The Nth Degree Podcast with Tracy Timm

What would it look like if every individual in your organization felt equally valued? That's the question that Mike Domitrz wants to answer. Mike is the founder of The Center for Respect, and believes that by helping institutions create a culture of respect, we can produce a long term impact on the lives of those we work with. Tune in as Mike and I talk about this revolution and how it can lead to loving your work even more.

Thinking about starting a search for a new job, but not sure where to start? I hear that all the time from people who want to love what they do, but aren't enjoying their current career. So I figured, what better place to start that with someone who's actually JUST STARTING his career. You're in luck because this summer I have a handful of awesome interns working with me, one of which is today's guest: Will Florence. Will is a rising sophomore at Wake Forest and he's already getting started on his search for his dream career. Today we're going to talk about the mindset of getting started and tangible things you can do to set your career search up for success.

Want to know how to sustain a successful 30+ year career, love what you do for a living, raise a family, and over just be a badass at life? Look no further than the one and only, mother of Tracy, Mary Ann Timm. Ok, I know... cheesy! But seriously, y'all, this woman has it together. She found work she loved at a young age, but most impressively, she was able to build a sustainable career and spend the last 30+ years in an industry she loves. I don't know about you, but loving something for THAT LONG is enviable, at the least! During our show, Mary Ann will talk about the tools she's used to build a sustainable AND successful life and career. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from her wisdom, and enjoy the always entertaining energy that we share!

Adam Carroll is an impactful speaker, business consultant, and serial entrepreneur. he's passionate about helping people and organizations architect a life and culture of fulfillment, progress, and achievement. A professional speaker, author, documentary filmmaker #BBD Podcast host, Adam has been Helping people succeed faster by building a bigger life, not a bigger lifestyle.

Today on The Nth Degree, we are joined by Cameron Blair, a former professional baseball player. Cameron will be talking all about how to make a successful career transition, especially when your identity is largely tied up in what you do. Cameron had to go from a life-long passion and pursuit of baseball, to something new. Going through a similar career transition once before, we're going to talk about our shared experiences, with a large focus on ex-athletes trying to find their career niche.Did you like this episode? If so, subscribe to my YouTube Channel, The Nth Degree(R) TV for more episodes and guests just like this!You can also find more information about The Nth Degree(R) Career Clarity programs and services by visiting us at: https://tracytimm.lpages.co/

"Quitting. It's never an easy decision. Especially when you fancy yourself a high-potential, over-achieving perfectionist. But even if you were raised with the "never say die" mantra branded in your brain, we all know that sometimes quitting IS the right answer. But how do you know when you should quit your job? How do you know if this is the hard work it takes to break through your perceived limits or if this is just the wrong work for you? Join me and my guest-- business growth catalyst Emily Page-- as we talk about when you should quit your job and when you should consider sticking it out.Did you like this episode? If so, subscribe to my YouTube Channel, The Nth Degree(R) TV for more episodes and guests just like this!You can also find more information about The Nth Degree(R) Career Clarity programs and services by visiting us at: https://tracytimm.lpages.co/"

Tracy Timm and Tricia Lewis sit down in studio to talk all about core values and what it means to live your life and career in line with them.

Fears come in all shapes and sizes. For Chantel Soumis, the fear of losing her ability to work was all too real. She was told to give up, to take social security, to stop fighting to make a living. But Chantel says there's only one person that has your story and can write the ending: you. Despite hardships and grief, Chantel found that fear was inevitable, so you might as well just face it.

Is it your duty to take risks? Nick Simmons was living a good life on Wall Street, but decided that it wasn't enough to simply get by. Nick talks about finding his passion, why he was drawn to working on inequality in education, and why there might be a bigger reason you should take a risk beyond simply improving your own situation.

From bomb disposal to trading to SCUBA diving, Tyler Reiser has had a lot of transitions in his life. What does it take to make a giant change in course for your career? How do you transition from the military back to civilian life? And why is it ok to take a year or two off between jobs to see the world?

If Lou Diamond was a superhero, he'd be The Connector. Building off a career in sales, Lou realized that he was really good at forming relationships and connecting the right people together. He took that "superpower" and turned it into Thrive, a coaching and consulting company that aims to help companies thrive through connecting with others. How do you improve your networking skills? What's the most important part of dealing with your fears? And what should you do to truly "thrive" in life?

How do you create your reality? Can your job be rewarding apart from the end results? Geeta Nadkarni is a veteran journalist and performer with more than 25 years experience. Among her many projects, she has launched Impact with Influence online, and talks about recapturing that child-like joy you found in simply doing something without the reward in mind.

Your personal brand is everything to your career. Are you doing the things you need to do to ensure that it's invincible? Melissa Agnes is a leading authority on crisis preparedness, reputation management, and brand protection. Agnes is a coveted speaker, commentator, and advisor to some of today's leading organizations faced with the greatest risks.

Paul J Meyer said it best: Success is the progressive realization of predetermined, worthwhile, personal goals. Ok, well if that's success, then my guest today, Phil M Jones, will tell you EXACTLY how to get there. Plus, he has a magical British accent. Enjoy!

Have you ever stopped to consider just how important your mindset is to everything in life?   Consider the last time you were taking on a challenge and told yourself it “would be hard.” Was it?   Or how about the last time you make a mistake and called yourself “an idiot.” Were you?   Or what about that time a friend told you that you could find work you loved and you said, “that's impossible.” Is it?   Our mindset has such an incredible power over how we see the world and the ways in which we respond to it. We can choose to see our circumstances as random and negative. We can treat ourselves like victims. Or, we can choose to see the world as something that we co-create with positivity. We can treat ourselves as insanely powerful.   The amazing part is that all is this is as simple… as a choice.   You choose your mindset. You choose your reactions. In many ways, you choose your destiny.   This week's guest, Jake Jordan, knows all about the power of mindset and the necessity of positivity. He shares his insights into how to maintain a positive mindset, despite your circumstances in life. He even shares with us his three-step model for changing any habit or behavior that's not serving you. Try it on for size, and see what happens.   And now, introducing, Jake Jordan!

Ok, so I know I just went for it with the title of this week's podcast, but sometimes you just can't sugar coat things. Anyone who's started anything, taken a risk, or otherwise deviated from the norm will tell you that bad things happening-- aka, shit hitting the fan-- is not a matter of if, but a matter of when. We have no control over the when, let alone the inevitability of some things just not going our way. It's like death and taxes-- a virtual certainty-- that one day, things will not go our way. Now, you know me (or at least you're getting to know me), so you know that this is not my normal sentiment. I'm the girl you visit to get pumped up about leaving your lame ass job or chasing your dreams. It usually doesn't serve me (or my clients!) well if I'm Debbie Downer. However, I've noticed recently that one of the places I can really use some work is dealing with setbacks, myself. I can envision my ideal future, create my ideal workday, and even work with my ideal client, but man, when shit hits the fan... I'm like that little kid in the cereal aisle who's mom said "no" to the Cookie Crisps again. Cue: tantrum. So this week, after suffering a few major (and I'll be honest, minor) setbacks and frustrations in my own business, I wanted to share my struggles with you in the hopes that they can help you deal with both the major and minor tragedies in your own life. I hope my honesty and vulnerability (and yes, occasional ranting) allow you to see that it's not all sunshine and rainbows on this side of the computer screen. Even people who have a great online image suffer the inevitable disappointment from time to time. However, what's not inevitable, is our reaction! Come on the journey of overcoming the shit-storm that sometimes is life with me. I know you'll enjoy it (or at least laugh right along with me!).

Have you ever felt like a personal fraud? Perhaps you were giving a friend relationship advice while your romantic life was falling apart. Or maybe you were offering your sister some assistance with her history homework when you refused to ask for help in economics. Or there was a time when you were asked to be on a panel about your success in business, but secretly, you were struggling to pay your own bills. I've been there. When I first started my business--coaching quarter-lifer's in their careers--I barely had enough to pay rent, eat beans, and keep up my appearance for my next meeting. Who was I to be giving someone advice? I was barely even happy most of the time, because not only could I barely take care of myself, but my situation made me feel like a personal fraud. Who was I to be giving advice when it seemed to be working out so poorly in my own life? Our guest today has been there, too. At one point in his life, Kris Simpson was a successful health, wellness, and fitness professional. He was a body-builder who had just won a national championship. He was a husband and had a life to be envied. He was also... an addict. As Kris says, "you're only as sick as your secrets." Today, Kris is a decorated best-selling author and over 5 years sober. His life and business have completely changed. He lives honestly, authentically, and fraudulently, both personally and professionally. I had the joy and honor of interviewing Kris about his personal transformation and how embracing surrender, fighting fraud, and learning the true meaning of "winning" have made all the difference in his life and in the lives of those he teaches. Without any further ado, I give you, Kris Simpson!

Imagine this: You study hard, master your craft, perfect your presentation, put yourself out there, hustle your happy ass off, and then... You. Go. Viral. Your book becomes an international best-seller. Your episode on Oprah is a huge hit. Your post on Twitter breaks the internet. Your video of yourself dancing to every great tune over that last half century goes viral. Then what? While many of us can only imagine how we would react in one of these situations, today's guest has direct experience with the final scenario. In 2006, Judson Laipply uploaded a video of himself dancing at the end of one of his speaking engagements. In the video, he was wearing a bright Orange Crush T-shirt and jeans. A spotlight was directed onto him and he was standing on a plain black stage. Then, the music begins: You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog, Let's Do the Twist, YYYYY-M-C-A. And for the next 6 minutes, Judson does the traditional dance of each individual stage of our collective dance history. People laugh, the music entertains, and Judson is nothing but magnificent. And then, unexpectedly, the video goes viral. And not just any kind of viral-- the very first viral video, ever. Ever! To date, Judson's video has 297 MILLION views, and counting. And remember, this was 2006! Pre-smart phones (for most of us!). What he was able to accomplish was truly revolutionary. But the part that people don't really remember is what happened to Judson after that. So, without any further ado, I'm so incredible excited to present my conversation with of my childhood dance idols (and all around great guys!), Judson Laipply.

