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Where was Mini-Golf invented? How did the Great Depression help shape Mini-Golf? How can you get better at Mini-Golf? Have you started your FREE TRIAL of Who Smarted?+ for AD FREE listening, an EXTRA episode every week & bonus content? Sign up right in the Apple app, or directly at WhoSmarted.com and find out why more than 1,000 families are LOVING their subscription! Get official Who Smarted? Merch: tee-shirts, mugs, hoodies and more, at Who Smarted?
Welcome back to the Cookbook Love Podcast! Before I launched my recent masterclass about how to grow your audience for a cookbook, I sent my email list two questions: what's holding you back from growing your audience, and what do you want answered in the class? In this solo episode, I'm sharing the answers my readers sent in, along with a mindset shift for each one, so you can see whether you're standing in the same gap they are. In this episode, I discuss: Why writing a blog isn't a barrier to your email list, it's one step away from it Why consistency isn't a personality trait, it's a weekly decision you keep making The difference between engagement and attention, and how to invite more of the first Why internet politics doesn't have to touch your dream of writing a cookbook What to do when you haven't identified your cookbook topic yet I close the episode with a reminder that waiting to grow your audience or build your platform isn't neutral. A small shift in how you think about these five "excuses" can be the difference between staying stuck and finally starting to build an audience and get a book deal you dream about. Mentioned in This Episode: Cookbook Concept Map (free download)
When barriers obstruct our path, God provides a way around or the strength to overcome.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Is The Best Way To Accomplish Your Dreams? | Meditate With Robert AcevesWhat if accomplishing your dreams wasn't just about motivation, but about having the right mental strategy?One of the best techniques I've learned for achieving goals is called WOOP, a science-backed goal-setting strategy developed by psychologists Gabriele Oettingen and Peter Gollwitzer.WOOP stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan.First, you identify your Wish and clearly define what you want to accomplish. Then, you visualize the Outcome and imagine what your life will look and feel like once you achieve your goal.But here's where WOOP becomes especially powerful: instead of only thinking positively, you identify the Obstacles that could get in your way. These might be old habits, limiting thoughts, distractions, your environment, procrastination, or other challenges.Finally, you create a Plan for overcoming those obstacles before they happen.By combining goal setting, visualization, obstacle planning, and intentional action, the WOOP method can help you turn your dreams into realistic, achievable goals.Try this simple psychology-based technique with one of your goals and let me know in the comments how it goes. And if you know someone who could benefit from WOOP, share this video with them!#WOOP #GoalSetting #AchieveYourGoals #PersonalDevelopment #SelfImprovement #SuccessMindset #Motivation #Psychology #MentalTraining #GoalAchievement #DreamBig #RobertAcevesMusic by epidemicsound.com : Wonder - Henry Miles
What if your physical symptoms were trying to tell you something about your life path? In this episode, host Dara Levan sits down with multi-published author Annie Cathryn to discuss her upcoming novel Now Eat the Cake, why she started her own indie press Moon Ray Books at 50, and how severe eczema disappeared the moment she made an aligned decision. Annie shares her marketing secrets for authors who hate self-promotion, why a cat is called a "familiar," and how writing grief helped her heal. You'll learn three key takeaways: how to differentiate growth-oriented obstacles from energetic blocks, why turning 50 is a privilege to be celebrated, and the mindset shift that makes promoting your work feel like service instead of bragging. Tune in for an unfiltered conversation about midlife breakthroughs, intuition, and eating the cake.TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Intro0:52 - Annie's excitement for the episode1:03 - Early read of *Now Eat the Cake*2:30 - Husbands who don't read fiction3:45 - Letting go of book babies4:19 - Turning 50 and starting an imprint5:22 - Eczema disappears after aligned decision7:19 - Obstacles vs. energetic blocks9:28 - Why turning 50 is a privilege11:38 - Writing grief from real loss13:51 - Healing through writing friendship breakup14:21 - Dogs as healers in fiction16:11 - Cats as “familiars”18:06 - Indie publishing vs. traditional19:18 - Marketing background and social media tips23:51 - Promoting without feeling gross25:24 - Impact of publishing on parenting28:26 - Focusing on one book at a time31:25 - Listening when it “doesn't feel right”32:33 - Where to find Annie Cathryn32:54 - OutroRESOURCES:https://www.instagram.com/msanniecathrynhttps://anniecathryn.com/Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story:• https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/• Website: daralevan.com
This week we broke down exactly what four Standout PT coaches changed and executed in their businesses, that catapulted their growth in a matter of weeks.This week's topics:1. How followers translates to clients 12:202. Don't under-estimate phone calls 29:303. The true value of paid ads 39:514. From generic content to specific 44:52Become a Standout PT: AccessJoin our community: Access As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to drop a comment or get in touch!
Today we explore wisdom. Not the "don't put tomatoes in a fruit salad" kind. Serious business wisdom.It turns out, the wise tend to converge on understanding the world in a similar way.In the 20th century, philosophical titans saw this convergence. They look back to the original seers of wisdom and see in them parallels that run so deep, that upon deep contemplation of these philosophies, they found a "highest common factor," including among:Epicteus, Marcus Aurelius, and the StoicsPlato, and various Neoplatonists such as PlotinusSpinoza, SchopenhauerPossibly Hegel, Wittgenstein, though they are famously difficult to interpretJiddu KrishnamurtiLao Tzu, who authored the Tao Te ChingALso Chuang Tzu and Lieh TzuJewish philosophers such as Philo of AlexandriaSufi mystics of Islam, most famously Jalal al-Din RumiJesus of NazarethSt. PaulMeister Eckhart, the mystic Christian St. Jon of the CrossHinduism:The Sages of the UpanishadsAdi Shankara's The Crest-Jewel of WisdomThe Bhagavad GitaThe BuddhaParticularly Zen masters who followedVarious SutrasThe Bardo ThodolIt is the Perennial Philosophy. I call it the One Wisdom. Huxley called it the “Highest Common Factor” of universal truth.SOURCESCamus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus. 1942.Huxley, Aldous. The Perennial Philosophy. Harper & Row, 1945.John of the Cross, St. Dark Night of the Soul (La noche oscura del alma).Jung, C. G. Letters, Volume 1: 1906–1950. Princeton University Press.Kahan, Dan. Identity-protective cognition research (cross-referenced, this project).Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (Liuzu Tan Jing).Polanyi, Michael. Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy. University of Chicago Press, 1958.Polanyi, Michael. The Tacit Dimension. Doubleday, 1966.Tolle, Eckhart. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. Dutton, 2005.Tao Te Ching (Laozi).Watts, Alan. Become What You Are. Shambhala, 1995 (essays, 1930s–1950s).Watts, Alan. Out of Your Mind: Tricksters, Interdependence, and the Cosmic Game of Hide-and-Seek. Sounds True, 2017.Watts, Alan. The Wisdom of Insecurity. Pantheon, 1951.Wittgenstein, Ludwig. Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. 1921.Wright, Robert. Why Buddhism Is True. Simon & Schuster, 2017.Xiangyan Zhixian — traditional Chan/Zen biographical account (Tang dynasty, c. 820–898).Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), "On the Equality of Things" ("Discussion on Making All Things Equal").Bible. Job 42:5–6; Luke 15:11–32 (KJV).Bhagavad Gita, 2.47.Ovid. Metamorphoses.McGilchrist, Iain. The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World. Yale University Press, 2009.Miles Kington. Quoted in The Independent (UK), Mar 28, 2003. Joseph Campbell. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Pantheon, 1949 — "Freedom to Live," Stage 17. Eckhart Tolle. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. New World Library, 1997 Ramana Maharshi, quoted in Ram Dass, "Dying Is Absolutely Safe"Alan Watts, Become Who You Are. Sam Harris, Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion. Dalai Lama & Paul Ekman, Emotional Awareness: Overcoming the Obstacles to Psychological Balance and Compassion. Times Books, 2008Emmet Fox, The Sermon on the MountErnest Kurtz & Katherine Ketcham, The Spirituality of Imperfection. BantamByron Katie, Loving What Is. Harmony, 2002. Diana Chapman & Jim Dethmer (with Kaley Klemp), The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership. 2014.Epictetus, Discourses / Enchiridion.Marcus Aurelius, Meditations.Plato, RepublicPlotinus, The Enneads.Spinoza, EthicsSchopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation.Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit. Jiddu Krishnamurti, Freedom from the Known Philo of Alexandria, On the Creation of the World. 1 Corinthians 1:20, 1:25, 3:19 — "the wisdom of the world is foolishness"John 14:6 — "I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 8:12 — "I am the light of the world."Galatians 2:20 or 2 Corinthians 5:17 -- "in Christ" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pastor Daniel teaches that God uses obstacles to strengthen His people, develop endurance, and prepare them for His purposes. As believers yield to Christ, every trial becomes an opportunity for growth until God removes the obstacle in His perfect time.
