Podcasts about Measure

Do you weigh yourself to determine if your diet and exercise plan is working? Does the number make or break your day…and your motivation to keep trying? This Extra Credit Friday lesson is short, important, and might save you from ruining a perfectly good weekend:  The scale is not the best measure of fat loss. And honestly? It's not even a very good one. I encourage my clients to stay off the scale. Listen to learn why and what measures I do recommend for recording progress. Join my next 21-Day Reset for women 50+ here:  https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/AMYBRYAN Contacts and free downloads: www.linktr.ee/amybryanfasterway  

A long mishnah... specifically on how grain-offerings can be brought with invalidating intent, and how that will make the offerings "pigul." Yet, sometimes, the offering will be invalid, but the punishment for that would not be "karet" (and other times, it would be karet). Plus, the measure of an olive's worth, and the impact of that size portion. Also, the distinction between a sinner's grain-offering, in that the frankincense is not offered, and the burden of violation to the extent of pigul is slightly harder. Plus, again, whether a half-olive measure of eating and a half-olive measure of burning can combine to make a full-olive measure of violation (spoiler: the answer is no).

❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 39: www.ESV.org/Psalm39 ❖ To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional: www.crossway.org/books/in-the-lord-i-take-refuge-hcj/ ❖ Browse other resources from Dane Ortlund: www.crossway.org/authors/dane-c-ortlund/

On this episode of Roots of Success, Chris Psencik welcomes Lex Mason from Weathermatic for a candid conversation on the systems, strategies, and tech elevating the landscape industry. Discover the secret to hitting the coveted 20% revenue mark for irrigation repairs, streamline your inspection processes, and learn direct-from-the-trenches tips to boost productivity and retain top talent—even in a labor crunch. Plus, hear how team development and focused innovation are shaping the road to 2026, and get a sneak peek at SmartCon—a premier industry event. For business owners ready to maximize resources and drive results, this episode delivers both motivation and a practical roadmap. THE BIG IDEA:  Focus drives profitability KEY MOMENTS: [03:37] "Streamlining Irrigation Operations Efficiency" [07:49] "Evaluating Operations Beyond Controllers" [09:41] "Irrigation Revenue and Maintenance Insights" [15:59] "Measure to Manage Effectively" [18:20] Streamlining Repairs with Kit Pricing [20:49] "Improving Performance Through Simplicity" [25:14] "Be a Champion of Initiatives" [29:28] "Driving Engagement Through Alignment" [33:45] "Evaluate, Question, Align, Maximize" [34:18] "Consultative Sales and Training" QUESTIONS WE ANSWER What strategies can be used to grow pre-approval limits for irrigation repairs, and why does it matter for field efficiency? How does upgrading operational processes in an irrigation division impact labor productivity and business profitability? What role does technology, especially automation and API integrations, play in streamlining the workflow from field inspection to billing? Why is tracking the penetration rate of irrigation repairs in relation to maintenance contract value considered a "golden metric"? What are the main benefits of implementing monthly irrigation inspections compared to seasonal startup and shutdown practices? In what ways can standardizing the inspection process and utilizing field management dashboards lead to better accountability and team performance? How has repair kit pricing improved efficiency for irrigation departments, and what parallels exist with the automotive industry? What are the risks for landscape businesses that delay adopting technology to optimize their operations and preserve profit margins? Why is champion development within a team critical for implementing new initiatives and advancing career growth in a landscape business? How does participating in industry events, peer networks, and cause-driven initiatives add value to both business performance and community impact?

Coming at you LIVE from Benny Frank's! Where we are joined by Food Network's ‘Chopped' Champion Chef Enrique where he gives us some incite to being a chef, his speciality menu at Benny Frank's and the perks of being Chef Enrique. Plus Voo hits us with 21 questions where things get a little spicy. Follow us on social media @AaronScenesAfterParty

About Dr. Mary Donohue:Dr. Mary Donohue is the CEO of the Digital Wellness Center, a three-time entrepreneur, Columbia Business School Lang Center Innovation Fellow, and Fortune Top 100 Businesswoman to Watch. She is the creator of Clean Mental Health™, a science-backed system that delivers instant relief from digital stress—through email, games, and tools that work faster than meditation—and a pioneer in the neuroscience of trust and digital behavior who has helped global brands like Microsoft and Casino.NL build emotionally intelligent platforms that protect users. Called a “modern McLuhan” for her work in media and meaning, her book Message Received is often referred to as the digital communication bible. She has taught burnout recovery to thousands, designed mood-regulating tools for Gen Z, and is currently working with Simon Sinek's team on a new leadership course for the hybrid era. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Dr. Mary Donohue discuss:Digital overload and dopamine-driven behaviorsResetting the brain with playful emotional regulationGenerational differences in processing technologyDesigning proactive mental health tools for real environmentsPreventing addiction via behavior modification and breaks Key Takeaways:Introduce micro brain-breaks (short, no-signup playful exercises) to reduce stress and improve decision-making while keeping people on their devices.Tailor messaging and leadership communication to each generation's preferred medium and processing style to increase engagement and psychological safety.Measure mood shifts before and after interventions to track changes in stress, focus, and emotional regulation using short self-report mood metrics.Deploy proactive mental-health micro-interventions in high-stress environments (airports, casinos, transportation, retail) and track uptake rates and mood impact. "My goal is to move them to happy in less than three minutes, because then we know research tells us you're making better decisions.” — Dr. Mary Donohue Connect with Dr. Mary Donohue:  Website: https://thedigitalwellnesscenter.com/Book: Message Received: https://www.amazon.com/Message-Received-Steps-Communication-Barriers/dp/1260456358LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarydonohue/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/72360974/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedigitalwellnesscenter/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thedigitalwellnesscenter    See Dean's TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkwWebsite: https://www.mfileadership.com/The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlundFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.comPhone: 1-800-926-7370 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

God through Moses doesn't flirt with abstractions when it comes to the justice of every day life and business. It rolls up its sleeves, plants its feet in the dust, and whispers: "Justice is not an idea. It's how you treat the body in front of you…every one….every day.”A chapter-a-day podcast from Deuteronomy 25. The text version may always be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

Spencer and Jamie break down the 10 core principles of Bogleheads investing and show how military service members can apply this simple, low-cost approach to build wealth through the TSP and other accounts. If you're overwhelmed by investing advice or tempted by day trading and crypto, this episode cuts through the noise with a proven strategy that's worked for decades. Hosts: Spencer Reese (former Air Force pilot, 12 years active duty) and Jamie (active duty officer) The 10 Bogleheads Principles Develop a workable plan - Create an investment policy statement (even informal) to guide decisions during market volatility Invest early and often - Automate contributions to remove decision fatigue; increase TSP allocation today Never bear too much or too little risk - Age-appropriate asset allocation; avoid the old G Fund default trap Diversify - Don't put all eggs in one basket; TSP funds cover entire US market plus international exposure Never try to time the market - Time IN the market beats timing the market; market dropped 19% in April 2025, now up 38% from that low Use index funds when possible - TSP offers five low-cost index funds; 90% of active managers can't beat index funds over 20 years Keep costs low - TSP expense ratios under 0.1%; avoid predatory companies charging 1-2%+ fees Minimize taxes - Leverage Roth TSP and Roth IRA; military tax advantages (BAH, BAS, combat zone exclusion) Invest with simplicity - LADS approach (Low-cost, Automated, Diversified, Simple); Warren Buffett's S&P 500 bet crushed hedge funds Stay the course - Measure performance in decades, not days/weeks; don't panic sell during downturns Key Takeaways Why Bogleheads Philosophy Works for Military: Takes power back from financial advisors and complex products Simple enough anyone can succeed with minimal effort Perfect match for TSP's low-cost index fund structure Removes emotion from investing decisions TSP Advantages: Five index funds (C, S, I, G, F) cover nearly entire investable market Lifecycle funds automatically balance risk by retirement year Expense ratios under 0.1% (incredibly low) Now defaults to lifecycle funds instead of G Fund (huge improvement with Blended Retirement System) Common Military Investing Mistakes: Old G Fund default trap - cost retirees millions in missed gains Trying to time the market or day trade Paying high fees to predatory companies Not automating contributions Measuring performance over days/weeks instead of decades The Math That Matters: First $100K took Spencer 4+ years; second $100K took 2 years (compound growth accelerates) Market will drop 30% in next 10 years (guaranteed) - but timing it is impossible S&P 500 gained 125% over 10 years vs. best hedge fund's 87% in Warren Buffett's famous bet April 2025 market drop: 19% down, then 38% up from that low within months Diversification Made Easy: C Fund: 500 largest US companies (S&P 500) S Fund: ~2,000 smaller US companies I Fund: 5,000+ international companies (20+ developed + emerging markets, excludes China/Hong Kong) Combined: Total US and international market exposure Add VXUS in Roth IRA for China/Hong Kong exposure if desired Automation is Your Friend: Log into MyPay once, increase TSP allocation, never think about it again Every promotion or time-in-grade raise = bump allocation by 1% One decision removes 100 future decisions Eliminate decision fatigue and emotional reactions Fee Impact Example: Predatory companies charge 1-2%+ fees TSP: Under 0.1% Fidelity FZROX: 0% expense ratio Vanguard funds: 0.03% Rule of thumb: Stay under 0.25%, ideally under 0.10% Resources Mentioned Books: "The Little Book of Common Sense Investing" by Jack Bogle "The Military Money Manual" by Spencer Reese (available at MWR Library, Libby app, Amazon) Investment Accounts: TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) - Military 401k Roth TSP and Roth IRA (tax-advantaged accounts) Recommended brokerages: Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab Key Terms: LADS: Low-cost, Automated, Diversified, Simple Index fund vs. active management Expense ratio and basis points Asset location strategy Investment Policy Statement Previous Episodes Referenced: TSP deep dives (search podcast) Roth TSP vs. Roth IRA explanations "Do Better" episode on predatory companies Real-World Examples Lieutenant with $50K in checking account - proves military pay allows saving, just need to invest it Service member paid off all auto and student loans in 3 months of deployment Retirees with $250-500K in G Fund who missed out on millions Enron, WorldCom, Lehman Brothers - why diversification matters MicroStrategy (MSTR) - current example of concentrated risk Who This Episode Is For Military service members at any rank TSP participants unsure how to invest Anyone tempted by day trading, crypto, or "get rich quick" schemes New investors overwhelmed by options Service members paying high fees to financial advisors Anyone who wants a simple, proven wealth-building strategy Quick Action Steps Log into MyPay and increase TSP allocation (even 1% helps) Verify you're in appropriate Lifecycle Fund (birth year + 60-65 years) NOT in G Fund unless near retirement Set automatic annual increases (1% per year) Open Roth IRA at Fidelity, Vanguard, or Schwab Read "The Military Money Manual" (free at base library) Stop checking account daily - check quarterly at most Contact Website: MilitaryMoneyManual.com Instagram: @MilitaryMoneyManual Book: "The Military Money Manual" (Amazon, $3 Kindle, free at MWR libraries) The Bogleheads philosophy has helped millions become millionaires through simple, low-cost index fund investing. As a military service member, you have access to one of the best low-cost investment vehicles in the world - the TSP. Stop overthinking it, automate your investments, and stay the course.  

