Coffee With Dad

Start with generosity. Generosity is something that needs to be practiced every day.

Be the person you know you should be no matter what.

In this episode of Coffee with Dad we learn that It is a combination of things in life and managing the stressors in life that make us happy. Not one specific thing.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know how forming good habits is key to having a more fulfilled life. Today let's pour of cup and coffee and talk about how identity-based habits can be so much more effective in helping us move toward who we choose to be. A shout out goes to James Clear and his book “Atomic Habits.”

Are you a dependable person? We usually think about this in relation to are we a person others can depend on. But can you depend on yourself? Let's look at the ramifications of this important question and how the answer can affect us internally in our daily lives. Sounds like an ideal coffee conversation.

Sometimes we let other's opinions of ourselves override what we believe we are capable of doing. This can cause us to doubt ourselves and limit our abilities. Let's realize this and work on what really matters today over a cup of coffee.

Things will always get into the way of your progress. Sometimes the obstacles are small and sometimes and they are larger. Seems like a huge negative but it doesn't have to be. Let's turn those stumbling blocks into building blocks today around over a cup of coffee today.

Today we are going to discuss gratitude. And I'd like you to consider a bit of a different take on this. With the New Year we are always looking to change for the better (hopefully). And sometimes the reason we want to change begins with negative thoughts and emotions which can be a drag on our attempt to change. So how does gratitude help us in that? Let's talk about it over coffee.

Your perception of yourself should not change based on how someone else looks at you. Let's talk about this one over a cup of coffee this morning. Thank you for listening and please don't forget to subscribe if you like what you hear. 

This is an important podcast that I invite you to devote your full attention. In fact, it would be great if you grabbed a pen and paper, or opened notes on your computer and recorded a few thoughts. Throughout our lives we are shaped by conditioned responses. Some are necessary and positive while other we negatively bind on ourselves. How do we discover the difference and make things better? Let's grab a cup of coffee and share a few thoughts. If you like the podcast please leave us an honest review. It helps others to find our content.

Today we talk about relationships and the endowment effect. The endowment effect is the feeling that what I have is mine and it will always be so. It's comforting in some situations but toxic when it comes to relationships.

Today we're going to talk about decision making. And part of that is understanding what part emotion plays in the process - for better or worse. How do we get past that. I've got some tips for you today.

I reading a book called Groundhog Day by Paul Hannam. It relates to the movie of the same name. Today I'd like to share with you thoughts from the book including the wisdom of breaking out of destructive repetitious behavior patterns and taking time to establish personal priorities. If you like the podcast please leave us an honest review. It helps others to find our content.

There are moments, times and places, where we find ourselves occupied by our entire brain. We are present in the moment. And that is a good thing. It is good for us to be fully present in those times and not think about the past or the future - but rather the present moment. W e need to find those moments. If you like the podcast please leave us an honest review. It helps others to find our content.

Today we talk about standards. The level of goodness and priority that we strive for and try to exceed or at least not fall below. And what I want to do today is encourage you to set your own personal standards and maintain and exceed them. If you like the podcast please leave us an honest review. It helps others to find our content.

It's amazing how we grow impatient with wanting to make changes. The key isn't in dramatic, immediate changes. The key is being consistent with small changes every day. It's living with that kind of intention I'd like to talk about today. Let's share a cup of good advice with our coffee- how 'bout it?

Step one, figure out what's most important in life. Step two, keep those important things on the table all the time. Pretty simple. Let's share a cup and unpack this. 

Living in the moment is a huge thing that we all take for granted. When you do, amazing things can happen. Today I'd like you to learn to focus your efforts on the little things to positively affect the big picture. Let's have a cup of joe. 

This was a lesson revealed due to a broken irrigation system.  Almost every day you will encounter things that make you uncomfortable, make you feel stressed or basically put you under pressure. These situations provide great opportunity for you to better yourself. Let's have coffee together.

Doing well, doing your best is essential but to be great you need to be consistent with this effort. And the great thing about this is that everyone is capable of doing this, it doesn’t take any special talent, it just takes the will to do it. Let’s dive into this and talk about ways that might help you achieve this. Make mine an Americano this morning!

Almost every day you will encounter things that make you uncomfortable, make you feel stressed or basically put you under pressure. These situations provide great opportunity for you to better yourself. Let’s dive in to this over coffee today.

Today’s episode was inspired by a commencement address I was made aware of recently. In a nutshell, be conscious of the way you think about the world around you. It really takes an effort to do this. Things aren’t always happening to you, you are happening to them. Let’s talk about it over coffee today. 

What is that force, that process that keeps you moving in a positive direction and keeps you away from the negative direction? Today we take on the things that keep your daily momentum by staying committed to your daily promises. It’s a two-stage process. Let’s share some coffee and get with it.

So much of how we proceed in life is based on goals. But should happiness be goal-oriented? Consider this with me today: enjoy the ride, and live for the process not the end result. Let’s explore.

At times in your life you will find yourself having to be a leader. I know, I know…. you may be one who avoids raising your hand and volunteering to lead but it’s more than that. Even as a parent you will need to be a leader. Today let’s look at leadership with a different perspective. Whether it is as a parent, teacher, heading a committee, company or elected official. Keep this in mind today - build your character first before you truly understand what it is to be a leader. I’ll take mine black, no cream for this one.

Today we’re going to talk about fame. In our social media-centric world we need to get a handle on this topic. I got the inspiration for this episode from Leo Braudy who wrote “The Frenzy of Renown: Fame and It’s History.” Here’s what I want you to consider today: if you want people to recognize you and remember you, make sure there’s a reason for it. Let’s have coffee.   