This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:00 Rinpoche dedicates the recitation of Heart Sutra for the health and stable life of Ribur Rinpoche and tells a short story about how he met and received teachings from Ribur Rinpoche.00:12:30 The group recites the Praise to Buddha Shakyamuni and the Heart Sutra.00:22:35 Rinpoche tells stories about how prayers, pujas, and meditation on emptiness by some lamas in Tibet were used to eliminate obstacles for travelling.00:40:35 Rinpoche advises that meditating on the emptiness of sickness, relationship problems, or other obstacles, even briefly, becomes a powerful practice to purify their causes. Looking at the three spheres of giver, receiver, and action as empty is helpful for overcoming spiritual harms.00:46:40 Rinpoche and students recite Heart Sutra, Lion-faced Dakini, and other prayers.00:54:50 Rinpoche leads extensive offerings of all the holy objects, statues, stupas, scriptures etc. in the ten directions to the Three Jewels, making offerings to each one individually to collect merit. The motivation of making offerings should be for the happiness of every single sentient being.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/
Life has a way of surprising us with journeys we never quite planned for. Many of us intend to stay in one place permanently, and then circumstances shift — a job opportunity, a growing family, a door that opens in an unexpected direction — and suddenly we are packing boxes and asking God what comes next. Moving ranks among the top three most stressful life events, which is precisely why prayer needs to be at the center of every step. Abram was seventy-five years old when God told him to leave everything he had ever known and go to a land He would show him — with no map, no destination specified, and no U-Haul. He went anyway. And when he arrived in Canaan, the land was already inhabited. What awaited him was not a simple, obstacle-free welcome. But it was exactly where God had called him, and a promise of breathtaking proportion met him there. Isaiah 46:10 frames the whole story: God declares the end from the beginning. His purpose will stand, and all His good pleasure He will accomplish. That truth belongs to every family loading a moving truck today. Just because a new place comes with complications, unknowns, and an inhabited landscape does not mean God is absent from the plan. What matters most is not how the circumstances appear upon arrival, but what God will say and do next. Those who move with the Lord move with His hand upon them every step of the way — and the impact of their obedience reaches further than they can currently see. Today's Bible Verse "I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and all my good pleasure I will accomplish.'"— Isaiah 46:10, ESV Ponder Today God is intentional about location. He directed Abram's path with purpose, and He is equally intentional about where He places His people today. A move made in obedience to His leading carries the weight of His purpose behind it. Obstacles upon arrival do not mean the move was a mistake. When Abram reached Canaan, the land was already occupied. God's plan was not derailed — it was unfolding. Complications do not cancel calling. The promise awaits at the destination, not before departure. Abram received God's word of assurance after he arrived, not before he left. Faithfulness in the going often precedes clarity about the purpose. A move made with God impacts generations beyond your own. The promise God made to Abram in Canaan still holds weight in the Holy Lands today. Our obedience in the present shapes what comes after us in ways we may never fully see. You do not walk the path of a move alone. God's hand accompanies every step — the packing, the farewell, the unfamiliar streets, the search for a new church family. He is present in all of it and He is providing for all of it. A Prayer for You Today Father God, we lift up today every family and individual who is planning a move. We know that even a move across town can have a domino effect on the lives of those around them and on generations to come. Lord, You see the whole plan from start to finish. We pray for assurance for those taking leaps of faith that they will be met with solid ground that can only come from You. We pray for conviction that they know You sent them, and for provision through every step from packing to finding a new home to building new community and connecting to a new church body. May each member of the moving family know within themselves that You have a purpose for this move in their lives and in their story. May this experience glorify Your name and serve as a testimony of Your creativity, goodness, and faithfulness. In Jesus' holy name, Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer brought peace and perspective to a season of transition, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to walk with you through every season of change and new beginnings. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What if physical symptoms and gut feelings can guide you on your life's path? In this episode, host Dara Levan sits down with multi-published author Annie Cathryn to discuss her upcoming novel Now Eat the Cake, why she started her own indie press Moon Ray Books at 50, and how eczema disappeared the moment she made an aligned decision. Annie shares her marketing secrets for authors who hate self-promotion, why a cat is called a "familiar," and how writing grief helped her heal. You'll learn three key takeaways: how to differentiate growth-oriented obstacles from energetic blocks, why turning 50 is a privilege to be celebrated, and mindset shifts. Tune in for an unfiltered conversation about midlife breakthroughs, intuition, and eating the cake.TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Intro0:52 - Annie's excitement for the episode1:03 - Early read of *Now Eat the Cake*2:30 - Husbands who don't read fiction3:45 - Letting go of book babies4:19 - Turning 50 and starting an imprint5:22 - Eczema disappears after aligned decision7:19 - Obstacles vs. energetic blocks9:28 - Why turning 50 is a privilege11:38 - Writing grief from real loss13:51 - Healing through writing friendship breakup14:21 - Dogs as healers in fiction16:11 - Cats as “familiars”18:06 - Indie publishing vs. traditional19:18 - Marketing background and social media tips23:51 - Promoting without feeling gross25:24 - Impact of publishing on parenting28:26 - Focusing on one book at a time31:25 - Listening when it “doesn't feel right”32:33 - Where to find Annie Cathryn32:54 - OutroRESOURCES:https://www.instagram.com/msanniecathrynhttps://anniecathryn.com/Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story:• https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/• Website: daralevan.com
It is good – and much to be preferred – to always focus on the positive words that we find in Scripture, but in doing so we must not be blind to the concerns that arise and threaten to distract the community of those following Christ. As Paul brings his letter to the Romans to a conclusion, after writing of all the foundations to a true faith and the way of life in that faith, he then finds it necessary to write, “I appeal to you brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, for by smooth talk and flattery they deceive …. “[v.18] Judas Iscariot served himself while giving an outward appearance of serving Christ. If we should encounter such let us follow Pauls' advice, “ … I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” [v.19] In the previous chapter we read “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” [v.13] We cannot miss the emphasis on “hope.” How much do we need a real hope in our hearts in 2026 – a hope that creates “all joy and peace” as we face the challenges of godlessness that abound in today's world; we must develop a sense of total commitment so that we can more easily avoid distractions.What total commitment Jeremiah must have had, so many enemies, efforts to put him to death, as we read today in ch. 26 (v.11) But God saw to it that he had some support. He was God's mouthpiece in warning the people of God's impending judgements. How effective are you and I in doing that? Do we feel weak? That seems natural, we do not have the direct contact with God that Jeremiah experienced, but we do have the full revelation of his whole purpose in the 66 books of the Bible. Let us take special note of Paul's final words to the believers in Rome, “Now unto him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel … according to the command of the eternal God to bring about obedience of faith – to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” May we so live that we witness that coming glory.
While there's a lot of fear right now about AI taking people's jobs, AI could actually help people get jobs – including those with some of the most significant barriers to employment.Tens of millions of Americans have some kind of criminal history. And helping those with low-level crimes and non-convictions on their records used to be a painstakingly slow and expensive process. In this episode, we explore how a new AI-powered app could provide a new path to employment for job-seekers who face some of the toughest hurdles in the market.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org. This episode was produced by Megan Lim and Jason Fuller, with audio engineering by Zo Van Ginhoven and Ted Mebane. It was edited by Emily Kopp and Ashley Brown. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
What does it take to lead sales for some of the biggest stadiums, sports franchises, and entertainment venues in the world? In this episode of Against the Sales Odds, Lance Tyson sits down with Colin Cook, Executive Vice President of Sales at Legends Global, to explore the leadership principles that have shaped his journey—from serving as an Army officer to leading a global sales organization of more than 350 professionals. Colin shares the story behind Legends' work on iconic venues like SoFi Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Allegiant Stadium, and the new Buffalo Bills stadium, while offering practical lessons on consultative selling, building resilient teams, and leading through disruption. Together, they discuss: Colin's unconventional path from the military to sports salesHow Legends creates world-class fan and client experiencesLeading major stadium projects through the uncertainty of COVID-19Why transparency, empathy, and adaptability are essential leadership skillsHow buyer expectations are changing across generationsThe mindset every young sales professional should develop to succeed Whether you're leading a sales team, managing change, or looking to elevate your leadership game, this conversation is packed with real-world insights from one of the most respected leaders in sports business.
August 2, 2026Pastor Steve MilunovicSeries: UnstoppableHow to Effectively Share the Gospel with the WorldActs 17:16-34
Are you feeling completely worn out, exhausted, and at the end of your own efforts? Discover how hitting rock bottom might actually be the exact moment you find true strength and the real power to change your life. In this powerful message, Elliott Warren dives deep into what happens when we exhaust our own abilities and are finally forced to surrender control. If you are dealing with inner torment, depression, or feeling stuck in a cycle of compromise, you cannot fix it on your own strength. This video will guide you through the difficult process of letting go of your pride, breaking free from your comfortable routines, and experiencing a radical transformation from the inside out. You will also hear a compelling real-life story about overcoming personal compromise and the undeniable difference between just surviving and truly being filled with purpose and power. Whether you are desperately searching for answers or looking for a fresh start, this message provides the practical and spiritual roadmap to stop living on empty, let go of control, and start experiencing real freedom. 00:00 - Finding Strength When You Are Exhausted and at Rock Bottom 08:06 - Why You Must Step Out of Your Comfort Zone 14:42 - How to Find the Power to Overcome Life's Obstacles 23:17 - How to Break Free From Pride and a Religious Mindset 34:41 - Overcoming Inner Torment, Oppression, and Depression 41:50 - Experiencing the Fire That Purifies Your Heart 48:17 - A Real-Life Story About Stopping Personal Compromise 01:03:28 - A Closing Prayer for Absolute Surrender and Strength #overcomingexhaustion #findpurpose #innerpeace #surrender #personalgrowth #faithjourney #sermon #church #ElliottWarren #deliverance #spiritualgrowth #overcomingdepression #christianmotivation If this message helped you today, please subscribe to our channel and share this video with someone who might need a breakthrough. Welcome to the official channel of Cross Culture Global, the digital-first media ministry of Cross Culture Church, led by Pastor Elliott Warren. We believe following Jesus isn't a Sunday tradition—it's a radical way of living in today's world. Our mission is to move beyond motivation to deliver profound biblical teaching with raw, real-life application. We dive deep into the complex and often "off-limits" topics that matter most. What you'll find here: Raw Truth: Deep biblical insights for a today's culture. Global Community: A virtual-first community reaching every corner of the earth. New Here? Learn more about us: crossculturechurch.com Give online: crossculturechurch.com/give Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TKYUWdiK0N204bF6b4U4w Watch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crosscultureglobal Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrossCultureGlobal/ Sermones disponibles en español. / الخطب متوفرة بالعربية / हिंदी में उपदेश उपलब्ध / 提供中文讲道
Jeff is traveling overseas and will be taking a break from recording this week and next week! In the meantime, please enjoy this throwback episode. Are you ever frustrated due to a lack of growth in your faith? There may be many reasons for why you are struggling to grow in your faith. In this episode, Jeff Cavins focuses on five obstacles to grace that could be inhibiting your growth in faith. He offers Scripture quotations to help explain these obstacles and why it is important to overcome them. Snippet from the Show We can overcome sin and obstacles to grace. However, we can't do it alone. To break free from sin involves two things: God's power and our choice. Email us with comments or questions at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com. Text “jeffcavins” to 33-777 to subscribe and get Jeff's shownotes delivered straight to your email! Or visit ascensionpress.com/thejeffcavinsshow for full shownotes!
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AP correspondent Sam Mednick reports Hamas has said that it will agree to disarm as part of a Gaza deal announced by President Trump.
