The Average Sucks Show

Being vs. Becoming…That's the theme of just an extraordinary conversation in our latest Podcast with best-selling author and coach Ray Higdon.Ray's story is intriguing and inspiring… In his own life, he went from foreclosure to generating multi-millions in a few short years. He takes what he learned and coaches with 8- and 9-figure executives and business professionals striving to succeed.Through his own life and his clients he's realized that most people put off seeking joy. They “wait” until they reach some far off goal before they allow themselves a small pleasure. They focus on business and walk around with unfinished business in their head, waiting until one day to make peace with things in their past. They procrastinate on the most important thing in the world…themselves.Some of these high powered execs make the 50 million mark, and still aren't satisfied… and it's only then give themselves permission to seek joy.Why?Because they feel they can't seek high levels of success at the same time… they can't go for the money, for the success, for delivering high levels of value in the marketplace WHILE at the same time seeking the healing and forgiveness they crave.No matter what level of success you're at, chances are you've found yourself avoiding things that would bring you inner joy because…there's just not enough time.Ray Higdon made a decision to defy that stereotypical way of living. He wanted success yet didn't want to only have financial success – he wanted to feel it in every aspect of his life.You will want to listen in to our passionate discussion – I am honored to have Ray on the Average Sucks Podcast and know you'll find the conversation extremely useful to you right now.There's no better time than now to build JOY into your life.

On this week's episode, Michael sits down with Andy Mulvihill, whose father founded the family-owned Action Park, “the world's most dangerous amusement park.” Andy is a developer who runs hotels, restaurants, and real estate in Sussex County, NJ. How he became the man he is today is largely in part to being the son of Action Park's creator, Gene Mulvihill.  As a kid, Andy was often one of the first to test out these incredible rides at one of the most famous parks in the world - which is a very unique childhood!  Yet it was his father's ethic and creativity that taught him the skills that have helped him achieve the success he has today.  Andy tells all in his just-published book, Action Park: Fast Times, Wild Rides, and the Untold Story of America's Most Dangerous Amusement Park. In this Podcast episode, you'll hear: Why Action Park built such fierce loyalty among its employees and customers How entrepreneurs can use the lessons of Action Park today to seize opportunities that the pandemic response is opening up today The mindset and attitudes that make legendary businesses (and lives) work (because yes, “Average Sucks” And much, much more. If you want to learn how to pursue your business and life with wild abandon, and be exuberant about it and create something unforgettable, listen to this episode now!

Stay True, Stay Bold, Be F***ing Nice: How One Entrepreneur Took Her Business From Surviving to Booming During the Shutdown Who says the customer is always right? Susie Diamond believes the traditional view of customer service is not always the way to go. When customers ignore her store's mantra, “Be F**king Nice!” they learn there's an “or else” unspoken at the end. You might as well be bold, because the future of business is BOLD, says Diamond, the successful CEO and Owner of Scottsdale's Rolling Rack Boutique told Michael Bernoff in our newest Podcast. Diamond's destination boutique can be better described as “experience” than a store. She started out of a single truck of Rose Gold Chrome Wrap, Selfie Station, Faux fur ceilings and Chandeliers. She expanded to a 6,000 sq. ft. location in one of the most sought-after malls in the state, and has been invited to set up shop at Coachella's music festival. How did she do it? She says life changes the moment you decide “Enough is enough.” As the daughter of a professional gambler, Diamond goes all in business and the podcast and shares what drove her to take the risk of starting a business and why she will never put off chasing her dream life ever again. *P.S. Listen to the end to hear Diamond's story on how she turned one bad Yelp review into $22K in sales in two days. The future of business is BOLD. Be ready!