So far, we've covered Steps 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 (uh, duh): choosing a goal, defining your “why,” determining what winning looks like, and figuring out what activities will be your key indicators of success. Last week was Step Four: figuring out what actions are going to move you closer to your goal. We called these activities, “key indicators.” Key indicators are essential to actually moving the “accomplishing process” forward. Passion is great. Vision is great. Goals are great. But without activities necessary to move the needle, nothing gets done. Nothing changes. Nothing gets learned. Nothing moves forward. Nothing gets done without meaningful, measurable, manageable activities. And as you may remember, one of the reasons that we don't take the meaningful steps toward our goals is because, in actuality, we are afraid to get started. That feeling takes on new meaning in Step 5 of our method of accomplishment.. Step 5 is very, very, very, very simple. Yes, I needed that many “very's” despite the fact that my Constitutional Law TA in college advised that I never use the word “very” in my writing ever again. Step 5 is doing the things that move the needle. Aka—finally taking some damn action. As Will said during his rant to end all rants, If I know the fuel is in the engine and I know what winning looks like and we have a needle and Iknow what moves the needle… hey, now we're talkin' here. Once that's done, let's have some fun with it. I think it's gonna work. If you've diligently (or even non-diligently) gone through the last four steps of this process then you have everything you need to accomplish your goals. The last logical step, then, is actually doing the things you need to do to accomplish those goals. In case no one else has shared this with you or you haven't lived long enough to figure this out, I'm going to give you the secret that's been evading you and your goals since the beginning of time. It's a quote from one of my internet favorites, Marie Forleo. It's simply this: “Insight comes from action, not thought.”

This week is the 4th week in our series on getting stuff done. Not just any stuff. Meaningful, life-changing, important stuff.   About a year ago, my friend (and now mentor) Will reached out to me a few weeks ago with a metaphor to beat all metaphors. One metaphor to rule them all. The Big Daddy of Metaphors. And over the last couple weeks, we've been breaking down that metaphor into actionable steps you can take to accomplish your most important shit. Because, as Will says, “that's what this game is all about.” These steps can be summed up by the following: Here's the breakdown: Know the needle you want to move. Know why you intend to move that needle. Know where you want the needle to go. Know how to move that dang needle. And most importantly… Do the things that move that dang needle! Put even more simply: Choose a goal. Define your “why”. Determine what “winning” looks like. Figure out what you need to do to move closer to that goal. And of course, most importantly… TAKE ACTION. So far, we've covered Steps 1 and 2 and 3: choosing a goal, defining your “why,” and determining what winning looks like. Last week, we talked specifically about winning, but not just any kind of winning. We talked about what winning looks like for you. Not for anyone else. Just for you. Defining what winning looks like for yourself, and making it concrete, measurable, and manageable is vital to getting anywhere in life. After all, if we don't have a target, we can't ever tell if we've gotten there or not. And we certainly can't take meaningful steps to get there, because there is no “there.” There's just this ambiguous goal/vision world that we live in because it's safe. After all, it doesn't require any risk to dream. So last week, I challenged you to define the finish line for yourself and make it as clear as possible. This week, we have a completely different challenge. Step 4 in this method of madness to accomplish anything you want in life could almost be a mini-version of Step 3. Step 4 is figuring out what moves the needle. What gets you closer to your “win?” What activities get fueled by your “why?” What daily items are going to show you that the needle is actually moving? Aka, how do we move that dang needle?! If you really want to get where you're going-- as quickly as humanly possible-- then you have to listen to this podcast about key indicators and how to get that dang needle moving.

This week, Now that you have your "why," we have a completely different, potentially even gargantuan challenge. That's the challenge of letting go of the definition of success given to (or even forced on) us by others. Instead, we have to realize that the traditional models of success might not be exactly how we would define success for ourselves. In fact, we might even have to embrace the idea of defining success in our very, own, unique way. But how do we actually do that, when our entire lives have probably read like a report card? Get good grades: check! Play a sport: check! Get involved in extracurricular activities: check! Get into a "good" college: check! Get a "good" job: check! How do we break this seemingly never-ending train of living up to the expectations of others and defining success for ourselves? Hop on over into the episode to learn my fool-proof method for defining success on your own terms.

Last week, we started a series on how to accomplish anything in life. I shared an awesome piece of advice that was gifted to me by a friend. Here's the breakdown: Know the needle you want to move. Know why you intend to move that needle. Know where you want the needle to go. Know how to move that dang needle. And most importantly… Do the things that move that dang needle! Put even more simply: Choose a goal. Define your “why”. Determine what “winning” looks like. Figure out what you need to do to move closer to that goal. And of course, most importantly… TAKE ACTION. Last week, we dug a little deeper into that advice by talking about Step One: Choose a goal. As you remember, this was no ordinary goal-setting session. If you have not listened to that podcast, go do that now. Rather than setting what have come to be known at SMART goals, I challenged you to set, what I like to call, stupid goals. Crazy goals. Outlandish goals. Big, hairy, audacious goals. More specifically, goals that are just “cool” to you and your life. And I asked you to commit to that goal for the next 5 weeks while we go through this exercise.   So now that you have your very “cool” BHAG, what's next? In the words made famous most-recently by Simon Sinek, we have to define our “why.” Our “why” is our reason for being. Our belief, our dream, our hope.   Not only do we have to choose and define our why, but we also have to learn why our "why" is so dang important. See what I did there? ;) If you don't understand the why behind the “why” (yes, I realize that's sooooo meta), then you will skip over this step completely. And that would be a shame, because it's actually one of the most vital. So, without any further ado, I give you... my five reasons to "start with why" and how to define your intention so that it gives fuel to your fire.

I'm a sucker for a good metaphor. All the world's a stage. Books are the mirrors of the soul. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Young love is about as awkward as two porcupines trying to mate. Yes, I know that's a simile. But still, it's funny. But in all seriousness, I love a good metaphor. They have the power to bring abstract concepts to life. They give our words movement in time and space. They paint pictures that allow us to understand stories in a more profound way. So when I heard this unexpected metaphor for life, I just had to share it with Timmbit Nation. A while back, I shared a blog with you about a friend I met-- Will Merrifield. Will came across my path as a potential client but remained on my path as a valuable friend and mentor. Without any prompting from me, Will shared one of the greatest metaphors for success in life that I have ever heard. Up until now, I was only able to share that metaphor with you in words, but today you're going to get to hear it form Will, firsthand. This was, hands down, the most succinct, most inspiring, most relatable, most understandable, and dammit the most downright entertaining piece of advice I've ever received in my life. And it was… completely unsolicited. Without any further ado I give you the first of five installments that were inspired by a three-minute long voice message from Will himself. Enjoy! As we go through these next few weeks, we're going to be asking these 5 questions (remember, this week, we've already talked about #1). What's your engine?! Do you have enough fuel to power the engine?! Where is your finish line?! What's your odometer needle?! And...       5. How are you going to make that dang needle move?! Because then, as Will says, we're talkin'. And then, we can have some fun.

One day... I'll be ready. One day... I'll take that next step. One day... I'll have it all figured out. How many times in your life have you told yourself "one day"? I remember, 4 years ago (which is still amazing to me), I was sitting at the same desk, in front of the same 4 computer screens, being yelled at by the same angry men, at the same job that I hated, and no matter how miserable each new day might be, I still told myself... "One day"... I'll quit this job. "One day"...I'll do something I really love. "One day"... I'll be free. Thankfully for me, that one day came much sooner than I expected, but for most people, "one day" always seems to loom somewhere off in the distant future. For most of us, that "one day" will only come when we've done enough research, made enough money, had enough conversations, or cried enough times that we feel... gasp... ready. But what if there was a fool-proof, sure-fire, tried-and-tested method to avoid all this wishin'.. and hopin'... and dreamin'... and prayin'? What if there was a way to decide to leave your job that not only allowed you to have zero fears or doubts when you left but also allowed you to remain in that job as long as you needed without feeling like you were missing out on something else? What if there was a process you could use to go from believing you were meant for something more to actually doing something more? Would you do it? My friend Andrew Tarvin is with us today to talk about, among other things, the method he used to quit his comfortable job at Proctor and Gamble with no fears, no doubts, and no regrets. Andrew and I talk about the process he followed (and enjoyed along the way!) to get from a 9-to-5 to a completely nomadic lifestyle that he lived successfully for over 18 months. We also talk about the ways you can build more confidence and commitment in your life by using simple strategies that businesses have used for years. Our guest today is not only a great friend and mastermind partner, he is also an hilarious and gifted professional speaker and comedian. He's spoken in all of the 50 states and several countries internationally. He started one of the most popular college improv groups in the country, went on to work for one of the most impressive Fortune 500 companies in the world, and began his own successful career in speaking and training in the span of just 10 years. Andrew is a force to be reckoned with, and I'm delighted he could be here today to share his wisdom and knowledge with you. Without further ado, I give you, Andrew Tarvin!