Description: Four talks from Rothbard's centenary celebration last month in Porto:Ammous: Rothbard on PalestineHoppe: Hurdles, Obstacles, and Surprises on the Road to RothbardianismKinsella: Rothbard's Greatest HitsDe Mombynes: Rothbard & BitcoinThe accompanying book, Rothbard at 100, is available from TheSaifHouse.com
“So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.” (Acts 27:25 NLT) Many Christians are tempted to believe the lie that when we’re in the will of God, everything will be smooth sailing. But often just the opposite is true. Doors slam in our faces. Obstacles appear in our paths. Storms arise that threaten to drive us off course. That’s why we need to remember that we have a spiritual enemy who wants to stop us from doing what God wants us to do. And he will use any means at his disposal to accomplish his work, including causing us to doubt God’s goodness and protection. Acts 27 tells the story of the apostle Paul’s voyage to Rome. Though he was a prisoner facing trial, he recognized that his circumstances would give him a momentous opportunity to share the gospel with several highly placed Roman officials. He reasonably could have expected smooth sailing all the way to his destination. After all, he was doing the Lord’s will even as his life hung in the balance. But that’s not how this story goes. An incredible storm arose that caused the people on his ship to despair of their lives—but not Paul. It seems there was no obstacle big enough to stop the apostle. He always seemed to rise above his circumstances. His words to his sailing companions in Acts 27:25 summarize his mindset: “So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said” (NLT). As he went through the storm, he knew God had shown him what to do, and he would let nothing deter him from that course. When a hard time hits, when a crisis hits, when a tragedy hits, often our first instinct is to look for a way out. We ask God for an airlift out of our problems. But God wants us to learn in the midst of them. Romans 8:35 and 37 say, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (NIV). Notice the phrase “in all these things.” It isn’t saying we won’t face some of these things. But it says that in them we are more than conquerors. If you’re seeking to obey the Lord, expect opposition. Expect obstacles. Expect difficulties. But also expect God to see you through. That applies on a national level as well. Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, once gave a speech in which he talked about “the man in the arena”—that is, a person, such as a national leader, who is heavily involved in doing what he believes is right, all the while enduring the attacks, criticism, and second-guessing of those who sit on the sidelines. In an earlier devotion we talked about how electing believers into office facilitates revival in our nation. But we also need to stand by those leaders because our spiritual enemy will do his best to wear them down or neutralize them through continuous attacks. They need our support. Reflection question: How can you show real support for the Christian leaders of our nation? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What happens when an organization gets so focused on results that it forgets why it exists? Andrew Stotz and Balaji Reddie dig into the first of Deming's 14 Points, constancy of purpose, using stories like Harvard's answer to Deming's challenge to define a business and Indian manufacturers who pivoted to build PPE during the pandemic. This conversation may change how you think about success, profit, and the real aim of a business. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.4 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as we dive deeper into the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Today I'm continuing my discussion with Balaji Reddie, an educator and trainer in the teachings of Dr. Deming and quality management generally. I'm really excited for today's topic, which is the 14 Points. Take it away, Balaji. 0:00:27.5 Balaji Reddie: Thank you. Thank you, Andrew. So the last time we spoke, we had discussed all the four sciences that Dr. Deming put together. In a nutshell, we said his words, appreciation for a system. That means appreciating that there are no events, there are eventualities, and there is a huge myriad or a huge system of myriad components that create these outcomes. So we need to understand that. We need to appreciate the fact that these are all interconnected, interdependent, these components. Right. And we saw some other attributes that when they interact with each other, the cause and effect are not closely related in time or space. Seemingly disconnected events then turn out to be connected. There exist synergistic relationships. So you can't just straightaway say, "I know." You can say, "From what I understand or what knowledge I have right now about the system, I think." 0:01:34.7 Balaji Reddie: And you always dig deeper. Right. And that gave us the next thing, that the performance of any system, the outcomes are subject to Variation. You will never get the same outcome every single time. It keeps on fluctuating. And then we realize there is a difference between normal and abnormal fluctuations. The typical term that Walter Shewhart said was Variation, and Deming took that forward. He said, "Understand Variation." I would say learn how to think statistically. Right? And statistical thinking is about knowing when to act and when to leave a process alone. Okay. So we said understand the Variation, and you should know when to... There's that normal fluctuation, you would need to work on it continually. But abnormal fluctuation is a little easier to understand, isolate, and take immediate action. So the low-hanging fruit comes from the abnormal fluctuation, what he called as special causes or assignable causes, as Walter Shewhart said. 0:02:41.0 Balaji Reddie: And once you work on them, then your long-term work on the process continues. That never stops because it helps you understand the process much, much better. Right? But there you are faced with the dilemma sometimes. There's so many complications there, and you just need to understand them if you want to know completely what happens in a system. And that's why he said the complete knowledge is never... Is unknown and unknowable. But he said there's a way of doing that, and that's where the Theory of Knowledge came in. We needed to understand that we build upon what we have right now. We start asking questions, and you begin with theories. "I think, I believe." And once you start doing that, you start unraveling the mysteries of the system under study. And last bit here is all this, of course, he was speaking about man-made systems, organizational systems, which all this work is being done by people. 0:03:38.0 Balaji Reddie: And he said that's where the best part comes in. You can never do things all by yourself. You need to cooperate with others. Each one comes with their own theories, and each one has their own system of learning, their own way of thinking. So we need to understand that, whether you are employees inside a company, whether you are people outside the company contributing in the sense of suppliers, or people who are recipients of this in terms of consumers. So everyone, you need to understand people, that they're a part of this entire system. And that's where Psychology comes in. Of course, I used the word empathy. I said understanding them and on. And on a lighter note, I ended by saying that if you really want to sharpen your empathetic skills, you need to either understand your pet or a baby, because these are people who can't express what they want and you just have to have your own theories and then understand them better. 0:04:34.9 Balaji Reddie: But that's what we saw last time. Now we're gonna get to, funnily, what he espoused as his philosophy [chuckle] when he first presented it in the United States in a structured form, right? These were the 14 Points. Now, first of all, the 14 Points are not his philosophy, but they're 14 consequences of his philosophy. You can never really set out to say, "I'm gonna do these 14 Points." But when you start, how do I say, asking the right questions and want to gain Profound Knowledge of what's happening and start looking at things differently and start asking questions, the right kind of questions, just like I said, "What is the purpose of the system? What are the components? How are they connected? How do they work? What is happening right now? Does this normally happen? Is this abnormal?" And then, of course, what are better ways of explaining or expressing what I'm seeing right now? 0:05:43.9 Balaji Reddie: And then finally, taking help from everybody else and bringing their thought processes. When you start asking these questions and start structuring and understanding the organization much better, you eventually see the 14 Points. So they are consequences of his philosophy. They are not his philosophy. You end up with the 14 Points, you don't start with them. Right? Having said that, does that mean we just go through this and be done with it? I said, "No." Now let's understand how he structured these and why he structured it the way he did. Now, they are in no order of preference. In fact, I remember speaking to Bill Bellows about this, and he said when he asked Deming, "Which of the 14 Points are the most important ones? Where do I start?" and he said, "All of them." He said, "Where do I start?" "Start anywhere," he said. You could start anywhere, eventually they're all connected. 0:06:40.7 Balaji Reddie: So the 14 Points are a system themselves. They are all connected to each other. You could start anywhere and you end up with the 14 Points in any case. But since we have to follow a kind of the sequence in which he wrote them, which he presented them, I'm following that sequence to begin with. Now, I'm gonna start with the 1986 edition of the 14 Points, which are there in his book, Out of the Crisis. But in 1990, he updated the wordings of the 14 Points. So I shall pull up my document right here so that I can read out the 1990 edition. Just give me a minute. 0:07:36.0 Andrew Stotz: Just for the audience, go out there and get yours in your hand. Get ready. I'm just going through and getting mine ready. 0:07:42.8 Balaji Reddie: Yes, so. Okay, so here it goes. Let's get to the 14 Points. So here we are. Right. And in what I normally say here, that he often said too, that when you apply Profound Knowledge, the 14 Points help you apply this in the most structured manner. So here we go. So the first is the 1986 edition, point number one, where he says, "Create constancy of purpose toward improvement of product and service with the aim to become competitive and to stay in business and to provide jobs." I think this is an amazing set of words which he's brought here, especially saying to provide jobs, where he said that quality is a ways and means of really contributing to society and not sucking the worst 10%, but adding something more to it to provide more jobs. Now in the 1990 edition, right, now the commentary for this, if you read Out of the Crisis, I've taken an excerpt from there, "Management must demonstrate unshakable commitment to quality, productivity and continual improvement. 0:09:09.8 Balaji Reddie: Your customers, your suppliers, your employees need your statement of constancy of purpose, your intention to stay in business by providing product and service that will help man to live better and which will have a market." So this was his definition of quality. A product or a service possesses quality if it helps someone live better in every way and enjoys a large and sustainable market. So for him, quality had two aspects. One, it must make someone's life better. Whatever you do, whether it's a product or a service, service being an activity. Right. So it should add value to the customer's life. It should make that person's life better. But it should be at a price the customer is willing to pay. Right? So that's the way he looked at it. 0:09:55.2 Balaji Reddie: Now, he changed this in 1990 to this, "Create and publish to all concerned a statement of the aims and purposes of the company or other organization. Management must demonstrate constantly their commitment to this statement." Now he says to publish the statement. And he says not just purpose, but aim. So aim, I think this came from his definition of a system, where he says that a system must have an aim. Without an aim, there is no system. So the aim provides a direction and purpose provides the reason why the system exists. So they go hand in hand. You can't separate these two. But now the commentary for this is, "A system must create something of value, in other words, results. The intended results, along with consideration of recipients and of cost, mold the aim of the system. It is thus management's task to determine those aims, to manage the whole organization towards accomplishment of those aims. 0:11:07.1 Balaji Reddie: It is important that an aim never be defined in terms of a specific activity or method. It must always relate to a better life for everyone. The aim precedes the organizational system and those that work in it." So... 0:11:23.4 Andrew Stotz: What was that part? "It's important that it's not" what? 0:11:27.2 Balaji Reddie: Yeah, that it's not an activity or a product. It should be something broader than that. It's about adding value to someone's life. Now, you can't go into the other extreme and come up with a motherhood statement like "I want to boil the ocean" or "I want to solve the world's poverty problems," alright? But it must translate into something doable, alright? And it should tell where the organization is heading. But the key word here is "publish it," right? And he says, "and other organization," that means "of the company or other organization." So I believe he started envisioning that in the future it's not gonna be one company, but a family of companies working together, which very simply today we use the term "supply chain" to express that. And I think, I think I mentioned this before in one of my earlier chats that I don't like that term because. It falls woefully short to explain what actually is happening there. 0:12:29.2 Balaji Reddie: I like to use the word provider network. Right? It's a network. It's not just a chain. Chain is more linear. Network is more lateral, all over the place. And these are not just suppliers. These are providers. So, right, he talked about a supply chain in those days. And he also says publishing, that means it should exist in some hard form, right, so that people see it, read it. Okay. Now this kind of, I thought was quite amazing because if you know about, for those who are into ISO 9000, the standard, of course, the latest one which is coming out this year, I'm not well-versed with what they've written or what they've changed in it, but up until 2015, the ISO insisted that companies have a documented statement of their policies, right, a quality policy and objectives. It should be written down. So to say that they could have got this idea from here is not fair, but I guess that you can see the parallel in what he was saying. 