Podcasts about option b

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2559: Shelby Forsythia explores the often-overlooked transformation of friendships after grief, revealing that while some relationships fade, others deepen in unexpected, soul-affirming ways. Her reflection offers a gentle yet profound reminder that loss reshapes our social world, and sometimes, it brings surprising clarity about who truly sees us. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://shelbyforsythia.medium.com/yes-you-lose-friends-after-loss-but-something-else-happens-too-274de4e3a2e6 Quotes to ponder: "People disappear when you're grieving. They drop off the map. They ghost, go quiet, or fumble their way out of your life." "But after the loss, people also show up. People you didn't expect to appear suddenly appear." "These aren't replacements for the people who left. They're not substitutes. They are additions, and enhancements, and recalibrations." Episode references: Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant: https://optionb.org/book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for April 9th Publish Date:  April 9th    Commercial: From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Wednesday, April 9th and Happy Birthday to Hugh Heffner ***04.09.25 - BIRTHDAY – HUGH HEFFNER*** I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal ‘Bound to Work’: Marietta Eyes Relocation of Downtown Dumpsters Austell Dance Team's Trailer Containing Props, Set Pieces Stolen Before Competition Cobb Moves Toward Consolidating Commuter Bus Routes, Nixing Free Loop All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  BREAK: MONSTER JAM 2025_FINAL STORY 1: ‘Bound to Work’: Marietta Eyes Relocation of Downtown Dumpsters After over a decade of debate, Marietta city officials are advancing plans to relocate three city-owned dumpsters near Marietta Square. Public Works Director Mark Rice presented two options, with the council favoring Option B, which would move the dumpsters into an enclosure in First Baptist Church’s parking lot and make Root Street one-way, adding nine parking spaces. The council voted unanimously to move the plan forward, with final traffic flow and parking details to be determined later. Mayor Tumlin and others expressed optimism about the long-awaited solution. STORY 2: Austell Dance Team's Trailer Containing Props, Set Pieces Stolen Before Competition Lisa’s Dance Spot (LDS) in Austell is seeking help to locate their stolen cargo trailer, taken on March 24. The trailer, loaded with props for their competitive dance team’s Michael Jackson-themed routine, was last seen via Flock cameras heading toward downtown Atlanta. Despite the theft, the team rebuilt their sets overnight with the help of dedicated “Prop Dads” and went on to win first place at a regional competition. Studio founder Lisa Pillow praised the team’s resilience and community support. Anyone with information is urged to contact Austell Police. STORY 3: Cobb Moves Toward Consolidating Commuter Bus Routes, Nixing Free Loop Cobb County is considering eliminating the free CobbLinc Green Circulator near The Battery and consolidating commuter routes with the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority’s 484 Xpress Route. The Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to begin public feedback on these changes, which aim to improve efficiency amid declining ridership. Adjustments to the Blue Circulator route are also proposed. Public hearings are set for April 22, with a final vote on May 13 after the District 2 commissioner seat is filled. CobbLinc’s 2023 operations cost $30.85 million, with funding from federal, county, and fare revenues. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.    Break: INGLES 5 STORY 4: Marietta to Consider Changes to Development at Former Harry’s Site The Marietta City Council is reviewing changes to the Marietta Crossing development, which includes 236 apartments and 39 townhomes. Developer Westplan Investors seeks to convert 10,000 square feet of retail space into either live/work units or full residential, citing weak retail demand. If approved, the project would add 12 apartments, totaling 248. Councilmembers are divided, with some favoring all-residential for safety and market reasons, while others believe residential could support retail. The council is also reviewing revised plans for the townhomes, with most being three stories and a few two stories. Final decisions are expected this week. STORY 5: YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s to Host 62nd Annual Good Friday Breakfast The YMCA of Metro Atlanta will host its 62nd Annual Good Friday Breakfast on April 18 at the Cobb Galleria Centre, celebrating its mission of fostering healthy spirit, mind, and body. Kevin Greiner, CEO of Gas South, will receive the Bransby Christian Leadership Award for his impactful community service and Gas South’s $1.3 million in support. Their contributions have enhanced YMCA programs like Adaptive Swim, benefiting over 400 participants, and STEAM Labs, inspiring creativity and education. The event unites over 800 attendees to honor these achievements and support the YMCA’s initiatives. Break: MONSTER JAM 2025_FINAL STORY 6: Driver’s License Deadline Approaching Starting May 7, U.S. travelers will need a REAL ID or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights. Georgia began issuing REAL ID-compliant licenses in 2012, but those who recently moved or haven’t renewed their license should check for a gold or black star in the upper right corner of their ID. If it’s missing, schedule an appointment with the Department of Driver Services to avoid long lines as the deadline approaches. REAL ID enhances security to combat terrorism and identity fraud, requiring an in-person application for first-time compliance. STORY 7: Cobb County Public Library Launches Perks Program The Cobb County Public Library launched the CCPL Perks Program during National Library Week, offering library cardholders a 10% discount at select Marietta Square businesses. Funded by the Georgia Public Library Service 2025 Marketing Grant, the program aims to boost library membership, support small businesses, and strengthen community ties. Initial partners include Marietta Proper, Hamp & Harry’s, Warm Hugs Bakery, Sweet Treats Ice Cream, and Bomb Babes. CCPL plans to expand the program countywide and encourages businesses to join. Break: MONSTER JAM 2025_FINAL Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.monsterjam.com/en-us #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back Home, One week later.By FinalStand. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.There is something worse than waking up and not knowing where you are: you could wake up and not know who you are.Note: World Events Stuff ~ aka Why things are happening in Cáel's lifeThe phone was from Iskender. His boss, Oyuun Tömörbaatar (OT), the former UN ambassador from Kazakhstan and now the informal and unrecognized UN representative and chief diplomat of the Khanate to the same august body, wanted to talk with me, immediately. OT wasn't being diplomatic at the moment, that would come later.{Now this is going to get convoluted}Any inquiries to the Khanate that didn't also include immediate official recognition of the Khanate currently were being steered my (and Hana's) way. For all the behind closed doors crap, he had me, his loyal ass-monkey mutton-head. I held faint hope that this latest meeting would work out to my benefit. For the meeting, I traveled light, only Naomi (the Amazon) and Chaz (British SRR) watched over me.Now fathers who know me, hide their daughters. I'd earned my 'scoundrel' reputation. T. Sarangerel, OT's daughter, was in the room when Iskender ushered me in. She gave me an uncertain look, I shrugged and she smiled. It took me 3 nano seconds to figure that out, OT was scoping me out as a potential son-in-law. I was in Temujin's Inner Circle and a man who he trusted (a rarity). Any union with me would strengthen OT's clan's standing in the new regime.The genetic footprint Temujin, and his immediate family collectively, had put down in the 13th and 14th centuries CE today was vast. He needed that to make his plans for the internal reorganization of the Khanate work. The old republics would go away, to be replaced by a system akin to the Byzantine 'themes, the re-organization of regions based on the recruitment of the Tumens.The Khanate was aiming for an 'Autocratic Republic' ~ a term invented in the 19th century. My use of this terminology was based on my gut instinct, Alal's host of memories involving every form of governance, and my experience with human nature. That clued me in to what Temujin was up to, his Greater Plan. He wasn't going to form a false-front government. He was going to retain the decision-making powers and do so openly, thus 'Autocratic'.He also planned to have a bicameral legislative branch. The Upper House would be based in Tumens and bureaucratic leadership, intellectual standing, religious sects, and tribal entities. This body would be based on merit, not primogeniture. The Lower, main chamber, would be a democratically-elected assembly (aka a democratic republic) that advised him on policy matters, thus 'Republic'.All the power would remain in the Great Khan's hands and would be exercised by his genetic descendants (which some geneticists estimated as being as high as 25% of the Central Asian population.) Marrying into that extended family would be easy, the 'family' itself would have a vested interesting in supporting a state that benefited them.Men and women could exercise power in the government through marriage alliances, identical to the manner Hana was working through me. Being surrounded by very populous countries in various states of belligerence, empowering women wouldn't be an issue since every willing mind and pair of hands mattered. Outsiders who shone through could be offered a spouse and brought into the ruling elite since polygamy was permissible.In the Khanate there would be universal compulsive suffrage (everyone 18+ was legally required to vote) to decide on the representatives in the new legislative body. Everyone was expected to fight, so everyone voted. It would be modeled on the Duma of early 20th century Imperial Russia. Unlike the ill-fated Tsar Nicholas II, Temujin would be much more attentive to the voice of the people, in the Information Age, he had to.Or so I hoped. I spewed forth my ideas to OT who didn't agree, or disagree with my vision. Perhaps Temujin and I did share a bond that went beyond obligation. OT then pulled a 'Pamela'."He told me he knew immediately you were his brother when you and I shared that vision," he commented out of nowhere."His words: You (Earth and Sky) are the old. He (meaning me) is the new. He (me again) will show us the way." My, that was nice, obtuse and not at all helpful. What did OT want? My good buddy, the Great Khan, wanted to cash in on Hana's and my sudden popularity. His most pressing need remained 'time'. He needed to have a cease-fire in the wings when his offensive resumed the next day.The Earth and Sky had moved, well, the Heaven and Earth to get the Tumens and their accompanying national armies up and running after only a two day respite. Thanks to me, Manchuria was a mess. The Russians had carried out my 'Operation: Funhouse' with mixed, mostly positive results.Dozens of smaller Chinese military police units along the border went, 'inactive' was the term most often used in the media. They didn't disarm, yet they didn't fight the Russians either. They sat back and let events unfold. The issue wasn't the Chinese's willingness to fight and die for their country. It was the schizophrenic government in Beijing.The PRC didn't want to wage a war with the Russian Federation at that moment. The Khanate was the priority. There were two fundamentally incompatible courses of action favored for dealing with the Russians:One large group advocated a passive Option A: let the Russians step in and shield the three remaining provinces making up Manchuria that were still in Chinese possession. Later, China would use military, economic and political means to edge the Russians out, once the Khanate was dealt with.A sizable faction favored a more aggressive Option B: play a game of chicken with Vladimir Putin. Tell the Bear not to come across the border while threatening him with a bloody and pointless (for him) guerilla war if he did intervene. Events on the ground were not providing a lot of support for that school of thought,However, this split at the highest levels of leadership left the local and regional commanders to try and muddle through as best they could. To the local commanders defending the Amur River side of the Chinese-Russian border, common sense dictated that they not oppose the Russian crossings, because the Russian 35th Army would kill them.All their military units had gone west to the Nen River line. With no heavy weapons and little air support, the People's Armed Police (PAP) (paramilitary) and the Public Security Bureau (regular police) units would be wiped out for little gain.Russia's GRU (Military Intelligence) sweetened the pot by allowing the police units to remain armed and in formation. It could be argued that they weren't even committing treason. At any time, they could throw themselves into the battle, or form the core of a resistance movement. 'Conserving your strength' had been a hallmark of the Communist Chinese struggle against the Imperial Japanese and Nationalists forces from the 1920's until 1945 and it had served them well.For the party officials, civil authorities and the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Army Air Force (PLAAF), and Army Navy (PLAN) who had gone with Option B, things weren't working out. In the north of Heilongjiang province at Morin Dawa/the Nen River line, the regional commander of the ad hoc forces facing the Khanate decided to duke it out with the Russian 36th Army as well. He was boned from the get-go.The PLAAF's overall command and control had been badly disrupted in the first few hours of The Unification War and had never fully recovered. Of the 22 air regiments that the PLAAF had started the war with in the Shenyang Military District (NE China), only 5 remained as effective formations flying, on average, a meager 20% of their original complement of advanced Shenyang J-16's, J-11's, Chengdu J-10's and Xian JH-7's aircraft.Replacing their aircraft losses meant sending up aged Shenyang J-8's (rolled out in 1980) and Nanchang Q-5's (in 1970) to fly and die in droves fighting their technologically superior Khanate foes. To add insult to injury, China's fleet of 97 Su-30MKK/MK2's (built in Russia) had suffered numerous suspicious mechanical and electronic failures, rendering them either flying coffins, or space holders in bomb-proof shelters.Furthermore, of the forces arrayed in the far north, only two of the five air regiments were responding. Two of the other three had begun displacing south into the Beijing Military District and preparing to defend the capital city. The fifth formation had another problem, North Korea (, more on that later.)In opposition to those two Chinese air regiments (roughly 60 aircraft of mixed types) stood seven complete and fresh Russian air regiments (over 400 front-line aircraft) and that didn't include the regiment and elements of the Far East Naval Aviation which was ALSO watching North Korea (, again more on that later.) The latter was of small comfort to the forces trying to hold the already compromised Nen River line.Behind those valiant troops, along the much more defensible Amur River line, the commander of the key city of Heihe sided with the Option A group and let the Russian 35th Army cross the river unopposed. By the time the PLA commanding general of the 'Nen Force' (the 69th Motorized Division and the subordinate 7th Reserve Division) figured that out, he was already in a shooting war with the Russians. So his supply lines weren't in danger, they were lost.The final indignity took place at Zalantun. The commander of the 3rd Reserve Div. had died during the attempt to recapture Zalantun. His replacement died when his helicopter was shot down as he was coming to assume command. In the absence of these officers, the divisional chief of staff told his men, including two hastily hustled forward mechanized brigades, to put down their arms. That meant 'Nen Force' was completely cut-off and surrounded.One battalion of the 36th Russian Motorized Brigade (yes, too many 36's running around) disarmed the Chinese troops while the rest, plus the 74th Independent Motorized Brigade raced for the prize, the city of Qiqihar. The last major mechanized formation of the 36th Rus. Army, the 39th MB was following them. However, instead of manning Qiqihar's defenses, the Chinese garrison in that city was waging war on its own populace.It wasn't only in Qiqihar; chaos reigned throughout Heilongjiang province. The Provincial Head of the Communist Party, Wang Xiankui, supported Option A. The Provincial Governor, Lu Hao, went with Option B. Both figures were rising stars in the PRC. Wang had ordered the still forming Reserve Divisions and the PAP units to disperse, thus avoiding any untimely confrontations with the Russians.Lu, without consulting Wang, ordered the same forces to launch a violent crackdown on all dissident forces, specifically all racial minorities. (It turned out that Lu was also a member of the Seven Pillars and his witch-hunt was aimed at getting the Earth and Sky organization operating in Heilongjiang).For the men and women on the other end of those phone conversations, there was no 'right' answer. Lest we forget, their organizations were already degraded by the Anthrax outbreak. Both men were powerful and represented China's future leadership, so if the person in charge at the ground level obeyed the wrong one, they could be assured of being roasted by the other.Some did try to do both, repress and disband at the same time. That meant that in the process of making mass arrests among an already war-fearful and plague-fearful populace, the law enforcement infrastructure began disintegrating.The problem with Lu's/7P's plan was that there was no 'revolutionary' organization to round up. That wasn't how the Earth and Sky operated in North-East China. They remained in tiny sabotage and reconnaissance cells. While they were scurrying for cover from the police crackdown, an opportunity presented itself.The afflicted minorities were getting furious with their treatment. These minorities saw themselves as loyal Chinese, yet they were being dragged out into the streets, put in detentions centers and (in a few cases) summarily executed. Being less than 10% of the overall population, resistance had never crossed their minds. It seemed all that those defenseless people could do was pray for Russian intervention forces to arrive.Within that mix of fear, betrayal and rage, the E and S discovered a way to start the dominos falling. The small, well-armed and well-trained E and S cells began ambushing police detachments. Weapons from those dead men and women were turned over to the pissed off locals before the cell went off to stalk the next police unit.Wash, rinse and repeat. It became a perverse and bloody case of wish fulfillment. Lu and the 7P's had been looking for an insurrection and they started one. Even though a miniscule portion of the population was involved, from the outside looking in, it reinforced the Putin Public Affairs initiative that portrayed Putin (and his army) as coming in to restore order to a collapsing civil system, which he was helping disrupt.From Moscow, the PRC's indecisiveness looked like Manna from Heaven. For the massive numbers of Russian soldiers riding through the Manchurian countryside, it felt like they were rolling into Arkham Asylum. Unlike the NATO countries' professional armies, Russia remained a largely conscript force whose normal term of service was only one year. These unseasoned troops could never tell if the local military, military police and police would attack until they rolled up on the Chinese units.At the start of that Day One of Operation: Funhouse, the Russian ROE (Rules of Engagement) was 'Ask and Verify'. It was tactically advantageous for the belligerent Chinese forces to lie about their intentions, then begin shooting at the Russians when they got close enough to hurt them. By Day Two, the standard front-line Russian soldier had adjusted that ROE to 'if they look at us wrong, light their asses up'. By Day Three, the officers had stopped trying to enforce Moscow's ROE orders.That was fine for the combat and rear echelon support troops because both the Chinese and Russian governments had another series of problems and they all centered around Pyongyang and Kim Jong-un's declaration that North Korea would intervene as well, without letting anyone know who he was 'intervening' against. To keep everyone guessing, the North Korean' People's Army was massing on all three borders, facing off with the PRC, Russia and South Korea. To prove his diplomatic intentions, Kim pledged to only mobilize half of his reserves, merely 4,250,000 extra men and women to go with his 950,000 strong standing army.It didn't take a military, or economic genius to realize the North Korean's chronically 'near death' economy was stampeding off a cliff. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was in the middle of an oil crisis and Kim was increasing their fuel consumption by 400% while decreasing his workforce by 10%. To put it in perspective, the US unemployment was around 6%. Now imagine that in one week's time it would become 26%. One week, no severance packages. Would the population become unsettled?But wait, it gets better. The Secret War was colliding with the Real World in more places than Manchuria. Setting aside the assassination attempt (Grrr) of Hana Sulkanen, my fiancée, six Nipponese elders (two women and four men) appeared in the personal quarters of the Japanese Prime Minister on the first full night of 'Funhouse' and relayed their urgent requests.Those six were the Head of the Six (formerly Seven) Ninja Families and they were there at, my urging. Cause I'm an idiot and requiring the deaths of Romanians in my personal crusade obviously wasn't enough. Now I was asking the Japanese Defense Forces (JDF) to pony up as well. So take a deep breath and put on the hip-waders.You might be wondering why I would want the JDF, see, there was part of Operation: Funhouse that was hitting a predictable snag, namely the Korea People's Navy Force (KPNF) and the uncertain determination of the PLAN:The KPNF's vessels were rather old, small and crappy. They also had a love affair with anything that could launch a torpedo and they listed over 700 of these floating deathtraps (only 13 of which could be classified as surface warships) and the fanatical crews to take them into battle.The PLAN's numbers were far more realistic and the fleet generally more modern. Only their North (18 surface warships) and East Fleets (22 plus 5 'elsewhere') could play any role in an upcoming FUBAR, and both fleets were heading out to sea, mainly to avoid the sporadic, but increasingly effective Khanate air strikes.The FU to be BAR'ed was the Russian Far East Fleet (RFEF) (6 warships strong, ) that had seized on this crazy idea (per my suggestion) to sail south, around the Korean peninsula so they could land elements of the 55th Guards Red Banner Marine Brigade (the 165th Marine Regiment and the 180th Marine Tank Battalion).Theoretically they were going to be the 'Southern Shielding Force' that would interpose itself between the Khanate and Beijing. It should surprise no one that the RFEF's flotilla was unequal to the task of taking their destination, the port of Qinhuangdao, by amphibious assault. Fortunately for the Gods of War (which did not include me), there were five other navies involved.Meanwhile, South Korea was having kittens because their always crazy northern kin were slathering on the insanity. (In how many Buddhist countries do people flock to the temples and pray that their neighbor attacks someone, anyone else, but them? That wasn't a religious conundrum I wanted to deal with.) N.Korea mobilizing meant S.Korea had to mobilize, which sucked down on their GNP as well.Besides, N.Korean dams and coal-powered plants kept the lights on in Seoul. Erring on the side of caution, the S. Korea (aka Republic of Korea, ROK) Army suggested calling up only one million of their three million person reserve force in order to assure Cousin Kim that this was a purely defensive gesture. It didn't work. Kim Jong-un castigated the ROK for antagonizing him, despite his declaration that he 'might' feel like invading the South in the immediate future.Into the emerging crisis, the ROK Navy could sortie nineteen small surface ships. Japan's Navy wasn't up to its old imperial standards, but could still deploy 45 surface warships. The 800 lb. gorilla in the room was the core of the 7th Fleet stationed at Yokosuka, Japan, the USS carrier George Washington and her 14 escort vessels.If the George Washington was the gorilla, RIMPAC 2014 was King Kong. 22 nations, 50 ships, including the USS carrier Ronald Reagan were engaged in war games in the Central Pacific. With them were 5 vessels of the PLAN, had Kim Jong-un just kept his mouth shut, this wouldn't have been an issue. Hell, if the Khanate had not come into existence and launched its Unification War, but he had and they did,To show the US was taking this escalation seriously (without tipping their hand that they knew about Funhouse, Carrier Strike Group One (CSG 1) (the Carl Vinson +10) was rushing across the Pacific from San Diego. CSG 3 (the John C. Stennis +2) was being assembled hastily so that they could rendezvous with CSG 1 ASAP. So many brave souls running toward the danger, sometimes I hate myself.So now does it make sense that I found myself in a room with a US Senator tasked with riding herd on me?Anyway, there were the other three navies still unaccounted for, Taiwan / the Republic of China (ROC) (22 surface ships), Vietnam (7) and the Philippines (3). Taiwanese involvement was easy to explain, the PRC refused to acknowledge them as an independent country and probably never would.The Vietnam People's Navy was tiny in both numbers and tonnage. Five of the vessels were 1960's Soviet frigates. What Vietnam did have was a huge grudge against the PRC. The PLA invaded Vietnam in 1979 and devastated the northernmost provinces, killing as many as 100,000 civilians.The PLAN had walloped the VPN in 1974 (technically South Vietnam) and again in 1988. Out in the South China Sea were two island archipelagos; the Paracel (occupied by a small PLA garrison and claimed by the PRC, Vietnam and the ROC) and Spratlys Islands (disputed by Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, the PRC, the ROC, and Vietnam).The Philippines had a grand total of three frigates (all between 50 and 70 years old). 99% of the time, they faced a hopeless struggle enforcing Philippines' South China Sea claims, except they were now experiencing that 1% where the PRC found itself in a life and death struggle. Even then, the PLAN's South Sea Fleet was hands-down the biggest player with 26 surface warships centered on the Carrier Liaoning.Except (and there always seems to be an 'except') virtually all the PLAN's naval aviation had gone off to fight the Khanate and it wasn't coming back, ever. In the air, the Philippines was next to useless. What did they have of offer in the struggle for the South China Sea? Bases. The ROC and Vietnam had much more to bring to the table.The Vietnamese People's Liberation Air Force (VPLAR) had about 50 front-line aircraft and 175 nearly obsolete models ~ the same models the PLAAF was now piloting. The ROC Air Force could put up 325 almost-new fighters that were now superior to their opponents on the mainland. Why would I give a shit?Things cascade. The Khanate Air Force took a two-day long deep breath as Putin's 'Policeman that only looks like an invading army' started their intervention. Forty-eight hours later, the Khanate started the fourth stage (the first lunge, defeat the PLA's counter-attack then the second lunge) of the campaign.Their initial air power was still skating on thin ice where maintenance was concerned. They need more time to thoroughly rest their pilots and bring all their top-flight equipment to 100% working condition. Against them, in two days the PLAAF's assets increased by over 250 fighters.In turn, the Khanate had added their constituent state air forces plus nearly 80 new cutting edge air planes and 25 drones. Phase Four saw rolling airstrikes all along the forces massing in front of the northern and central Tumens. For a few hours, the PLA thought they knew what was going on.They were wrong and this was where my meeting with OT came in. Jab with the right, cut them down with the left. The left in my case was Tibet. Yeah, Tibet. Economic value = not nearly enough. From the very start of the war, a small number of seemingly inconsequential air strikes had seriously eroded the PLA and PLAAFs combat power in the Tibetan Plateau while leaving the roads, bridges and towns intact.Common military logic dictated that the Khanate had to punch their way further east into Qinghai (to the south) and Gansu (to the north) provinces. That was where the population and industry where. Farther east were even greater numbers of people and factories and the Khanate forces in the North hadn't been strong enough to threaten to cut off the Qinghai-Gansu front. Then the Russians showed up and the Khanate forces threatening that flank doubled overnight.The PLA hastily reinforced their northern flank, using troops from their strategic reserves. The move resulted in incredible attrition by airpower to the freshly equipped formations. The PLA was about to get flanked, but not from the north. Southwest of Qinghai was Tibet. A third of the Khanate's mobile forces now swept around in a huge left haymaker to the south.My job? I needed the 'Free Tibet' forces in the US and UK to provide public and moral support to the Khanate move. As Khanate Special Forces seized crucial bottlenecks in Tibet, they needed the locals to keep their 'liberators' informed of PLA presences and undermine any attempt to create a guerilla movement.The five Tumens dedicated to being the Schwerpunkt (point of maximum effort) of this flanking maneuver were going to be on a tight timetable if they were going to surround the PLA forces in Central China.My plan was to convince the Tibetans that the PRC's 55 years of occupation was coming to an end and the Great Khan wanted to sign a 'Treaty of Mutual Respect' (my invention). This would require both the Khanate and Tibet to recognize each other's right to exist the moment a cease-fire was reached. That was it. No 'armed presence', or 'mutual defense' agreements.The treaty would be formally signed in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, when the city was safe ~ as determined by the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile, CTA). Riki came up with an additional sweetener and proved she was quickly adjusting to our group's extra-governmental capabilities.