What can I say about Jeff Hoffman that hasn't already been said? Jeff is a successful entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, published author, Hollywood film producer, and a producer of a Grammy-winning jazz album in 2015. He has been the founder of multiple startups, has been the CEO of both public and private companies, and has served as a senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known companies, including Priceline.com. uBid.com, ColorJar, and more. Yup, that's already been said. Jeff serves on the boards of companies in the US, Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in more than 150 countries. He also serves on the boards of Global Entrepreneurship Week and The Unreasonable Group. He supports the White House, the US State Department, the United Nations, and foreign governments on economic growth initiatives and entrepreneurship. Yes, that too. Jeff is a frequent keynote speaker, having been invited to speak in over 50 countries, on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business leadership. He is the co-author of the book SCALE, a how-to guide for growing your business. Jeff also teaches innovation workshops to major corporations on a regular basis. He's been featured as a business expert seen on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, CNN International, Bloomberg News, CNBC, ABC, and NPR, and in publications including Forbes, Inc., Time, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and more. Woof, this guy is BUSY! Outside of the world of technology, Jeff has produced movies, has produced musical events including concerts, tours, and charity events with such artists as Elton John, Britney Spears, NSYNC, and others, and serves on numerous charity and non-profit boards. Yes, friends... NSYNC for-crying-out-loud! Here's what I can say about Jeff Hoffman that no one else has said-- he gives a mean hug. I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff while I was a student on Semester at Sea in 2013. Thanks to a bond that goes well beyond time and space (Yale alumni!) we immediately began a friendship that has lasted to this day. In this episode, Jeff and I talk about practical strategies for finding your purpose, the do's and don't's of choosing a mentor, how to know if you have "entrepreneurial DNA," and oh this little idea of how to determine what your life is all about. This episode is great for you if you've ever wondered what sets great achievers apart from everyone else, how you can start to do more of what you want and less of what the world expects you to do, and you want to laugh a little bit while you learn a TON. I'm so honored to have Jeff on the show and so thankful he could share his wisdom with you today. Without any further ado, I give you, the incomparable, Jeff Hoffman.

Regrets. One thing we all have, and simultaneously, one thing we all wish we didn't have. Maybe you wish you would have struck out on your own. Maybe you wish you would have taken the risk of starting your own business. Maybe you wish you would have quit that job you hate a little sooner. Maybe you wish you had never taken that job in the first place... No matter how old you are or what you've done in life up until now, it's very likely that you live with a few (or maybe even many) regrets. Despite wanting to live a regret-free life, there are plenty of things I regret doing. Cheating on a test. Gossiping about a friend. Putting an "all-you-can-eat" sushi restaurant to the test. Fanny packs. You name it! There are plenty of things in my life that I've done that I regret. But a few years ago, while I was sailing on other side of the world, I learned a simple secret about regrets that has completely changed my life. I no longer worry about regretting things that I do... Instead I worry about regretting the things that I don't do. Come check out the podcast this week for a breakdown of this simple secret and how you can start to live a regret-free life today.  

Have you ever wondered what it takes to find work you actually love? Have you ever wondered what it feels like to love the work you do? Have you ever wondered if it was possible to have both things at once? I know I have... There was a time when I was so miserable at work that I wondered if I would ever find anything that lit me up and got me excited about life again. I was so down that I lost my sense of wonder and forgot that the world was full of possibilities. I would go from feeling hopeful one day to completely hopeless the next. I was worried it would never end... Sound familiar? If this doesn't describe you, then statistics tell us that it probably describes the person sitting next to you. Studies show that nearly 75% of the workforce in the United States is either not engaged or actively disengaged with their work. That means that the majority of us are either asleep at the wheel or just downright hate our jobs. So where do I get off talking about "loving the work you do" when most of us are dreading Mondays and counting down the clock until 5pm? Enter Debra Swersky. This week's podcast features one of the most positive and enterprising young women that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. In addition to being a good friend and colleague, Debra personifies the idea of doing what you love and loving what you do. In good times, she's reveled in the fact that she is fulfilled by her work and in bad times she learns to love whatever is right in front of her. This approach has led Debra through a series of incredible adventures including planning international events, working with celebrities, launching products, getting her MBA, traveling to Africa, starting a non-profit, owning her own business, and just generally being a badass. This episode is great for you if you've ever wanted to find a new job, create your own dream role, take advantage of your greatest assets, or get plugged in to a new city. Debra's advice goes way beyond traditional career advice, so listen closely. The secret to loving what you do and doing what you love is just around the corner.

Raise your hand if you've ever been daunted by the question: "What is your purpose in life?" Uhhhh... what?! Are you telling me I just have to have one purpose in life?! And only one?! And I have to figure it out now?! What if I don't get it right... Is it possible for me to miss it completely?! I get the shakes just thinking about that question. It wasn't until several years of battling with that question, several failed attempts at labeling my career and profession, and several sleepless nights wondering if I would die purposeless... that I decided to abandon this question completely and opt for an entirely new one. I think the idea of defining your life's purpose in one way or one word or one calling is a bit ridiculous. Our life's purpose changes all the time based on our current circumstances. So, in honor of that dynamic-ness that is life on this Earth, I decided to go with the following question instead: "What is my purpose in life... right now?" Right now... your purpose could be being the best daughter possible. Right now... your purpose could be being the best employee possible. Right now... your purpose could be being the best un-employed person ever. Right now... your purpose is given to you based on where you are in life! If we embrace life this way, it frees us from the constraints of having to figure out our one purpose, and worry whether or not we are fulfilling it. If we embrace this question instead of the alternative, then we can be totally present and start serving our calling now instead of waiting around for some divine signal of what to do or where to go. If we embrace this idea instead of being enslaved by the idea of "one," then we can start living the dynamic, meaningful lives we were meant to live. We can start having impact... right now. That is how I'd like to introduce today's guest, Carrie Fabris. Carrie is living and incredibly dynamic and meaningful life by prescribing to this exact idea-- that our purpose in life can change with the seasons of our lives. And it is precisely by embracing this idea that we remain fully engaged with our lives and the lives of those around us. In this way, we can live our purpose every day-- our unique purpose for that day-- if we decide to stay in tune with the ebb and flow of our own individual circumstances. Carrie is an incredible story-teller, and I'm so excited to have her on the show as a mentor. This episode is perfect for you if you've ever worried about having to define yourself one time in life, wanted to change careers, felt bad for your conflicting or multiple desires in life, or just wondered about how to be true to yourself as your situation and circumstances in life unfold before you. Carrie is wonderful about sharing the successes and the struggles, and has truly helped me understand that sometimes in life, my purpose will change. But that, my friends, is the very, best part. So without any further ado, I give you, Carrie Fabris!

Suffering. Sadness. Sorrow. No, I'm not trying to get you to leave this page! These words evoke pain, but the most interesting thing about them is that they are 100% identifiable by everyone on this planet. All of us experience pain, misery, heartache... even just generic unhappiness... from time to time. But for some of you, you're carrying a bigger cross than normal. Something happened recently in my life that made we want to reexamine suffering. I wasn't exactly looking for answers to why we suffer. Rather, I was looking for ways to make sense of suffering... to use it to our (or the world's) benefit. I once heard someone say that suffering is a horrible thing to waste. I agree. And after this podcast, I think you will too. With all my love, enjoy.

C.S. Lewis had many incredible quotes, but my favorite one is this: "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What? You, too? I thought I was the only one...'." Our guest today, Jenn Ostman, is about to become your new best friend. That's because this entire podcast of full of moments where you will think Jenn is sitting inside your brain, thinking your thoughts, and making your decisions for you. I don't think I've ever had a guest on the show who was so eloquently and accurately able to describe her current transitional phase in life and how she's grinding out the day to day while planning for the more ideal future. Her honesty and authenticity are both incredible and humbling. She's brave enough to air out her laundry for everyone to see, but most importantly to learn from. And not to learn what to do and what not to do. But to learn that it's ok. You are enough. Your choices don't have to look fancy on Facebook or envious on Instagram. They just need to align with who you really are and what you really want out of life. Right now. Not yesterday. Not when you were growing up. And certainly not when you were UIO (under the influence of others). Jenn's courageous story and humorous honesty will help you put your life back into perspective and allow you to see how you're already so much closer to where you want to be than you think. Without any further ado, I give you, Jenn Ostman!       Play by play: 4:00 Jenn's dream job and how she got it 6:30 How Jenn realized that her dream job might not be everything she wanted it to be 8:30 Jenn's journey from her dream job to her parents' couch 10:00 What happens when you derive your identity from your work 12:00 How Jenn proved to herself that she made the hard, but right, decision for her 14:15 How to build a new identity when your job doesn't cut it anymore 16:30 Getting perspective on your life when you're stuck in the mode of comparing yourself to others 17:30 The difference between self-identity in the East and self-identity in the West 20:00 Jenn picks up her story with her cushy, cushy bridge job 20:30 Learning from complacency and finding something more 23:40 Finding the right job for the life you want to live right now 25:30 Walking the line between money and happiness—do we have to? 26:20 How Jenn put all the puzzle pieces together to find her new dream job 27:30 Mentors who helped Jenn discover her passion 29:30 Jenn proves that “nothing is ever wasted” with her own life 31:55 The #1 priority in Jenn's life and how she honors it all the time 33:30 How to figure out your place within healthy relationships 34:20 A key thought that took Jenn YEARS to learn, but is truly foundational 35:50 The best answer to the “what about the starving kids in Africa” question 37:10 How to know if you're chasing squirrels or following your intuition 38:40 Jenn's method for ranking your priorities and maintaining consistency in life 43:55 Why examining your life is a sometimes scary but so necessary life practice 45:45 How Jenn used the Predictive Index to find out her true behaviors and motivations 50:15 Hot to start seeing your natural personality as a strength and asset if you haven't done that before 59:15 Once you have all the puzzle pieces of life, how do you start to put them together 1:01:30 How to find an environment that allows you to thrive 1:02:40 Jenn's major “adulting” realization and how it's guiding her career decisions 1:05:30 What about when you have to put in your dues to get to where you want to go 1:06:00 What gets Jenn through the hard times and stuck feelings 1:07:20 How to look at life as an evolution of growth instead of a never-ending list of “theres” to get to 1:08:40 Jenn's mom's INCREDIBLE piece of advice and why you should tell it to yourself everyday 1:10:30 How I learned one of life's greatest lessons in a confessional 1:11:15 The story of one of the greatest human beings I've ever met 1:13:45 How to embrace constant transformation by remembering that it's never too late 1:15:00 How Jenn gets perspective on her life by remembering how teeny tiny she is 1:16:50 How to take your nature, nurture, and network and put it in the context of now 1:19:00 How to get out of the “all or nothing” mindset that will paralyze your life 1:23:00 How to let go of what other people think and honor where you are in your life 1:25:00 How to find your light at the end of the tunnel 1:27:00 The importance of setting deadlines for yourself 1:27:30 How I know Jenn will be an amazing inspiration for so many people 1:28:45 Jenn's #1 piece of advice for you right now 1:30:10 Little love fest and mimosa time 1:30:30 Get in touch with Jenn at @jennostmanyoga 1:31:00 Get in touch with me @thetracytimm or facebook.com/tracytimmfan 1:31:20 Do what you were created for, now!

