Podcast 102: The Secret of Shelter Island with Alexander Green

Alexander GreenIn these uncertain economic times we could all use a boost of confidence.  In my interview with Alexander Green about his new book entitled “The Secret of Shelter Island” that is exactly what you will receive.  Alex has a great perspective on how to look differently at our current economic meltdown (as the media often refer to it).  He states that we have the opportunity to reassess our entire life and re-prioritize what is important in our lives.  This is our opportunity to look inside and have a spiritual awakening to what really is valuable for us. Is it our bank accounts? Or is it the people and relationships around us that truly enrich our lives and bring us fulfillment and meaning?

Alex’s book is primarily a compilation of essays from his newsletter entitled Spiritual Wealth, a newsletter that he has been writing for a number of years. He says that it is only human to want to better our material conditions, but ironically the relentless quest for more often undermines our quality of life.  The truth is successful lives are built, not bought, and the over consumptive lifestyle ultimately limits our choices.

In my interview with Alex we explore this idea of “not-enoughness,” and what it has done to our culture and how is has depleted our souls. How this ever-persistent pursuit of more has really helped to create the challenging economic times we are experiencing.  In the continual pursuit of greater material success some of us lose important relationships, our health, our perspective, our peace of mind.  Alex says that our happiness is highly dependent on principle-centered living.  The secret to balance. Pursue your financial ambitions, but take time to appreciate your health, friends, family are the world around you.

In this interview we have the opportunity to explore how to shift our perspectives and relationship with money as well truly examine what might have greater significance for us.

I love a quote the Alex uses in the book by J. Brotherton and it says “My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.”  How true this is, and how important to remember as we navigate these interesting economic times.
Alex has written a wonderful book which will help anyone who reads it identify just what truly could be causing their financial challenges, and in so doing provides the reader with the opportunity to learn how to close the gap between their wants and needs.

If you would like to lean more about Alex’s interesting newsletters, columns and other books please visit his website.

Podcast 99: The First 30 Days with Ariane de Bonvoisin

Ariane de BonvoisinWhat a wonderful interview with Ariane de Bonvoisin about her new book “The First 30 Days.”  She and I explore the world of change and how we as human beings cope with the change in our lives. One thing we all know for certain is that change is ever-constant.  Things can change for the better or they can change for the worse. But it is not that things will change, but how we learn to deal with the change in our lives that matters.

Ariane spent an extensive amount of time interviewing world leaders, athletes and average people to learn the characteristics of people who deal with change successfully.  In these uncertain times what we all know that things have changed for all of us.  Ariane helps us find our change muscle and to tap into our changeless core.

She has learned that there are nine (9) principles that will assist us in learning to cope with change.  We explore the (9) nine principles of change in our interview together. I know you will be fascinated by her discoveries after having interviewed over 1,000 people and discovering their commonalities no matter what the change.

Ariane mentioned that people have been conditioned to believe certain things about change. (1) Change is hard and something to be avoided (2) Change makes me feel alone; I am the only one going through this. (3) Change takes time, energy and work. (4) Change is stressful and involves a lot of pain. In “The First 30 Days” you will learn that this might be so, but it is possible to feel differently about change by developing a new mindset about it, even if you are facing an extremely challenging change. You can come out on the other side feeling hopeful, strong, and calm with renewed optimism about life.

I know you are going to love this interview with Ariane as we explore change and how to navigate it.  Remember the old saying what we resist persists, and this is certainly so about change.  If you would like to learn more about Ariane de Bonvoisin and her book, coaching and workshops please visit her website for more information. Enjoy the interview!!!

Podcast 98: Focus on the Good Stuff with Mike Robbins

Mike RobbinsIt was a pleasure having Mike Robbins back with us for another podcast. His book entitled “Focus on the Good Stuff-The Power of Appreciation” is a wonderful book about learning how to appreciate the good within.  As simple of a concept that this might sound , it is something that we all need to be reminded of.  I know that many of us are frequently attempting to be more, do more and have more.  The challenge with this thinking is that is limits our focus on the good stuff as Mike says.  We loose sight of appreciating who and what we are, and we are more focused on how we can be better. This persistent focus on always attempting to be better is a proverbial never ending cycle.  Our ego is really good at telling us that we are not good enough.

In Mike’s book we explore the five (5) principles that help us to shift our focus, and accentuate the good. The first of his principles is “Be Grateful”  Gratitude is something that we don’t give ourselves and other enough of. It is always easy to fall into the “woe is me attitude.”  But we usually can find someone worse off than ourselves.

  • Principle #2,  Choose Positive Thoughts and Feelings.  The simplest way to state this principle is that thoughts become things;choose good ones.”
  • Principle #3, Use Positive Words.  I like what Mike points out here from another author Don Miguel Ruiz.  Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using words to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
  • Principle #4, Acknowledge Others.  Wow! is this an important one.  Is is so much easier to criticize someone than it is to praise and acknowledge.  Look for the good in others, and then take action by acknowledging them for the good you see in them.
  • Principle #5, Appreciate Yourself.  Self Appreciate is difficult.  It is always easy to judge ourselves, but just like in Principle 4 Acknowledge Others we need to acknowledge and appreciate our own abilities, talents and our inherent good.

