Archive for the 'Resources' Category

Podcast 93: Make Every Day a Friday with Marina Spence

Published by
Greg
at June 28, 2009 in Career Counseling, Communications, Consulting Organizations, Great Books, Meditation, Personal Growth Courses, Podcasts and Resources. 0 Comments

Marina Spence has written a wonderful book for women who are seeking ways to find a new career. Her book,”Make Every Day a Friday“, helps navigate women through the maze emotionally and spiritually as they explore their options. Marina says that career dissatisfaction is at an epidemic level. According to a Reuters survey, 60% of workers in the United States have either recently made a career change or are planning one. If you are in this group, then I highly recommend that you read “Make Every Day a Friday.”

Marina states that if women have a more fulfilling career, then the outcome is more happiness which leads to a positive affect on the people she influences which then leads to a greater circle of fulfillment and happiness. Simple enough said, but a little more challenging to achieve. She has a very basic method that assists the reader in discovering some of their early career lessons. In this self discovery phase she guides the reader through a series of questions and exercises that assist in helping the reader get in tune with what she really enjoys doing, and what she is not so found of doing. She brings the reader to an understanding of just how important it is to tap into their intuition, and listen to the voice within.

In the section on tuning in, Marina explores the importance of meditation both as a stress reducer, and as a way to find inner peace and really get in touch with your inner self. It is here that you can make transformational change as it relates to your life and career. Marina refers to heart centered tuning in where you take the time to quiet the mind of all the mind chatter, and focus on your breath. Noticing the relaxing benefits of this meditation helps to you get clearer about your intentions and what makes you happy. It is here that you will find the courage, peace and guidance to help you in your career changes.

In the three phases, discovery, zooming in and moving on, Marina provides the reader with activities and thought provoking questions designed to help guide you through your attachments to what is, and to visualize what can be. Each section has great charts outlining the activities associated with each of the phases in exploring career change.

I think that it is best to think of this book as your personal guide that has been designed to really get you to connect with all of the emotional issues that might be holding you back from a career move. Marina is a master at getting you to see the reality of the situation, and to overcome any fears you might have in connection with your decision to switch careers.

Marina SpenceThis book is a must read for any woman about to make a career move, or someone who has left a career and is looking to really get connected with not only their true talents, but a calling to make a difference.

If you would like to learn more about Marina’s coaching, and would like to get some simple no-cost advice I recommend that you visit her website by clicking here.  I hope you enjoy this wonderful interview with Marina Spence.

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 91: A Return to Healing with Dr. Len Saputo

Published by
Greg
at June 23, 2009 in Great Books, Great Web Sites, Health, Podcasts, Resources, Social Change Agents and Wellness/Fitness. 0 Comments

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Book Expo of America in New York City, and while I was at the conference, I attended a book signing by Dr. Len Saputo.  I was certainly intrigued by the title of his book, ” A Return to Healing“, and wanted to learn more about Dr. Saputo’s philosophy on the subject.

I know that I can honestly speak for most Americans that health care is a topic that gets a lot of attention in the news, but very little seems to happen relative to reform. I now know after reviewing Dr. Saputo’s book and learning more about his ideas for radical health care reform that he is definitely on to something.

He asserts that the twentieth century was a mixed blessing of commercially driven “disease-care medicine”, but that the twenty-first century is witnessing the ascendancy of “integral-health medicine”, which is  based on serving patients. As Dr. Saputo states that our health care system is in a deep crisis. Tragically millions of Americans are without medical coverage, while costs for care are spiraling upward making it harder for people to get the help they need.  Dr Saputo stresses in,  “A Return to Healing“, that at the heart of the problem is a culture that accepts, and in fact generates, a reductionist model of health, along with the costly health care system that has grown up to support it.

He supports a model that is integrated and looks at the whole person, in what he refers to as “integral-health medicine“.  He says that this system requires a new understanding of the role of consciousness in healing and a massive public education program that will lead all of us to take full responsibility for our health–to take the lead in medicine away from big business, and even from well-meaning physicians who are stuck in the system, and puts it into the hands of the patients themselves.

In his book you will learn how we can turn the medical industry around with a genuine return to healing, led by the desire to serve the needs of the patients as well as through the readiness of each of us to pursue peak health throughout our own lives.

Len SaputoI highly recommend this book and if you want to know more about taking your health into your own hands and integral-health medicine, please visit Dr. Saputo’s website by clicking here for more information on his wellness clinic, and to get tools and information on guiding you to vibrant health.


Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 89: Don’t Bring it To Work with Sylvia Lafair

Published by
Greg
at June 12, 2009 in Business Growth, Communications, Consulting Organizations, Great Books, Great Web Sites, Leadership Courses, Personal Growth Courses, Podcasts, Relationship Counseling and Resources. 0 Comments

I was first introduced to Sylvia through my good friend and incredible transformational leader Larry Wilson.  When I first learned that Sylvia was writing her book, and the subject matter  was about family patterns that effect our success I very intrigued.   How many of us really think about how the patterns we pick up from learning how to cope with our family conflicts would ever effect our performance on the job?   I know that I really had never gave it a thought until I spoke with Sylvia in our interview together.

In Sylvia’s book, “Don’t Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success“, she explores how our family has a tremendous influence in how we think and act, and how this influence effects our success on the job.  Her information is based on years and years of consulting and coaching work that she has completed with individuals in businesses worldwide.  Sylvia has created a Pattern Aware program which assists the reader in determining the underlying patterns that are sabotaging their success.  The Pattern Aware quiz can be taken at her website by clicking here.

The quiz gives vital insights into the age old question: “Why do people behave like that?” You will learn how to quickly identify behavior patterns and how to transform them. You’ll be able to transcend beliefs, attitudes, values and behaviors that interfere with work relationships.

Sylvia’s book is loaded with real-life anecdotes and practical, workshop-style exercises that clearly show how anyone can get beyond old, outmoded attempts to conflict resolution and empower themselves to make profound differences both at work and their personal lives.

If you would like to understand more clearly just what might be holding you back from the success you thoroughly deserve, then I would highly recommend reading, “Don’t Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success“.

Sylvia LafairFor more information on Sylvia’s appearances, workshops, consulting, coaching and how to purchase this book please click here.

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 88: Plan B 3.0 Moblizing to Save Civilization with Janet Larsen

Published by
Greg
at June 1, 2009 in Environmental, Great Books, Great Web Sites, Podcasts, Resources and Social Change Agents. 0 Comments

What a wonderful opportunity it was connecting with Janet Larsen, the director of research for the Earth Policy Institute. Janet is the co-author of the, “Earth Policy Reader“, and has written on topics ranging from natural resources availability to population growth and climate change.

In our interview together we discuss the all important topics of our current environmental focus ranging from how to reduce our carbon foot print, to the Arctic ice melt.  More importantly we not only focus what is currently happening, but what we can do to help save our planet.

In Lester Brown’s book, “Plan B 3.0″, the focus is not just on the pessimistic viewpoint of how we are self destructing, but on how we can mobilize ourselves to save our civilization.

Janet points out that there are four (4) areas of focus for mobilizing our society to save our civilization.

1. Stabilize our population growth

2. Eradicate poverty worldwide

3. Restore the earth’s damaged eco-systems.

4. Stabilize our climate and reduce our C02 emissions by 80% by 2020.

In, “Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, Third Edition”, Lester Brown recommends that if you want to know what happened to earlier civilizations that also found themselves in environment trouble read, “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed“,  by Jared Diamond or, “A Short History of Progress”, by Ronald Wright.

The scale of urgency of the challenge we face has no precedent, but what we need to do can be done.  It is doable.  Sit down to map out your own personal plan and time table for what you want to do to move the world off a path headed toward economic decline and onto one of sustainable economic progress.  Set your own goals. Identity the people in your community you can work with to achieve these goals.  Pick an issue that is meaningful to you, such as restructuring the tax system, banning inefficient light bulbs, phasing out coal-fired power plants, or working for “complete streets” that are pedestrian-and bicycle-friendly in your community.  What could be more exciting and rewarding?

The choice is ours–yours and mine.  We can stay with business as usual or preside over an economy that continues to destroy its natural support system until it destroys itself or we can learn from the Earth Policy Institute’s suggestions and help to save our civilization. My interview with Janet Larsen is revealing and will open your eyes to the challenges we face, as well as the actions we can take to make our world a better place to live.

Janet LarsenI highly recommend, “Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, Third Edition“. You can learn more about the book and all of the activities that the Earth Policy Institute are involved in by visiting their website by clicking here.

I urge you to become active in your personal efforts to conserve resources as well as politically.  Let your voice be heard…… you and I can make a difference.