Have you ever wondered what "successful" people have in common? And more importantly, whether or not those traits accurately describe you? Today's guest, Walter Nusbaum, will help you know if you have what it takes to be counted among the most successful people in our world today. And if, for some reason, you find yourself coming up short, he will tell you how to get there! In addition to being a dear friend, constant mentor, and genuine inspiration, Walter Nusbaum is an author, speaker, and growth strategy consultant at his namesake, the Nusbaum Group. He has always been motivated by building and driving relationships and the experience of helping people to achieve accomplishments they might never have done alone. Whether he's spending time with individuals or with organizations, his goals are always the same... Taking his clients to the next stage of their growth. Walter's business and goal in life can be summed up by one of his favorite quotes: "​In order to discover new lands, one must consent to lose sight of the shore for a very long time."​ Which is only support by one of MY favorite quotes: "A ship is safest in port, but that's not what ships were built for." Walter's most recent book, Do You Have What It Takes?, walks through his 7 core traits that all successful people have in common. I hope you enjoy this intellectual and invigorating conversation about success, both in work and in life. And again, if you find yourself lacking in any one particular area, I hope this gives you the tools and motivation you need to keep going, and more importantly, keep growing. Without any further ado, I give you, Walter Nusbaum!       Play by Play: 1:00 The crazy way I met today's amazing guest 5:00 Walter's 7 traits that really successful people have in common 5:30 Walter's background story and how sometimes you don't know where life is going to take you 8:00 What to do when life makes you start all over from scratch 9:55 How to get over your rough history and start to look more positively at life 11:40 Can you get perspective in the moment or do you have to wait until time has passed? 15:30 The #1 thing that determines whether you're a positive or a negative person 17:00 Please stop saying this phrase now… it's not serving you! 18:55 Why your negativity is so ingrained in you and how to reprogram your brain 19:30 The biggest difference between losers and winners 20:15 How to rewrite the script of your own life 20:40 The seven core traits of all successful people 21:00 Try this trick to create vision and practice the future before it gets here 23:00 How to translate a positive athletic mindset to a positive life mindset 24:00 An awesome tool for practicing your life in advance 26:45 Walter gives me an awesome pat on the back… I blush 27:00 How to build more time into your day for visualizing a positive future 28:40 Once you have clear vision, you need THIS to make things happen 30:40 How to get over the fear of not knowing what's going to happen 31:00 Walter compliments me again… I blush… again 33:15 Why there really is no such thing as a “safe” choice 35:30 Who does Fortune really favor? 37:00 The difference between doing it and saying you're going to do it 37:40 You can have vision and initiative, but no one will listen to you if you don't have THIS 40:30 Do you have to overcome adversity to be a person of great character? 42:30 How to make sense of struggle and suffering 44:00 The most dreaded component of success (and the one thing people consistently say they need to improve) 45:45 How to discern between the important and the most important 46:15 The basic five things the average person would say are the most important things in life 48:20 The biggest problem that makes us lose perspective and prioritize life incorrectly 50:30 The end-of-life statements that give us perspective in life (or regret!) 51:30 The 5 regrets of the dying 52:55 The one thing that will allow you greater levels of resilience in life 53:20 How Walter got through a divorce and a ruined career with this one belief 54:35 How to let go of your view of a “perfect life” and embrace “another beautiful life” 56:30 Why life is like a beautiful tapestry 58:00 The difference between the victim in life and the responsible person 58:45 The most successful people know how to be excellent with this one component of life 1:00:30 What Steve Jobs regretted most in life 1:02:10 How to learn better relationship skills if that doesn't come naturally to you 1:03:50 Why leadership is a fundamentally unnatural (and uncomfortable!) activity 1:07:00 The last piece of Walter's success puzzle 1:08:15 What to do when you feel like you're overwhelmed with the demands of life 1:10:15 Walter's surprising emotion at the thought of winning the lottery 1:14:00 How do you know if you've found “your thing” 1:14:50 How to start figuring out what's the most significant to you 1:16:40 The difference between “I don't have time” and “I haven't made time” 1:18:00 One great way to start taking control of your day instead of being at the mercy of it 1:19:50 The number one reason I fail, and how I've learned to be more effective 1:20:40 Walter's #1 piece of advice for you 1:21:50 Get in touch with Walter on his site www.thenusbaumgroup.com 1:22:20 Get in touch with me @thetracytimm on Insta/Twitter and www.facebook.com/tracytimmfan on FB 1:22:55 Do what you were created for, now!

We've all been there. You got everyone excited. You anticipated the day. You invited your friends and family. You made an announcement, a launch, a new beginning... and then... You fall. Flat. On your face. Failure. Failure is the biggest and most commonly shared fear among those who take chances. Failure is also, conveniently, one of the most misunderstood circumstances that exists. Those who haven't yet failed will look at failure and say, "Wow... I could never recover from that." Those who have failed time and time again, and then succeeded would say, "Wow... I could never have done it without that." And now that I've left the 9-5 world, started my own business, engaged in a new relationship, and begun a myriad of other (terrifying) things, I can easily say that without failure, I would never succeed at anything. This week's podcast is not only about failure, but about how to make failure WORK in your favor. I hope you enjoy this scientific and psychological look at "failure" and how it can actually be an asset rather than a deficit. Enjoy!

Can you imagine being an immigrant to a foreign nation? Perhaps some of you know exactly what this feels like. You leave your home-- everything that is comfortable and familiar-- and you travel thousands of miles to a completely new place. Everything is different. The sites. The sounds. The food. The people. The routines. The schools. The homes. The culture. Most especially, the culture. Everything that was once held dear is now questioned. Perhaps you came from the kind of place that values family above all else and moved to a place that places the individual on a pedestal. Or maybe you were raised to live with your family until you were married, but now everyone around you is living in apartments alone or cohabitating with significant others. Or what if your clothing was an expression of your reverence to your family and you go to a school where everyone is wearing tube tops... I'm not even going to TOUCH religious or political differences. Millions of Americans endure this type of out-of-country-out-of-body-out-of-mind experience everyday in the hopes that they will bring themselves and their families a better life in the United States. Our guest today, Mimi Zheng, is one of those first-generation immigrants. Having moved from China to the United States at age 12, Mimi was witness to every one of these discrepancies. She was able to view the differences between her Chinese heritage and American culture not only through her own eyes, but the eyes of her parents and family as well. Today, she uses those varying experiences and expressions to continuously redefine success on her own terms and live a life that is truly authentic to her unique culture-- both Asian and American. This episode is great for you if you've ever struggled to live up to the expectations of your culture or family, wondered if there was "more to life than this," or wanted to find a career that allowed you to give your greatest gifts back to the world in a unique and authentic way. Mimi is such and inspiration and I hope her ability and willingness to say "yes" to life and continuously ask for what she wants will help you get to your next step.

Sometimes stories are so powerful that they barely need an introduction. Chris Shade-- educator, administrator, speaker, and humorist-- has one such life story. Chris has transformed throughout his life from a shy, introspective, confused adolescent to an outgoing, extroverted, and self-assured adult. His vulnerability and honesty about the trials and tribulations of his life nearly brought me to tears. I was honored to not only get to hear his story, but to share it with you. My only hope is that you hear this story with open mind and open heart knowing that there is nothing that the strength of will and faith cannot overcome. With that, I give you the inspiring and authentic, Chris Shade.