In this episode of Quah (Q & A), Sal, Adam & Justin answer four Pump Head questions drawn from last Sunday's Quah post on the @mindpumpmedia Instagram page.   Mind Pump Fit Tip: Top Ways to Measure Progress (and the WORST)! (1:53) Mind Pump's Vuori favorites. (27:58) The Babe Ruth diet. (29:12) The guys take on the updated food pyramid and its influence on society. (36:53) The biggest jerks in the sea. (41:24) LEGO latest innovation. (47:32) Kids say the cutest things. (49:13) Getting too big for your shirt! (50:58) Promoting cellular repair, strengthening the skin barrier, and reducing inflammation with exosomes. (53:06) #Quah question #1 – How should a female train who has osteoporosis? (1:02:15) #Quah question #2 – How do women know if they need testosterone? Can they even get TRT? What levels are normal for an athletic female age 21? (1:04:01) #Quah question #3 – I've been able to improve all my big lifts and have steadily made progress with strength, but I still find pushups aggravate my back and have more or less always been a struggle for me. What tips would you give to someone who wants to improve their pushups? (1:06:37) #Quah question #4 – How do I know if I should continue to train when I have an injury? I have had 2 knee revisions on the same knee and think it's going out again. (1:08:32) Related Links/Products Mentioned Visit Vuori Clothing for an exclusive offer for Mind Pump listeners! ** No code to receive 20% off your first order. ** Visit Caldera Lab for an exclusive offer for Mind Pump listeners! **Code MINDPUMP20 for 20% off your first order of their best products. ** January Promotion: Code NEWYEAR50 at checkout for 50% off the following programs: MAPS Starter, Transform, Anabolic, and Performance! Mind Pump Store Mind Pump #2320: Throw Away the Scale! Mind Pump #2506: Measuring Your Progress With the Mirror or Scale Is a FAILING Strategy (Listener Live Coaching) The Shocking Babe Ruth Diet: What He Actually Ate Daily RFK Jr.'s new dietary guidelines go all in on meat and dairy Lego announces Smart Brick, the 'most significant evolution' in 50 years | The Verge Get a free Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase! As always, LMNT offers no-questions-asked refunds on all orders. The 8-count LMNT Sample Pack doubles down on our most popular flavors: Citrus Salt, Raspberry Salt, Watermelon Salt, and Orange Salt (2 stick packs of each flavor): Visit DrinkLMNT.com/MindPump How To Get Good At Push Ups (REGRESSIONS) - YouTube Mind Pump # 2385: Five Reasons Why You Should Hire a Trainer Mind Pump Podcast – YouTube Mind Pump Free Resources  

In this episode of the Payne Points of Wealth, Ryan and Chris Payne sit down with Aleks Musika — renowned menswear designer and Co‑Founder of luxury label Musika New York. Aleks shares how a childhood fascination with style set him on a path that led from working in retail to joining the Tom Ford Made-to-Measure program, where he honed the craftsmanship and eye for detail that would shape his career. Aleks walks us through how he built his brand from the ground up, transforming an Instagram fashion blog into one of the fastest‑growing bespoke menswear houses in the world. Today, Musika New York is recognized for its bold, modern tailoring and has dressed major celebrities and athletes — including Jay‑Z, Stephen Curry, Kevin Hart, Michael B. Jordan, and Lewis Hamilton. From leaving Miami to build his company in New York, to creating custom pieces for high‑profile clients, Aleks reveals the grit, creativity, and relentless drive behind his success. If you're curious about entrepreneurship, fashion, branding, or the mindset it takes to break into a competitive industry, this is a must‑listen conversation.

What if I told you that the most brutally honest performance metric you'll ever face isn't on your smartphone, can't be faked by AI, and strips away every excuse you've ever made about what you're truly capable of? It's called running.Nicholas Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic, an American magazine founded in 1857, which earned the top honor for magazines, General Excellence, at the National Magazine Awards in both 2022 and 2023. In his time as CEO, the company has seen record subscriber growth. Before joining The Atlantic, he was the editor-in-chief of Wired magazine. He is also a former contributor for CBS News and has previously served as editor. He has long been a competitive runner; in 2021, he set the American record for men 45+ in the 50K race.Jon chats with Nick about:running's purity reveals personal truth and growthmultitasking training with commuting and daily life breaking psychological barriers through gradual exposurehow AI threatens media authenticitysetting challenging goals creates transferable resilienceStay connected:Follow Nick:http://linkedin.com/in/nicholasxthompson/https://x.com/nxthompsonhttps://www.instagram.com/nxthompson/?hl=enNick's book, “The Running Ground” on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Running-Ground-Father-Simplest-Sports/dp/0593244125This episode is supported by:Rocket Money Take control of your spending. Cancel unwanted subscriptions and reduce the rest with Rocket Money: RocketMoney.com/GORUNAmazFit Check out the T-Rex 3 and a selection of GPS watches at http://bit.ly/4ojbflT and use code “FTLR” for 10% off.

Other Episodes You Might Like: Previous Episode - Fix Your Blood Sugar and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes Next Episode - Are Your Hormones Out of Balance? More Like This: Muscle Mass and Strength Gains After Menopause How Much How Fast? 12 Strength Training Mistakes in Menopause Robbing Your Results Bone Density Updates for Women Over 50 Resources: Track your muscle and body composition with the InBody Smart Scale. Use FLIPPING50 code to get 15% off! Measure at home with the Flipping 50 Fitness Scorecard! We don't need to do VO2 max tests to know how hard to work and if we're improving there are easy tests to give you an idea where you are right now… and give you a suggestion for training to improve. My favorite Blood Glucose Monitor here! Analyze in real-time how your body responds to food, exercise, stress, and sleep. When you improve your muscle quality and quantity blood glucose levels naturally benefit This episode is sponsored by Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist. Become a health & fitness coach who finally speaks midlife women's language. Learn how to design workouts that balance hormones that actually get results for women in menopause. You don't need the perfect rep range for muscle, strength and bone after 50. You need the right effort, the right frequency, and a plan your joints and schedule can repeat. We're clearing up one of the most persistent myths in menopause fitness: The Rep Range Rulebook for muscle, strength and bone after 50. For decades the “repetition continuum” told us: Heavy = strength Moderate = hypertrophy Light = endurance The problem? The research says it's not that simple—or better said, it's not that limiting, especially when you train close to failure and especially when your recovery and joints matter (hello, menopause). I'm going to walk you through what the studies actually DID—step-by-step—and then we'll translate it into women's rep-range for muscle, strength, and bone density after 50.

What if a simple LinkedIn message could get you on the phone with decision-makers immediately? In this episode, Jason Fishman shares how DNA has worked on over 500 investment crowdfunding campaigns that have collectively produced nine figures of capital. His agency specializes in investor marketing and user acquisition, helping brands raise capital through Reg CF, Reg A+, and Reg D filings. Jason's mission stems from a sobering statistic: nine out of ten businesses fail in their first year, and nine out of ten that survive fail the next year. Many of them fail because they're undercapitalized. By using his digital marketing skillset to bring the right investors to marketing funnels and measure actual conversion and return on ad spend, Jason helps companies that are having trouble meeting new investors access the capital they need to survive and thrive. He reveals how he met his business partner Tim Martinez at a 2009 conference after almost skipping a workshop. Jason waited in line 10-15 minutes just to talk to Tim, and that conversation eventually led to co-founding DNA together. Jason also shares his LinkedIn outreach strategy: send 25 invitations per day with customized messaging, look for a 20% acceptance rate, and include a scheduling link by message three. This simple tactic helped DNA connect with FINRA regulated portals and build the strategic partnerships that became instrumental to their success.   [00:05:20] DNA: Investor Marketing and User Acquisition Focused on investor acquisition, targeting investors with advertising and outreach Worked on over 500 deals that collectively produced nine figures of capital Campaigns in 2025 alone have surpassed $100 million raised altogether Helps brands that are having trouble meeting new investors [00:06:20] Why Jason Does This Work Nine out of ten businesses fail in first year, nine out of ten that survive fail the next year Many fail because they're undercapitalized Can use digital marketing skillset to bring right investors to marketing funnel Measure conversion, return on ad spend, total transactional value [00:07:20] Background in Ad Tech Part of social gaming startup in Los Angeles, played role in capital raise Raised over $3 million in seed capital, created countless versions of deck Company merged with advertising network, started working with Fortune 500s Quickly found fundraising was common part of conversation [00:08:20] First Campaign: $2.83 Million First campaign through Reg D 506(c) which allows solicitation of accredited investors Able to target high net worth, high household income audiences with advertising Raised $2.83 million on first campaign for Rayon Solar back in 2015 Reg CF (Regulation Crowdfunding) went into effect May 2016 [00:09:00] The Filings Available Today Can raise up to $5 million on Reg CF campaign Up to $75 million on Regulation A+ campaign (hoping for $150 million soon) Important to have specialization and niche as marketing agency Fell into this area, succeeded, kept getting introductions [00:11:00] What Inspires Jason Most Stat that nine out of ten businesses fail is not acceptable Part of LA accelerator community, works with universities and founders Want to make sure right eyeballs are on their products, companies, brands Funding could be make or break for them [00:12:00] Watching Companies Grow Watch clients' teams grow, their offices, their equipment, market share Seen groups go from $20 million valuations to $3.5 billion valuations Part of Crowdfund Professional Association working on tax credit for investors Would put Regulation Crowdfunding on tax form for every American [00:15:40] Meeting Tim Martinez in 2009 Met at SR Action Sports Retail conference in San Diego Almost didn't attend workshop, last minute walked into "50 Ways to Promote Your Skate Shop" Tim was professional skateboarder, worked in snow/skate/surf sports world 50-100 business owners taking notes on everything Tim said [00:16:20] Waiting in Line 15 Minutes Had to wait in line 10-15 minutes to talk to Tim after presentation First thing Tim asked: "How old are you?" (Tim few years older) Hit it off, had great discussion Tim said "I'm in Hollywood, you're in Hollywood, why don't we grab coffee sometime?" [00:17:00] The Path to Partnership Started pulling Tim into projects at agency, later worked for Tim's agency When Jason was at ad network, Tim asked if interested in starting new firm Tim was consulting companies with no idea about digital marketing Created DNA together, Tim has brought in countless introductions since [00:19:00] Don't Be Bashful Don't let self-doubt and little thoughts stop you ("maybe I'm too young or he's busy") Everyone wants to talk to speakers, why stick around? But Jason did Speakers are there for a reason, looking to have outcome for their time They're thought leaders, experts, probably things you can do together [00:20:40] How Tim Led to Crowdfunding Wouldn't have been possible without relationship with Tim Tim's relationship with Fundable introduced them to Reg D campaigns After success, Tim had friend in film industry with crowdfunding company That partner brought them to first Reg CF campaign in May 2016 [00:25:20] Building Strategic Partnerships Building strategic partnerships has been instrumental to success Would tell founder to incorporate into business plan, marketing plan, model Went to great lengths because saw how effective it was LinkedIn outreach in 2017-2018 got DNA on phone with portals right and left [00:26:00] The LinkedIn Strategy Can send 25 invitations per day from your profile Search by company, job title, company size, industry, zip code Send message with invitation, look for 20% or higher acceptance rate By message three, add scheduling link to streamline booking process [00:27:00] Customized Outreach Have very clear call to action, very visible opportunity on how to connect Every founder, if not every professional, should be doing this Start manually, really customize messaging Build relationships with people who can introduce you to target audience [00:30:00] Do More Don't think "I have a few relationships, I'll hit my goal" It's all about driving enough traffic at high enough conversion rate 50,000 visits per million raised at 2% conversion rate and $1,000-$2,000 average investment Engage experts, talk to people, do not be bashful   KEY QUOTES "It's all about relationships. Your net worth is your network. Some people say it the other way around. Your network is your net worth." - Jason Fishman "Whether they're on television or a billionaire or leading a workshop or whatever it may look like, don't be afraid to go up to 'em and talk to 'em. There's no telling what it could look like 16 years into that relationship." - Jason Fishman "Building strategic partnerships has been instrumental to the success of our business, and it's something I would tell a founder to incorporate into their business plan, marketing plan, and their model." - Jason Fishman CONNECT WITH JASON FISHMAN 

