Youniversalife Podcast

In Episode 20 of the Youniversalife Podcast, I discuss The 4 Pillars of Leadership. The foundational elements that must exists to create positive influence. SelflessPutting Others 1stAction without expectation of rewardUnconditional GivingSet Ego Aside (Humble)Desire to impact the worldSee the big pictureCommunicationTrustProductivityFacilitates Problem SolvingBoosts MoraleCreates Quality Decision MakingBuilds RelationshipsLoyaltyBuilds TrustAllows Delegation of ResponsibilityCultivates TraditionsStrong Relationships are Rooted in Loyalty.Strong BondsReinforcing DepositsFosters CommitmentEnhances ReputationActionEstablishes Direction & GoalsCreates Calculated RisksAdaptable to ChangeEmpowers Team MembersContagiousAllows You to Create Momentum

I have created a list of 5 leadership qualities of my favorite educational leaders. I lay them out in the latest Youniversalife Podcast. Who are your favorite leaders in your personal and professional life?Make a list of 5 things you love about their leadership style. Then, make a conscious effort to mirror their actions and words. This is a great way to discover your leadership principles.Please like and leave a review. You can find additional content at http://youniversalife.comHappy Hollidays and Keep Moving Forward!

Deion "Prime Time" Sanders was anointed as the Head Football Coach at the University of Colorado - InterviewSpiritual Movement - Trending in the right direction Chris PrattDion SandersTexas Long Horn QB (Quin Ewers)Dabo SwinneyUFC FightersYouniversalife emphasis on Leadership & PerformanceThere is a need for leadership development in our society today.There is a need for creativity & how to put those things into the world.Who is talking about LeadershipJocko WillinkEchelon FrontExtreme OwnershipSeth GodinMarketing SavantGreat thinker of the 20th & 21st CenturyForcaster of trends in the worldShawn Ryan ShowRich RollDr. Andrew HubermanPresidential CandidatesVivek RamaswamyLeading in a new generation of leadershipForward-thinkerRegardless of what you think of policyI have dedicated my life to Leadership Development through:CoachingTeaching our high school students / next generationEducational leadership degreeBuilding a leadership curriculum for my schoolTailored to our specific needsMany concepts / most are transferable to other sectorsWhat is Leadership?"Leadership is the process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal." - Kevin Kruse - ForbesLeadership is InfluenceFor Good and BadWhy Should We Lead?FamiliesCommunitiesSchoolsThe nation needs great leadersAllows you to take ownership of your corner of the worldThe possibility of bringing positive influenceStudy mind and behaviorCreativityExploring the human experienceImplementing strategyWe are all leadersWe all influence others in some wayWe all can build our leadership strategyYouniversalife Leadership is here to help you achieve this and provoke leadership and performance thoughtThank youLike and share on all platforms (Call to Action)See you again next time

In today's episode, I take 4 minutes to discuss the Spoonbread Festival in Berea, Ky.Most notably, my personal insight on balloon glows. I then venture into my journey to Educational Leadership. More to come on this topic...For more content & blog posts, head to youniversalife.com for the full YL experience.Don't forget to support the show by Liking and Sharing. Leave a review for others to see. Thank you!Keep Moving Forward! 

Confidence is knowing that you will do something. It is not knowing that you can do something. Be a person of action and put forth the effort.Persistence is the way to achievement. It may never be perfect, but at least you've stepped into the arena.Check out youniversalife.com for more episodes and a wide range of leadership and performance content

Ep. 15: Confidence Part 2Weird is GoodEmbrace our weirdness.Take inventory of what we do that is unique. Be detailedWeird should not get labeled personally as a stigma, but a strength.Weird usually brings new ideas and creativity to the world.Things that remain the same or fit the mold don't move the world forward.A band you like that eventually everyone falls for.Those that shame “weird” actions often times lack confidence and creativityThey don't want change and have significant interest in things remaining the same.How the world currently works for them.They may be threatened by changeTo Embrace the Weird, We Must Build Our ConfidenceIt increases as a result of our experiences.Stepping into the void and practicingAchieving mini wins & milestonesProgress is progressThose that have joy & those who struggle to find itThe Joy-usThe Joyus find the process to be life givingThey reflect back on the journeyThey are grateful for each experienceThey feel as if they have lived and are grateful for itHardship is part of it (I'm Still Standing by Elton John)This approach helps confidence to row and manifestThey know that the hard times are part of the overall equation that ultimately creaes the next better version of them.Lean into courage. I will go. I will move forward. Send me mentalityThe Strugglers Those who struggle to find joy only concentrate on the end product.Good will only come if I am able to complete it.The process is viewed as a struggle and their is a narrow view of its actual harvest True healthy confidence is hard to obtain with this state of mindHard to establish consistency because the confidence is always being undermined by the hardships.Can You Be Both?Some aspects of my life I'm in the Joy-us state of mind. Some areas I struggleIt is a battle between the light and darkness.I fight for the light. I fight for life.Lean into the Joy-us and establish internal and external triggers that return you to it when struggling.The Joy-us AthleteWhat does it look like to be a joyus athlete?Find a role an embrace itStop comparing your role to those that are further down the road than you.Small seat at the table“Confidence is not knowing you have the ability to do something, but know you will try to do it.”Rob BellCheck out additional content at Youniversalife.comThe best way you can support the show is to follow us on Spotify and Apply Podcast then leave a review. You can also share Youniversalife content on most Social Media Platforms. You can also purchase Youniversalife Merchandise at the Youniversalife Shop.

