POPULARITY
Categories
In this episode of the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast, Donna Peterson discusses a growing leadership issue inside companies using AI.Many teams are increasing speed. Fewer are defining direction.AI accelerates output, but without documented guardrails, it can quietly amplify misalignment across departments. When messaging, tone, and strategy drift, trust weakens, especially in long sales cycle B2B environments.Using a practical analogy from Olympic Super-G skiing, Donna explains why leaders must define the boundaries that keep teams aligned and moving efficiently toward the same goal.In This Episode:Why AI increases both speed and riskHow unclear direction creates internal driftThe leadership cost of repeating yourselfWhat true AI guardrails includeWhy monthly AI alignment meetings are essentialThe risk of layering new tools without structureHow shared templates improve consistencyThe connection between alignment and trustKey Leadership Insight:If you are repeating tone, mission, or positioning guidance across departments, it may not be a personnel issue. It may be a documentation issue.AI amplifies whatever structure exists.Without guardrails, inconsistency scales faster.With guardrails, trust compounds.Practical Action Steps. After listening, consider:Writing your company's WHY in one clear paragraph.Defining your tone in five specific words.Reviewing whether current AI outputs reflect that tone.Evaluating whether your team is aligned around shared templates.Scheduling a monthly AI alignment discussion if one does not exist.If this conversation resonates, the full episode provides detailed examples and implementation guidance you can apply immediately. Listen to the complete episode to understand how to build AI guardrails that protect your mission and strengthen long-term growth.If your organization is ready to bring structure and clarity to your AI implementation, we would welcome the opportunity to work with your leadership team. *** Reach out to dpeterson@worldinnovators.comif you'd like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams.*** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies.*** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.
If you work less than full-time hours in your business, than you are in good company today. Five years ago, when my daughter was born, I made an intentional decision to scale back on how much I worked. Now my hours are half of what they were before, but the good news is that even on part-time hours, you can still make an impact and an income. In today's episode, I'm sharing 7 ways I streamlined my schedule while working just 20 hours per week for better time management and work life balance.In This Episode You'll:Understand the productivity of parenthood.Find out the 7 ways I streamlined my productivity.Explore the tools I use for productivity.Find it quickly:0:53 - Embracing Part-Time Entrepreneurship2:27 - Maximizing Efficiency: A Personal Journey4:29 - Seven Strategies for a Streamlined Schedule4:38 - 1: Theme Days7:44 - 2: No Call Days9:32 - 3: Content Creation Days/Blocks10:35 - 4: Selling and income producing activities13:15 - 5: Outsourcing13:15 - 6: Knowing When to Wait on Projects16:15- 7: Saying “No” A Lot19:04 Time-Saving Tools for Busy Entrepreneurs23:21 Wrapping Up and How to Stay ConnectedMentioned in this Episode:102: Ask Joy: Team Building, Delegation, & Running Multiple BrandsToggleTime CubeHoneybook - Get 50% off!More ways to connect:JOY MICHELLE INSTAGRAMWORK WITH JOY AS YOUR COACHJOY MICHELLE CO. WEBSITERead the full show notes from today's episode HERE.CLICK HERE TO GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF HONEYBOOK!If you're enjoying the content we're creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the PhotoBoss® with Joy Michelle Facebook Group! Join Now >>
Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you a busy law firm owner who doesn't have much time to think about the success of your business? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Tyson explores the transformative power of setting aside dedicated time for deep thinking and proactive problem-solving within law firms. Drawing inspiration from organizations like NASA and SpaceX, he encourages law firm leaders to regularly schedule uninterrupted time to strategize, test, and implement solutions. Prioritizing time to think as a law firm owner is very important to ensure you run your business successfully. Tyson shares some insights on why setting time aside to think is challenging but important. Most times, a lot of people are multitasking and trying to get multiple things done in a short amount of time. Though this might be your reality, it is important as a law firm owner to put time aside to think about how things are going for your firm. Especially if you are wanting to make your firm better. You need to think about how that will happen. If you take dedicated time to think about it, you can bring it to your team to get ideas flowing and start working towards that idea or goal.Thinking time needs to be scheduled and communicated to your team in order for it to work. Figure out the time of day where you are the sharpest. Maybe it's a 1 hour block in the morning, a quick 20 minute block in the early afternoon or right before bed. Decide what time works best for thinking and put it in your calendar. It is crucial to communicate this thinking time to your team so they don't disrupt it to ensure you can focus. Also, any ideas that come from this dedicated thinking time should be provided to your team so they know what you are expecting of them.Listen in to learn more!2:26 The Challenge of Prioritizing Thinking Time5:45 Proactive Problem-Solving vs. Reactive Management13:42 Scheduling and Communicating Thinking Time16:43 Common Traits of Successful Law Firms18:51 The Power of Focused, Uninterrupted Problem Solving Tune in to today's episode and checkout the full show notes here.