Are you ready to audition for the role of YOU? Well get ready, because it is time for this week's episode of The Average Sucks Show with Host Michael Bernoff! Our featured guest is actor, director, and writer Brendan Wentworth, who is best known for his roles in JAG, Chicago Hope, and Cypher! Brendan shares with us his thoughts on how to stay confident even when the stakes are high, tips to push through tough periods of change, and ways to present yourself authentically in both business and everyday life. Michael and Brendan discuss how he got into acting and his experiences over the last couple decades while working in a highly competitive and evolving industry. Listen in and learn what it means to “miss on your own terms,” to dive deep into a role, and much more. For additional information on The Average Sucks show and Michael Bernoff, visit: theaveragesucksshow.com

I have to keep my doors open! Across the United States (and across the world for that matter) communities are greatly struggling.  COVID19 and politics and unemployment and the mental health crisis well...the list of all the things that are not going well is long and lengthy. Every day coaches like myself get asked the same thing - and it's a version of this question: “How can I keep my business alive?” And every day I answer the question with answers, suggestions - ideas to implement, thoughts to consider - all of which are helping people gain and keep customers. Yet in this podcast, I publicly share the choices I personally made in my business to keep my business growing during the pandemic.  In this conversation I share my unfiltered perspective of what has and hasn't gone well, what I'm planning next and why you don't have to accept defeat. There are things you can do to stay on track. Listen to this podcast to walk away with ideas you can immediately incorporate into your own business. We are all going to make it, but how are you going to make it work?

How will you handle all this pressure? There's an intense amount of pressure people are feeling right now and it's because they can't make things happen the same way they used to.  When you have a way of growing your business, of operating your life, and all of a sudden that way won't work anymore, it puts your brain on overdrive. So you begin to think things to yourself, like: Can't leave your house. Kids can't go to school. Can't run your business the same way. Can't make enough money. Can't pay your bills. Can't get toilet paper. Can't stop being afraid of getting sick. Can't understand what's happening in the news. Can't believe what's happening in the world. Can't go out without a mask. These are just some of the whirlwind of thoughts that many people are having over and over again over the past few months.  The pressure is intense.  Panic, frustration and fear. Now let me say this - some are handling it better than others. Why?  You'll find the answer as you listen to my latest podcast “Unrealistic Expectations” where I hit head on the scrambling of thoughts in your head that ratchets up the pressure. What expectations do you have for yourself now that businesses are beginning to open up again.  Are you rushing in a mad dash to make up for lost time and putting intense pressure on yourself to make money fast?  Are you freaked out about putting out the money you need to operate your business (spending money to make money) when it's uncertain how the market will hold up? There are a lot of people that are feeling intense pressure and it's based on their unrealistic expectations. What should you expect for yourself? What's reasonable and intelligent as your next move? How fast do you need to move? Join me to learn a powerful new perspective to shift your thinking, move you forward and open up the door for more results than ever. Realistic Expectations with MIchael Bernoff

This episode of The Average Sucks Show with Shaun Alexander dispels the idea that changing your life is a long, exhausting uphill battle. Because once you make a decision that it's time to go from who you are now to who you were meant to be… Raising your average can happen in an instant. And, once you do it, you'll never, ever look back. In Shaun's case, raising his average happened with a little help from Justin Bieber (and a heated encounter they had). In this episode, Shaun shares how he suffered for years after his brother's suicide and how nightmares surrounding it kept him from sleeping more than a few hours a night for almost 10 years. He'd become a shell of the man he used to be. He'd lost himself to despair and didn't know how to get back. But he did get back. Not to the person he was before, but to a better version of himself. (And what's really cool is his wife says she can “see the guy she married again,” and his marriage is better than ever!) His business is booming (including closing a $1 million deal for a new company). He's sleeping at night. Most importantly…raising his average has opened up the possibilities to what he wants to do. Shaun says “If you don't kill the root, it's going to come back again.” He killed the root. And you can, too. Do yourself–and your life–a favor and watch this powerful episode right now. Remember, The Best Is Yet To Come, Michael Bernoff

The world right now is a mass amount of chaos and if you step back and take a look at it you'll see that what's happening is there are leaders and followers doing both good and bad. All of these people have one thing in common and that is they believe they are doing WHAT IS RIGHT and that is based on how they've been influenced. Some people take advantage of that, some use it for the greater good. In this podcast I discuss the psychology of persuasion and influence so you can understand how the mind works and what makes people listen. We must step up and influence others in a positive direction – the world needs great leaders right now. Michael Bernoff