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 87: Making it All Work with David Allen

Published by
Greg
at June 1, 2009 in Business Growth, Communications, Consulting Organizations, Great Books, Leadership Courses, Personal Growth Courses, Podcasts and Resources. 2 Comments

I first became acquainted with David Allen over eleven years ago when I traveled to Ojai, CA to attend a workshop entitled, “Getting Things Done“, a wonderful program that he created and facilitated.   It was an all day workshop,  and David did an incredible job of not only educating his the attendees, but he was quite entertaining as well.  As a result of this workshop, David and I developed a friendship and subsequently created an audio program for the financial services industry entitled, “Taming Time and Technology.”

In  this interview with David, we explore the great ideas and methodology that he has articulated in his new book entitled, “Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life.”  As David states, “Making it All Work” provides the reader with a road map, with both bearings to help you figure out where you are in life and directions on how to get where you want to be going.

The keys to achieving that are control and perspective-taking charge of everyday commitments and confidently knowing where to situate them on the horizons of your goals and aspirations.  These two ingredients for making it all work are the fundamentals of self-management,  and if you can learn how to equalize these two ingredients you will be more focused and productive in your life.

In David’s first book entitled, “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity”, the focus was on the process of capturing, clarifying, organizing, reflecting, engaging/action.  These are to-dos that assist one in becoming more productive while reducing the distractions.

The ultimate benefit of getting things done, is to experience the fulfillment and freedom that come with being positively engaged in our lives. ” Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life”, reveals how acquiring coherence and direction leads directly to that state, and to the wisdom to understand that it is the way that you are in the game that determines whether you win, and not the final score.  David ability to articulate these concepts to the reader are simple, and he provides tools that are powerful in assisting in your personal awareness and transformation.

David AllenI highly recommend this book, and would recommend that you check out David’s website by clicking here for more information on his products, workshops and tools to assist you in Making it All Work.

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 85:Uncharitable, How Restrainsts on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential with Dan Pallotta

Published by
Greg
at May 18, 2009 in Consulting Organizations, Great Books, Great Web Sites, Podcasts, Resources and Social Change Agents. 0 Comments

It was quite unusual how I connected with Dan Pallotta.  Originally I was invited to a presentation in Los Angeles, CA that was hosted by the Milkin Institute where Dan was to be a presenter.  Unfortunately, I was unable to attend Dan’s presentation.

Two weeks later my assistant, Jennifer Godbout, was doing some research in the library, and she noticed a book, “Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential,” and thought that it would be a good book for me to read and review.  She brought Dan’s book back to the office,  I told her the story about my invitation to go to Los Angeles to hear Dan speak for she was unaware that I had been invited to this event.

What a serendipitous set of circumstances that then lead me to contact Dan, and the interview you are about to listen too.

In our interview together we discuss the ideology that charities have been organized by for 100’s of years.  Unfortunately, this ideology is preventing charities from being able to reach their full potential because of all of the restraints and restrictions this ideology has created in the cultures of these charitable organizations.

We discuss the five major restraints that impede charity: compensation, advertising, vision, learning and capital.

Compensation: We allow the for-profit sector to pay people millions, but don’t want anyone paid a high salary in charity. This sends most of our top talent directly into the for-profit sector and gives our youth mutually exclusive choices between making a difference and making money.
Advertising: We let Apple and Coca-Cola inundate us with advertising, but don’t want important causes “wasting” donations on paid advertising. As a result, the voices of our great causes are largely muted while consumer products get lopsided access to our attention, 24 hours a day.
Vision: We let for-profit companies invest in the long-term, but want our charitable donations spent immediately in this fiscal year to help the needy. That means charities can’t set aside funds to develop long-term solutions.
Learning: We aren’t upset when Paramount makes a $200 million movie that fails, but if a charity experiments with a bold new fundraising event that disappoints we want heads to roll. So our charities are petrified of trying any bold new endeavors and are unable to develop the powerful learning curves the for-profit sector can.
Capital: We let for-profit companies raise massive capital in the stock market by offering investment returns, but we forbid the payment of a financial return in charity. Thus the for-profit sector monopolizes the capital markets while charities are left to beg for donations.

Dan is extremely well versed in the charitable world.  His organization Pallotta Teamworks created the AIDS Rides, The AIDS Vaccine Rides, the African Aids Trek, the original Breast Cancer 3-Day walks, and the original, Out of the Darkness suicide prevention overnight event.