This week, I sit down with Andre Penha, co-founder of QuintoAndar and CEO of IBBX, for a brutally honest, founder-first conversation on building and scaling in Latin America.Andre built QuintoAndar into a $5B+ real estate giant, raised $750M from top investors, and is now betting on wireless electricity, aiming to make chargers, cables, and batteries obsolete with IBBX.Here's what we cover:♢ Why product—not storytelling—wins in fundraising and how investors went from doubting QuintoAndar to fighting to get in.♢ How QuintoAndar cracked real estate's biggest inefficiencies – and why transparency, speed, and reliability were non-negotiable for scale.♢ Scaling culture the hard way – Why Andre enforced a “No Assholes Allowed” rule and fired high performers who didn't align.♢ How to make high-stakes decisions – The Option A vs. Option B framework Andre used to allocate resources and bet on the right things.♢ Board governance done right – How to turn your board into a growth accelerator, not a time drain.♢ Why wireless power is the next trillion-dollar industry – And how IBBX is betting on the future of energy.If you're a founder, investor, or just obsessed with how to build game-changing companies, this episode is packed with unfiltered insights you won't hear anywhere else. Let's get into it.

In this episode of the Flourish Academy Podcast, Heather Lahtinen and Nicole Begley dive deep into the internal tug-of-war that keeps us from fully committing to our goals. They explore how subconscious thoughts of “another option” can quietly undermine your success and reveal how your self-concept plays a pivotal role in breaking through mental barriers. They shared six powerful questions designed to help you gain clarity, identify your fears, and uncover what's really stopping you from going all in on your dreams. Whether you're building a photography business or pursuing another passion, these questions will inspire you to let go of hesitation and take bold, intentional action toward “Option A.” Show Notes: Heather explains how self-concept and commitment are intertwined. The mental tug-of-war caused by "Option B." The impact of "burning the boats" and removing fallback plans. The GoDaddy phone call that changed everything. How to identify subconscious safety nets. Questions to uncover your hidden fears and reframe your goals. Practical tips for burning your boats (without losing everything). How to Support the Podcast: Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review. If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people. Connect: Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram Nicole Begley: https://hairofthedogacademy.com/

We all end up facing things we didn't want. This episode is all about staying in your power when that happens. Option B by Sheryl SandbergFind out more about my work: www.melindagerdungcoaching.comBook a session with me: https://calendly.com/gerdungmelinda/coaching-session---Beat Provided By https://freebeats.ioProduced By White Hot---

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Economic Development Subcommittee (EDC) held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 in the Council Chambers. All 4 members participated in Council Chambers (Chandler, Frongillo, Hamblen, Sheridan).Quick recap:The subcommittee reviewed the tweaks to the work in progress for the new branding logo, seal, etc. Designer, Franklin resident AJ Ribecci walked through the modifications based upon prior feedback Ultimately the vote to recommend to the Council was for Option B on the logo and C2 for the seal refinementsMotion to adjourn, passes 4-0The recording of the meeting runs about 48 minutes. --------------Franklin TV video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHJT5eyhqDQ Agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/_2024-11-20_edc_agenda_.pdf My notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/11Uma_Vq7HfLajj8VyCSc4VoWSq7kuWDE/view?usp=drive_link Photos of the slides captured in one album -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/DnqaiuRjR7d4CjFY8 Additional info on the branding process can be found -> https://www.franklinma.gov/economic-development-subcommittee/webforms/edc-branding-presentations --------------We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.How can you help?If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me know And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We'll share and show you what and how we do what we doThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.I hope you enjoy!------------------You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

In this episode of Building Texas Business, I chat with Renee Morris, Chief Curl Officer at Uncle Funky's Daughter. We explore her path from management consultant to leading a national hair care brand. Renee shares her approach to maintaining business control by relying on personal savings and family support rather than external investors. She discusses forming partnerships with major retailers like Target and Walgreens while building a creative team to drive innovation. I learned how she tackles recruitment challenges and ensures brand visibility at a national level. Looking ahead, Renee explains her vision to expand into skincare and education, and serving communities of color in new ways. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Renee Morris discusses her journey from management consultant to Chief Curl Officer at Uncle Funky's Daughter, emphasizing her desire to balance career ambitions with family life. We explore Renee's decision to purchase an existing company rather than starting from scratch, leveraging her experience in sales and marketing strategy within the consumer products sector. Renee highlights the importance of having a financial safety net when transitioning to entrepreneurship, sharing her personal experience of not drawing a salary for years and relying on her husband's support. We talk about Renee's strategic decision to avoid third-party investors to maintain control over her business, focusing on conservative growth and solving customer problems. Renee explains her approach to forming strategic partnerships with major retailers like Target and Walgreens, discussing the role of distributors in helping small brands enter national markets. We discuss the challenges of recruiting and nurturing talent, emphasizing the importance of fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and creative thinking. Renee outlines her vision for expanding the brand into adjacent areas such as skincare and education, aiming to serve the community of color more broadly. We explore Renee's leadership style, focusing on adaptability and learning from failures as she considers new business ventures. Renee shares personal insights from her early career and hiring experiences, emphasizing the importance of trusting one's instincts during the recruitment process. We examine the role of social media and influencers in maintaining customer confidence and visibility during brand transitions, particularly when changes are made to product packaging. LINKSShow Notes Previous Episodes About BoyarMiller About Uncle Funky's Daughter GUESTS Renee MorrisAbout Renee TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Chris: In this episode you will meet Renee Morris, chief Curl Officer at Uncle Funky's Daughter. Renee shares her passion for helping curly girls solve their hair problems with unique and innovative natural hair products. Renee, I want to thank you for coming on Building Texas Business. It's so glad, happy to have you as a guest. Renee: Thank you, I'm excited to be here. Chris: Okay, so you won the award so far for having the coolest and, I would say, funky, but that would be. Renee: Play on words Right. Chris: But as far as a name for a company, uncle Funky's Daughter, yes. Okay, tell us what is your company known for and what do you do? Renee: So Uncle Funky's Daughter is a hair products company. We're based here in Houston, texas. I bought the company, so the parent company is Rotenmore's Consumer Group. But I bought the brand Uncle Funky's Daughter 10 years ago from a husband and wife team. So Uncle Funky's Daughter curates natural hair products for women, men and children who choose to wear their hair naturally, and so that's shampoos, conditioners, curl definers, moisturizers, stylers, finishers. Shampoos, conditioners, curl definers, moisturizers, stylers, finishers you name it, we make it. We also have a thermal protection line for women who want to blow dry and style their hair with heat, and we're distributed nationally Target, walgreens, kroger, cvs, heb, locally, so you name it, other than Walmart, we're there. Chris: Beauty Easy to find, easy to find, easy to find well, I have to ask this because I have daughters. I mean Sephora or Ulta. Renee: No, Sephora or Ulta. Yet we've been working that line. We can talk about that as part of this deep dive, but we've been working that line and but no land in Sephora or Ulta just yet okay, very good. Chris: So how did you find your way into the hair care product world? Because you didn't start there. Renee: No, I am a former management consultant 20 years management consulting, advising clients multi-billion dollar companies on how to drive revenue growth and through sales and marketing. And I was a mother of three kids. At the time my son was probably three or four, my daughters were two and I was flying back and forth between Houston and New York for a client. And I had this realization that I didn't want to do that as a mom. I needed to be home, but I still wanted to be a career person. So I knew I am not built to be a stay-at-home mother. That is not who I am, and COVID taught me that with isolation. And so what I started deciding was I wanted to figure out what I wanted to do next and I realized I had some options. Right, it's that fork in the road that you go through. You start to look inwardly every time you have that fork in the road and I did that and I said okay, your option A is to go find a company based in Houston and be a VP or senior VP of some operation. Option B is you find a small company and you're like a big fish in a small pond kind of thing. Option C is you just go do your own thing. And after I kind of went through it, I realized I worked for the Coca-Colas, like in GE Capitals of the world, in my past. I didn't want to go work for a big company. I didn't think I wanted to work for a small company because of my personality style, right, um. And so I decided I wanted to go buy something and then or have my own company. And so then the question becomes do you build or do you buy my? I'm a management consultant by heart, so it's always go buy something. Why? Because I can take it, I can fix it and I can grow it. And so then it became all right, well, what are you going to go buy? And so, like most people out there, they're thinking about buying a company. I started reaching out to brokers, I started doing some networking, calling attorneys, people that work on deals, that kind of stuff, just putting my name out there, and I got all the things that you normally get when you're looking to buy a company the gym, the dry cleaner, the storage facility, the gas station, all the things that I didn't want to buy because I didn't have a passion for them. And so, also, for background, my consulting experience in sales and marketing strategy has been predominantly in consumer products. So I know consumer products, I know revenue growth, I know marketing strategy. So I was like okay, so I kept looking and I used this hair product called Uncle Funky's Daughter. I found it when I first moved here in 2000. Like all curly girls out there back then, that was almost 20 years ago, my goodness. But 15 years ago back then there weren't a lot of natural hair products out there for women of color and women of curly hair with curly hair specifically. And so I googled when I first moved here natural hair products, curly hair, houston and Uncle Funky Stoddard came up. I've never heard of this company right. So I go to rice village and buy this product and I start using it. Extra butter, start using it. And for those out there that are, you know, african American descent, you know thick, curly hair, we do this thing called two strand twists to what. I love it. Two strand twist. Chris: Okay. Renee: So, you take your hair and you twist it in like instead, instead of braiding it, you put it in twists, and there are single twists all over my head right. So that's how I would style my hair wear it, rock a two strand twist. Those out there will understand that, look it up and then Google it and then and so that worked on my hair really well. And so, again, for those with tight, curly hair, finding the right hair product that works for your hair is tough. It is not easy, as you know. One of your team members, courtney, was talking about. She's gone through all the products Because you go through this product journey trying to find something that works for you right. So found Extra Butter, worked, loved it, and then I would stop using it while I'm traveling because I would forget it right at home sure. I would go back to some other competitive brand and it didn't work for my hair. So I'm like, okay, uncle Funky's daughter is the only thing that works for my hair. So I go in to get my Uncle Funky's daughter one day, after I, you know, had braids and wash them out. And yada, yada, yada. I'm going in, I'm getting my extra butter and this guy behind the counter who I bought hair products from for the past at this point, five years, says yeah, my wife and I are going through a divorce and I'm like, oh, so I do have an MBA right. I'm not some, you know, trying to sound like a shark, but my MBA said distressed asset might be willing to sell stress asset might be willing to sell. Like literally, that is the voice that went in my head. And so I was like, oh really. So I stood there in that store and I just chatted with him for hours and about the company, you know what, you know personally what he was going through, because divorce, you know, for those that may have gone through it, can be an emotional, you know troubling time. So I was a listening ear. But as I'm listening, I'm also thinking about like, okay, what's the story behind the brand? Is this going to resonate? And I'm also watching people come in and out, right. And so I said, well, if you guys are you guys thinking about selling it? And he gives me a story about you know what's happening with the sell and cell and I said, well, if you're ever thinking about selling it, let me know. So I walk out, I Google, because you know this is horrible to say, but divorces are public right right. Chris: Is it filed in state court? Renee: it's a public record so I'm figuring out what's happening with the divorce and I find out that the company is in receivership. And for those who don't know, because I did not know at the time what a receivership was, a receivership happens when a divorce is happening and the husband and wife aren't operating, behaving appropriately. Chris: Well, they can't agree on the direction of the company and it can be not in a divorce. But basically, owners cannot agree and a court may appoint a receiver to run the company. Renee: Exactly. Thank you, that's why you're the attorney and a court may appoint a receiver to run the company Exactly. Chris: Thank you. That's why you're the attorney. Renee: Have a little experience with that yes, so the judge had appointed this guy to be the receiver. I reached out to the gentleman and I said I'm interested in the sale of Uncle Funky's daughter, if that so happens to be the case. And so the one thing I did learn and you can probably expound on this is oftentimes in a divorce, when the receiver comes in, at that point that receiver is really thinking about how to get rid of this asset. And so those are all the things that I learned during this process, and I was like, okay, so he wants to sell because he wants to get paid and he knows nothing about this business. Chris: He was, you know no offense, no emotional tie to it, for sure no emotional tie. Renee: He's an older white gentleman who knows nothing about black hair products and so I was like, okay, so he doesn't know, he doesn't have an appreciation for the value of the company. And so I reached out and I said, okay, here's a number. You wouldn't believe the number I gave him and he counted with some minor you, some minor adjustment, and we bought this company for less than $100,000. And they had a revenue at the time. When I saw their tax returns, I think it was maybe a million or so that they claimed in revenue. At some point they said, but at least for sure I think our first year of revenue was probably around and it was a partial year. Probably a quarter million dollars is what revenue they generated, and so we really, if you talk about a multiple of sales, we bought it on a tremendous it's a heck of a deal the deal. Okay, I can't find those deals these days. If anybody has one of those deals, you come let me know and so. So that's how we ended up buying this company ten years ago and shortly thereafter, target comes knocking at the door and says, hey, we were having this discussion with the owners about, you know, potentially launching. Would you be interested? And I'm like, absolutely. And it was because they were going through this divorce that they couldn't get over the finish line, right? And so shortly after we buy, we're launching in target. But before I did that, one of the first things I did was because, if you ever, if any, it's probably so old you can't find it. But the label. When I first bought the company, when I was buying it, it was this woman's face with a big afro on the front and it had a cute little 70s vibe on it and it was in this white hdpe bottle which, by the way, those aren't recyclable. So I said first, we need to change this, we got to change the packaging, we got to upgrade the label, we need to make it universally appealing to all curly girls, because if I look at a woman with a big afro, I think tight, curly hair like mine right and our products work across the spectrum from wavy, like Courtney, to really tight, like Renee, and that wasn't representative on the label okay so we redesigned the label, changed the bottle from an HDPE bottle to a PET bottle, which is recyclable, and then just upgraded this packaging to what I consider a sleeker new look. Chris: Very good, Great story, Thank you. So back up a little bit, share a little bit, because so you go from big corporate consulting job some comfort in there probably. You mentioned travel and you did mention the mom aspect playing a role. But let's talk a little bit about actually getting the courage to take that leap out of the big corporate role into. I'm going to buy something that's all on me now to either make it or break it. Yeah, that had to be scary. Renee: It was, and I am fortunate in that. You're right. I had comfort. We have financial security. I had a husband who was, who still is, who's a senior executive in medical devices has nothing to do with anything about consumer products, but you know, we have the luxury for him to say I can carry this load, financial load, and I think that's the big mix, right? I tell people all the time if you're going to take that leap, you got to make sure you've got cash flow, because for not only for your, you know, for the company, but for you personally, right? Because there were several years where my husband called my business a hobby Because I was contributing nothing to the financial plan. Chris: In fact, you were probably taken away. Yeah, I was taken away. Renee: So every year I mean. So I wasn't drawing a salary. I didn't draw a salary for a couple of years after I, I didn't draw a salary until our tax accountant said you have to draw a salary because we're changing you from whatever tax to an S-corp. And I was like oh, wow, really Okay. So what am I going to pay myself? Okay, and then he goes Well, you have, and it has to be reasonable. So for probably three or four years after I bought the company, I didn't draw a salary. I was paying my employees but I wasn't paying myself. And so I think and I say all that to say yes, it takes a leap, but it also takes the ability and the willingness to take that financial hit Right. So were there things that we probably wanted to do as a family that we didn't do? Probably so. Chris: Yeah. Renee: Because I'm growing this brand and was there times I went to my husband like I need another thirty thousand dollars? Probably so. And because one of the things I specifically had chosen is I did not want, and I currently still don't want, to pull in private equity, vc any type of third party investor funding. That is a personal decision I've made and it's because I am a former accountant and I'm extremely financially conservative and I also don't want different incentives to help influence how I run my business, different incentives to help influence how I run my business, and what I mean by that is I personally just didn't want to have a PE company saying you need to do these three things because your multi, your EBITDA needs to look like this and your revenue growth needs to look like that. Right, so I could have we could have easily grown really fast, like a lot of brands do, and grown themselves out of business, or, but I chose the path to grow really conservatively Now, and so I think I say all that to say I think, yes, financially speaking, having the bandwidth to be able to float yourself and your company for a while is critical, and so don't take the leap if you're still, if you're at your job today, living paycheck to paycheck right, you have to have a cushion. Your job today, living paycheck to paycheck right, you have to have a cushion. So what that means is, maybe if you're trying to start the company, then you're running your business while you're living paycheck to paycheck and oh, by the way, you gotta stop living paycheck to paycheck because you got to start to build that cushion, right. So some of the you got to make sacrifices and I think that's the hard thing. Not everyone's willing to make the financial sacrifice that it takes to really run and grow a business without third party support. Now, in today's world, you can go get bc capital funding and you know money is flowing, or at least it was, you know but there, but there's sacrifices, but there's sacrifices with that, and so, yeah, that's great advice, you know. Chris: The other thing that you mentioned, as you were evaluating companies is one of my favorite words when it comes to business is passion. You passed on a ton of things because you weren't passionate about it. Renee: Yeah. Chris: You found something you were passionate about, and I think that's a lesson for people too, right Is? It's not easy to do. As you mentioned. Sacrifices have to be made. So if you're not really passionate about that decision to go be an entrepreneur, start your own business. It's going to be tough. Renee: Yeah, it's going to be tough, and so, because I have to wake up every day, I my passion is really helping people solve problems, and I do that through hair, because hair is a problem in the curly hair community. How do I maintain frizz? How do I keep it under control? How do I keep it healthy so it doesn't break? How do I keep it healthy so it can grow? How do I stop the scalp irritation? There's so many problems that happen in hair and so I what I think about. Like literally yesterday I was with my marketing team and we're talking about a campaign for the next month for products etc. Or really November, and I said, OK, what problem are we helping her solve? And that's literally the way I think about stuff what problem are we helping her solve? Because if we're not helping her solve a problem, then I don't have anything to talk about. Chris: Ok, Right, yeah, it's not going to move off the shelf. Renee: It's not going to move off the shelf thing to talk about. Chris: Okay, right, yeah, it's not going to move off the shelf. It's not going to move off the shelf. So another thing that you kind of alluded to, you went through somewhat. It sounds like a kind of transforming the business that you took over, right? You mentioned the product label and packaging. Let's talk. What else did you, you know, in taking that business over, did you find yourself having to change, and how did you go about making those decisions? Are either prioritizing them and you know we can't do it all- at once yeah, so what walk? us through some of the learning you went through that well, you know what's interesting is. Renee: So it wasn't much of a transformation, but it was. If you think about learning from a marketing standpoint, if you're going to buy a business, especially a consumer product company, and you buy it in today's world where we're so used to knowing who the owner is the first people don't like change. So one of the first things I had to do was convince our current customers that nothing had changed other than the label. The minute your package changes and it looks different, they're like the formulas have changed, it's not the same be the same. It's not the same product. So the first thing I had to do was convince them that this is the same product. In fact, I brought back discontinued SKUs that the receiver had stopped selling because they were slow moving. **Chris: How did you go about convincing the existing customer base? Nothing changed. Renee: So news articles, facebook articles, facebook social ads, like having live conversations, going live on social media all of those were things that I had to go in and dispute or Dubuque being like I was the person respond. There was no team, it was me and one other person. The first person I hired was a social media person. Okay, wasn't a warehouse person, it was a social media person because I knew being the being in the face of the customer was so important. So being live and answering questions online, answering the phone and people would call they will go. I heard that this wasn't the same formula. No, ma'am, it's the same formula. And actually having those, it was me having those live, one-on-one conversations. And so I think really touching the customer and being personal with her was the key to our success in in gaining that confidence. And we also you know this was early in the days of influencers we also had to partner with people to be able to talk about. Like it's the same stuff, guys, this is the bottle. This is the old bottle. This is the new bottle. This is both sides of my hair, no change. Chris: Okay, okay, very smart to especially, like you said, I mean so many people now the social media influencers have such impact on what products get picked up in the mainstream. Advert Hello friends, this is Chris Hanslick, your Building Texas business host. Did you know that Boyer Miller, the producer of this podcast, is a business law firm that works with entrepreneurs, corporations and business leaders? Our team of attorneys serve as strategic partners to businesses by providing legal guidance to organizations of all sizes. Get to know the firm at boyermillercom, and thanks for listening to the show. Chris:So let's move forward a little bit. Part of changing things new products. There's a level. You mentioned your marketing meeting yesterday. What do you do within the company to help kind of foster innovation and inspire your people to be innovative about the products? Renee: That's a tough one because it's hard. Here's the challenge that we have as a small company. As a small company, it's hard for me to afford to pay me like the equivalent of a me right. The woman or a man with the MBA in marketing who's got, you know, 10 years at Coca-Cola. I am oftentimes recruiting talent, that's learning and I'm teaching, as they, you know, grow up in our company and so innovation is really. You know, I'm usually in that meeting asking the provocative question Like do these assets, does this story come together like cohesively, what problems are we helping them solve? Like, I am there helping them think through and push their thinking a little bit forward. We'll sit and we just do brainstorming with, you know, little toys in the room and stuff to play with, but it's really just helping them kind of. All right, just toss some ideas out there. Let's just throw like what is this, what does this mean? What's her brand voice? What does she sound like? What does she look like? Like asking those questions to help them just kind of think outside of the box. Now, if she looks like this, so what kind of tone is she going to have? All right, so what would she say then? Okay, so let's talk about, like how then that manifests itself and how it shows up creatively, and so just helping them kind of drill down to the so what is really kind of the role I like to play. It's the role I'm playing right now because I'm looking for a marketing director. Chris: Okay, yeah, anybody listening out there. Renee: Anybody listening out there? Submit resumes. Chris: So you talked about some major players as partners that you have right, yeah. Target and Walgreens and CVS, et cetera. So let's talk a little bit about that. How did you go about? You kind of you told a little bit about Target, but what have you done and what have you found to be successful? And maybe strategies that weren't successful in forming those relationships, but maybe, even more importantly, fostering and maintaining those relationships. Renee: So forming on the forming side retailers. For those who may or may not know the space, they want to come to you in one of two ways either direct or indirect through a distributor. For a small brand like mine, it's usually hey, I don't want to service direct, I want you to go through a distributor. And usually it's because when you first launch, you're going to be in a handful of their stores not full distribution is what they call it so not in all 1700 Target stores, but I think we started out in a hundred and so we had to go through a third-party distributor, and so that distributor then opened the door to other national retailers for us. So if you're thinking about launching into a national retail partner and you're a small company like mine, your best route to market is finding a distributor that represents your category in a national retailer. So whether that's peanut butter, hair products, lotions, flat tires, whatever, so you have to go and find that distributor. So that was step one. Once we got that relationship, our job is to grow it by driving traffic through the stores and getting that sell through. If it's not generating units per store per week, it gets pulled right. So one person wisely said a retail shelf space is like real estate. Once you buy your home, you don't want to lose it to foreclosure. So once you've got that slot, my job is to defend those two slots. And when I say we're national retailers, we're not like a P&G where P&G dominates the shelf. We've got sometimes two slots, sometimes four, but we're not, we don't have 10. So our slots are really important for us at a retailer and so for me, maintaining the relationship comes back to driving the traffic to the store. But, more importantly, supply chain. So when I talked about growing too fast for some brands and having measured growth, it was very important for me because I understood I came from a consulting company, although I did did sales and marketing most of what we did as an organization was supply chain. I wasn't the supply chain person, but I like to say I knew enough to be dangerous when I bought Uncle Plunky's daughter. So because I understood supply chain, I knew that not, we could not risk. We needed to have safety stock, we need to have inventory levels that look like x, and so that's why I did what I called measured growth. And so you know the distributor may come to me and go. I can get you into Kroger, walmart. Nope, we're going to do one retailer a year, one big guy a year, because I need to make sure I can scale, I need to make sure my contract manufacturers can scale, I need to make sure my team knows what to do and they know how to execute and fulfill the requirements of that specific retailer and so that we are successful. So that was the way that we grew and that's kind of the way we've continued to grow. Chris: That's so smart, that discipline right. It's easier said than done, because you just start a company and you go a couple years not making any money, or what you do make you put back in the company and then you got all these great opportunities. Come at you once. Renee: It's easy to say yes yes, yes, yes and yes, but you can't fulfill those promises, no one will come back. And there are horror stories where brands have been like yes, I'll go into Target, walmart, kroger, heb, cvs and Walgreens all at the same time and they can't meet the demand or they launch and they don't have enough awareness in the consumer market to be able to support and drive the traffic in all of those stores. So you really have to focus on how you're going to grow, where you're going to grow, and how you're going to drive traffic into these markets and into those stores. Chris: I mean any details you can put behind that, just as some examples to make it a little more tangible of things that you did, things that you thought about. Okay, we have to get this right to kind of prove that we can go to the next level. Renee: Yes. So for Target we did a lot of in-store events, so we took Target. So imagine if I was doing replicating this across like five different retailers. But for Target back in the day, for social media was much more organic and less pay-per-play than it is now, right, so we would do like it's a 10-day countdown. You know, to Target we're launching in 10, 9, 8, like on social media, it was like running ads. Then we did a find us in the Target, so we would do these fun games on social media and our followers would have to find us in their local Target and if they found us and they won a gift card, so we were doing anything we could. We would do in-store events where we would just have a table popped up where you can try products, give away products, get coupons, you name it. We were doing it. Gotcha, we were doing events outside the store. Inside the store. I was rogue because I didn't have permission from Target to do this. I mean because that would have cost me tens of thousand dollars, right, Target, I hope you're not listening and so we would literally just grab a camera and kind of come in and we would kind of sneak our little basket through the store down the hall and we would sit in there and the manager would come like, oh, we're just doing some footage, and I would say I just launched and I'm really trying to help my business and they would get it because you know, their local store manager, and so they would allow us to do like a little bit of a, a little bit of a pop-up shop kind of thing, and they would allow it. Now, today they probably wouldn't allow it because we're probably a lot more disciplined, but 15 years ago, 10 years ago, they would allow it and so, yeah, so those are the things that we had to do. So imagine if I was doing that for sally, for walmart, for kro, all in the same year, and I'm still trying to drive the traffic right, because we were still a small brand. Chris: Sure. Renee: I still call us a small brand because you know, if I go to you and I say, have you heard of Uncle Funky's Daughter? And your answer is no, then I'm a small brand, right. If I say you cause, everybody's heard of Clorox, coca-cola, pepsi, all the things, right, lacroix, you name it, they've heard of it, they haven't heard of Uncle Funky's Daughter. And so we're still in constant mode of brand awareness, and so trying to build that brand awareness and drive demand in every retail shelf at the same time would have been a daunting task for a brand like ours. Chris: Sure, do you still have the Rice Village? No, okay, shut that down we shut it down. Renee: I shut it down when I bought the company. That was the condition of the acquisition, because the day that I went and discovered who the owner was of the brand and I was sitting there chatting up the guy, in about a four hour period that I was there, maybe three people walked into that door okay so that you know, my brain said all right, that's a like a revenue killer. I'm not, you're not driving revenue right you need to focus on driving traffic on the retail shelf, and so are. We have no physical retail store now. Will we once again one day, maybe in a different format? Right, because now you, my friends? Other people have said you guys should open up a salon, and I'm like so maybe we'll open up a salon where the products are available and featured, but a retail store exclusively focused on our products will not be in a timeline. Chris: Okay. So there's an example right of an idea from friends. Maybe you thought about it, of branching out from what's core to your business. So far you've said no because you haven't done it. Maybe it's still out there. Why have you not done that? And I guess what could you counsel some listeners if they're faced with that? Or maybe they've done it and trying to make it work Again. That's another danger point, right Before you kind of branch into something different. Renee: So there are two things what I think about. Again. I always go from management consultant first right when I think about my business. I don't think about it personally, right, I think about it objectively. So I can go deep in my vertical or I can go wide horizontally, and I can do both. And so right now, where we are as a brand, honestly, is we need to go deeper in R&D and innovation. So we have not had an opportunity to launch a new product since COVID, and so we're in the process of developing a new product, so that's my primary focus. A new product line so we're developing a new product line, so that's my front focus. New product line so we're developing a new product line, so that's my front focus. Then, as I start to think about adjacency, about how do we take our core and expand and pivot beyond. Do you go to Skin next and stay in consumer products and go into Skin? Do you go in the two places that I'm more actively looking at Skin is out there as a product extension, but that's still core to Uncle Funky's Daughter. Do you go and do you buy another small company within Rote Morris Consumer Group and now you build a portfolio of brands? Because that's, really what I wanted to do when I started Rote Morris Consumer Group. My vision is to have a portfolio of consumer goods brands that meet the needs of the community of color, whether it's beauty, so for beauty. So that could be hair, that could be skin, it could be makeup, it could be a variety of different things that help her solve her problems every day. So that's really the vision. And then I bought this building a couple years ago and we have this wonderful, amazing space, and so and I open up this space I'm looking around. What are we gonna do with the rest of this space? We have this whole first floor, we have a whole second floor that's unoccupied, and even before I bought the building, this idea of building talent and a pipeline of funky junkies is what we call our followers funky junkies yeah that's what we call our followers, our customers. But how do you start to build not only a pipeline of loyal customers but a pipeline of loyal users? And so I started thinking about what if you actually had a trade school? What if you actually started? What if you were the next Paul Mitchell for African-American hair products, right when there's a Paul Mitchell school and you're teaching natural hair instead of you know other treatments that they do, and those exist outside of Texas. There's one that exists in Houston, but not focused on natural hair, but focused on beauty school. And so for those people out there who choose to have a different path in life and not go to college, but they're looking for a vocation or trade school and they want to be a hairstylist or barber, do you create a space for them to be able to do that? So that's the second adjacency. And then the third adjacency is then do you go the other end? So I know how to do hair, I'm learning how to do hair, I've got hair products, I'm doing hair on the other side and that's where the salon comes in. So in all both ends of the spectrum, I am a deep analytical person, so it's understanding what's happening in the market. So in the salon side, you look and you have to figure out and this is for anyone right. You never take a leap in adjacencies just because you think you have the money, the capability, the resources, whatever. You have to understand what's happening in the market because you're not smarter than the whole market. You might be smarter than a couple people in the market, but not the whole market. And so when I look at the hair salon space, I knew of several people in the Houston market that had launched salons and they had failed. They had failed within a three-year cycle and they had failed because the type of offering service offering that they wanted to provide was challenging. And that's the same service offering that we would need to provide as a brand. Chris: Right. Renee: And resources and talent. Going back to this other end of the pipeline I was talking about, in the supply chain, those can be sometimes challenging resources to recruit and retain in a salon side, and so when I do the analysis, it's looking at the risk versus reward. How am I smarter than the next person? How do I learn from those failures and ensure that I can recruit talent where I'm not? I don't have a high degree of turnover. I can create brand consistency. I can create service levels that meet the needs of not only what I want to offer, but what our customers expect. I need to exceed it, and so, because I haven't gotten that magic formula yet, we're leaving the salon right here in the marketplace. Chris: It's still on the drawing board right. Still on the drawing board, I like. I like it well, as it should be, until you figure it out, right? Yeah well, so let's turn a little bit and talk a little more about you yeah in leadership. How would you describe your leadership style? How do you think that's changed or evolved in the last 10 years? Renee: so I am a type a, hardcore type a. I am a driver and I know that about myself. But I also know that one of my weaknesses as a leader is I don't micromanage. What I have learned to evolve because of my consulting background, right In a consulting world you know 20 plus years is how I was trained. I'm a former salesperson. You just go get it done right, you know. So that is that's kind of like my bread and butter, and you have a team of type A's that are pretty much driven just like you are. So when you guys have a clear plan and you've got the end goal, all you're doing is managing the type A's to make sure that they get to the goal right at a very high level. No one needs to. You set meetings to review the spreadsheet and the spreadshe's done right. Fast forward to Uncle Funky's daughter. You set meetings to review the spreadsheet and it's like, oh, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, what you wanted me to do, so it requires much more. What I'm learning is it requires me to evolve my leadership style from one that's hands off, that's a little bit more hands-on, to make sure that my team understands where the bar of excellence is what our customers want from us, what the implications are when we miss deadlines, what the implications are if we ship the wrong product to the wrong customer, and so showing them and teaching them is where I've kind of learned. That's where my role is as a leader, really helping them really understand the implications of behaviors. And so I've evolved to from a leader that's I'm still. I still tell my team hey, I don't micromanage. If I have to, if I know it before you do, that's probably a problem, and so so they understand that, and so I think I'm still evolving my leadership style to adapt to a smaller company with a different team that thinks differently from the type A consultants with the MBAs that I'm used to working with, to the ones who you know maybe they don't have the MBA or maybe they're going to get it, or maybe they have a desire to get there, and so it really has required. It's a growth opportunity for me that I'm still learning to grow in, to be able to shift my mental mindset away from I got a team of driven people to I got a team that needs to be inspired, you know. Chris: Yeah, that's great. So what have you done to try to help you in the hiring process? Make sure you're making the best decision you can make about who you're bringing on your team? Renee: You know it's the hire slow, fire quick. Chris: Yes, another easier said than done. Renee: Easier said than done and that's where I am right now. Even in this open marketing director job that I'm looking for, it's really making sure I've gone through I go through so many, I go through all the resumes. My assistant will filter out the trash. But once she's filtered out the trash, I'm looking at those resumes going okay, is this someone who's going to? Because I'll openly say the reason I'm looking for a marketing director. I'll tell you this story. So I hire this person and she's from Adidas. She comes from Adidas background in marketing and she's Under Armour in marketing and she was in Latin America director of Latin America markets and she's just moved from Houston. So I'm thinking I've got a Latina because it's part of my demographic. That's awesome. She's got this global brand experience that's awesome. All in athleisure but transferable skills. It's marketing. She quits three months later, found another job in athleisure. So I interviewed, interviewed and found this one and this woman, you know, sold me on. I mean we had multiple conversations. I was like you know, sold me on. I mean, we had multiple conversations. I was like you know, hey. Chris: I'm really concerned about whether or not you know you can migrate from big company to this small company Cause it is a very valid concern. Renee: It's a big change. Right, you don't have a team. Your team is a team of three, not a team of 20. Right, and so your role really changes. And so she. You know, she convinced me that, but the lesson learned was that you know my spidey senses. I didn't listen to them. Like my spidey senses said, she may not stay. Like there were little things that happened along the way you get enamored with all the other stuff. Right, but I was so hungry to have a big company, someone to come in to show my team other than me, for them to hear it from someone other than me that this is what marketing looks like, Right, this is the marketing discipline that we need to have. And so she came in. She brought some marketing discipline. She heard that, you know she brought some value in the three months, but it was. It's been really a painful learning process, right, because now I'm short of marketing director, I'm stepping in, yeah, yeah. Chris: Well, what you alluded to there, right, is just the cost hard cost and soft cost when you make a bad hiring decision yeah Because you know you're having to fill the role or someone else. Renee: Yep, so that distracts, you, it's me right now. Chris: It distracts you from doing your full-time else. Yep, so that distracts you. It's me right now. It distracts you from doing your full-time job. Yep, you're now spending time going through resumes and going to be interviewing and you wasted, if you will, all the time on the one that only lasted three months. Yeah, so there's a lot of cost there. There's a lot of cost there. Renee: And then you're sitting there and knowing I've got to restart this whole process, I've got to try to maintain the momentum within my team this is the second marketing person they've had in the past year so and so how do you start to just kind of manage through that and so, instead of and when you get burned, that one time, as I'm looking at resumes, I'm looking at people with deep experience in a particular industry and I'm going oh nope. Chris: Learn, that is, that there's that bias creep right you're. You have to not let yourself penalize these people you've never met, just as they might look the same on paper yeah, as the one bad actor in the group. Renee: Yeah, and so you and you're right, and so I'm going well, and I'm having these conversations and then yeah, so it's just. Yeah, I think that's like one hiring, firing, hiring slow, firing quick. Chris: Sometimes, even when you hire slow, you still get I tell people it's part science, it's part art and it's the more process I think you can put in place and follow the better. But you're never going to be 100 right and I think figuring out the characteristics that work in your organization is something that you can incorporate into your hiring process and know that this is the kind of background traits, characteristics that thrive here. Renee: Yeah, and even and I would also say, listening to that, you know, those spidey senses that are coming with those thoughts creep in like, and they were coming like there were things, there were triggers that happened through the hiring process. Then I was like I'm not sure she's going to be a good fit. Like you know, for example, she called and said hey, can I work from home? I was like no, you cannot work from home. So that was like that was. Oh, renee, we're gonna do a whole episode on work from home. Oh yeah, oh yeah. And so those were the triggers of like, okay, she might not be the good fit. And when those were the when that happens to you, you got to listen to it and like and be okay with backing out. But I didn't listen to the trigger because we were so far down in the negotiation and I should have just said, you know, I don't think this is going to work out Right, and rescinded the offer. But I had already extended the offer, right, and I didn't want to have egg on my face. Chris:Sure. Renee: So I mean I, what I should have done is just let my ego go, rescinded the offer and continue to look. Chris: Yeah, or at least be upfront about this is starting to give me concerns. Here's why. Renee: Yeah. But I you know you know it's which I did that I did that okay, she covered it up she covered that up. She told me exactly what I wanted to hear, but still the those doubts were in my head and I should have listened to my gut. And that gut is a powerful thing. You know that, maxwell Galt, maxwell Galt Gladwell, it's a powerful thing. And if, when you listen to it, you're usually right, 100%. Yeah, 100%. Chris: Renee, this has been a fascinating conversation. Just to wrap it up, I have a few just personal things. I always like to ask yeah, what was your first job as a kid? Renee: Newspaper. I was a newspaper girl. You had a newspaper route? Yes, Absolutely I did. I'll be darned. My sister got up in the morning and helped me through my newspapers. Chris: You're not the first guest. That was their first job it was fairly common. Renee: You had to make me dig deep for that one. Chris: Okay, you made me dig deeper on this one. Sometimes people say this is the hardest question. Yeah, do you prefer Tex-Mex or barbecue? Renee: Barbecue no sauce Seasoned, very well seasoned, no hesitation. Chris: No, no hesitation and the woman knows what she wants. Yes, right. Renee: Don't bring me brisket with sauce on it. No. Chris: No sauce Extra seasoned. Renee: I want seasoned brisket, the moist kind. Okay, and, by the way, I'm not a Texan, but I moved to Texas and now I've been here 15 years and now it's like brisket barbecue. It's the only thing that I eat. Chris: I eat it's the only thing I want to eat. I might die of a heart attack, but it's the only thing I want to eat. I love it All right. So because you have four kids and I know your life's running crazy, this will be more of a fantasy. Renee: Yeah, if you could take. Chris: If you could take a 30 day sabbatical, where would you go? What would you do? Renee: Oh, I would be somewhere, probably in South Africa, in the, probably on a safari. I would tour safaris. I would go South Africa, kenya. I want to see the migration of animals. I would do that. Chris: I love it. Renee: That's where I would be. Chris: Renee, thank you so much for being on. This has been just a pleasure getting to know you and hear your story. Renee: Thank you. This is awesome. I listened to NPR how I built this. So this is like my. I feel like I'm excited. I've kind of done the NPR check. I like the how I built this check. Do you listen to that? Chris: I do, I do, I love it. I love that analogy. Renee: Yeah, it's great. Chris: Thanks again. Renee: Thanks for doing this. Special Guest: Renee Morris.