John Wilner, college football insider and publisher of the Wilner Hotline, joins Paul Catalina, Craig Smoak, and David Smoak to break down the Pac-12's newly released football schedule and its unique flex week format designed to maximize College Football Playoff positioning. Wilner explains how the conference's round robin structure with just eight football-playing schools allows for strategic late-season matchups that could strengthen CFP résumés and avoid duplicate championship game pairings. #collegefootball #pac12 #pac12afterdark #scheduling #mwc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Heatrick Heavy Hitters – Muay Thai Strength and Conditioning
After four failed attempts to record, we're back! Scheduling issues can be hell, but at least we were finally able to sit down and discuss some brand new reveals (most of which seem to be aimed squarely at Andrew). We also both finally got our hands on the physical rulebook for Trench Crusade, and do a bit of a deep dive into that setting. https://www.patreon.com/dicelikeice- Check out our Patreon for bonus episodes! https://dicelikeice.creator-spring.com/- I dunno, buy a mug or something! https://baronofdice.com/ - Use code 'icydice' at checkout for 5% off!
In this episode of Animal Talk Podcast, Ryne and Ayrton dive into the world of scheduling — the good, the bad, and the unintended consequences.They unpack how schedules can be incredibly beneficial for us as keepers, trainers, and managers: bringing structure, efficiency, and sanity to busy days. But they also challenge a big assumption, are our rigid schedules always good for the animals in our care?From predictable routines to time pressures, Ryne and Ayrton explore how human-driven schedules can sometimes clash with natural behaviours, welfare needs, and individual animals. This is the first part of a deeper conversation that asks an important question: who are our schedules really serving?A thoughtful, honest chat that sets the tone for rethinking routine, for people and animals alike.
In this episode, internationally renowned sex educator Dr. Nicole McNichols spills the secrets about intimacy, desire, and the power of prioritizing sex—even for busy women + tired parents. Discover how to reignite passion, deepen emotional intimacy, and break free from stale relationship patterns. Ahead, uncover the hidden health benefits of sex + why scheduling intimacy is actually scientifically proven to ramp up desire. Nicole explains the often-misunderstood realities of female pleasure, why most women aren't getting what they need in bed, and what it takes to close the orgasm gap. Whether you're single or in a relationship, learn exact scripts to communicate your needs + set boundaries—all while building self-worth, confidence, and connection. This episode is your roadmap to better sex, stronger relationships, and more pleasure in every area of life. We also talk about: How weekly sex dramatically boosts relationship satisfaction + overall wellbeing Scheduling intimacy: why “reps” + planning can truly revive your sex life Micro-novelty: adding playful, surprising touches to break out of sexual ruts Why emotional intimacy is the key to desire—especially for women The critical importance of sexual communication before, during, and after sex Debunking myths + toxic narratives around body size + body changes Ethical porn vs. mainstream porn: what it means for healthy sexuality Closing the orgasm gap: real stats on how women can access more pleasure Navigating friendships, situationships, and friends-with-benefits with confidence The link between sleep, physical health, and a satisfying sex life Mindfulness + body confidence: how to feel sexy at every stage Resources: https://nicolethesexprofessor.com/ https://www.instagram.com/nicole_thesexprofessor/ https://www.tiktok.com/@nicole_thesexprofessor Order our book, Almost 30: A Definitive Guide To A Life You Love For The Next Decade and Beyond, here: https://bit.ly/Almost30Book. Sponsors: BetterHelp | This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/almost30 and get on your way to being your best self with 10% off your first month. Chime | It just takes a few minutes to sign up. Head to https://www.Chime.com/ALMOST30. Paleovalley | Head to https://www.paleovalley.com/almost30 for 15% off your order! Our Place | Visit https://www.fromourplace.com/ALMOST30 and use code ALMOST30 for 10% off sitewide. Fatty15 | Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to https://www.fatty15.com/ALMOST30 and use code ALMOST30 at checkout. Ka'Chava | Go to https://www.kachava.com and use code ALMOST30 for 15% off your next order. Ritual | Don't settle for less than evidence-based support. My listeners get 25% off your first month at https://www.Ritual.com/ALMOST30. Hero Bread | Hero Bread