talking with you next week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bish and Ibs are two 23 year old Canadian entrepreneur who started a company called TruWood in their last semester of University. TruWood sells affordable and unique fashion accessories and also gives back by planting 10 trees for every order. So far, the Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All right, welcome to our "Becoming Your Best" podcast listeners. My name is Rob Shallenberger and welcome wherever you are. I'm looking out the window right now in Utah at some beautiful snow-capped mountains on a crisp beautiful spring day with a nice blue sky. It's just amazing. Well hey, this is gonna be a short podcast yet, I hope very impactful in your life. I've been thinking about some people recently who have reached out to becoming your best and have been calling us and the common theme amongst their lives and their stories are that they feel like they've been on fire. In other words, their lives have just totally transformed in the last few months and it's been interesting. I'm gonna have one of those people, a friend on the West Coast who has just had some amazing experiences. I'm gonna share her story in a couple of months and maybe potentially have her on the podcast. The common theme amongst these people as they start to apply the 12 principles and catch on fire, is that they feel this shift from being transactional in nature to being and living and thinking transformationally, and there's a huge shift in that. And one of those ladies who's become a good friend, she said that she wrote down in a seminar that at some point along the seminar I told her and the group, "If you apply the 12 principles and start to focus on them and master them, your entire life will start to change. You're going to start to think transformationally, and a fire will start to grow within you and it's going to impact every area of your life professionally, personally, your home life, across the board." And indeed that's exactly what happens when someone starts to pattern their lives around the 12 principles of highly successful leaders. Great leaders get great results because they do the same things that other great leaders have done, and those are the 12 principles. Let me share with you a story that some of you might have heard on a video that I did recently of what that transformation looks like and the impact that it can have. So we flew into San Diego a few months ago for a ball game, a football game. We landed, we walked out to the rental car shuttle, we got on the bus and people were just packing into the bus, so it's full of people. If you can imagine yourself being on the bus, what do most people do on a rental car shuttle bus? Most people immediately go heads down and start looking at their phones. Right? Well, this was different. We all got on the bus and the driver said, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to San Diego. For the next 10 minutes I'm gonna be your personal tour guide." And then he asked us to look off our right shoulders out the right side of the bus and there in 1874 Don Pedro, and he went on telling this fun story and I was fully raptured. He had my complete attention and I started looking around at the people and their responses and sure enough they started putting away their cell phones. They started listening. They started laughing. They started engaging. Now here's someone that could be arguably doing an ordinary job in an extraordinary way. Now why do I say arguably? What would most other drivers do in his situation? You could say that, "You know what, a lot of them may complain about their job." They're driving 10 minutes back and forth the same route every single day and they're making whatever they're making an hour $12 to $15 an hour and you could say that could be a very mundane routine potentially boring job. Yet here is someone who's not complaining, rather he's thinking and living transformationally. And what's the impact? Well, I'll show you the impact. So now he's got my full attention here. I can see that he's transformational, he's different than 99% of other rental car shuttle drivers. And so he has everyone's attention, it turns into a great ride, people are laughing. And when he pulls up to the rental car facility, people file off the bus and whereas before they were in a hurry, I watched a line form to say thank you to him. So people would shake his hand, they'd pat him on the shoulder. They'd just thank him for making their day, and then suddenly people are handing him these $5 and $10 tips. Along with us we did the same thing and I just suddenly was in the background watching. He probably made around $100 on that 10-minute drive. So imagine the impact of that throughout the day. How much more money do you think he's making than all the rest of the drivers out there? Do you think he enjoys his job? My guess is that he loves coming to work every day, that it's not just a boring, mundane, routine job. He's taken something ordinary and he's doing it in an extraordinary way, and that is the perfect example of what it means to be transformational rather than transactional. And think about how that impacts every area of his life. He's making way more than the other drivers, no doubt about it. In addition though he's happier. He has more joy in his life. He comes to work and he feels great about his job. He's gonna be there potentially for years doing that and he sees it as an opportunity to impact people's lives. Well, that's the difference and I wanna use that as the base, the foundation for this podcast is how do you start to think more transformationally about your life in any role, in any capacity? So certainly, whatever your professional job is, how can you be transformational and take whatever is ordinary there and do it in an extraordinary way? That's the shift that starts to happen. Now, it's difficult to do that. It's difficult to be transformational if a person is always in reaction mode, running from fire to fire to fire. And the same thing can happen at home. If you're a stay-at-home parent, how do you be transformational with your children, with your spouse if you're always running from fire to fire to fire? And I'll ask people during a seminar, "How often do you feel more like a firefighter? In other words, you're just running from fire to fire to fire putting out these fires," and almost everyone's hands go up when I ask that question. So let's see if in this podcast we can identify something that can really make a difference in your life in that shift from transactional to transformational. It's not uncommon for people to ask me, "Hey Rob, what's the biggest piece of advice you could give? What...what's something you could share that would really have an impact?" And as anybody knows who's been to a "Becoming Your Best" seminar who are listening to these podcasts, there's not a single silver bullet of leadership or success. It's a combination of things that create excellence. However, there is one thing that always stands out amongst these others that is a huge deal, and that is pre-week planning. In other words, it's prioritizing your time to focus on what matters most. So if I only have two or three minutes with someone and they ask that question, that's what I share almost every time. Now how much more impactful and how much more powerful is it in your life if you tie pre-week planning into having a clear vision for yourself? You have specific goals and milestones that you're achieving this year that you're working on. You're on this journey and pre-week planning becomes extra powerful when it's tied into these other principles. So let's just look at this maybe through a different lens. I know some of you have heard this term, you've practiced it, yet it's probably 80% to 90% mindset and only 10% to 20% skill set. A lot of people who started this incredible habit say, "Yeah, it changed their life." They had this amazing experience using it, yet somewhere along the way they lost the habit. And so what are some things that can help you and why is it important? Sometimes that's the value of a podcast. It's just a quick little refresher. It's a quick little get-me-up and that motivator that sometimes you need to just reengage in a habit that you knew had a big impact. So, I just wanna address it from that angle. Now, we've talked about pre-week planning in the past being one of the single greatest habits you can use to transform your life. Why? Let's look at this from both lenses. In your personal or home life, you may have heard this before, how do kids spell love? T-I-M-E. It's the time. It's the time that you give to them, and there's two aspects to that. It's quality time and it's quantity time. Both are important. I mean, if you're seeing your kids once every three months and it's high quality, I can't imagine the scenario where that's gonna be transformational. So it's about having quantity and quality time with your kids. That's how you show your love, is being present with them. Well that's part of being transformational in the home and not transactional is figuring out how and when you're going to be present. What are you going to do as a parent, as a spouse? You wanna bring excitement back into your marriage? We can't just leave a marriage on cruise control and hope that things are gonna work out. It's just like a business. You've got to put time and energy and effort into it. Love is a verb in that case. You gotta take action in your marriage to make it great. It's not a unilateral...it's not a one-person thing. It takes two people both focusing on that. Now let's look at this through the professional lens, from the business side of things. Being transformational requires a focus from you on what matters most. Transformational actions. Those type of things don't happen on accident in the workplace and this is how you create loyal customers. This is how you create employees who want to serve you, who want to work with you and side by side with you so that you're firing on all cylinders of the team. Now, what's the most common excuse for this? And I'm just gonna give you a simple invitation. Count how many times in a day you hear someone say the word, busy. How many times do you hear people say, "I'm just so busy," or "I'm too busy to do that." Many times what we're doing when we say those words is we're excusing our behavior, we're excusing not focusing on the priorities, the things that matter most because we're so busy. Now, is it okay to be busy if we're focused on the things that matter most? Of course it is. It's a matter of staying focused on those priorities though rather than getting to the transactional things, the day-to-day fires both at home and at work. So, let me put this in a different way. This is interesting. I was talking with my dad maybe a week or two ago, and in Greek and Latin and in that area there's a different terminology for this, chronos and Kairos. They look at time and how they schedule things through those two lenses. Chronos is the time aspect. What are you gonna do at eight o'clock in the morning, at two o'clock in the afternoon? Kairos, is a different way to look at your schedule on your day and that is the leadership aspect of your life. Kairos are your priorities. So what are you gonna do in your priorities today? And that's what great leaders do and those who really have the balance of success stories across all areas of their lives is they both think on the chronos side of it and the kairos side and how to combine the two, leading your own life and then figuring out when you're gonna do that. So here's some brief steps that you can use as a refresher for those who have been to our seminar, for those who have used pre-week planning and have a "Becoming Your Best" planner. Let's just walk through the simple steps that you can use to think both chronos and kairos and schedule your priorities rather than prioritizing your schedule. So typically this is done pre-week planning on Saturday or Sunday. For most people if you wait until Monday morning, you're in the thick of the fire at that point. And for most people that wait, it tends not to get done if you wait until Monday morning. So my suggestion, recommendation based on doing this with a lot of people is that Saturday or Sunday tends to be the most effective time. And you probably wanna allocate 20 to 45 minutes to really have a solid pre-week planning. So what do you do in that 20 to 45 minutes? Well number one, sit down and review your personal vision. What's your why? What's your purpose? If you're looking at that every week, man you're so different than everyone else out there in the world. You have that figured out and you're constantly keeping it in front of you. Second, review your yearly or annual goals and ask yourself, "What can you do this week to move towards a goal?" If you have a goal of running a half marathon by September 1st which happens to be exactly one of my goals, what can I do this week? Well, I better start setting some running milestones this week. When, kairos-chronos and why is it important? I know it's attached to the goals, so I've got the kairos part of it. That's my physical health. So that's the priority, and then I need figure out when this week I'm gonna do it. And so you look at your goals, when are you gonna do some of those things, this week will help you move towards your goals. You're setting some weekly milestones if you will. Second is, now we're gonna focus purely on the kairos, the priority side of your life. This is where you want to identify your roles that matter most to you. So maybe it's a mother or a father, maybe it's a manager, maybe it's a sales rep, a friend, a caretaker. Never forget personal. Personal is yourself. That's an important role. Steven Covey would call that sharpening the saw, and so you wanna take care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. So you have these different roles. And then last, if you ask yourself, what actions can you do in each of those roles this week that would be transformational? Think kairos. What matters most in that role? So let me just share maybe a couple of examples and you'll have some ideas as I'm sharing these examples of things that apply to your life. So maybe in the role of father, I have four children from 15 years down to six years old. Maybe this week it's as simple as reading with each daughter, play basketball with my son, write a special note to each of my kids. That's the kairos part of it, and then I need to attach the chronos part. So once I have some actions that really matter most in each role, when will I do those? So now you start to think about that. What are some actions that would really be transformational or matter most to you in some of your different roles? That's the kairos side of it. Then move over to, "When will you do them," and attach a time to it. Move it down into your calendar so that you have a specific time when you'll do it. So maybe CEO. Here's some things I could put in my role as CEO. Take an employee to lunch. Maybe send five texts to key clients just wishing them a great week. Do an external environment analysis for our company because otherwise we just tend to get what? Too busy, and I can't lose track as the CEO, of the threats and the opportunities that are happening around us, yet if I don't plan time for it, it's probably not going to get done. If you're a manager or a leader, when was last time you looked at the threats or the opportunities that exist around you in whatever capacity you're in? This is one of the things that goes back to scheduling your priorities rather than prioritizing your schedule, is that you're looking at the things that matter most that most other leaders wouldn't think about because they're in reaction mode day to day to day, and this is fire to fire, and you just cannot be transformational if that's how a person is living their life. So here's one last example. If you have the role of friend, maybe it could be this simple. Call John and Chris, set up a lunch with Aaron, send a group email to start the planning for a reunion. Those would be specific actions this week -- kairos, and then I would ask, "Well, when will I do them? -- Chronos, and putting a time to the priorities. Can you get a sense and a feel for how powerful that would be in your life as you're trying to lead your own life and then lead a family and then potentially leading a team or other groups of people? That's why when you both bring kairos in chronos together it can have a huge impact on your life and the end objective is to help you accomplish your vision. To be transformational rather than so many in the world who are stuck in this transactional world of day-to-day excusing their lack of focus on priorities because they're so busy. We cannot do that. You think about this in your life. Your time is precious. One of the things I love to do and it may sound a little strange to some, I love to go through a cemetery. And one of the reasons why is because I'll look at different headstones and it's interesting. You're looking at someone's life there. And every headstone is a little bit different, but there are some commonalities. You'll see a birth date, the date they passed away and then what do you see in the middle? Usually you see a dash, right? And it always intrigues me. What was that person's dash? What did they do? I mean, here's this little line, this little dash, yet that was their life within that dash. And each week you are writing your dash, and at some point each one of us is gonna run out of time. Our legacy is gonna be cemented in our dash and the ripple effects from your life, the things that you've done, the actions that you've lived and done, whatever that may look like, begin to spread, and for good or for bad you can't stop that spread. That's the ripple effect and that's the power of pre-week planning is you're sending the ripple. You're writing your dash on a week-to-week basis. Focus on both kairos and chronos to help you be transformational. And just like I started this podcast, when you do that coupled with the other principles, there's a fire that starts to grow within you. It's a different way of thinking. Your life changes. You come alive and become sometimes hard to watch when you don't see that fire in others. But you're experiencing it, you end up having an incredible transformation happen within you. And really one of the linchpin, the keys, the