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for October 15th Publish Date:  October 15th    Commercial: From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.  Today is Tuesday, October 15th and Happy Birthday to the late Mario Puzzo ***10.15.24 – BIRTHDAY – MARIO PUZZO*** I'm Dan Radcliffe and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia.  1.       Vinings Library to Receive $740,000 Facelift 2.       Veterans Memorial Crash Leaves Adults, Children Injured 3.       Georgia Tech to kickoff against Virginia Tech at Noon All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!    BREAK: CU of GA (06.26.24 CU OF GA FREE CHECKING_REV_FINAL) STORY 1:  Vinings Library to Receive $740,000 Facelift Vinings Library is set for a $740,000 renovation, funded by $300,000 from Commissioner Jerica Richardson's 2025 capital contingency funds and 2022 SPLOST dollars. The library, opened in 1990, will see its first major update in over 30 years, particularly on the second floor, which houses adult and reference services. Renovations include new study and conference rooms, bathroom upgrades, and improved layout. The project begins in July 2025, lasting 6-8 weeks, during which the upstairs will be closed. The library serves 36,000 people and offers over 25,000 books and various programs. STORY 2:     Veterans Memorial Crash Leaves Adults, Children Injured A crash at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway and Dodgen Road in Cobb County resulted in multiple injuries on Sunday afternoon. Timothy Rouse, 28, ran a red light while driving a 2020 Nissan Altima with passengers Danielle Washington and two infants. Aguilar Peregrino, 23, driving a 2012 Ford Explorer with two young children, was turning left with a green light when Rouse's vehicle struck his car. All occupants were hospitalized, and the incident is under investigation. Witnesses are urged to contact the Cobb County Police. STORY 3:  Georgia Tech to kickoff against Virginia Tech at Noon Georgia Tech will face Virginia Tech at noon on October 26, broadcast on the ACC Network. This marks the 20th meeting between the teams, with Georgia Tech holding a 4-4 record against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, including a win in their last encounter. Before this matchup, the Yellow Jackets (5-2, 3-2 ACC) will host Notre Dame (5-1) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game against Notre Dame kicks off at 3:30 p.m. and will be nationally televised on ESPN. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.    We'll be right back    Break: DRAKE (Drake Realty (Cobb County)   STORY 4:  'Making People Happy': French Bakery Opens in Kennesaw Bonnin's Bakery has opened in Kennesaw, offering authentic French baked goods. After three years of selling at farmers markets, the Bonnins have established their own location, allowing them to separate work from home. Popular items include strawberry croissants, chocolate éclairs, and specialty cakes. The bakery also offers sandwiches like the "Frenchie" and croque monsieur. The Bonnins, originally from France, moved to the metro area to pursue their dream, supported by family and friends. Seasonal items like pumpkin pies and buche de noel will be available. Located at 4200 Wade Green Rd., the bakery operates Tuesday to Saturday. STORY 5:  School Calendar Options Presented to Marietta School Board The Marietta Board of Education is reviewing calendar options for the 2026-2029 school years. Two options are presented for each year: Option A, a balanced calendar with breaks in September and February, and Option B, which eliminates the February break but ends the school year earlier. Families and staff will receive a survey to choose their preferred calendar, and each school's governance team will vote based on feedback. The school board will make the final decision in December. These options apply to the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years as well. We'll be back in a moment    Break: INGLES 5 (Ingles Markets (Nutrition Questions) 5) STORY 6:  Georgia Writers Museum hosts bestselling author Colleen Oakley The Georgia Writers Museum will host USA Today bestselling author Colleen Oakley on November 5 for a presentation of her book, "The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise." Tickets for the 7 p.m. event, which includes a gourmet dinner, are $40, or $35 each for two or more. The story follows Tanner, a young college dropout, and Louise, an elderly woman with secrets, as they embark on an unexpected adventure. Oakley, an Atlanta-based author, has written several acclaimed novels and has a background in journalism, having worked with major publications like Marie Claire and The New York Times. STORY 7:    Embezzlement scheme lands office manager in prison Emiliya Radford, former office manager of a Georgia chiropractic office, was sentenced to over five years in prison for embezzling more than $200,000, leading to the business's closure. Radford, 33, was found guilty of bank fraud, wire fraud, and federal program theft, and must pay $298,042.72 in restitution. She misused her authority to issue unauthorized checks and gave herself a pay raise, also purchasing over $11,000 in Apple products with company funds. The FBI investigated the case, highlighting the severe impact of financial crimes on small businesses and their employees. Break: Marietta Theatre (06.10.24 MARIETTA THEATRE MARGARITAVILLE_FINAL)   Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network   Show Sponsors: ●        www.ingles-markets.com  ●        www.cuofga.org  ●        www.drakerealty.com ●        www.mariettatheatresquare.com   #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Val wants clearer understanding of the life insurance landscape and be better equipped to make an informed decision about your coverage. In episode 101, Val dives deep into the world of life insurance for federal employees, specifically focusing on alternatives to the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Option B. Whether you're just starting your federal career or nearing retirement, it's crucial to understand your options and make the best choice for your financial future. Visit Federalretirementshow.com for previous episodes! Visit the show's YouTube channel --- www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange   Connect with Val:Phone --- (512) 582-6050Email --- vmajewski@thinkabx.comAmerican Benefits Exchange --- thinkabx.comFederal Retirement Show --- federalretirementshow.com/podcastsLinkedin --- https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-benefits-exchange/ About American Benefits Exchange: American Benefits Exchange focuses on providing solid financial solutions to Federal, postal, and state employees as well as members of the United States Armed Forces and small businesses. American Benefits Exchange brings years of experience and knowledge to support these niche markets. American Benefits Exchange, along with its provider companies, truly understands the needs of civil service employees. A portfolio of products is available to address important financial issues such as planning for retirement, FEGLI Option B replacement, Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers, and Pension Maximization. Don't miss this episode if you're looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a very special 100th episode of The Federal Retirement Show, Val is joined by the President/CEO of American Benefits Exchange – Eric Hughes, and Federal Benefit Counselors Tim McCleskey Jr. and Brandi Person to talk a variety of topics pertaining to retirement information for Federal employees. The panel explains retirement date drawbacks, Option B with Fegli, and your overall risk-tolerance nearing retirement. Visit Federalretirementshow.com for previous episodes! Guests:Eric Hughes – President/CEO of American Benefits Exchangeeric@ambspecialists.com Brandi Persons – Federal Benefits Counselortheinsurancelady.ba@gmail.com Tim McCleskey – Federal Benefits Counselortimjr@federalbenefitco.com ------- Visit Federalretirementshow.com for a complimentary consultation and a FREE book. You need a provider company that truly understands the needs of civil service employees. Visit Thinkabx.com to learn more! Don't miss this episode if you're looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review! Call our office: (833) 777-7ABX #FederalEmployees #RetirementPlanning #TSP #FederalRetirement #FinancialPlanningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes us successful?   What makes our lives fulfilling?  Are they the same things?  We're exposed to so many ideas of what is success, it's not always easy to be clear on what path best serves us. This episode's guest, Adam Grant, is an organizational psychologist and expert on what motivates us, what gives us meaning, and how we can live more generous and creative lives.   This conversation takes some personal turns, with Adam and the Surgeon General talking about their friendship, marriage, kids, and recent struggles, including a shared tendency to seek out the approval of others. They open up about failures and how we can learn from them.  Adam also shares an unconventional idea for helping his kids feel valued and loved. Listen as this episode gets real about what's at the heart of a fulfilling life. (03:30)    How does Adam Grant define success? (07:44)    Are fame, fortune, and power really the values we need for successful lives? (12:05)    Why do character and values matter and how do we cultivate them?  (20:08)    How does Adam create boundaries for tech and social media in his own life? (27:01)    How does Adam extend what he studies as an organizational psychologist to his children? (39:42)    Why does Adam find value in being open about his struggles and failures? (44:39)    How can we talk about our current struggles, even when it's sensitive? (46:50)    Dr. Vivek Murthy shares a personal struggle of his own. (48:20)    How can we address habits and traits that impact our relationships? (51:48)    Should Meeting Night become the new Date Night? (55:16)   How does Adam find time to cultivate and maintain friendships? (01:01:11)    Do we have to learn lessons by making mistakes ourselves? Can't we learn from the mistakes of others? (01:07:57)    What gives Adam hope? We'd love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.   We'd love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.   Adam Grant, Organizational Psychologist Instagram: @adamgrant X: @adammgrant LinkedIn: @adammgrant Facebook: @adammgrant About Adam Grant Adam Grant has been Wharton's top-rated professor for 7 straight years. As an organizational psychologist, he is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning, rethink assumptions, and live more generous and creative lives. He has been recognized as the world's #2 most influential management thinker and one of Fortune's 40 under 40. He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 6 books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 45 languages: “Hidden Potential”, “Think Again”, “Give and Take”, “Originals”, “Option B”, and “Power Moves”. His books have been named among the year's best by Amazon, Apple, the Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal. His viral piece on languishing was the most-read New York Times article of 2021 and the most-saved article across all platforms. Adam hosts the TED podcasts “Re:Thinking” and “WorkLife”, which have been downloaded over 70 million times. His TED talks on languishing, original thinkers, and givers and takers have over 35 million views. He has received a standing ovation at TED and was voted the audience's favorite speaker at The Nantucket Project. His speaking and consulting clients include Google, the NBA, Bridgewater, and the Gates Foundation. He writes on work and psychology for the New York Times, has served on the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon, has been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and has appeared on Billions. He has more than 8 million followers on social media and features new insights in his free monthly newsletter, GRANTED.