0:13:44.8 Balaji Reddie: So publishing. Now, in 2007, this is what I wrote after talking to many, like I said, who attended or helped Dr. Deming in his seminars till the day he passed on, right? And they said, of course, because I was quite intrigued, initially his four-day seminar had a perfect structure and everyone knows who attended that on the second day after lunch you had the red beads experiment. So that never changed even after Profound Knowledge came in. So anyway, coming back to what I was just saying, so initially he spoke a lot about the 14 Points, but after he professed Profound Knowledge, the stress on the 14 Points came down, but it did not disappear altogether. And this I heard from many of those and I asked what he would speak of. So based on that, I just came up with these words. The words are all Dr. Deming's, I've just edited and put it together. 0:14:50.1 Balaji Reddie: So create a statement of the aim and purpose of the organizational system. It must bring out the long-term vision of the organization, preferably stating how it intends to stay in business by making life better for all those impacted in any way. So there could be a direct or an indirect impact. Stakeholders is the term we use right now, right? So purpose describes why you exist. And if you go deeper to find out why a company exists, it has to last beyond the founding father's vision, right? So the statement of purpose must be very clear. Like Walt Disney, we spoke about this, he said, "I'll do anything to make a child smile." That was his purpose, and that's how everything stemmed from that, right? So if you start looking deep, why are we here? Why do we exist? 0:15:46.3 Balaji Reddie: Then once the company starts growing, you don't forget why you set up the company in the first place. You go back to your roots and the statement of purpose is like a North Star. It reminds you of where you're supposed to be, where you started, what you had in mind, right? So it's not that companies don't have it, but we need to revisit it from time to time. And sometimes you need to, it may undergo a change because things don't remain the same, right? Systems keep changing and if everything keeps changing, then you have to revisit the purpose. You don't do it every day though, because it's something that you spoke about and you say that it took me time to come out with this statement of purpose. So I was trying to understand even Apple's statement of purpose where Steve Jobs said making technology accessible, making technology simple, making technology productive is what we are supposed to do here as a company. Right. 0:16:46.4 Balaji Reddie: So he always believed in simplicity. He believed in seeing that people are more productive with the work, the software, or the products that they offer. Right. And it should be something that at times goes beyond just what the customer expects so that that one part is always there. So that's point number one, the statement of purpose. 0:17:11.3 Andrew Stotz: Can I ask a couple questions about that? 0:17:14.2 Balaji Reddie: Yeah, sure, sure, sure. 0:17:15.3 Andrew Stotz: Before we go on, I'm assuming you're gonna go on to number two. 0:17:18.4 Balaji Reddie: Yes. 0:17:20.5 Andrew Stotz: So a couple of things. First thing is about aim. You know that statement, "the purpose of a system is what it does," meaning that ultimately every system, there's an aim. It just may not be the aim that you think it is or that you want it to be. So part of this idea is recognizing that we have to state the aim or else people just, they're gonna just do things the way they've done them. Am I correct in saying that? 0:17:51.2 Balaji Reddie: Yeah. And it brings clarity to whatever you are doing. You start realizing, okay, I thought that we were actually doing this when we should be doing something else. For example, in Out of the Crisis, he gives that example of that trucking company. And he said when that gentleman took Dr. Deming's four-day seminar and then went back to his company and asked his employees, "What business do you think we are in?" Because that's what he used to ask, "What business are you in?" He used to ask that question, right, to the audience. "Any CEOs here? What business are you in? What business do you need to be in? What are you gonna be doing five years from now, ten years from now?" Right. So these are questions which I think you need to look at. If you want a list of questions, then in Out of the Crisis, there is a chapter on just the questions. Right. 0:18:57.0 Balaji Reddie: And that's, if I believe, let me just check. It comes after chapter seven. Is that where it comes in? No, I think... Yeah. Diseases and Obstacles. Okay. It's chapter five, "Questions to Help Managers." So you can find a host of questions there. These are rhetorical questions, most of them, telling you to focus on the job you have on hand. Right. And helps you define your purpose and your aim, both. And it gives clarity. Like I said, sometimes it gives clarity to yourself. What exactly am I doing here? All right. You always begin by saying that. I mean, if you ask people who set up businesses, they'll start by saying, "I did this because I was good at it," and the money came, but "I was good at doing this." And why did you do that? What do you mean by good? "Well, when I did this, I saw people feel happy." Right. And that's why I wanted to do this. 0:20:06.8 Balaji Reddie: And I thought this is the best way for me to earn my money, but the purpose was mainly to make them happy. Right. And then the money came. So that should be the focus. I think I mentioned this once when 1983 was when Harvard Business School was celebrating 75 years of existence. And everyone knew at that time, because Deming had just been rediscovered in America, and he was hot property. But everyone knew his ideas about Harvard. [chuckle] He was scathing. He said they prepared managers for the past and not for the future, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. He was very angry. But when they sent him a letter saying that we are making a souvenir of sorts, so can you pen a few words for us? So he was quite lavish in his comments and in his praise. He said, "It's not easy to run a business school and y'all have done it for 75 years. So all credit to you." But he said, "I have just one question for you. 0:21:18.7 Balaji Reddie: In these last two, three years that I have come back into American industry, I see with pain that many people do not understand the purpose of their business. And I see that Harvard has not defined the purpose of a business. Could you define the purpose of a business?" And Harvard came out with an answer which went, "The purpose of a business is to create value at a profit." So the sequence of the words is so beautiful. Create value at a profit. Right? And for a business, you need both. If you're only creating value and no profits, that's not a business. That's social service. And if you only want profits but no value, then that's not a business either. Then you might as well go loot a bank, get 100% profit and no value. And I remember Myron Tribus writing about this at the Kobe shipyard in Japan, right? And this was before Deming landed there, apparently, because there was someone sitting at Kobe who later on had taken Deming's lectures on statistical quality. 0:22:39.4 Balaji Reddie: And then of course, the leadership thing, right, where Deming spoke about the flow diagram. And he said that, he said the light bulb went on because they had a statement there at the Kobe shipyard, "We shall make good ships. At a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but we shall make good ships." And later on, apparently some American gentlemen came to take over and they changed that and they said, "No, no, no, remove all that profit and loss and just say, 'We shall make good ships.' That's it." So there were times when things started going wrong, right? They went in the wrong direction because they were not looking at it in the clear manner. When they had problems, they said, "No, just make the ship. Just ship it out. It's good." And things went wrong. So they had to reassess and come back. So that was the kind of the idea that we're looking at, the aim and the purpose, and that could change. Right? 0:23:45.6 Andrew Stotz: And I want to add for the listeners out there, in the world of finance, profit is, we also call it cash flow. The cash flow is the numerator in the calculation of value. The denominator is risk. So when we think about what's the objective of a person running a business, it's to maximize value, which many people think means maximize profit, which it does not. It means maximize risk-adjusted profit. So, for instance, if you were breaking the law and doing bad things or mistreating your people ultimately you're raising the risk. Though your cash flow or your profit may be strong, you're raising the risk of that profit or cash flow. And so that's a distinction I like to help people understand, because there are people that just think that the objective of business is maximize profit. No, it's to maximize value. And mathematically we can prove that in the world of finance. 0:24:57.2 Balaji Reddie: Yeah. So I'd just like to paraphrase, when I said that what Harvard said is purpose of a business is to create value at a profit, I'd just like to add something more to that. Create value at a profit in the most ethical way, right? We have to be very ethical about it, because if you're doing wrong things to get your profits and add value, it won't last long. You won't last long as a company. It'll always catch up to you. 0:25:27.4 Andrew Stotz: And I use the word sustainably. That's a kind of a nonsense word these days because everybody talks about sustainability and all. 0:25:34.5 Balaji Reddie: Yeah, they talk in terms about, in a very different context. 0:25:37.8 Andrew Stotz: But the point is, is that are we generating profit in a sustainable fashion? Now the other, I had one more question on this one, and that is if we go back to the words, he talked about the create constancy of purpose for improvement of product and services. And my question to you is, when he talks about aim, sometimes people can get confused, including myself sometimes. And for instance, Clifford Norman and David Williams have been on the show talking about their book Quality as an Organizational Strategy. And so as I've looked at his teachings over time, I've had a question in my mind of is what he's saying that the aim is to improve the business through this focus on quality? In other words, quality is the aim? Or is the aim whatever a company says, "We want to do this, our aim is that"? I'm just curious how you understand those things. 0:26:52.8 Balaji Reddie: I would say quality, but his definition of quality, right? Help someone live better and there must be a market, right? And it must be sold at the right price. So he's been practical, if you look at it. He says that if what you're doing is not making anybody's lives better, then why do it at all? Right? So you need to... You need to look at it from his viewpoint of quality, if I may put it that way. Not that narrow focus on quality of product in terms of free from deficiencies, [chuckle] 0:27:28.9 Andrew Stotz: Yeah. 0:27:30.1 Balaji Reddie: But in a very broad sense what he thought quality is. And also, I found something on the internet, so I'd like to again add that in, that the entire thing is his whole thing is to have happier people. Happy customers... And he doesn't say satisfied, he says happy. So happy customers, happy employees, happy suppliers, society being happy, and the owners. Okay. So what the Japanese interpreted this as, which they call as total quality, is owners, employees, customers, suppliers, and society. When all five are simultaneously satisfied, we call it as total quality. Whereas if you look at it from Deming's point of view, when all five are happy simultaneously, then you attained constancy of purpose. And the longer you can do it, the better it is. So that's his constancy. So the aim and the purpose should be about that. It should be about happier people at work, happier people in the market, consumers, customers, the suppliers, because they should feel a sense of pride... 0:28:56.9 Balaji Reddie: That they're learning something from this company, that growth is happening. Society should feel that this company not only serves their targeted audience, but does not cause harm or is also adding some kind of oblique value to all of us here. We all feel happy interacting with these people in some form or the other. Not necessarily being philanthropic or something, but in a very different sense. We're not getting harmed by these guys. So that, I think, in the broadest sense is what Deming was trying to say to run a company based on constancy of purpose. 0:29:35.4 Andrew Stotz: And the reason why I'm asking is because one of the lessons I've learned just in life in general, certainly from the teachings of Dr. Deming, but just in general, is that if you pick a particular thing or area and you decide that I'm gonna improve this and I'm gonna keep working on improving this, you're gonna end up with something incredible that nobody else has as long as you stick with it. And so that's where this idea of, and if you know what quality means, which is the five groups and things being happy, more jobs, create opportunity, all of that, once you understand that, then quality is driving toward that better outcome. I guess what I'm also thinking about is could a person who's never heard of Dr. Deming just say, "That's my aim right there. I'm gonna take it straight out of what he said, constancy of purpose in relation to improving the product and service with the understanding [chuckle] that that improvement means that." That's it. It's not the aim of "We want to provide transportation vehicles" or something like that. That's more of kind of a corporate communication or. That's where I really want to hear your thoughts on that. 0:30:53.3 Balaji Reddie: Yeah. So when you say that "I want to do this through this product that I am giving," and right now my understanding is that this is the best way to do it, but as the world evolves, obviously there could be many different other ways of doing it and I need to keep revisiting this. As long as my purpose is perfect, I know I'll be able to adapt and adopt very quickly. Right. Otherwise you'll be left behind. What exactly am I here for? Many of the people set up businesses, ancillary units here in my hometown, Pune. They set up, they were basically employees in the parent company and then they saw an opportunity. They saw they were good at this. "I can make this better." So they set up the company to serve the parent company, not realizing that suddenly there could be somebody else coming in. Right. And they were preferred because they understood what the parent company wanted. 