How to Build ConfidenceWhat is confidence?To have confidence vs to lack confidenceTo be clear-headed or to have a clear mind w/ the belief that what you know is true.Unwavering action or quick to take actionConfidence comes from the Latin word "fidere" which means "to trust".Have trust in oneself or othersIt is hard to develop confidence in our culture todaysocial mediamediastate of the worldover consumptionlack of directionpurposefragile belief systemsExtremely common in high school students/athleticsself talkcultureschool environmentsocial mediaLack of understanding of confidence fuels thisSelf-talk plays a pivotal roleEstablishing triggers or stop signs when we speak to ourselves negativelyWeird is goodEmbrace our weirdnessTake inventory of what we do that is unique.  Be detailed!Weird should not get labeled personally as a stigma but as a strength.Weird usually brings new ideas & creativity to the world.Things that remain the same or fit the mold don't move the world forward.Check out YOUNIVERSALIFE.COM for additional blog content.  I've also launched THE YOUNIVERSALIFE SHOP to help you support the show and rock a new style.  Thanks for tuning in and keep moving forward!Ben

Train the MindWhat are we feeding our minds?Read and gather beneficial informationSurround yourself with positive people/influencesBe appreciativePractice gratitudeAvoid convenience.  Take the long roadMatthew 7:13-14“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.What version of yourself are you feeding?Your inward life should outperform your outward life.Continual quest for bettermentTrain itProtect it & stand guardEveryone is your teacherAcceptance "A  great maturity opens in the human mind when we accept that we can control our impulses by conditioning our thoughts and that we alone are responsible for our emotions and reactions in life." - Brendon BurchardThose who embrace FearFirefighterEMSMilitary PersonnelPoliceThe person asking for a pay raiseThe interview personClutch playersIdea peoplePublic speakersPeople who  admit wrongsPeople who  say "No"Standing FirmDo not compromise your moral codeSwing your swordDon't keep it in the sheath.  Pull it and go to work.  For good. Protect!"Enemy occupied territory - that is what this world is." - C.S. LewisDo not be passivePassivity is destructive to the inner self Do you wish you would have acted?I have regrets about my inactivity.  I didn't step into the void.To intervene or not to intervene?Do I have what it takes?John Eldredge - Wild at HeartEvery person's questionThe player or athleteStudentsProtectorsNew ParentsWhat trials have I overcome to assure me that I confidently have what it takes?I am seasonedI have trained for this momentHard seasons of life callous meDallas Willard"How must energy, thought, motive, and consideration is fueling your becoming today?" 

"If a man cannot have order within him, he cannot  spread order about him." - Dallas WillardApparent in:CoachingParentingTeachingLeadingEmbrace the moment:"We are more alert to the sound of dogs barking than angels singing!" - Brendon BurchardOpen your eyes to what is possible.Conversation with students about judgment & the 1 lap run.Overcoming the social anxietyFind the good in the moments & remain there.Where is more life found on the backend?Don't allow small-minded ridicule to harness you.  Don't give anxiety a voice.BestSelf Co.From the Icebreaker Deck"Would you rather be the star player on a losing football team or ride the bench on a winning one?""Fear is louder & more intense than our desire for Self Mastery." - Brendon BurchardBettermentLiving with joyContribution to othersLeadershipSelfless ActsVolunteeringParentingConclusion

Episode 11 Fear Part 2IntroOutside Forces“Fear is a great teacher!”  FALSE!!Coach the whole person.  Not just the athlete“We are fooled into believing fear is a positive emotion.” - Brendon Burchard in the Motivation Manifesto“Fear harms more people in life than those who benefit from it.” - Burchard“We have distorted fear into a tool for the ego's protection.” -  BurchardEgoThe drive to maintain or enhance good views of oneself or that of the inflated opinion.Constructed FearNot trying a new gamePlaying it coolSitting passiveIf I don't go then I won't fail mentalityStuck in the voidNo skin in the gameNo learning takes placeNo joy is foundNo life-giving rewards achievedThe gravitational pull of this mentalityThe destroyer of good teams/cultureThe PE class with doers and the nondoersFriend circlesWorking cultureOrganic positivity fertilizes organic positivityStrategies for overcoming FEARTame the mindLook fear in the eye“Attempting to conceal fear as a friend is like forcing a wolf to be a pet.  Soon the pet will eat us alive.” BurchardWe will regret our inactions and this will have negative consequences on our confidence.Confidence erosion through inaction TriggersIs what I'm telling myself a lie deep down?On the Journey to Betterment mentality“A lot of good people have chosen the shallow end of history.  They never really made their mark in the deep end.” - BurchardBrandon Lilly +1 mentality