On this week's episode of the Average Sucks podcast, I sat down with Stedman Graham, author, educator, businessman, speaker, and foremost expert on Identity Leadership. This is a powerful interview where we dive deep into what we need to be doing right now so we can have our lives work for us -- despite our current or future circumstances. The world shifted almost overnight, and it's caused us to deal with a radical change in identity. We were gym owners, real estate agents, people who made things happen and -- in a split second -- many of use became homeschool teachers, unsure how we're going to make a living. This loss in identity has left many of us wondering how we now lead in our families, in our businesses, and in our lives when everything seems to have crumbled around us. Stedman explains there has never been a better time than now to work on ourselves and redefine our identity, and then build a foundation based on who we can actually be rather than where we are right now. If you're uncertain and shaky about your future, or if you find yourself wanting to go back to the way it was, you need to listen to this podcast because we go into detail about…. What you need to be working on right now to prepare yourself for the future world. How to get out of the survival state of mind and become a leader in your own life. What Identity Leadership is and why it's critical for your success. How to become relevant in the 21st century based on who you are and what you do well. And why, with everything going on right now, you're in the perfect spot to get what you want EVEN faster than you could before. Ladies and gentlemen, we have entered the YOU economy. It's time to stop putting yourself in a box and confining your ability to design, create, and build the life you want. It's time to step up and lead your life -- one that has meaning, purpose, and makes you happy.

Many people have lost their jobs or temporarily closed their doors during the COVID19 stay at home…Now we're seeing states reopen and soon the world will be flooded with people wanting to get a new job, or get their business up and running again. The question on everyone's minds is HOW DO I SET MYSELF APART FROM EVERYONE ELSE? Join Michael for an “Ask me Anything” session where he'll answer your questions and share strategies to let the world know your value. He takes questions live from viewers in a variety of industries including real estate, HR and accounting, martial arts, party planning, network marketing and many more. The candid answers you'll hear from Michael will set you on the fast track to regaining your footing in the market place.

On this week's episode of the Average Sucks podcast, I sat down with Zach Bensen, founder of Assistagram, a company with a network of 220 million followers that guides influencers and Fortune 500 companies into social media success. Hotels and even countries around the world invite him to stay in some of the coolest places–for free. More impressive is that he built his company in 3 years, and still has time to manage his own Instagram network of millions. Yes, he's successful. But, as you'll hear, it's because he's relentless about living an above average life. In our conversation, Zac shares how he went from being a broke, professional breakdancer to being on So You Think You Can Dance and building a global 6-figure dance academy to running a multimillion dollar company with a network of 220 million Instagram followers. But it's the stories in between his successes–how he lived on $2 a day for an entire year, let down his parents numerous times, got fired, destroyed his dance career due to injury, and struggled with depression–that's really inspiring… The key moments where he was faced with adversity, disappointment, and failure, and refused to accept defeat. We all have these moments in our lives. Yet, far too few of us take that leap of faith and don't stop moving forward toward our dreams. If you're an entrepreneur or influencer, make it a priority to listen to this episode because Zac shares a few insider tips including… How to get yourself out there and build a social tribe to increase your influence. The #1 mental shift you need to have if you want to influence others online. His top 3 pieces of advice for brands wanting to sell on Instagram. Zac and I also discuss his simple formula for how to succeed on and offline. It's so simple, it will blow your mind. And it's a formula anyone can implement immediately.