With your co-hostesses: Pam Blizzard from RecoveredPeace.com Lyschel Burket from HopeRedefined.org Bonny Burns from StrongWives.com Help Us Help Others Listen now: Today, we are discussing what it means to stay while waiting in the hallway between pre-discovery and true solid recovery in the betrayer. Option C includes choice, change, complexity, and Christ. We Will be Discussing: What is Option A and Option B? What is Option C? What hope can we leave? Resources: https://leslievernick.com/blog/do-i-stay-well-or-leave-well/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpsBx-rWHtw

Michael Hussey is a successful businessman, husband, father and member of Cape Elizabeth's SBAC - the ad hoc School Building Advisory Committee charged with putting a new school project out to the voters in November. He joins the show to talk about the 5/4 vote at the SBAC for "Option B," a $80 million dollar project, revelations from last night's school board workshop, and his letter to the editor in today's Cape Courier.

Episode #286 - "Tips For Optimizing Your Jewelry Product Pages" Welcome to Episode #286.Today, let's delve into the significance of your ecommerce site's product detail page, especially concerning jewelry sales, and I'll share some pointers to enhance its appeal. Every person holds certain perceptions of value, shaped by individual experiences. These perceptions encompass pricing, expected treatment, and the surrounding environment. Surprisingly, if customers feel they're getting a good deal, they may overlook minor imperfections in the product. Imagine lusting after a luxurious clothing item or accessory slightly beyond your budget. When finally deciding to splurge, you have two options: Option A, you could walk into a high-end store, pay full price, and savor the entire experience—being treated as a valued customer, relishing the ambiance, and reveling in the feeling of indulgence.  Option B, you might opt for a discounted or second-hand version, accepting compromises like less pristine packaging or a longer wait time. Or like maybe you're at a sample sale and don't even have a place to try things on or anyone to help you. In this case, your expectations are tempered by the knowledge of the deal you're getting. However, in the former scenario, any deviation from your expectations—such as unhelpful sales staff or a messy store—can bug you, as you had anticipated a seamless experience. This irritation wouldn't happen if you had already decided to compromise for a better price and came to the transaction with lower expectations. Most jewelry brands, regardless of price point, don't sell bargain items; their products are considered discretionary purchases and should be presented accordingly. Customers, especially when buying jewelry at a stretch in terms of budget, anticipate a certain level of presentation, service, packaging, and quality. And a stretch in someone's budget doesn't even necessarily have to be fine jewelry. Even a $100 item could be a huge stretch and a treat.  Their expectations play an integral role in the shopping experience, which should ideally be pleasant and enjoyable—unless, of course, you're rummaging through cheap earrings at a garage sale. Unfortunately, many brands fail to replicate this experience online, missing the mark on what customers crave and what would entice them to make a purchase. So, even if you believe your product page is adequate, I encourage you to consider whether it truly aligns with your customers' expectations. If you're wondering why customers visit your site and don't buy, it's time to get real about your product presentation. Keep listening for the scoop. Transcript: https://joyjoya.com/jewelry-product-page 00:00 Start 6:09 Primary Episode Content 24:09 The Gold Mine

En este video te platico una breve reseña del libro 'Opción B', donde se tocan temas como el duelo, resiliencia, permanencia en el dolor y volver a vivir después de una pérdida significativa.Te invito a consultar el articulo de blog en la pagina web para más ver el articulo y el test sobre ese episodio! https://www.queridxyo.com/blogWebsite: https://www.queridxyo.com/Instagram: @queridx_yo_ @_hola_soy_anneFacebook: @queridx_yo_Correo: annelbourgois@gmail.comWhatsapp: +52 614 405 0005Sigue a Queridx yo para aprender más sobre la salud mentalRecursos:Liga del Blog: https://www.queridxyo.com/post/

The “compliment sandwich” technique doesn't actually work. Wharton professor Adam Grant on how to give feedback that will actually help others reach their full potential. Wharton School of Business professor Adam Grant believes it's time to stop focusing on “natural talent.” He shares his experience growing up not feeling good at anything in particular, and how he surpassed that to achieve his highest potential. He also shares a key phrase for inspiring others as a leader and maximizing their performance. ►Get Big Think+ for Business Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business. chapters:- 0:00 A world obsessed with raw talent 0:20 Meet Adam Grant 2:05 Squandered potential 2:33 Two problematic kinds of leaders 3:35 The best kind of leader 4:20 How to deliver feedback 6:50 The 19 words for most effective feedback Go Deeper with Big Think: ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more. About Adam Grant: Adam Grant has been Wharton's top-rated professor for seven straight years. As an organizational psychologist, he is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning, rethink assumptions, and live more generous and creative lives. He has been recognized as one of the world's 10 most influential management thinkers and Fortune's 40 under 40. Grant is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of five books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 45 languages: Think Again, Give and Take, Originals, Option B, and Power Moves. His books have been named among the year's best by Amazon, Apple, the Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal. His viral piece on languishing was the most-read New York Times article of 2021 and the most-saved article across all platforms. Grant hosts WorkLife, a chart-topping TED original podcast. His speaking and consulting clients include Google, the NBA, Bridgewater, and the Gates Foundation. He writes on work and psychology for The New York Times, has served on the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon, has been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and has appeared on Billions. He has more than 6 million followers on social media and features new insights in GRANTED, his free monthly newsletter. Get Smarter, Faster. Follow This Podcast, Turn On The Notifications. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bigthink/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy"

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    Adam Grant is a leading voice on organizational psychology and I know many of you resonate with his ideas, which is why I'm so eager to replay a conversation I had with Adam a while back.   Adam is an expert on finding motivation and meaning and living more generous and creative lives. He's been recognized as one of the world's 10 Most Influential Management Thinkers and Fortune's 40 under 40. He's the author of three New York Times bestsellers: Give and Take,  Originals,  and Option B.  Adam now hosts WorkLife, a TED original podcast after his TED talk got over 12 million views.     THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… team members and team builders.    TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… Adam's research shows that interpersonal interactions that a difference in our success. At various points in our day, humans operate in three realms:  A giver, or people who ask what can I do for you? A taker, someone who asks what can you do for me? Matchers, who follow the law of reciprocity.     Yes, there are grey areas, but people usually fit in one of these categories.    One would think that placing a group of givers on a team would guarantee a culture of givers, but that's not the case. Yet, when you have a team of takers, more harm is done than good. Adam believes it's more important to screen out takers, leaving a good mix of givers and matchers.    Forming teams is more than finding similarities or matching “culture fit.” Forming teams is an important skill that finds differences and diversity of thought and identifies the holes in current teams.    WHAT I LOVE MOST… Adam's work around being better teammates and better individuals in our home and work life is inspiring. He forces us to think if we are a giver, a taker, or a matcher. How are we adjusting each day to bring our best selves to our day? This is an important question to ponder and to try to implement in your life.    Running time: 26:42   Subscribe on iTunes    Find Tiffani Online: Facebook  Twitter  LinkedIn    Find Adam Online: Website  Instagram  

Welcome to a new episode of the Moonshots Podcast, where your hosts, Mike and Mark, take you on another enlightening journey. Today's episode delves into the insightful world of "Option B" by Adam Grant. In our introduction, we bring you an intriguing trailer that sheds light on the powerful themes of the book, eloquently brought to life by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant themselves. They discuss the vital concept of how we, as individuals, have the power to control our responses to adversity and anxiety. This sets the foundation for our exploration into building resilience and finding joy amidst life's inevitable challenges. Prepare to be inspired as we unravel the "Option B" layers and discover how facing adversity can lead to personal growth and transformation.Get Option B from Amazon https://geni.us/OptionBSummary on Blinkist https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/kjKYMxBecome a Moonshot Member https://www.patreon.com/MoonshotsSegment 1: How to Find Resilience and Overcome Anxiety Segment Title: Harnessing Joy and Resilience Through Giving Summary: The hosts discuss the decisive role of giving and being needed in building resilience. They explore how joy not only offers strength and hope but also aids in overcoming anxiety. Segment 2: Turning Crisis into Opportunities Segment Title: Embracing Crisis for Creative Growth Summary: This segment addresses how crises can be a springboard for excitement and thriving rather than just challenges to overcome. Mike and Mark discuss the concept of post-traumatic growth, especially in professional settings, and how managing crisis and pressure can enhance creativity and productivity. Segment 3: Tips on Being a Supportive Leader Segment Title: The Journey to Resilient Leadership Summary: The hosts delve into the qualities of a resilient leader, emphasizing the importance of openness, accepting constructive feedback, and admitting struggles. This part of the discussion focuses on how these qualities contribute to resilience in both career and home life. Segment 4: Preparing for Future Challenges Segment Title: Fostering Resilience from an Early Age Summary: In this insightful segment, Mike and Mark share advice on raising resilient children, highlighting how early experiences with adversity can prepare individuals for future challenges. As we draw this episode to a close, we reflect on the profound insights and lessons from Adam Grant's "Option B." From our engaging discussions on resilience in the face of adversity to the practical tips on becoming a supportive leader in both career and home life, we hope you found inspiration and valuable takeaways. In our final segment, we shared wisdom from Adam's work-life podcast, highlighting the secret to success through constructive arguments and effective feedback. Thank you for joining us on this journey of exploration and growth. Remember, in the face of challenges, there's always an Option B, and embracing it with resilience and hope is within our power. Stay tuned for more thought-provoking episodes on the Moonshots Podcast.Get Option B from Amazon https://geni.us/OptionBSummary on Blinkist https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/kjKYMxBecome a Moonshot Member https://www.patreon.com/Moonshots Thanks to our monthly supporters Andy Pilara ola Lorenz Weidinger Fred Fox Austin Hammatt Zachary Phillips Vanessa Dian Antonio Candia Dan Effland Mike Leigh Cooper Daniela Wedemeier Gayla Schiff Corey LaMonica Smitty Laura KE Denise findlay Wade Mackintosh Diana Bastianelli James Springle Nimalen Sivapalan Roar Nikolay Ytre-Eide Roger von Holdt Jette Haswell Marco Silva venkata reddy Karthik Tsaliki Hari Birring Dirk Breitsameter Ingram Casey Nicoara Talpes rahul grover Karen Petersburg Evert van de Plassche Ravi Govender Andrew Hyde Daniel Alcaraz Craig Lindsay Steve Woollard Lasse Brurok Deborah Spahr Chris Way Andrei Ciobotar Barbara Samoela Christian Jo Hatchard Kalman Cseh Berg De Bleecker Paul Acquaah MrBonjour Sid Liza Goetz Rodrigo Aliseda Konnor Ah kuoi Marjan Modara Dietmar Baur Ken Ennis Bob Nolley ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Chapter 1 What's Option B Book by Sheryl SandbergOption B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy is a book written by Sheryl Sandberg, the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook. It was co-authored with Adam Grant, a psychologist and professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The book explores the theme of resilience and overcoming adversity in the face of personal loss or difficult life circumstances. Sandberg shares her own experiences after the sudden death of her husband, and offers practical advice and insights on how to navigate through challenges and find happiness and meaning in life again. Option B was published in 2017 and received positive reviews for its emotional depth and inspiring message.Chapter 2 Is Option B Book A Good Book"Option B" by Sheryl Sandberg has received positive reviews and is generally considered a good book. It offers advice and insights on resilience and finding joy after facing adversity. Additionally, Sandberg shares personal experiences and stories that provide relatability for readers. However, personal opinions about books can vary, so it is recommended to read reviews or a sample of the book to determine if it aligns with your interests and preferences.Chapter 3 Option B Book by Sheryl Sandberg Summary"Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy" by Sheryl Sandberg is a non-fiction book that explores the concept of resilience and how people can find strength and happiness, even in the face of adversity. The book is co-authored by psychologist Adam Grant and draws from Sandberg's personal experience of overcoming the sudden death of her husband and Grant's expertise in the field of psychology.The book begins with Sandberg sharing her personal story of grief and loss, detailing how she initially struggled to cope with her husband's death and the challenges she faced as a single mother. She delves into her emotional journey and the lessons she learned throughout the grieving process.Sandberg then expands the scope of the book to discuss the various types of adversity individuals may face throughout their lives, such as illness, unemployment, and divorce. She draws on scientific research and interviews with individuals who have experienced similar challenges to explore the different stages of resilience and the strategies that can help individuals build resilience.Through personal anecdotes and examples from a diverse range of individuals, Sandberg and Grant provide practical advice and actionable steps for readers to navigate and overcome adversity. They discuss topics such as the importance of self-compassion, fostering relationships and community support, finding meaning in life after loss, and developing resilience in children.The book also tackles the topic of post-traumatic growth, emphasizing how individuals can find positive transformation and personal growth in the aftermath of tragedy. Sandberg shares her own experiences of finding joy again, as well as insights from others who have managed to rebuild their lives after significant setbacks.In conclusion, "Option B" offers a powerful and compassionate exploration of the human capacity to overcome adversity and find happiness. It provides readers with practical tools, strategies, and a sense of hope, encouraging them to embrace resilience and choose joy even in the face of life's most challenging circumstances. Chapter 4 Option B Book AuthorSheryl Sandberg is an American technology executive, activist, and author. She is best known as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Facebook and...

Adam Grant is Wharton's top-rated professor (going on 7 straight years) and has been recognized as the world's #2 most influential management thinker. Adam is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 6 books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 45 languages: Hidden Potential, Think Again, Give and Take, Originals, Option B, and Power Moves. His viral piece on languishing was the most-read New York Times article of 2021. Adam hosts the TED podcasts Re:Thinking and WorkLife, which have been downloaded over 70 million times. His TED talks on languishing, original thinkers, and givers and takers have over 35 million views. Adam's speaking and consulting clients include Google, the NBA, Bridgewater, and the Gates Foundation. He has served on the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon, has been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and has appeared on the television show Billions. He has more than 8 million followers on social media and features new insights in his free monthly newsletter, GRANTED. Adam was tenured at Wharton while still in his twenties, and has received the Excellence in Teaching Award for every class he has taught. He curates the Next Big Idea Club along with Susan Cain, Malcolm Gladwell, and Dan Pink, as they raise money to provide books for children in under-resourced communities. Adam earned his Ph.D. in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan, completing it in less than 3 years, and his B.A. from Harvard University, magna cum laude with highest honors and Phi Beta Kappa honors. In this episode we discuss the following: Be careful about listening to other people's advice because they can only tell us what's worked for them. Adam learned this lesson accidentally from his mom who told him to not be a professor. When Adam's mother advised him to not be a professor, Adam realized how badly he wanted to be a professor by noticing how strongly he pushed back against his mother's advice. It's common for people to think that the best thing they can do for the world is achieve success and then give back. But this is backwards. It's through helping other people that we often achieve our greatest success. You don't have to wait until you've accomplished a great deal and accumulated a lot of status, power and wealth before you have something to contribute. Give back now. Other people's emails are not your priority. They're their priority. In other words, your inbox is other people's priorities. But this also means that emails are an opportunity to do something meaningful for someone else. Adam's mentor warned him that the danger of loving his work is that he might end up working all the time. It wasn't until Adam had a child and was feeling a sense of compulsive workaholism on Saturday mornings, that he was able to step back and recalibrate his priorities. Sometimes we don't really appreciate the lessons people share with us until we've made the same mistakes they're warning us about.   Follow Adam: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammgrant/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamgrant/ Follow Me: Twitter: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/

If your holiday season is feeling less sparkly, less warm, less…happy, you've come to the right place! Every year we make an episode about the bad, terrible and subpar side of the holidays and this year's Happyish Holidays episode is a real doozy. Brianna Liestman shares how every Christmas from 2007-2010 was "ruined" by a different member of her family. There's fires, hospital visits and crying at Kay Jewelers.  Listen to past Happyish Holidays episodes in our back catalog on Patreon.  — Listener support makes our independent podcast possible. Consider joining our Patreon to get bonus episodes, ad-free episodes, and join a community of Terribles. (Or, if you're an Apple Podcast listener, you can sign up for TTFA Premium right in the app!) Our Substack is a great way to connect with us and other listeners (and get more Terrible in your inbox). Join us here. The episode transcript can be found here. — Happyish Holidays is sponsored by Option B. Option B provides practical, compassionate, everyday advice both for those who are facing loss and hardship and for those who want to support their loved ones during life's hardest moments. When our friends and family are struggling with loss, it's the absolute WORST. Whether your partner lost a parent, your best friend recently had a miscarriage, or your child is going through a painful divorce, knowing what to do or say over the holidays can leave us feeling helpless and stuck. If you're feeling unsure of how to help, check out OptionB. There for the Holidays at www.optionb.org/holidays. You'll find #realtalk holiday cards to send to your family and friends, stories from celebs about how they've re-created traditions after loss, and tips you can implement right away on how to show up for your loved ones. Join us at www.optionb.org/holidays and @optionb on Instagram and Facebook for holiday tips and to follow along. — Find all our shows and our store at feelingsand.co. — Find TTFA on social: TTFA on Instagram | TTFA on Facebook  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We want to honour our dear friend Mat Steinwede today. Mat recently experienced the unbearable loss of his son and his story is a powerful reminder of the resilience and strength that's often needed in life and in business.Inspired by Mat's tenacity, we discuss strategies for coping with 'Black Swans' and discuss the role of a supportive team in times of tragedy, and the lessons we can learn from the book 'Option B' - finding strength in adversity. We will also focus on the importance of being fully present in our work, right up until our break starts. We owe that to the people we service. Remember, Christmas starts on 25 Dec, not mid-Nov.Let's dive in, as we hold space for grief, resilience, and the unwavering spirit of the human condition.

Selection Is an Ongoing Process. Every single day we have hundreds of opportunities to make a selection. We can select Option A, the hard way that will produce a positive outcome, or the easy way that will produce a negative outcome. The immediate result is typically not noticed so it's easy to choose Option B. We dive into the idea of SIAOP and how to attack every day choices that will make a long lasting impact in everything we do. --    Subscribe to our newsletter (The MENifesto): www.thekineticman.com/newsletter   Come join David and Stu in the next group of The Kinetic Man Mastermind, which brings together a diverse group of men striving to become the best husbands, fathers, friends, and leaders possible. Applications are open for the next Tribe! Learn More here: https://thekineticman.com/mastermind     Check out the Kinetic Men Events on Meetup! https://www.meetup.com/thekineticman/events/   Join our New Kinetic Man Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thekineticman

In our last episode, we talked about doubt as a permanent fixture in our present world and experiences and how this can be both a positive thing as well as a negative thing. There are many ways the seeds of doubt are planted. It might be as a result of misinformation or misunderstanding. Or when we have a limited perception of our circumstances. We can doubt when we are in a difficult situation or have unmet expectations. Whatever the case may be, itis a very real part of our Christian experience. As we continue our conversation in this episode, we focus on how doubt manifested itself in the New Testament and what we can learn from it. To clearly understand it is to open the door that can diffuse it or use it, whichever brings glory to God! Choices in the New Testament Understanding New Testament doubt can be tricky, as there seems to be marked differences in the kinds of doubt that are revealed. The more common words for doubt have the sense of choice and indicate a wavering or hesitation: I am presented with a dilemma and can either handle it this way or that way. On the surface, this can sound simple - you have the choices before you, so just decide already! However, rather than being simple, this kind of doubt can be somewhat paralyzing. If I focus on option A, then this or that may not happen. Option B feels safer, but then I have this inconvenient issue to handle. You of little faith Then there is that hesitation or wavering caused by looming and dramatic circumstances when we need to choose right now. The Apostle Peter getting out of the boat to walk on water towards Jesus is a great example of this. The wind is fierce, and the waves are big. Jesus tells Peter to come to him against all common sense and natural law, Peter steps out of the boat to walk on top of the water. He then wavers as he sees the strength of the wind and begins to sink. Jesus saves him then asks, “Why did you doubt, you of little faith?” Was Peter's doubting really an example of having “little faith”? Could this in any way have been a constructive doubt? What about the women who went to Jesus' tomb to anoint his body and found the body was gone? What about the Apostle Peter's doubt after he had the vision that instructed him to eat the meat of unclean animals? Check out our October 16, 2023 podcast for answers. We consider these examples along with several others as we draw lessons from both constructive and destructive doubts. Doubt - just like trust - can keep us safe or get us in trouble. Join us for Part II of this series and learn how to hold on to the positive power of doubt while avoiding its negative results!

