I first met Richard Barrett about 15 years ago at a workshop that he was conducting in San Francisco.  I was intrigued to attend the workshop, for the topic was about “Liberating the Corporate Soul“.  Richard and I have maintained our friendship since our first meeting, and I have followed his evolution and the numerous books he has written over the years since our meeting.

In our interview for this podcast we are focusing on his newly released book entitled ” A New Psychology of Human Wellbeing–An Exploration of the Influences of Ego-Soul Dynamics on Mental and Physical Health.”  Richard did a tremendous amount of research to write this book, but the content is well presented and is very useful in understanding the dynamics of our soul and ego.

Richard references the four dimensions of our souls energetic awareness.  They are body, mind, science and psychology. “Your soul is a field of conscious awareness that identifies with your energy field.  Is is who you are.  You don’t have a soul, you are a soul.  Your soul and the soul of every other human being is an individuated aspect of the universal energy field from which everything in our physical world arises, states Richard”.   Richard was inspired to write this book as a result of reading “Toward a Psychology of Being” by Abraham Maslow.

I hope you enjoy this wonderful interview with author Richard Barrett who is filled with depth, insight and a wonderful grasp about how our ego and soul compete for our desire to become the aware, conscious and alive individuals we are entitled to become.

If you want to learn more about Richard Barrett you can click here to be directed to his website, or click here to be directed to his Facebook page.

 

What a great new book my good friend Jim Cathcart has written.  I am speaking about the “Self-Motivation” Handbook.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Jim and discuss some of the highlights of “The Self-Motivation Handbook“, and some of the most revealing themes revolve around 268 one minute lessons in self motivation.

We discussed several of the one minute lessons for this podcast,  here are just a few of the lessons:

#56 “What Makes You Feel Better than Anything?” — As Jim describes it in this lesson it is helping another person, giving of ourselves to others in need.  This is one of the biggest contributions we can make as well as the great feeling we personally get from serving.

#70 Lighten-Up — Stop stressing over the things that only matter to you emotionally.  When life is unfair get over it quickly.  This is a great bit of advice, it does not serve us to spend time being upset and wallowing in the negative energy.  The advice to get over it quickly, and move on it a wonderful way to remove the stress from your life.

#72 The Eight T of Motivation — Here are eight words that begin with T that you can use to motivate yourself and others: 1. Target: Make sure you are clear as to what you are doing and why. 2. Tools: Without the information or equipment to do your job well, you will proceed slowly. 3. Training: Have you accessed the learning that can make you even better at what you do? 4. Time: Has there been enough time for the training to sink in through trial and error? 5. Tracking: As you proceed, be sure that you track your progress and show everyone where they stand. 6. Truth: Get the big picture, and see how everything fits into the overall plan. 7. Touch: Allow for the human factors. Make sure that everyone gets the encouragement and support they need. 8. Trust: Assure that each person is trusted just a bit more than they currently deserve. Allow room for growth, but not so much trust that you put everyone at risk.

What actions will you take on this idea?

I hope you enjoy this interview with Jim Cathcart the author of “The Self-Motivation Handbook“.  If you want more information you can go to Jim’s website by clicking here, or his Facebook Page by clicking here.  He also offers video modules through the Thrive 15 website at www.thrive15.com.

 

I always enjoy my interview with author Matthew Fox.  His writing is thoughtful and insightful.  I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Matthew for his new book entitled ” A Way To God-Thomas Merton’s Creation Spirituality Journey“.

In our interview together we discuss the life and teaching of Thomas Merton.  This book creates a methodology for understanding the vast and deep contributions that Merton made to the history of spirituality by demonstrating his teaching by way of the Four Paths of Creation.

Those four paths are: Via Positiva–the path to delight, joy awe and wonder. Via Negativa–the path of Silence and emptying the mind; grief and suffering and nothingness and the apophatic divinity.  Via Creativa– is the experience of God through creativity, and Via Transformativa–is the experience of God via justice-making and compassion, the way of the prophet.

