I recently had the pleasure of making a connection with the founders of “The Best Self Journal Co,” Allen Brouwer and Cathryn Lavery.  I was inspired to reach out to them because of all the amazing things I was hearing from friends that were using their journal as well as the customer feedback about the product that was prevalent on the internet.

In my podcast interview with Allen and Cathryn, we discuss the inspiration for the development and design of the Best Self Journal. It steamed from the fact that both Allen and Cathryn were not able to find a journal that had all the features that they knew were critical to one’s success. The two were working long hours, seemingly spinning their wheels and not feeling like they were making any progress toward their purpose in life.  They read 100’s of books on personal growth and self-help and compiled the ideas and concepts that they learned into the journal.

This journal is unlike any that you have seen. It features a 13 week roadmap to decide on your goals and break them down into something that is more proximal and easier to get your head around.  It also features a morning and evening gratitude section as well as a place to record your wins for the day and the biggest lessons you have learned daily.  You can record and track the habits you are attempting to develop as well as reflect on your day.    They have even included a section they refer to as freedom pages where you can jot ideas and record notes.

Many people today only use a digital phone to record their meetings, and or take notes.  But there is  something very “cathartic” in putting pen to paper.  The research states that the use of paper and pen vs. all digital recording of our notes and ideas allows our brains make a deeper connection when we write it down versus put it in a digital list-thus we are more apt to attain that goal we are working toward.

I hope you will take the time to listen to this informative interview with Allen Brouwer and Cathryn Lavery the founders and designers of The Best Self Journal.

If you want to learn more about the company please check out their website by clicking here or visit them on Facebook.

I’ll bet that many of you reading this blog entry are not aware of the Gen Z generation.   So, let’s put this in some context–Gen Z’ers are the generation born between 1995 and 2012.  There are over 72.8 million of them in the US, and they are characterized as a generation that has only known smartphones and are true digital natives, and they have access to information 24/7.   I recently got to interview both David and Jonah Stillman about their new book entitled ” Gen Z @ Work“.

While always being plugged in they are also suffering from what is referred to at FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) because they are so plugged into information 24/7.

In this dynamic interview with a father-son team, they inform us of what is recommended to work effectively with the Generation Z .  Jonah who is a senior in high school states that this generation will bring important entrepreneurial spirit to work.  They are consistently looking to streamline processes and procedures, and are more independent that the Millennials.   David, Jonah’s father states that the Gen Z group responded to their survey stating that they prefer face to face communications versus that of texting or social media platforms—quite interesting considering they are considered digital natives and love technology.

If you want to learn more about the preferences of this generation in the workplace, then I highly recommend that you listen to this podcast with David and Jonah Stillman.  I also suggest that you check out their book website by clicking here.  You can reach them on Facebook by clicking here.

 

One of my favorite and most admired authors is Steven Kotler.  Has authored  “Tomorrowland“, “Bold“, “The Rise of Superman” and “Abundance” just to name a few.  He is a prolific writer and author.

I recently had the pleasure to discuss with him his new book entitled “Stealing Fire-How Silicon Valley, the Navy Seals, and Mavericks Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work.” 

In our interview together we explore the revolution that is occurring in society today, and shortcuts that are being used to boost insight and inspiration which results in creating alters states of consciousness, thus improving personal performance. Steven and his co-author Jamie Wheal have spent four years investigating the leading edges of this revolution, from interviews with the Navy Seals, Green Berets and attending Burning Man they have compiled the stories and information in their new book “Stealing Fire”.

Steven states that this revolution is spreading into the mainstream, fueling a trillion dollar underground economy and forcing us to rethink how we can lead richer, more productive, more satisfying lives.  In our interview, we discuss recent advances in psychology, neurobiology, pharmacology, and technology are driving this phenomenon which allows us to move past myths, assumptions, and controversies and embrace peak performances as men and women.

As you will find out when you read “Stealing Fire” the quest to attain these alter states of consciousness have been going on since 415BC. To this day the rituals, techniques, and drugs used to attain these altered states of consciousness are changing and the effects are much more powerful.  I know you are going to love this interview with author Steven Kotler about his new book “Stealing Fire

To learn more about Steven please go click here to be directed to his website,  or you can learn about the book by clicking here.  Enjoy this amazing interview with a fascinating author and explorer of a new frontier.

 

In my interview with author Michael Alden, he states that most self-help program don’t have the anticipated impact on people’s lives that they expect.  The reason is that in his estimation people reach too high, then don’t achieve their goals and become disappointed.

Simply stated Michael says to just do 5% More in every area of your life and you will achieve your goals.  This technique is not new, but Michael is absolutely one-hundred percent correct– if we just complete the incremental short term goals our larger goals and vision will manifest.  Do they always manifest that we envision, no but we do  make progress toward our goals and dreams–you bet.