foundations that hold that all together is pre-week planning and staying focused on your priorities every week. Well hopefully this was a quick little boost, pick-me-up and reminder of the importance to do pre-week planning. So what I would ask you to do and invite you to do is commit to do this for four weeks. So whether you started at one point and it slipped out your habits, whether you've been consistent in it, whether you've never done this before, and I won't say the word try, I almost said try. The invitation is to do this for four weeks. Not try but to do and see what impact it has on you through that month. And consistently, people who say, "Yeah you know what, I've been doing it for two months, it's been awesome and men, then I missed a month and that, or excuse me a week, and that week was stressful, it was chaotic" and that's exactly what happens once people make this a habit. So we're gonna wrap up this podcast and just two final thoughts. For those that do not have a "Becoming Your Best" planner yet, I used to think that the tool was not that important, it was just a process because you can really do this on a blank piece of paper. Whether you use electronic calendar such as Google, Yahoo Outlook, it doesn't matter, I thought, "You know, you don't really need the tool." My thinking on that has changed. What I've found and our experience has been that the people who have the planner, the tool are the ones that are far more likely to be able to adopt this as a habit in their lives and continue to do it and think transformationally in the long term -- short term and long term. So if you don't already have a "Becoming Your Best" planner, I invite you to go to the store at becomingyourbest.com. You can use the discount code, if I can say that word, VIP discount and that should give you 30% off the planner. That's our special gift to you for being a loyal podcast listener and see what impact it has on you. Maybe you can get some planners for your team. Get some for your family, for your children. Help them learn the process. And for those that would like to really get the two day in-depth version... I mean this has just been one principle on this podcast. For those that would really like to come have a two-day transformational experience, the Breakthrough Leadership Conference is an unforgettable event. You can bring your spouse, you can bring partners, employees, you can even bring a teenage son or daughter. So those are usually done in the spring and the fall. If you go to the website, becomingyourbest.com you can see when the next event is and register for that event. We would love to see you there. You're gonna network with some incredible people and really get deep into some of these principles that can light that fire within you. So hey, wishing you a great week. Hopefully this was a good pick-me-up and let's go out there and not only try pre-week planning but think about what you can do to be transformational this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Transformation Challenge: The Six Steps of Planning and Execution Welcome to our podcast listeners wherever you might be in the world today, this is Steve Shallenberger your host. And have you ever had a big problem in your life, a challenge or a tremendous potential opportunity and not really sure how to tackle it? How to start? How do you develop it? How do I solve this problem? And sometimes the problems are highly emotional or discouraging. You're just not sure what direction to turn. Have you ever been immobilized by a problem so big that you just couldn't get going on it? Well, today we're going to talk about a tremendous process, it's an invitation really to each one of us of how to take our bad where it exists and make it better. And how to take your good and make it better. And how do we take our better and make our best and there is a process, it's a challenge really to each one of us. We call it the Transformation Challenge, and it is an invitation to each one of us to take these types of situations and transform them into something that is good, better and best. And how do we get the best results? This is the Transformation Challenge. When they come down the pike at us, whether it's a threat, or an opportunity, or a problem that we say we will take it on we because of our leadership, because of our commitment to get things to a better place, we will transform this. And so, let's go, game on. This is the idea, it's almost a response. So, we'll talk about a skill that you can use over and over and over again, that you can be courageous that you can have confidence, and be excited to tackle things. Wouldn't that be wonderful? And not only that, you can teach the transformation challenge to every member of your team. I'd like to give the background to the transformation challenge, The Six Steps of Planning and Execution. That's really the subtitle. About 30 years ago, I was working with an outstanding organization that has had a company named Buffalo Rock, one of the top Pepsi distributors in the world. They've been in business like for over 125 years and really great at what they do. I'll never forget as we're having the chance to work together that Jim, one of the very... he was the Executive VP of the company was sharing with me about a book that he read and he said, "This is the best book that I've ever read on planning and execution." And something happened to me that day that I said, "Hold it, this is a big part of what highly successful leaders do, the best of the best." And so, what is it? This is a learned skill and that if we can learn this skill, it helps us to get to a better place. So, I started researching and studying every bit of literature that I could find. Books, magazines, Harvard Business Review, the Stanford work that they had done and really from the best business schools in the world on planning and execution. How do we solve problems? And after all that time, I started developing some ideas. It had to be simple, it had to be something that anybody could really learn to apply from a child to a seasoned executive of a billion-dollar company. Could we really do that? Could that exist? Well, in the meantime, as many of you know, we've had a couple of sons who have been F16 pilots among other things. Another one has been an engineer and a lawyer, another got his master's in accountancy and so on. So, these you know, it's really been fun to watch them be thinkers about these kinds of things. Well Rob, as he is getting ready to get out of the United States Air Force, and we have decided to work together in a leadership training firm, he brought to bear as we talked about these Six Steps of Plan and Execution, this transformation challenge. He brought with him all of his experience in the Air Force world who are experts in planning and execution. Their ultimate success depends on being really the best in planning and execution and carrying out a mission. And so, what we did as we pulled these two worlds together, this experience that I had had and also planned it myself as a business executive and a leader, but also then bringing in Rob's experience and this is how we came up with the transformation challenge, The Six Steps of Plan and Execution. So, what are they? How can they be used? Well, you can use it virtually in any imaginable situation. How to increase sales, how to improve a relationship, how to save a relationship, how to save a marriage, how to improve operating margins, how to grow your revenues, how to take advantage of an opportunity if you're an entrepreneur, how do I really get this idea going and make it a success and how do I overcome depression? Well, let me first teach the six steps, and I invite you and challenge you to see if you can memorize these six steps by the time I've done. See if you can get them down cold and then they'll serve as a reflex, a guide any time you have an issue to move right into the transformation challenge you say, I've got this. And this is a lot different than a transaction challenge, a transaction could just be so routine and we don't think of all of the capacity to leave things better than when we found them. That's the heart and soul of the transformation challenge, to leave things better, leave a better world. To leave a better company, to have a better relationship. So, these are the ideas, here they are. Here are The Six. The first is, what is the vision? Typically, when we have a problem, we start with the problem when we try to solve it. We say, I've got this problem, but that is just exactly the wrong place to start. As leaders, what we wanna do is shift the playing field and take it to what is the vision? And you'll notice this elevates all of your thinking, it helps to see the problem in the perspective of a bigger picture. And so, many times a problem is weighed down with emotion or conflict or other people are involved, and it can get you're really off on the wrong pathway. So, when you shift it to saying, what is the vision, it helps get us to a better place and it puts the problem in a perspective and a way to deal with it. That is order number one, what is the vision? Step number two, what is the current reality? So, determine whether what you're currently doing aligns with the vision and will help accomplish your goals, and so this may seem simple, but it actually can be quite challenging. So, for example, how many banks since that there was a problem in 2007 when just a year later, there was a total collapse of our financial system creating this huge recession and even in many people's lives a depression. Or in a marriage, one partner might feel like, and you may know somebody where this has happened. Like everything is fine while the other partner's ready for a divorce. I mean, how many partners have been surprised that they came home and there's the paper sitting on the table seeking the divorce where they had no idea it was coming? So, be thoughtful and considerate yet brutally honest when looking at the current reality. And so, what you're doing is you're like a fly on the wall, you're saying, here's the vision, but what is the current reality? And if there is a gap between these two, that is the signal that you'll go through all six steps and apply the six steps to get to a better place. On the other hand, if there's no gap as you do this gap analysis, and your current reality is equal to what your vision is, then you just keep doing it. This is what you wanna do. But if there is a gap and you need to go through the six steps, then step three is, what is the real issue here? What's the cause of this gap? It's important to identify the real problem that's causing this gap between the current reality and the vision or your goals. And if you're not focused on the real issues and causes, it's easy to get distracted by secondary factors. So, the real issue is often allusive and you want to identify the root cause, the real problem, question or opportunity. And so, what you're gonna do is, be sure you keep an open mind, don't jump to conclusions, suspend your judgment and just analyze the facts. One of my favorite quotes has always been, "Get the facts or leave it alone or the conclusions you come to may be your own." Well, so analyzing this fact is a critical step and you're asking, What? How? and continue to ask why until you have the real cause. And rarely, are the initial ideas about causes correct. And when you continue asking why, and usually at least five times, the real cause is uncovered or determined. And I found that determining the real cause may take 10 minutes, it may take 10 days, it may take longer if it's a complicated issue. So, we're sure that we identify the real issue so we can solve the right problem. Step four, now let's just repeat the first three because you're gonna get these memorized so they can become reflex. Number one is, you shift everything to what is the vision. Number two, what's the current reality and as you compare those two if there's a gap you go through the six steps and move right to number three which is, what is the real cause? And once we identify the real cause, then we can go to Step four, what are the best options? And this is a fun part of the six steps because once the real problem, issue or opportunity is identified, we can work to find the best options. And this is brainstorming all the way I mean, you're listing all the options and solutions and you can ask whether each is feasible or ethical at the end, but what you do is, you come up with this bigger list as you can and you'll notice that encouragement and hope, and energy starts coming into this process and you may have started with a very heavy problem, but as soon as you start getting into this part, light starts coming into your life. And then once you have your list, you can weigh the possible options using a balance sheet. Positives on the left and negatives on the right and which alternative might be among the best and you can rank them one, two and three. And from this, now you're starting to develop a course of action with the best options first. So, this is Step four. What are the options and which ones would be the best courses to go. And this leads us right into step five. And Step five is that, we implement the best options, we implement a plan. So, all of the steps up to this point will help prevent the development of a plan that wastes time and resources by not accomplishing the vision or by maybe focusing erroneously on the wrong cause. Now, we're headed in the right direction. By this time, the real issues or the problems should have been identified and at least one viable solution or idea has been generated. Now, we'll walk through the specific steps in developing the plan and every step of this plan is important and critical to the overall success of the plan. And so, here are some of the components that we're gonna want to ask as we implement the plan. That's Step five, implement the plan. So, we list the key stakeholders or any additional inputs from them. We want to share with them the process we've gone through, some of the conclusions we've come to and get their thoughts and ideas. This will help improve then the implementation. What are the factors or threats that could affect this plan? So, we briefly pause and examine the external environment. We consider any of the threats from the external environment that could impact this plan and once they've been identified, we can put the proper steps to address these threats into the actual plan and what we're going to do. These are examples and I'll give a few examples in a moment of the application of the transformation challenge, the six steps to plan and execution. And then list the factors that could affect the plan whatever they might be, and as we do that then we start actually coming up with who will do what, when? What are the systems and structures and resources that are required to leverage put this plan into action. By the way a little sidestep here, and the Pentagon when the war plans are developed, they have something called "The Red Team". So, people that have not been involved in the planning process are invited in, these are very capable people and they actually look for flaws in the plan that's been put together and offer recommendations. And then once they've done that, they leave and the group that's been making this plan can contemplate the outside observations. The plan is then put into practice who's gonna do what, when and that is step five and it's kind of fun I think for all involved, for whoever's developing this plan to put together an executive summary of the six steps that you've gone through. Here's the vision, here's the current reality, here's the real issue, the process we went through to thinking about this, here is the brainstorming that took place on the options and weighing the pros and the cons and why we came up with the best options and now, here are the steps that we put together to implement the plan. This can be done on one page actually, an executive summary to give to your key stakeholders and before you really implement it, then you can invite final suggestions and then of course, it is the introduction of the plan, the rollout of the plan that's all part of the implementation. And last of all is, we evaluate step six, the results. So, we have put together a plan, we've said here's the problem, here's the opportunity. So, in that regard, here's the vision. Here's the current reality, here are the real causes, here are the options that we have. Now, here are the best options and how we're gonna implement this plan and how did we do? Did it solve it? Is the new result in line with our vision? If so, we keep doing it. However, if we're off the mark, then we can go back through the six steps. Let me just now illustrate a few case studies that helps illustrate how we can take this transformation challenge and get things to a better place by effective planning and execution using these six steps. One is the Challenger disaster that took place and as of course, the vision is what? The vision is to send our astronauts in the space with the shuttle on the shuttle program and bring them back safely having accomplished the mission objectives. Well, in the case of the Challenger, the current reality is, there was a disaster. The Challenger exploded and all perished and that was the current reality and so, there is a definite gap between the two. Now, what we need to do is what is the cause? And as the engineers and the leaders started going down the list of the real causes, it was cold, okay? Well, all right. What else happened because it was cold? Well, the O-rings were frozen, they didn't work. That's what caused the explosion, okay? So, why did we launch with the O-rings... now, just think what would have happened if the engineers those in charge would have stopped with that problem thinking that was the cause. Well, then they're gonna solve this problem, apply the rest of the things to the O-rings, but that wasn't the real problem. So, they kept going deeper and the problem was to go no go process in place, that there wasn't a way for people to speak up and stop the launch if they saw a problem. And so, indeed that was the problem and they were able to come up with a process, a way to create a failsafe go, no go process. And this prevented any future disasters from their launches. Of course, there've been other problems on the reentry, again, we go through the same process. This is how