It's been just over a month since the government enacted its world-first social media ban for those aged under 16 years old. The government says they have deactivated, removed or restricted 4.7 million accounts so far. But what does this figure mean, and is an outright ban the most effective method for mitigating young people's exposure to harmful content online? In this episode of Weekend One on One Catriona Stirrat speaks to Nicholas Carah - Director of the Center for Digital Cultures and Societies at the University of Queensland.

In this episode, I'm joined by John Guercio for a wide-ranging and practical conversation about leadership through a behavioral lens. John and I dig into what it actually means to lead in applied behavior analysis, especially when so much of the existing leadership literature is vague, mentalistic, or disconnected from observable behavior. We start by talking about the need to operationalize leadership in behavioral terms and explore the four leadership hats developed by Dr. Paulie Gavoni: leading, training, coaching, and managing. We break down what each of these roles looks like behaviorally, how they function across time, and why effective leaders need to move flexibly between them rather than relying on a single style. A major theme of the episode is the role of positive reinforcement in leadership. John shares real-world examples from his OBM coursework and his work at Cornerstone Behavioral Services, highlighting how difficult—but necessary—it can be to shift away from punitive and avoidance-based management strategies. We discuss why punishment often "works" in the short term, why leaders continue to rely on it, and how reinforcement-based leadership creates better outcomes for both staff and organizations. We also spend time unpacking the distinction between leadership and management. John reflects on his own strengths and limitations, describing how he focuses on vision and direction while intentionally surrounding himself with strong managers who excel at systems, logistics, and follow-through. This leads to a powerful discussion about positional authority, seniority, and the myth that leadership status entitles people to treat others poorly. Throughout the episode, we return to the importance of psychological safety, consistent feedback, and emotional regulation in leadership roles. John shares practical strategies for navigating tough conversations, including how to balance empathy with accountability, how to manage staff expectations, and how to avoid letting emotion drive professional communication (including when not to send that email). We also talk through concrete tools and exercises for improving leadership practice, such as symbolic problem-solving activities to surface unspoken team issues, written acknowledgment systems, and using assessment tools like the Performance Diagnostic Checklist to guide supervision and coaching. John closes by sharing future directions for developing empirically grounded management assessment tools, along with a preview of his upcoming work and conference presentations. This is a practical, honest conversation for anyone supervising staff, leading teams, or trying to build reinforcing, values-consistent organizations in human services. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode RBT Course for Adult Services (the 'bridge' course too!) Sims and Szilagyi (1975). Leader reward behavior and subordinate satisfaction and performance Stone Soup Conference Registration (use code PODCAST26 at checkout) Carr and Wilder (2015). The Performance Diagnostic Checklist—Human Services John's previous BOP appearances Session 274: Psychological Safety in the Workplace (Supervision CEU!) Additional Books, Articles, and Ideas Discussed John's books on Amazon Komaki (1998). Leadership from an Operant Perspective McGregor (1960). The Human Side of Enterprise Daniels and Daniels (2023). The Measure of a Leader Elliot (2012). Leading Apple With Steve Jobs: Management Lessons From a Controversial Genius Covey (2020). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, 30th Anniversary Edition Harley (2013). How to Say Anything to Anyone Grenny et al. (2021). Crucial Conversations (Third Edition): Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High Sponsor shoutouts! Office Puzzle: A thriving ABA practice depends on systems that actually support your team, not slow them down. If you've struggled with software that's buggy, hard to navigate, or offers little support when you need it most, you're not alone. That's why so many practices are switching to Office Puzzle. Go to officepuzzle.com/bop to learn more! HRIC Recruting. Cut out the middleman and speak directly with Barbara Voss, who's been placing BCBAs in great jobs all across the US for 15 years. The 2026 Stone Soup Conference! This is one of the best values in the online conference space. I'm actually going to be one of the speakers at this year's event, along with a great cast of other characters you're probably familiar with. Save on your registration by using promo code PODCAST26 Behavior University. Their mission is to provide university quality professional development for the busy Behavior Analyst. Learn about their CEU offerings, including their 8-hour Supervision Course, as well as their RBT offerings over at behavioruniversity.com/observations. Don't forget to use the coupon code, PODCAST to save at checkout! The 2026 Verbal Behavior Conference! Taking place March 26–27, 2026, in Austin, Texas, or livestream and on-demand on BehaviorLive. Presenters will include Drs. Mark Sundberg, Patrick McGreevy, Caio Miguel, Alice Shillingsburg, Sarah Frampton, Andresa De Souza, and Danielle LaFrance will share how Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior can guide the assessment and treatment of generative learning challenges in children with autism and other developmental disabilities. And don't miss the special pre-conference workshop on Wednesday, March 25. CEUs from Behavioral Observations. Learn from your favorite podcast guests while you're commuting, walking the dog, or whatever else you do while listening to podcasts. New events are being added all the time, so check them out here. 

Successful but Still Not Satisfied? — Krishna's Measure of True Success | Bhagavad Gita for Everyday Living by Swami MukundanandaIn this episode, Swamiji explores why worldly success often fails to bring lasting satisfaction and how Krishna redefines the true measure of success. He begins by pointing out that many people achieve wealth, fame, or recognition yet still feel empty inside. This paradox reveals that external accomplishments alone cannot fulfill the soul's deeper longing.Drawing from the Bhagavad Gita, Swamiji explains that Krishna teaches success is not measured by possessions or accolades but by inner purification and alignment with dharma. True success lies in cultivating virtues such as humility, detachment, and devotion, which elevate consciousness beyond material cravings.Swamiji illustrates with examples of accomplished individuals who, despite outward achievements, struggled with dissatisfaction until they discovered higher purpose. He emphasizes that satisfaction comes when actions are offered to God, results are surrendered, and life is lived in service of the Divine.This teaching matters because it shifts our perspective: success is not about “having more” but about “becoming more.” By following Krishna's measure of success, seekers can experience fulfillment, peace, and steady progress toward liberation.  About Swami Mukundananda:  Swami Mukundananda is a renowned spiritual leader, Vedic scholar, Bhakti saint, best‑selling author, and an international authority on the subject of mind management. He is the founder of the unique yogic system called JKYog. Swamiji holds distinguished degrees in Engineering and Management from two of India's most prestigious institutions—IIT and IIM. Having taken the renounced order of life (sanyas), he is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, and has been sharing Vedic wisdom across the globe for decades. 

“Your faith will never be great until it becomes a part of your present reality.”   In this episode of Revival Cry, Eric Miller shares how to measure your faith in Jesus, drawing from Romans 12:3 and Matthew 9:18–26. He explores four expressions of faith—devoted, delayed, desperate, and decorated—showing how each reflects our walk with God. Devoted faith trusts and worships Jesus wholeheartedly; delayed faith waits patiently for His perfect timing; desperate faith reaches out in urgent belief; and decorated faith only appears outwardly faithful without true surrender. Eric encourages listeners to live in present faith, the kind that actively reaches toward Jesus today and reveals His power in our lives.   Click here to go to the official Revival Cry YouTube channel. To see the Revival Cry podcast on another streaming service, click here.   To support Revival Cry or find out more information, go to revivalcry.org Email us at info@revivalcry.org  Follow @RevivalCryInternational on Facebook and Instagram.   Purchase Eric's 30-Day Devotional Books:  ⏵ “How to Become a Burning Bush”, available in English and Italian ⏵ “Hearing God through His Creation”, available in English, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese

Eshet Chayil 155

If you're doing “all the right things” and still feel tired, tense, or quietly resentful… It might not be your workload. It might be the story you're leading from. In this episode, continuing the New Year. New Opening theme, Jenn names the five cultural overstories that sound responsible, professional, and noble—but are quietly draining your energy, joy, and agency as a leader. And then she shows you how to rewrite them—without blowing up your life or becoming a totally different person. Here's What's in the Episode: 1:15 If you can't measure it, you can't manage it, is BS. 3:12 What's an overstory and how it impacts your leadership. 4:43 Joyblocking overstory 1: Measure is everything. 5:33 Joyblocking overstory 2: Tradition, TRADITION! 6:58 Joyblocking overstory 3: Work before play. 7:41 Joyblocking overstory 4: It's not that bad. 9:46 Joyblocking overstory 5: We're not worthy. 13:39 How to rewrite the story to cultivate joy: The Story Transformation Process. Key Takeaway Joy isn't blocked by reality. It's blocked by unexamined stories that quietly steal your agency. About the Host: Jenn Whitmer Jenn is an international keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and the founder of Joyosity™, helping leaders create positive, profitable cultures through connection, curiosity, and joy. With a background in communication, conflict resolution, and team dynamics, Jenn helps leaders and organizations navigate complex people challenges, reduce burnout, and build flourishing workplaces. Her insights have resonated with audiences worldwide, blending real-world leadership expertise, engaging storytelling, and a dash of humor to make the hard stuff easier. Whether on stage, in workshops, or with coaching clients, Jenn equips leaders with the tools they need to solve conflict, cultivate communication, and lead with purpose. Her book Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbooks offer leaders a fresh approach to joy at work that builds real results. Resources & Links: Get Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbook Joyosity: How to Cultivate Intense Happiness in Work & Life (Even If Things Are What They Are) Joy isn't extra. Joy is how you thrive. This book gives leaders the tools to turn exhaustion into resilience and build cultures where work is a joy, people are whole, and organizations flourish. Joyosity Works Playbook: Practical Plays and Strategies for Joy at Work and Beyond is the official companion workbook to Joyosity to help you practice joy every day. Find links to purchase at https://jennwhitmer.com/books or you may even see it in the airport this month. Free 99: Episode 120 of the Joyosity™ Podcast → The New Year Trope Leaders Keep Believing Joyosity Explorer Map → This map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work. Ready to Make a Plan: Joyosity™ Jumpstart → Get crystal clear on what you want, what's in the way, and how to move forward with traction. Starting the Journey: Enneagram Navigator → Stop guessing your type. In this 1:1 session, get clarity on your motivations and blind spots. Ready to Dive In: Joyosity™ Intensive → A one-day transformative experience to realign with your values and build a practical plan for joyful leadership. A Party for More: Bring Jenn & the Joy to Speak → Bring the spark (not just the spark notes!) to your whole team with contagious joy, practical tools, and plenty of laughter. Loved this episode? Rate, review, and share with a fellow leader who's ready to ditch the drama and lead with more joy, curiosity, and clarity.