When things go sideways in life, do you have a plan in place to protect yourself, your family and everything you've built from taking an unnecessary hit? When something major happens in your life, do you know what actions and steps to take to prevent yourself from taking a hit…mentally, emotionally, financially and physically? IN THIS LATEST EPISODE OF MY AVERAGE SUCKS PODCAST OUR GUESTS WERE PEOPLE FAR AND WIDE THAT JOINED ME LIVE TO ASK REAL AND RAW QUESTIONS. REAL QUESTIONS, LIKE… How do I make sure I can keep my business open? How do I manage a divorce in the middle of this economic crisis? How do I sell my product to people who aren't even able to conduct business? This episode of the Average Sucks show is all about fear, uncertainty, and confusion that has surfaced in the face of the COVID19 Pandemic. This crisis has turned life as we know it on it's side. And whether we're faced with this again on a worldwide level, or something happens in our own personal lives. We must be prepared. People that are able to face challenges head on have an above-average mindset. People that bounce back quickly when struggles occur have above-average mental toughness. In this podcast I also share a simple “3P” process that is easy to remember and will keep you on track. Like I've been saying, nobody likes running from behind. Nobody wants to be the one struggling too catch up. Listen to this and BE ONE OF THE ONES RUNNING OUT FRONT. Playing catch up is average behavior and Average Sucks. Raise your average – take the steps. We're all in this together!

Anyone who is in or has been in a relationship knows that it needs constant hard work and communication from both parties to make it work. In this week's episode of the Average Sucks podcast, I sat down with Slade and Diane Carlson, owners of Core Chiropractic Arizona. Before Slade and Diane launched their practice, they were at a loss about how they would be able to work together. They wanted to find a way to make the relationship become something that grows in their lives. Each of them had a bustling career of their own. Slade was working on his radio show while Diane was busy with her career as a chiropractor. They've had a brief relationship before Slade moved to San Diego and took part in the Core Strength Experience course. After a year, they've reunited again and Diane found significant changes in Slade. He was now better at communicating, more relaxed. Whereas in the past, he used to run away so much. It's evident that Core made Slade better at communicating what he thinks and feels, sparking the chain reaction of them they were able to get married, open up a practice, get it in operation, and move twice all for the sake of the relationship they've decided to build. In our conversation, Slade and Diane share the secrets behind successfully working together with your spouse. They give helpful recommendations such as switching one's mood to help separate relationship issues from work as well as the effective communication methods everyone must learn to do in every relationship. If you're ever in that position of not knowing what to do to improve the communication within your relationships - this is the podcast you surely can't miss. During our conversation, they were able to provide valuable advice for couples who are considering working together. Among many great inputs, they shared… “Fix yourself first and build that life that you want instead of waiting for somebody to come rescue you or save you“ “Drop the fear of change, the fear of making a decision, the fear of what might happen, the what-ifs. If you don't you're gonna lay in there wondering why you didn't at the end of the day.” Relationships can be the most powerful part of someone's life or the most painful. It only matters who you ensure it with and how you plan on going past the obstacles that threaten the relationship. Listen to this podcast to learn how Slade and Diane have moved past their troubles with communication in their past relationship and used it to change their new life together for the better. You'll gain insights and tips to improve your own relationships so you can RAISE THAT AVERAGE!

Anyone that has an entrepreneurial streak in them knows that along with that excitement, freedom and payoff comes a ton of hard work, frustration, tenacity and patience. In this week's episode of the Average Sucks podcast, I sat down with Brint Hiatt, Managing Attorney at HPS Law Group LLC. Anyone can take a look at Brint and easily see he's a guy who has it all. He's a work hard, play hard kind of a guy who has a wonderful family; a beautiful wife, five healthy children, a successful business and still makes time for travel, date night and personal development events. He has a lot of great stuff going on. However, he's still not where he wants to be in life because he has an entirely new level he wants to reach. He wants to Raise His Average. In our conversation Brint shares stories about the challenges he's faced growing his business and managing his responsibilities while he had to push past the thoughts and beliefs that were keeping him stuck. If you've ever questioned whether you can trust the people around you, or you've felt anxious about the decisions you're making - this is a podcast you'll definitely want to listen to. And...As you listen to Brint and I talk about where his lack of trust came from you may just find yourself realizing where your own frustrations come from and finally be able to put them aside. You know the old school saying “Expectations minus reality equals frustration.” During our conversation, Brint and I helped uncover the truth behind his frustration by giving him another perspective and resetting his expectations. Among many other great questions, I asked him… What if you can teach people to be better than you? What if you allowed people to be better than you? What if the only thing that's stopping you is that you're incorrect? As entrepreneurs, we're all drawn to the idea that only we are the ones that can do the best job for our companies, when in fact, we're simply setting ourselves up for failure when we try and get help from other people to do what we ask them to and expect them to do exactly as we do. Listen to this podcast to learn how Brint pushed past these typical business challenges.  You'll gain strategies you can use to improve your own life and business and...Raise That Average!