0:31:53.5 Balaji Reddie: But if they had just set up by saying, "No, why am I setting up this business? Because I see an opportunity. I can do this well." Okay, then can I do anything else well? What else can I? Why just this product? Why not any other product? Right? I think during the pandemic, many of the manufacturing companies realized that. They said, "We are very good at assembly, so why don't we start assembling PPE kits?" here in India, because PPE kits used to be imported. And I know this firsthand. My student was working in one such logistical company and he said we were importing. 300,000 PPE kits per annum. That was the requirement. 0:32:38.8 Andrew Stotz: What's PPE? 0:32:40.2 Balaji Reddie: Personal protection equipment, which you have to wear, the doctors, et cetera, the health workers during the pandemic. They had to wear that and serve, because we didn't know what was happening. So instead of just masks, just protect themselves completely. In labs, doctors, nurses, they all wore that. Right. So this personal protection equipment, we were importing 300,000 such kits per annum from, I think somewhere in Belgium. And because that was the requirement, but during the pandemic, the requirement went up. And so many of the companies, automotive manufacturing companies, decided that, let's get into this because we know how to do these things, right? We know how to assemble. And within a matter of 45 to 50 days, they built capacity. And imagine this, we were consuming, I am not joking, at the rate of 200,000 kits per day. 0:33:39.4 Andrew Stotz: Yeah. Then you can become a global supplier. 0:33:46.5 Balaji Reddie: And so they had to. But now, see, they did it for that much time because they said, our core business is something else, but we understood our purpose, so let's contribute in a very different way. The other one which they did was many of the manufacturing companies started assembling ventilators. And some of them which were running without electricity, they ran on a mechanical device so that the need for power, et cetera, et cetera, be superfluous. So when you know your purpose, then you can always adapt and adopt very quickly. And I think the pandemic gave us that opportunity to see how many of the companies responded in a very positive sense. In one way to look at it is, "Oh my God, this is it, this is my fate, and we're gonna shut down, we have nothing to do." But the other way is, "No, wait, why are we here? And let's use our expertise in a very different sense. So let's get to action." 0:34:41.3 Andrew Stotz: Interesting. I feel like we can spend a whole episode talking just about one of the 14 Points. 0:34:46.9 Balaji Reddie: That's why I said two episodes for the 14 Points. [laughter] If you don't mind, three also. Because many of the points have been either not discussed in detail or misinterpreted. And there have been changes. Deming himself brought a change in the wordings. That's why I wanted to keep this section, this session separate. 0:35:07.9 Andrew Stotz: Okay. 0:35:12.5 Balaji Reddie: Now you can see why, because I was just setting the scene for the 14 Points. If you want to ask me, it's all profound, very, very profound. [chuckle] 0:35:16.9 Andrew Stotz: Yeah, and I have a lot of questions, so that's good. I've got some clarity now for point one. I think the listeners and the viewers will also get some of that clarity, so that's great. 0:35:26.4 Balaji Reddie: Thank you. And I have been, I still, I just scratch my head about many of the things that he said. Because if people are reading Out of the Crisis, oh my God, you gotta read the text for point one. It's brilliant. I mean, I can't just, you can't just read it out right now. [chuckle] It'll take three episodes just to. But just, many people just say he did give us a method. I think I told you this two episodes ago. He was very clear. We didn't see it. We didn't see it. And he's so clear about what he wanted in innovation. That, of course, I thought that there was a slight difference, I think we spoke about this, invention and innovation. So invention is something new and innovate is to use something differently. Right. So that innovation, I think he confused the two terms, if I may say so. Too brave to make a statement like that. But anyway, he says here that you have to keep improving, innovating, and this obligation never ceases. 0:36:36.6 Balaji Reddie: It's that very clear. And if you see here, there's one, there's a paragraph here, he says, "It's a mistake to suppose that efficient production of product and service can, with certainty, keep an organization solvent and ahead of its competition. It is possible and, in fact, fairly easy for an organization to go downhill and out of business making the wrong product or offering the wrong type of service, even though everyone in the organization performs with devotion, employing statistical methods and every other aid that can boost efficiency." So I think he was highlighting the limitation of the statistical methods, that 97% versus 3% thing, that we are only trying to improve this, but the whole thing comes from the top, that are you providing the right product? I mean, you can't set up a company today making the best typewriters in the world. [chuckle] 0:37:35.4 Andrew Stotz: That's true. 0:37:41.5 Balaji Reddie: So he keeps saying this again and again, that you should publish a resolution that no one will lose his job for contribution to quality and productivity. So I think what we're coming to the end of this session today, we just discussed point one. [laughter] That's the best part. I heard from Henry Neave once that they all formed a kind of a team. Henry had come down to America and they started, they decided to meet Myron Tribus and just about everyone, Nida Backaitis, Barbara Lawton, the gang, and they were so happy to, the stars, right? Gipsie Ranney, I forget the other names, but they were all together and then they decided, let's discuss the 14 Points. And then point one, and it went on beyond lunchtime. They started in the morning. [laughter] 0:38:36.6 Andrew Stotz: That's great. 0:38:46.1 Balaji Reddie: It seems Dr. Deming was so happy. He was just sitting back and just listening and listening and listening. Then they met again the following day and the next day, and then they only came to point number four. And then finally, Brian Joiner, I think, said, "I think we're wasting too much time here. Let's just stop this." And it seems Deming was so upset because he said that Brian Joiner said, "Let's give ourselves 45 minutes for this point and that's it." [laughter]Deming said, "Don't set a target." [laughter] 0:39:22.9 Andrew Stotz: That reminds me of Bill Scherkenbach showing a picture of Deming at the, I don't know, National Education Committee meeting. And he said that they met all day or for two days and they still couldn't come up with the aim of what education, the aim of education in America was at the time. So, yeah. 0:39:42.9 Balaji Reddie: Yeah, I had this problem. It happened at a seminar here in Pune. It was Education for the Future or something like that, Engineering Education: The Next Five Years, blah, blah, blah, I don't know what it was. And there was this one gentleman making a presentation from a school in a city called Bangalore in India. And his topic was Six Sigma in education. And when he came to present, he started by saying, "Six Sigma is 3.4 errors in a million." And I said, "Oh, no." Anyway, then he went on to say, "Okay, so we decided our 10th, grade 10 is a public exam in India. It's a very big deal for a child to sit for that exam, right?" And he said that, "We want to have flawless results. And we've had flawless results for the last eight years. We have so many students, so many, so many students every year, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah." And so if you multiply and all that, and then, "So how do we get this?" Now here came the best part. He said, "In grade nine, all..." 0:40:48.9 Balaji Reddie: All those who had failed or had not reached a certain grade, we threw them out. And so we had flawless results. And I could see people squirming in their chairs because they were all sitting in the audience were teachers. They were squirming in their chairs and then one guy could take it no more. He put his hand up. And I was chairing that session, by the way. You can imagine what was happening to me. Anyway, this gentleman put his hands up and he says, "How can you say that? How can you say that?" He was very agitated. And I could realize, I just stood up and I said, "Okay, Professor so-and-so, please sit down. I get your, I get your sentiment, but we need to do this differently." So I turned to this... And he was a principal, this gentleman... I said, "What is the aim and the purpose of an educational institution?" And this man said, "Results." 0:41:42.4 Andrew Stotz: Yeah. 0:41:45.8 Balaji Reddie: Then I said, "Let's throw this question open to everyone." And I said, "Let's stop." I asked the people organizing the seminar that could we take a small detour here? Let's just stop. Let's not stick to your timetable because I know you're here on a leash. So they said, with permission from the chair and the host college... They were sitting there, the main people... They said, "No, we want this question answered now. What is the purpose of an educational institution?" And there was a lot of goading. I was bringing in Profound Knowledge and I was throwing up questions. And finally we came to the conclusion that the aim of any educational institution is to create a well-rounded individual that contributes positively to society. 0:43:33.9 Andrew Stotz: All right, so on behalf of everyone listening, I want to thank you again for the discussion. And for listeners, remember to go to deming.org and jump into DemingNext to continue your journey. This is your host, Andrew Stotz, and I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Deming, and that is, "People are entitled to joy in work." As we're talking about how do we build that for the future.
Season 4, Episode 8 | "You will get so much further with consistent modest execution."Everyone says they have a time problem. Most of them don't. Dane and Mitch break down why the overwhelm you feel isn't really about the clock, it's about how you're relating to complexity, comfort, and your own capacity. They walk through time blocking as an honest budgeting exercise, why cramming your to-do list is a form of self-deception, and how the reward for doing well is more complexity, not less. If your days feel reactive and your list keeps growing, this one's for you.Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:04 Busy, Overwhelm, and Complexity04:33 Beyond Productivity Hacks07:46 Time Blocking Done Right11:21 Honesty Over Motivation15:08 Purpose of Time Blocking18:59 CREDO25:23 Abstinence to Reveal Truth32:43 Spiritual Disciplines for Change36:17 Final Takeaways and Next StepsMentions:US Open / Arthur Ashe Stadium: Referenced for the "Pressure is a Privilege" sign and the framing of tension as a signal of growth.Sunsama: Daily planning tool Dane uses to pull tasks from calendar and lists into a realistic time-blocked day.Time Boss: A (non-affiliated) Time management training aligned with MWOD philosophy and practice, led by a Man of Discomfort, Andrew Hartman.Alpha: A Christian organization mentioned in the context of community and spiritual disciplines.Anchor Actions:1. Block Tomorrow, Not Next Week: Tonight, pull your task list and your calendar together and time block only tomorrow. Estimate how long each task actually takes and fit it into real hours. You'll see reality faster.2. Get Curious About Your Complicity: The next time you feel overwhelmed, stop and ask how you're contributing to the complexity. The pathway out usually starts by admitting how you got in.3. Choose Modest Execution: Cut your to-do list in half this week. Do the fewer things consistently instead of pretending you'll do it all. Consistency compounds, delusion doesn't.Join Us:Our Membership Community (MWOD) is where we embrace discomfort as a path to personal development. Remember, it's probably not for you... but if we're wrong about that, or if you want to find out for yourself, visit us at MWOD.io
In episode 27 of The Kriya Yoga Podcast, Donelle Mason, a Kriya Yoga Teacher from New Zealand, offers a thoughtful talk on Yoga Sutra 1.30. This sutra names the obstacles that can arise on the path of yoga meditation, including illness, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sense craving, false perception, lack of progress, and instability. Donelle explores how these obstacles appear in practice and how sincere practitioners can work with them skillfully. Through practical reflection and yogic insight, this episode encourages steady effort, self-awareness, and patience as essential supports for meditation and inner transformation. -
This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! Do you prepare for challenges? What can you do to better prepare? In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss preparing for difficulties.Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening! Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com
Dating is hard for everyone. But it can be even more challenging if you are a high-achieving woman. We are talking about successful, driven, happy, healthy women who are constantly saying how hard it is to meet someone. My guest is Relationship Coach and Hypnotherapist, Mina Yang who has a lot to say to high-achievers on the subject of dating! And hypnotherapy? It's not what you think at all! Follow Mina on Substack: https://minayangtrue.substack.com/
What would make a mouse in the living area of the RV feel like the best Christmas morning? We'll take you on quite a ride in this edition of Doing What Works.Here are your show notes…You worry too much for someone who God has never failed.Nature is indifferent to us.Go back to sleep, Chuck. You're just havin' a nightmare -- of course, we are still in hell.Gasoline can start to go bad after only three months in a tank.