The following question refers to Figures 6-8 from Sections 3.2 of the 2021 ESC CV Prevention Guidelines. The question is asked by student Dr. Hirsh Elhence, answered first by Ohio State University Cardiology Fellow Dr. Alli Bigeh, and then by expert faculty Dr. Eugene Yang.Dr. Yang is Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington where he is also the Medical Director of the Eastside Specialty Center and the co-Director of the Cardiovascular Wellness and Prevention Program. Dr. Yang is former Governor of the ACC Washington Chapter and as well as former Chair of the ACC Prevention of CVD Section.  The CardioNerds Decipher The Guidelines Series for the 2021 ESC CV Prevention Guidelines represents a collaboration with the ACC Prevention of CVD Section, the National Lipid Association, and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association.Enjoy this Circulation 2022 Paths to Discovery article to learn about the CardioNerds story, mission, and values. Question #31 The 2021 ESC CV Prevention guidelines recommend a stepwise approach to risk stratification and treatment options. What is the first step in risk factor treatment regardless of past medical history, risk factors, or established ASCVD?AInitiate statin for goal LDL

Are the people we love still with us when they die? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Elisa Donovan on her new #book Wake Me When You Leave: Love and Encouragement via Dreams from the Other Side.#MomentsWithMarianne with host Marianne Pestana airs every Friday at 10AM PST/ 1PM EST in the Southern California area on ABC News Radio KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM! Elisa Donovan, known as an actress for her roles in Clueless, Beverly Hills 90210, and Sabrina The Teenage Witch, graduated from Eugene Lang College at The New School University in NYC, where she studied dramatic literature, acting, and writing. She has been a Celebrity Mom Blogger for people.com and is the narrator of the bestsellers Lean In and Option B. The film version of Wake Me When You Leave is in development and will be her directorial debut. https://www.elisa-donovan.comFor more show information visit: www.MariannePestana.com#bookclub #readinglist #books #bookish #author #authorinterview #lifeskills #KMET1490AM #radioshow #loveneverdies #otherside #heaven #books #booklover #mustread #reading #bookstagram #grief #griefandloss #loss #grieving #dying

In Season 2, Episode 6, we look at what is often missing as we struggle to accomplish what matters to us.  The problem isn't your lack of focus - it is actually something else.Outline: How do we grow our commitment to accomplishing what matters to us?1.  What is the one thing you'd like to grow your commitment to?2. What is my "why."  Why do I want to achieve this?3. Recognize that while you want to go toward your goal, there is something competing against it. Explore not only your goal (Option A) and your why but also your Option B  and why.4. Address the struggle between Option A and Option B with these questions: *Who will I be if I continue to choose Option B? And, is that  OK with me? *What would I  have to experience in order to choose Option A? *How would I support myself in moving toward Option A? Understanding Option B  and its very real pull in our lives gives us the freedom to move forward.  Schedule a call to explore coaching: https://calendly.com/revnicole/coachingSpotify Podcast PlaylistInstagramFacebookMinistry & Life Coaching and Social Media Management at NicoleReilley.com.Expanding the Expedition Through Digital Ministry by Nicole Reilley Email: RevReilley@gmail.com

Today's guest is Sarry Ibrahim.    Sarry is a financial specialist, private money lender, real estate investor, and member of the Bank On Yourself Organization. He helps business owners, real estate investors, and full time employees grow safe and predictable wealth regardless of market condition. -------------------------------------------------------------- Long-term strategy [00:00:00] Introduction to the show [00:00:28] Siri's background and approach [00:01:01] Infinite Banking System [00:08:07] Break Even Period [00:08:38] Upside of Infinite Banking [00:15:00] Death Benefit vs Cash Value [00:16:01] Private Money Lending [00:18:31] Tax Benefits [00:20:29] -------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Sarry: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarry-ibrahim-mba-ltcp-bank-on-you/ Website: https://thinkinglikeabank.com/ Website: https://finassetprotection.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwasIgJYLJwnyANE1iWN3XQ “Think Like a Bank” free copy: https://thinkinglikeabank.com   Connect with Sam: I love helping others place money outside of traditional investments that both diversify a strategy and provide solid predictable returns.     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HowtoscaleCRE/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwilsonhowtoscalecre/ Email me → sam@brickeninvestmentgroup.com   SUBSCRIBE and LEAVE A RATING. Listen to How To Scale Commercial Real Estate Investing with Sam Wilson Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-scale-commercial-real-estate/id1539979234 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4m0NWYzSvznEIjRBFtCgEL?si=e10d8e039b99475f -------------------------------------------------------------- Want to read the full show notes of the episode? Check it out below: Sarry Ibrahim (00:00:00) - If I was talking to a client today and he was like, uh, he or she was like, I need, you know, 100% of my money in, in year one accessible. Like, I wanna put 10,000 in this, and then I want 10,000 available. I would simply say, this is not a good fit. Like, this is not a one year strategy. It's a long-term strategy, and it's a way for you to ultimately become your own source of financing, which, like anything else in life, it's gonna take time to get there. It's not gonna be instant gratification, it's gonna take time to get there, but when you do get there, it's much, it's, you're in a much better financial situation.   Intro (00:00:28) - Welcome to the How to Scale commercial Real Estate Show. Whether you are an active or passive investor, we'll teach you how to scale your real estate investing business into something big.   Sam Wilson (00:00:41) - Siri Ibrahim is a financial specialist, a private money lender, a real estate investor, and a member of the Bank on yourself organization. Siri, welcome to the show.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:00:51) - Hey, Sam, thank you so much for having me on. I appreciate it.   Sam Wilson (00:00:53) - Absolutely. Siri, there are three questions I ask every guest who comes in the show in 90 seconds or less. Can you tell me where did you start? Where are you now, and how did you get there?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:01:01) - Yeah, I started in insurance and financial services about eight years ago. I found this kind of on accident, I guess, like this field found me particularly using the infinite banking concept. And, uh, where I'm at now is I help real estate investors and business owners become their own sources of financing and pretty much take control of their financial lives.   Sam Wilson (00:01:20) - That is really interesting. Now, do you focus exclusively on the infinite banking or do you do more of the holistic wealth kind of picture? What does that look like?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:01:29) - Yeah, a little bit of both. So I, I start off conversations with clients on a holistic perspective. Like I want to get to know the client first, get to know the financial situation, you know, what are they doing for work, what are they doing for business, what are their 10 year, 20 year goals? And then from there, um, either if if infinite and banking is a good fit, then we'll merge that with their holistic plan. If not, uh, we definitely have other avenues, like I have other referral partners, you know, uh, that's the benefit of podcasting, right. I've built a pretty big network of, you know, general partners, you know, other types of financial advisors who do different niches. So if, if, if it's a better fit for the client, I'll definitely recommend them to the other, uh, partner, other investor or other, um, uh, professional who can help them with their holistic plan.   Sam Wilson (00:02:10) - Right, right. Okay. So you focus, it sounds like mostly on the infinite banking side of things. Are you a real estate investor yourself?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:02:19) - Yeah, definitely. And I do use, I use infinite banking for those purposes. So I'm a limited partner and right now in one deal, so I use my infinite banking policy to fund that position. So I borrowed against I f I had, I had capital already funded in it, and then I borrowed against it, used that borrowed money to, uh, as a limited partner, and then now I'm using the distributions from that limited partnership to add back into the policy and then hopefully get, get it back up to a certain point and then reinvest in another deal. And so when don't I show clients how to do the same thing?   Sam Wilson (00:02:49) - Okay. That's an interesting topic right there, because the insurance part, the insurance policy then is the limited partner, not you? Correct.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:03:01) - The insurance policy? No, the insurance policy is just a source of capital. So like, it's just like going to the bank, like going to a checking account or savings account. It's the similar idea to that the whole life policy is just a source of capital, and then I take that money out and they, and then I invest in real estate deals. Okay.   Sam Wilson (00:03:15) - Okay. Okay. So you, you still take title to that limited or to your limited partner position in whatever, maybe it's a trust, maybe it's your own name, whatever it is. Yeah, but you don't take it, it's not like an IRA where you take it in the title of the ira, uh, custodian. You take it in the title of your name. Yeah.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:03:32) - Awesome question. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, it's in my name. It's, it's the same thing as if it was me or my LLC or my trust doing so. Um, and you're right, it's not like an ira, it's actually better, in my opinion, than an ira because with an ira, you don't get the depreciation passed through to you. Right. And then in an IRA it's very restrictive, right? Like in ira, it has to be entirely passive. Like you can't be involved at all in that. You can't be actively involved at all. It has to be entirely passive, so, right. Uh, I think it's better. I, I'm, I'm still a fan. Having said that, I'm still a fan of using self-directed IRAs for, for, uh, real estate because I think it's better than the stock market. Right. Uh, but I think like ultimately it's better to have the cash from life insurance policies because there are no restrictions on what you could u what you could do with that money.   Sam Wilson (00:04:11) - Right? No, absolutely. That is, that is a nice, uh, a nice, uh, bonus there for using the infinite banking model. Mm-hmm. , when you get distributions, so distributions come, so you borrow the money from your policy, there's, you, you get distributions from that policy, and then you have a choice whether or not to pay back your policy or to just eat the proceeds. Is that right?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:04:35) - Yeah, exactly. Yeah. I can, I can take that money and put it back into the policy if I want to, but there's no, like, there's no like definite payback plan. So like for example, let's just u use even numbers. If I borrow like $50,000 from my life insurance policy, that's, it's like an open-ended loan. Um, it's not like, uh, the insurance company's gonna be like, okay, here's the payment structure you have to pay, you know, X amount every first, like a mortgage for example. It's like a closed-ended loan. It's like the opposite of it. It's open-ended. Uh, you pay, the only way it works is the, the, actually the way it works is, is that whatever money you take out, you have simple interest that grows on that amount, uh, every day. So like, I think if you took 50,000 at 5% interest, it comes out to I believe like $7 a day.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:05:15) - Uh, so it grows by your, your balance that you owe the insurance company, it grows by about $7 plus or minus a day, right. Until you pay that loan back. So there's, you don't have to pay that loan back right then and there. Um, you could pay back next year. You could pay it back three or four years when you exit that deal. And so it's a lot, it's very flexible, especially for which I think a lot of business owners and real estate investors just need that flexibility because of the uncertainty of when they'll make money.   Sam Wilson (00:05:37) - Right. And that, I think that's a, that's a key, uh, a key difference there. And at some point, does that, is that policy loan ever become due? Is there a hundred year clause in that policy that says, Hey, at some point this has to come back or   Sarry Ibrahim (00:05:56) - Yeah, good question. So there's typically a couple parts. There's the cash value, and then there's the death benefit, like the life insurance part of the policy. And then when you take out a loan, it opens like the third part. So when you have an outstanding loan as mentioned, like every day, it's gonna grow by interest, the loan balance is gonna grow, right? Uh, but so is the life insurance, and so is your cash value and the life insurance and the cash value both outpace the growth of that loan that you owe. So your, your asset side is growing greater than your liability side. And then ultimately what would happen is if you just never pay back the loan, um, let's just say you pass away at age a hundred and there's like, I don't know, like 3 million in life insurance and you owed, let's just say all the interest and everything added up to like 800,000, they would just take like 3 million, subtract the principle interest owed, so 800,000 in this case, and then pay your beneficiaries 2.2 million. So yeah, there's no, like, uh, it, it just, when the, when, whenever you passed away, they would take that from your, um, from your death benefit.   Sam Wilson (00:06:51) - Right? Right, right. Yeah. Okay. That, that, that makes, that makes a lot of sense. One, one clarification I want to have on this mm-hmm.  is that the insurance company will say, Hey, your policy's gonna grow at 4%, right? Yeah. And you're saying that, that they are willing to loan you money. Your money of course give you your money back at a lower interest rate than what they are paying you. So the, so the growth on that account is still greater than the expense of borrowing it?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:07:25) - Absolutely. Yeah. That's what makes this whole concept good and, and work is because when you have your cash reserves growing and then you leverage your cash reserves, meaning you borrow against it, that loan you take out, that interest rate you take out is gonna be less than, um, the, the growth of your, of your reserves, meaning that your cash reserves will outpace what you are paying to borrow against it. So imagine if like you went to a bank account, you had a savings account, they were gonna give you, you know, four or 5% compound growth annually on that savings account, and then the same bank would give you a loan, but the loan they gave you was less than their growth. Uh, that's, that's a very, I guess a different way of putting it. And then it kind of brings us to the, to the next point is that like, no bank will ever do that.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:08:07) - No bank will will give you a, a, uh, an interest earning account and then give you a loan less than that interest earning account cuz it doesn't make sense for them. Usually it's the opposite of that. Usually you're giving a bank, uh, money at 0% interest, like in a check-in account, and then they're taking that money and then loaning it out to other people and much higher interest rates. So this kind of gives you, using the infinite banking system or model gives you a chance for you to become the banker and then for you to have that arbitrage, which is, which is the difference between what you paid to borrow money and what you earned, um, while you had that money saved or stored.   Sam Wilson (00:08:38) - Here's a question I've, I have lodged, not lodged. That's, that's a quote, that's a complaint, usually a logic complaint. Here's a question I have had, simple word here. The question I have had, the breakeven period of a policy is like six to seven years from what I understand. Mm-hmm. . So you, by the time your cash value equals what you've put in, it might be six or seven years. Yes. Whereas the break even period for me in a normal bank, just walk down the street is today.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:09:14) - Yes. Mm-hmm.   Sam Wilson (00:09:15) - Like, I put a hundred dollars in a bank today, I have a hundred dollars now, inflation aside all those things. Yeah. Yeah. All those things aside, I have a hundred dollars still today that I can go withdraw. I put a hundred dollars today in an infinite banking policy in tomorrow, I might be able to pull out 25 maybe, maybe 30. That's all I've got. I've had, I've taken, or maybe it's 90, I don't know. Either way, I've taken a haircut the day one I put money in. And I understand that insurance companies need to make money, but how do you, how do you bake in that seven years of potential return on say, bank A versus bank B and say, okay, how, how, I guess how do you calculate that loss of buying power return on investment over that seven year period as you calculate then later on borrowing the million, all those things that question even make any sense at all.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:10:07) - Yeah, absolutely. In other words, why take that dip in the first couple years? Like if you put, for example, $10,000 in year one in a life insurance policy, you won't have $10,000 in year one. Like if you look, if you surrender the policy, you'll probably, depending on your age and how much you're doing and other factors, you'll probably have like six or 7,000 available as a cash surrender and year one. Um, and then it grows every year. And then, like you said, probably year six, it breaks even. So that means that the premiums you put in match the cash value and then it brings it to the next question. It's like, why would you even do that? Why just skip all this and just pull money in a bank? So that way it's instant break even and then you could just, uh, uh, take money out as needed.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:10:44) - And it kind of brings it to a couple other questions, right? It's like, number one, what do you wanna do with your money? Uh, if you want to, I mean, some business owners and real estate investors wanna keep growing their cash. So ultimately a ba a life insurance policy structured, the infinite banking way will, um, will, will outpace what a bank is gonna do, right? Because if a bank is gonna say, we'll give you 0% interest, right, for example, and you have access to all your money that's convenient for you, but at the same time, there's no growth there at all. Whereas on the whole life policy side, there will be growth, you know, especially after that year seven, uh, it compound will grow. I think overall it's safe to, uh, project or assume that you'll probably get like a little bit over 4% compound growth over the life of that policy, which is not bad cause it's tax free, number one and number two, um, it's not affected by market conditions.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:11:29) - So it doesn't change over time. It doesn't go down. You can't lose money in it. And then it's a also too, it's like a long-term strategy, right? So if I, if I was talking to a client today and he was like, uh, he or she was like, I need, you know, 100% of my money in, in year one accessible, like, I wanna put 10,000 in this and then I want 10,000 available. I would simply say, this is not a good fit. Like this is not a one year strategy. It's a long-term strategy and it's a way for you to ultimately become your, your own source of financing, which like anything else in life, it's gonna take time to get there. It's not gonna be instant gratification. It's gonna take time to get there, but when you do get there, it's much, it's, you're in a much better financial situation.   Sam Wilson (00:12:05) - And that's, that's an interesting point. I guess, um, if, and just help me, I mean, clarify for me. So I wanna, I'm, I'm raising objections because I want, yeah, I want to, I want to find out where I'm, what I'm missing. But I can do that same thing in a, I can put all the money in and I can have access to it. Now why do I wanna wait seven years to do it? Even if it's growing? Maybe may, maybe, I mean, what, I guess, what am I missing here?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:12:33) - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, so let's just say option A is you put money, for example, a hundred thousand in a, in a, in a checking account. Option B, you put a hundred thousand in a life insurance policy. Right? Now, let's just say for example, you find a real estate deal to invest in, just to use even numbers, it's 50,000 for the to invest in the deal, right? Yep. So you go to option A, if you, if you use option A, you would simply deduct 50,000 from a hundred thousand. So now your account is down to 50,000 even because you've leveraged that for, for your views debt for a real estate deal. Now in option B, you have a hundred thousand in the life policy, you borrow $50,000 and then you use that for the real estate deal. Now you're 100,000 is still growing.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:13:10) - You just borrowed against that money. Your 100,000 keeps growing. And then you take that money, the 50,000, you put that into a real estate deal. Now you have that growing. Uh, and then let's just say, you know, five years later you get back, I don't know, let's just say a hundred thousand dollars five years later. So you doubled your money in five years. You take that now, your life insurance policy grew too. At that point you have cash growth in the life policy, and then you have the growth from the real estate deal. And then now you're able to do that all over again, again, uh, recycle that money again. Whereas on the cash side, that money's gone now, like you took a a hundred thousand, you subtract 50,000, uh, yeah, you could put it back into the, into the checking account and option A, but you're not gonna get that cash growth. And I think that doing so over time in volume is gonna make a big difference. So that's just kind of one way. And then, uh, the growth on the option B is tax-free growth. So, uh, so yeah, that's how you, I would differentiate the difference between just using like a normal bank account and then using this, this system.   Sam Wilson (00:14:02) - Right? Right, right. Yeah. Cause I think, I think the, the one caveat, or the one, the one difference there is that this, even though the funds have been deployed out of the policy mm-hmm. , they continue to accrue mm-hmm.  at 4% call it annualized rate of return. Whereas once you've taken the 50 grand out of a bank, it accrues at 0% rate of return. The only thing you get then is a return on the investment that was made In this case, you get the 4% growth, plus you get the return on the investment that was made, and then you can, you can then harvest those proceeds. Yeah. If I'm wrong here, so let's say you're 50, as you said, maybe it was three years or five years, I can't remember number you said that. Yeah. But let's say that 50 then becomes a hundred in three years. Yeah. I can then Sam can take that 50 in, in upside and I can go do whatever I want with it, and then I just owe the policy back the 50 plus the interest.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:14:58) - Yes, exactly   Sam Wilson (00:15:00) - Right. Okay. Okay. Yeah. So it's the growth, it's the, it's the, it's, it's really the, the, the difference between what it cost you to borrow the money and the growth that happens inside of the policy. That's where your upside lies.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:15:13) - Yeah, exactly.   Sam Wilson (00:15:15) - Okay. Okay, cool. No, it's interesting. I like that. I like that. That's, that's, that is, uh, it's a, it's a more advanced strategy and I think it takes a little bit of, a little bit of kind of, you know, different, different, uh, a different perspective to understand exactly how that works. Okay, cool. So we've covered some of the, uh, more nuances of how infinite banking works. One other objection that I've oftentimes heard mm-hmm  is that you don't get to keep the cash value plus the death benefit. So let's say you, let's use a big number and say you, yeah, you made a million bucks, you have a million dollars in cash value in your policy, and your policy's a $3 million policy. The insurance keeps the million bucks and they write you out the death benefit when you die. Is that true or not?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:16:01) - Yeah, that is true. However, if you have a million in cash value, your death be, death benefit is probably gonna be much greater than that. It's probably gonna be like 10 or 11 million. So it's, it's a much higher, the death benefit is a much higher amount than the cash value. And then, yeah, you're right. Like the, the cash value is simply like your, um, equity and the death benefit is like the market value. So like when you sell a property now, like you don't get the equity and the market value, right? You usually get the market value the higher amount. Uh, same thing in this situation. So like you would get, um, you know, the, the much higher amount, usually, usually 10 times more than the, the cash value plus it's there. Cuz imagine if you had outstanding loans, it would get tricky for the life insurance company to pay out cash value and then, you know, subtract the interest on loans. So it's better to leverage the life insurance overall part. Um, when you have the, the loans, so like in the, you know, in this example you have 10 million death benefit, um, you'll, the policy probably will never lapse in that situation because of any outstanding loans. So yeah, to, to make the, to shorten this answer, you get the life insurance, not the cash value and life insurance.   Sam Wilson (00:17:04) - Right. Right. And that, I guess that makes sense. If you had a 10 million policy and you had borrowed that million bucks, they'd give you 9 million bucks when you died.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:17:14) - Exactly, yeah.   Sam Wilson (00:17:15) - And if you had a million bucks and you have a 10 million inside, you give a million dollars in cash value and you didn't spend that cash value, but you had a 10 million policy, you'd still get 9 million bucks, right?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:17:31) - Oh, no, no, actually you get 10 million, you get the death benefit. Well, like if it's a 10 million,   Sam Wilson (00:17:35) - You, you'd get the, you'd you'd get the debt. Yes. So you're gonna have 10 million either way.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:17:39) - So, so in one way, one scenario, you have a 10 million death benefit with a million dollar loan. Right? And it's 10 million minus 1 million, so your beneficiary would get nine. Yep. Yep. And then the other example is you have a 10 million death benefit with no loans, then your, um, your beneficiaries would get 10 million. So   Sam Wilson (00:17:55) - Right. But, but, but you have to, but the $9 million payout, you then, you've then already spent a million of that $10 million payout. So it's 10 either way. That's the, that's the summary. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay, cool. No, that's great. That's great. And again, these are things that, that for those of us that don't, um, don't do this every day, this might be little, you know, some more elementary questions on the, how these policies function, but I think that's really, really smart. What are some advanced strategies that people are using right now inside of these policies that you, that you think are just, uh, pretty, pretty, um, ingenious?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:18:31) - Yeah, so we already talked about using it for real estate deals. Like you could, you could still get the depreciation, you still get the, the advantage of doing real estate. Uh, and then also I have some clients who use it for like private money lending. So like, um, they, they borrow against a policy, they, uh, loan that out at a higher interest rate, and then they have now, uh, kind of two places that they're making money one place and the policy still keeps growing as mentioned. The policy keeps growing. And then, and then they also make a spread on there. So they're, they're borrowing at a certain rate, like, um, 5% simple interest. And then they're loaning that out at a higher rate. Let's just say, I don't know what, how much private money is nowadays. Um, uh, let's just say 12% cuz of the rise in interest rates.   Sarry Ibrahim (00:19:10) - So let's say 12%. And then they would make that spread and then they would take the, if they, if they had an agreement with the borrower that the borrower was gonna make interest only payments, they would take the interest only payments and then use that as income to put back in their policy. Um, and then, and then repeat that cycle over and over again. This way they're literally like the bank in that situation. They're just simply lenders, um, earning interests regardless of what happens with the real estate deal. So that's another strategy. And then also a, think of any strategy you're already doing, like any other investment strategy you're already doing, or even for your business, you can use this concept for it and it'll help you amplify those returns because of the ability to borrow against the cash, um, use the dis use the income or distributions to put back in the policy and so on.   Sam Wilson (00:19:52) - Right. I like that, that, that makes a lot of sense. Let's talk about taxes. You, you, you touched on this a little bit, but if it's a 4%, let's call it a 4% growth. Yeah. And you, you as Siri are receiving the, uh, you're receiving the payments, you know, from whatever investment you made, it's coming directly to you. Mm-hmm. , when you pay back that policy, I mean, there's no tax savings necessarily on that front cuz you're still receiving those payments in your name, so you're gonna pay taxes on that as ordinary income and then you pay back the policy and only the growth inside of the policy is tax free. Correct?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:20:29) - Yeah, exactly. Good point. So that means that if you, you know, you borrow out the money and then you do other things with, you loan it out or you invest that, that income outside of the policy is taxed the same way it would be otherwise. So it's not like, so some people might think like, this is a strategy to like eliminate all taxes. You can't do that, right? You're still taxable on those, that's still taxable income. Where it's favorable is the money inside the policy grows tax free. Usually in most situations the loans are tax free, the withdrawals are tax free and the life insurance is tax free. Right? But that benefit is tax free. Tax free. So, so that's how you can kind of, uh, you could use it to, um, increase your rate of return without having to increase your taxable income. Because think about it this way, and let's just say after the, after the arbitrage, after you consider the amount of money you borrow and the amount of money you paid back to the insurance company, let's just say it was a 2% growth. And let's just say you invested in something that earned you 20%, then that means that your rate of return just increased to 22% because it's extra 2%. But that extra 2% that you got in the policy wasn't taxable. So this helps you increase your rate of return without increasing your taxes. That's, I guess, one way to put it that way.   Sam Wilson (00:21:38) - Right. No, I love it. I love it. Siri, we've done, we've, we we've have dive dove dove, Carly, I can't speak today,  one, one day, one day I learned how to speak on a podcast. We have covered a, some really, uh, more nuanced portions of the infinite banking model, how it works, things you can do with it, strategies inside of it. I, this, it's a fun conversation for me. Uh, and I think, I think the more people I talk to about this, the more fun it be becomes because it, it's, it just, it's, it's takes a little bit of uh, a little bit of, uh, creative thinking in order to get your mind wrapped around the, the possibilities with this. So thank you for taking the time to come on the show today. Thank and uh, share with us kind of the nuances here. Certainly appreciate it. It's been very insightful for me. If our listeners wanna get in touch with you and learn more about you, what is the best way to do that?   Sarry Ibrahim (00:22:22) - Yeah, well thanks Sam for having me on your podcast. Best way for listeners to connect with me is go to thinking like a bank.com. It's thinking like a bank.com website and then you could connect with me, uh, YouTube, LinkedIn, email address, uh, Calendly. All that is found at thinking like a bank.com.   Sam Wilson (00:22:39) - Thinking like a bank Go ahead, go ahead. Sorry. Yeah,   Sarry Ibrahim (00:22:42) - If you reach out for a free consultation, you go to the website thinking like a bank.com and schedule a free 15 minute call. I'll send you, uh, Nelson Nash's book Becoming Your Own Banker for free if you go schedule that appointment.   Sam Wilson (00:22:52) - Fantastic, fantastic. I'm about halfway through that book, so, uh, it's certainly a good one there, Siri. Appreciate you offering that here. To our listeners, thank you again for coming on the show today. I certainly appreciate it.   Sam Wilson (00:23:03) - Thank   Sarry Ibrahim (00:23:03) - You. Thanks for having me on.   Sam Wilson (00:23:04) - Hey, thanks for listening to the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate podcast. If you can do me a favor and subscribe and leave us a review on Apple podcast, Spotify, Google podcast, whatever platform it is you use to listen. If you can do that for us, that would be a fantastic help to the show. It helps us both attract new listeners as well as rank higher on those directories. So appreciate you listening. Thanks so much and hope to catch you on the next episode.      