I hope you will join Matthew Fox and myself for an exploration into the writing and teaching of Thomas Merton.  Enjoy this great interview with one of the best read authors on the life and times of Thomas Merton as we discuss his new book “A Way to God“.

If you want more information about Matthew Fox please click here to be directed to his website, or click here to be directed to his Facebook page.

 

I have to admit the deepest interviews I have ever had have been with author Mark Nepo.  In my recent interview with him about his new book ” The One Life We’re Given” we explored together how to reach and listen to our soul’s calling.

As Mark states “Throwing ourselves wholeheartedly into what we’re given brings us alive”–whether we must deal with suffering, pain, fear and loss or surprise, beauty, love and wonder.  Each of these moments is an opportunity to listen more deeply to our feelings to deepen our connections with others, and to sense the sacred nature of ordinary things”.  On this journey we will affirm how precious this one life is and enter the chance we have to be fully alive and to be of us to each other and the world.  We will uncover, how by loving what’s before us and concentrating on what’s particular and personal, we can begin to make sense of our experience. We will learn how, over time, the twin callings of enlivening our soul and enlivening the world become one, and how our sincerity and labor help us survive and thrive.

If you are questioning certain life events from relationships to work, then you will want to read “The Life We’re Given“.  This book is a practical way to reevaluate your life, and find ways to change it for the better.  It will make you think deeply, reflect and listen to your soul.  If you are longing  to make your life better, the answers are right in front of you—the secret is to listen and connect to your soul then take action on your new found insights.

I hope you enjoy this wonderful interview with author Mark Nepo.  If you want to learn more about Mark please click here to be directed to his website, you can also connect with Mark by clicking here to be directed to his Facebook page.  Enjoy another great podcast with author Mark Nepo.

 

I originally interviewed Catherine Nomura about 5 years ago about ” The Laws of Lifetime Growth” first edition. This new edition is revised and updated to meet with the changing times. If you know anything about Dan Sullivan the co-author of this book and the founder of “The Strategic Coach“, then you know that he is a true thought leader as is Catherine Nomura.

In my interview with Catherine we discuss the laws of lifetime growth which are designed to get the reader to shift their mindset. If you change your thinking, you can go from not growing to growing which they define in the book as making your future bigger than you past. The book consists of a series of laws, and here are just a few to wet your whistle:

Law #1- Always Make your future bigger than you past. We all need a vision, and if we are going to make our future bigger than our past, then having a strong vision is a must. Law # 6- Always make your enjoyment greater than you effort. Success doesn’t have to be hard-earned to be real! When you toil away at things that give you no pleasure, you deny a major source of energy, creativity and motivation. Law #10-Always make your questions bigger than your answers. Some people begin to think they have the answers with age, but all growth lies in the territory of the unknown. Embrace what you don’t know and challenge yourself to engage your curiosity.

If you are attempting to unlock your abilities, then “The Laws of Lifetime Growth’ is a must read. I encourage you to listen to our podcast together I am sure you will find that many of the laws we discuss will apply to you.

To learn more about Catherine Nomura please click here to be directed to her Linkedin profile, or click here to be taken to the Strategic Coach website. I hope you enjoy our interview.

 

I really love business books that provide value to the reader, and this book “Rocket Fuel” is an easy to read book that is chalk full of value.

In my interview with author Mark C. Winter we explore one of the most important realizations by successful entrepreneurs and that if you want to develop a business it takes someone in the passenger seat, and that person is called an Integrator.  An “Integrator” compliments a “Visionary” and the right combination of these two people is imperative for the success of any business.

What you will learn by reading “Rocket Fuel” is that “Visionaries” have certain characteristics as do “Integrators”. When each person knows and plays their role in the organization you obtain “Rocket Fuel” as the book suggests.

Mark also discusses with me something he refers to as the “Accountability Chart”.  This is not just a normal organizational chart, the “Accountability Chart” helps you define the functions of the organization but to compliment that is defines the five (5) major roles of each of the people in the organization.  When you accomplish this task, it make everything much clearer and allows for leadership team to function with clear lines of communication.