The Nolan Wells case highlights a heartbreaking reality that many families face—too many of our children are losing their lives, often without the answers or justice they deserve. Time passes, and in some instances, cases remain unresolved long after parents have passed away, leaving a lingering sense of despair and unanswered questions. In the midst of these tragedies, we must acknowledge the impact of what can be described as spiritual warfare. There are often injustices in the spiritual realm that manifest in our world, creating a profound sense of urgency for parents and believers alike. We, as the concerned parents and members of the community of faith, deserve clarity and resolution regarding the circumstances surrounding our children's fates. It is not just about seeking justice; it is about restoring hope and finding peace in the face of overwhelming grief. Here are a few important points to consider: 1. Educate Your Children on Sober-mindedness: It's crucial to explain to your children what it means to be sober-minded. This concept goes beyond just avoiding substance abuse; it involves cultivating a clear and discerning mind that can recognize potential dangers. By being sober-minded, they will be able to identify the enemy's tactics, steer clear of traps that may lead them astray, and remain receptive to the guidance God provides in their lives. Encourage them to develop a habit of reflection and attentiveness so that they can navigate their circumstances wisely. 2. Pray for Comprehensive Justice: When praying for justice, it's important to broaden the scope of your prayers. While it's natural to focus on the individual who commits a crime, remember that there are often deeper, hidden forces at play. Pray for both the perpetrators and the unseen influences that may be orchestrating their actions. This holistic approach ensures that justice is fully served, holding accountable not just those who act, but also those who may be manipulating circumstances from the shadows, thereby ensuring no one escapes the consequences of their actions. 3. Address Delays, Blockages, and Obstacles in Prayer: Make it a priority to pray specifically about any delays, hindrances, or obstacles that may be obstructing your path or the path of others seeking resolution. These delays can be frustrating and disheartening, but through prayer, you can seek God's intervention to remove these barriers. Ask for clarity and strength, both for yourself and for others affected, to overcome these challenges. 4. Pray for Accountability from Decision-Makers: Sometimes, the answers we seek are held up by those in positions of authority who may not be acting promptly or diligently. Bring these individuals to God in prayer—ask for their hearts to be stirred to act with urgency and integrity. Pray that they feel a sense of responsibility toward their roles and respond effectively to the need for guidance and resolution. 5. Cultivate Faith in God's Justice: Throughout this process, it's essential to maintain faith that God will ultimately bring clarity and truth to light. Trust that, in His time, He will unravel the complexities of the situation and reveal what needs to be addressed. Hold onto the belief that God is actively working behind the scenes, bringing justice and resolution in ways that may not always be immediately visible to us. 6. Take a moment to pray for those you may not know personally but who are facing challenges in their lives. Countless individuals are experiencing difficult times, be it illness, loss, or personal struggles. Your prayers can offer them strength and hope, even if you are unaware of their specific situations. Remember, our collective support through prayer can make a meaningful difference in their lives. Embrace these points as crucial elements of your spiritual journey, knowing that your prayers and actions contribute to a greater understanding and pursuit of justice. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20 New International Version). “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13 New International Version). Check out this episode! Website: http://seriouslyfocusedjohnnie.com/ ✓Store: https://teespring.com/stores/seriously-focused-johnnie ✓Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.f.johnnie/ ✓YouTube Seriously Focused Johnnie ✓For suggested topics, put in the subject box “Topic…,” and the email address is sfj.peace@gmail.com ✓My intended goal is to educate and bring people closer to God. With that said, please support by donating. Cashapp: $sfJohnnie1
On your journey of faith, the biggest dangers aren't always obvious: they're the hidden obstacles that can quietly pull you off course if you're not careful. This Sunday, discover what's trying to sidetrack your faith -- and how to stay anchored in Jesus -- as our God on Film series continues with The Odyssey: Overcoming Life's Obstacles.
Champions Adjust Mindset Program:https://champsadjust.com/pages/camp-Follow Champions Adjust on socials: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ChampionsAdjust/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Champs_AdjustFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ChampsAdjust-Performance Gearhttps://champsadjust.comChampions Adjust
This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! What do you do when you have a bad day? Do you face challenges head-on, or do you bury your head in the sand? In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss challenges they face and what to do when life is challenging.Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening! Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com
DAY 3 of **40 Days to PMP Exam Success 2026** focuses on one of the most important responsibilities of a project professional: **leading the project team**.Everything rises and falls on leadership. In today's session, we examine what effective leadership looks like across predictive, Agile, and hybrid project environments—and how these concepts may appear on the 2026 PMP exam.Today's breakdown covers the seven key enablers of leading the project team:✅ Establish expectations at the team level✅ Empower the team✅ Solve problems collaboratively✅ Represent the voice of the team✅ Support varied experiences, skills, and perspectives✅ Determine the appropriate leadership style✅ Establish clear roles and responsibilitiesYou will also learn:• How team charters, social contracts, and ground rules establish the operating culture• How to use RACI to clarify ownership and decision-making authority• The difference between an issue, problem, impediment, obstacle, and blocker• How to apply the DIGIVE problem-solving framework• Why leadership is based on influence—not merely position or authority• How leadership differs across predictive, Agile, and hybrid environments• The role of the project manager as the organizational bridge in hybrid projectsWe also break down several major leadership and motivation models, including:
A talk by Thanissaro Bhikkhu entitled "Self-made Obstacles"
Sometimes our greatest opportunities come in the form of great obstacles.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/todayssinglechristianSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is the difference between traditional addiction recovery programs and biblical discipleship? On this episode, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Okinaga talk through the importance of building relationships and the importance of investing time for the recovering addict. They walk through common failures of traditional recovery programs, and how Christians can understand addiction as a worship issue.Chapters02:05 - Traditional Recovery Programs04:29 - Failures of Traditional Recovery Programs08:47 - Obstacles in the Church12:09 - Discipleship Strategy and Time Investment16:39 - Heart Changes and Repentance20:21 - Addiction as an Issue of WorshipOutro - Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in Biblical Counseling
You and your fiancé want to get married and are applying for grad school. This might pose some challenges to your marriage. Dr. Gary Chapman recommends postponing your marriage until you both accomplish your academic goals.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/lovelanguageminuteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send us Fan MailAmberly Lago is a widely recognized expert in helping entrepreneurs build their businesses through grit and resilience. As the founder of The Unstoppable Life Mastermind, she has worked with thousands of clients, empowering them to achieve success by developing resilience and perseverance.She is the host of The Amberly Lago Show, a podcast recognized by Apple as being among the Top 1% of podcasts worldwide.An internationally sought-after speaker on grit, resilience, and connection, Amberly has shared the stage with bestselling authors and thought leaders, and has delivered keynote presentations for companies including Lululemon, Google, and Athleta. Her TEDx talk has garnered hundreds of thousands of views.Through her authentic approach and unwavering commitment to serving others, Amberly has built a large and deeply engaged community. She is passionate about helping people overcome personal and professional challenges, equipping them with the mindset and resilience needed to create lasting success.A sought after thought leader and bestselling author in 19 categories, her insights have been featured in national media outlets like Forbes, USA Today (named Top Most Influential Speaker In the nation), The Doctors, Hallmark and The TODAY Show.Amberly has overcome major trauma in her life including 34 surgeries to save her leg after a horrific motorcycle accident. She emerged on top by leveraging her proprietary P.A.C.E.R. Method which teaches how authentically connecting with others leads to unstoppable resilience and success.-Quick Episode Summary:✅ What if your deepest pain became your greatest teacher?✅ Amberly Lago reveals how surviving 34 surgeries and living with chronic pain sparked grit, gratitude, and a new purpose.✅ On Passing The Torch, Amberly discusses resilience, hidden scars, finding joy alongside pain, and why desperation can be the spark for life-changing transformation.✅ Real stories, hard truths, and the secret to turning adversity into your superpower - press play and get inspired to rewrite your own story!-Podcast Chapters:00:00 Random Stuff06:15 Nervous before a big speech12:13 Building Relationships through Research13:45 Turning down an opportunity18:59 Amberly Lago's journey of resilience22:51 Dealing with chronic health issues26:18 Recovering from injuries28:11 Using gratitude to overcome fear31:26 Finding gratitude after the accident35:07 Struggling with alcoholism and recovery37:11 Dealing with hidden struggles41:10 Living with visible and invisible scars46:32 Talking about favorite movies47:31 Talking about celebrity lookalikes51:34 Billboard message for struggling individuals53:46 Expressing gratitude to Amberly-
Most women don't avoid Bible study because they don't love God. Often, something just feels in the way.Fear, overwhelm, insecurity, and even the vulnerability of being known by God can quietly keep us from opening Scripture consistently. But what if Bible study was never meant to feel like a performance? What if confidence in God's Word grows slowly?In this episode, Angie pauses the Cast Your Cares series for a heartfelt conversation about three common obstacles that keep women from studying the Bible deeply. She reminds listeners that Bible study is learned, not inherited.What you'll hear in this week's episodeWhy fear of “getting it wrong” keeps many women from Bible studyHow overwhelm and comparison can make Scripture feel intimidatingThe difference between conviction and condemnationWhy Bible study is more about relationship than performanceHow confidence in Scripture grows through consistent, supported practiceResourcesBible Study SessionsA brand-new four-week guided experience beginning in August, designed to help women study the Bible with more confidence and less overwhelm in a simple, supportive environment.Sign up at this link: https://livesteadyon.com/bible-study-sessions/Step By Step Starter KitA simple, guided resource to help you open Scripture with confidence and study one verse at a time alongside the podcast.Download it for free here: https://steadyon.myflodesk.com/stepbystepVerse of the Week“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”— Psalm 119:18 (ESV)Connect with Angie & Steady Onhttps://www.livesteadyon.comTheme Music: Glimmer by Andy Ellison