Episode 49. Angee in MissouriIn this episode, I will be talking with Angee in Missouri. Angee lost her mom, Gloria, to Covid on February 17, 2021. Angee not only feels the grief of losing her mom, but she also deeply feels the guilt of knowing that she brought the virus home to her mom. We talk a lot about grief and guilt and healing in this episode. Angee mentions the Yellow Heart Memorial and how connecting with others has helped her. We also talk briefly about the book, Option B, by Sheryl Sandberg. Finally, there is a bit of an up and down audio sound when Angee is speaking sometimes. I've done my best to try to edit it to be more even. Yellow Heart Memorial Option B book by Sheryl Sandberg For context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on March 2, 2023.Support the showIf you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email. My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well.This show won't ever have a paid members area or episodes you have to pay to listen to, but there are expenses with hosting a podcast. If you would like to help, please support the show.All episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found at:Instagram Twitter FacebookYouTube (work in progress for the captions)Until next time!Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

The following question refers to Section 3.2 of the 2021 ESC CV Prevention Guidelines. The question is asked by student Dr. Hirsh Elhence, answered first by Mayo Clinic Fellow Dr. Teodora Donisan, and then by expert faculty Dr. Eugene Yang.Dr. Yang is professor of medicine of the University of Washington where he is medical director of the Eastside Specialty Center and the co-Director of the Cardiovascular Wellness and Prevention Program. Dr. Yang is former Governor of the ACC Washington Chapter and chair of the ACC Prevention of CVD Section.The CardioNerds Decipher The Guidelines Series for the 2021 ESC CV Prevention Guidelines represents a collaboration with the ACC Prevention of CVD Section, the National Lipid Association, and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association.Enjoy this Circulation 2022 Paths to Discovery article to learn about the CardioNerds story, mission, and values. Question #25 Please choose the CORRECT statement from the ones below.ACAC scoring can be considered to improve ASCVD risk classification around treatment decision thresholds.BPatients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are considered very high CV risk, regardless of comorbidities and other risk factors.CCKD does not increase the cardiovascular risk in the absence of other risk factors.DMen and women older than 65 years old are at high cardiovascular risk. Answer #25 ExplanationOption A is correct. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring can reclassify CVD risk upwards and downwards in addition to conventional risk factors and may thus be considered in men and women with calculated risks around decision thresholds (Class IIb, Level B). If CAC is detected, its extent should be compared with what would be expected for a patient of the same sex and age. CAC scoring does not provide direct information on total plaque burden or stenosis severity and can be low or even zero in middle-aged patients with soft non-calcified plaque.Option B is false. Not all patients with diabetes are very high risk by default.·       Moderate risk: well controlled diabetes, 75 years-old and men > 65 years-old are usually at high 10-year CVD risk.·       Only between the ages of 55 – 75 years in women and 40 – 65 years in men does the 10-year CVD risk vary around commonly used thresholds for intervention. Of note:·       In younger, apparently healthy patients, we also discuss lifetime CVD risk estimates since 10-year risk assessments often underestimate risk.

An Explosive End For A Massive Rocket This week, SpaceX attempted the first uncrewed orbital test flight of its massive Super Heavy rocket topped with an experimental crew capsule known as Starship. After one aborted launch earlier in the week, the huge rocket successfully lifted off Thursday morning—but minutes later, the Starship component failed to separate from the Super Heavy booster, and the combined rocket stack exploded. While a setback for the team, SpaceX head Elon Musk said that a lot had been learned from the flight, and another test launch would take place in several months. Purbita Saha, senior editor at Popular Science, joins SciFri's John Dankosky to talk about the launch and other stories from the week in science, including an Earth Day look at water conservation issues across the country and the materials science of Maya plaster. Plus, you can now listen to Science Friday's new arts podcast, Universe of Art. SciFri producer and Universe of Art host D Peterschmidt joins John to give a sneak peak of some of the episodes.    Dismantling Myths About Menstruation Saying the phrase “menstrual blood” or or the word “period” can feel almost dirty. That's because in the western world, people with periods are taught not to discuss this exceedingly normal biological process. Half the world will menstruate at some point in their lives, and yet menstruation remains exceedingly under-studied. Biological anthropologist Kate Clancy dug into the history of menstruation research, and the myriad misconceptions about it, while working on her book “Period: The Real Story of Menstruation.” What she found was a lack of basic understanding of the biological process, from physicians and menstruators alike. Clancy speaks with guest host Maddie Sofia about the misconceptions of a “normal” menstrual cycle, and other persisting period myths. Fighting Climate Change With Genetically Modified Trees Vince Stanley has a saying, which he holds as true in a commercial forest as on a row crop farm: Every acre has a plan. In a wetland he owns in Tattnall County, about 70 miles west of Savannah, downhill from an orderly grove of predictably profitable loblolly pines, he is trying out something new. “Now, look at this guy right here,” Stanley said, pointing out what looked more like a stick in the mud compared to the tupelos growing a few yards away in the deeper water. This stick, surrounded by pin flags and planted about six feet away from its sister, had signs of new life: dark green leaves. “That's impressive,” Stanley said. And the germ of the new plan for these acres, is something that, until now, Stanley said he didn't really have. “We're just leaving this up to Mother Nature,” he said. “So now with Living Carbon, we've gone to Option B.” This nascent tree and 10,499 others are at the heart of Option B, what might be the first effort of its kind in the nation: genetically engineered trees planted in a forest. What's more, these trees are for sale. Read the rest at sciencefriday.com.   All You Need To Know About Anesthesia If you've ever had surgery, you've probably wondered about how anesthesia works, or maybe even lied awake at night anxious about going under. If you've ever been there, I'm sure you remember: Right before surgery, you get rolled into the operating room. The anesthesiologist tells you to start counting down from 10. The next thing you know, you're awake in the recovery room and you don't remember anything that just happened to you. How exactly did anesthesiologists manage to get you safely into that state and back out again? Guest host John Dankosky talks with Dr. Louise Sun, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine at Stanford University Health and Dr. Gunisha Kaur, anesthesiologist, director of the Human Rights Impact Lab, and medical director of Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights at Weill Cornell Medicine about the basics of how anesthesia works.

Imagine with me for a moment… you just bought a house! Yay!!!!   And it's PERFECT…. expect for those kitchen cabinets… and the bathroom linoleum… and the weird half wall blocking in the kitchen…   Ok, it's a great house but it could use a few tweaks to make it the DREAM house.    So what do you do?   Option A: Pick up a hammer and remodel each room, one at a time. Option B: Bulldoze the entire house and build a completely new one.   … I hope you picked “Option A” and I hope you agree that “Option B” is pure crazy-pants!   Buuuuut. Many of us choose the Bulldozer when it comes to starting a new diet or fitness plan.    All too often, we make a TON of changes all at once and completely bulldoze our existing schedule, habits, and routines.    Unfortunately, just like the house example… that rarely ends well.    So in today's episode, I'm going to give you a few “Hammer” ideas for “remodeling” your health and fitness without destroying everything.    Basically, how to “flatten” your stomach without flattening “the house.” (see what I did there? hehehe)   I hope you enjoy and find it helpful!   To your health, impact, and living more fully alive!   Joseph   If you haven't already, please, Please, PLEASE take 30 seconds to rate and review the podcast! https://apple.co/3X3MWdT ********** Got questions? (or just wanna chat?) Message me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachjoseph/

Imagine with me for a moment… you just bought a house! Yay!!!! And it's PERFECT…. expect for those kitchen cabinets… and the bathroom linoleum… and the weird half wall blocking in the kitchen… Ok, it's a great house but it could use a few tweaks to make it the DREAM house. So what do you do? Option A: Pick up a hammer and remodel each room, one at a time. Option B: Bulldoze the entire house and build a completely new one. … I hope you picked “Option A” and I hope you agree that “Option B” is pure crazy-pants! Buuuuut. Many of us choose the Bulldozer when it comes to starting a new diet or fitness plan. All too often, we make a TON of changes all at once and completely bulldoze our existing schedule, habits, and routines. Unfortunately, just like the house example… that rarely ends well. So in today's episode, I'm going to give you a few “Hammer” ideas for “remodeling” your health and fitness without destroying everything. Basically, how to “flatten” your stomach without flattening “the house.” (see what I did there? hehehe) I hope you enjoy and find it helpful! To your health, impact, and living more fully alive! Joseph If you haven't already, please, Please, PLEASE take 30 seconds to rate and review the podcast! https://apple.co/3X3MWdT ********** Got questions? (or just wanna chat?) Message me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachjoseph/

The following question refers to Section 7.3 of the 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure. The question is asked by Palisades Medical Center medicine resident & CardioNerds Intern Dr. Maryam Barkhordarian, answered first by MedStar Washington Hospital Center cardiology hospitalist & CardioNerds Academy Graduate Dr. Luis Calderon, and then by expert faculty Dr. Gregg Fonarow.Dr. Fonarow is the Professor of Medicine and Interim Chief of UCLA's Division of Cardiology, Director of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center, and Co-director of UCLA's Preventative Cardiology Program.The Decipher the Guidelines: 2022 AHA / ACC / HFSA Guideline for The Management of Heart Failure series was developed by the CardioNerds and created in collaboration with the American Heart Association and the Heart Failure Society of America. It was created by 30 trainees spanning college through advanced fellowship under the leadership of CardioNerds Cofounders Dr. Amit Goyal and Dr. Dan Ambinder, with mentorship from Dr. Anu Lala, Dr. Robert Mentz, and Dr. Nancy Sweitzer. We thank Dr. Judy Bezanson and Dr. Elliott Antman for tremendous guidance.Enjoy this Circulation 2022 Paths to Discovery article to learn about the CardioNerds story, mission, and values. Question #8 Ms. Flo Zinn is a 60-year-old woman seen in cardiology clinic for follow up of her chronic HFrEF management. She has a history of stable coronary artery disease, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and recurrent urinary tract infections. She does not have a history of diabetes and recent hemoglobin A1c is 5.0%. Her current medications include carvedilol, sacubitril-valsartan, eplerenone, and atorvastatin. Her friend was recently placed on an SGLT2 inhibitor and asks if she should be considered for one as well. Which of the following is the most important consideration when deciding to start this patient on an SGLT2 inhibitor? A The patient does not have a history of type 2 diabetes and so does not qualify for SGLT2 inhibitor therapy B While SGLT2 inhibitors improve hospitalization rates for HFrEF, there is no evidence that they improve cardiovascular mortality C Patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors tend to suffer a more rapid decline in renal function than patients not taking SGLT2 inhibitor therapy D Patients may be at a higher risk for genitourinary infections if an SGLT2 inhibitor is started Answer #8 Explanation   The correct answer is D – SGLT2 inhibitors have been associated with increased risk of genitourinary infections. Sodium-glucose co-transporter protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have gathered a lot of press recently as the new kid on the block with respect to heart failure management. While they were initially developed as antihyperglycemic medications for treating diabetes, early cardiovascular outcomes trials showed reduced rates of heart failure hospitalization amongst study participants independent of glucose-lowering effects and irrespective of baseline heart failure status – only 10-14% of patients carried a heart failure diagnosis at baseline. This prompted trials to study the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with symptomatic chronic HFrEF who were already on guideline directed medical therapy irrespective of the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The DAPA-HF and EMPEROR-Reduced trials showed that dapagliflozin and empagliflozin, respectively, both conferred statistically significant improvements in a composite of heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death (Option B). Most interestingly, these effects were seen irrespective of diabetes history. In light of these findings, the 2022 HF guidelines recommend SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with chronic, symptomatic HFrEF with or without diabetes to reduce hospitalization for HF and cardiovascular mortality (Class I, LOE A). The benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors extend beyond cardiovascular health.

Hour 3: Joe Montana became Evan's best friend when he gave his opinion on Tom Brady. Could Ryan Tannehill be an option for the Jets if they don't get Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr? And some of the congrats videos for Lebron last night were interesting.

Did you know: I used to be a MAJOR people pleaser for like, the first 30 years of my life? Yup, it's true! I would make so many decisions based on what others expected of me (or even what I assumed they expected!)And I remember one day, almost 10 years ago when I first started my health & fitness business, coming face to face with how people pleasing shows up: I had family tell me that I was wasting my elementary education degree and throwing away my career. I had friends tell me i was too overweight to run a health & fitness business I had others me that it was a pipe-dream thinking I would succeed with NO experience running any kind of business! I had decided to start that business for just one reason: to continue stay home with my little kids who were 3 years old and 18 months at the time. And when these comments happened, as painful as it was to hear people who supposedly care about me, downplay what I wanted to do; I knew I had to make a choice. Option A) was go back to work, put my kids in day-care, and give up on dreams of being a stay-at-home mom. And eventually live with REGRET. ❌ Option B) was ignore the naysayers, and do what I knew I wanted to do. For me, the choice was easy.And since then, I have gained so much personal power. I make decisions now based on what I want to do, and not what others expect of me. And that feels freakin' AWESOME! ❤In today's podcast, I talk all about my own story but I also give you my TOP 8 actionable tips you can use RIGHT NOW in your own life to stop people-pleasing! Also, wanted to send a BIG THANKS to DD Daily for her review on iTunes. She says: Love listening to your Podcast. You're so real and authentic. Sometime when I'm listening to you it's as if you're talking right to me. I always look forward to the next release, thanks for sharing!! Grab my FREE workbook, Think This, Not That - kathireuter.com/thinkthisnotthat ⭐ Hey there! Thanks for listening! ⭐ Help me spread the word about Do Life Big! Take a screenshot and post it to your Instagram Stories or feed, and tag me @katherinereuter! A review also puts rocket fuel on getting our message of living your best freakin' life possible out there! Go to kathireuter.com/itunes, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Listen to the Do Life Big Podcast: Listen on iTunes --> kathireuter.com/itunes Listen on Spotify --> kathireuter.com/spotify Listen on Google Podcasts -->kathireuter.com/googlepodcasts Have a topic you'd like to hear about? Shoot me an email at hello@kathireuter.com!

According to guest Adam Grant, excellence does not require perfectionism, and rather than obsessing over the outcome of your work, there are better ways of measuring your own success. Adam Grant is a frequent flier on this show and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 5 books that have sold millions of copies and have been translated into 35 languages: Think Again, Give and Take, Originals, Option B, and Power Moves. He's an organizational psychologist who has been the top-rated professor at Wharton for seven years. He's also the host of a newish podcast, called Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, in addition to his other chart-topping podcast, called WorkLife. In this conversation, we talked about:Adam's definition of neurotic vs. normal perfectionismWhy he thinks we're seeing a rise in perfectionism amongst younger peopleStrategies for managing perfectionismA different metric for measuring the quality of our workThe importance of finding the right judges of our workReimagining our relationship to failure by setting a failure budgetThe difference between procrastination vs. what he personally suffers from: “precrastination”Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/adam-grant-547See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“What's Your Problem?”   Today, I was presented with an issue.  A problem.  A conundrum.  Whatever you want to call it.   It wasn't mine but someone else's issue who was talking to me about it.    They were trying to figure out a solution. Come to a resolve.  Work it through and get an answer that fixed the problem.   I cared about this issue since I cared about the person and wanted to help, so I started thinking of real resolutions and how to solve.   As I was getting ready for the morning just a few minutes after the conversation, I took about 5 minutes and came up with an Option A or an Option B.  Both were easy to come up with, but one really seemed good, like it fit, was going to work and solve the issue.  BINGO!    I presented the suggestion, and it was well received!  Ok, matter solved.   Easy Peasey!  Next!   But, of course, my mind just shifts into the workings of our minds.  Our choices.  And my moment with God and my butterfly whisper flew in.    That is where doors open.  The answer.  Issues can be resolved.  Answers can come. But the answers may require action.  The power of choice to make the goal, take the steps, see things happen and evolve.    You hear me often, or you will if you listen to my podcast or do life coaching with me, that the power of choice is vital.  It's totally underestimated.  It is not fully recognized for the power it holds.  It is so necessary but sometimes not used. I could go on and on, but I won't however……   How come we can't always think of a quick solution for our problems?   Is it because it is our problem?  Can we not be objective looking into as a third party?   Maybe we don't want to work for it if there are steps involved?  How about if the answer requires patience?   Maybe we don't want to get out of a “normal” routine or, you know, the “familiar” road.   Maybe……because it is our issue there are too many emotions wrapped up into it and we all know emotions can get messy.   Perhaps…………   Anxiety gets us in a tizzy.   The unfamiliar is a bit scary.   We are in rut and can't seem to get out.   Maybe we are concentrating so much on the issue that we are not thinking of a resolution, so we become stuck.   Could it be depression that one can't seem to think at all, or it seems too overwhelming.   Those are a lot of maybes and there could be a slew more, but let's pump the brakes and shift our focus.    PERSPECTIVE.   Use your power of choice and instead of saying, “I got a problem”, try saying “Here's my issue, now I will think of a solution”.   By the way, we all have issues, some little, some big, some consistent, but even the minor ones can really seem big to a person when they are dealing with it.  Contemplating over which ones are bigger, smaller, more serious, etc. will not help anyone.   So, if you mix up your words and proclaim that you will find the answer. What will that do?   I don't know. However, if you are stuck on a problem, keep repeating it and going over it in your mind constantly and not coming out with an answer, it's worth a try, right?    We have all heard of “nothing changes if nothing changes”.  Please allow me to repeat.  Nothing changes if nothing changes”   What we focus on and what we do matters.  What we think matters.  I might just change the title from, “What's Your Problem?” to “What's Your Answer?”.   Disclaimer Time!   Proclaiming we have an answer doesn't make it true. Certainly, doesn't make it go away and “poof” problem is solved.    There are steps.  There are decisions.  There is a power of choice to lean into.  There could be small goals needed to get to larger ones and continuous steps that are different than our auto pilot we are currently on. There is a focus needed on a solution bigger than our focus on the issue.  Leaning into your faith and praying that God will help, will help. Truth. He will always walk aside of you, guide you and strengthen, pour out grace and more.  But God requires us, by our choices, to walk through things as well and when change is needed in our life, we must do our part.    Sometimes just “keep on keeping on” in faith, leaning on Him to move in the situation is required. Sometimes He asks us to wait and be still.  If that is what He wants, that is revealed in our conversations and relationship with Him and Holy Spirit moments and us releasing to Him.   However, there are plenty of times, plenty of circumstances and situations in our life that He will not do it for us.  Our friends do not do things for us.  If they do, it very well may not help in the end.  To know the difference of God moving and us doing, of God taking the lead or releasing the lead to us is wisdom.  You yielding to what is asked and taking your power of choice and walking it out is vital, needed, necessary and the very thing that is pivotal if your life.   Walking through things is sometimes the very thing that strengthens us, matures us, grows us, and develops us into the people we are at this moment and the people we will become in the future.   So, here's to the “After the Sermon” series and Butterfly Thoughts.   Here's to issues.   Here's to solutions.   Here's to prayer.   Here's to power of choice.   Here's to the ability to open up and develop wisdom.   Here's to learning.   Here's to growth.   Here's to different perspectives.    Here's to knowing when to be still and when to move.   The beauty is in the blend of us yielding, being still, listening, acting, using our power of choice, releasing to Him and resting in a relationship with Him.   With Love,    Kelly Savage Your Life Coach     