These events grossed $556 million in donor contributions and netted $305 million for charity after all expenses and raised these funds more quickly for these causes that any known private event operation in history.

Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential, is for anyone who would like to better understand about the history of charity, and the inherent challenges they are faced with in becoming even more effective in helping their respective causes. If the restraints were lifted the glass ceiling would be removed and charities could operate on an equal playing ground to the for profit sector.

If you would like to learn more about Dan Pallotta and his organization please click here.  If you want to know more about his book please click here.

Dan PallottaEnjoy my interview with Dan Pallotta, a man on a mission to to wake up the charitable sector and accelerate the opportunities to do good in the world.

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 84: The Big Leap with Gay Hendricks

Published by
Greg
at May 13, 2009 in Consulting Organizations, Great Books, Great Web Sites, Personal Growth Courses, Podcasts, Relationship Counseling, Resources and Spiritual Growth. 0 Comments

I had the pleasure of meeting Gay Hendricks at a Leadership Conference that we both attended last year.  When I heard that he had just released his new book, “The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level”,  I contacted him to conduct this enlightening podcast and interview.

Gay has identified several challenges that all of us have in attaining happiness and success in our lives. He makes reference to this challenge as the “Upper Limit Problem”.  Gay states that there are four fears associated with the “Upper Limit Problem”  Those four fears are: feeling fundamentally flawed, disloyalty and abandonment, believing that more success brings a bigger burden, and the crime of outshining.

In our interview together we have an opportunity to discuss these fears and how to reach the Zone of Genius. We also explore the behaviors associated with the “Upper Limit Problems”.  Some of the behavior we may express as a result of our Upper Limit Problems are, worry, blame, criticism, getting sick or hurt, squabbling, not keeping agreements, not speaking the truth and others.

“The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level“,  is a book that helps you identify your personal challenges and fears. It guides you through a self analysis process by utilizing questions that get you in touch with your real fears. Gay then assists the reader in overcoming these behaviors and fears.  His new book is easy to read and understand and will help the reader breakthrough self imposed glass ceilings.

If you would like to make The Big Leap, and take your life to the next level then I highly recommend reading this book.  It is filled with practical advice and techniques to assist you in overcoming your fears.  It is less expensive than a psychologist, and will assist you in getting in touch with your own inner counselor.

Gay HendricksTo learn more about Gay Hendricks, and his consulting and learning organization please click here for more information.

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 80: Succession: Are You Ready? with Marshall Goldsmith

Published by
Greg
at April 28, 2009 in Business Growth, Consulting Organizations, Great Books, Leadership Courses, Podcasts, Relationship Counseling and Resources. 0 Comments

I first learned of Marshall Goldsmith’s work through a good friend Simon Vetter.  Marshall has a bio that reads like the who’s who in business management.  He was recently named by Business Week Magazine as one of the most influential practitioners in the history of leadership development, and the American Management Association named Dr. Goldsmith as one of 50 great thinkers and leaders who have influenced the field of management over the past 80 years.

In the podcast with Marshall we get to explore the concepts and ideas in his new book entitled, “Succession: Are You Ready? (Memo to the CEO)“.  The best thing about this new book, is that it is condensed, easy to read and part of the Harvard Business Press books designed for the time starved executives. While the book is written as letters to a fictional CEO, the learnings apply to leaders at all levels – who are faced with the prospect of either letting go or developing their successor.

Frequently leadership succession is presented as a dry, “check-the-boxes” process during which seemingly robotic executives are concerned only with the buzzwords like “strategic fit”, “core competencies”, and “long-term shareholder value”.  Very little of what is written deals with “soft” personal issues like relationships, self-interest, ego, or God forbid, feelings!

What Marshall has accomplished, (that many authors who have attempted to broach this subject have failed to accomplish,) is a focus on the human and behavioral elements of transition.   “Succession: Are You Ready? (Memo to the CEO)”, is designed to help the reader: prepare for the transition, choose a successor, coach your successor and pass the baton.

Marshall GoldsmithIn my podcast with Marshall we explore the human elements of succession planning.  It is my opinion that the human elements of succession planning are so much more important than the strategic aspects.  In our podcast you will be exposed to practical real world advice.

I hope you enjoy my interview with Marshall. If you would like to learn more about Marshall’s consulting organization, and his other books and publications please click here to access his website.