Show NotesFear IntroductionWith curiosity comes FearBrendon Burchard - The Motivation ManifestoThe Face of FearAn unpleasant emotion is driven by the belief that something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat.True FearAttacking dogPointed gunFalling to your deathTurbulenceA child falling down the stepsPublic Speaking / PodcastingFear grips us and can torment usFear takes us from our true internal freedom.  What we truly want to be, do, or become.The straight jacket of discovering life and joy.Types of FearJudgment / wondering what others will think or say to us.  We become socially oppressed. People negatively react to our actions.Rejection / self-oppression is where we put the straight jacket on ourselves.  I tell myself no."We fuel fear with small thoughts that betray our magnitude." - Burchard

I began Episode 9 intending to talk about Fear. While chugging along in my recording, I realized I didn't like my presentation and wanted to go back to the drawing board. So, without chalking it up as a total loss, I chose to keep the intro and share it with you as a promotion for my new book The Art of Coaching. Recording Podcasts can sometimes be challenging. It may require I start over several times before I find a flow I like. This is all part of the creative process. Episode 10 coming soon...Keep moving forward!Coach Colbert   

Every great coach has a specific set of skills.  In Episode 8 of the Youniversalife Podcast, I dive deep into how I created the content for my to-be-released book, The Art of Coaching.  I explain my reasoning behind many of the topics including:ConfidenceAbility under pressureSelf-awarenessCommunicationThe study of human behaviorCreativityOrganization skillsPublic speakingCollaborationEstablishing routinesStaff chemistryEtc.Don't forget to check in on youniversalife.com for additional content and purchase your copy of The Art of Coaching when it is released.Enjoy and keep moving forward!

Episode #7 - CuriosityCuriosityA strong desire to know or learn something.All about learning what we do not (yet) knowInquisitivenessInterestSpirit of InquiryNosinessRover CuriosityCar-sized rover designed to explore the Gale crater on Mars.Part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory MissionCuriosity launched from Cape Canaveral November 26, 2011, & landed August 6, 2012 American NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratorySojourner = Temporary resident.  Lives for a prolonged period. 1997-97Opportunity = 2004-2018Spirit = 2004-2010Curiosity = 2012-PresentPerseverance = 2021-PresentWhat are we routinely approaching?Discovering Rabbit HolesThe distracted teacherConversation with friendsLong-winded coachesBinge-worthy * streaming * youtube * podcasts * booksThe Tree of Life (Understanding)TrunkLimbsTwigsFruitRoots (In-depth)What are you curious about?Go seek & findThis is a starting point to finding life.  To spark the fire.Those who are curious live.

The process is so important!Building this!Embrace the “Long Game,” for there is greater satisfaction in long-term development than taking the shortcut.Examples of who do it:DoctorsMusiciansAuthorsFootball Players & CoachesParentsBusiness OwnersEntrepreneursProfessional AthletesConcentrate on yourself & your developmentRelentlessly pursue who you want to beCreate!FailureBe good at itBe ok with itGet up and do it againDon't make it part of your identity“Great teachers fail greatly.” - Ben ColbertAll great stories have great failuresPeople who hit rock bottomExperience difficultyThen they rallyDon't make failure a category in your mind.  This is a practice and must be trainedStick to the Journey with established systemsHelps to create habitsHelps to limit failuresLeads to goalsReference:  Atomic Habits - James ClearFor all other YOUNIVERSALIFE content, head over to youniversalife.com

Episode #5 - The Journey Show NotesJourneyIt used to be that a "journey" was all in a day's work. Now it takes a lifetime. A new Hallmark line of cards called "Journeys" shows that the word "journey," originally a literal unit of time and travel, has become a metaphor for the experience of living life with all its ups and downs. - GoogleLife is a processYou are always experiencing a conversionImpatience is a dangerous thing when it comes to interior journeys, spiritual quests, pilgrimages of the soul. PilgrimageA pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person searches for new or expanded meaning about themself, others, nature, or higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life.For in these journeys, we must cover the miles step-by-step, feeling the terrain as we pass through it, responding to its challenges. There is no rushing this; there are no shortcuts. But that is what makes it so beautiful and dangerous and wonderful. We don't snap a few photos and rush on; rather, we are changed by our travels. I think C. H. Spurgeon had this in mind when he warned that a pilgrim would be better served “by one book thoroughly mastered than by twenty books he has merely skimmed. Little learning and much pride come of hasty reading.” Or hasty travel, we might add.(Morgan Snyder @ becomegoodsoil.com)