it is applied and we evaluate the results, we got a good result and let me just give a few other examples. A good friend of mine Crystal Maggelet is an outstanding person. I mean, she's one of the best people I know. Her father Jay Call, also a tremendous entrepreneur, he developed a set of truck stops called Flying J. Very successful throughout our country, Jay loved flying and his name was Jay so he called it The Flying J. They built this company to be one of the most successful in the country as Crystal was growing up, and came to the point where she could... she graduated from college, she could go to a graduate school, she chose the Harvard Business School, and was able to get in and had a great experience. That's where she met her husband Chuck. And some years ago, it's now probably been about 14 to 15 years ago, and Jay was flying to one of their executives with his wife, and one of them, he had been recovering from cancer I believe it was, and for some R and R. And during this trip, while he was flying their jet there was a problem that developed and an accident that took place and they all perished in the accident. It was a terrible tragedy for all of us who new Jay. Crystal sat on the board of Flying J, and within a short period of time, the CEO came to the board and said we have a problem. We are going to have a requirement for $400 million in cash within the coming month and we don't have it. We've tapped out all of our lines of credit, we simply don't have the resources and they looked in disbelief they said, "How could this ever happen?" And he had been running the company for some time and maybe hadn't been all the best that communicate in some of the decisions. The short of it was that after a crucial meeting they realized that the directions they were going were different and he resigned and Crystal became the president. She was an excellent business person in her own right, she had started a set of Hotels called The Crystal Lands and had been successful. But here Crystal was right in the middle of the biggest crisis they had ever had that threatened their future existence. The pundits said and the professional said they needed to... they were gonna go out of business. They were gonna go out of business, the employees are gonna lose their jobs, they're gonna have to close the doors. They simply didn't have options to come up with this money, they were gonna have to liquidate. There was doom and gloom all over the company and I think intuitively and instinctively, Crystal applied these six steps of planning and execution. And as she described it, she was so discouraged she just didn't know what to do. She was overwhelmed, but one day she woke up and realized that the vision needed to be save the company. And remember, everybody's focus is, how do we come up with the cash? But, the vision was shifted, there it was, save the company. And as soon as they did this, they sprang into action they said, "Okay, what's the current reality," and they got their key executives together. Crystal said, "We're gonna get in this room here today and we're not leaving until we come up with a plan and the vision is save the company." And so, they realized the current reality is that they were threatened with bankruptcy. They needed $400 million immediately and they didn't have it that was current reality. So, they then went to the step three, what are the causes for this gap that we have? And as they talked about it and did this analysis and went through the facts and asked why, why, why? They realized that two predominate factors had taken place. One is, they had invested in an oil refinery, it was going to cost, it was an older one, but they felt like it would be helpful to them. The spent several hundred million dollars and invested in this older plant, they're gonna have to renew it, and rebuild it, remodel it, bring it up to speed and that this had taken a lot of their valuable cash. The other is that they'd gotten into the pipeline business of shipping oil out from the Gulf, they had hundreds of millions of dollars of oil in the pipeline and the price of oil was dropping. So, these were the factors their primary business was very successful and they were being profitable there, but these two are what cost them the money. So now, they could go to Step four which is, what are the options? And the options they brainstorm, they came up with 15 different things they could do to save the company. They took the best ones and they came up with a plan of who would do what, when and where. When they left that meeting, Crystal described that they were excited, they were focused, there was fresh energy and it took about a year for them to fully execute this plan and involved a chapter eleven bankruptcy where they could have some protection and room to operate. They implemented some other measures including divest in themselves of the processing plant and also divest in themselves of the pipeline. They got the business back in order on their core business, they made some other key steps. The ultimate result a year later is that they came out of the Chapter eleven bankruptcy, they had satisfied every one of their obligations a 100% and the resulting company was a more successful company than they had had before by far. Now, this is a clear example of these six steps it gives you a starting point, but we have other examples. For example, you can do this informally. I was out jogging one morning with my daughter about seven or eight years ago, she was a junior in high school and loved soccer. We lived in Spain for three years, it got in her blood and so, she played a lot of club soccer, she played in high school and so she was contemplating playing soccer in college. And she said, I'm just trying to think about this dad and what we ought to do. So, here we are out just jogging along and so I decided without doing this formally, just take her through the process, six steps. So, I said, "What's your vision? And look how this focused discussion, how it's different. It wasn't, what college should I go to or you know, who do I pick. It was, I wanna go to an outstanding college, I wanna have a good environment, I wanna gain a good education, I wanna be where there are really good guys, dad. And where I can be happy. I'd like to be away from home, but not too far and so that was her vision. And we said, what's the current reality? And the current reality is, well, I'm a junior in high school and just getting going and I don't know a lot about the possibilities. Okay, what's the cause? And sometimes when you're planning in the future, it's not so much a cause, but it's what are the key factors? The things that might affect this decision and she said, "Well, I'm gonna need to visit, I'm gonna need to do some research, I'm gonna need to have a really good junior and senior years as a soccer player and then set up a list of criteria." Great, all right. So, what are the options? She says, "Well, I can set up a plan, I think I'll list 12 colleges I'd like to go to. I can look at each of the things, factors that are important and I can set up a rating system." And I said, okay. These are really good ideas, so the plan then was actually went into implementation. And so, as we talked about this, she said I need to write it down, get my colleges clear and then I'll weigh each one out. And so, that's exactly what she did. She set up the plan, started contacting colleges, set up a little informational sheet for herself, a bio if you will with her picture, with her accomplishments and she went to work. She had a number of full ride offers and she ended up actually choosing a college that I was a little surprised about. It was the archrival to the university town that we live in. It was the University of Utah and Pac 12 and we live about three minutes from Brigham Young University, and so, this was her choice and now that her college career is over, she had a great experience, she met great friends, she'll never forget that experience, it helped pay for her college, she met a wonderful young man who was a football player, he was the kicker for the Utah team and she graduated with a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship and so here we are. There we go. See, I just can't imagine what would have happened if we didn't apply something like this transformation challenge, the six steps that made it so simple. Well, that's it today folks. So, let's just think about these six steps, here they are. Let's see if you've got them. Number one is, you shifted to what? To the vision. What's the vision? Any problem you have, any opportunity. Number two, what's the current reality and you do a gap analysis. Number three, right, what's the real cause for the problem? And we ask what, why, why, why, why, why, why and we really drill down, we pull back the layers. And your number four, what are the options? What are the possible options? We brainstorm and this is exciting. And number five, we implement the best options. And we talked about the things there. And number six, we evaluated, how did we do? What's the result? Well, this has been great folks, I hope that you've got a few ideas I challenge each one of you to start practicing this. Teach it to others you can use it formally or informally. One of our key managers for our team came to me, he started... he learned this like four years ago, and practiced it, and I guarantee you this key manager transformed an industry by taking a problem and taking that problem as a $25,000 administrative problem, and turned it into a $30 million contract. I'm not kidding, it was this that caused that to happen with his intellect, he took it and it helped him get to a better place. That took about six years to do by the way. And just three or four months ago, we were talking about this and he said, "Steve," he said I want you to know this is Matt and Doug, they were telling me this. He said, I walked into a meeting with some of our managers and they were using the six-step process to solve a problem that they had and they were gonna bring the solution to me. Now, isn't that what every manager wants? You want others doing this, thinking about how to solve the problems before they come up rather than bringing it to you and say, "What do you think we ought to do?" Well, that's the idea. Finally, then we evaluate and we see how we did. Well, remember as we do this, you will make a difference and this is Steve Shallenberger wishing you a great day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our "Becoming Your Best" listeners, wherever you may be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger and I'd like to start out with a few questions. Today, how many of you and I would like to have peace, happiness, and joy in our lives? Well, that's kind of a stack question, isn't it? Well, of course, we want to have peace, happiness, and joy. And how many of us would like to have employees or children that are focused, engaged, aligned with the things that matter most, and excited about what they're doing, and they solve problems rather than you having to solve the problems? Well, yeah, wouldn't that be great? Well, today, I'd like to help us accomplish these things, talk about a process that's called the "Strategic Rhythm." And this is in contrast to a strategic routine, which is much different. A rhythm is a positive force that we get into within our own life. In this process, I'm going to talk about the strategic rhythm. It's something we can apply in our life to produce that rhythm, or in a family, or certainly, in our teams and our organization. And it is built upon the principles of Becoming Your Best and the 12 principles of highly successful leaders. So as we master those, this strategic rhythm is really what leaders do to get the result but they use these, the 12 principles of being true to character and leading with a vision, and managing with a plan, knowing how to prioritize our time. And these things create a transformational leadership. They're the very same principles that allow us to use this strategic rhythm process to get this kind of results that I just talked about. Or the 12 principles in regards to creating transformational relationships and cultures such as living the Golden Rule and conscientiously building and maintaining trust. And one of the things we can do to help us do that is to be an effective listener and really capture. "Oh, thank you. Thanks for sharing that or bringing that up and so let me be sure that I have it," right? And then the fourth principle in that transformational team and relationship is innovative or innovation through imagination. This is the culture, then, that just creates this energy of excellence and adapts. And then, of course, the last 4 of the 12 would be transformational living. And it is to be accountable where we take responsibility, we apply the power of knowledge, we live in peace and balance, and we never give up. So these 12 principles come together to create a magic and is producing phenomenal results. It's how they come together that unleash a culture to excellence. Okay. Now, back to the strategic rhythm and what we can do as leaders. In your mind's eye, if you can imagine a pyramid, a one-dimensional pyramid that you're looking at and it has seven levels. And I'd like to just describe each one because we put these pieces into place as a leader and what they do is that they unleash a huge focus and potential. So the first rung up on the very top of the pyramid, the first level, is leaders create the vision. So that's why I said it's built upon the 12 principles. So is there an inspiring vision that establishes the purpose and cause of the organization, or the team, or even in our own life? And remember that the vision, as a reminder, points to the direction that we want to go. In the next level, if you will, right under the vision is what are our core values and standards? And essentially, this establishes our character and the guide that, really, we operate by. On an individual basis, it's very much a character. Within an organization, it's the culture and character that come together. These two are extremely powerful because now we have a direction we're going and we have our mores that, in other words, this powerful guide, a basic fundamental values to guide us that direct us. So the next level and in fact, the levels three, four, and five, as you go down the pyramid, they all have to do with the principle of manage with a plan. So we established the vision, the first level. We're sure that we have strong core values. So for example, we don't lie, cheat, or steal, nor do we tolerate anyone that does. Or another core value is safety is not a program. It's a way of life. And of course, the 12 principles would be among those type of core values that give us direction, or a team or an organization direction. Now, the third level is something we call a TIG, totally inspirational goals. Well, what this level does is set up a target. And it's a shorter range. The vision, that's where we're going over a long term. The TIG, totally inspirational goal, is what are we gonna accomplish? What do we hope to accomplish in the next two to five years? And it should cause us to wake up and just be totally inspired. One of our really wonderful clients and a very successful company headed by Jean Henri Lhuillier in Manila in the Philippines. So for example, the vision for their company is to be the best. And then, they have these core values, the type that we just talked about. Their TIG, is currently, out of the 100 million Filipinos in the world, they serve 1 out 15. Well, as they got together and they were talking about this total inspirational goal, they decided that it would be to serve 1 out 3 by 2020. I mean, this just takes your breath away. It's so exciting. And what it does is it points all of their key executive leaders, their regional managers, and their thousands of employees in that direction. It just unleashes potential. So this is an example. Another one of our clients works within the energy services industry and they're in several marketplaces. Well, what they have done and said, "We are going to be in four market segments in each one of the locations that we serve in, and we are going to work to be one of the dominant...to be the dominant player in each of these four segments." I mean, this also is a huge TIG for this organization. It shifted their thinking. Well, that's an example. We can have one for our family. Someone may want to learn how to play the piano within the next two to five years on a personal level. So whatever it might be. The next rung, the next level, level number four as you move down, it's almost in the middle of that pyramid, would be the practice of setting annual goals. So this would be on a yearly basis and it decides what you will be doing. And for those who are familiar with the Becoming Your Best principles and processes is when we talk about annual goals or SMART goals versus generalized goals or something...so, for example, "to read more books," that's kind of a general goal. It's a good goal. However, watch how this SMART goal, which is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant to your vision, and time-specific, changes behavior. "Read 12 self-improvement books by December." See, that is much different and it changes behavior and so we, as leaders, need to teach that to our associates because we're 90% more likely to achieve something when we have a clearly written goal. And yet, only 10% of us have clearly written goals. And understanding that is a powerful message for parents and for us as leaders. Now, in an organizational sense, then we set these goals in place. And on an annual basis, whether we have a step away for an annual retreat, whether it's close to where your office is, or it's in a different location, you review how it went last year and then what are our goals for this coming year? If it's on a personal basis, remember that a huge way to increase your chance to accomplish those goals is to share them with other people. And the statistics is that you're 34% more likely to achieve something when you share your goals because it creates an accountability and involvement with other people. Okay. So now, we're setting the course, as you can see. Vision, core values, totally inspirational goals, two to five-year period. And what are we gonna do this year to hit it? So now, we're coming up upon a new year and all of us should be