You could 100% do my job. No, I'm being serious. At the risk of making myself or my work sound dumb (oh well!), I'll just say this-- this business is not rocket science! I'm sure it looks like "I have it all together" or "I was destined for this" or even "I had a head start," but here's the real deal Holyfield, and potentially a not-so-earth-shattering secret: I. Am. Just. Like. You. I am just like you. I wake up in the morning and have bad breath. I crave chocolate. I'm wildly unorganized. I get in fights with my boyfriend about how slowly he pumps gas. I have succumbed to a 6-hour binge-watching session of One Tree Hill. I've been fired from a job that I hated. I'm afraid of bugs. I am not a superhero. But I am a fast learner. So here's the secret to my "success" (remember, "success" should only be defined by you!!): Take action. Learn quickly. Make changes. Take more action. Rinse and repeat. There's honestly not much more to it than that. Trust me... you can even ask my mom. I was recently honored as one of the top performers on the organizational side of my business. Apparently working with over 30 companies (aka, getting more than 30 people to say "yes") in your first 18 months of work is rather impressive. I was unaware of this, and simply plugging away at work here in Dallas, when I was contacted by the Mother Ship in Boston and asked to be on a panel during our global meeting last week. "We want you to be on a panel of top performers," they said. "Um... why?" I was confused. No one around me seemed all that impressed. Why should they be? "Well, you've done something that almost no other associate has ever been able to accomplish," they replied. "Oh, you mean go over 18 months without going to the dentist?!" I was sure I had it, now. "Um, no. Not quite. 30+ accounts is a great accomplishment, and we want you to share your insights on the panel." I panicked. Insights?! What insights?! Most days talk about running a business the way Kurt Vonnegut used to talk about writing: When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in his mouth. But I was wrong. I had outperformed, and now I had to put on a show. What had made me successful? How had I gotten off to such a fast start? When did I know I had "made it"? That was a personal favorite because of how much it made me laugh. No one ever "knows" they've made it. There always another "it" to get to. Anyway, after a lot of thought, I put together these 7 strategies for starting anything new, and I wanted to share them with you today. Whether you're starting a business, starting a new relationship, starting a new life in a new city with new friends and a new place to live... no matter what you're doing in life or what you wish you were doing in life... these 7 proven strategies will help you get up and running more quickly and "successfully" than you could ever imagine. I hope they serve you as much as they've served me, even though I had no idea I was doing them at the time! I promise you'll be that much better off for it. Enjoy!     Play by Play: 4:00 How to kick butt on a panel 6:30 7 strategies for starting anything 7:15 Lesson #1 11:40 Lesson #2 15:40 Lesson #3 18:30 Lesson #4 22:55 Lesson #5 28:40 Lesson #6 33:10 Lesson #7 37:45 The recap of the 7 steps with a little baby bonus 38:45 Connect with me @thetracytimm or facebook.com/tracytimmfan 39:30 Keep doing what you were created for, now!

Have you ever had a chance encounter turn into a life-long friendship? Did you know that it would the minute you met? Do you thank God for it everyday? I did. I have. I do. I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Michael Hoffman almost 2 years ago. He was introduced to me by a mutual friend, and we decided to meet up for coffee. I had planned on 30 minutes for coffee... 1 hour max. Two and a half hours later, we both needed to refresh our coffees, and we both missed our other meetings. It was mentor/mentee at first hello. I was sold. Since then, Michael has been such and incredible influence in my life-- professionally, personally, spiritually, emotionally-- you name it. I'm sure I don't say it enough, and if he's reading this, he's probably blushing. But you know what, it needs to be said. Sometimes people come into our lives by chance. Sometimes they come into our lives on purpose. This relationship of ours has definitely been the latter. I'm so excited to be sharing this podcast with you today, because Michael has such a gift. Not only for speaking, but for speaking with honesty and fervor. When he makes a point, he makes a point. When he laughs, he laughs. And when he holds your face and tells you that you are awesome and you are awesomely made... well... you pretty much want to adopt him as your Bonus-Dad. Don't tell me I didn't warn you. This episode is great for you if you're in a place in your life where you feel a little stuck and a lot unsure of what to do next. Maybe you're paralyzed by the fear of making "the wrong" choice or you've already made a choice and you feel convince it was the wrong one. If you've ever wondered if there's something to be learned, even when you hate where you are, then this episode is for you. Michael and I talk about how to get rid of our "victim of life" mentality, how to reshape our mindset around job and career, how to learn something no matter what you choose to do, and most of all how to have fun despite all the ups and downs that life will inevitably hand to you. I really hope you enjoy the interview as much as I enjoyed giving it.    Play by Play: 6:10 Michael's introduction 7:30 Why Michael was almost cooler than the Pet Rock 9:30 How Michael got the inspiration for this first business… at the age of 7 11:15 How important is positive feedback in your youth? 12:30 Michael's favorite way to start letting go of fear of failure 14:15 Two inspirational stories for modern day do-ers 15:45 The power of “masterminds” and how they lead to success via accountability 16:55 Should we compete or should we work together? 18:00 Why Michael doesn't necessarily believe in the whole “millennial thing” 19:00 Our best case for masterminds among young people 20:30 What happens when your peers are your competition rather than your compliments 21:30 The next time you go to say “I wish they would” try this mindset shift 22:00 Getting rid of the zero sum game of success 24:00 How Michael turned around an entire sales training department 26:00 Michael's theory of “doing things on purpose” 27:30 Michael's biggest Ah-ha moment in making career choices 29:00 The best definition for a “professional” that I've ever heard 31:45 The #1 thing Michael would like to pass on to his 4 children (and you!) 33:15 Why leadership is a fundamentally unnatural act 35:00 What drives Michael Hoffman to do better everyday 36:45 Why life is better when you live it through and with others 38:15 How to build more of what you love into your current environment 40:00 What two things you can learn in every single situation you ever encounter 40:15 How do you get out of the “I'm stuck” mentality 41:00 Teeny tiny ways you can build more variety into your life 44:30 What to do when every one of your possible choices feels “final” 46:20 How to look for more peace in your decisions 48:00 Dealing with the everyday pressures of today's society 50:00 How to embrace worthiness based on your intrinsic value rather than your work output 51:30 How to “live the journey” once and for all 53:15 How to let go of the mindset that you need to “have it all figured out” 54:20 The crazy story that taught Michael the value of living the depth and breadth of life (good AND bad) 56:30 A newer (and better) definition of success 57:45 Michael's path of discernment to finding his calling and what you can learn from it 59:30 How Michael sold 24 hot dogs to one guy at a movie theatre 1:00:30 Gaining insight into yourself by listening to the feedback of others 1:03:00 How someone helped me realize that being a good conversationalist was a marketable skill 1:06:15 How Michael's son found a way to use his natural gifts during his job search 1:09:45 Why life should be fun and exciting but how make it sad and difficult 1:11:30 Why Michael doesn't want you to be afraid to feel or suffer 1:12:45 The one question you should ask yourself this year to have your best year yet 1:13:15 Michael, as your dad… enjoy 1:13:30 Michael's #1 piece of advice for you 1:15:30 Hope you didn't pee your pants, ‘cuz that was funny 1:15:50 Connect with me @thetracytimm 1:16:00 Connect with Michael at www.ignitingperformance.com 1:16:30 Shameless plug for the podcast and the website (rate, review, subscribe, and leave a comment!)

Have you ever gone through a particularly tricky period in your career and wondered,   "Will I ever figure this out?!"   You've tried everything.   The corporate role. Self-employment. Education. Dog-walking.   The works!   But nothing seems to be sticking the way you had hoped.   The corporate role is too impersonal. Working for yourself isn't personal enough. Education is WAY too personal. And dog-walking is just downright messy.   Well, my dear friend, you are not alone.   Allow me to introduce to you, Laura Yamin.     Laura and I connected online. She runs a successful (bleh, hate that word!) podcast that's all about "saying yes" in life when most people would say "no." She reached out to me to be a guest on her podcast (so much fun!), and I asked that she return the favor. Little did I know that I had hit the proverbial jackpot.   I. Love. Laura. Yamin.   Seriously, I'm a huge fan.   It's rare in life that I meet someone so incredibly brave and vulnerable, who's willing to put their mess out there for others to learn from and associate with. In this episode, Laura does exactly that.   If you've ever felt alone or isolated in your job search, questioned every move you've made, or wondered if you were ever going to figure this thing out, then this episode is for you. During our interview, Laura shares her transition from over 10 years in higher education, burnout out in working both for herself and for companies, and her current career explorations all with one overarching theme:   Say yes to yourself and don't quit before the miracle.   Without any further ado, I give you, Laura Yamin.       Play By Play: 3:30 Laura's introduction and Say Yes Podcast 6:00 How to know the difference between great on paper and great in practice 8:35 Building a business when your day job keeps you busy from 10am-3am 12:00 How Laura found her niche—aka not throwing out the baby with the bathwater 14:40 How to stop trying to please everyone besides yourself 16:10 What happens when you climb the success ladder but the top is not what you expected 17:30 How to separate your worth from your work 20:20 The best process for finding things that make you happy 22:00 The funniest way to psych yourself up to do the things you need to do 23:30 Balancing the mindset of “sticking with it” and “quitting when it's time” 24:50 Creating a successful job search that changes over time 27:00 How to go from zero interviews in April to twenty interviews in May 28:20 What keeps Laura strong through a really tough time looking for work 29:30 How to know the components of your dream job (or even your NEXT job!) 31:30 Take care of the people who take care of you 32:20 Subject or substance—what's more important in work 33:15 How to see your job as a stepping stone and not a death sentence 34:05 How to build a mindset that allows you to see everything as a part of the bigger picture for your life 35:10 The process of pivoting—saying yes to some and not to others 36:35 How to make sense of the idea v. the reality in work and life 38:00 You. Are. Not. Alone. 38:20 How to do the work when you're not sure where you're going 39:10 Laura's #1 piece of advice for you 41:00 Do what you were created for, now!