is offering 10% off your order. Go to https://hero.co and use code ALMOST30 at checkout. Gaia | On https://www.gaia.com, you get access to over 8,000 original, ad-free series, documentaries, and classes — along with a global community of more than 800,000 people exploring deeper truth and human potential. Revolve | Shop at https://www.REVOLVE.com/ALMOST30 and use code ALMOST30 for 15% off your first order. #REVOLVEpartner To advertise on this podcast please email: partnerships@almost30.com. Learn More: https://almost30.com/about https://almost30.com/morningmicrodose https://almost30.com/book Join our community: https://facebook.com/Almost30podcast/groups https://instagram.com/almost30podcast https://tiktok.com/@almost30podcast https://youtube.com/Almost30Podcast Podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting: almost30.com/disclaimer. Almost 30 is edited by Garett Symes and Isabella Vaccaro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Simple Burnout Resets You Can Use Today Burnout doesn't usually arrive all at once. Most leaders only recognize it when it reaches a peak—when they can't keep up anymore, when their health starts to suffer, or it spills into their home life. But there are simple, science-backed tactics that can reduce burnout for leaders, restore focus, and reset energy during high-pressure workdays. In this episode, Blake shares insights from a recent leadership workshop and offers two simple, immediately actionable resets that help restore cognitive capacity, energy, and presence during high-pressure workdays. Episode Highlights Why Traditional Burnout Support Falls Short [01:30] - When wellness speakers and resilience training don't solve the real problem [02:15] - Why leaders are too overloaded to engage with traditional programming [02:45] - How burnout, performance, culture, and fulfillment are interconnected The Hidden Cycle of Chronic Burnout [03:20] - Recognizing burnout at peak vs. when it actually begins [04:00] - Functioning and delivering while depleted [04:30] - The difference between performing and thriving The Three Root Drivers of Burnout [05:45] - How to know if you're aligned: What percentage of your day are you in flow? [06:30] - Subconscious beliefs that drive 90-95% of decisions [07:45] - Environmental factors that shape productivity and energy The Cognitive Impact of Stress [08:50] - Losing thinking capacity under stress [09:20] - Why feeling slower or overwhelmed is physiological, not personal failure [10:00] - What becomes possible when you operate from higher alignment Two Simple Resets That Create Immediate Relief [10:40] - Scheduling cognitive breaks [11:30] - The four-second pattern that resets your nervous system [12:20] - Normalizing these practices with your team Powerful Quotes "Most leaders don't recognize burnout when it begins. They recognize it when it reaches a peak, when they can't keep up anymore, when their health starts to suffer, it spills into their home life, and their mental and emotional capacity shrinks." -Blake Schofield "Burnout is really a chronic state of misalignment across three areas: being misaligned with how you're naturally wired to thrive, subconscious beliefs and conditioning, and environment." -Blake Schofield "If you're delivering the results you're delivering now, operating at 30% to at best 70% of your capacity, imagine what becomes possible when you're operating from a much higher level of alignment." -Blake Schofield "The leaders who thrive now and in this next era are the ones who learn how to work and lead in alignment with how they're wired." -Blake Schofield Resources Mentioned Drained at the end of the day & want more presence in your life? In just 5 minutes, learn your unique burnout type™ & how to restore your energy, fulfillment & peace at www.impactwithease.com/burnout-type The Fastest Path to Clarity, Confidence & Your Next Level of Success: executive coaching for leaders navigating layered challenges. Whether you're burned out, standing at a crossroads, or simply know you're meant for more—you don't have to figure it out alone. Go to impactwithease.com/coaching to apply! Ready to Future-Proof Your Leadership? Let's explore what's possible for your team. Whether you're navigating rapid growth, culture change, or quiet disengagement…we can help with our high-touch, root-cause focused solutions that are designed to help grow resilient, aligned & empowered leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence and create impact without burning out, go to https://impactwithease.com/corporate-training-consulting/