Hi, Spring fans! This week we catch up with the observably awesome Jonatan Ivanov on how to measure all the things with Micrometer

Portland is finally threatening to evict homeless shelter residents who refuse to engage with services after 120 days. Is anyone surprised this "tough love" comes after years of enabling open-air drug use and building a massive homeless industrial complex? We're diving into Mayor Keith Wilson's new policy that will affect 80-90 people—complete with formal warnings and exceptions for severe mental health cases. Meanwhile, nonprofits are clutching their pearls about "unsheltered houselessness" and claim these folks were "failed by fragmented systems." Really? The same systems that decriminalized hard drugs with Measure 110 and watched overdoses skyrocket? The city created this mess by coddling addiction, and now they're shocked people won't voluntarily get clean. Here's the kicker: Multnomah County is closing two shelters with 210 beds combined due to budget constraints—because when your downtown core is hollowed out and property values tank 50-90%, tax revenue disappears. Who could have predicted that? Do you think four-month deadlines will work when there's been zero accountability for years? Or is this just shuffling the deck chairs while the homeless industrial complex keeps collecting paychecks? Drop your thoughts below, and if you're tired of watching cities enable their own destruction, hit subscribe and share this with someone who needs to see it!

This week Shawn Tierney meets up with Matthew Dulcey of PRONETIQS, and Stefan Hild of Spur Insights, to learn how PRONETIQS helps Measure, Monitor, and Maintain Control Systems in this episode of #TheAutomationPodcast. For any links related to this episode, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Listen to The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: The Automation Podcast, Episode 257 Show Notes: Special thanks goes out to Matthew Dulcey of PRONETIQS, and Stefan Hild of Spur Insights, for coming on the show, and to PRONETIQS for sponsoring this episode. If you’d like to learn more, please visit the below links: Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pronetiqs SID 5: https://pronetiqs.com/sid5 IntraVUE: https://pronetiqs.com/intravue Service & Support: https://pronetiqs.com/service-and-support Trainings: https://pronetiqs.com/trainings Until next time, Peace ✌️ If you enjoyed this content, please give it a Like, and consider Sharing a link to it as that is the best way for us to grow our audience, which in turn allows us to produce more content

Send us a textIn this episode, AMEC's CEO Johna Burke joins host Jason Mudd to discuss the Barcelona Principles 4.0 and PR measurement best practices.Tune in to learn more!Meet Our Guest:Our episode guest is Johna Burke, CEO and Global Managing Director at the International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC). With more than 30 years of experience in marketing, PR, communications, and strategy for B2B and B2C organizations, Johna is a global leader in communication measurement and evaluation and a sought-after speaker on PR, media relations, and metrics.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. The 7 Barcelona Principles Explained2. How to apply the Barcelona Principles 4.0 to measure and evaluate PR effectiveness across channels3. How AMEC's Integrated Evaluation Framework can guide planning, measurement, and reporting in your organization4. Practical ways to use data ethically to build credibility, trust, and impact in communications5. How professional development and resources from AMEC can strengthen measurement skills and PR strategy Quotables“When we looked at the Barcelona Principles, because they were rooted in best practice, a lot of them are just making them clearer statements.” — Johna Burke"Supporting the Barcelona Principles, being compliant, helps communicators make a greater value to their organization and gives credibility and reliability to their data." — Johna Burke“It gives you the planning elements, and it is a fill in the text box for what you are doing, starting with your objective and going through to put your activities, your outputs, the outcome, so that when you use this with your team and you put everything in the framework, it also helps you understand which efforts are paid, earned, shared, and owned.” — Johna Burke“Use it as the planning tool as much as you use it as a measurement tool, which arguably, if you're doing measurement effectively, you need to have good concrete planning in place to have those well-defined objectives to know and understand what's working and what's not working.” — Johna BurkeIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.More About Johna BurkeJohna Burke, CEO and Global Managing Director at the International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC), has more than 30 years of experience driving results in marketing, public relations, investor relations, general management, communications, strategy, and operations for B2B and B2C organizations. She is an expert in strategic planning, analytics, research, business growth, and operational efficiency and is a national and international speaker on PR, media relations, measurement, social media, and metrics. With over 20 years of focused experience in B2B and B2C marketing and public relations, Johna is recognized globally for her leadership in communication measuSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

In a world where AI hype is everywhere, what does meaningful, grounded transformation actually look like? In this episode, Galen Low sits down with Michael Domanic, VP and Head of AI at UserTesting, to unpack how AI is being strategically integrated into core business functions—not just to ride the hype wave, but to unlock measurable value. From demystifying the ROI of AI to cultivating a culture of experimentation and enablement, Michael shares his real-world approach to driving AI transformation that sticks.They dive into the mindset shifts needed as organizations mature in their AI journey, how UX professionals are becoming more essential than ever, and why the future of AI in business may not be about tech at all—but about how people adapt to ongoing change.Resources from this episode:Join the Digital Project Manager CommunitySubscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcastsConnect with Michael on LinkedInCheck out UserTesting

Discover how blind and visually impaired people can tackle DIY projects with confidence, explore accessible tools, and make everyday home improvements more independently. Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into the world of blind-friendly DIY, from adjusting standing desks to putting up shelves without smashing the wall. Steven shares his journey into cordless drills, screwdrivers, and accessible measuring tools, while Shaun offers practical guidance on using spirit levels, stud finders, and talking tape measures.They also reflect on how blind people approach home projects, the role of technology like the iPhone's Measure app and haptic spirit levels, and how community advice can bridge gaps left by poor online resources. The discussion expands into screen time for young children, the value of learning Braille, and the ongoing balance between independence, accessibility, and responsibility in everyday life. Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website---Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedin Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheart About Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the GaryVee Audio Experience, I talk about the current era of measuring the success of your creative with math and the difference between brand and sales. We get into how social content is feeding LLMs, how the content finds its audience, and how to test organic social content before spending paid media dollars. I also break down which social media platforms you should be posting on like: Facebook, Snapchat Spotlight, and LinkedIn.

Measure — UspellukuNuqaq usp'rkuta'aqa. – I am going to measure the atlatl.

January doesn't fail people, pressure does, and that's exactly why most New Year's resolutions crash and burn before February even hits. I've seen the stats, lived the cycle, and learned the lesson the hard way: January is not for domination, it's for direction. In this episode of The Happy Hustle Podcast, I'm breaking down how to build real momentum in the new year using a stupid-simple framework called C.A.L.M and why slow, aligned starts beat all-out sprints every single time.Here's the reality: nearly 80% of people quit their New Year's resolutions by mid-February, and almost half are out by January 19th. That's wild. Not because people are lazy, but because they confuse pressure with progress. January gets overhyped as a performance month when it should actually be about installing rhythms that can last all year. This episode is all about reframing January as a momentum month where you build habits, identity, and consistency that compound into massive results over time.I walk you through why habits beat goals, why systems outperform willpower, and how focusing on rhythm instead of rigid routines can change everything. We dig into the C.A.L.M framework—Create rhythms, Align expectations with reality, Lower the bar to raise consistency, and Measure what matters and how you can apply it immediately to your health, business, relationships, and personal growth. This isn't about doing more. It's about doing what actually sticks.One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that pressure creates resistance, but rhythm creates results. When you lower the bar just enough to show up consistently, even at 70%, you build identity-based momentum. That momentum fuels confidence, clarity, and long-term discipline. We also talk about why tracking inputs instead of obsessing over outcomes is the real key to sustainable success, especially early in the year.You'll walk away with a practical 30-day operating system you can actually maintain, a new way to think about progress without burning out, and permission to stop comparing your chapter one to someone else's chapter twelve. January doesn't define your year; it programs it. And when you leave this month with momentum instead of exhaustion, everything else becomes easier.If you want to start the year feeling grounded, focused, and energized without burning yourself into the ground, this episode is for you. Episode Sponsors:If you're feeling stressed, not sleeping great, or your energy's been kinda meh lately—let me put you on to something that's been a total game-changer for me: Magnesium Breakthrough by BiOptimizers. This ain't your average magnesium—it's got all 7 essential forms that your body needs to chill out, sleep deeper, and feel more balanced. I take it every night and legit notice the difference the next day. No more waking up groggy or tossing and turning all nightIf you're ready to sleep like a baby, calm your nervous system, and optimize your recovery, go grab yours now at bioptimizers.com/happy and use code HAPPY10 for 10% OFF.