Mike’s book Focus on the Good Stuff allows you to shift your focus and to look at yourself and others with new eyes.  It shifts your perspective just enough to begin to see the good, and not to dwell on the negative

I encourage all of my listeners to read his book and visit Mike’s website for more useful information and wisdom from someone who has practices these principles in his everyday life. Mike is an amazing example of these principles in action.

Podcast 28: The Mandala of Being with Dr. Richard Moss

Richard MossThis is a thoroughly delightful interview with a very insightful and wise man, Dr. Richard Moss. I stumbled upon Richard’s work while I was doing a search in Google. I was fascinated by the information at his site, so I contacted his assistant and we were granted an interview. The focus of this podcast is Richard’s most recent book entitled, “The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness“. This book focuses on the four places our mind goes to when we leave the “now”, specifically; the past, the future, judgment of ourselves and judgment of others. Richard also shows us the way home by teaching ways to stay fully present which in turn leads to a life of authenticity.

Drawing from his own profound self-realization and more that three decades of working with people of diverse backgrounds, Richard encourages and accompanies the reader on a journey toward freedom from fear and any other limiting or threatening feelings. Deep self-understanding, inner ease, spontaneous healing, more fulfilling relationships, and enhanced creativity, are all wonderful blessings that can arise from reading and reflecting on the, “The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness“.

I know you will enjoy this podcast with a wonderfully warm man who has the ability to show you how to attain what he refers to as “radical aliveness”. Where the mind is silent and the body is filled with presence and a new enthusiasm for living is born. He discusses simple practices that meet the challenges of maintaining the aliveness in daily life without requiring the presence of a teacher or special sacred environment to gain this aliveness.

I highly recommend this book and the workshops that Richard facilitates. If you would like to learn more about his on-line courses, books, audio programs and workshops please click here

Podcast 15: The Myth of Male Power with Warren Farrell Ph.D

Warren Farrell Ph.DIn my interview with Dr. Warren Farrell, we explore the “The Myth of Male Power“. This podcast with Dr. Farrell was quite fascinating and provided me insight into an area that I had little knowledge or understanding of. His perspective really opened my eyes about the socialization of both the sexes. Dr. Farrell dialogs with me about the expectations of males in society and the roles we play in order to be successful with the opposite sex. He also provides a fascinating perspective on why he believes that neither sex has power over the other and that our power is only in our ability to control our own life.

Dr. Farrell tells a very interesting story about a woman who was attending one of his lectures and got up to tell her story about her brother who was the focus of her fathers attention and admiration. Her father who was a prominent physician so wanted her brother to become a physician just like him. The father paid more attention to her brother who had originally stated that he wanted to become a physician. Then one day he announced that he no longer had a desire to become a physician and the father was devastated. Jokingly, and to win her fathers approval and admiration she told her father that she would become a physician, but deep down inside she was really only doing it so that she could win her father’s approval. Interestingly enough, she followed through with her degree and become a physician. She now states that she is in her 40’s and is not happy with this chosen profession, and would like to change vocations.

Dr. Farrell was attempting to emphasize through this story that statistically men are usually the ones who take on the jobs out of a sense of obligation or family pressures. Without sounding sexist the statistics prove this fact and this story illustrates “The Myth of Male Power” and provides interesting insights into how our viewpoint and perspective about male power in society is probably distorted.

I hope that you will enjoy this podcast with Dr. Farrell and if you are interested in learning more about his research, workshops, lectures and CD’s, please click here for more information.

Podcast 1: Play to Win with Larry Wilson

Larry Wilson It is certainly by no accident that one of the men who has influenced me the most is my first interview for our podcast and this blog. If you are not aware of Larry Wilson’s many accomplishments he is probably best known for having founded one of the largest learning organizations in this country, Wilson Learning Corp. I met Larry about 12 years ago after having read several of his books. I called him up at his ranch Pecos River in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I told him that I was starting a company called Sales Solutions Systems, and asked if he would be interested in meeting with me to discuss an opportunity that existed in the insurance industry. His answer was a resounding yes, and he welcomed me with open arms and heart when I met him at Pecos River some 12 years ago. Pecos River has since been sold, but what an incredible retreat facility it was, with ropes courses and beautiful scenery and some of the top training in leadership that this country had to offer at the time.

Since our meeting each of our lives have taken many twists and turns, but one constant is that Larry has always been there for me every step of the way to help guide me through the maze of business and personal growth.

In this podcast you will learn more about his current work “The Great Game of Life” and his book “Play to Win!: Choosing Growth Over Fear in Work and Life. Larry has recently developed a 12 session course that is one of the best personal growth courses I have ever reviewed. Later this year we will be bringing this program to our Digital Seed learning platform so that thousands of people can enjoy this work via the Internet and collaborate with others across the country in the process. This podcast is a wonderful insight into Larry Wilson the man and his own personal journey. I hope you enjoy it.

I apologize for the sound quality of my voice (Larry comes through much clearer). We are still getting the hang of recording phone conversations over here.

 

Categories