How can we have more impactful conversations with our health care providers? How can we confidently leave each appointment without fear or anxiety? It all comes down to the bedrock of self-care, advocating well for ourselves and our loved ones. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co . And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:How you beat burnout.The trends of high performersJustification for why perfect is unattainableWhere does confidence come from? What's your default reaction when you make a bad decision? Why your self narrative is so important The reason your feel apathy BIO: Alan Stein, Jr. is an experienced keynote speaker and author. At his core, he's a performance coach with a passion for helping others change behaviors. He spent 15+ years working with the highest performing basketball players on the planet (including NBA superstars Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Kobe Bryant). Through his customized programs, he transfers his unique expertise to maximize both individual and organizational performance.Alan is a dynamic storyteller who delivers practical, actionable lessons that can be implemented immediately. He teaches proven principles on how to utilize the same approaches in business that elite athletes use to perform at a world-class level.His previous clients include American Express, Pepsi, Sabra, Starbucks, Charles Schwab, and Penn State Football, and many more.The strategies from Alan's book, Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best, are implemented by both corporate and sports teams around world.Alan Stein, Jr. References/Links:WebsiteInstagramTwitterFacebookRaise Your Game hardback bookSustain Your Game hardback book  If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.Be It Till You See It Podcast SurveyUse this link to get your Toe Sox!ResourcesWatch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!Lesley Logan websiteBe It Till You See It PodcastOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley LoganOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTubeProfitable PilatesSocial MediaInstagramFacebookLinkedInEpisode Transcript:Lesley Logan  Hi, Be It babe. How are you? Well, today's guest is phenomenal. He's amazing. I'm obsessed. You've probably even heard me talk about him on the pod already, because I'm so excited to get him on. And his name is Alan Stein, Jr. You're gonna love him. Take out your notebook, just like get it out. And then also, like, if you got audible if you've got like, if you got some local bookstore that you love to support, then you're gonna want to grab his books. He's got two of them, Raise Your Game and Sustain Your Game. And I have listened to Sustain Your Game two times on Audible. I love it. There's so many nuggets in there. And I just, I can't wait for you to hear this because one, he is he is someone who had this incredible dream, and then changed his careers. And then he changed his career again, and now he's speaking and he's sharing his stories and he's sharing his his lessons that he's learned from being a coach of basketball players to how we can apply these to your lives. And if you're like, "Oh my god, Lesley, really basketball." Don't worry. You're not going to have to know anything technical about basketball to get all the frickin nuggets that Alan has for you in this podcast, and the BE IT action items. I know I say this every episode, but I mean it like I can't, I can't wait to do one of them. Like I haven't heard this one before. And I'm like, "Oh, homework for Lesley tonight. It's happening." So I'm gonna want to hear how you use these BE IT action items in your life. And so definitely make sure you tag us, tag Alan Stein, Jr. Let us know share this with a friend and let's just get into it. Here's Alan Stein, Jr.Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guests will bring Bold, Executable, Intrinsic and Targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started.All right, Be It babe. I'm super stoked. I'm I'm actually more excited than I probably been, for guests, I'm so sorry to my other guests listening. But seriously, I've wanted this man on our podcast for a long time. I heard him somewhere else. Read his book. Read it twice. There's a whole be it till you see it chapter in there. So I was like, "This man has to be on." Alan Stein, Jr., thank you so much for being here. Can you tell everyone, who you are and why you rock so much?Alan Stein, Jr.  Oh, my goodness. Well, I'm so excited to chat with you. I think we'll have a fun conversation. Professionally speaking, I'm a keynote speaker and author and a former basketball performance coach. I'm also a very amicably divorced and proud father of three kids. I have a 12 year old twin sons and a 10 year old daughter, and happy to expand on any of that that you'd like me to. (Lesley: You've twins?) I do. Yeah, twin boys. They're in seventh grade. And they are a handful. A good handful. They're great kids. But yeah, twin boys can give me two tornadoes.Lesley Logan  Yeah. So, well thank you for sharing all of that. I so one of the things that I thought was super cool, and I'm sure you talk about this all the time, but you were an NBA performance basketball coach and like what, how did you? Like is that something you always grew up thinking you wanted to do? Like, what was, what was the process getting getting from like maybe playing basketball to coaching it?Alan Stein, Jr.  Well, well, basketball was my first love. And I fell in love with the game at five years old. And I'm so grateful that here four decades later, basketball is still a major pillar of my life and, you know, falling in love with the game. So early, I spent the first portion of my life as a very dedicated player, was able to play up through the collegiate level. I played at Elon University in the mid 90s. And while I was at Elon, I started to develop an equal love for what we now call performance training. Back then it was basically strength and conditioning and running and jumping and lifting weights and mindset and nutrition. So when I graduated in the late 90s, I figured what could be better than combining my original love of basketball with this newfound love of performance training, and I became a basketball performance coach, and most of my work specialized at the youth and high school level, because that's where I felt I could make the biggest impact. And I took a lot of pride in being a role model off the court for the players I was working with. But I had an opportunity to work at two different high schools here in the Washington DC area, which is where I grew up and where I currently live, that have produced over a dozen players that are currently in the NBA, Kevin Durant being the most notable. So they weren't, they weren't normal high schools and having that opportunity to work with such elite level prospects. That got me on the radar of Nike and Jordan brand and USA basketball. And then I started working events for them and had a chance to be a part of events for Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steve Nash, like it was a pretty incredible list. So I've gotten to see both sides, you know, what it takes for a young up and comer to climb that proverbial mountain, and then what it takes for someone who reaches that peak, what they need to do to stay there and sustain excellence, but also have immense fulfillment in the process. So I've had a really unique journey. And then lastly, five years ago, I decided to leave the basketball training space to take all of these lessons and strategies and mindsets that I'd learned from such great players. And I show folks how to apply those to their lives, in their business as keynote speaker and author.Lesley Logan  That'd be a really big decision, though. Because like that four decades, in one career, you know, and around around a thing, like and then to go, "Yeah, I'm gonna like, I'm gonna close the door on that." Like, what what? Was there a fear around that? Was it like exciting? Did it did it? Did it feel easy? How did you get your brain to go? "Yeah, that's going to be a that's going to be a path for me that I can see myself going through."Alan Stein, Jr.  One of the most important topics that I talked about in my most recent book, Sustain Your Game is how to beat burnout. And one thing I say is of the stuff I share on stage and the stuff I share on page, I'm not coming from a place of mastery, you know, I basically write the books that I need to read myself and, and the reason for that section on burnout is I've experienced burnout twice in my career so far. And, and one of them was five years ago, when I made this pivot, I found myself getting burnt out on basketball specific training and strength and conditioning. I found myself getting burnt out on pouring into 15 16 17 year old basketball players. Now, that was my favorite thing in the world to do for the 20 years that I did it. And I loved it. I mean, immeasurably. And I took a lot of pride in it. But when I started to see my flame was starting to flicker and eventually almost extinguished, I knew I had to make a change. I have so much respect and reverence for the game of basketball. And for players and coaches, I knew that was not the type of vocation that you can just mail it in, that you just go through the motions, you know, I'm there to pour my heart and soul into young people. And when I found that, that was no longer filling my cup, and was no longer fascinating me, I knew I had to do something different. So that was why I made the pivot. And when I made the pivot to do keynote, speaking and writing, it actually relight my flame. I was I was so excited. I mean, I, I was very thankful for the career that I have had. And I wouldn't trade any of those moments for anything, but it really got me excited to try something different and and I'm still so connected to the game of basketball, because most of the stories and lessons that I share from stage are the lessons that I learned from the game. So while I'm not training players anymore, I still feel so connected to the game.Lesley Logan  Yeah, yeah, I love that you brought up burnout because I feel like, I feel like that's a thing that a lot of people are going through and you wrote in your book like burnout as the having too much of too little. And like I found that to be so interesting. I have a lot of people listening to this, their fitness instructors and oftentimes there's like, oh if I need to make more money than I need to just teach more clients but then it's like too much work have too little time like like there's just not that's not actually sustainable. And I think it's also what can cause the flame of whatever you love doing to dwindle if you're just if you're if you're doing that that too muchness. How how did you? You said, you said twice in your career. How did you solve it the first time? Because you didn't pivot then, you kind of stuck with it, I'm assuming.Alan Stein, Jr.  Yeah, so the first time was as beginning, my sophomore year in college, I started to get burnt out on playing the game of basketball. I started to feel like it was more of a job instead of something that I had always loved to do. And part of that was because I wasn't playing very much in college. And, and I can say this with a huge smile and a ton of self compassion and forgiveness. I had a bad attitude at that age, you know, I, I did a lot of blaming, complaining and making excuses for why I wasn't playing. And I allowed it to kind of suck the love of the game out of me. And, you know, as a sophomore in college, you know, I wanted to be in a fraternity, I kind of wanted to chase girls, I wanted to party, I wanted to do a lot of things that were really taking me away from this, this core love of basketball. And, you know, the remaining part of college, I can say openly, I really was was getting tired of the game. And it wasn't until I found this love of performance training, that I was able to kind of flip the switch and basically transition from being a basketball player, which I just wasn't enjoying anymore, to then becoming a basketball performance coach and pouring into and serving others that completely re lit my fire. And, you know, a big antidote for something, when we find ourselves kind of woe is me and in our feelings and feeling a little down or lousy, one of the best ways to get out of that funk is to serve others is to, you know, make it not about you, but make it about someone else. So for me, the remedy for that in college was to shift off of being a player to being a coach. And then when that happened recently, it was to shift from being a basketball trainer to being a keynote speaker. So these are just pivots that I made in order to get that fire back.Lesley Logan  Yeah, yeah, I think that's, that is really my, my brother was a college football player. And then he got injured out and, and he was so bummed because he wasn't, it wasn't his time, right. Like, that was like, not the plan. And but I saw a different light in him when he became a football coach, like he like, and so he did that for the college level for years. And it's and that's, that's an interesting thing, I think we can say, see something as like an injury being a bad thing or like a burnout being a bad thing. But it actually kind of puts you on the path of like, the next thing for you. And so, so that's really cool. You mentioned earlier that you got to see these players, and what it took to get, you know, from that high school level to like college and beyond. I'm wondering as you look back, because I don't know that you could make that, you know, psychic decision back then when they were in high school. Were there things that you saw different players doing that you're like, yeah, that that they were like that made it to the NBA and made it beyond the high school level? And the rest of their, was their behaviors that people were like, kind of like maybe you like had that negative attitude or, you know, party and stuff? Was there something that made those people stand out and make it all the way?Alan Stein, Jr.  Absolutely, and you are a completely, it was incredibly insightful to realize, I didn't know that at the time. This is the gift of hindsight, looking back, and kind of connecting the dots. And, you know, there's probably about a dozen traits that I think high performers in any area of life, whether it's basketball, business, or anything in between, I've noticed some trends. And I'm gonna highlight three of them for you and looking back at these things. And the first is they have a respect and appreciation for the basics. Like they embrace the fundamentals, they recognize that the fundamentals are the foundation to which everything else is built. And if you can work towards relentlessly work towards mastery of the fundamentals, especially during the unseen hours, you give yourself a chance to be pretty successful. And it doesn't mean that you don't also do more advanced techniques or try some more advanced things. It just means you never leave the basics of the fundamentals, because they create that foundation. And and anytime I would meet a young player that was trying to skip steps or thought the fundamentals were beneath them, or thought it was more important to be flashy, and to be sexy on the court. Instead of being good and being sound, those players rarely made it to the next level. The second is, and once again, I'm referring to players, but this is applicable to all of us. (Lesley: Yeah) The second is they were able to blend confidence with humility in a very masterful way. They earned the right to be confident because they put in the work during the unseen hours and they put in the repetitions to earn the right to be good at their craft. But they always blended that with a stroke of humility, which is what kept them open to feedback, which is what allowed them to be coached and most importantly, allowed them to remember that no matter how good they were, they could still get better. You know the best of the best always look at themselves as a work in progress and as an unfinished product. You know, that no elite performer that I've ever met will allow you to put them under museum glass, you know, for everyone to look at, they're like, "I'm not done yet." And, you know, you can look at that with elite level athletes and celebrities and performers and actors and musicians and business, you know, titans in the world today, they know that they still have further to go. So blending that confidence with humility is another trait. And then the third one is the most successful people I've ever been around. And the players that were able to ascend to the top, were very process focused. Now, they had tremendous clarity on their Northstar. And these young players, I mean, they were crystal clear on the fact, they wanted to become NBA players. That was their goal. But they didn't focus on the goal as much as they focused on the process, and the steps and the disciplines and the decisions and the micro behaviors and the daily choices and the habits that would allow them to reach that goal. So they focus on the process and then the goal becomes a byproduct of that. And, and of course, it needs to be said that when we're talking about professional sports, certainly there is a physicality component to that, you know, if your goal is to play in the NBA, it's, it's probably in your best interest not to be four foot three, you know, I mean, there's, there are certain there are certain genetic predispositions from a physicality standpoint, that will enable you to do that. And of course, those players had the physical gifts, they check that box. But there's a lot of players that can check that box that don't check the other boxes, and then never make it. And the reason I love our business and life discussions, is you can be four foot three and still be an incredible business person or an executive or sales professional or podcast host or mom or dad fill in the blank, the physicality no longer becomes a prerequisite when you step outside of the arena of athletics.Lesley Logan  Yeah, I love all three of those things. Because as you're saying them I'm a Pilates instructor. I'm second generation and what that just means that my teacher was taught by Joseph Pilates. And what I tell people who want to work with me all the time, I'm like, you have like, you have to do work on the foundations, and you're only advanced, if the beginner exercises are hard for you. And if they're not hard for you, then it doesn't I the advanced stuff is just compound choreography, I'm just taking the beginning stuff and putting them all together. So it's, that's not the hard part. The hard part is like being okay with understanding the foundations and sticking with that, and also not being perfect. You know, I was teaching a teacher and I gave her some feedback and it frustrated her and I just said, "Well, I'm always gonna have feedback for you because we're not they're not, there's no way to be perfect at this. This is this is like not in a depressing way. But there's a no top to this mountain. Like we there's always a new day, and especially with stuff that has to do with your body. Your body is different every single day. So it's not like this one and done like tomorrow, maybe you slept wrong on that side. Or maybe, maybe you actually are stronger. And so now you can go further." So I really, everything you said applies to like, how I teach, but also like how I see the way that you can approach life. Like if you're if you're not allowing some feedback on the things that you are wanting in yourself, it's going to be pretty hard to get somewhere.Alan Stein, Jr.  Absolutely. One of the biggest shifts they ever made was to start viewing feedback as a gift and saying, "Wow, this person cares enough about me to share with me things that I can do to get better. You know, this person cares enough about me to help expose some of my blind spots. You know, this person cares enough about me to hold me accountable to a very high standard of excellence." And as soon as I shifted from making that feel like, you know, I was being punished, but instead I was being handed a gift that changed everything. And that's also how I tried to position feedback. You know, when I have to give feedback, whether it's to someone in the work environment or to my own children, I remind them, "Hey, I'm doing this because I love you. You know, the day that I stopped holding you accountable. The day that I stopped pouring into you. And the day that I stopped giving you feedback means I no longer care about you or your future. That's when you need to get upset, not when someone actually cares enough to offer you the constructive feedback that that allows all of us to get better."Lesley Logan  Oh my God, that's so good. That's so good. Okay, so I want to talk about perfectionism. Because I imagine that in sports, and you've seen a lot of people who are trying to go from being perfect, and obviously those people listening, I'm a recovering perfectionist, and overachiever. We have a lot of perfectionist who listen to this. How do you see that keeping people from, you know, getting what they want? Like, what did you see, how did that maybe affect you? Or how did it affect the players that you've coached?Alan Stein, Jr.  I'll speak from the first person because I'm I'm also a recovering perfectionist. So I'm not saying this to project on to anybody else. And I'm certainly not saying this with an ounce of judgment. I think my deepest insecurity that I have and something that I'll wrestle with for my entire life, is that that I'm not worthy, that I'm not good enough. And I think perfectionism was an unconscious way to compensate for that, that in my mind, if I could do something perfectly, or if I could be perfect, then I wouldn't be worthy of love or affection or attention or achievement. I mean, fill in, fill in the blank. But it doesn't quite work that way. Because you said something perfect that you said something before that's really insightful. And that is perfection is unattainable. Life is not a perfect game. You know, Pilates is not a perfect craft. Basketball is not a perfect game. In the history of the game, every single game of basketball that has ever been played at every level, anywhere in the world, there has never been a perfect game played. A perfect game with mean zero miss shots, zero turnovers and zero fouls. No one made a single mistake over the course of the game that has never happened, not even at the professional levels. So perfection is unattainable. So if we think that we're going to derive worthiness, buy something that is unattainable, we've just put ourselves on a hedonic treadmill that we can never get off of, and will never actually have a sense of fulfillment. So as a recovering perfectionist, I've learned to accept the fact that I have flaws, that I am fallible, that I'm going to make mistakes, I'm going to have boneheaded decisions, there are going to be days where I wake up, and I'm just in a funk or I'm feeling lousy. And the other shift that I made similar to what I said before, is I now give myself permission to feel those things and to do those things. I give myself the space to be less than perfect, which is good, because that's the only thing I can do, because I'm not perfect, and I never will be. So I've learned to embrace that and lean into it. And for me, I focused much more on giving my best effort on having my best attitude, on trying to be kind and be of service when I can put my my faculties into those areas, then I'm going to do the best I can with what I have, wherever I am. And to me, that's now my measuring stick, "Am I doing the best I can with what I have, wherever I am." And that's what's most important at present.Lesley Logan  And also that's something you can like live with, like just going back to basketball. We go to the WNBA. I live in Las Vegas, so Aces, love them. They're amazing. They won this year. Fabulous. Anyways, last year I was with my dad he was a basketball coach for when I played which probably my listeners was never heard that I've done sports. Yes, I have. I, I was on an undefeated basketball team. And then I probably quit too soon to be completely honest, I probably could have given that sport a little longer. However, this girl I can't remember her name. She retired last year, but she's she literally did not foul like she was standing there. And the the girl from other team like hit her after coming out in the basket. And it was like a foul, each time. And I'm like, I know this game. That was she did everything perfectly right. So you can be perfect. And someone else doesn't think it was perfect. Like for that official that was not a perfect move that she did, even though like from where I was sitting it was. And so I think like, perfection just gets to be this crazy thing. Because even when you do what you think is the most perfect thing in that moment, someone else is going to find imperfection in it.Alan Stein, Jr.  Oh, absolutely. And then what we end up doing is playing the comparison game, which is a really dangerous game to play. You know, as as a keynote speaker, which is my prime primary vocation at present. I mean, even the times where I've gotten off stage, and I felt to myself, like I nailed it. That was one of my best performances. Even when the audience agrees, you know, you see a lot of heads nodding, a lot of smiles, maybe even a standing ovation. Even in that instance, if I go back and watch the video of that keynote, I can still find a couple of things that I could have done just a little bit better. You know, maybe it was a little bit of timing or pace, or maybe I could have made a better gesture with my hands. Or maybe I forgot to make a point that I could have made. So even that is an imperfect game. But I lean into that. And that's what I enjoy is, is the challenge of it. So for me, and I know this has become somewhat of a cliche statement. I don't allow myself to get stifled by perfection. I allow myself to be inspired by progress. And as long as I'm slowly getting better, you know, can I be a better father in 2023 than I was in 2022? Can I be a more effective communicator and keynote speaker in 2023 than 2022? Can I take my my mental, physical and emotional health to a slightly higher level in 2023, then that's my goal is progress. You know, once again, by the end of 2023, I won't be perfect in any area of my life. But can I be a little bit better than I was? I saw this slogan. This was I mean, probably 15 years ago, Apollo Ohno, the famous the famous skater (Lesley: Yeah) had this thing where he said, "Be greater than yesterday." And it was the word b e and then it was the greater sign like we used to use in math yesterday. So, "Be > yesterday." And boy, that just really resonated with me. And that's kind of the goal every day. Can I make slightly better decisions and have slightly better habits this month than I did last month?Lesley Logan  Okay, so total sidenote, I used to live in LA, and there was the stairs. And oh my gosh, these stairs like there's these famous stairs that people go and do. And they're cement stairs. And then there's wood stairs. And by the time you go from the bottom to the top, it's like five or six storeys, and the cement stairs are like little steps. And you just have to like, either go two or three at a time, or you're just doing lots of little steps, right? And then there's these wood steps and I was do... I was not doing well, that day, I'd been training, I did too much training that day, and I was watching this guy go up the stairs on the wood side two at a time. So these are big gaps are huge. It's like basically leaping on one leg all the way up. And then he ran down. And then he did the other side. And I was like, "Who is this dude?" Like, what are we doing? We're just all trying to get to the top of the stairs, like what is happening? And then I looked at his face, and it was Apollo Ohno I was like, okay, fair, (Alan: Wow) I don't I'm talking about comparison. I'm not comparing my trying to get up the stairs to that guy. We are on two different athletic levels. And we have two different goals here today.Alan Stein, Jr.  Oh wow, that is that is so cool. And, you know, it is a good reminder. Why don't we pull on that thread a little bit of the comparison game, because, you know, that's another shift that I've made in my life. Because there have been times previously where I absolutely was caught on the comparison trap. And it always left me feeling hollow and shallow and never felt like I was enough. And the reason that comparison game is so difficult is because you can't win it. And why sign up to play a game that you literally have zero chance to win. I mean, no matter who you are, you can find someone that's doing better than you in a certain area of life. Like it's not that hard. I mean, I I could walk outside my place right now. And within five seconds, I can find somebody that's taller, that's better looking, that's funnier, that makes more money, that has more Instagram followers, that gets paid. Like, it's easy to do. So what I've tried to do is untether from the external and not derived my self worth, my self belief and my confidence from external metrics, but instead try to be much more intrinsically motivated. And just know that when it comes to the comparison game, and if we're looking at external metrics, yeah, there's a lot of people doing better me better than me in a lot of areas. And I'm probably doing better than some other people in some other areas. But it doesn't matter. You know, there's no reason to try to keep score with any of that stuff. And, you know, even take something like since since basketball is my passion, you know, LeBron James, a once in a generation athlete, but the king of the NBA for 20 years. And even he can't escape. People that compare him to Michael Jordan and say, "Oh, well, Jordan was better." You know, I mean, you know, Jeff, Jeff Bezos is, is an absolutely game changing entrepreneur, Amazon has changed the way we look at E commerce. And I think at the time of this recording, he's not even the richest man on the planet, because I think Elon Musk is overtaking him. So here's somebody that has changed the way we interact as human beings. And he's not technically the best if you're going to look at that metric of wealth.Lesley Logan  And also like at the time of recording this, yes and who knows, by the time this comes out. They could there's because those two and then like, there's a third guy, they're always like, just, you know, leapfrogging each other and so I you're correct, like that comparison game. I love the reminder, we can't win it. So it's like, why play? Why not just focus on yourself? And, and you mentioned something in your book, that confidence comes from ourselves. Can you kind of, can you chat a little bit about that? Because you brought up confidence. And that is one of the reasons podcast exists is everyone's like, "How are you so confident?" I'm like, "I'm so fucking scared most of the time." I'm just like, "... let's just, let's just, this is action brings clarity, it's antidote to fear. Let's just try it." But like, what, what what how did we how do we get confident? Like, where does it come from?Alan Stein, Jr.  There's a handful of things that I think contribute to our confidence. And once again, I'm only going to speak to the first person and things that have helped me. First, it comes from demonstrated performance, it comes from competence, you know, when when you do something over and over, and you see that you can do it, you start to derive some confidence in your ability to do that. Now, in fairness, that type of confidence is is somewhat compartmentalized, you know, you might put a whole lot of time and attention into becoming a really good Pilates instructor. That doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be confident in every other area of your life. But you'll be a very confident Pilates instructor. So it comes from demonstrated performance. It also comes from keeping the promises that we make to ourselves, like keeping our word. You know, if I tell myself that I'm going to get up every morning and go work out. As soon as I don't do that. I've broken my word and my promise and my commitment to myself, and that's going to undermine my confidence. Now, whether or not these are world class workouts, whether or not I do them at five in the morning. All of that's irrelevant. But if I promised myself I'm going to work out in the morning, and I do if I can start to string several of those days together, it starts to snowball and it starts to add to my confidence. Confidence also comes from the little voice in our head, in our self narrative, our self talk. And we have to be very careful about how we talk to ourselves. I think I can make a compelling argument that the things we say to ourselves in silence might be the most important things we ever say. And we have to make sure that we talk to ourselves in a kind, compassionate, encouraging way, you know, many high performers that I've been around, and I was guilty of this as well, can be very self critical, very self judgmental, when things aren't going well, we can pile it on, instead of giving ourselves some space and some grace to simply know that we're doing the best that we can. And and I found that when we do these things, and and then part of it, too, is not playing the comparison game. So there's three things you can do. And then if you can resist the temptation to play the comparison game, because that will zap your confidence too. You know, I mean, once again, I'm a keynote speaker, I take a tremendous amount of pride in my craft, I love what I do. I know dozens and dozens of speakers that are on bigger stages that I am, that command bigger fees, that have bigger followings, that have spoken to bigger brands. And I cheer for them. I'm happy for them. I hope that I can work on my craft to the point that that I earned an opportunity to do some of those things. But I don't compare myself to them. Because it will leave me feeling less than and that would undermine my confidence.Lesley Logan  Yeah. So yes, all those things you brought up like, though, like you said, the workout doesn't have to be like a 5am, doesn't have to be like the world class workout. It's just that you did it. Like that's a confidence bucket. And so I study with BJ Fogg who, Tiny Habits, right. And it's like, you don't have to go big or go home, y'all like your workout can be five jumping jacks in your living room. Like that could be the like, that could be it. You know what I mean, like, there's, I'm working on my pull up game just dropped drastically after the pandemic, when I'd have access to ... moved to Vegas, I didn't have anything. And so I've been getting on my Cadillac and going over to do every day, it's just hanging here and try to hold on without our ... That's all we're gonna do it, we're not going to try to pull up anything. And so then when I went to the gym last week, and the trainer said, we're gonna do five pull ups, and I could use a Thera-Band, whatever. I was, like, oh, yeah, I can, I can do that. Because I have been showing up every day and just holding on to the bars, making sure that I have the grip strength for it and I think we tend to think that if it's not world class, if it's not something you'd share with your friends, which is just another version of comparison, you know, it's not worthy. And actually, those are the things that helped build the most confidence. It's like just the fact that you got there that day, because you said you would.Alan Stein, Jr.  Absolutely. I love that, you're basically talking about making small incremental gains over time. You know, one of the analogies I use when it comes to outcome versus process, is if you ever were tasked to build a brick wall, don't really worry about the wall, just focus on laying bricks with as much care and precision as you can. And if you take a brick, and you set it exactly where it needs to go, and then you take another brick, and you set it exactly where it needs to go. If you do that enough times the wall will just take care of itself. And there gonna be some days in our lives where we only lay one or two bricks, and then there'll be some days in our lives where we'll lay 150 bricks, you know, but every single brick takes you a little bit closer to completing that sound, sturdy wall. So every brick matters. And when we can learn to focus on the reps, focus on the bricks, saying, you know, today I'm tired, I'm a little off my game, I'm feeling lousy, you know, maybe I need a day off, and I'm not gonna lay any bricks today. That's okay, we we need some space to do that. But if I am going to lay some bricks, maybe it's only a couple of them. But I'm going to lay them with as much care and precision as I can. Because if you start just laying sloppy bricks, and you just start kind of throwing them up, you just end up with a pile of bricks, you don't end up with a sound sturdy wall. So we the care and the precision. And the quality is always more important than the quantity or the speed when it comes to most things in life.Lesley Logan  Yeah, yeah. Oh, my goodness, this is like, I think, I think one of the things that I'm hearing from all of us, it's also just the grace that we can give ourselves the kindness. And you said it, you said, the things we say to ourselves and ones listening might be the most important things we say. And it's so true, because you can lay the bricks every day. And then when no one's around, tell yourself something horrible and remove everything you built from the bricks that day.Alan Stein, Jr.  Yeah. Well, you know, it's interesting when when we don't perform well, or we don't show up as our best selves, or we make a poor decision. The only way to make that worse is the pile on shame and guilt and criticism. And that tends to be the default for most people. So it's like, Okay, I just made a bad decision, or I made a bad choice. Or I said something I wish I wouldn't have said or, or I laid a few sloppy bricks. Well, that's now in the past. There's nothing I can do about that. And I can make it worse exponentially worse by then being very critical and beating myself up and you know that what we need to learn to do and this is something I work on all of the time with my self, is learned to speak to ourselves with the same kindness, compassion and empathy that we would speak to a loved one. You know, I know you and I are just meeting and just getting acquainted, but let's just say we've been friends for a decade. And if, if you called me up tonight and said, "Man, Alan, I just had a rough day. You know, this went wrong, this went wrong. I said this, and I shouldn't have. I didn't show up as my best self." You know, the first thing I would do as your friend would be to try to comfort you and just say, "Hey, I know what it's like to be a little off your game. I'm sorry that things didn't really line up in your preferred manner today. But I believe in you. And I know you're good enough to learn from this, and I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a better day." I would still hold you accountable. You know, if you did something that warranted an apology, or needed to make amends, then I would encourage you to do that. This is not about you know, condoning less than exemplary behavior or less than ideal standards. But my natural inclination would be to comfort you as your friend, my natural inclination as a father is to comfort my children when things are tough. It would not be to be critical. If you called me up and said that the last thing I would do would be to start berating you and make you feel worse and try and guilt you and shame. You know. (Lesley: Could you imagine?) But that's how we talk to ourselves. (Lesley: Yeah.) So so if we can learn to talk to ourselves the same way we talk to those that we love, I think that's better. And again, I want to stress the fact this is not about saying, doing something bad is okay. It's just saying that that is now done, we need to learn from it, we need to learn pull the lesson from it, we need to give ourselves grace and space, to be less than perfect. But then we need to move to the next play. Yet, we can't keep dwelling on it.Lesley Logan  Yeah, I was probably in 2019. I was at this conference. And one of the speakers asked everyone to write down the things that they say to themselves when no one's listening to like write them down. And so write them down. And then she asked for two volunteers. And I was like, "I know where this is going. And I'm not volunteering for that." (Alan: Yeah) And these two girls got up there. And then she made them read what they wrote to the other person as if it was about them. (Alan: Oh, wow.) I get I get tearful every time I think about it, because like, the first girl couldn't even do it. She like couldn't, she couldn't even she's like, "No, you I can't do that." And she's like, "Well, this is what you have to say this." And she couldn't and she like, everyone was crying because like, most of the things that she's saying, we all have written down in some form on our piece of paper, like we're all saying the same nasty things for ourselves. And by just that, just that visualization in that scene, and I was like, "Oh, we have got to stop. This is a serious problem." Like, it's not like just like a problem, I'm keeping to myself, this is like a massive problem that I'm doing to myself every day. And if I'm expecting myself to support others, I have to support myself, I can't do that that's going to be a burnout. Like, that's not gonna lead to any success of any kind.Alan Stein, Jr.  Oh, gosh, that's such a powerful exercise. I love that. And imagine that. You can't even bring yourself to say this to another human being, even if they're a complete stranger. And yet we say these things regularly to ourselves. So the the self talk and the self narrative is so important. And, you know, part of that is a lot of these things that we think and believe as truths, aren't really truths. They're, they're just narratives that we've told ourselves, and we've told ourselves these stories long enough, that we start to think that they're true. And there's, there's some examples and some things in our past that we believe, solidified as being true. But it's, it's not an actual truth. You know, most of what gets discussed in the world today is not truth, is not factual. You know, it's, it's a perspective, it's a, a vantage point, it's a, you know, it's a way that we're choosing to interpret it, which is why, you know, you could take something like the pandemic, which, you know, was was really tough on a whole lot of people, but but you and I could have completely different viewpoints on it, you can say the pandemic was the worst thing to ever happen to humanity. And I can say it was the best things for a variety of different reasons. And neither one of us is right, you know, it's a matter of perspective. So we just have to remember that when we tell ourselves these stories, we give ourselves these labels, we make statements like, you know, I am not disciplined, or I am not this, it's like, we that's just what you're telling yourself. (Lesley: Yeah) But the beautiful part is, we're the authors of our own story. Like you can change that whenever you want. You know, you know, when you can start becoming a more disciplined person, the very next decision that you have to make in your life, you have an opportunity to make a slightly more disciplined decision. So do that there's an opportunity. Now you may have 50 years of experience of making really undisciplined, poor decisions, but you can't change any of them. Those are all behind you now. But the very next decision you make, the very next meal you make, the next time it's time to go to bed, the next conversation that you have, you can make a more disciplined decision and then start stringing some of those along and you can start to tell yourself a different story.Lesley Logan  Yeah. Because the things that we think first of all your thoughts, you are the thinker of your thoughts, you can actually think and you thought, but also, it's just a habit. That's just a habit. That you are someone has been telling yourself that story for 50 years, that's a 50 year old habit, it's you have to unravel that, you're gonna do something different. But if you're aware of it, and you want to change it, it's possible. And I think we forget that there's some there's possibility out there for us to make different decisions and think different thoughts and have the life that we want to have the confidence that we want, by just making those small changes over time and not being trying to be perfect over and going, well, fuck that up today. I'm gonna that's it for that break. That's it for that new thought pattern.Alan Stein, Jr.  Yeah, and one of the main things I want your listeners to leave with this is, is this concept of compassion, you know, is, is be compassionate to yourself, but be compassionate to others as well. And compassion and high standards can coexist. I mean, I'm not telling people to lower their dreams or lower their core values or lower their standards, anything. But in fact, I think we should be raising all of those things, but then encouraging ourselves and cheering ourselves on to reach those higher bars. So this is not about condoning apathy, or just allowing ourselves to do whatever we want and saying, "Oh, that's fine, I'm going to be kind to myself." I think we should have high standards of excellence. We should live by our core values and be crystal clear on what they are. I think we should dream as big as we can possibly dream. But just know that that part of the human condition is we're going to get bumped and bruised, we're going to fall down. We're going to make mistakes, we're going to lay imperfect bricks, we're gonna say stupid stuff. That's just part of it. And don't make that worse.Lesley Logan  Oh, Alan, you are amazing. This has been awesome. Where can people find you, follow you, get your books?Alan Stein, Jr.  Well, alansteinjr.com is kind of the hub, that's information on all of my speaking programs. I'm also very easily found and very accessible and responsive on social media, just @allnsteinjr. So if anyone if you have a question, you want to share something, you want to keep this dialogue going, just shoot me a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook. I'm very good about getting back to folks. And if you have an interest in either book, Raise Your Game or Sustain Your Game, you can get an Amazon or Audible or wherever you'd like to get books and audiobooks.Lesley Logan  Okay, before I let you go, you've said so many amazing things like this is going to be one I re listen to over and over but bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps people can take. What do you have for us?Alan Stein, Jr.  All right. There's there's two that I can think of. The first is a self audit. And I do this during a lot of my keynotes and workshops. I want folks to take out a piece of paper and draw a vertical line down the middle. On the left side of the paper, I want you to come up with an exhaustive list of the things that fill your bucket. The things that light you up. The the things that gets you excited, that make you smile, that gives you confidence. The things you just love to do. This could be taking a Pilates class or jumping on your peloton bike or taking your dog for a walk around the lake. This could be watching a documentary or a funny movie or listening to a podcast or reading a good book. This could be enjoying the stillness of the early morning while sipping on some coffee, or reading the paper. It could be conversation with a loved one or meditation or prayer. But come up with a list of all of the things that nourish your soul and make you feel alive. Then on the right side of the paper, the right side of the line, I want you to write down how you've been spending the bookends of your day, your morning and your evening routine. How have you been spending the first 60 minutes after you wake up? And how have you been spending the last 60 minutes before you go to bed and and I don't want you to write down what you wish you did or what you think you should do. I want you to write down what you've done in the past several weeks and look for some patterns. And then to complete this self audit, I just want you to compare the two sets of notes, the two sides of the paper and ask yourself a very important question. Are you doing the things in your morning and evening routine that you know fill your bucket and make you feel most alive? The things that energize you and if you're if you do this with some humility and some vulnerability and some honesty, you'll most likely start to see a disconnect, you'll start to uncover what's called a performance gap. And that's the gap between what we know we should do to feel alive and feel like our best self. And what we're actually doing. And one of the key tenants of my work is helping folks close that gap, do the things that we know we need to do to be the best version of ourselves. You know, if if you know you love doing this thing, and then you're like, "Well, I hardly ever do it." Well, that's probably why you you feel apathy. Why you have low energy, why you're in moods all the time, start doing the things that you know you love to do. So that's one very practical exercise. The other is a little bit more evergreen and esoteric and I'll use it in the first person again. So I'm 46 years old. I have a crystal clear vision of the man I hope to become 20 years from now. I want the 66 year old Alan to be physically, mentally and emotionally fit. I want the 66 year old Alan to have a strong, deep loving connection with his children, his family and his friends. And I want the 66 year old Alan to be doing work he considers meaningful and in service of others. That's the man I strive to be 20 years from now. Now, I fully acknowledge that time is not promised, tomorrow is not guaranteed that even though I take great care of myself, there is no guarantee that I'll even live to the age of 66. But barring something unforeseen, I don't see why I won't. So here's how I use that, every single decision I make in my life, I simply ask myself, "Is this going to take me closer to becoming that guy? Or is it going to take me further away?" You know, when it's time to decide what I'm going to eat for breakfast, you know, Option A or Option B, which one will take me closer to being physically, mentally and emotionally fit, you know, who I follow on Instagram, what I watch on Netflix, you know, what I choose to do for my morning routine, are these things taking me closer to that guy, or further away. I intentionally make it binary. And my goal every day of my life is to make as many decisions as I can, that are in alignment with becoming that guy. Now, I'm not batting 1000, I've never had a perfect day. But if most of the decisions that I make, are in alignment with becoming that person, then 20, 20 years from now, that is exactly who I'll be. I don't want anyone to be surprised by it. I will be designing my future by the decisions I make in the present. And the beautiful part is, I'm not postponing being that guy, 20 years from now, because I'm reaping those same benefits in the present, because this is when I'm making those decisions. And I sure hope this doesn't sound like it's lacking humility, because it comes from a really grateful place. But right now at 46 years old, I am physically, mentally and emotionally fit. I do have an amazing connection with my children and family and friends. And I am currently doing work that I believe is in service of others, and hopefully making a contribution to those around me. So that's the person I aim to be 20 years from now. But that's also the person I am today, because these are the decisions that I make on a daily basis. And the last thing that I'll leave your listeners with, this is kind of my recalibration exercise every single night. I basically say to myself, "Alan, you just traded 24 hours of your life, for the progress that you made today. Are you happy with that trade?" And if the answer is yes, I get a very restful peaceful night's sleep. On the rare occasion that the answer's no. Today was not my best day. I didn't show up as my best self. And I'm feeling kind of lousy. I was in a funk. I give myself some grace and some compassion. I remind myself that that nobody's perfect. And I get another crack at this thing tomorrow, and I still get a restful peaceful night's sleep.Lesley Logan  Oh my goodness. I'm obsessed. I love it all. I also can't think of a better way to explain how you be it till you see it and the way you just described number two right there. Like that is so cool. Y'all, how you gonna use these tips in your life? Tag @alansteinjr, tag the @be_it_pod. Share this with a friend. Share this with a friend who needs to understand how to have more confidence and more compassion for themselves. And until next time, Be It Till You See It.That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review. And follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcasts. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the @be_it_pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others BE IT TILL YOU SEE IT. Have an awesome day!  Be It Till You See It is a production of Bloom Podcast Network. Brad Crowell   It's written, produced, filmed and recorded by your host Lesley Logan. And me Brad Crowell. Our associate producer is Amanda Frattarelli.  Lesley Logan   Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.  Brad Crowell   Our theme music is by Ali at APEX Production Music. And our branding by designer and artist, Gianranco Cioffi.  Lesley Logan  Special thanks to our designer Mesh Herico for creating all of our visuals, (which you can't see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all the video each week, so you can. Brad Crowell  And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each episode, so you can find it on our website. And finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.Transcribed by https://otter.aiSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on the KORE Women podcast, Dr. Summer Watson welcomes back to the show, Cindy Kolbe! Cindy was on the show in 2019 and so much has happened since her last episode. Cindy is the author of the book Just Keep Swimming: a crash, a quest, and waves of hope, which is the second edition of Cindy's memoir. The original edition is entitled “Struggling with Serendipity.” Cindy has been a lifelong disability advocate, directed a nonprofit, managed group homes, and taught literacy at a state institution. She is a peer mentor for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and supports other Warrior Moms, as well as other disability and mental health nonprofits.  Cindy lives near Boston and presents workshops at Abilities Expos across the country. She is a frequent guest on podcasts and published over 50 articles in three years in 22 different media. Her work has been featured in Tiny Buddha, Power of Moms, Option B, Women for One, Parent (now Motherly), Stigma Fighters, Grown and Flown, and more.   You can connect with Cindy on: Facebook (@justkeepswimmingbook), Instagram (@cindybkolbe), and her website (www.cindykolbe.com), which includes her newsletter titled, “Just Keep Swimming!”  Thank you for taking the time to listen to the KORE Women podcast and being a part of the KORE Women experience. You can listen to The KORE Women podcast on your favorite podcast directory - Pandora, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, JioSaavn, Amazon and at: www.KOREWomen.com/podcast. Please leave your comments and reviews about the podcast and check out KORE Women on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also learn more about the host, Dr. Summer Watson and KORE Women at: www.korewomen.com

