Podcast 590: Hustle-The Power to Charge Your Life with Money, Meaning and Momentum with Jonas Koffler

This book is for anyone, it is a book for those who are willing to take charge of their destinies, beat the odds and create opportunity to pursue dreams on their own terms.

I recently sat down to conduct this podcast interview with Jonas Koffler one of three authors that makes up the team who wrote “Hustle-The Power to Charge Your Life with Money, Meaning, and Momentum.”  Hustle addresses the political, social and economic issues that plague the American citizen attempting to have more meaning and money in their lives.

Jonas states “The “American Dream” is not longer about advancement or the acquisition of material possessions–secure job, car, home, family or even social mobility–alone. It is about greater freedom and autonomy to choose one’s own path forward.  The American Dream is more of a DIY creative project than is has ever been, and hustle is the way to achieving it, surfacing one’s talents, capturing luck and opportunity, and leveraging skills and technology into a diversified portfolio of upward optionality.”

The authors definition of “hustle’ has been redefined to mean “Decisive movement toward a goal, however indirect, by which the motion itself manufactures luck, surfaces hidden opportunities, and charges our live with more money, meaning and momentum. “

If you want to change the trajectory of you life I highly recommend reading “Hustle” and listening to this interview.  You can also join the “Hustle’ generation by joining the authors on their quest.

Just click this link to take you to their book landing page.  I hope you enjoy my interview with Jonas Koffler one of the authors of “Hustle“.

 

Podcast 589: Scrappy-A Little Book about Choosing to Play Big with Terri Sjodin

Terri Sjodin is not only a great author, but is scrappy. I recently interviewed her for her new book entitled “Scrappy-A Little Book About Choosing to Play Big“. I am sure that most of you know what scrappy means, but just in case: scrappy is someone who is full of fighting spirit-synonymous with having moxie, being feisty, enthusiastic. So how many of you choose to play big when is comes to trying to meet someone new you really want to meet? Someone that might make a difference if you met them both personally and professionally? Terri’s book is loaded with amazingly courageous people with great stories about how they went the extra mile to meet that someone special, or did something out of the ordinary to capture the attention of their customers or investors.

Terri has three pillars of scrappiness: 1) Attitude 2) Strategy 3) Execution. I know it sounds simple, and it really is–it just takes lots of courage to act on the things in life that can make a significant difference. What is holding you back? Fear and Uncertainty? If so I encourage you to listen to my interview with Terri Sjodin and get yourself a copy of “Scrappy” you will be glad that you did, you just might break a cycle of belief that is holding you back. If you want to learn more about Terri and the book Scrappy just click here. Thanks for listening.

Podcast 587: Creativity Unzipped with Jan Phillips & Ruth Westreich

My good friend Jan Phillips and her co-author Ruth Westreich joined me for this podcast interview about their new book entitled “Creativity Unzipped-Why Your Thoughts Matter“. In my interview with both Jan and Ruth we discuss we discussed how creative blocks are the biggest challenge that any artists, entrepreneur , author or creative person faces.

Jan states “we are hardwired to find creative solutions to complex problems, but there’s a problem with our software–inherited beliefs and cultural conditioning”.  How we develop our beliefs and hold on to them does more to stifle our creativity that almost anything.

This book is different, the message is that you already know everything you need to know to be fully expressed, creative agent.   Jan quotes Meister Eckhart, the German mystic, and he says that the process of enlightenment is one of subtraction, not addition.  To become luminous, we must let go of the darkness, let go of our negative beliefs–luminous is a natural state.

As we proceed in the act of creation, the litmus test is always about authenticity. It is about your voice, your soul, your story coming through this peace. The idea or seed your cultivating has surfaced for a purpose and awaits the originality only you can bring to it.

If you are attempting to tap into your creativity, then I recommend that you read “Creativity Unzipped“.  Jan & Ruth take the reader on a journey that explores the reason for your creative blocks, and provides you with way to tap back into the creative genius that lurks within.

If you want more information about Jan Phillips & Ruth Westreich I recommend that you visit the book website by clicking here.

 

Podcast 586: Simplicity Survival Handbook with Bill Jensen

Bill Jensen is a returning guest to Inside Personal Growth.  This time he joins me to discuss a book he published sometime ago called The Simplicity Survival Handbook.  Simplicity is something that we all need a bit more of in our lives. We have become more inundated with complexity in our world as a result of the speed of transmission of information, and the devices that keep us tethered every minute.   We are spending more time on email, distracted by social media not to mention that the devices are “always on” which leads to us being so distracted that we are not paying attention to our most important relationship–our family.

Simplicity is the power to do less (of what does not matter), simplicity is the power to do more (of what does matter), states Jensen. Bill guides the reader on how to reduce email clutter, write shorter emails, go to fewer meetings, how to quickly communicate with anyone more effectively, how to leave shorter voicemails and much more.

If you are like most technology workers your day is filled with emails, voicemails, texts, meetings and attempting to put out fires and solve problems.  Now this is what you are probably paid to do, but what if you could shift some of those activities to more productive and creative endeavors?  Imagine the value you would bring to your organization, and how much better you would feel everyday.

I encourage you to listen to and implement some of the thirty-two techniques that Bill Jensen writes about in his book “The Simplicity Survival Handbook“.  You can learn more about Bill Jensen by clicking here to be directed to his website.  You can also watch a presentation on the Future of Work Bill did in 2015 by clicking here.

 

Podcast 584: The Selfish Path to Romance with Dr. Edwin Locke

I recently completed an interview with Dr. Edwin Locke the author of a new book entitled “The Selfish Path to Romance“.  In our interview together we explore the objectivist viewpoint of romance.

If you are not familiar with objectivism, it was developed by the famous author Ayn Rand the author of “Atlas Shrugged” and “The Fountainhead“.  The premise behind objectivism is that reality exist independent of consciousness, that individuals have direct contact with reality through sense perception, that one can attain objective knowledge from perception through the process of concept formation and inductive logic, that the proper moral purpose of one’s life is the pursuit of one’s own happiness.

Dr. Locke quotes sex therapist David Schnarch “Expecting your partner to sacrifice for you in the name of love kills marriage, sex, intimacy and love.”  The Selfish Path to Romance” guides the reader through understanding romance in the pursuit of your happiness as is the tenet of objectivism.

Emotions are not the enemy of rationality states Locke.  Honesty is the refusal to fake reality, it is essential to a romantic relationship. Integrity means being loyal to your rational convictions in action. A breach of integrity means acting against your own convictions. Independence is your commitment to think for yourself and to earn your own keep.  Use you own rational judgment when it comes to romance.

These are just a few of the sensible solutions to having a romantic relationship from the viewpoint of an objectivist. I encourage you to listen to this fascinating and enlightening interview with Dr. Edwin Locke.

You can learn more about the book by clicking here to be directed to a Youtube Video by Ellen Kenner the co-author of “The Selfish Path to Romance.”

 

Podcast 583: A New Psychology of Human Well-Being by Richard Barrett

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.

 

Podcast 582: The Self Motivation Handbook by Jim Cathcart

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.

 

Podcast 581: A Way To God with Matthew Fox

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.

 

Podcast 579: The Laws of Lifetime Growth (Expanded 2nd Edition) with Catherine Nomura

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.