If you've been enjoying The Independent Advisors podcast for a while now and want to take the next step in your financial journey, I'd encourage you to head to our website, jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) . Matt offers a 15-minute initial call where you can discuss your financial goals and see if JWM is a good fit for your needs.Scheduling is easy—once you land at jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) just click “Schedule Initial Call” and select a time that works best for you!There's a quick survey to fill out that will help guide the conversation and ensure your time is used efficiently.If you're ready to learn more, visit jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) and book your call today!Take advantage of our partnership with LifeLock and get discounts using our link:https://lifelock.norton.com/offers?expid=LLONEYEAR&promocode= JSPW24&VENDORID= _JESSUPWM&om_ext_cid=ext_partner_ JSPW24_Productpage $)Show Notes:Post on X from Wall St. Wingman on 2/9: https://x.com/WallStWingman/status/2020898540608741392?s=20 Post on X from Mike Silva on: 2/9 https://x.com/mikepsilva/status/2020968911827763445?s=20#338 Topics:Market Volatility: Mixed market returns with S&P 500 up 1.4% year-to-date; NASDAQ down 0.8%.Jobs Report: January payrolls increased by 130,000; unemployment dropped to 4.3%, with slowest job growth in two decades.Trucking Volumes Rise: Spot rates climbed $0.61/mile; volumes hit multi-year high, signaling robust economic strength.Inflation Insights: Real-time inflation shows sub-1% annual rate, suggesting potential for more aggressive Fed rate cuts.Tech CapEx Surge: Mega tech firms plan $200 billion in AI infrastructure spending, betting on long-term growth.Broader Market Strength: Non-tech sectors support market stability amid outperformance from transportation stocks.
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode featuring Erika Mosse from JobTread, and Russ Stephens, Co-founder of APB. Recorded during our webinar series for the 2026 State of Residential Construction Industry Report, the two unpack what actually drives the most profitable projects, pairing real data with real-world insights.This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0INSIDE EPISODE 225 YOU WILL DISCOVER Why profit “disappears” even when jobs seem healthy How scheduling delays quietly destroy margins The importance of knowing your fixed expenses per job per day Where change orders and selections cause the biggest profit leaks How systems, KPIs, and client handbooks tighten project delivery And much, much more.ABOUT RUSS STEPHENSCo-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Russ is a data analysis expert who has introduced data-driven decision making to the residential construction industry. Russ is also a proud member of the Forbes Business Development Council.Connect with Russ: linkedin.com/in/russstephensABOUT ERIKA MOSSEExperienced, dynamic business leader with a proven track record in content strategy, operational excellence, and editorial craftsmanship. Skilled in mentoring high-performing teams and fostering a collaborative environment. Passionate about innovation, great storytelling, and connecting with an audience. Believer in the joy of driving a fast car with a manual transmission.Connect with Erika: linkedin.com/in/erika-mosse-56488535/TIMELINE 2:30 Why builders don't see profit problems coming8:45 Scheduling delays as the “silent killer” of profit15:30 Fixed expenses per job per day (and why builders must know this number)22:10 How change orders and selections derail timelines33:40 The importance of systems, KPIs, and one source of truth45:20 Pricing for profit and running tighter, more disciplined projectsLINKS, RESOURCES & MOREAPB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.comAPB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuildersAPB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
Feeling overworked and underpaid even when your schedule is jammed? Paul breaks down the three decisions that turned a frantic, low-margin grind into a calmer, higher-profit practice: force capacity with DPH block scheduling, reclaim CEO time by understanding owner profit, and build a leadership team that truly insulates you from daily fires.If you're ready to stop sprinting through composites and start running a business that serves your life, this conversation lays out the playbook: intentional scheduling, owner-first economics, and a leadership team that frees you to lead. Subscribe, share with a colleague who's stuck at the chair, and leave a review with the one change you'll make this week.Use the code FLASHSALE to save $1000 dollars on the 3 Day Seminar, Click HereRegister for the 3 Day Virtual Event...THE DPH FREEDOM PRACTICE WORKSHOP (Seats are Limited!) Learn how to make more money on less days! Register for the 3 Day Virtual Practice Freedom event at https://www.dentalpracticeheroes.com/freedomTake Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.