This is our annual book episode! Angie and Trevor discuss the books they enjoyed in 2025, top picks for both fiction and nonfiction. Links Mentioned in This Episode Run Coaching. Work with an expert MTA running Coach. MetPro.co -For the first time ever, MetPro is offering MTA listeners a full 30-day experience for just $95 with absolutely no strings attached! See what it's like working with your own metabolic coach. Limited to the first 30 people. Altra Running -Altra shoes are designed to fit the natural shape of feet with room for your toes, for comfort, balance, and strength. So you focus on what really matters:  Getting out there. AG1 Next Gen has new flavors: Citrus, Tropical, and Berry. Get a free Welcome Kit with your first order which includes 5 AG1 Travel Packs, a shaker bottle, metal canister, and a bottle of AG Vitamin D3+K2. The Book Episode: Our Top Reads in 2025 Angie got through a total of 241 books in 2025 (95 fiction and 146 nonfiction)(audio=144, hardcopy=94, ebook=3). Authors We Interviewed on the Podcast Here are the books we featured on the podcast this year. See links to the author interviews. Think Like a Runner by Jeff Horowitz How to Run the Perfect Race by Matt Fitzgerald The Norwegian Method by Brad Culp The Explorer's Gene by Alex Hutchinson Ballistic by Henry Abbott Extreme Balance by Joe DeSena The Runaway Housewives of the Appalachian Trail by Kitty Robinson Fuel for Thought by Renee McGregor Don't Call it a Comeback by Keira D'Amato Lootie's World Run by Marie Leautey The Running Ground by Nicolas Thompson Angie's Top 10 Non-Fiction Reads: The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr Memoir is one of my favorite genres and this book takes a peak behind the scenes on writing an engaging memoir. In fact, Mary Karr weaves in so many personal antidotes that it doesn't feel like a how-to book at all. Some of the core principles she talks about have to do with dealing with the truth as you remember it, turning vulnerability into art, and finding your unique story. Everyone from the causal reader to someone who wants to write a memoir will enjoy this book. Awake by Jen Hatmaker I've followed Jen Hatmakes on Instagram for a number of years and she has a very funny and relatable way of sharing her life. Her latest book is a memoir and talks about the dissolution of her 25 year marriage and how she had to come awake to many important areas in her life as a result. Bad Therapy- Why The Kids aren't Growing Up by Abigail Shrier The author is an investigative journalist who argues that aspects of the mental health industry is harming American children, not helping them but over-diagnosing and over-treating normal struggles. It's important to get children the mental health help that they need but Shrier warns that normal development challenges and emotions are sometimes mislabeled as mental disorders which can lead children to adopt an “illness identity.” It Didn't Start With You -How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn This book talks about how trauma and epigenetic are linked. Trauma can change how our genes work and influence stress responses, health, and mood and these alterations can be passed down to future generations, which can help explain intergenerational trauma. This was a very eye opening book and helpful for anyone processing struggles linked to family history. The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs by Joel Salatin Since reading Michael Pollan's book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, I've been working on getting the meat our family eats from ethically sustainable sources. Joel Salatin, owner and operator of Polyface Farms, makes the case for how farming and ranching practices need to change (for the good of the environment, the animals, the farmer, and society in general). Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy This is a book that was first published back in 2009 and was updated in 2020. It has been used by many professional athletes and high achievers to develop a stronger mental and emotional game. NFL player, A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles, was filmed reading this book on the sidelines of a January 2025 playoff game and the book started selling thousands of copies. Some of the principles in the book that resonated with me were detaching self-worth from outcomes so that your identity isn't tied to results or achievements. Instead of asking, “How did I do?” Ask, “What did I learn.” Another important take-away was learning to gain control over my inner world. We don't have to believe everything our mind tells us. Yes, we should recognize emotions and thoughts but come back to our core values to develop self-mastery. Estrogen Matters -Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women's Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives- Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer (Revised and Updated) by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris As a woman in perimenopause I've been educating myself on how to make this transition in life work for me. As a result I started using HRT two years ago and it has improved my life physically, mentally, and emotionally. Thankfully the FDA removed the black box warning on HRT in 2025 after years of misinformation. This book is a must read for women in their mid-30's and up, those who have experienced surgical menopause, or anyone who wants to understand the role of estrogen more completely. From Strength to Strength– Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks Brooks is a Harvard professor and happiness columnist for The Atlantic. He draws on philosophy, social science, biography, and spirituality to offer a helpful roadmap for aging well in the second half of life. In order to embrace, and not fight, the inevitable decline we need to redefine success (moving away from being primarily validated by money or job titles) and look to internal measures like a deeper sense of purpose, wisdom, strong relationships, and service to others. Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobson Annie Jacobson is one of those authors from which I will read anything she writes. In the rather bleak (but fascinating) book she lays out the history of nuclear programs throughout the world and presents a scenario in which nuclear weapons are used. Spoiler alert- there are no good outcomes. Breath- The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor I've struggled with allergies since childhood, dealing with a lot of nasal congestion. As a result I was a mouth breather and this book challenged me to take a look at my breathing patterns and make some changes. Over the course of a year I trained myself to breathe through my nose during the day (but nighttime was a bigger challenge). A few months ago I started using mouth tape at night (and an airflow clip nasal dilator called Snore Less Now to open up my airway). I've experienced better mouth hygiene and deeper sleep as a result. Honorable Mentions (nonfiction) Hidden Potential by Adam Grant All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert Slow Productivity by Cal Newport Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose Revenge of The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher Angie's Top 10 Fiction Reads: The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (#19 in the Armand Gamache series) If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers this series is excellent. I've particularly enjoyed listening to them on audiobook since I'm not a French speaker and would probably mispronounce many names and places otherwise. The Life Impossible by Matt Haig I've enjoyed every book that author Matt Haig has written and this one was no exception. The Life Impossible follows a retired math teacher named Grace who is grieving the loss of her husband and son. She receives an unexpected inheritance which forces her outside her comfort zone, helping her to deal with her past and find new purpose for the future. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver This book is a modern retelling of Charles Dicken's David Coperfield. It follows a boy named Damon Fields who is born into poverty in modern rural Appalachia. He has a very tumultuous life particularly because of the weakness of the foster care system. The book deals with some very heavy subjects but it's ultimately a story of resilience and the power of finding hope in community and through art. The Burning White by Brent Weeks This is the fifth and final book in the Lightbringer Series, a modern fantasy set in a world governed by light and the magic of Chromaturgy. In this world, some people called drafters have the ability to harness light to create a physical substance called “luxin.” Each color has unique powers and identity and the drafter is changed over time. Red Rising Series by Pierce Brown My teens had read this series a few years ago so I was a bit late to the game. But once I finished the first book, Red Rising, I devoured the other five in this fantasy/sci-fi series and am eagerly waiting for the final book to be released next summer. The series centers on class warfare because of a rigid caste system and the main character gets involved in an attempted revolution. This fast paced series is full of action, violence and is set in space. The Measure by Nikki Erlick In this book everyone who reaches a specific age receives a box revealing their lifespan. The story follows eight people who wrestle with the decision whether to open their boxes or not and what to do with the information they get. Ultimately it's an uplifting book that encourages us to live life to the fullest. Twice by Mitch Albom This is a magical realism novel about a boy named Alfie who discovers that he gets two chances at everything in his life. It's a very engaging storyline (which kept me guessing until the end). It really made me see even more value in imperfection and that growth comes from learning. Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz This mystery follows freelance editor Susan Ryleland who finds herself unwillingly entangled in the death of an author whose book she is working on. I enjoy a mystery that keeps me guessing. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai I enjoyed the audiobook version of this book which follows the story of Sonia and Sunny who are both Indian immigrants to the United States who are navigating love, family, country, class, and race. Trevor's Top Reads in 2025: Trevor managed to finish 41 books last year. These ones rose to the top: How the Irish Saved Civilization -The Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe by Thomas Cahill. Basically, the Irish saved civilization because their monasteries preserved classical texts, learning, and book making after the fall of the Roman Empire. Irish monks later established monasteries on continental Europe which became centers of learning. American Nations -A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard. This was a paradigm shaping book, it provides the best explanation for regional differences in the USA. As You Wish -Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride (1987) by Cary Elwes. If you love the movie, listen to the audio book to Cary Elwes and other cast members share behind-the-scenes stories. The Shortest History of Ancient Rome -A Millennium of Western Civilization, from Kingdom to Republic to Empire: A Retelling for Our Times by Ross King. Trevor is a big fan of the Shortest History series because they provide a short overviews without getting too myopic or tedious. Mark Twain by Ron Chernow. This is a 1,200 page tome or 45 hours on audio book. Fun fact! Twain smoked between 22-40 cigars per day. Let’s end with some Mark Twain quotes: “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd druther not.” “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter”. “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.”  “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them”.

In this episode of “Run a Profitable Gym,” Two-Brain founder Chris Cooper explains why gym owners need to stop consuming clickbait speculation about CrossFit's sale and start working on what actually matters: their businesses.Stop paying the “distraction tax”—hours spent watching videos, scrolling comments and worrying about things you can't control cost you opportunities to generate revenue, build client relationships and preserve decision-making capacity.To give you a concrete plan to improve your business in a time of uncertainty, Coop walks through a five-step process you can use to objectively measure the value of any gym affiliation using real numbers:✅ Check local search volume for the brand✅ Track where your leads come from✅ Calculate marketing ROI with a simple formula✅ Measure revenue from affiliation programs✅ Assess retention value among engaged membersIf you decide to rebrand, Chris also covers the true costs, from domain changes and social media updates to new signage and content, so you understand what's actually required.The key takeaway: CrossFit LLC (or any brand affiliation) has never had less impact on your success than right now. Your coaching, client relationships and business systems actually drive results.Watch this episode to get the decision-making framework that will help you make smart, data-driven choices about affiliation. Then get back to work.LinksMeasuring the Value of AffiliationThe True Costs of RebrandingGym Owners UnitedBook a Call1:09 - Don't get distracted2:53 - Help with affiliation decision9:31 - A rebranding plan12:48 - Get back to work14:15 - The decision to make now

  If you've ever considered adding robot mowers and battery powered equipment to your operations tune in to this episode of Roots of Success, as host Kevin Keim from McFarlin Stanford sits down with Bob Carey of Kress Outdoor to talk electrification and autonomous mowing in the landscape industry. They bust common myths on power and reliability, break down the business drivers behind electrification, and reveal practical steps for piloting new equipment. You'll hear about how data-driven decisions maximize ROI, how robots are tackling large and small properties alike, and why the future of landscaping is as much about logistics and analytics as it is about green thumbs. Whether you're curious about new regulations, competitive edge, or labor-saving tech, this episode arms you with the knowledge to modernize your operations and plan for 2026 and beyond. THE BIG IDEA:   Your business is a logistics business and data from automation drives profitability.  KEY MOMENTS:  [06:05] Balancing Retention and Client Value [09:30] "Personalized Financial Growth Strategies" [12:57] "Optimizing Labor Through Digitization" [14:47] IoT Insights for Efficiency [17:20] "Team Planning and Workflow Optimization" [21:38] Energy Consumption Analysis for Battery Needs [23:56] "Proper Tools, Proper Application" [29:37] Landscaping Labor Shortage Solutions [32:47] Robotics Security and Reliability Concerns [36:00] "Plan, Measure, Align, Execute" [38:34] "Have a Plan for Change"  QUESTIONS WE ANSWER  What are some of the biggest myths surrounding battery-powered landscaping equipment?  How have advances in technology addressed earlier limitations of autonomous lawn mowers, such as functioning under tree cover?  In what ways can a landscaping company benefit from approaching their business as a logistics operation?  Which factors are most influential in driving the transition toward electrification in landscaping—regulation, customer demand, or economics?  How does data collection from new equipment help landscaping companies improve profitability and site-level efficiency?  What are some best practices for rolling out electrification in a landscaping maintenance division?  Where can landscaping businesses typically find the fastest return on investment when switching to battery-powered equipment?  How does automation with autonomous mowers impact labor allocation and overall service quality for large properties?  What are some common misconceptions or concerns clients have about deploying autonomous lawn mowers, and how can they be addressed?  Why is it important for a landscaping company to have a written plan and an integrator for implementing new technologies or automation strategies?   