Episode #4 - Light Shiners Part 2 Show NotesMentors Continued:  ASKPush past the precluding talk of never asking in the 1st place.Don't be afraid to ask for something for exploration purposes.This teaches us to desensitize ourselves from being told “NO.”Give other people a chance to tell you “NO.”Don't sabotage yourself.Shout Outs:Take a look / listen to...Aaron McHughWork Life Play PodcastRob BellI heard Rob talk about how we're all one question away from an interesting conversation and learning extraordinary things about others and ourselves.  - Via the RobCast Visit the Youniversalife website and discover additional content.I also want to give a shout-out to my Sound Engineer, Levi Howard.  Thanks for the insight and feedback.

A story about those who shine a light on the gray areas of our lives.With coaching comes great responsibilityThe shepherd & guideThey are relying on youTo show upTo be preparedTo have it all together & be confidentTo be decisiveTo teachEtc.Constantly EvaluatedIn every situationHow you speak to your mannerismsThey take on your actions and wordsYou're either building culture or dismantling itMicroscopeEverything you do matters.  EverythingButterfly Effect by Andy AndrewsWe are mentorsElders“Their presence is their value” - Laird HamiltonFinding your story in other stories“Sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is find a story that tells us about our story.” - John EldredgeJohn Eldredge and Morgan Snyder and Wild at Heart MinistriesMoviesGood Will HuntingSean Mcguire & Will HuntingForrest GumpMighty DucksThe story of Gordon BombayWhat is a Mentor?A guide who shines a light on the gray areas of our livesUses their experience and wisdomLearn from their success and failuresHelp to prepare others for the inevitable adversitySomeone to talk to and ask questionsShow you the ropes Why do we need mentors?Life is hard, and we need a support systemWe need a teacher to show us the wayTo show us the things we may not seeNetworkHow do I identify a mentor?Who do you respect in your space?Who is currently doing it the right way?Who could you see yourself modeling?Who do you enjoy listening to?Who is the expert in your field?How to make a mentor a mentor?Approach them in their spaceSet pride asideSpeak less and listen moreOpen your eyes and watchGo where they areHelp themApprentice mentalityPrepare and ask good questionsBecome More!Visit the Youniversalife website and discover additional contentI also want to give a shout-out to my Sound Engineer, Levi Howard.  Thanks for the insight and feedback.

SHOW NOTESMany have asked why I created such a website and what my plans are for the future. I answer these questions and more in the show.Thanks for stopping in, and I hope you enjoy it.Remember to subscribe at the bottom of youniversalife.com to join our mailing list.Also, don't forget to like and share your favorite YL content on Instagram and Facebook. This helps to promote the site and podcast. Thank you!Below you will find the show notes that help to follow along:Why I created YL• To put value into the world• To share my passion for growth• To create• To chase my curiosity• Writing is therapeutic for me• Storytelling• To supplement addictions• To keep a log of thoughts for my family/future generationsWhy I created YL Podcast• For the same reasons mentioned above• Voice capturing is easier than writing• Faster• Desire to interview others○ Learn○ Develop mentors○ Entertainment○ Conversation○ Teach• To create a different mode so more can learnWhere will I go from here?• I'll continue to chase my curiosity○ Write and speak on that○ What patterns are emerging○ Following internal compass

SHOWNOTESOne of the pillars of YL is Self-CareBuilding the best version of yourselfWhat are you becoming?The most important thing in your life is not what you do it is who you become.– Dallas Willard Self-Care DefinedAn act of purposely taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical health.Simple concept but often overlookedBusyness of lifeSeasons of lifeAttention is elsewhereSelf-care is life-givingRefills usNot a selfless actKnowing what we need so we can be our best for ourselves and others.Self-care cupYou can't pour from an empty cupHow can I add to my cup?ExerciseBooks/blog/articles/magazinesAudiobooksPodcastMeditation/prayerBreathworkCold plungeCookingConversation with friends and familyVolunteering/community workJournalingEducating yourselfMusicSleepLaughBe patient Add to the cup slowly Try 1 thing on. Experiment Be consistent Find your rhythm and routine Plan into your schedule Be intentional and place a priority on it Don't beat yourself up if you fail. Keep coming Be conscious about your planning and doing Constant awareness of your development Where is my energy going? What is actually taking place here? Diet Consumption of info  Media/news/entertainment Snowball Start with 1 and let it develop From: Those Mesmerizing Flames Maintaining the fire takes much attention. It will not remain on its own and requires a caretaker — the constant watchful eye, analyzing the placement and extinguishment of each log. The nurturer must continually add logs. With each new log comes energy. You can read it in the mesmerizing flames.