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 79: Strength for Life with Shawn Phillips

Published by
Greg
at April 27, 2009 in Great Books, Great Web Sites, Health, Meditation, Podcasts, Resources and Wellness/Fitness. 1 Comment

Shawn Phillips is an icon in the health and nutrition industry.  I had the pleasure of interviewing him for this podcast, and was truly inspired by his approach to fitness and health.  Many of you might know his brother Bill Phillips, the author of, “Strength for Life: The Fitness Plan for the Rest of Your Life”. Together they have created a world renowned nutritional supplement organization called EAS.

Shawn’s new book entitled, “Strength for Life: The Fitness Plan for the Rest of Your Life”, takes fitness to a whole new level.  Shawn and I get the opportunity in the half hour podcast to speak about his philosophy regarding fitness and how important the mind is to achieving a good fitness program.  We discuss how fitness is about creating a program that can be sustained, maintained and integrated as part of your life plan.

Shawn’s new book, “Strength for Life: The Fitness Plan for the Rest of Your Life”, assists people in truly creating a transformative practice.  This book contains easy-to-follow proven principles and practices that can empower you to transform your life. In my opinion the Strength for Life program is a breakthrough program.  You are provided with simple tips, and strategies to help you create a successful fitness plan.

Shawn speaks about his proven three workout phases.  To maximize your transformation and support your continued success, his program provides an elegant, sound, three-phase approach.  First there’s the vital, yet overlooked, 12-day Start Strong preparation phase that Shawn calls, “Base Camp”.  This phase primes the body and mind for the most successful transformation possible.  With Base Camp complete, your body rejuvenated, your motivation on high, your goals clearly in view, you charge into, “Get Strong”, the full-strength version of the classic 12-week transformation program.  The 12-week Transformation Training Camp integrates the clarity and wisdom of the original with a modern-day approach that suits the increasing demands of life at any age–especially the challenges faced by the working adult, parent and professional, followed by the year-round continuation plan geared to keep you strong and vibrant for the rest of your life.

Shawn PhillipsIf you are looking for a program that really works, and that you can sustain for life then I recommend that you listen to this podcast and purchase Shawn’s new book.  In this book he will help you help co-create a plan that best suits your individual needs.  He helps to make sure that you can truly transform your fitness and health once and forever.  Please enjoy this podcast, and visit Shawn’s website by clicking here for more information on his book, nutritional supplements, and sound advice.

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 78: Full Confidence, Overcomming Fear with the Power of Love with Veronica de Andres

Published by
Greg
at April 22, 2009 in Communications, Compassionate Communications, Mentors, Personal Growth Courses, Podcasts, Relationship Counseling, Resources, Social Change Agents, Spiritual Growth and Wonderfully Inspiring DVDs. 0 Comments

What a pleasure it was interviewing Veronica de Andres about her new DVD release entitled, “Full Confidence-Overcoming Fear with the Power of Love“.  You are going to love this DVD, and most importantly the very timely message that Veronica conveys with her unique charm and style.

Full Confidence is a film focused on human development. It combines aspects of both a documentary film with the style of a video seminar. The production quality is wonderful, for it provides the viewer with a high entertainment value.

Veronica’s message is quite simple, it is the power of love to heal. During my interview with her we discuss events in her personal life that were the defining moments for her to choose love over fear. It was through the choice of love over fear that Veronica started to develop her personal Full Confidence. She recalls a time in 7th grade when her teacher choose to compliment her, and provide her with encouragement that she decided to becoming a life long learner, and committing herself to teaching others about the power of love.

She emphasizes that fear creates rebellion, submission and anger and that love is ever expanding. If one loves themselves it truly reinforces full confidence, and the world starts to look like a very inviting place instead of a hostile environment.

I believe that if more of us thought with our hearts instead of our heads that this world would be a much more compassionate place to live. Peace, love and tranquility would abound instead of war, hatred, fighting and fear.

If you are looking to center yourself for about an hour, and immerse your soul in a wonderful bath filled with great ideas, thoughts and pleasurable stories then I highly recommend that you watch and listen to the words of Veronica de Andres. She is a remarkable orator with a very pleasant style and grace, and truly a woman with a deep caring for souls looking to find peace, happiness and love in their lives.

Veronica de AndesIf you would like to learn more about Veronica and her outreach work that is having a wonderful impact worldwide, please visit her website by clicking here. Enjoy, the podcast!!!!

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.