Here’s a question for you: What have you done in the last month that would justify your actions in the next month? At the beginning of each year we often look back at the past year. Have you ever thought about looking back at the past month and reviewing that instead of looking back at the whole year? Over coffee today I have a few exercises for you to consider.

Is our life really that short? This is a question that at first seems simple to answer. However, I would invite you today (over a cup of coffee if you like) to consider a different perspective on the answer to this question. Let’s take a sip and dive in.

This seems like an appropriate topic at the beginning of a new year but it is relevant at any time.  Set goals; simply put, If you don’t know where you’re going you’ll probably never get there.

In today’s podcast I decided that rather than hold off until I had something more organized to present, I would instead just go ahead and talk about something that seems so simple but so necessary in today’s cultural climate - get outside!

Question for today: What’s the difference between being mad and being angry? Join me for a cup of coffee as we try to get to the answer today.

The external factors in our lives are relatively inconsequential. It’s our character and virtues that determine our happiness. Those are internal. Let’s explore this today over a cup of your favorite beverage.

One of the first things I did when I was young, (and BTW - my kids do this too) is respond to my parents after they would tell me something with - “why?”  Invariably it would lead to a chain of “why” responses until the temptation out of exasperation is to reply with - “because i said so.” Well, that didn’t always end the conversation but it does help you think about things. So today, I invite you to step back with me and take a look at what you do every day from a child’s perspective.

Today we’re going to discuss a few different types of friendship. Why is this important? Because it helps up understand the relationships we have with each other. And even more important how it can inspire us to improve our role in these relationships. Pour a cup and let’s savor this one together.

There’s a book I would highly recommend that you read if you can. It’s a book by Steven Covey and one of the topics he covers is the subject of today’s podcast. It is the idea of interdependence - as contrasted with dependence and independence. There is one of these three that is the better way. Let’s grab a cup o’ joe and unpack this one.  Thanks for listening.

Never lose sight of the main thing. You might be surprised at just how easy this can be, especially when we think we might be focusing on what looks like the main thing. In today’s episode we’re going to use the illustration of rock climbing to better explain this means. I’ll take mine black today as we get super focused! Thanks for listening.

“The best way” and “the way it’s always been done” are often not the same.  In this episode I’m inviting you think about the possibility of doing things in a different way and for a few very good reasons. Maybe have a cup of iced coffee today or sip from a different mug as we explore this idea together. Thank you for listening! 

In this episode I hope to challenge you into a slightly different way of thinking about regret. Regret is something we will do just about anything to avoid. But the funny thing is, nearly all of us end up with regrets. So what if we looked at regret in a different way… a very construction way? Do not live a life without regrets. Let’s grab a cup of coffee and talk about this today. Thank you for listening!

Here’s a bit of a ‘no-brainer’ - happiness is a by-product of little successes in life. But let your brain chew on this: how do you feel in between the successes?  Is happiness the end-all be-all we’re led to believe it is? Not on your life. There’s something much better.  Let’s take a sip and settle into this one today.

Sometimes the simplest concepts are the hardest for us to accept. Here are two: bad things are going to happen and preparation keeps us from overreacting. Let’s unfold the meanings behind these concepts that hopefully will help it stick in your mind. It’s coffee time!

Of all the podcasts I’ve had the honor of doing this one may be the one that was born for the moment in which we live. The year 2020 will be remembered for the world-wide shutdown caused by COVID-19, a novel flu virus. All around us the world reacts and mostly over-reacts. Yet we can take a simple lesson from a pebble dropped in a still pond of water that WILL have a powerful impact on you today. We may need two cups of coffee as we think about this one.

As we record this in the spring of 2020 the world is in the midst of a pandemic from a novel coronavirus. When things get shutdown and resources get scarce there is an amazing principal that we can look to that will do wondrous things to change the corner of the world in which we live. Let’s share a real cup of coffee and talk about this one today.

There’s a fundamental principal in our lives that is particularly appropriate in this day and age. Giving and expecting something in return robs us of the opportunity to inspire. Settle in to your favorite chair or take a sip of coffee and let’s explore this idea today.

You know how I love sports analogies. Today’s topic fits perfectly with this. In athletics we practice to get better. How often do we apply that principal to our everyday lives? Being present and mindful takes practice. In fact every day we are practicing to be a better person. Let’s grab a cup of coffee and unpack this today.

The title of this episode really says it. The most effective way to put something good into your brain is to read each day. Mark Tain had a quote that really sums it up, “A person who won’t read has no advantage over the person who can’t read.” Let’s have some coffee and talk about the importance of reading in today’s episode. Come to think of it, books and coffee go pretty well together, right?

This is the first a recurring series I am beginning today where I take a quote and expand on it. Today, it is Mark Twain. “ Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect.“ Let’s unpack that one today over a cup of joe.

Our society tends to focus on the negative. Today, let’s try to understand why we do this and how it can actually be a benefit. Sound interesting? Pour a cup and let’s talk.

We all have problems. Things that go wrong. Stuff that doesn’t work out. And sometimes it feels like we have a lot of problems going on at the same time and it can seem overwhelming. How do we better deal with that? Change your perspective. I have a great saying for you today to think about that teaches us it’s how we define our problems and our perception of them that determines our daily attitude.

What aspects of your life are you focusing on in hopes of achieving a happy and fulfilled life? Is it stuff… status… or something better?  Let’s grab a cup and get our “philosophy on” to see where we should be looking.

To be a great leader you have to be a representation of something worth following. There are leaders and then there are those who lead. To be a great leader you must be a great follower. But the questions becomes - what do great leaders follow? Let’s try to unpack this together over a cup o’ joe.  

Today we take on a big subject. What is the difference between honor and dignity? Each has its own culture. Consider the groups that each culture is in and how they respond to circumstances around them. Hang in there as we discuss what it means to live an honorable life.