Matt Morgan

#wellness #identity #jimjimsreinventionrevolution It's 2026 and it's time to kick off the year with JimJim! Listen to JJRR 132 as JimJim confronts his identity and shares 15 tips on how to shift your own identity in 2026.  JimJim is feeling the confines of his current vs future identity as he shifts farther into wellness.  What's the challenge to your identity these days?      https://magicmind.superfiliate.com/JIMCIRILLO https://ko-fi.com/jimjim99 jimjim99 | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook | Linktree 1. Speak in "I am" language 2. Design proofs, not promises 3. Upgrade the character you're playing 4. Detach from the old story loops 5. Link wellness to entrepreneurial mission 6. Change environments to change self-image 7. Practice identity-based fasting from digital noise 8. Curate associations 9. Ritualize mornings as ceremonies 10. Grieve the former identity 11. Keep a "belief splicer" journal 12. Celebrate publicly 13. Reharmonize habits 14. Measure energy as KPI 15. Create a future biography Enjoy the episode? Share with friends! Subscribe in Spotify, Apple or Google Podcasts! https://www.jimjimsreinventionrevolution.com/resources jimjim99 | Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, Facebook | Linktree https://ko-fi.com/jimjim99  

You validated the idea. You built the page. Maybe you're even getting traffic. And yet… the conversions don't match the effort. In Part 2 of our interview with Samir ElKamouny, we shift from "prove the concept" to conversion rate optimization—the discipline of diagnosing what's actually limiting growth and improving the parts of your funnel that matter most. This isn't about chasing shiny marketing tactics. It's about execution: the kind that turns a funnel from "pretty good" into "predictable." About Samir ElKamouny Samir ElKamouny is an entrepreneur and marketing expert who believes execution is everything—an early lesson inspired by his father's legacy of big ideas. He has helped scale businesses by pairing strategic action with a commitment to impact, guided by values such as Freedom, Happiness, Health, Family, and Spirituality. In this episode, that philosophy becomes funnel execution: identify the bottleneck, prioritize the 80/20, and optimize what's already working. Conversion Rate Optimization Starts With One Question: Where's the Constraint? Many teams skip straight to A/B testing headlines or tweaking button colors. Samir takes a more surgical approach. Before you optimize anything, you need to know what kind of problem you have: Do you have a traffic problem? Or do you have a conversion problem? Because those are different fixes. If you're not getting enough visitors, obsessing over landing page micro-changes won't move the needle. But if you are getting traffic and still not getting demos, leads, or signups—then you've got a conversion bottleneck, and conversion rate optimization is exactly the right tool. Bottleneck First Traffic problem = distribution. Demo problem = messaging, offer, trust, friction, or flow. Diagnose the constraint before you "optimize." Use the 80/20 Rule to Avoid Busywork Samir's funnel advice lines up with how great engineers debug systems: don't touch everything—find the one thing causing most of the pain. That's the 80/20 rule applied to marketing and funnels: A small number of pages create most conversions. A small number of objections block most sales. A small number of steps create most drop-off. When you apply conversion rate optimization well, you're not "improving your funnel" in general. You're improving the one point that's limiting everything downstream. A practical example: if you're generating leads but no one books calls, the issue probably isn't your top-of-funnel content. It's the handoff—your booking experience, your follow-up, or the clarity of what the call is for. The "Two-Second Clarity Test" for Positioning Samir emphasizes something that's brutally simple—and incredibly effective: When someone lands on your page, they should understand what you do in about two seconds. Not "kind of." Not "after reading three paragraphs." Two seconds. That clarity acts like a conversion multiplier. If visitors are confused, they don't scroll. They don't click. They bounce. And no amount of A/B testing can fix a page that doesn't communicate the offer. Two-Second Clarity Test: Can a first-time visitor instantly answer: What is this? Who is it for? What outcome do I get? If not, start there. Don't Test What Nobody Sees One of the most actionable parts of Part 2 is Samir's reminder to test based on attention, not opinions. Teams often test sections that aren't getting seen or clicked because they "feel important." But if users never reach that section—or don't interact with it—optimizing it is wasted effort. Instead, focus on experiments where user engagement is highest: above the fold the primary CTA area pricing/packages booking forms the first "proof" section (testimonials, logos, outcomes) That's how you make conversion rate optimization practical: test the parts of the page that actually get traffic, eyeballs, and clicks. A Simple Conversion Rate Optimization Framework You Can Use This Week Here's a clean execution loop you can run without overcomplicating it: Pick one conversion goal (demo booked, lead submitted, trial started). Locate the biggest drop-off (analytics + recordings + basic funnel tracking). Form one hypothesis ("People don't trust us yet," "Offer is unclear," "Form is too long"). Make one meaningful change (not five at once). Measure the result and keep only what improves the goal. That's it. Clear goal. One bottleneck. One change. Real measurement. Closing Thoughts: Optimize the Constraint, Not Your Ego The best part of Samir's approach is that it respects reality. It avoids "marketing theater" and focuses on execution that produces outcomes. If you want conversion rate optimization to work, don't start with cleverness. Start with constraints: Where are people dropping off? What do they not understand? What stops them from taking the next step? Fix that one thing, and the whole system improves. Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, there's always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at info@develpreneur.com with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let's continue exploring the exciting world of software development. Additional Resources Business Tune-Up Checklist: How to Refresh, Refocus, and Reignite Mid-Year How to Succeed with Digital Marketing for Small Businesses Close Deals With LinkedIn Building Better Foundations Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content

THURSDAY HR 5 The K.O.D - His Highness asks Deisi Del Toro about the size of coke cans. Monster Mags!!! Big Announcement about Leesburg Bike Fest!! Monster Messages & Hot Takes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THURSDAY HR 5 The K.O.D - His Highness asks Deisi Del Toro about the size of coke cans. Monster Mags!!! Big Announcement about Leesburg Bike Fest!! Monster Messages & Hot Takes

In this conversation, Ismail and Sameer discuss the concept of the 'white belt mentality'—the idea of approaching life and career with a mindset of continuous learning and humility. They explore how this mentality can lead to personal and professional growth, the importance of admitting what you don't know, and the value of being open to learning from others. The discussion also touches on the challenges of ego in the workplace, the necessity of reinvention in one's career, and the significance of comparing oneself to others in a constructive way.Key Moments The white belt mentality encourages continuous learning and humility.Admitting what you don't know is a strength, not a weakness.Ego can hinder career progression and personal growth.Reframing skill gaps as opportunities fosters a positive mindset.Every role is a learning opportunity; embrace it.Being open about your learning needs builds trust with colleagues.Reinvention is essential, especially during career transitions.Measure your growth against your own past, not others.A culture of learning promotes collaboration and trust.The white belt mentality is crucial for navigating career pivots.Feel free to send us an email at info@emotionalintelligents.com and share your thoughts or visit us at https://linktr.ee/emotionalintelligents Send us a text

COURTSIDE MAVERICK feat. @xo.mariza_ & @louis.lit We're kicking off the new year with the OG horny crew! Mariza comes by for a little after party reunion as we catch up with her and her latest move to Dallas. She tells us why El Paso men give her the ick and she tells us all about her throuple in paradise. Follow us on social media @AaronScenesAfterParty

Seattle's new socialist mayor just took office, and surprise—the city is quietly decriminalizing open drug use while telling you they're not. The Police Officers Guild says leadership issued a directive to stop arrests for public substance use, routing offenders to yet another toothless diversion program instead. The mayor claims no policy change happened, but a leaked memo from the Police Chief tells officers to divert all possession and use charges away from prosecution. Meanwhile, people are living in multiple tents on city sidewalks while also getting free tiny houses, shooting up in front of Pike Place Market tourists, and cycling endlessly through programs with zero accountability. Portland tried this with Measure 110—overdoses skyrocketed, and they had to recriminalize. Seattle learned nothing. Is "suicidal empathy" really compassion, or is it just enabling death and decay? When will cities realize that arresting and treating addicts might actually save lives? If you're tired of failed policies dressed up as progressive compassion, subscribe and hit that notification bell. Let me know in the comments: Will Seattle ever learn?

Episode 434 | Your “One Thing” for 2026 – A Challenge for Martial Arts School Owners Podcast Description Kicking off 2026, Duane and Allie challenge school owners to focus on the “one thing” that will make everything else easier—or even unnecessary. Drawing inspiration from Gary Keller's The ONE Thing, they get real about distractions, connection, and what it takes to move the needle in your school and life this year. Key Takeaways Focus beats multitasking: The myth of multitasking is alive and well—real progress comes from choosing one priority and going deep. Connection is everything: Both hosts agree—building stronger connections with students and families is the “one thing” that drives retention, growth, and satisfaction. Time blocking works: Schedule your priorities, not just your to-dos. Treat your “one thing” like the most important appointment on your calendar. Say no to non-essentials: Let go of programs, systems, or tasks that don't serve your core mission. It's okay to trim the fat. Habit stacking helps: Link your new “one thing” to existing habits for momentum and consistency. Action Steps for School Owners Reflect on 2025: Where did you see the most wins? What drained your energy? Ask the focusing question: What's the ONE thing you can do this year to make everything else easier or unnecessary? Identify distractions: Notice where you lose time—scrolling, overcommitting, unnecessary tasks—and set boundaries. Time block your priority: Schedule protected time for your “one thing.” Build accountability: Find a peer or group to check in with regularly. Share your “one thing” in the School Owner Talk Facebook group. Measure and adjust: Don't be afraid to pivot if something isn't working. Survey your families, check your ROI, and stay agile. Additional Resources Mentioned The ONE Thing by Gary Keller “Atomic Habits” by James Clear (for building small, consistent actions) School Owner Talk Facebook group (for accountability and sharing wins) Zig Ziglar's quote: “You can have everything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what they want.” Jesse Cole (Savannah Bananas) – “You wouldn't believe it!” moments Allie Alberigo's Book - Martial Arts Business 101 What's YOUR one thing for 2026? Drop it in the group or comments and let's keep each other inspired and accountable all year long! If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another school owner. Here's to an intentional, connected, and growth-filled 2026!

This week, we're sharing a special feed drop from Great Mondays Radio! Our very own Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Leanne Elliott, takes the guest chair as host Josh Levine (Work Futurist, author, and culture consultant) interviews her on creating amazing workplaces. In this candid conversation, Leanne and Josh dismantle the myths around company culture and redefine it as a strategic, business-critical system rooted in behavioral science. If you're tired of treating culture as a "nice-to-have" or a collection of perks, this episode is a must-listen for business leaders, managers, and HR professionals.

Leaders often ask for a clear, immediate ROI on org design and transformation work—but that question can derail the conversation before it even starts. When ROI is framed purely as short-term financial return, it misses how organizations actually change and improve over time. In this mini Ask Us Anything episode, Rodney and Sam unpack how to approach ROI conversations in org design more productively. They explore why separate “transformation metrics” usually miss the point, how to anchor ROI to what leaders already care about, and why leading indicators like decision speed, cycle time, and meeting effectiveness matter more than tidy quarterly savings. Mentioned references: W. Edwards Deming Got a work question like this one you'd like us to answer? Email us at podcast@theready.com -------------------------------- Ready to change your organization? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Let's talk!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------- Sound engineering and design by Taylor Marvin of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coupe Studios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

At The Indicator, we've been following the conditions in Venezuela over the years. In 2024 we covered how Venezuela's economy went into freefall, and have been checking in with an economist there frequently — including after the U.S. attacked over the weekend, deposing its leader Nicolás Maduro. On today's show, we're revisiting our episode about Venezuela's economy, and hear from our contact in Caracas. Send us questions you'd like The Indicator to answer on future episodes about Venezuela: indicator@npr.org. Related episodes: The Measure of a Tragedy Why are Venezuelans starving? An Economist in Caracas: Day In The Life For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We’re bringing you something special this week in place of our usual daily show. Every day, we are making one of the stories that listeners loved this year free for everyone. Today it is from New Scientist on the rising life expectancy of humans and the evolving science behind how we measure aging, written by Graham Lawton and narrated by Mike Cooper for Apple News+.