thinking, "Okay, what are our annual goals?" And a powerful practice is to set your goals by rolls. So think of your key...five or six key roles in life. The self, personal, for example. Fitness, security, financial, mental, spiritual. Another one might be family and friends, a spouse or a partner, or children or nieces, nephews, and then friends. These are all examples. What are the most important things you can do? And then, professionally, within your roles there. And then, maybe civically. So by thinking about your roles that inspire you to think in terms of "What can I do this year that matters most that has the greatest impact, especially in alignment then with the vision and the totally inspirational goals?" The next rung down, as we move down the pyramid, this would be number five, quarterly goals. Especially in an organization where we get together and every quarter, we go over, "How did we do last quarter and what are our goals for this coming quarter especially as they align with the upper part of the pyramid?" Well, what this does as you and I as leaders go through this process, it literally creates an engagement with all employees. It's really hard for anyone to sit on the sideline when we set up this process and then we're able to help bring out the best within individuals and teams, and it creates an accountability. And then, of course, from these quarterly goals that we have, we manage on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis to be sure we're hitting our key performance indicators. Okay, now, down to the last two levels. Level number six is one that brings the whole process together to now, each week of our lives, and that is doing in a weekly alignment meeting with your team and pre-week planning. Now, this establishes each week what matters most. And it's done on a weekly basis. Now, we've talked a little bit about pre-week planning in the past and drawing the analogy of a pilot that wouldn't dream of going into the air without having a mission where are they headed and a plan, a checklist they've gone through where they've checked the weather, they've checked the coordinates of the trip. They've checked their equipment. No pilot would dream of just jumping in the airplane, going up and flying to their destinations. Too risky. There's too many things that would happen. Well, the same thing applies for us in our weeks. It's just too risky to not do a pre-week planning. When is it done? It's done sometime during the weekend, whether it's Friday afternoon, at the end of your day, before you leave work. Or sometime on Saturday or Sunday but definitely before Monday morning at 8:00 a.m. because it's too late. The crisis already starts. And so, once again, if you haven't seen the Becoming Your Best planner or organizer, you can go on to the becomingyourbest.com website and check out our Best of Class planners. And they're already set up to help you do this pre-week planning. And it's a weekly layout. And across the top, what we invite you to do, once again, is think of each role. What is your role and what matters most this week? Set goals by that role. And then when will you do it? You put it down in the calendar. And literally, what you're doing is you're scheduling your priorities first in each key area of your life. And then, we prioritize our schedule, the meetings and things that we have to do. Well, what happens as you reflect and ponder and think about your week of how to have a great week before you ever start it? You've really gone through what is gonna make a great week and it's balanced and you feel at peace and you stay at it. This is totally a leadership component and it turns, really, all the other time management processes on their ear in terms of effectiveness, so this is a huge deal. And when you start the week, think of how different you feel when you've done this. It literally helps you...give you confidence and focus and be at peace, you're gonna be doing the right things, you'll feel greater happiness, less stressed. So I invite all of our listeners to really work to do pre-week planning especially as we've outlined it. First, think of your roles, what matters most, and set goals by those various roles and then sketch it out. See how it feels. The last level of this strategic rhythm that we set up is daily focus and execution. This is done, of course, on a daily basis. And I'd like to recommend just four things that we can do. Number one is that you think, when you start your day, look at it in the context of the weekly plan that you've already done which is totally aligned, by the way, with the other five levels of this pyramid above it. That's why it gives you such a tremendous alignment and strength and focus. Okay, the second thing you can do for a powerful daily focus and execution is the rule of three. And that is, each day, look at your things that you need to do and say, "These are the three things I definitely am going to get done today, come heck or high water." And so that's the rule of three. And every day when you start your day, say, "These three things, I will get done." And number three is chair fly your day. Chair flying is a pilot term and it's something that pilots do before they go in the air, and they actually just get in the cockpit or sit in a chair and actually fly their whole mission with their eyes closed without ever starting the jet or the plane. And they see themselves, they smell the smells in the cockpit, the smell of the fuel and they touch the equipment. They look around. And now, in their mind's eye, they actually see themselves starting the aircraft, taking it out to the runway, doing their final checklist. And particularly in the fighter world, looking at their wingman and they line up to take off and it's full throttle. And they see themselves lifting off, look back at the wingman and everything is proceeding as it should. They think of any with their eyes closed, any possible emergencies, what you might do. Up in the refueler, they do the refueling. Go up and see the mission, the target. They see their target, they roll out, pickle. And then, return to the base. They see themselves landing and having a successful mission. Well, this is the same thing we can do on a day-to-day basis. We anticipate things that can come up. And now when we start the day, we're ready. And last of all, as each day by doing these things, these little things of meditation and reading and prayer, exercise, these things and chair flying and getting ready for the week, they create, really, a private victory that gives us added personal strength and focus. And allows us to be more successful as we interact publicly with others. So that's it. That's the strategic rhythm. It is a powerhouse. If any of you would like to receive the graphics of this, just write to me on the email at Becoming Your Best. It would be steve@becomingyourbest.com and I'd be happy to send out the graphics that shows you this. Well, that's the message for today. We wish each one of you the best in all that you're doing. One person can make a difference. And it only takes one person to do this. Thank you and we're signing off for today. We wish you a great day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have a great business idea? Or currently running a business but don’t know how to take it to the next level? Do you want to make it unstoppable? Or do you feel overwhelmed and confused? Don’t worry it’s not your fault. We understand, we’ve been there before too. That’s why Becoming Your Best Global Leadership puts on a LIVE 2 Day event called the Entrepreneur Success Bootcamp. The purpose is to help entrepreneurs take their idea and turn it into a thriving reality. Every entrepreneur is at a different place in the entrepreneurial process. Some people are stuck in the idea generation phase. Others are well down the path and looking to grow and scale their business. Today’s special guest is an experienced entrepreneur and successful CEO, Rob Nelson. Rob is the Founder / CEO of Grow.com. Rob is a true entrepreneur at heart. He loves the creative and building process in developing value for others. He discovered when leaders understand and unite their teams around the right metrics, the culture improves to accelerate growth. Rob is inspired by brilliant design, strong culture, competition, and the emotional connection products can give. “I believe in continuous growth and improvement, both personally and in helping others.” - Rob Nelson Grow helps companies accelerate their growth by helping to track and measure the right metrics. Consequently, companies can operate faster, make better and quicker decisions. Rob is a great example of living the 12 principles of Highly Successful Leaders, particularly of CREATING A VISION and MANAGING WITH A PLAN. In this episode, Rob Nelson explains his 5 keys ingredients a new company needs to succeed… Sticking with what you know The importance of recurring revenue Having passion for what you are doing Scalability Solve a problem you are personally acquainted with Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every year, millions of managers and supervisors get promoted into management positions without learning how to successfully lead a team.  As a result, many of them find themselves at the top of the corporate ladder while lacking the training to lead.  Justin Constantine wants to change that.  As a Marine officer, Justin volunteered for deployment to Iraq in 2006, and served as a Civil Affairs Team Leader while attached to an infantry battalion. While on a routine combat patrol, Justin was shot in the head by a sniper.  Although the original prognosis was that he had been killed in action, Justin survived. Through teamwork and a positive mental attitude, he has had quite a successful recovery.  Justin is a great example of living the 12 principles of Highly Successful Leaders, particularly of doing WHAT MATTERS MOST and LIVING THE GOLDEN RULE and the vital role they play in being successful as a leader. He applies his incredible story of overcoming adversity to every level of an organization, and all audiences to move beyond the challenges they are facing in their own lives. In this episode, you will… Discover the importance of getting other people involved in your life Learn that you need to regularly set aside space to identify how you want to spend your time Learn your number one priority as a leader Realize the power of leading from the front [Tweet ""When you are leading from the front in your personal life it means you are being proactive." Justin Constantine"] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES JustinConstantine.com My Battlefield, Your Office Get the 12 Principles Becoming Your Best Book Breakthrough Leadership Conference Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Working with people can be challenging.  Sometimes conflict can happen.  Or sometimes people are simply falling short on their potential.  This episode is designed to help you navigate those situations as a leader with a focus on helping people truly become their best.  This episode is about leadership. Leadership is a game changer. It's what makes a difference in the world.  The five things we will go over in this episode are powerful things that help leader lead relationships to a better place. To lift, inspire, and build others.  And... to deal with any situation, whether simple, complex, emotional, or high risk.  In this episode, you will… Discover the 5 things leaders can do to MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR GOOD when working with others Learn how three simple words can transform the way you get feedback from people Learn the two sides of the communication coin Realize the importance of your strategic rhythm  [Tweet ""A leader helps people get to a better place." Steve Shallenberger"] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Get the 12 Principles Becoming Your Best Book Breakthrough Leadership Conference Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you want to create a team culture by design or by default? A culture by design only happens when you have a clear, compelling vision in place.  A clear vision is what drives leadership and action in an intentional direction.  But have you taken the time to create a vision for your team?  ...your family?  ....yourself? In this episode we will walk you through the process for creating a compelling vision in all three areas of team, family, and personal.  Leading with a vision is Principle #2 of the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders and it's one of the most important because without a clear vision your efforts can quickly lead you off track or be diluted from focusing in too many directions. In this episode, you will… Discover why a clear vision is a critical piece of the puzzle for creating team alignment Learn why creating visions for your team, family, and yourself is essential  Learn the four question process for creating a vision that creates buy-in from your team Realize that a personal vision is the seed of your legacy [Tweet "Having a clear vision is characteristic of highly successful leaders we’ve seen over and over again."] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Get the 12 Principles Becoming Your Best Book Breakthrough Leadership Conference Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you are going to become a good pianist it takes practice. If you want to be a good athlete it takes practice. The same goes for becoming a good leader. Joshua Spodek earned such praise as “Best and Brightest” (Esquire Magazine’s Genius Issue), “Astrophysicist turned new media whiz” (NBC), and “Rocket Scientist” (Forbes Magazine and ABC News) with success in such diverse fields as science, invention, entrepreneurship, art, leadership, coaching, and education. Joshua started his first venture over twenty years ago and has led, coached, taught, and developed courses since. Before then he helped build an x-ray observational satellite into space. You will find no one more passionate or effective at finding, expanding, and developing your leadership potential. Every major media source has covered him. In this episode of the podcast, we talk to him about the important leadership principles covered in his new book Leadership Step-by-Step. In this episode, you will… Hear how Joshua handled being a "science guy" in business school including the embarrassment of not know what "gross" and "net" meant Learn how make meaningful connections with those around you Understand that great leaders aren’t born with a ‘leadership gene’; great leaders develop the necessary skills and gain confidence through practice and hard work Realize that most of leadership is supporting people on the team so they aren’t distracted from the work they need to be doing [Tweet ""When teaching someone how to play piano you don’t tell them musical theory, you teach them to play the scales." - Joshua Spodek"] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES SpodekAcademy.com JoshuaSpodek.com Leadership Step-By-Step by Joshua Spodek Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is no silver bullet for becoming a highly successful leader. In order to be a highly successful leader you need to embody several principles, the foundational one Being True to Character. In this episode of the podcast, we will look at what it means to be true to character and explore how you can start developing character within yourself and those around you. The foundation on personal and organization character must be strong in order for you and your organization to thrive. Join us in this episode as we look at the first of the 12 principles of highly successful leaders. In this episode, you will… Realize the importance of choosing the correct principles Learn how to develop your character and lead others to do the same Understand that the concequences that come from practicing the correct principles are predictable Realize the power of consistently creating positive consequences Understand the importance of the little things [Tweet ""If you fail or faulter with character it’s virtually impossible to develop the trust needed to be successful." Steve Shallenberger"] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Tis the Set Of The Sails poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you ready to make 2017 your best year yet? Now is the time to set your plan to create a “Becoming Your Best” and “Best of Class” year. It's through this type of planning that you will achieve YOUR personal and professional best. You are starting out with a fresh slate and will never have this year again. On this episode of the podcast, I'll share five tools that I use each and every year. In this episode, you will... Learn how to make this year your best and achieve your dreams Hear about 5 powerful tools that will allow you to make this your best year of your life Understand how the 5 Hour You Rule will turbo charge your engine Realize the power of mantras for increasing your motivation Discover the importance of scheduling your priorities... [Tweet "“If you set up a plan you have a chance to achieve personal greatness.” – Steve Shallenberger"] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Planner Breakthrough Leadership Conference Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Child Sexual Abuse is happening at an alarming rate in our country. In this episode of the podcast, Kit Summer an extremely successful businessman joins us to talk about his experience with sexual abuse as a child. Kit is now on a mission to help prevent child abuse from happening. Kit shares some the the latest statistics and gives parents key strategies for communicating with their children. Abuse can leave long lasting trauma, it's important that every caring adult be vigilant in stopping and preventing the abuse of children. In this episode, you will… Realize that the best way to help a younger child prevent abuse is to have them listen to their "uh-oh" feelings Learn the importance of talking to your child about abuse at an early age. Discover the ways to communicate with your children to help prevent abuse Realize that if you are an abuser you can get help Learn the importance of getting treatment if you've been abused [Tweet ""If you are sexually abused you cannot run from the effects. You need to get treatment." - Kit Summer"] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Prevent Child Abuse Utah Male Survivor Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas is an undeniably special time of year. Christmas is naturally a time that invites the spirit of becoming your best. The spirit of hope, encouragement, love, and kindness that brings greater happiness, peace, and prosperity to all. Noticing the needs of others and reaching out to them is exactly what makes this time of year so special. One of the greatest gift of this season is the leadership example of Jesus. We are reminded that great leaders produce great results, and in this episode of the podcast I'll share some examples of the leadership that Jesus displayed. In this episode, you will… Realize that leadership is not defined by position, power, or wealth Learn 10 principles from Jesus that will help you to make a difference every day as a great leader in life Discover the importance of staying consistent [Tweet "“Christmas is a time and space that invites the spirit of becoming your best.” - Steve Shallenberger"] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever lost your keys? A simple misplaced key, wallet, or phone can send you scrambling through the house causing frustration, stress, and potentially even make you late for that important meeting. Why not eliminate that strain with a few simple steps? Steve shares a personal experience that has helped free up time and mental energy for more productive uses. In this episode, you will… Learn why it’s important to eliminate the little stressors Learn to better manage your time by thinking ahead Discover the four steps to organizing your keys [Tweet "“Learn to better manage your time by thinking ahead.” – Steve Shallenberger"] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Tile Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is your business worth saving? That’s the question Stacy Tuschl will help you find the answer to in this episode of the podcast. Stacy is an Entrepreneur and Business Performance Strategist. She started her first business in her parents’ backyard at the age of 18 and turned that company into a 7-figure business. Now, she is here to help entrepreneur pull themselves out of ruts with her Business Rescue Roadmap. On this episode we talk with her about the challenges of turning your passion into a business. In this episode, you will… Learn how you can build upon your passion Realize how you can be an internal entrepreneur while being employed Discover why you need to evaluate the responsibilities you want to take on before you take the leap to running your own business Hear how Stacy got her start teaching dance in her parent’s backyard Understand the importance of being consistent and authentic in order to repel the wrong people [Tweet "“You need to be uncomfortable. That’s where growth happens” – Stacy Tuschl"] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Get Focused Academy StacyTuschl.com Is Your Business Worth Saving? By Stacy Tuschl Academy of Performing Arts Business Rescue Roadmap Level Up Community Chatlight.com Trello Asana Slack Edgar Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An expert with all things having to do with data, our guest for today’s episode is the President, CEO, and Co-Founder of Edgeworth Economics, professional economist and an internationally renowned speaker, consultant and author who helps consumers and some of the world’s largest companies understand how to interpret data, Dr. John H. Johnson. Dr. Johnson is here to discuss about how data is used for businesses and entrepreneurs. Getting the right data can lead you where you need to be. In this episode, you will… Discover how John started his career Find out about the people who can be your influencer Get to know the importance being open to learning Step into the world of data with Everydata Hear tips and advises from John on how to use properly data for entrepreneurs “I make sure I’m not acting out on my anecdotal information, I back it up with data.” – Dr…. CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Subscribe on iTunes Dr. John H. Johnson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode will be a little different. We’ll talk about Jill’s story, an inspiring story we’d like to share. Jill Thomas is an amazing photographer, a mom and a person from an incredible family. Jill lost her 21-month old daughter, Penny. This tragic experience taught Jill many lessons in life. Losing someone will definitely change a person but Jill believes that you always have a choice. After experiencing tragic events in your life, you have an option to either stay in the state of suffering, to go back to your old life or move on to a new place where you can create new experiences. Jill’s story will remind us about the importance of making memories. In this episode, you will… Hear Jill’s inspiring story Find out how to overcome life’s difficult situation Learn how making choices impacts your overall life Discover how Jill moved on from losing her daughter Be reminded that all parts of our life are meant to be experienced “All parts of our life are meant to be experienced.” – Jill Thomas CLICK TO TWEET Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many of us would like to have peace, happiness, and joy in our lives? My guess is that all of us want these things, but the concept of achieving them can be elusive. I’d like to help us accomplish peace, happiness, and joy with a process called strategic rhythm. A rhythm is a positive force that we get into in our own lives. It’s built upon the principles of becoming your best. We’ll discuss: How the 12 principles come together to unleash excellence The multiple levels of strategic rhythm Defining your core values and standards The TIG: Totally Inspirational Goal General Goals VS Smart Goals For the graphics that go with this podcast, visit the shownotes at BecomingYourBest.com/056. “These 12 Principles come together to create a magic.” – Steve Shallenberger CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Subscribe on iTunes Breakthrough Leadership Conference: 12 Principle of Highly successful Leaders Entrepreneur Success Bootcamp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever talked to a customer service representative who refused to take responsibility over a mistake? How did that make you feel about the company? Accountability has a huge influence on trust and who we decide to do work with. Is there a culture of responsibility and accountability in your company? So often we get stuck in a cycle of finger pointing. The principle of being accountable is such an important element of becoming your best. We discuss: What accountability REALLY means How accountability affects you in business and at home Three things we can do to build more accountability A 21-day challenge that can change the way you think “When there’s accountability, there’s a higher trust.” – Steve Shallenberger CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Subscribe on iTunes Breakthrough Leadership Conference: 12 Principle of Highly successful Leaders Entrepreneur Success Bootcamp How to Win Friends and Influence People Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can having the right knowledge help you accomplish your dreams faster? Maybe you want to be a better parent or spouse. Maybe you want to start your own business or maybe you want to grow the business you already have. It all starts with a mindset. Do you really want it? Are you willing to put in the effort that it takes? We’ll discuss: Habits that set apart the most successful from the rest Why successful leaders are readers As parents, what you can do with your own children to get them to read Why you should invest 3% of your income in yourself How to vet your coach “Great leaders and high achievers are readers.”- Rob Shallenberger CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Subscribe on iTunes Breakthrough Leadership Conference: 12 Principle of Highly successful Leaders Entrepreneur Success Bootcamp How to Win Friends and Influence People Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After visiting numerous different organizations in the past few weeks, I’ve once again seen the impact that the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders can have on both the personal and professional life! Vision, planning, and prioritizing your time, are key to your business success, however, they’re only one piece of the success puzzle. If you don’t create a world-class customer experience or treat people right, your plan will fall short of what it could have been. What is the common denominator of the “best in class” companies? They know how to focus on creating a world-class customer experience and they treat other people like gold. In this podcast, you’ll discover: How to be “a Duck” How to discover personal happiness by adopting an outward mindset. Prioritizing the customer experience Loyal verses satisfied customers. Owning an issue Go out there this week and have a great and fabulous week! “The more that we serve others, the more we tend to find ourselves.” – Rob Shallenberger CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Subscribe on iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What separates high achievers from the rest? They never give up. “Failure is not a failure. Failure is nothing more than an outcome that you didn’t want to happen during your planning process,” says Glenn Mattson, president of Sandler Training in Long Island. Glenn is a world class professional in sales and sales management. He is a seasoned veteran of the selling profession, and his office consistently ranks in the top 1% of trainers worldwide. He shares with us his wisdom on sales, sales management, and business. Listen to learn: How he deals with setbacks His recommendations to help salespeople be more successful Your Black Wolf vs. Your White Wolf The top three challenges sales managers face and how to conquer them The top three challenges holding sales people from achieving their best You can contact Sandler Training directly at: 631-726-3537 or learn more atMattson.Sandler.com. “Failure is a lesson. It teaches you what to do and what not to do.” – Glenn Mattson CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Subscribe on iTunes Mattson.Sandler.com Sandler Training on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you looking to grow your sales knowledge and take your business to the next level? It isn’t enough to know the basics. You have to stay curious. At the end of the day, the real differentiation starts with, you, the salesperson. Author and sales guru, Andy Paul, shares with us the critical elements of being successful at sales. Andy Paul is a best-selling author, podcast host, and international sales guru. His books Zero Time Selling and Amp up Your Sales are read by salespeople, marketing managers, and CEO’s alike. We’ll Discuss: Providing value in every step of the sales process Disqualifying prospects MILT – what’s it mean and why it is so important Dealing with career setbacks Finding a company with the “right fit” for you You can learn more from Andy on his podcast, Accelerate! Sales. Profits. Growth. “We can work to develop our talents and make magical things” – Rob Shallenberger CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Subscribe on iTunes Andy Paul Accelerate! Sales. Profits. Growth on iTunes Zero Time Selling on Amazon Amp up Your Sales on Amazon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all have dreams, and we can work to develop our talents and make magical things. When you believe in the goodness of people and have appreciation for God, anything is possible. No one exemplifies this more than my long-time friend, Kevin Peay. Kevin is a talented artist, singer, composer, and businessman whom I’ve known for 35 years. He shares with us his inspiration, his advice to others with a dream, and some of his best teaching experiences over the past 35 years. We’ll dig into: The source of his inspiration Finding and harnessing your gifts The story behind Power Tunes and How people are still using Power Tunes today We have a special gift for all of our listeners. For a limited time, visit:http://store.becomingyourbest.com/ and use the code: powertunes (all lowercase) to download a free mp3 of Power Tunes. “We can work to develop our talents and make magical things” – Rob Shallenberger CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Subscribe on iTunes Power Tunes Hardcover Book Power Tales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you put your business’s marketing campaigns on the backburner because more important things come up? What if we told you how much money you were leaving on the table by not putting marketing at the top of your list? Ajax Union founder and CEO, Joe Apfelbaum, joins us today to talk about just that – the power of marketing and how integral it is to growing your business. Tune in to get Joe’s three basic steps for building a social media campaign, hear about his upcoming book, From Average Joe to CEO, and get insights on how to build a successful business based on things you’re already doing to provide others with value. In this episode, you will… Learn how to build your brand using digital marketing Discover how important a cohesive marketing strategy is for building your brand Get insights on leveraging the competition to grow your business Understand how you, too, can transform your business from transactional to relationship-based Realize that marketing is all about testing “Become the best at what you’re doing.” – Joe Apfelbaum CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Joe Apfelbaum LinkedIn Joe Apfelbaum Website Joe Apfelbaum Twitter @JoeApfelbaum Joe Apfelbaum Instagram Joe Apfelbaum Facebook Ajax Union Digital Marketing Agency Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you find yourself at a turning point? A fork in the roads where your only choices are to either stay on your current trajectory or pursue a passion you can’t yet back with experience or expertise? Lucky for you, passion wins out over talent every day of the week, because having a natural talent is almost inconsequential if you’re not passionate about using it to achieve and make a difference. Bernie Swain joins us today to talk about his leap from steady career to entrepreneurship, how it almost failed, and what he did to turn his failing project into the thriving business we know today as The Washington Speakers Bureau. Tune in! In this episode, you will… Learn why passion is more valuable than talent Realize how important it is to discover your passion, and then incorporate it into your career Be reminded that relationships are integral to development, because success and accomplishment don’t happen in a vacuum Understand that people aren’t born great, but great qualities and traits can be developed Discover that a willingness to learn from others makes you stronger, wiser, and positions you for success “Our influences and defining moments add up to who we are.” – Bernie Swain CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes The Washington Speakers Bureau What Made Me Who I Am by Bernie Swan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you asking yourself questions like, “What should I be doing with my life and time?” If you take stock, discover your passion, focus your future efforts, and work hard, you’re sure to find a niche you’ll succeed in. Most people succeed best at the thing they have a passion for, but it takes more than passion and a vision to grow a successful company. There’s no substitute for hard work, especially in the beginning of a new venture, but if you do your homework and really prepare, you’ll be ahead of the game. As an entrepreneur, it can be difficult to step back once you’ve developed the habit of working long days to develop your business, and it’s all too easy to continue trying to do everything ourselves. If you can learn how to rely on the talents of others to help your company grow, it will help you both achieve success and a healthy work-life balance more quickly. Tune in for insights on work-life balance, putting in the hours, and pursuing your passions, with Tore Steen! In this episode, you will… Discover how to allow others to help you lead Learn how to prepare yourself for success while taking risks Understand that there’s no substitute for hard work Realize that open communication can help you and your company grow Be reminded that your passion will always shine through “The most effective leaders have a way to bring out the best in people.” – Steve Shallenberger CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes 1033 Foundation of Utah Excellence by Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr. tsteen@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that you’re 90% more likely to reach a goal if you’ve written it down? There are tons of tips, tricks, and habits for success, but no matter what they are, they all require actionable steps. So, what are the steps? If you’ve been hearing about the 12 principles of highly successful leaders and wanting to learn more, today’s episode delivers them in detail, packed with actionable steps that you can master, a little bit at a time. Take these steps in manageable bites, and you’ll end up where you’re going in no time. Tune in to get the principles, today! Learn how to achieve the impossible Hear about the Success Rhythm and how it will help you master the 12 Principles Get the 12 Principles of Success Discover how to achieve success by mastering one action item a week Realize that a desire to get better trumps skillset and experience every time “There’s no silver bullet to great leadership.” – Rob Shallenberger CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Breakthrough Leadership Conference Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can a subtle shift in focus really make that much of a difference when it comes to succeeding in business and increasing your income? What do you think? Bob Burg, author of The Go Giver, shares how shifting your focus from getting to giving will make a huge impact on your level of success. On today’s episode, Bob shares tips and insights for reframing your mindset so you can cultivate an other-focused perspective. We talk about achieving happiness through serving others, and we even talk about how to shift from a transactional to a transformational leadership mindset. Tune in for tips and philosophies you won’t want to miss! In this episode, you will… Understand why building and maintaining trust