Your palms are sweaty. Your heart is racing. Your mind feels blank. You have a vague concern that your underwear might be on the outside of your clothing, and you're really not sure why.   Yes, friend, we've all been there.   These are the tell-tale signs of the anxiety that most people feel when they approach what is now officially the scariest thing a human being can do:   Speak. In. Public.   Dun, dun, DUNNNNNNNN!   Have you ever set out to do something scary, say speak in public, write a poem, tell someone you love them, and wondered, "Does anyone else FEEL like this?!"   I know I have!   So I used the podcast this week to open the kimono on one of the most personally terrifying and simultaneously gratifying things I've ever had the honor of doing in my life-- giving my very first TEDx Talk.   Just a few days ago, Friday May 20th, to be exact, I stood on stage and delivered the most well-prepared 18 minutes of my entire life. In one moment it felt like I'd only been standing there for 30 seconds. In the next moment, I could have sworn I'd been on stage for 30 minutes. My life flashed before my eyes. I felt vaguely hungry.   At one point, I exited my body and watched myself giving the talk of a lifetime.   Ok, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.   Either way, I completely understand what it feels like to be nervous and excited at the same time, and I wanted to record myself feeling terrified and relieved so that you know that even those of us who do this stuff for a living go through the paces... just like you.   This episode is awesome for you if you've ever wondered what it takes to apply for, prepare for, and actually deliver a TED or TEDx talk. It's also great if you just want to hear someone's honest experience of going through something so scary and so gratifying that it often caused me to question my sanity and my motivations. In all seriousness, this episode is a great testament to the fact that we all struggle, we all fell nervous, and we can all believe that there is light and life at the end of the tunnel.   Without any further ado, please enjoy my preparing for, celebrating after, and actually delivering my very first TEDx talk. Enjoy!       Play by play: 1:00 Welcome to my TEDx experience 3:30 Friday afternoon right before the speech 17:30 Saturday morning after the speech 28:00 My TEDx Talk! 44:40 Hope you enjoyed my struggle

What were you doing when you were 4 years old? Playing with blocks, perhaps? Starting to color somewhere near the lines, maybe? Pretending you're in a rocket ship that's bound for outer space, if you're lucky? Not Ben Austin. At the tender age of 4, Ben Austin already had the drive to answer life's really, really, really big questions. In today's episode I have the honor and pleasure of interviewing author, coach, and soon-to-be podcaster, Ben Austin. Ben runs a successful blog called StopStartDo.com, where he publishes articles and other content geared toward personal development and achieving life's biggest goals. He calls himself a Personal Development Architect. He will help you design the life you want. You will have to build it. Today, Ben and I cover some incredible topics such as taking responsibility for everything that happens in our lives, tracking our habits that lead to the most success, and finding the motivation to make progress toward our best life ever. Without any further ado, I give you the soothing sounds of Ben Austin (he's got the coolest voice, ever!). Play by Play 1:30 Surprise, I'm giving a TEDx talk! 4:00 Ben takes it all the way back to childhood, y'all 5:00 The one question that pushed Ben to trying to cure cancer at age 12 6:00 What happened when Ben's wife got a rare nerve disorder and no one knew how to help her 10:15 The fundamental mental shift that has changed Ben's life 11:40 The things that stand in our way to taking responsibility in our own lives 12:30 The “motivational seesaw” tactic to making anything happen in your life 13:30 The mental hurdles Ben and I had to get over to launch podcasts 14:15 How to beat perfectionism 15:30 The “tipping point” of life and how to get ok with improvement over perfection 17:00 How Ben got empowered to turn wasted time into value-added time 17:45 The “matrix method” for tracking your habits 18:30 How Ben discovered 25 “success habits” that lead to having an awesome day 20:00 The cause and effect that determines whether you have a good day or not 20:30 Ben's best “success” habits that you should try tomorrow 22:10 The best way to figure out how you're spending your time and how much value those activities have 23:15 The #1 thing you need to have to make real change in your life 24:30 The best strategies for your own personal self-discovery 25:10 If you don't know where you start, start here 26:10 How to get clear on what you want by writing down what you don't want 27:00 How I got all twisted up about happiness and Ben set me straight 28:15 The pinnacle of human achievement… we found it 31:30 Ben's morning routine that leads to the best day ever 33:15 How to not let your morning dictate your whole day 34:10 Ben's best catalyst habits to get a measurable increase in the awesomeness of your day 35:30 Ben's 4 principles of unstoppable motivation 37:00 How I learned to measure my life to lead to more happiness 39:30 The “put your mask on first, then assist the child” model of life 40:00 How Ben discovered what he actually finds fulfilling 40:30 Ben's #1 best seller from when he was 5 years old 41:50 Ben's #1 piece of advice for you right now 42:10 Why it all starts with responsibility 43:00 Ben's freebie for you! 43:30 Connect with Ben @benaustinblog and me @thetracytimm

In life, there seems to be two polar methods to finding your way along your journey:: You can follow your "passion"... Or, you can do what's "practical." Our guest today blows the lid off this idea by proposing an alternative: Live a life of "practical passion." If you're wondering what that means, I don't blame you. I was just as confused as you are before I had this amazing conversation with today's guest, Nina Godiwalla. In addition to being a dear friend and a previous business partner, Nina Godiwalla is an expert in leadership, diversity, and women in the business world. She is the best-selling author of Suits: A Woman on Wall Street, which I had the pleasure of reading while I was working at an investment bank myself. The New York Times describes that book as "the Devil Wears Prada of investment banking." That is not an exaggeration. Previously, Nina has worked for Fortune 500 corporations, founded and ran her own leadership and management training company, taught for the University of Texas MBA program, keynoted at places like NASA, the White House, and a TEDx Conference, and she has advanced degrees in liberal arts from Dartmouth and her MBA from Wharton. No. Big. Deal. Nina and I crossed paths in 2013, a year after I had read her book and written her an email asking for some advice. One year later, Nina emailed me back, and an hour and a half after that, I had a job working for her start-up company. It was a whirlwind, to say the least. I've learned so much from this phenomenal woman, and I'm so excited to share her story here with you, today. Enjoy, as Nina and I talk about the practical ways you can take baby steps (and even giant leaps) toward living your passion. Play by play: 1:00 Happy Mother's Day 1:30 Nina Godiwalla's introduction 2:45 The crazy way that Nina and I happened to cross paths over 5 years ago 3:30 The story of my Hail Mary Email 5:00 When passion and skill and money come together… 5:30 Nina's welcoming 5:45 Nina's background story 8:30 Nina's vision for her life and how her journey changed along the way 9:00 How to take advantage of jobs you don't enjoy 10:00 How to find the best mix of playing to your strengths and growing in your weaknesses 11:00 How to play to your strengths, find something you're passionate about, and make money doing it 11:30 What to do if you're not super passionate about one thing in particular 12:00 Does everyone have a “passion”? 12:50 Should I chase what I'm passionate about or what's practical? 13:30 The catch-22 of having too many choices 14:15 The peanut butter problem 14:35 To get a masters degree or not to get a masters degree? 16:30 The wrong reason to go to business school 17:00 What it's like to write a best-selling book 18:30 What to do when your job becomes disheartening and you feel jaded 19:00 How to leave your job in a classy way 20:15 How are we doing with the whole “diversity” thing in Corporate America? 20:40 The difference between thought leadership and implementation 21:45 How to realize how far you've come every day even when life feels slow 22:15 How Nina found her optimal work environment by taking calculated risks 23:30 Nina shares how to find a balance between her practicality and her creativity 25:00 The importance of feeling pushed to be independent 25:30 Balancing activity and reflection throughout your career 26:30 How to use a simple list to figure out your passions and strengths 27:30 What happens when a best-selling author doesn't seem herself as a good writer 28:10 Nina's #1 piece of advice for you in your journey 29:10 Get in touch with Nina at ninagodiwalla.com 29:30 Connect with me @thetracytimm 29:45 Subscribe, rate, and review—get involved!

There are few names that have brought as much notoriety asBreneBrown over the last few years.She sprang on the "scene" in 2010 with her TEDx Houston talk:ThePower of Vulnerability.But Brene's story goes back even further than that.For her entire academic and professional life, Brenehasdedicated herself to the study and practice of social work. Shehasa Bachelors... Masters... AND Ph.D. (NBD) in Social Workandremains a research professor in the subject for the UniversityofHouston to this day.In short, she's a badass.A badass who's out to prove that vulnerability is not whatwemade it out to be. Vulnerability is not weakness. Vulnerabilityisnot shameful. Vulnerability is not for the faint of heart.Vulnerability... is courage.I had the privilege of seeing Brene Brown speak (in person!) atacharity event last week benefiting the Dallas Children'sAdvocacyCenter. I managed to snag some pretty decent audio from theevent,and I'm excited to share it here with you today!The episode is not an interview, but rather, Brene'sincrediblespeech to over 1,500 people that day.This episode is an incredible example of what it means toembracevulnerability, espouse authenticity, rise up when you'vefallen, andbest of all, shake the haters off-- once and forall!I hope you enjoy listening to Brene as much as I did.Play by Play:1:30 Shout out to DCAC2:30 I got to listen to my idol give a speech… so now youdotoo!4:20 A deviant with a good cause4:50 Introducing Brene Brown5:00 Peanut butter and 8 hours of Downton Abbey6:00 A total God moment6:50 Why Brene has vowed to “be in the arena” and live abravelife7:30 Your daily decision: courage or comfort?8:20 Is vulnerability courage or weakness?9:20 The one decision that has made Brene “dangerous”accordingto her husband9:45 Why you need to shake the haters off… once and for all10:30 How to know if someone's opinion of you really matters12:00 What happens after you dare greatly, fall down, andcan'tget back up12:45 Brene's best story of daring greatly gone wrong…andgetting back up14:00 What's actually worse than being vulnerable14:40 What do men and women who “rise strong” have in common15:15 The reckoning, the rumble, and the revolution16:15 Why everything is possible… 6 months from now17:20 What happens when you run out of lunch meat atBrene'shouse?18:00 Brene goes down a rabbit hole and then totallyredeemsherself19:30 The most powerful line in the world20:20 What's the “story” you're telling yourself right now?22:00 Why we are neurobiologically wired for story22:45 The trouble about being hard wired for story25:00 What happens when you walk away from a conflict with26:00 The one variable that men and women who revel in joysharein common27:00 The best case I've ever heard for donating to causeswhenyou don't feel like you have anything to give28:00 The epitome of daring greatly