What if the reason you're not getting results from your wellness routine isn't because you're doing too little —but because your body is overloaded with noise?What if the supplements you're taking are in your blood…but never actually making it into the cell?I'm here at A4M's Longevity Fest talking with the researchers at Lumati, science driven wellness company about why the future of health is personalized.If you've been doing all the right things and still not feeling right — this episode will help you understand why.Episode Links & Resources:Lumati Website: https://www.lumati.com/Lumati Recharge Portal: https://www.lumati.com/recharge-portalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumatilife/Connect with Tracy:Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tracyduhs.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hydration Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sanctuarysd.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tracyduhs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flow FAM Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tracyduhs.com/join-flow-fam/

Is the church a tradition created to serve man's religious purposes or is it something more? In a world of competing voices about the relevance of the church, we need a thorough biblical understanding of what makes up a church. Theologian Dr. Gene Getz will help us to learn how God defines and measures a healthy church. Don't miss this essential edition of Equipped with Chris Brooks! Featured resource:The Measure of a Healthy Church e-book by Gene A. Getz January thank you gift:Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become Like Him. Do as He Did. by John Mark Comer Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Wouldn't it be great to enjoy the“Christmas Spirit” 365 days year? In this message, Chip shares how you can cultivate that winsome spirit of Christmas in your heart 24/7.Breakthrough Concept #4: God does not measure generosity by the size of our gift, but by the size of our sacrifice.The Christmas Story: A graduate course in generosityThe Magi -Mt. 2:11 - Your MoneyThe Shepherds -Lk. 2:15-17 - Your TimeJoseph -Mt. 1:18-24 - Your ReputationMary -Lk. 1:26-38 - Your FutureJesus -Mk 10:45 - Your LifeThe Father -Jn 3:16 - Your Most Precious PossessionThree observations:Generosity is not so much a virtuous act, as it is a virtuous RESPONSE.God does not measure generosity by the size of our gift, but by the size of our SACRIFICE.Increasing levels of generosity bring increasing levels of REWARD / BLESSING.Generosity is to love as thunder is to lightning: Luke 6:38Broadcast ResourceSeries ResourcesMessage NotesYear End MatchDouble Your Gift TodayMinistry ReportConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Happy New Year 2026! I love January and the opportunity to start afresh. I know it's arbitrary in some ways, but I measure my life by what I create, and I also measure it in years. At the beginning of each year, I publish an article (and podcast episode) here, which helps keep me accountable. If you'd like to share your goals, please add them in the comments below. 2026 is a transitional year as I will finish my Masters degree and continue the slow pivot that I started in December 2023 after 15 years as an author entrepreneur. Just to recap that, it was: From digitally-focused to creating beautiful physical books; From high-volume, low cost to premium products with higher Average Order Value; From retailer-centric to direct first; and From distance to presence, and From creating alone to the AI-Assisted Artisan Author. I've definitely stepped partially into all of those, and 2026 will continue in that same direction, but I also have an additional angle for Joanna Penn and The Creative Penn that I am excited about. If you'd like to join my community and support the show every month, you'll get access to my growing list of Patron videos and audio on all aspects of the author business — for the price of a black coffee (or two) a month. Join us at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn. Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Leaning into the Transformation Economy The Creative Penn Podcast and my Patreon Community Webinars and live events Finish my Masters in Death, Religion, and Culture Bones of the Deep — J.F. Penn Add merch to CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com How to Write, Publish, and Market Short Stories and Short Story Collections — Joanna Penn Other possible books Experiment more with AI translation Ideally outsource more marketing to AI, but do more marketing anyway Double down on being human, health and travel You can find all my books as J.F. Penn and Joanna Penn on your favourite online store in all the usual formats, or order from your local library or bookstore. You can also buy direct from me at CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com. I'm not really active on social media, but you can always see my photos at Instagram @jfpennauthor. Leaning into the Transformation Economy I've struggled with my identity as Joanna Penn and my Creative Penn brand for a few years now. When I started TheCreativePenn.com in 2008, the term ‘indie author' was new and self-publishing was considered ‘vanity press' and a sure way to damage your author career, rather than a conscious creative and business choice. It was the early days of the Kindle and iPhone (both launched in 2007), and podcasting and social media were also relatively new. While US authors could publish on KDP, the only option for international authors was Smashwords and the market for ebooks was tiny. Print-on-demand and digital audio were also just emerging as viable options. While it was the early era of blogging, there were very few blogs and barely any podcasts talking about self-publishing, so when I started TheCreativePenn.com in late 2008 and the podcast in March 2009, it was a new area. For several years, it was like howling into the wind. Barely any audience. Barely any traffic, and certainly very little income.  But I loved the freedom and the speed at which I could learn things and put them into practice. Consume and produce. That has always been my focus. I met people on Twitter and interviewed them for my show, and over those early years I met many of the people I consider dear friends even now. Since self-publishing was a relatively unexplored niche in those early years, I slowly found an audience and built up a reputation. I also started to make more money both as an author, and as a creative entrepreneur. Over the years since, pretty much everything has changed for indie authors and we have had more and more opportunity every year. I've shared everything I've learned along the way, and it's been a wonderful time.  But as self-publishing became more popular and more authors saw more success (which is FANTASTIC!), other voices joined the chorus and now, there are many thousands of authors of all different levels with all kinds of different experiences sharing their tips through articles, books, podcasting, and social media. I started to wonder whether my perspective was useful anymore. On top of the human competition, in November 2022, ChatGPT launched, and it became clear that prescriptive non-fiction and ‘how to' information could very easily be delivered by the AI tools, with the added benefit of personalisation. You can ask Chat or Claude or Gemini how you can self-publish your particular book and they will help you step by step through the process of any site. You can share your screen or upload screenshots and it can help with what fields to fill in (very useful with translations!), as well as writing sales descriptions, researching keywords, and offering marketing help targeted to your book and your niche, and tailored to your voice. Once again, I questioned what value I could offer the indie author community, and I've pulled back over the last few years as I've been noodling around this. But over the last few weeks, a penny has dropped. Here's my thinking in case it also helps you. Firstly, I want to be useful to people. I want to help. In my early days of speaking professionally, from 2005-ish, I wanted to be the British (introvert) Tony Robbins, someone who inspired people to change, to achieve things they didn't think they could. Writing a book is one of those things. Making a living from your writing is another. So I leaned into the self-help and how-to niche. But now that is now clearly commoditised. But recently, I realised that my message has always been one of transformation, and in the following four areas.  From someone who doesn't think they are creative but who desperately wants to write a book, to someone who holds their first book in their hand and proudly says, ‘I made this.' The New Author. From someone who has no confidence in their author voice, who wonders if they have anything to say, to someone who writes their story and transforms their own life, as well as other people's. The Confident Author. From an author with one or a handful of books who doesn't know much about business, to a successful author with a growing business heading towards their first six figure year. The Author-Entrepreneur. And finally, from a tech-phobic, fearful author who worries that AI makes it pointless to create anything and will steal all the jobs, to a confident AI-assisted creative who uses AI tools to enhance and amplify their message and their income. The AI-Assisted Artisan Author. These are four transformations I have been through myself, and with my work as Joanna Penn/The Creative Penn, I want to help you through them as well. So in 2026, I am repositioning myself as part of The Transformation Economy. What does this mean? There is a book out in February, The Transformation Economy by B. Joseph Pine II, who is also the author of The Experience Economy, which drove a lot of the last decade's shift in business models. I have the book on pre-order, but in the meantime, I am doing the following. I will revamp TheCreativePenn.com with ‘transformation' as the key frame and add pathways through my extensive material, rather than just categories of how to do things. I've already added navigation pages for The New Author, The Confident Author, The Author-Entrepreneur, and The AI-Assisted Artisan Author, and I will be adding to those over time. My content is basically the same, as I have always covered these topics, but the framing is now different. The intent is different. The Creative Penn Podcast will lean more heavily into transformation, rather than just information — And will focus on the first three of the categories above, the more creative, mindset and business things.  My Patreon will continue to cover all those things, and that's also where I post most of my AI-specific content, so if you're interested in The AI-Assisted Artisan Author transformation path, come on over to patreon.com/thecreativepenn I have more non-fiction books for authors coming, and lots more ideas now I am leaning into this angle. I'll also continue to do webinars on specific topics in 2026, and also add speaking back in 2027. It's harder to think about transformation when it comes to fiction, but it's also really important since fiction books in particular are highly commodified, and will become even more so with the high production speeds. Yes, all readers have a few favourite authors but most will also read a ton of other books without knowing or caring who the author is. Fiction can be transformational. Reader's aren't buying a ‘book.' They're buying a way to escape, to feel deeply, to experience things they never could in real life. A book can transform a day from ‘meh' into ‘fantastic!' My J.F. Penn fiction is mostly inspired by places, so my stories transport you into an adventure somewhere wonderful, and they all offer a deeper side of transformative contemplation of ‘memento mori' if you choose to read them in that way.  They also have elements of gothic and death culture that I am going to lean into with some merch in 2026, so more of an identity thing than just book sales. I'm not quite sure what this means yet, but no doubt it will emerge. I'll also shape my JFPennBooks.com site into more transformative paths, rather than just genre lists, as part of this shift. My memoir Pilgrimage always reflected a transformation, both reflecting my own midlife shift but I've also heard from many who it has inspired to walk alone, or to travel on pilgrimage themselves. Of course, transformation is not just for our readers or the people we serve as part of our businesses. It's also for us. One of the reasons why we are writers is because this is how we think. This is how we figure out our lives. This is how we get the stories and ideas out of our heads and into the world. Writing and creating are transformative for us, too. That is part of the point, and a great element of why we do this, and why we love this. Which is why I don't really understand the attraction of purely AI-generated books. There's no fun in that for me, and there's no transformation, either. Of course, I LOVE using Chat and Claude and Gemini Thinking models as my brainstorming partners, my research buddies, my marketing assistants, and as daily tools to keep me sparkly. I smiled as I wrote that (and yes, I human-wrote this!) because sparkly is how I feel when I work with these tools. Programmers use the term ‘vibe coding' which is going back and forth and collaborating together, sparking off each other. Perhaps that I am doing is ‘vibe creation.' I feel it as almost an effervescence, a fun experience that has me laughing out loud sometimes. I am more creative, I am more in flow. I am more ‘me' now I can create and think at a speed way faster than ever before. My mind has always worked at speed and my fingers are fast on the keys but working in this way makes me feel like I create in the high performance zone far more often. I intend to lean more into that in 2026 as part of my own transformation (and of course, I share my experiences mainly in the Community at patreon.com/thecreativepenn ). [Note, I pay for access to all models, and currently use ChatGPT 5.2 Thinking, Claude Opus 4.5, and Gemini 3 Pro). So that's the big shift this year, and the idea of the Transformation Economy will underpin everything else in terms of my content. The Creative Penn Podcast and my Patreon Community The Creative Penn Podcast continues in 2026, although I am intending to reduce my interviews to once every two weeks, with my intro and other content in between. We'll see how that goes as I am already finding some fascinating people to talk to!  