What I appreciate most about “Rocket Fuel” and Mark C. Winters is the fact that all the techniques and tools outlined in the the book are tried and true tools.  Mark’s co-author Gino Wickman is the founder of EOS (Entrepreneur Operating System) out of Detroit Michigan.  EOS Worldwide provides the reader with amazing free resources as well as an opportunity to hire a business coach called an Implementer.

If you want to learn more about Rocket Fuel please click here to be directed to the book website, if you want to learn more about EOS Worldwide please click here to be directed to their website.  

I particularly enjoyed this animated YouTube Video titled “Why Entrepreneurial Companies Need a Visionary and an Integrator.”  I hope you enjoy my interview with Mark C. Winters.

 

If you are interested in your personal growth, you have to be interested in what makes you tick regarding setting goals.  Have you ever wondered why you achieve some goals, and others just seem like they are miles away and you may never get there?

There are obviously lots of physiological reasons for this , and in a recent interview with Edwin Locke Phd about his book “New Developments in Goal Setting and Task Performance” he unlocks many of the reasons from our personal motivations, to our values and the role of the subconscious mind. Edwin Locke PhD is the de facto resource when it comes to research on goal setting.  My interview with him was one of the most enlightening interviews of the over 575 interviews I have completed.

During our interview we covered topics regarding the commitment to our goals, the role that feedback plays in achievement of our goals and the simple truths about self-regulation in goal setting.  If you are at all interested in improving your game when it comes to setting and achieving goals then you will want to listen to my interview with Edwin Locke Phd.

You can learn more about Dr. Locke and his writings by clicking here to be directed to his website.  Please note the book is really a textbook and might be a bit heavy for casual reading, but if you are really into figuring out the pitfalls and “why” of goal setting them purchase the book.

 

I don’t think that there is an entrepreneur on the face of the planet that doesn’t understand the challenges of starting-up a new company. Most startups are faced with a myriad of issues, not to mention one of the biggest issues of finding capital to drive the new venture forward.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Hap Klopp the founder of North Face, about his new book entitled “Almost-12 Electric Months Chasing A Silicon Valley Dream“. Our interview is a must listen too for those who are in business, and especially if you might be seeking funding for your new venture. His book tells the story about the issues that a company by the name of “Ardica” in the Silicon Valley had in finding funds, and the dynamics of the personalities working in the business. Hap, was the marketing director and was on the board of directors of Ardica. It is a wonderfully told story about a group of very bright engineers attempting to revolutionize the energy business, and in the process finding obstacles at almost every intersection partially due to the disfunction of the organization and the other as a result of a cash burn rate that was exceeding income.

I hope you will take the time to listen to this great interview with Hap Klopp about his new book “Almost-12 Electric Months Chasing A Silicon Valley Dream.” If you want more information about Hap please click here to be linked to a great article from the Stanford Business School.  You can also learn more about Ardica by clicking here to visit their website.

 

I recently interviewed a friend from Canada that owns a wonderful learning company called “Readitfor.me“.  Steve Cunningham is the founder and mastermind behind an amazing book summaries company that creates the content in both a visual format as well as auditory and downloadable text.  The Readitfor.me platform works for both individuals that have big appites for learning, and is idealiy designed for companies that are looking for ways to provide their workforce with softskills training at a very reasonable price.   It is a wonderful way for lunch and learn sessions that will be championed by someone within the organization.  It is efficient, effective and allows for rapid learning and retention of the material all while learning in a group environment.

Readitfor.me has a library of in excess of 275 current business books that have been summarized, and Steve is rapidly working to increase the library by reviewing a book per day.  Believe me you will not run out of interesting learning material and content that is timeless and very useful in the growth and development of any size organization.

In my interview with Steve we discuss how he launched Readitfor.me and his passion behind the company.  I think you will find our interview to be very informative, allowing you to get insight on how the Readitfor.me platform works. You are also provided with an opportunity to sign up for a free 7-day trial of the platform.

If you want to get more information about Readitfor.me and sign up for the free trial please click on any of the links.  If you want to sign up through your Linkedin account you can do that as well.

I hope you enjoy this interview with founder of Readitfor.me Steve Cunningham, hope you enjoy your 7-day free trial.