From planning the schedule to shaping digital conversations, this episode explores how Voice of Islam stays connected across platforms. Faiza Mirza is joined by Amna Aitullah, Head of Scheduling, alongside Zofishan Naeem and Anam Mahmood, who oversee social media for the station's flagship shows. Together, they discuss collaboration, digital challenges, and how working voluntarily for Voice of Islam fosters growth, unity, and purpose.
Send us a textThanks for checking out the show! Whether you're here for the first time or coming back for more, we're so glad you're with us.Follow us on our socials - YouTube, Facebook, InstagramCheck out the latest article from Voyage Austin Magazine New Year emotions fade, gyms empty out, and goals get quiet. This episode is your reminder: goals don't carry you—habits do. We live by the principle: “We don't rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our habits.” (inspired by James Clear's systems idea).We break down two practical habits to win in 2026:Scheduling: create routines that reinforce discipline, protect freedom, and help you say no to short-term distractions.Prioritizing: ditch the myth of “balance” and replace it with focus + intentional action—so you reduce stress, lower anxiety, and know your next step.Action steps: Use a calendar, plan your week ahead, review your day daily, and start with one bite at a time.
The team dives deep into the common pitfalls that hinder muscle growth during Building Phases, and how to optimize your training, nutrition, and mindset for consistent progress.CHAPTERS00:00 - Introduction: Why building muscle is more nuanced than fat loss02:18 - The impact of training quality and session preparedness04:15 - Food's permissive role versus the training stimulus08:02 - The importance of training intensity and execution10:29 - Common mistakes: impatience, unrealistic expectations, and consistency15:14 - Overcoming mental barriers around failure and pushing yourself20:06 - Hydration and fueling strategies for optimal training performance28:43 - Managing body image, perceptions, and expectations in a building phase33:17 - Scheduling, routine, and stress management for muscle growth39:13 - The importance of patience, long-term mindset, and realistic goalsLINKSApply for Coaching: https://ecs-coaching.super.site/Living Lean Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/712032Follow Jeremiah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremiahbair/Follow Andrea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andirogersfit/Follow Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalieatswell/To Apply For Coaching With Our Team: CLICK HERE
Chuck Heinz and Jamie Lent talk aboutChuck Heinz and Jamie Lent talk about Olympics, Ted Williams, Big 12 basketball scheduling, former Tech players to be a coach, and Red Raider baseball season opener next week.
In this episode of our podcast, Scheduling Committee Chair Captain Marty Harrington discusses the March 2026 build and the continued impact of the MD-11 grounding. Marty also addresses ongoing staffing...