The CHALLENGES we face on a daily basis can make or break the chances we have at excelling in what we do. How come? Because challenges don't always present themselves to people beforehand. Oftentimes, they're unexpected, further complicating our process of growth. So whether it's becoming healthier, getting in better shape, or turning your life around, your attitude towards the challenges should not lead you to quit, but to inspire you to overcome them one by one. Joining my podcast this week is a student and a good friend of mine, Scott Giltner. Being an OIF veteran and a Spartan Elite, Scott shares stories about his struggles with alcoholism, bad habits, and becoming number one at the things he wants to excel in. Scott found a healthy outlet by joining Spartan races. These races not only boosted his confidence and following but had given him a healthy perspective in life, pushing him further away from the unhealthy lifestyle he had led. Today, he's consistently aiming to do better than he did yesterday and helping push others to RAISE HIS AVERAGE and BECOME #1. Finding a healthy outlet is just one of the many solutions that you can do to overcome the challenges you have in life. It only matters that you take advantage of them in order to reach your goals and help others achieve the same things!

It's true, trauma can prevent you from achieving GREATER THINGS IN LIFE. When something bad happens to someone, they have a choice.  They can either use it as a motivator to succeed...or get sucked up in the trap of avoidance, addiction and a life full of twists and turns down roads going nowhere. Bad day at work? Eat junk. Things with the spouse are getting rocky? Drink. Can't cope with the loss of a loved one? Take a few pills. People that have experienced pain and trauma often have unhealthy ways of dealing with the hurt...and they often times walk day in and day out faking it...masking the pain and sadness. And why? Because hiding is easier than dealing with the pain. That's exactly what my guest, Theo Fleury, did for many years.  While maintaining what looked like a functioning life on the outside, even while playing in the NHL, Theo filled his life with bad decisions, addictions and chaos.  In my podcast this week you'll hear this really cool conversation I had with Theo, former NHL player and author of “Playing with Fire.” He's an advocate-turned-activist who spent years fighting for mental health and addiction. He shares stories about his early life as a hockey player, his traumas, his experiences as a motivational speaker, and his insights about overcoming trauma and the best kind of treatment anyone can get for free. Listen to this podcast and learn from THEO how he rewired his brain against trauma. Theo knew that if he didn't learn to rewire his thoughts, he would eventually return to making bad (average) choices that led him down a destructive path. And as we say here, AVERAGE SUCKS. Listen to this, especially If you've ever wanted to ditch the victim mentality and bring out the winner you know is inside you, you'll want to listen to this episode now! The best is yet to come, Michael Bernoff

You're going along, doing your thing, and working hard to get ahead. You know what it takes...put in the effort, make good decisions, finish what you start. Yet there's always those things that “the man behind the curtain” knows, and you don't. The cool thing you'll discover in this episode is that the millennials are constantly searching and evaluating their world to get a really great picture of what's going on around them and how they can get ahead. During my interview with my most recent guest, Anton Liberopoulos, who is the epitome of today's millennial, we learn how Anton set out on a quest to figure out his life and why he was having highs and lows in his success. Along the way he learned that powerful communication is what controls everyone's success; so he spent his time, energy and money learning how to be a master communicator. And if Anton hadn't taken the steps to figure it out for himself, we'd never have met, he'd have taken a lot longer to reach his success, and he likely wouldn't have been a guest on my show!  Because he would have been living an average life...which sucks. Anton sends a compelling message to anyone who learned to work doggedly for years with the hopes of a big payoff later.  On this episode of The Average Sucks Show, you'll have the opportunity to hear first hand how Anton's millennial nature led him to uncover exactly how to change his life so he could live the life he wanted, from improving his communication to slowing down his mind and basically re-wiring his brain to be consistently happier.

