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.

 

Podcast 578: Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want From Your Business with Mark C. Winters

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.

 

Podcast 577: New Developments in Goal Setting and Task Performance with Edwin Locke PhD

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.

 

Podcast 574: The Art of Authenticity with Karissa Thacker

There is lots of talk today about the power of authenticity, and rightfully so.  We see the topic being discussed throughout the political campaigning that we are experiencing, and unfortunately we don’t see our current top running candidates for the presidential election showing high levels of authenticity.   As sad as that might seem, “authenticity” seems to be conspicuously absent from this presidential campaign.

In my recent interview with author Karissa Thacker about her book “The Art of Authenticity” we discuss the four components that form the basis of authenticity as a leader.

First, is self-awareness-motivation and values are individual and distinctive.  This level of authenticity requires that one really wants, what is important and why.  The second is “balanced processing–this is a skill of blending thought process with the thought processes of others without a bias one’s own view. ( I really believe this is missing with that unnamed candidate for president.)  Third, is relational transparency–when it comes to building a genuine relationship with people, transparency is critical.  Authentic leaders allow themselves to evolve, grow, and experiment regarding their personal transparency.  Lastly, is internal moral perspective–authentic leaders are students of human nature in general and experts on the peculiarities of their own particular more nature. The keep their own unique internal GPS system activated as they deal with day-to-day pressures.

If you are a leader in your organization and wanting to learn more about the keys to being more authentic then I would highly recommend that you read Karissa Thacker new book “The Art of Authenticity“.  You can learn more by visiting her website by clicking here, or you can go to the book Facebook page by clicking here.

I hope you enjoy this lively interview with Karissa Thacker about “The Art of Authenticity“.

 

Podcast 572: World Famous How to Create a Kick-Ass Brand with David Tyreman

Most of us are aware that branding ourselves  or our companies can be a challenging task.  It is as if there is a magic formula that when you have the correct ingredients your company can blast off into the stratosphere where customers are clamoring to subscribe to your service or purchase your products.

David Tyreman has authored a book entitled “World Famous-How to Create a Kick-Ass Brand.  David has worked with some of the biggest companies like Banana Republic, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Nike and many others.  In my interview with David we explore the components that are required to create a kick-ass brand.  David explains there are five of them and they are:  1) Dare 2) Learn Why People Buy 3) A Defined Differentiation 4) Adding Value 5) Ready, Set Engage.  These steps make up the roadmap for someone wanting to develop their brand.

We also discuss the power of a super niche, defining what you do best and not spreading yourself too thin that your customers are confused by your offering or service.   You also need to be concerned and do you research on the demographics and psychographics of your target customer.  Remember not everyone is your customer, so develop a plan and research your customer profile so you know what makes them tick.

David is a master at helping people brand themselves or their company.  His book “World Famous-How to Create a Kick-Ass Brand” is loaded with stories, examples and advice that can assist both the newbie or the experienced marketer.

I would recommend that you check out David Tyremen at his website by clicking here.  World Famous also has a great branding course that you might want to consider taking.  If you are interested finding out more about the course please email David at david@worldfamouscompany.com.