are important parts of leadership Realize that value is in the eyes of the beholder Learn how to spend more time focused on giving than getting Uncover how to transition from me-focused to other-focused Discover how to become a transformational leader Shift your focus, today! “Shift your focus from giving to getting.” @BobBurg SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes The Go Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg Bob Burg Website Bob Burg Twitter Bob Burg Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have a big goal you’d like to accomplish? Maybe you want to push your business to the next level, mark something off your bucket list, or try something totally new! Whatever the object of your desire, if you’re waiting for inspiration to get started, you should know that inspiration is most often found on the other side of getting started. Today, Aaron Anastasi joins us to talk about all the ways you can start working toward your goals by overcoming the voices of limitation. What are the voices of limitation? Tune in to find out! In this episode, you will… Understand how changing your why might be the key to your success Hear why being successful is all about staying on your path Uncover what’s holding you back in your life, and get rid of it Discover what the voices of limitation are, and how to overcome them Learn how to identify the voice of your dreams “Being successful is all about staying on the path.” – Aaron Anastasi CLICK TO TWEET EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes The Voice of Your Dreams by Aaron Anastasi Aaron Anastasi’s Twitter Aaron Anastasi’s Facebook Aaron Anastasi’s Instagram Superior Singing Method Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you a leader? Whether you’re already leading a team, or you’re working your way toward that role, it’s important to understand the difference between teaching your team the skills they need to have, and empowering them to put those skills to use. David Marcum of Zag Learning shares some of the pitfalls leaders face, insights on why ego can be so corrosive, and thoughts on how leaders can really inspire team members to grow. You know you’re doing a great job as a leader when your team really starts to impress you and show agency in their roles, but they can only get to that place with your help, so tune in for tips and insights you won’t want to miss! In this episode, you will… Understand the purpose of a team leader Get David’s 4 things leaders can do to add to the success of those around them Hear how ego gets in the way of success, and what you can to to keep it in check! Learn how to overcome obstacles and be a person of integrity on, and off, the stage Realize why impulse control is an important part of gaining and maintaining success Transform yourself and become a better leader today! “Inspire your team in a meaningful way.” – David Marcum CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes Egonomics by David Marcum Zag Learning David Marcum’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, you’re going to hear an amazing story of triumph, hope, survival, and vision from humanitarian, entrepreneur, and family-man, Ken Sharpe. Ken joins us to share his heartbreakingly hope-filled journey of narrowly escaping death and how being given a second chance gave him more strength than ever to pursue his dreams of helping elevate others and providing opportunities for life-changing transformational development. Tune in for valuable insights from an entrepreneur and developer who keeps the heart of humanity in mind, with everything he does. In this episode, you will… Understand that the greatest glory is in rising above failure Hear how to use your success for good by crafting entrepreneurial pursuits around helping others Get Ken’s Five “P’s” of Life Discover that, if your vision is true, you’re bound to succeed Realize that being born into privilege doesn’t make you superior to others “Most who achieve success don’t know that failure is inevitable.” – Coco Chanel CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Becoming Your Best iTunes Ken Sharpe’s Website ken@westfoods.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever thought to yourself that you could break through your obstacles and make it to your next goal if only you had a little educated urging in the right direction? We’ve all been there, but maybe you also have some amazing insights and experiences from conquering obstacles of your own, and you’ve been wondering how you can help others by sharing it… If either of these thoughts have ever occurred to you, you won’t want to miss my conversation with Sharon Livingston today. She’s a hypnotherapist, author, the president of the International Coach Certification Alliance and she’s known as “The Coach’s Coach.” With a rap sheet like that, you’re not going to want to miss all the insights she has to share on finding a coach, being a coach, and how to decide whether or not coaching is the path for you. Tune in! In this episode, you will… Learn why coaching is valuable and how it can help you break through obstacles! Discover whether or not coaching is right for you and start sharing your best, today! Hear how you can coach, and lead, with your strengths Understand why being a good leader is synonymous with being a good listener Get tips on how to find the perfect coach to fit your needs This episode on coaching, leadership, and listening, is for everybody—so tune in! “The best leaders are the best listeners.” – Sharon Livingston CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Get Lost, Girlfriend!: How I Found Myself When My Best Friend Dumped Me by Sharon Livingston The Coaching Test Try The Program Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know? It’s the first time in history that four different generations of people have found themselves working together in the same workplace? Learning how to jive with a team is already a balancing act, but what do you do when the members of your team are made up of people who were raised in what seems like totally different worlds? Half of the team feels held back and the other half feels rushed. Some people grew up with iPads in their classrooms, and others grew up with typewriters. The truth is, diversity of experience, age, and perspective is what makes the world, and the workplace, go round. Tune in for Lee Caraher’s take on how to leverage diverse employee age for success. You’re not going to want to miss what this CEO and communication strategist has to say! In this episode, you will… Understand how to create a business culture built on trust and understanding Learn how to thrive with Millennials in the workplace Find out the core qualities that make a great leader Discover why Millennials are so different than the ‘boomer’ wait-your-turn generation Get Lee’s three reasons why Millennials are key to the future of your business “Leadership is at a greater demand than ever before in history.” – Steve Shallenberger CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Becoming Your Best iTunes Lee Caraher Website Lee Caraher Twitter Millennials & Management: The Essential Guide to Making It Work at Work by Lee Caraher KQED Public Media San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders by Steve Shallenberger Emily Post’s The Etiquette Advantage in Business: Personal Skills for Professional Success by Peggy Post Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I could get out of debt if only I made more money,” or, “I’ll save for retirement later,” then this episode is for you! Spending too much, saving too little, and not planning for the future are all habits, and those habits don’t go away just because you start making more money. That’s often why there’s nothing left over with which to work toward getting out of debt and getting ahead, even though your salary has increased. Getting rid of debt and saving for the future are intimidating topics, but listening to this episode will give you a plan. Move forward, regain control over your finances, and take back your life! Tune in to learn how! In this episode, you will… Understand how you can set a goal and develop a plan that is sure to make you rich! Get my 8 steps to taking control of your money and getting out of debt Hear how you can increase income without increasing expenditures Learn how to become debt-free by ‘snowballing’ your payments Discover how to become, rather than only to seem, rich “You’re 90% more likely to reach your goals when you have a written plan.” – Steve… CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley Becoming Your Best Podcast Gary Williams Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth by Mark Fisher The One Minute Millionaire Dave Ramsey Entrepreneur Success Bootcamp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you trying to get noticed and build success? If so, you’ll want to focus on your message and ask yourself the question, “What is the problem that my service/product solves?” Once you have the answer, you’ve got the ammo to accomplish anything. We can’t do anything alone, so no matter what the event or occasion, show up with an attitude of giving rather than taking and you will be sure to achieve success. Tune in for more tips on Becoming Your Best from Jill Lublin! In this episode, you will… Get insights on following your dreams, even if they don’t make sense at first Hear how you can discover your strengths by exploring a variety of paths Understand that the entrepreneurial journey is an ongoing journey Realize that it takes villages to create great people Discover that sometimes it’s through doing the wrong thing that you discover the right thing “It takes villages to create great people.” – Jill Lublin CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Becoming Your Best iTunes Get Noticed… Get Referrals: Build Your Client Base and Your Business by Making a Name for Yourselfby Jill Lublin Guerrilla Publicity… by Jay Levinson, Rick Frishman, and Jill Lublin The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow Networking Magic by Jill Lublin The Profit of Kindness by Jill Lublin PublicityCrashCourse.com/freegift Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Jodi Womack, CEO of Get Momentum Leadership Academy and founder of No More Nylons, joins us to talk about leaving the corporate world to create a consulting firm and pursue passion projects with her husband and business partner, Jason. Jodi and Jason have partnered on so many projects and ventures since they took the leap together into an entrepreneurial career of coaching and writing, and they haven’t looked back since. Like those two, many of us spend too much time trying to find happiness in day jobs that are never going to make us happy instead of pursuing our true passions. If you’re one of those people, you won’t want to miss today’s episode! Tune in for amazing insights on how to get out of the work you have to do, and into the work you love! In this episode, you will… Understand how investing time in your future helps create the momentum you need today Learn how to get out of the work you have to do and into the work you love Learn how to separate people from their work Hear how Jodi and Jason Womack began living on purpose Get the Womacks’ 30/30 rule and find out how it can change your life and reduce anxiety! “Get out of the work you have to do and into the work you love.” – Jodi Womack CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Get Momentum: How to Start When You’re Stuck by Jason and Jodi Womack Where is Womack? GetMomentum.com Get Momentum… free download No More Nylons Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best iTunes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, you will be inspired by the positive power of patience. Patience, as exercised by taking positive action in the face of set-back, frustration, anger, and compulsion leads to peace, calm and greater effectiveness! Like any state we’re trying to achieve in our life, a state of patience, calm, and perspective requires deliberate practice and…patience, exercised through positive action, gives you just that kind of peace and calm to be a highly successful leader! Yoga practitioners say that just as much work happens in the resting place as in the active poses, and the same goes for patience. If you commit to really beginning a ‘practice’ of patience accompanied by positive action, you will find that, over time, frustration will be replaced with positive results and allow you to achieve your dreams, goals, and aspirations. Tune in for more insights on the positive power of patience! In this episode, you will… Learn to replace frustration with positive action when the unexpected happens Understand the power of patience and how slowing down will change your life! Realize that patience is developed as a state of mind over time Hear how you can become better at patience the more you work at it Get insights on how patience allows us to achieve our dreams, goals, and aspirations “Patience is a force for good that brings calm to your soul….” – Steve Shallenberger CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Becoming Your Best Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s the best way to help others succeed? It’s an important question for all of us, and it’s one that my accomplished guest today, Joanie Connell, PhD, has made a central part of her career. Joanie is a Harvard-educated organizational consultant and leadership coach who helps people achieve their highest potential. Her clients include Fortune 100 companies, government agencies, as well as non-profits. She also teaches business and psychology at the university level. Joanie’s book, Flying without a Helicopter, explores what it takes to achieve success in the workplace and includes insights on parenting, educating, and managing young people in a way that encourages resilience and self-reliance. Listen in for fascinating—and practicable—advice on leadership that you can use at home, at work, or both! In this BYB episode, you will . . . Hear insight on getting the most from young people Understand how to lead by allowing others to endure challenges See how parents can inadvertently hinder their children’s success Get essential tips for better leadership “Leaders are nowhere without followers.” – Dr. Joanie Connell CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES FlexibleWorkSolutions.com Flying without a Helicopter: How to Prepare Young People for Work and Life by Joanie Connell, PhD Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders by Steven R. Shallenberger Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hearing the insights from amazingly successful people who care deeply about helping others reach their own success—that’s one of the best parts about what I do. And today is a great example. My guest, Jean Henri Lhuillier, is an exceptional business leader, education advocate, and ardent supporter of athletics in his home country, the Philippines. Cebuana Lhuillier's serves customers throughout the world. As President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, Jean Henri has created an impressive culture of high-performing, dedicated employees. Listen in to hear his personal story, along with his wisdom for getting the most out of yourself and the people in your organization! In this BYB episode, you will . . . • Learn how Jean Henri’s company sets high standards for its employees • Hear why it’s so important for a leader to establish the vision for an organization • Understand why continuing education is so integral to Jean Henri’s company • Hear why any effort to improve an organization needs to start with yourself • Be inspired by Jean’s commitment to helping his company—and his country “You really have to make sure you walk the talk.” – Jean Henri Lhuillier CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Cebuana Lhuillier | Website Cebuana Lhuillier | Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Believe in yourself”—we’re all familiar with that advice.And although the intentions may be good, when you stop and thinkabout it, just telling people to believe in themselves is probablynot enough. What’s actually more important is showing people how tobelieve in themselves.Doing that is at the core of my guest’s mission. Native NewZealander Paula Gosney is a writer, entrepreneur, mother, andfierce advocate for the power of believing in yourself. She’s alsothe founder of Belief School, a program that carefully guidespeople through exercises to help them believe in themselves—andbegin living the lives they really want.Paula’s own belief in herself comes hard-won. She knows pain andsuffering firsthand and spent much of her twenties making reckless,drug-fueled choices. Fortunately, Paula managed to transcend aself-destructive mindset and found a way to believe in herself. Intoday’s episode, she shares her story and her inspirationalinsights—insights that no doubt can help you on the path toBecoming Your Best.In this BYB episode, you will . . .• Hear how believing in yourself is the single most importantfactor for growth and change• Learn core values that Paula helps her clients find withinthemselves• See if you’re setting yourself up for failure—and instead learnhow to progress from small successes to larger ones• Learn Paula’s “ARC principle” and hear how accountability,recognition, and community can help you reach your goals• Discover why “You are enough” is such a powerful idea toaccept “Every moment I have a choice of how I’m going toshow up.” – Paula GosneyCLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESBeliefSchoolBelief School | FacebookBecoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of HighlySuccessful Leaders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your visions and dreams, Napoleon Hill once wrote, “are the children of your soul.” So I want to ask you this: What are your visions and dreams? Because I believe within them lies your life’s purpose. The challenge is to have the strength and confidence to let that purpose emerge.My guest today, Julie Marie Carrier, knows what I’m talking about. She went from struggling to find her purpose in life to now helping others find theirs. As a leadership expert, Julie has channeled her abilities into empowering girls and young women to proudly be their authentic selves. She is one of the country’s leading youth leadership speakers and is the author of Beyoutiful!, a self-improvement guide written especially for girls and young women.Julie’s own moving story and her powerful insights are helpful not just for parents with daughters but for anyone struggling to live a truly authentic life!In this BYB episode, you will . . .