The ALL ME® Podcast How Performance-Enhancing Drugs Shape Society – Dr. Charles "Chuck" Yesalis In this in-depth interview, Dr. Charles "Chuck" Yesalis shares his extensive knowledge on anabolic steroids, their impact on youth, and the ongoing challenges in anti-doping education. Discover the history from the 1970's to today, health effects, and societal influences surrounding performance-enhancing drugs. Takeaways: History of anabolic steroids and doping Health effects and risks of steroids Societal and cultural influences on drug use Policy and legal frameworks for drug control Challenges in education and prevention Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:34 How Dr. Yesalis and Don's Father Met 00:57 Early Concerns About Kids and Performance Drugs 01:24 The 1988 National Study on Youth Steroid Use 02:17 Dr. Yesalis's Involvement in Anti-Doping Efforts 02:59 Personal Motivations and the Loss of Taylor Hooten 03:26 Public Perception and Media Coverage of Steroid Use 03:53 Influence of Social Media and Body Image on Youth 04:25 Risks of Illegal Substance Use Among Young People 04:51 The Push to Gain an Advantage in Sports 05:19 Health Consequences and Long-term Risks of Steroids 05:43 Origins of Dr. Yesalis's Interest in Steroids 06:16 Understanding Anabolic Steroids and Their Effects 06:38 Historical Research and Early Findings 07:32 The Politics and Science of Steroid Use 08:44 Long-term Health Effects and Epidemiological Research 09:37 The Evolution of Performance-Enhancing Drugs 10:28 Credibility and Scientific Evidence in Anti-Doping 11:08 The Impact of Scientific Misconceptions 11:49 Challenges in Education and Public Awareness 12:58 The Role of Legislation and Regulation 13:47 The Influence of Money and Fame in Sports 14:40 Natural vs. Enhanced Performance and Ethical Dilemmas 15:30 Moral and Ethical Issues in Doping 16:26 Athletes' Willingness to Risk Their Lives for Fame 17:23 Obstacles in Anti-Doping Education 18:13 Public Perception and Media's Role 19:13 Generational Changes and Social Media Impact 19:55 Studies on Youth and Steroid Use in the 1980s 21:10 The 1988 Youth Steroid Study Insights 22:25 Public Awareness and Media Coverage of the Study 23:20 Attitudes Toward Risk and Self-Harm in Youth 23:40 Changes in Drug Legislation and Regulation 24:41 The Impact of the Anabolic Steroid Control Act 25:33 Societal Pressures and Body Image Trends 26:38 Current Perspectives on Testosterone and Medical Use 27:41 Descheduling Testosterone and Potential Risks 29:22 Pharmaceutical Industry and Overproduction of Steroids 30:12 Physician Perspectives on Steroid Regulation 31:34 Dependence and Psychological Effects of Steroids 33:03 Risks of Descheduling and Accessibility 34:18 Medical and Anti-Aging Clinics and Steroid Access 37:43 The Book 'Anabolic Steroids in Sports and Exercise' 39:13 Challenges in Fighting Performance-Enhancing Drugs 40:32 Cheating and Ethical Issues in Sports 40:54 Societal Attitudes Toward Winning at All Costs 41:51 Misconceptions and Public Perception of Steroids 43:08 Health Risks of High-Dose Steroid Use 43:59 Behavioral and Psychological Effects of Steroids 45:15 Physician Involvement and Safety in Steroid Use 45:41 The Role of Medical Professionals in Steroid Regulation 47:26 Reflections on Legacy and Impact in Anti-Doping 48:44 The Mission to Shine Light on the Truth 50:25 Final Thoughts and Personal Philosophy Follow Us: Twitter: @theTHF Instagram: @theTHF Facebook: Taylor Hooton Foundation #ALLMEPEDFREE Contact Us: Twitter: @theTHF Instagram: @theTHF Facebook: Taylor Hooton Foundation #ALLMEPEDFREE Email: info@taylorhooton.org Phone: 214-449-1990 ALL ME Assembly Programs: http://taylorhooton.org/education-resources/face-to-face-programs/
Turning Obstacles into Opportunities 1. Your problems are no match for God’s plan Exodus 1:22 - Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live.” (NLT) Exodus 2:1-10 - About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. 5 Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said. 7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked. 8 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. 9 “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him. 10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses,[a] for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.” (NLT) Exodus 14:10-13 - As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’” 13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (NLT) Exodus 14:21-22 - Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! (NLT) 1 John 4:4 - You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (NIV) Psalm 147:5 - Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. (NIV) 2. Your past doesn’t have to keep you from the future God has for you Exodus 2:11-12 - Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. 12 After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. (NLT) 1 Corinthians 13:11 - When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. (NIV) 2 Peter 3:18 - Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.(NLT) Romans 5:20 - But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, (NIV) Proverbs 24:16 - The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. (NLT) 3. Your perspective can limit you or launch you Exodus 3:1-4 - One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” 4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. (NLT) Exodus 3:9-12 - Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 God answered, “I will be with you.” (NLT) 2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJV)
Send us Fan Mail The moment something feels impossible, your mind rushes to write the ending for you and it's usually bleak. We sit with that pressure today, then tear it apart piece by piece with author Zac Baldwin, who writes characters that keep moving even when the cost is high and the path is unclear. If you've been stuck between doing what's safe and doing what's right, this conversation is built for you. We talk about why “being unreasonable” is often the price of real change, and how grit can either build you up or quietly grind you down. Zac shares a simple gut-check for motivation: is this a goal you merely want, or something you deeply feel you have to do? From there, we dig into integrity and decision making, including the kind of compromises that look smart on paper but leave you unhappy for years. This is resilience with mental health in mind, not toughness at any cost. When fear and self-doubt get loud, our brains try to solve life by overthinking it. Zac argues for a different approach: get out of your head and back into action. We also get practical about everyday overwhelm, not just the “big mountain” moments. Small steps, movement, and appreciation can break the freeze, shrink the sense of enormity, and help you stay focused on the process instead of obsessing over results. If someone else's opinion has been steering your life, you'll want the closing advice on filtering criticism without letting the “source” silence your own voice. Subscribe to Healthy Man, Healthy Life, share this with someone who needs momentum, and leave a review with the one “unreasonable” goal you're choosing to keep showing up for. Connect With the Guest Books: The Legend of Johnnie Swann and Milk Run (available on Amazon) Email: zacbaldwin@hotmail.com YouEx Get 50% off the first 6 months of YouEx.ai! Royalty Coaching and Consulting Offering Coaching to help men go through the workbook and achieve freedom in all areas of life! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life?
Contentment is one of the distinguishing marks of the Christian life—but it is also one of the most difficult graces to cultivate. Why is it so hard to gain and so easy to lose? In the third episode of our A Life of Joy series, Justin Miller and Dr. John Snyder examine five of the greatest obstacles to Christian contentment: worldliness, busyness, bitterness, grief, and opposition. Drawing from Scripture, the Puritans, and personal experience, they show how these common struggles pull our hearts away from Christ and how God uses even painful providences to deepen our joy in Him. Rather than settling for shallow happiness or stoic resignation, believers are called to find lasting satisfaction in Christ alone. Show Notes Kingdom Life: Studies in the Sermon on the Mount: https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/kingdom-life The Life of Samuel Rutherford by Andrew Thomson: https://www.amazon.com/Samuel-Rutherford-Andrew-Thomson/dp/1164013874 Samuel Rutherford and His Friends by Faith Cook: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/ebooks/samuel-rutherford-and-his-friends/ Letters of Samuel Rutherford: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/letters/letters-of-samuel-rutherford/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app
Hey friends thanks for tuning in! Today's reminder is that obstacles are opportunities! Whether it be David facing Goliath, the Israelites trapped between the sea and the army of Pharaoh, or the horror of the cross. God can win and God can get the glory. So, "Let us not lose heart in doing good for we will reap if we do not grow weary." Galatians 6.9 Please give Jon's new ministry page @wildgamefaith a follow on instagram.
What if the thing standing between you and what you want isn't strategy, timing, or circumstance, but something operating in a realm you've never been taught to access? In this solo episode, Emily Fletcher shares the insight that has become the cornerstone of nearly two decades of teaching: that most of the obstacles blocking what we most desire are invisible. Not because they're imaginary. They are very real. But because they're happening at a different state of consciousness. Emily introduces the concept of invisible cages: the accumulated stress, inherited beliefs, unfelt feelings, and intergenerational trauma stored at the cellular level that quietly set the upper limit on what we allow ourselves to receive. And she makes the case that no amount of strategy, goal-setting, or external change can dissolve them, because you cannot remove a cage you cannot see. The solution, she argues, is access to the unmanifest: a verifiable fourth state of consciousness, distinct from waking, sleeping, or dreaming, where the body receives rest five times deeper than sleep and begins spontaneously releasing the backlog of stress that creates the cages in the first place. Emily shares a student's story, a profound piece of sculpture from Burning Man, and a discovery about the Egyptian goddess Nephthys that reframed her entire body of work. In this episode, Emily explores: Why the real blocks to manifestation are invisible, and why that's actually good news The "I'll be happy when" syndrome and what it reveals about how most people are trying to manifest How 99.999% of knowable reality is invisible, and what that means for how we approach change The Burning Man sculpture that shows two adults stuck back to back while their inner children desperately try to connect Isis and Nephthys: the twin goddesses of manifest and unmanifest, and the lightbulb moment that tied Emily's work together What happens in the body when you access the fourth state: rest, release, and rising frequency Why the benefits of accessing the field compound over time, just as the harmful effects of stress do One student's story of unexpected income, career clarity, and the emotional courage that emerged Key Moments: 00:00 – The thing keeping people stuck is rarely what they think it is 01:42 – Who this episode is for 03:52 – Trying to solve invisible problems with visible tools 05:09 – The Burning Man sculpture and invisible cages 07:37 – The "I'll be happy when" syndrome 08:06 – External reality as an outpicturing of internal architecture 09:26 – Once you access the field, you get access to more 10:13 – We cannot remove what we cannot see 11:24 – Isis, Nephthys, and the unmanifest 13:25 – Rest five times deeper than sleep 15:30 – The compound effect 17:38 – Cheryl's story 19:10 – Magic Maker: free, three days, July 16 ✨ Magic Maker is officially open for registration. Three days. Totally free. July 16, 21 & 23. Join Emily live for the event she's been building toward all year: three days of activations, tools, and community designed to help you access the unmanifest, release your invisible cages, and start becoming a frequency match for everything you're calling in. Register free: magicmaker.zivameditation.com
“What obstacles keep us from healthy relationships?” This question opens a discussion on the challenges individuals face in becoming marriage-ready, alongside insights on how media representations can influence perceptions of relationships. Other topics include the moral considerations of premarital intimacy for older couples and the implications of annulment on family planning. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 03:40 – What obstacles keep people from being marriage ready? 31:38 – I've noticed in a lot of media relationships are not portrayed in a healthy way. What would be good to see in stories and shows to model healthy relationships? 36:55 – My friend is a widower and is now dating a widow. He asked if it is a sin to have premarital sex in old age and in their circumstance? 49:21 – I've been married for 8 years and am going through the annulment process for my previous marriage. Should we wait until that annulment is complete before we try to conceive a child?