In my interview with this dynamic author that has reached the pinnacle of success, we discuss his challenging youth being brought up in the housing projects, having a mother as a drug addict, and loosing other members of his family to drugs.  Mike has seen it all, and as a result decided to take an alternative path, he became a lawyer then started a very successful marketing company called Blue Vase which sells millions of dollars of health related products through infomercials.

If you are on a quest to improve your batting average relative your goals in life then I would highly recommend that you read and study the techniques that Mike talks about in his new book 5% More.  If you want to learn more about Mike and his book 5% More, please click here to be directed to the book website.

You can also connect with Mike through his Facebook page, or watch a great video on YouTube.

I hope you enjoy my interview with author Michael Alden about reaching and achieving your goals.

 

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing David Hoffeld the author of a newly released book entitled “The Science of Selling“.  If you are someone who is in sales or marketing, then I would highly recommend you reading David’s new book.

David spent ten years studying what effects the buying patterns of consumers.  During this time David learned about the behavioral science behind “why” someone purchases goods or services from you versus from someone else.  He refers to this as the Six Whys, which starts with “Why Change?”, second is “Why Now?, third “Why Your Industry Solution?”, fourth “Why You and Your Company?”, fifth “Why Your Product or Service? sixth “Why Spend the Money“.

These are obviously great questions and throughout the book David answer the questions that will make you a better salesperson.  You will literally learn how to sell the way the brain constructs a buying decision, how to ethically sell to your potential customers emotions , how to ask questions the way our brains intuitively disclose information, how to boost your ability to influence other.

If you want more information about David Hoffeld you can check him out at his website by clicking here, or you can watch a great video at YouTube by clicking here.

I hope you enjoy this great interview with a thought leader in the area of sales and selling.

 

Fear is something that is immobilizing, it keeps us from spreading our wings and doing things that we might not otherwise do.  If you are an entrepreneur then you have to be a bit of a risk taker, and willing to be afraid.  You are venturing into unchartered waters and have to learn along the way.

I had the pleasure of doing this interview with Peter I Scott IV the author of a book entitled ” The Fearless Mindset-The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Getting Fit in Less Time, Double Your Income & Become Unstoppable“.   Sound great doesn’t it?  I am pleased to report that Peter is a thriving entrepreneur and he has had to face many major fears in his life.   He spoke with me about the irrational fears and the rational fears, and how many of our fears are irrational once you take a deeper look at how the fear manifest in our lives.  Take for instance the fear of speaking in front of a crowd of people.  It is reported that this is the #1 fear for many people.  Most people would rather do anything other than speak in from of a group of people.  Usually that fear comes from our insecurity and that we might look bad in the eyes of others, we won’t be enough.

So how would you replace that fear and displace it from your mind—know you are enough, that you are confident and secure in who and what you are.  Exude confidence and understand that most of the audience does not know as much about what you are going to speak about as you do.  Reaffirm this through positive self-talk.

Peter said that one of the most profound pieces of wisdom he ever learned was from psychologist Fritz Pearl.  Fritz Pearl said “Fear is excitement with breath”  The lesson here is to breath, your breath is so important to calming you down and grounding your body.  Peter recommends yoga, meditation or any practice that will help to center you and focus on your breath to overcome your fears.

If you want to learn more about Peter I Scott IV and is upcoming 3-day course please click here to be directed to the website.

If you want to sign up for Peter’s newsletter just click here.  I hope you enjoy this great interview with Peter I Scott IV the author of “The Fearless Mindset“.

 

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“.

 

In my interview with author Catherine Nomura we discuss the importance of defining your skills and strengths and how important that is to your personal happiness and career development.  In a new book and accompanying workbook entitled “Unique Ability 2.0” Catherine with her two co-authors Julia & Shannon Waller guide the reader through a series of exercises designed to unveil your true talents and abilities.  This book and workbook are brilliant in that they get you to get outside yourself and discover your true talents, passion and purpose.

This team of authors has developed tools like the “activity inventory” designed to allow you to peer into things that you do daily that give you joy and fulfillment.  It also informs you about the things you are doing that you don’t like doing. You will find insights about yourself that are difficult to examine unless you slow down and observe.  This activity inventory exercise is designed to get you to observe your actions, and identify the ones that you love.

You then move into the “activity snapshot” where you reorganize your activities into categories so you can have a clear snapshot of how you’re spending your time.  This exercise give you the opportunity to see how you use your time daily, and determine how you will change the course regarding the application of your time.   Where are you energized, what fulfills you and how would you spend more time doing the activities that bring joy in your life?

If these are some of your questions, and you are on a quest to change how your life is both personally and professionally then I highly recommend reading “Unique Ability 2.0“.  You can learn more and take a free assessment by clicking this link.

I encourage you to listen to my interview with Catherine Nomura, you will be pleased that you did and probably learn more about your unique abilities.

 

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.