Speaking with my lovely wife Debra Bernoff, in this episode of The Average Sucks Show we discuss the challenges entrepreneurs have when juggling work with family. Entrepreneurs have one big thing in common and that is managing their lives while managing a business that can never be “left at the office.” The overlap of their work/home life can be intense, I discuss the challenges I faced in 2019 and the plans for 2020. Debra brings to the table some of the tricks she uses to make sure she still is at all her girls' activities, exercising, eating healthy and doing things she loves, all while running our company. Debra implores viewers to make a decision to work on the skill of controlling their thoughts, she'll share how she consistently raises her own average each year with strategies to minimize overwhelm, knocking off more tasks in one day then most people accomplish in a week all while making it look effortless. As Debra and I chat on this episode you'll have the opportunity to use what you hear to map your own path to success! Remember, The Best Is Yet To Come, Michael Bernoff

“Don't worry when the coach is yelling at you, worry when he stops.” Speaking with my very special guest and world-famous sports broadcaster, Mike Goldberg. In this episode of The Average Sucks Show we discuss what it takes to be great. Beginning his sports career as a hockey player at the age of five, Mike shares with us the fundamental lessons he learned all along the way from coaches and mentors, which paved the way for an incredibly successful career in broadcast. Now, decades later Mike's illustrious career as a broadcast career precedes him. Whether ringside at a UFC or Bellator MMA fight or one of 900+ NHL games he's helped bring to life for millions of fans. His life lessons are powerful and valuable to hear, no matter where you are on your quest to achieve personal greatness. I'm very excited to share with you Episode Three, filled with these valuable lessons: How to set goals high enough so you succeed even if you don't reach your target' How to be your best even when you don't think it matters How to deal with the ‘hate mail' in life How to take criticism when you're focused on perfection How to decide to be great As Mike and I chat on this episode you'll have the opportunity to use what you hear to map your own path to greatness! Remember, The Best Is Yet To Come,Michael Bernoff

On this week's episode of The Average Sucks Show, I lay it all out plain and simple - it's important you know what your AVERAGE is and, when you truly understand it, you can start getting what you want out of life And become a happier, more-fulfilled human being. I know you're a smart person who is managing your life. And, I'm sure like most people, you know what it is you need to do, but you aren't doing it. Or maybe you do those things for a while, but can't seem to follow through. Consistency is the linchpin for success, no question. Working longer, trying harder, and forcing yourself to plug along is not the answer. Listen, it all comes down to communication. Your future hinges on your ability to effectively communicate. Your communication will get you where you want, and fast - and it has the power to destroy your current average--the way you currently do things in life. Of course, you're doing great things, and you've got a lot of awesome things happening in your life, but it's your average that controls you. You are your average. If you want to know how to elevate your current average so you can get anything you want in life, listen to episode 1 now! Remember, The Best Is Yet To Come, Michael Bernoff

TODAY'S SPECIAL GUEST IS ANDRE NORMAN, OR AS HE'S KNOWN: “THE AMBASSADOR OF HOPE.” His story is truly one of a kind… Andre went from prisoner to professor, from prison yard to Harvard Yard, in one transformational and inspiring story. Growing up in a broken home, fatherless from the age of six, going from illiteracy to gang activity, Andre's childhood prepared him for nothing less than a life of crime and violence. Eventually leading Andre to be sentenced to over 100 years in prison. Having survived rock bottom, Andre knew he could help others do the same. Pulling from his life experiences, turning misfortune into fortune, Andre set out to touch the lives of those in need. Through speaking, mentoring and various online programs, he now helps individuals, families and corporations turn any negative situation around – regardless of the circumstances. Andre's pledge is to help anyone in need. Andre's travels have taken him around the world, serving as a mentor and a listening ear for more people than he can count. His impact has been felt in countries like Bahamas, Guatemala, Honduras, Liberia, Sweden, and Trinidad. On this episode, you'll discover the epiphany which led him from solitary confinement to achieving his dream of attending Harvard University. I'm very excited to share with you Andre's story, and his valuable lessons which you can apply in your life! Remember, The Best Is Yet To Come, Michael Bernoff