• Get inspired by Julie’s story of overcoming the challenges in her life• Understand how outside influences can prevent us from being authentic• Hear why having a personal vision is the first step to a purpose-driven life• Learn the question Julie asked herself that brought about a life-changing epiphany—a question you can ask yourself• Discover the ultimate “beauty secret” that Julie shares with her audiences “Life will give you clear messages if you’re listening.” – Julie Marie CarrierCLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESJulie Speaks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who’s a leader out there?Everyone should be saying, “I am!” You may or may not be a leader in an official way, but in reality, we are all leaders! At the very least, we’re leaders of our own lives. Why is that important to realize? Because it helps us see the power in our decisions. Great leaders make good decisions. And good decisions lead to good results—no matter what aspect of your life we’re talking about.On my recent travels to various parts of the world, I made an effort to note when I saw outstanding leadership demonstrated. From Central America to Napa Valley, from Dubai to the Philippines, I had the privilege of interacting with amazing leaders, people who are not only transforming lives now but are also paving the way for future generations.More specifically, I noted 4 key elements to the leadership I saw. Today, I want to share those with you because I have no doubt they can help you in Becoming Your Best!In this BYB episode, you will . . .• Discover how you’re a leader in more ways than you think• Hear why you should formulate a personal vision for your life• Learn why making a plan with measurable goals is so important• Get good advice on getting ready for the upcoming week• Think about leadership in relation to how you treat people daily “Leaders are readers.” – Steve ShallenbergerCLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESBecoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is short but important. It’s both an invitation and a challenge: In the next week, find someone to mentor. That’s right—wherever, whoever he or she is, reach out. It can start with an email, a phone call, a simple chat. Just make that first step.Why is this our topic today? Well, on a recent trip abroad, my father and I were walking through a neighborhood of extreme poverty, and it got us thinking: How do people break negative cycles, transcend barriers, and create real change in their lives?In the days that followed, I considered the examples I knew of people who overcame tremendous challenges in the midst of adversity. And do you know the common thread I realized in them? They all had a mentor of some kind—a person that gave them a spark of hope and a sense of possibility. Now it’s our turn to be a spark for someone.In this BYB episode, you will . . .Understand just how crucial the mentor spark can beLearn how people take hope and turn it into a visionSee how having a plan lays the foundation for transformationGet motivated to mentor someone todayBe reminded that the path of Becoming Your Best involves lifting up others along the way “We didn’t call it Become Your Best—because it’s a journey of Becoming.” – Rob…CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESBecoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So you’ve got a goal in mind and you’re about to go for it? Great. But first, stop!At least that’s what my guest Kim Ades says. According to her, before you take action, you need to do this: figure out where you are right now. (And she’s not talking about geography.) Kim is a successful author, entrepreneur, and founder of Frame of Mind Coaching. She’s considered one of the foremost experts on improving performance through thought mastery.Today she describes how she helps people reach their goals by first helping them understand their thinking. Kim believes that our thought patterns can explain why many of us, especially the goal-oriented among us, lose our focus—and our priorities in life. But we can change that tendency by controlling the way we think. Listen in and get Kim’s unique insights for Becoming Your Best.In this episode, you will . . .Hear how Kim addressed her own frame of mind as she went through the most challenging time in her lifeLearn why so many highly driven people end up getting stuck and frustratedDiscover how to take your negative thoughts and feelings and “milk them” for the valuable information they containGet powerful examples of how seemingly bad situations can be turned into positive onesCome to a deeper understanding of why journaling can really be a transformative exercise “Before we can control our thinking, we have to become aware of it.” – Kim AdesCLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESFrame of Mind CoachingBecoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ready for some jaw-dropping inspiration?To say that Weldon Long turned his life around doesn’t come close to conveying his amazing story of transformation. Sure, today Weldon’s a highly respected entrepreneur, sales expert, and New York Times bestselling author. But would you believe that 20 years ago this same man was a three-time convicted felon who’d been living, in his words, a life of “poverty, desperation, and struggle”?Today you’ll hear how over a seven-year period—from the confines of his prison cell—Weldon profoundly and irrevocably changed himself by changing the way he thought about his life. Within just a few years of leaving prison (for the last time), he went on to build an Inc. 5000 company with $20 million in sales. And that’s just the beginning.In this BYB episode, you will . . .Hear the details of Weldon’s success story and get powerful insights that can help you in Becoming Your BestDiscover why creating a specific vision for the future was so crucial for WeldonLearn what it means to live with a prosperity mindsetUnderstand how the things you fear most can find their way into your own life—and how you can change thatLearn how to handle life when you’re in the depths of despairSee why blaming others only hurts you in the end “Better decisions guarantee a better outcome.” – Weldon LongCLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESWeldon LongHVAC Sales AcademyThe Upside of FearThe Power of ConsistencyThe Invincible Sales Professional (forthcoming from Weldon Long)Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re a leader (at any level), you’ll want to tune in to today’s episode with Wally Thiim. Wally has a B.A. in Business & Communications from Brigham Young University, was a top-level athlete, and Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army’s Armored Calvary! Since retiring from the Army (after 26 years of service!), he spends his time aiding developing universities and supporting health initiatives in Hawaii, where he was born and raised. Listen in to hear Wally’s remarkable story and invaluable insights.In this episode, you will…Hear about what it’s like growing up on a remote island in HawaiiDiscover how Wally built self-reliance at a young ageBe inspired by how he struggled and survived the challenges he faced when he joined the armyHear how Lt. Col. Thiim turned one of the worst units in the Army into the best just in time to make a huge difference in winning the Gulf war with no casualties. An amazing story. “Being flexible and compassionate, you can have a strong influence.” – Wally ThiimCLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is another solo episode, another awesome opportunity for a one-on-one conversation with you, our listeners! We will talk about a powerful technique I’d like to share with you called “Chair Flying.” This will help you almost everywhere, in your personal or business life! You can start implementing this technique right away.In this episode, you will…Learn about the background of Chair FlyingDiscover the 4 techniques of Chair FlyingFind out what sets apart the best from the restHear Rob’s story of his days as a pilotFind out how Chair Flying can aid you to succeed “Perfect practice makes perfect.” – Rob ShallenbergerCLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s topic is something that touches every single one of us and is critical to our success and happiness in life. What can we do when we are faced with tough times? We will talk about pushing through challenges, adversities, and setbacks!In this episode, you will…Hear two great stories of perseveranceFind out Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s 39 words of encouragement – the shortest speech on record.Discover how J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, turned failure into a big successFind out the four things that can help lift you up in moments of despair, discouragement, or challengeLearn from successful people’s struggle – discover how they turned adversity into a story of successBe inspired by the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley “The ultimate enemy can be within ourselves, where we battle the urge to give up.” – Steve…CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESThe Greatest Salesman in the World Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the corporate world, and even in your personal life, the temptation to stray from your true self and character is strong. Yet, our research has found that the most successful individuals and companies stay true to their character through all sorts of tests, trials, and tribulations.In this episode, you’ll hear some stories of leaders who persevered; as well as stories of leaders who got a second chance to rebuild their character. You’ll also hear three things you can do today with your family or your business to keep your pack on the straight and narrow, including:Lead from the top and set the example.Create a climate of openness.Create a channel for oversight and honest feedback. “The collapse of character begins with compromise.”CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESWinners Never Cheat: Even in Difficult Times, New and Expanded EditionBecoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest started working at the ripe, young age of 15 and never looked back. With his work ethic and experience, Jim Palmer has become a master of smart marketing, an expert business builder, an entrepreneur, the host of his very own podcast, and an author of six different books.In this episode, you will…Hear how Jim got his start and how he developed a work ethic that boosted his successDiscover how you can tackle the obstacles and challenges that are holding you backFind the mindset you need to adapt and succeed in this ever-changing economyLearn to listen to your gut. It usually works! “We are all born for greatness.”CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESJim PalmerDream Business Academy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What kind of drive and discipline does it take to win over 250 awards in body building? Today’s guest, Ron Williams, is here to share with us how he does it all. Not only is he one of the most decorated natural body builder in the world, but he is also an author, a trainer, a coach, a speaker, and an educator.In this episode, you will…Hear how Ron’s faith and resilience helped him to rise from the traumatic events of his childhoodLearn how Ron transfers the principles he learned in competition to all parts of his lifeDiscover why divorcing your beliefs can be necessary to help you see how you can improveFind out how you can see past the wall and into your successful future “A championship is an event; a champion is a lifestyle.”Click To Tweet SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESIron Chest MasterUltimate Fat Loss systemFaith and Fat Loss Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might recognize today’s guest from Shark Tank or The Today Show. My guest today is not only a cool guy but a very close personal friend, Jason Hanson. As a former CIA agent, Jason followed his entrepreneurial tendencies to create his own company Spy Escape and Evasion. Today he helps everyday people prepare for the both the extraordinary and the all too common tragedies that pose a threat to our personal safety.In this episode, you will…Learn about Jason’s background in law enforcement and how it influenced his entrepreneurial journeyDiscover 5 impactful tips to keep you and your family safeFind out how criminals often choose their victimsHear the +3-8 rule of aviation and how it can keep you safer in flight “Most crimes are crimes of opportunity.”Click To Tweet SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESSpy Escape and EvasionSpy Secrets That Can Save Your Life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether you’re a coach, a teacher, a manager, or a stay-at-home parent, you are a leader and you need persuasive and effective sales skills to not only get by, but to thrive. Today’s guest has travelled all across the world giving advice and sales secrets to individuals and companies and today she is sharing some of her secrets to success with us, Tiffany Peterson.In this episode, you will… Ask yourself if you are willing to be uncomfortable to get the results you so badly wantDiscover the story you are telling yourself about what your role isLearn her peak performance strategies and find out the big role that self-care plays in successBe reassured that it’s OK to start small to establish the habits you’ll use as a foundation to push you closer towards becoming a better you “Doing isn’t difficult. Deciding is.”CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCESPart 1: Self Care = Your Success!Discover the Secrets of Sustainable ExcellenceTiffany Speaks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good, better, bestNever let it rest.Until your good is better,And your better is best.Do you ever stop and wonder what you’re capable of accomplishing? With the Becoming Your Best twelve principles of highly successful people, there a lot of different ways to attack this question, but today we’re going to focus on how you can become a better, more effective communicator.In this episode, you’ll learn skills that will allow you to bring up anything in a conversation and achieve winning communication and results. With the skills you’ll glean from today’s episode, you’ll reinforce mindsets that will bring you prosperity, fulfillment, and happiness in the upcoming year and through the rest of your life. Today, you will…Learn two distinct skill sets that will help you to communicate efficiently and effectivelyDiscover some exercises to help facilitate better communication in your personal and professional livesFind out the five step process to becoming a better communicatorHear three examples of these skills in action and be inspired by how they can work in your day-to-day life EPISODE RESOURCESBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many of her clients have called her their personal fairy godmother, but we mostly know her as a bestselling author, the founder of the Miraculous Loving Institute, a transformation expert, a talk radio personality, a management consultant, and a keynote speaker: the accomplished Wendy Darling. After persevering through her own obstacles, Wendy has come out on the other side with a helping hand for everyone from singles, to couples, to high-level executives. Her focus is on helping singles to find the love of their lives, to enrich romantic partnerships, and to improve rapport between employers and their employees. In this episode, you will…Discover how Wendy rebounded after a serious accident radically altered her lifeFind out how she learned from her setbacks and made them the source of her strengthLearn how you can make your dreams a reality when you nourish and nurture yourself Hear Wendy’s advice for singles and couples on how you can fill your life with the love you’ve always dreamed of EPISODE RESOURCESThe Miracle that is Your Life- Wendy Darlingwww.wendydarling.comwendy@wendydarling.com760.231.8234 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our modern day and age, it's all too easy to go through life interacting with people only in transactions. Whether it's in your personal or professional life, it is so incredibly important as leaders that we focus on leaving a legacy of greatness through transformational interactions.As we enter a fabulous new year, it's always nice to set your foundational intentions and goals for the year ahead. Since you’re already tuning in to this podcast, you’re probably already working towards making this year your best yet. But to help you along your journey, we decided to share two quick stories about two different men who had experiences that altered the course of their lives with transformational interactions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting on January 1st, 2016, everyone has a clean slate and a fresh start to make this the year where you become your best self. But what exactly does your best self look like and what can you do this year to better yourself, your relationships, your business, your community, and even the world? Lead with a vision and manage a plan that will make a difference in your life with our strategy inspired by Rob’s years as an elite fighter pilot. You can turn the impossible into the possible with this four step process. To make the very best of the year to come, you’ll need to…Begin by reviewing your visionIdentify the different roles you play in your lifeMake sure that your goals are SMART (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time Specific)Send your goals to a group of people you admire or trust to hold yourself accountable to achieve all that you’ve set out to do. This is the time of year that most people set New Year’s Resolutions. This is the year that you stop making resolutions and write down specific, measureable goals to become your best. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I have the honor of speaking with the single most successful coach in intercollegiate sports and athletics. He set the standard for women’s soccer with 22 NCAA championships and in his 37th year of coaching he has nearly 800 wins under his belt with no signs of stopping any time soon.My guest today is a leader in elite athletics and in character development, the head soccer coach at the University of North Carolina, Anson Dorrance.In this episode, you will…Discover how Anson’s international background provided him with the world view he has today and has helped him to celebrate differences among people as an individual and as a leaderHear about Anson’s evolution from a young coach to a top performer in his fieldLearn how being an introvert didn’t hold him back, but propelled him to where he is todayFind out how you can bring the best out of your players with the help of the 12 core values of the UNC women’s soccer team "Much of success comes to those that really practice and work hard at it." -Anson Dorrance SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Episode ResourcesTraining Soccer Champions- Anson DoranceThe Vision of Champions- Anson Dorancehttp://mrs.sog.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/carolinawomenssoccervalues.docWhat Drives Winning-Brett Ledbetterhttp://whatdriveswinningconference.org/speakers/anson-dorrance/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest is a total and absolute inspiration, New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, and leading social scientist for business performance, Joseph Grenny. Ever since we met, Joseph has always been quick to endorse and encourage my work and I am thankful to call him a friend.Joseph is an expert on understanding how to influence groups of people to create profound, rapid, and sustainable change, whether it's at a familial, business, or political level. As influencing others is arguably the main job of any leader, it's needless to say that Joseph has a lot of wisdom to share from his research and his book, Crucial Conversations.In this episode, you will…Be inspired by how Joseph continues to learn from his work and influencing change in others and yourselfDiscover how you can take responsibility for your emotions and unpack the fabrications that can lead you astrayLearn the questions you need to be asking yourself in every crucial conversationHear why you need to be looking for behavior over outcomes when seeking an exceptional leaderFind out the difference story telling can make when trying to solve a problem Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not many CEOs can claim that they have worked in every department at their company, but our guest today is the exception. After nearly 33 years with O.C. Tanner, Dave Petersen is now the CEO and president of the company and he has truly proven himself to be a dedicated and inspirational leader who looks not only to reach his own potential but to help his employees to reach theirs.In this episode, you will…Learn why O.C. Tanner found itself on Fortune’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2015 and what Dave is doing to keep it thereBe inspired by how Dave worked his way up through the ranks to arrive where he is todayHear strategies used by Dave and O.C. Tanner to keep their employees engaged and minimize employee turnoverFind out what the three core competencies of O.C. Tanner are and how they maintain their culture of trustHear why it pays to care for others with a quick anecdote about Dave’s encounter with a police officer "Nothing gets done in any company without people." @octanner SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Episode ResourcesO. C. Tannerhttp://fortune.com/best-companies/o-c-tanner-40/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest reminds us that being a true leader is not always about position, title, or power it is about influence. Along with her late husband, Gardner Russell, she has served as a civic, political, business, and social leader across the Americas throughout her illustrious life.Even today at ninety-one years young, Dorothy manages numerous properties, supports charities, and holds an honorary position on a board of directors.In this episode, you will…Hear how Dorothy realized her potential in high school through debate teamBe inspired by how she contributed to the war effort in a male-dominated field during WWIILearn how she met and fell in love with her lifelong partner, her husband GardnerFind out how Dorothy has learned to handle setbacks and tragedies in life and businessDiscover how she continues to contribute in big ways to her community and to the world "Leadership isn't about position, title, or power. It's about influence." -Dorothy Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gratitude is a word that is too often reserved for this time of year when we start to reflect on our progress but today’s guest is working hard to make gratitude a part of our daily lives. Kevin Clayson is not only a close friend but he is also a proud husband and father, an author, a real estate investor, a personal development coach, and chief officer of awesome (really!).With his brand new book, Flipping the Gratitude Switch, he has started a “gratifuel” movement that is quickly spreading across the nation.In this episode, you will…Hear how Kevin has learned to shift his mindset from an employee to an entrepreneur and how he continues to struggle in his journeyBe inspired by Kevin’s perspective on success and serviceHear what the “flipping the switch” philosophy is all aboutLearn how you can transform your daily frustrations into gratitudeFind out how gratitude can take you from good to better to best and how it has changed Kevin’s life "Gratitude isn't a noun, it's a verb. It's what we do. It's what we activate." @kevinclayson SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Episode ResourcesFlipping the Gratitude Switch- Kevin ClaysonThe Compound Effect- Darren HardyThe Entrepreneur Rollercoaster- Darren Hardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The difference between a clear and defining vision and not having a vision at all can be a game changer for a business. But how many people have personal visions that extend beyond their business or professional life into their personal lives? In our experience, not a whole lot.Before you even consider developing goals or plans, have you defined who you are, what you stand for, and what you are working towards? If not, this podcast is for you.In this episode, you will…Discover why a simple, easy to understand vision is so important to the success of a businessBe inspired by examples from Southwest Airlines, Coco-Cola, President Paul Kagame, and Wal-MartLearn how you can find out if your company has a visionHear three key questions to ask yourself to find your own personal visionFind out the the importance of a clear vision and how it can empower all aspects of your life Create you vision for success SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Episode Resourceswww.lifeorganizerapp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest has helped people from all walks of life, from kindergarteners to to rocket scientists, to achieve more, overcome adversity, and give back through his dynamic and engaging speeches. As the son of a librarian, Danny hated reading, but today he is called America’s leading reading ambassador.Dr. Danny Brassell comes from a background that encouraged him to reach for the stars and he has dedicated most of his life to motivating others to reach for their potential as well.In this episode, you will…Hear the four critical turning points that led Danny to the success he has todayDiscover how a steady diet of positive influences has helped him to fulfill his full potential and continue to growFind out how Danny handles setbacks and how he reacts to challengesBe inspired by the story of Conrad HiltonLearn why reading every day is such an important habit for leaders "I've met plenty of readers who aren't necessarily leaders, but I have never met a successful leaders who was not an avid reader." -Danny Brassell SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Episode ResourcesThink and Grow Rich- Napoleon HillBe My Guest- Conrad HiltonThe Tale of Peter Rabbit-Beatrix PotterHow to Win Friends and Influence People- Dale CarnegieThe Greatest Salesman in the World- Og MandinoPsychocybernetics-Maxwell MaltzThe Power of Positive Thinking-Norman Vincent PealeSwim with the Sharks without being Eaten Alive-Harvey MackayBecoming Your Best- Steve Shallenbergerwww.lazyreaders.comwww.dannybrassell.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is the master marketer, motivational speaker, and millionaire, James Malinchak. At his first job as a financial consultant in LA, rather than keep his head down, James approached the most successful people in his firm and invited them out to lunch. This strategy has led him to become the leader that he is today.In this episode, you will…Learn how James went from the small town life to a successful, influential leaderDiscover how he approached his employers differently and how that changed the course of his lifeFind out how ABC’s The Secret Millionaire affected James and altered his worldviewHear how his sister’s death put his life in perspectiveLearn how and why you need to change your mindset and your skill set to really set your plans into actionBe inspired by the story of Mohammad Ali and how it applies to all aspiring leaders "You always achieve more through movement than through meditation." -James Malinchak SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Episode Resourceswww.malinchak.comwww.millionairesuccesssecrets.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is a good friend of mine, a high-performance business sales coach and founder of multiple successful businesses, Gary Barnes. Over his career, Gary has developed principles and strategies that he follows which have increased his production by 1800%. Through overcoming a rough beginning and facing down a life-threatening illness, he has never ceased reaching for his full potential.In this episode, you will…Hear Gary’s story and how he triumphed over his childhood and multiple sclerosis with the help of visualization (and how a beaver saved his life!)Discover what inspires Gary to continue on the path that brought him to where he is todayFind out how external validation can kill businessLearn how you can gain more confidence in your life and your business through establishing a vision and utilizing positive affirmationsBe inspired to take action and find success in movementDiscover three great tips from Gary on how to achieve glowing successLearn how important it is to engage and contribute[Tweet "“Facts are stories before they become beliefs.” -Gary Barnes"] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Episode Resourceswww.garybarnesinternational.comgary@garybarnesinternational.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many times a week do you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or maxed out? Do you often find yourself feelings frustrated or upset over something? If you’re anything like our team, you can’t afford to have a bad day. Today, Steve and Rob Shallenberger share the eleventh principle of highly successful leaders: living in peace and balance.In this episode, you will…Find out how you can radically change your mindset with a few simple toolsTune in to hear Steve’s strategies for taking charge and setting the tone in your business and familial relationshipsDiscover how just three words can take your attitude from where you are to where you want to beLearn how you can break free from mediocrityHear how you can change your reality with affirmations and positive self-talk “I feel healthy. I feel happy. I feel wealthy.” CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with an incredible guest who will transform your business and your life. A serial entrepreneur, Dallin Larsen is an inspiration in my life, as well as a dear friend of mine. Throughout his illustrious career, he has created literally billions of dollars in revenue and started countless global enterprises.In his senior year of high school in a rural town in Idaho, as he watched his classmates walk across the stage accepting scholarships and various other awards, Dallin arrived at the realization that he was meant for great things, but his time had yet to come. He found his calling as an entrepreneur and through that rocky road full of triumphs and tribulations he has learned many life lessons along the way. In this episode, you will…Hear from Dallin how his upbringing led him to where he is todayLearn how important it is to surround yourself with people who inspire you Discover Dallin’s tips for developing authentic priorities as a leaderFind out how you can motivate your team to reach their potential Learn the value of authenticity as a leader in your personal and professional lifeHear an uplifting poem Dallin shares from a challenging time in his journey Find the full show notes at http://BecomingYourBest.com/blog/005 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We asked you to let us know what topics you would like us to cover to help you enrich your life personally and professionally. We heard you out and decided to invite best-selling author, international speaker, and leadership trainer, Dr. Will Moreland, to answer some of your questions.Growing up in Compton,Will’s environment did not necessarily encourage him to realize his own potential. In fact, he faced a lot of challenges early on in life. But after joining the Army and discovering his true calling, Will has worked hard to inspire leaders around the world to “live genius”.In this episode, Will and I will discuss…What set him on a pathway to realize his own potentialWill’s turning pointHow you can influence and transform the lives of othersHis strategies for staying motivatedHow to find the positive in a negative situationThe advantage of setting big B.A.G.S (Bold Audacious Goals)How crucial accountability can be when you’re trying to stay motivatedWhy it’s so important to not be afraid of failure“Always remember who you want to impress at the end of your life and structure your life to…CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST RESOURCESTwitter – @DrWillSpeaksRealTeamGenius.comWillMoreland.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As you go through the different seasons of your life, things change. One person who has always been there to offer guidance along the way is my guest, Richard Eyre. As a Harvard MBA grad, CEO, and author, Rick has achieved a great deal over the years, but its his role as a father to nine children (and a grandfather to 27 grandkids-and counting!) that really inspires him to make this life count. With a new book on the market, I invited Rick here to share the lessons he has learned throughout his life that have helped make him a strong and successful leader in his personal and professional lives. In this episode, you will learn… Why you can't control everything (and why it's better that you don't) The significance of serendipity The pivot points that led Rick to a life of self-determination and leadershipPlanning versus balanceHow to find strength in the autumn of your lifeOwnership versus stewardship Rick’s newest book that he co-authored with his wife, Linda, is out now. Life In Full: Maximizing your Longevity and your Legacy is about taking care of your health, wealth, and your posterity. Whether you're 20, 40, or beyond, this book will help you to establish the legacy that you want to live your life to the fullest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before we began this podcast, we asked our audience what they wanted to hear most from us. While the responses ranged from “how do I stay positive in a slump?” to “how do I handle difficult people”, one of the most frequent questions deals with managing your time and balancing your priorities all while staying sane.Whether you’re the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, a stay-at-home parent, or a student, we all struggle with making sure that our schedule reflects what’s most important in our lives. This is why we’ve decided to share our Pre Week Planning process with you today. This process will help you to transform your good intentions into a reality that will yield the results you want in your personal and professional lives.In this episode, you will learn:We challenge you to try Pre Week Planning for the next four weeks to see the radical difference it can make in your life. Choose an accountability partner to keep you honest and download our Life Organizer app or go on our website to www.becomingyourbest.com to find a layout that works for you.SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST RESOURCES Life Organizer AppBecoming Your Best storeBecoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders- Steven Shallenberger Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As some of the most in demand keynote speakers and bestselling authors, Steve and Rob Shallenberger have been adding value to executives and top leaders around the world. Every week, they will be answering your questions by sharing the same tools and strategies from their seminars, granting you free access to the same world class materials typically reserved for Fortune 500 companies.Steve Shallenberger has 40 years of experience under his belt as a successful author, CEO, speaker, and trainer of leaders throughout the world. But most importantly, he has been happily married to the same woman for 41 years and has six kids.In this episode, Steve will share:How he rose from humble beginnings in Valeo, CaliforniaThe power of dreamingThe first of twelve principles of highly successful leadersWays to find an inspirational vision for your lifeRob Shallenberger is a Harvard MBA, former fighter pilot, author, speaker, and trainer of corporate leaders with his father, Steve. He is also a husband and father to four beautiful children.Later in the episode, Rob will share:His turning point where he took charge of his life and his futureThe true opposite of failure and the cure to itThe goal of this podcast is to share this incredible, life-changing content with as many people as possible. If you like what you hear, please go rate us on iTunes and share this podcast with your friends, family, and team.SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST RESOURCESwww.becomingyourbest.comZig ZiglarSteven CoveyEarl NightingaleNorman Vincent PealeDenis WaitleyGood to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t- Jim Collins Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders- Steven Shallenberger Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.