Have you ever had a conversation with a total stranger-- on aplane, on a bus, on a train-- that totally changed your life?I know, I know. That's a bit much. But seriously.Have you ever sat down with zero intention of talking to theperson next to you only to realize three hours later that you neverstopped talking and the plane is already landing?!I have.And it happened to me in Burma, of all places!And I'm thankful that I can call that person a friend to thisday.Natalie Brown and I actually met before this fateful flight. ButI bet if you ask either of us, we had only been acquaintance upuntil that moment. I believe that it was that flight and thatconversation that finally bumped us up into the Friend Zone.We had a conversation that was so vulnerable, so humble, and someaningful that I've only had it matched a handful of times to thisday.I know you've had these experiences, too-- one person says onething and all of a sudden... you feel...Understood.Heard.Loved.All of a sudden you realize...You are not alone.I wanted to bring Natalie on the show today to give y'all thatexact same perspective.Natalie is actively going through a bit life transformation now,and she was brave enough to come on the show and share herexperiences with you here today. It's raw. It's real. It's arevelation.I know you'll love her as much as I do.This episode is perfect for you if you want to:Learn more about yourselfStart to find ways to embrace calm despite the chaos lifeBuild confidence and courageLet go of the limiting beliefs and expectations that othershave for your lifeReally be transformed by someone who understand youOh, and we talk about traveling the world two times beforeyou're 25.NBD.So here, with all my life and all my light, is Natalie! Play by Play:1:50 Why Natalie Brown is thebees knees2:40 Please, don't ever do thisin Burma… please4:45 Welcoming Natalie to theshow5:05 Natalie'sbackground5:35 How to do really effectiveself-discovery6:50 How to avoid feeling likeyou're going “backwards” in your life7:45 Letting go of what otherpeople think about your decisions8:40 The best way to get rid ofthe limiting beliefs and expectations of other people (even whenthey mean well!)10:15 What the heck is thiswhole “ego v. intuition” thing11:30 The book that helpedNatalie tell the difference between her ego and her intuitiontalking13:10 Natalie's best practicesfor tapping into your intuition and letting go of yourego14:15 Where you can find thecourage to reach out when you feel the most vulnerable15:20 Natalie's currenttransition and how she's dealing with making big lifedecisions16:20 How Natalie got a job bytelling someone she didn't want it17:10 How authenticity, evenwhen it's hard, can work in your favor17:40 Natalie's biggest lifetransformation—what it actually feels like to make real change inlife18:50 Is growth a struggle orenjoyable?20:10 How to take a “lifebreak” and get some perspective21:20 The importance of cookingand eating for your own well-being (not what you'reexpecting!)22:40 The impact of yoga ofNatalie's life and outlook23:40 The one thing that isalways accessible to you, no matter how you feel24:20 The best case I've everheard for meditation (it's not that hard, it's working, keepgoing!)25:40 How to stop only doingthe things you're good at so you can actually grow as a humanbeing27:00 My weird meditationexercise that works miracles for me28:00 Natalie's second triparound the world—the where, why and how30:10 How to choose the placeyou want to travel wisely31:10 Natalie's transformativeexperience in Cambodia and what it means to be humananywhere32:10 How to hit your biggestgoals by starting small33:15 Natalie takes a stab at“the meaning of life”34:30 How to rest inrestlessness (finding peace in the chaos)36:15 How to plan for thefuture while taking life day-by-day38:20 How to let go of thehaters38:30 Natalie's plan forfiguring out her life and accomplishing her dreams39:20 Using “design thinking”to rapid prototype your life and your business41:40 What fills Natalie'sspirit and how to find what fills yours43:10 How Natalie learned toreally love herself45:30 Natalie's #1 piece ofadvice for you46:00 I called an audible andasked Natalie a bonus question—it was totally worth it46:30 How to embracechange48:10 How to get in touch withNatalie49:15 How to get in touch withme49:30 Don't forget to hop overto iTunes—subscribe, rate, and review!50:50 Do more of what you werecreated for, now!

You know that one kid who always knew what he wanted to "be" when he grew up?A doctor. A pilot. A lawyer.Captain Jack Sparrow.It didn't matter what he wanted to be. All that mattered was that I had no idea what I wanted to be. And that kid annoyed the crap out of me because of it.Today's guest would have been that kid.Thank goodness we had the good fortune of meeting when we were adults.I know that doesn't exactly sound like a glowing introduction, but stick with me here.I've always been fascinated by people who are able to look at their lives in totality rather than focusing on the day-to-day. I'm amazed at young people and adults who already know what they want their legacy to be and contemplate their impact on the world at large.I've never had that kind of perspective, naturally.I work hard to be a positive person and do more good than bad in any given day. I love unceasingly and give whenever I have a little extra. I even pay all my taxes.#thanksObamaBut vision? My future? A legend?I just never thought that way.But today's guest, Edgar Seah, knows that his life has a bigger impact than he can ever imagine. He lives every day trying to give more than he takes. He has systematically eradicated his carbon footprint, and is slowly but surely chipping away at the opportunity divide that exists across our world.In short, he's a badass.A badass... with a bigger purpose.Edgar is the Founder and former CEO of SEO Africa, a non-profit aimed at developing leaders across Africa who will one day give back to their local communities. He worked for almost 10 years in the finance industry and was able to retire in his early 30's. He attended Carnegie Mellon and has travel around the world... not once... but twice (and counting).Did I mention he's a badass?I hope you enjoy our conversation about how to see our lives as having more impact than we could ever imagine and how each of us can cultivate a desire to give more than we take in our life time.Play by play:0:50 Sunday, rainy Sunday1:20 Tracy's introduction to the phenomenon that is the crawfish boil2:00 Why we're here today2:30 How I happened to meet Edgar in Africa of all places3:20 Why first impressions are still really important and still usually wrong4:20 The story I didn't know about Edgar5:50 Edgar's background story and his route to Budapest7:30 Edgar's short stint in the Singaporean Army8:20 Transitioning from army lieutenant to college freshman9:00 Why would anyone leave Singapore to come to the United States?10:15 How a business and economics major fell in love with the non-profit world11:35 What the heck is SEO and why didn't I hear about it in college?13:20 How to take seemingly opposite experiences and make something cohesive out of them14:00 How Edgar decided to go into banking, but not for the reasons you might think15:45 How you can get perspective on your own life so you can make better plans17:10 Seeing what you're doing as a stepping stone rather than feeling stuck18:30 Why you don't have to let everyone in all the time19:15 How do you commit to where you are when you know that eventually you want to be somewhere else21:00 Why you should stop putting pressure on yourself to do everything now22:00 How to order the events of your life so you can continuously grow while being continuously present24:00 Why money is so much more than things and comfort24:40 How to know when it's time to quit25:20 The #1 method for figuring out if you should stay or you should go26:30 Traveling around the world for the second time…26:50 What the heck is Semester at Sea and why didn't I know about this in college?29:00 How to know where to start when you're starting over30:30 If you don't know this woman, you need to get to know her31:20 The one chapter of the one book that made the biggest impact on Edgar's life32:50 Two amazing rules for an amazing life35:00 How to offset your global footprint for the rest of your life37:00 How to turn the scary things in life into things that motivate you38:00 What do our lives really mean (yes, we're getting deep) and why there is meaning in our short existence39:00 Why the world would be a better place if everyone would give more than they take40:30 How to empower young people to give back to their communities in the future43:00 Knowing your role43:30 What to do when you've done it all44:40 What challenges Edgar found really surprising along the way45:45 Building self-confidence over time (don't discount the military!)46:30 Keep it simple…46:50 Edgar's #1 piece of advice for you47:40 How to get in touch with Edgar48:10 How to get in touch with me49:00 My challenge for you this week…

Do you ever wonder when you'll have enough money or enough time to do the things you REALLY want to do in life? My guest today, Robert Collier, does not. That's because... he's already doing it! No, Robert is not a millionaire or a trust fund baby. He didn't win the lottery or cash in on a class action suit. He's also not a "starving artist" who enjoys physical freedom at the expense of financial... well... expenses. Robert is just a normal guy who's mastered some incredibly practical ideas to achieve his high and worthy life ideals. He'd also like to thank Gandhi for the inspiration for that phrase. In today's episode, I interview Robert J. Collier of practicalidealist.net. Robert is a blogger and online business owner who's goal is to help others achieve their greatest goals in life by implementing small, practical strategies that encourage financial freedom and personal success. He loves traveling, meditation, business, and of course, people. During our conversation, Robert and I talk about how achieving our life's work doesn't have to be a pipe dream. Rather, by being clear on our mission and values and utilizing some simple methods to increase productivity and decrease waste, we can make our dreams a reality. This episode is great for you if you've ever wanted some down-to-earth practical advice about how to get your life together and get moving on your bucket list... today! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. There's plenty of laughter throughout because I was continuously floored by Robert's ability to put complicated ideas into simplified terms. Make sure you have a notepad with you. This one's a doozy! Here's a play by play:2:50 Robert's background story3:25 How to navigate an early fork in the road of life6:20 Shout out to Robert's dad who survived a double lung transplant6:30 What exactly is practicalidealist.net7:15 Finding inspiration in silence8:25 Why Gandhi still has the goods, especially in today's world9:25 Robert's favorite methods of self-discovery12:30 How do you get started when you have no idea what to do (with anything in life)13:50 The greatest gift of Robert's life15:05 How to pay better attention to the positive (insightful) input of others16:40 Listening to the opportunities you have to use your gifts17:45 How Robert is figuring out what he was created to do in life19:10 The secret method that keeps him going and learning along the way19:20 The story of Buckminster Fuller21:40 How to maintain peace and serenity while you're going through the process of finding your way in life24:40 Goal-setting 10126:20 How to let go of what “realistic” means for other people when it's different for you29:00 How to write your own “life list”30:20 Strategies for making the time AND FINDING THE MONEY to do all the things you want to do31:35 How to automate your finances so that your money works for you33:25 How to negotiate your employment contract to maximize your vacation time34:35 What makes us happier: more money or more time off?35:15 What activities actually make you the happiest of all37:00 How to cheat the “No Vacation Nation” system and get the most time off possible40:50 Robert's #1 piece of advice for you