EP 1585 Book Review Option B เป็นหนังสือที่สอนให้เรารู้จักเข้มแข็งและสามารถลุกกลับขึ้นมาได้หลังจากเกิดเหตุการณ์ร้ายแรงต่าง ๆ ผมนำมา Review ไว้เผื่อเป็นประโยชน์กับหลาย ๆ ท่านนะครับ

This week, we sit down with Rachel Thomas, Co-founder and CEO of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org, and Alexis Krivkovich, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, to discuss the 2022 edition of McKinsey and LeanIn.Org's Women in the Workplace report, including why women leave the workforce, how to retain better representation and leadership, and the ups and downs of hybrid work and flexibility.

This month for the Full Book Cup Club Christina and Meghan read  "Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy" by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant. In this episode we talk about what's great and what's lacking in the book, with a few stories in between, as usual. We hope you find these discussions helpful!Full Book Cup Club Book of the Month:Each month we will choose a new book to read together as a community. This month, join us in reading  "Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy" by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant.Next month, we'll be reading "The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life" by Shawn Achor. Support the showIf you find this podcast helpful, please subscribe and leave us a review! Having reviews is the best way for people to find this podcast. New episodes are available every Wednesday. Thanks for being here! You can also support the show by buying us a coffee :)Find us on Facebook and Instagram too!

In this episode, we discuss the relationship between bad ideas and creative genius, the three biggest lessons from studying the most successful hedge fund on earth, why a stranger may often be a better judge of your abilities than you are, and the key things that stand in the way of developing more self-awareness and how you can fix them, why it's so important to invest in the ability to make better decisions, and much more with our guest Dr. Adam Grant. Dr. Adam Grant has been Wharton's top-rated professor for six straight years and has been named a Fortune 40 under 40 and one of the world's 10 most influential management speakers. He is the multi-bestselling author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B, which have been translated into over 35 languages. His work has been featured on Oprah, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and he is the host of the new TED Podcast, WorkLife...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While we all want a life of Option A's, we all will live a life full of many Option B's...It's up to us when those moments come, to make the most of them, in which we may just find that Option B was the right option all along! Follow Josh on Instagram Follow the Daily Drive on Instagram Sign up for Josh's News Letter Visit the Daily Drive Website Email Josh at josh@joshdowns.com

Welcome back everybody. This is the Front Seat Life podcast, and I am Jessica Butts bringing you another episode in the Healing the Hustle series. I know it's confusing, but it's what I'm doing at the moment. Today's episode is a bit of a mess.I'm talking about how to show up when you are not okay. Because part of our hustle is absolutely people pleasing. Absolutely pretending, like everything's fine. And I'm not okay today. The cons of doing this in real time, in real life, as I've promised to be doing, is that sh*t happens, but the show must go on. I got kicked in the gut and I do believe that I really, really struggled with whether I do the podcast, or I just not do it?That was option A, just skip a week. Option B, which is not really an option for me was to show up and be fake. To show up and pretend like I don't have super wonky energy. And that is part of, again, the hustling that we do. This is part of the everything's fine culture. It's part of the culture that I've calling BS on for 11 years probably. This is just not healthy. It's not healthy to pretend like everything's fine.It's not healthy for us or for our relationships to show up in an inauthentic way and from our backseats. The backseat is when we're doing too many things that we suck at, or someone breaks our heart… So, option C was to show up, record the podcast, be true to my commitment, and be authentic. Please listen and I'll explain what is going on and hopefully what I share will help you if you find yourself in a similar situation, which does seem to happen to us all from time to time.And remember, I always love hearing from my listeners. Feel free to reach out to me via email and of course I would love, love, love a review on iTunes, it helps others find us. And don't forget to subscribe and follow for future episodes.For more about Jessica and additional episodes, visit https://jessicabutts.com/Follow Jessica on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jessicabuttsma/Front Seat Life Podcasthttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/front-seat-life-podcast/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/99-how-to-show-up-when-you-are-not-okay-healing-the-hustle

‘Adam Grant' นักเขียนเจ้าของหนังสือชื่อดังอย่าง Think Again และ Option B ผู้เป็นทั้งนักพูดที่มีผู้ชมนับล้านวิวใน Ted Talk และอาจารย์ที่นักเรียนโหวตให้หลายปีซ้อน แต่ท่ามกลางทักษะมากมายหลายด้าน ‘ศ.ดร.นภดล ร่มโพธิ์' มองว่าทักษะที่สุดยอดและน่าเอาอย่างของ Adam Grant คือ “ทักษะการส่งต่อความรู้” นั่นเอง . วันนี้ อั้ม ศุภกร จะมาพูดคุยกับ ศ.ดร.นภดล ร่มโพธิ์ อาจารย์ นักเขียนและพอดแคสเตอร์ชื่อดัง เรื่อง Adam Grant บุคคลต้นแบบที่ได้มอบบทเรียนและทักษะให้เขานำไปปรับใช้จนประสบความสำเร็จ . รับฟังเรื่องราวและบทเรียนจาก The Master พร้อมๆ กันได้ใน รายการ MM Remaster EP. นี้

The following question refers to Section 3.2 of the 2021 ESC CV Prevention Guidelines. The question is asked by student Dr. Hirsh Elhence, answered first by Mayo Clinic Fellow Dr. Teodora Donisan, and then by expert faculty Dr. Eugene Yang. Dr. Yang is professor of medicine of the University of Washington where he is medical director of the Eastside Specialty Center and the co-Director of the Cardiovascular Wellness and Prevention Program. Dr. Yang is former Governor of the ACC Washington Chapter and current chair of the ACC Prevention of CVD Section. The CardioNerds Decipher The Guidelines Series for the 2021 ESC CV Prevention Guidelines represents a collaboration with the ACC Prevention of CVD Section, the National Lipid Association, and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association. Question #13 You are seeing a 45-year-old woman with a past medical history of hypertension, overweight status, hyperlipidemia, and active tobacco use disorder. Her BMI is 27 kg/m2, BP is 150/75, HbA1C is 5.8%, total cholesterol is 234 mg/dL, HDL is 59 mg/dL, and LDL is 155 mg/dL. She is from Romania, a country with very high CVD risk. Which of the following statements is CORRECT? A. LDL-C needs to be decreased by at least 50%, as small absolute LDL-C reductions would not provide clinical benefit B. Hypertension is not an important CVD risk factor in our patient, as she is young. C. Prediabetes is not a significant CV risk factor for our patient, as she is not yet diabetic. D. Smoking confers a higher CVD risk for women than for men. E. Her weight does not increase her CVD risk, as she is overweight rather than obese Answer #13 The correct answer is D – Smoking confers a higher CVD risk for women than for men. Prolonged smoking increases the CVD risk more in women than in men. Our patient is 45 years old. CVD risk in smokers < 50 years-old is 5x higher than in non-smokers. Of note, smoking is responsible for 50% of all avoidable deaths in smokers and a lifetime smoker will lose 10 years of life, on average. Secondhand smoke and smokeless tobacco can also increase the CVD risk. Option A is incorrect. The SCORE2 risk chart for populations at very high CVD risk places her at a 14% (very high) 10-year risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death. She would derive benefit even from incremental reductions in LDL-C values. The absolute benefit of lowering LDL-C depends on both the absolute risk of ASCVD and the absolute reduction in LDL-C, so even a small absolute reduction in LDL-C may be beneficial in high- or very-high-risk patients. Furthermore, the reduction in CVD risk is proportional to the decrease in LDL-C, irrespective of the medications used to achieve such change. This remains true even when lowering LDL-C values to < 55 mg/dl. Option B is incorrect. Hypertension is a major cause of CVD regardless of age, and the risk of death from either CAD or stroke increases linearly from BP levels as low as 90 mmHg systolic and 75 mmHg diastolic upwards. Particularly relevant for our patient, lifetime BP evolution differs in women compared to men, potentially resulting in an increased CVD risk at lower BP thresholds. Option C is incorrect. Type 1 DM, type 2 DM, and prediabetes are all independent risk factors for ASCVD. Of note, it would be important to address this risk factor with our patient, as women who develop type 2 diabetes have a particularly high risk for stroke. Option E is incorrect. All-cause mortality is lowest at a BMI on 20-25 kg/m2 in apparently healthy patients. Even overweight patients are at increased CVD risk. There is a linear relationship between BMI and mortality in non-smokers and a J-shaped relationship in ever-smokers. In patients with heart failure, a lower mortality risk has been observed with higher BMI – the “obesity paradox.” It would be important to evaluate the waist circumference in our patient, as both BMI and waist circumference are associated with ASCVD risk.