First-time homebuyers may get short windows of relief, but our co-head of Securitized Products Research James Egan and Senior Economist and Strategist in Morgan Stanley's Private Wealth Management Sarah Wolfe say the bigger story is a housing market resetting around a higher bar to entry.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----James Egan: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Jim Egan, Morgan Stanley's U.S. Housing Strategist and Co-Head of Securitized Products Strategy.Sarah Wolfe: And I'm Sarah Wolfe, Senior Economist and Strategist within Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.James Egan: And today, why first-time homebuyers are facing a tougher path to ownership.It's Tuesday, June 23rd at 10am in New York.Buying a first-time home has always been a big step, but for a growing number of first-time buyers today, the goal can really seem insurmountable.Mortgage rates might be down from where they were in the second half of 2023, but they're significantly higher than they were for the several years before that. Monthly payments have roughly doubled for a median-priced home. And my colleague Jay Bacow and I have talked several times on this podcast about how many homeowners feel like they're locked into those lower rates.And they're staying put because they just don't want to give up a two or three-handle mortgage rate for something that has a six in front of it. But Sarah, as we know, this is bigger than just first-time buyers. Now, they often start the housing transaction chain, and when they can't buy, current owners may not be able to sell and trade up.That slows turnover across the market, and it also reduces activity tied to housing – from mortgages and renovations to moving and furniture. And it can keep would-be buyers renting for longer, which adds pressure to rental demand.So, how do you see this situation? Is this just another affordability squeeze, or has the housing market reset to a higher barrier to entry?Sarah Wolfe: I do think that we're on the upper bound of affordability pressures. This is about as bad as it's going to get. But as we discussed in our recent publication of The Economy Explained, unfortunately, we do think that the housing market is resetting at a structurally higher barrier to entry. There's a lot of reasons for that.The first is higher interest rates. Yes, mortgage rates are sitting around 6.5 percent, and they should come down from here, but maybe not better than 5.5 percent, right, in an optimistic scenario. The second is demographic pressures. Remember, we have this tremendous aging population of baby boomers. All of their children are now entering their prime home-buying years, so there's a lot of demand for ownership.The third and fourth ones are land regulation and permitting, which is at the state and local level, really hard to change. And the last one is climate risk. It's just raising insurance pricing and making it much more difficult to buy a home.So overall, we see a world where, yes, mortgage rates come down a bit, improve affordability marginally, but we think neutral and other interest rates at the longer end of the curve are going to be higher than the post-financial crisis period. And what we're going to see is that those forces are going to widen the divide between who can own a home and who cannot. And who gains from that wealth accumulation and who does not.James Egan: Right. So now, you mentioned where mortgage rates are today, above that 6 percent rate. Rates did briefly – in February, we got below 6 percent before they bounced back up here. Why did that short-lived relief matter so much?Sarah Wolfe: I think that short-lived relief showed us that moves in the mortgage rate make a difference, but things are so unaffordable that it didn't make that much of a difference.So, the dip below 6 percent was very exciting. It happened this past February. It was the first time that mortgage rates fell below 6 percent since 2022, and we saw a few things happen. First, it lowered the monthly payment for first-time homebuyers from about two point two thousand dollars a month to one point nine thousand.So makes a bit of a difference. And it lowered the share of income that goes towards monthly mortgage payments from about 26 percent of income to 22 percent, from peak to trough. So, that is a notable improvement. But what we saw in the new home sales data and the existing home sales data, that it did not drive people back into the housing market.I want to turn it back to you though, Jim, because you've actually done a lot of interesting work on this. And how this change in mortgage rates has changed the monthly cost that people have to pay for a median-priced home. Can you tell us a little bit more?James Egan: Sure. So, we talk about the lock-in effect a lot, and it's kind of easy to point to: Well, there are a lot of people with mortgage rates that are around 3 percent or 3.5 percent, and the prevailing rate's at 6 percent, and that's a lot higher, so they're locked in.But when we look at the actual numbers in terms of what we're asking a homeowner to do – to list their home for sale and move to another home today, pay off that existing mortgage, take out a new one. When you take into account how much higher home prices are today…You bought a home in 2016, for instance, right? Let's assume you refinanced in 2020 or 2021 if you still live there, right? Most homeowners did. So, you've actually taken your monthly payment, and it is lower today than it was when you bought your home in 2016. If we assume that your income has risen alongside just median household income over that time period, your monthly payment as a share of your income today is probably sub 8 percent.If you bought over the past three years, your monthly payment is a share of your income. You mentioned some numbers earlier. It's low to mid 20 percent. From a dollar amount perspective, if you were to pay off that 2016 mortgage, as an example, and take out one today, your payment is probably [$]13[00] or $1400 higher. It's like a 200 percent increase. That's very difficult economically for a lot of households, and that's the kind of physical manifestation of that lock-in effect.Now, Sarah, given this significant change in housing math, what does that mean for who is actually able to buy in this market?Sarah Wolfe: It's making who's able to buy into the market a lot more selective. So, what we're seeing is that first-time home buyers today are actually not meaningfully older. They're still about 36 years old, but they are a much more selective group financially. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York put out a great analysis on this recently, and they basically found that the first-time home buyer profile today is taking out a mortgage that's nearly $350,000, compared to $240,000 in 2019 and $200,000, a decade ago. So, significant increase in mortgage balances.At the same time, credit standards have tightened significantly, so that average credit score to get a mortgage has risen quite a bit over the last 5 to 10 years. And what this is doing is it's shifting who can buy and also where they can buy. So, we're seeing higher-quality home buyers moving to lower-income zip codes. So, buying cheaper homes in lower-income metro areas, and so it's wealthier buyers in lower-income areas.And that's the really big shift that we're seeing. It's a demand resorting story. And what we're also seeing, and we hear this a lot when we talk to our financial advisors and their clients, is that family is increasingly helping their other family members put that down payment down; in particular, parents helping their children buy that first home.So, we're seeing that first-time buyers may be feeling this pressure, right, when it comes to rates. How much of this affordability issue, though, is being driven by the locked-in effect specifically?James Egan: So, look, it's clearly playing a role. We just talked about some of the math behind that. But then when you look at what that means on a nationwide basis when it comes to inventory, when it comes to so many other aspects of this, that homeowner who's unwilling to give up that lower mortgage rate, that lower payment, right, their homes are off the market.Existing inventories for sale, they've picked up from historic lows in 2023, but they're still very, very low on a long-run basis. The fewer homes there are for sale, the more upward pressure or the absence of downward pressure that's going to put on home prices, right?We saw affordability plummet in 2022 and 2023 when rates backed up. We saw existing home sales really, really come down as a result. But home prices remained at record highs. They continued to set new record highs. For home prices to actually come down, right, you need people who are willing to sell at lower home prices.Sarah, you just mentioned that lending standards themselves remain tight.Sarah Wolfe: Mm-hmm.James Egan: Those forced sales, those tend to be distressed transactions. We don't see that distress in the market providing the inventory and the motivated inventory to lead to softer home prices. So, it's really that lack of inventory which we think is in large part driven by the lock-in effect that's kept home prices. And as a result, that piece of the affordability equation kind of stuck at these higher levels.Sarah Wolfe: I mean, it's really this vicious cycle, the locked-in effect making it difficult for entry-level buyers to get into the market – and then fewer existing homeowners sell or trade up or relocate. So, on and on it goes.Are there broader implications of this freeze?James Egan: Right. So, we just talked about what that means from an inventory perspective. And then if you think about affordability remaining challenged, lending standards themselves remaining tight, inventory remaining as low as it is, you could argue that we're at one of the more difficult times that we've seen for renters to exit rentership and step into homeownership.Now, there's a lot of different things that drive rent growth, and the fact that you have a stuck renter is just one of them. The other side of that equation can be the supply of rental units, right? So that's just a piece of the equation.But those are some of the externalities that we think about when it comes to how the tightness of the housing market – what the lock-in effect and what affordability is doing there. But outside of the housing market, Sarah, the wider economy, like how do these housing costs play a role there?Sarah Wolfe: Massive effect. Some of the work that we've done shows that housing affordability is the number one driver pushing down fertility rates in America. The number one driver. Above childcare costs, above finding a partner, finding a good job. It's housing affordability. So, you could see how that could pretty significantly ripple through the broader economy.But there's other components, right? So, as we discussed earlier, it's driving migration from unaffordable areas to more affordable regions. That has significant implications. And then putting my consumer economist hat on, as we discussed earlier in the podcast, when people buy a home, they tie themselves to that home. They spend money on couches, on beds, on TVs, right? Durable goods. And if we're going to have more people as renters for longer, that's going to expand the services economy at the expense of the goods economy.All right. Let's take a step back and think about where this is all going. It hasn't been a very optimistic conversation. Jim, what is the outlook for affordability in your view? Do we get anywhere back to the post-financial crisis period or even the pre-financial crisis period?James Egan: When it comes to the outlook for mortgage rates, the outlook for affordability, the outlook for the U.S. housing market – look, we just, throughout Morgan Stanley Research and Strategy, published our 2026 major outlook. From now through the end of 2027, we don't have conventional mortgage rates getting below 6 percent.We do have affordability improving on the margins. We have income growth exceeding home price appreciation that makes it a little bit better, but that doesn't get us back to the post-GFC affordability era, which was very, very affordable. Looking back over the past several decades, it gets us closer to where we were pre-GFC, not all the way back there.But when we think about how that ripples through the housing market and how we think about that evolving from here, look, we do think that the state of mortgage credit availability means there will be a lack of distress. We think that while affordability itself may be challenged and inventories may be low, there is some level of housing activity that has to occur regardless of where mortgage rates are or affordability is.We think we found that level. We think there's support for home sales at these current levels, and that combination of support for home sales, lack of inventory, means that home prices, very little room for them to grow from here. But we think they're going to be pretty supported.So, from a housing market perspective, at a ten-thousand-foot view, we're calling it 1-2 percent growth in sales, in home prices, well-supported. But the affordability outlook that we've outlined throughout this podcast – challenged to see a lot of acceleration.Now, when we pull it back to the first-time home buyer, based on our conversation, it seems that the key question is becoming less about when to buy, more about who can still afford to enter the market.But Sarah, it's really been great talking with you about the housing market today.Sarah Wolfe: It was great speaking with you, Jim.James Egan: And thanks for listening. If you enjoy Thoughts on the Market, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share the podcast with a friend or colleague today. ***Sarah Wolfe is a member of Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management Division and is not a member of Morgan Stanley's Research Department. Unless otherwise indicated, her views are her own and may differ from the views of the Morgan Stanley Research Department and from the views of others within Morgan Stanley.
Every couple hits obstacles in the bedroom — but they don't have to stay stuck. In Part 3 of our Summer Sex Series, Dave and Ashley Willis tackle the most common roadblocks to a healthy sex life: mismatched drives, stress, mental health, passionless routines, and physical limitations. Plus, a real talk on counterfeit solutions and how to reconnect in even the hardest seasons. 9 Days to Great Sex eBook: https://www.daveandashley.com/9-days-... 21 Day Inner Healing Journey: https://store.xomarriage.com/collecti... https://www.xonow.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd Video on Christian Sex Positions (Part 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRwuVGKDM_E Video on Christian Sex Positions (Part 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Od-mFJ1SZ8 __________ Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tocqueville saw America's faith in its own democracy as a vital force. But these days the majority of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Can a group of maximum security prisoners in Sing Sing offer a vision of how to get back on track?Guests and HostsJohn Prideaux, The Economist's US EditorSean Pica, executive director of Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison Jean Frantz, prisoner at Sing Sing Correctional Facility Topics Alexis de Tocqueville's views on voluntary associationsSing Sing prison education programmePrisoners' views on the American dream To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+If you're already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.