Thank you for your comments, your pictures, and also for sharing the episodes that resonate with you with the wider community. Your reviews are also super useful wherever you are listening to this, so please leave a review wherever you're listening this as it helps with discovery.  Thanks also to everyone in my Patreon Community, which I really enjoy, especially as we have doubled down on being human through more live office hours. I will do more of those in 2026 and the first one of the year will blearily UK time so Aussies and Kiwis can come. I also share new content almost every week, either an article, a video or an audio episode around writing craft, author business, and lots on different use cases for AI tools.  If you join the Patreon, start on the Collections tab where you will find all the backlist content to explore. It's less than the price of a coffee a month so if you get value from the show, and you want more, come on over and join us at patreon.com/thecreativepenn My Books and Travel Podcast is on hiatus for interviews, since the Masters is taking up the time I would have had for that. However I plan to post some solo episodes in 2026, and I also post travel articles there, like my visits to Gothic cathedrals and city breaks and things like that. Check it out at https://www.booksandtravel.page/blog/  Webinars and live events Along with my Patreon office hours, I'm enjoying the immediacy and energy of live webinars and they work with my focus on transformation, as well as on ‘doubling down on being human' in an age of AI, so I will be doing more this year. The first is on Business for Authors, coming on 10 and 24 January, which is aimed at helping you transform your author business in 2026, or if you're just getting started, then transform into someone who has even a small clue about business in general!Details at TheCreativePenn.com/live and Patrons get 25% off. In terms of live in-person events, it looks like I will be speaking at the Alliance of Independent Authors event at the London Book Fair in March, and I'll attend the Self-Publishing Show Live in June, although I won't be speaking. There might be other things that emerge, but in general, I'm not doing much speaking in 2026 because I need to … Finish my Masters in Death, Religion, and Culture This represents a lot of work as I am doing the course full-time. I should be finished in September, and much of the middle of the year will be focused on a dissertation. I'm planning on doing something around AI and death, so that will no doubt lead into some fiction at a later stage! Talking of fiction … Bones of the Deep — J.F. Penn The Masters is pretty serious, as is academic research and writing in general, and I found myself desperate to write a rollicking fun story over the holiday break between terms. I've talked about this ‘tall-ship' story for a while and now I'm committing to it. Back in 1999, I sailed on the tall-ship Soren Larsen from Fiji to Vanuatu, one of the three trips that shaped my life. It was the first time I'd been to the South Pacific, the first time I sailed blue water (with no land in sight), and I kept a journal and drew maps of the trip. It also helped me a make a decision to leave the UK and I headed for Australia nine months later in early 2000, and ended up being away 11 years in Australia and New Zealand. I came home to visit of course, but only moved back to the UK in 2011, so that trip was memorable and pivotal in many ways and has stuck in my mind. The story is based on that crossing, but of course, as J.F. Penn my imagination turns it into essentially a ‘locked room,' there is no escape out there, especially if the danger comes from the sea. Another strand of the story comes from a recent academic essay for my Masters, when I wrote about the changes in museum ethics around human remains and medical specimens i.e. body parts in jars, and how some remains have been repatriated to the indigenous peoples they were stolen from. I've also talked before about how I love ‘merfolk' horror like Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant, All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter, and Merfolk by Jeremy Bates. These are no smiling fantasy mermaids and mermen. They are predators. What might happen if the remains of a mer-saint were stolen from the deep, and what might happen to the ship that the remains are being transported in, and the people on board?  I'm about a third in, and I am having great fun! It will actually be a thriller, with a supernatural edge, rather than horror, and it is called Bones of the Deep, and it will be out on Kickstarter in April, and everywhere by the summer.  You can check out the Kickstarter pre-launch page with photos from my 1999 trip, the cover for the book, and the sales description at JFPenn.com/bones Add merch to CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com I've dipped my toe into merch a number of times and then removed the products, but now I'm clear on my message of transformation, I want to revisit this. My books remain core for both sites, but for CreativePennBooks, I also want to add other products with what are essentially affirmations — ‘Creative,' ‘I am creative, I am an author,' and variants of the poster I have had on my wall for years, ‘Measure your life by what you create.' This is the affirmation I had in my wallet for years! For JFPennBooks, the items will be gothic/memento mori/skull-related. Everything will be print-on-demand. I will not be shipping anything myself, so I'm working with my designer Jane on this and then need to order test samples, and then get them added to the store. Likely mid-year at this rate! How to Write, Publish, and Market Short Stories and Short Story Collections — Joanna Penn I have a draft of this already which I expanded from the transcript of a webinar I did on this topic as part of The Buried and the Drowned campaign. It turns out I've learned a lot about this over the years, and also on how to make a collection, so I will get that out at some point this year. I won't do a Kickstarter for it, but I will do direct sales for at least a month and include a special edition, workbook, and bundles on my store first before putting it wide. I will also human-narrate that audiobook. Other possible books I'm an intuitive creative and discovery writer, so I don't plan out what I will write in a year. The books tend to emerge and then I pick the next one that feels the most important. After the ones above, there are a few candidates. Crown of Thorns, ARKANE thriller #14. Regular readers and listeners will know how much I love religious relics, and it's about time for a big one! I have a trip to Paris planned in the spring, as the Crown of Thorns is at Notre Dame, and I have some other locations to visit. My ARKANE thrillers always emerge from in-person travels, so I am looking forward to that. Maybe late 2026, maybe 2027. AI + religion technothriller/short stories. I already have some ideas sketched out for this and my Masters thesis will be something around AI, religion, and death, so I expect something will emerge from all that study and academic writing. Not sure what, but it will be interesting! The Gothic Cathedral Book. I have tens of thousands of words written, and lots of research and photos and thoughts. But it is still in the creative chaos phase (which I love!) and as yet has not emerged into anything coherent. Perhaps it will in 2026, and the plan is to re-focus on it after my Masters dissertation.  I feel like the Masters study and the academic research process will make this an even better book, But I am holding my plans for this lightly, as it feels like another ‘big' book for me, like my ‘shadow book' (which became Writing the Shadow) and took more than a decade to write! How to be Creative. I have also written bits and bobs on this over many years, but it feels like it is re-emerging as part of my focus on transformation. Probably unlikely for 2026 but now back on the list … Experiment more with AI translation AI-assisted translation has been around for years now in various forms, and I have experimented with some of the services, as well as working with human narrators and editors in different languages, as well as licensing books in translation. But when Amazon launched Kindle Translate in November 2025, it made me think that AI-assisted translation will become a lot more popular in 2026. AI audiobook narration became good enough for many audiobooks in 2025, and it seems like AI-translation will be the same in 2026. Yes, of course, human translation is still the gold standard, as is human narration, and that would be the primary choice for all of us — if it was affordable. But frankly, it's not affordable for most indie authors, and indeed many small publishers. Many books don't get an audiobook edition and most books don't get translated into every language. It costs thousands per book for a human translator, and so it is a premium option. I have only ever made a small profit on the books that I paid for with human translators and it took years, and while I have a few nice translation deals on some books, I'm planning to experiment more with AI translation in 2026. More languages, more markets, more opportunities to reach readers. More on this in the next episode when I'll cover trends for 2026. Ideally outsource more marketing to AI, but do more marketing anyway You have to reach readers somehow, and you have to pay for book marketing with your time and/or your money. Those authors killing it on TikTok pay with their time, and those leaning heavily on ads are paying with money. Most of us do a bit of both. There is no passive income from books, and even a backlist has to be marketed if you want to see any return. But I, like most authors, am not excited about book marketing. I'd rather be working on new books, or thinking about the ramifications of the changes ahead and writing or talking about that in my Patreon Community or here on the podcast. However, my book sales income remains about the same even as I (slowly) produce more books, so I need to do more book marketing in 2026. I said that last year of course, and didn't do much more than I did in 2024, so here I am again promising to do a better job! Every year, I hope to have my “AI book marketing assistant” up and running, and maybe this will be the year it happens. My measure is to be able to upload a book and specify a budget and say, ‘Go market this,' and then the AI will action the marketing, without me having to cobble together workflows between systems. Of course, it will present plans for me to approve but it will do the work itself on the various platforms and monitor and optimize things for me. We have something like that already with Amazon auto-ads, but that is specific to Amazon Advertising and only works with certain books in certain genres. I have auto-ads running for a couple of non-fiction books, but not for any fiction. I'd also ideally like more sales on my direct stores, JFPennBooks.com and CreativePennBooks.com which means a different kind of marketing. Perhaps this will happen through ChatGPT shopping or other AI-assisted e-commerce, which should be increasing in 2026. More on that in trends for the year to come in the next show. Double down on being human, health and travel I have a lot of plans for travel both for book research and also holidays with Jonathan but he has to finish his MBA and then we have some family things that take priority, so I am not sure where or when yet, but it will happen! Paris will definitely happen as part of the research for Crown of Thorns, hopefully in the spring. I've been to Paris many times as it's just across the Channel and we can go by train but it's always wonderful to visit again. Health-wise, I'll continue with powerlifting and weight training twice a week as well as walking every day. It's my happy place! What about you? If you'd like to share your goals for 2026, please add them in the comments below — and remember, I'm a full-time author entrepreneur so my goals are substantial. Don't worry if yours are as simple as ‘Finish the first draft of my book,' as that still takes a lot of work and commitment! All the best for 2026 — let's get into it! The post My 2026 Creative And Business Goals With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

What is God looking for from you when it comes to being generous? Join Chip as he explores the answer to that question in this message from his series "The Genius of Generosity."Breakthrough Concept #4: God does not measure generosity by the size of our gift, but by the size of our sacrifice.The Christmas Story: A graduate course in generosityThe Magi -Mt. 2:11 - Your MoneyThe Shepherds -Lk. 2:15-17 - Your TimeJoseph -Mt. 1:18-24 - Your ReputationMary -Lk. 1:26-38 - Your FutureJesus -Mk 10:45 - Your LifeThe Father -Jn 3:16 - Your Most Precious PossessionThree observations:Generosity is not so much a virtuous act, as it is a virtuous RESPONSE.God does not measure generosity by the size of our gift, but by the size of our SACRIFICE.Increasing levels of generosity bring increasing levels of REWARD / BLESSING.Generosity is to love as thunder is to lightning: Luke 6:38Broadcast ResourceSeries ResourcesMessage NotesYear End MatchDouble Your Gift TodayMinistry ReportConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

The Trump Administration ordered universities to turn over data to prove they're not considering race in admissions. But education expert Richard Kahlenberg argues that for college admissions to look at merit fairly, they need to look at class. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: www.wbur.org/giveonpoint