Imagine you're 90 years old. You're sitting on the front porch of your house. You're curled up in a rocking chair made of wood with a few feather pillows. An afghan is resting across your lap, keeping you warm. You're looking out onto the front yard of your home,and you're reminiscing about your life. You think about a decision you made when you were 25 years old.You smile.You know that was a great decision. In this episode, Leana shares this incredible method for decision-making along with an insanely large number of other tips to live a life of no regrets. And... even if we've already experienced regret... how to shake it off and keep moving forward. Leana's bright spirit, hilarious sense of humor, and no nonsense advice really make this podcast one that you do not want to miss. Today's episode is great for anyone who's ever felt like it's too late to make a change, wants to know how to create a mindset that embraces transformation, and wants to laugh hard enough to possibly pee their pants. Hopefully not in public. Enjoy! Here's a play by play, in case you only have a little time with us!1:00 Shout out to my Chicago friends!1:25 Leana's mini-bio and fearless transformation2:20 Leana's “path less traveled”3:15 Leana's 20 year background that she no longer uses4:00 The most influential person in Leana's life and the gift she received6:00 Why Leana and I think you don't have to do the thing you wanted to be when you were a little kid6:45 Can you “force” the creative process?8:05 The #1 that holds people back from being creative and making change8:55 How to tell the negative voice in your head to shut up already9:40 That one moment when Leana finally slayed her Fear Dragon10:30 Leana's only and biggest regret in life11:15 The two types of regrets and which one you absolutely need to avoid12:05 The difference between what fuels you and what holds you back13:05 Leana's life's meaning and joy13:40 Why you should never say “it's too late”15:10 What helps Leana feel more self-assured as she takes risks in life16:35 What to do if your passion can't pay the bills17:55 The biggest change in mindset since college and why it's really hurting our growth19:05 Why Leana would keep writing even if she'll never be a best-seller again19:30 How to turn your mindset toward loving the process as opposed to the outcome20:45 Letting go of limited beliefs and expectations of others21:30 The sneakiest thing you can do to increase your self-esteem22:40 How people keep you in THEIR comfort zones just so THEY can feel better24:00 What's the best response to a well-meaning person who tells you to play it safe when you really want to take a risk25:05 The way Leana makes major decisions and why you should try it in every part of your life26:45 How to live with regrets and move on with your life despite wishing you could have done something differently27:10 How to ensure that nothing you do is ever wasted29:00 Key individuals who helped Leana through her major life changes30:30 The importance of paying attention to the positive reinforcement of others30:45 Why you should ALWAYS tell someone what they are amazing at and never let potential go unnoticed31:30 My obligatory Marie Forleo reference31:45 The best first step after getting positive feedback32:15 My favorite story about listening to the messages of others33:30 Leana's incredible plans for the future35:00 Contact Leana at leanadelle.com35:20 Leana's #1 piece of advice for you and your big life transformations36:10 Connect with me @thetracytimm36:50 Fun new stuff coming up on the website soon!

Let me channel one of my favorite TED talks of all time for a moment. Drew Dudley, I'm lookin' at you. Can you remember the last time someone said something or did something that made your life fundamentally better? Maybe it was a teacher you told you that you were good enough. Maybe it was a childhood friend who held your hand when you feel down. Or maybe it was a total stranger who put their cell phone down while they were interacting with you and actually looked you in the eye. I mean… it's the little things, right?! In today's podcast, I share the story of how two sentences in a spam email changed my life forever. This podcast is great for you if you have ever questioned if you were good enough, wondered if you had anything worth saying, or put off making a decision because you were scared of what others would think. Here's a play by play of some of my favorite moments:1:00 How someone had a huge, profound, crazy impact on my life1:20 Why I'm just like you guys… and question EVERYTHING!2:00 Opening the kimono on doubt2:30 That time I broke down in Mexico because I couldn't make a freaking decision3:25 The major questions and doubts I have all the time4:35 The best analogy for the “God will save me” decision-making process confusion6:45 What reassurance do you need to feel like you're making good decisions?7:00 Are you failing to see the obvious answers to our hardest questions?8:00 The one person who gave me the courage to start sharing my stories8:30 My brush with an Olympian9:30 How two unlikely lives came together10:30 Please don't go looking for this article I wrote…11:10 That one time procrastination worked out in my favor12:00 If you've ever felt bad about yourself, just compare yourself to this moment of mine…13:00 How one person's email changed my life forever14:00 When simple words of praise are miracles in and of themselves15:00 One of my top 5 TED talks of all time15:30 If you're still missing the signs, listen to this17:00 The most meaningful things in our life just might not be things17:15 How to connect with me on all the (social media) things!17:40 Subscribe, leave a rating and review18:00 How to get even more great content at your interwebs fingertips 

In this episode, I interview peer, Jennifer Baugh. Jenn is the Founder and Executive Director of YCP, a Young Catholic Professionals organization that strives to connect young people for networking with each other, exploring leadership, and discovering their faith. Jenn has an incredible story of going from MBA student to high-powered consultant to waitress to executive director. She's seen her fair share of struggle, but she found an intriguing way out of it-- she actually allowed other people to help her! I'm so excited to share Jenn's story of transformation, because she reminds us that it's in the moments we want to reach out the least, that we need to the most.

This week, I'm interviewing peer and dear friend, Brad Myers. Brad and I had the fortune of meeting at a mutual friend's wedding (again, where all good things happen!) about two years ago. In the time since our serendipitous introduction, we've become so much more than friends. We challenge each other when things are going well, we console each other when they are not, and we celebrate the little moments in life in between. I brought Brad onto the show, because he has a particular gift for accepting and embracing change. In fact, he even seeks it out from time to time! Brad is an incredible inspiration for all of us because of his ability to cultivate a growth mindset and take on the world with full steam ahead, regardless of his circumstances.  0:30 Welcome4:45 Brad's introduction and life story5:45 Brad's take on how to choose the right college for you6:45 Following the career path after Lehman's collapse8:40 Brad's transition from New York to Chicago and why he chose to leave9:55 What you can learn from a job you absolutely hate12:05 The draw to move back West comes in the form of entrepreneurship13:50 The real difference between entrepreneurship and big business15:10 Are you born an entrepreneur or can you learn to embrace that freedom over time?16:40 Brad's adventure as the best “beanie” salesman in the country18:25 Why Brad no longer sells beanies even though his company grew to over $1mm in revenue20:20 How to know the type of work you were created for21:10 Brad's vision for his life22:20 Brad's no-nonsense tactic for creating a plan for your career23:55 What to do when fear is holding you back from your dreams25:40 The major places that Brad draws from for support and mentorship27:40 Brad's father's #1 piece of advice for a fulfilling career28:45 How to connect with other people when you're in your darkest moments30:00 Why you have to give before you get31:20 The power of coaching32:00 Brad's life changing story of coaching high school hockey34:00 The difference between “role” in sports and “role” in work35:00 How to be honest with yourself about your strengths and then leverage them37:00 How to advocate for yourself in business38:10 Getting over barriers and demons that keep you from chasing your dreams39:25 Brad's shocking personal story of struggling through business school40:40 How to know if your dream is going to make you happy and feel worthwhile41:10 How to deal with being busy and overwhelmed42:25 Brad's approach on cultivating a “change” mindset and redefining himself43:55 Brad staring into the abyss of 2 months left in business school and no job to speak of44:40 How to find peace within the chaos of life's transitions45:25 Brad's #1 piece of advice for your life

In this episode, I interview friend and mentor Jeff Schiefelbein. Jeff is a Founding Partner and Chief Culture Officer of 5, an Irving, Texas based energy advisory firm, and founder of Texas A&M's popular ride-sharing program, CARPOOL, which has now been franchised country-wide. He's an incredible example of someone who is living their authentic values and beliefs throughtout his entire life-- work, family, and personal space. This episode is great for anyone who wants to..•Learn more about their own skill sets•Have the courage to seize more of the opportunities that arise in life•Slow down the train of life•Make the boring parts of your job less boring•Be more present•Be more fearless•Find a mentor•Really move the needle in your growth as a human being•Do more dynamic and amazing things with your life Jeff can be reached @JSchiefelbein.

In this episode, I interview life-long friend and peer Ramin Baranpourian. I reconnected with Ramin about 9 months ago, and it was his life story that inspired me to start this podcast in the first place! Ramin started a successful asset management company, and reached a societal version of success at only age 25. Underneath, however, he was depressed and unhappy with his life circumstances. Today, he works as a high school science teacher, and  is "the happiest he has ever been." In this episode, Ramin teaches us valuable lessons on how to make our transitions in life more seamless than ever before.

In this episode, I share my 5 major takeaways from an incredible panel featuring Russell Simmons, Trey Bowles, Nina Vaca, Salah Boukadoum, Gail Warrior, and moderator James Ragland. The panelists talk about how to live with passion, spirit, and faith, how to choose your future regardless of your past, how to create connection and community, how to stay patient when things aren't working out, and how to never fail again.