If you've been enjoying The Independent Advisors podcast for a while now and want to take the next step in your financial journey, I'd encourage you to head to our website, jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) . Matt offers a 15-minute initial call where you can discuss your financial goals and see if JWM is a good fit for your needs.Scheduling is easy—once you land at jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) just click “Schedule Initial Call” and select a time that works best for you!There's a quick survey to fill out that will help guide the conversation and ensure your time is used efficiently.If you're ready to learn more, visit jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) and book your call today!Take advantage of our partnership with LifeLock and get discounts using our link:https://lifelock.norton.com/offers?expid=LLONEYEAR&promocode= JSPW24&VENDORID= _JESSUPWM&om_ext_cid=ext_partner_ JSPW24_Productpage $)#337 Topics:Consumer Staples Surge: Record inflows into consumer staples due to attractive dividend yields above 4%, despite modest earnings growth expectations.Housing Affordability Crisis: Median age for first-time homebuyers hit 40, with buyers waiting 47% of their life to afford homes.Stronger Household Finances: Household net worth increased by $66 trillion; debt-to-asset ratios remain low, aiding resilience against downturns.February Market Activity: Key dates include CPI inflation print on February 11 and Nvidia earnings on February 25; expect volatility in midterm election year.January Barometer Insight: Positive January for S&P historically leads to 12.2% average annual return; January 2024 had favorable outcomes.Social Media:Facebook: @JessupWealthManagement LinkedIn: @JessupWealthManagementTwitter: @jessupwealth Instagram: @jessupwealthhttps://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/disclosures-page
Episode Notes ** On this episode of Talent Experience Live, we continue the 6 Levels of Intelligence & Automation for HR series by unpacking Level 1: Task-Level Automation and Assisted Intelligence. When teams move off Level 0, the first instinct is to automate what's repetitive and assist what's manual. Emails get triggered. Scheduling improves. Chatbots answer basic questions. Efficiency ticks up. But outcomes stay mostly the same. What We Cover in This Episode: What task-level automation actually solves and what it doesn't Real examples of Level 1 automation in HR Why efficiency gains don't equal better outcomes The hidden ceiling of point-based automation and early warning signs you're over-investing in tools without strategy If AI helps your team move faster but not smarter, you're likely here. **
If your planner looks great but your days still feel exhausting, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Organized-ish Parent Podcast, I'm breaking down why traditional schedules don't work for moms — especially default parents carrying the mental load. If you've tried planners, routines, or time blocking and still end most days depleted, this isn't a discipline problem. It's a design problem. I'll walk you through: Why most schedules weren't built for the reality of motherhood The three biggest schedule flaws that drain moms How mental load and constant transitions quietly sabotage your day Why energy matters more than productivity One simple shift you can make this week to feel more supported This episode isn't about doing more or trying harder. It's about designing a schedule that actually supports your life.
Sara Daw is Group CEO of The CFO Centre and The Liberti Group, and the author of Strategy and Leadership as Service – How the Access Economy Meets the C-Suite, which explores the fractional leadership trend and the impact on employees. The remote vs in-office workplace debate continues to burden leaders. Return-to-office mandates are on the rise, with the idea that they will boost engagement, productivity and collaboration. But do they? Worryingly, the opposite can be true. A recent Gartner survey found that among high-performing employees, their intent to stay was 16% lower with strict RTO mandates. Conversely, Gallup's latest State of the Global Workplace report reveals that remote workers are the most likely to be engaged at work (31%). Employees Work' Matters Less Than 'How They Work' While it is important for each company to decide what work arrangements work best for them – whether remote, hybrid, or in office full-time – this misses the overarching point. Instead of arguing over the 'where' of work, leaders should be focusing more on the 'how'. This is where "psychological ownership" comes in – our ability to feel that our job belongs to us. When employees feel psychologically tied to their roles, the more likely they are to be engaged and perform at their best. So how can leaders develop psychological ownership in their staff, regardless of where they work from? The Three Roots of Psychological Ownership There are three roots that underpin a sense of psychological ownership – efficacy, self-identity and having a place: 1. Efficacy – leaders, employees and their team members must understand each other's needs and feel confident that the relationship is working to meet desired goals. 2. Self-identity – work isn't just about completing tasks; it's about expressing individual skills, values and purpose. Employees need to feel that their role fits their identity and reflects who they are. 3. Having a place – individuals fundamentally want to belong. When teams work together, individuals feel part of a group of like-minded people with a shared mission, strengthening their commitment and engagement. These three roots are particularly important for a blended workforce, with employees split between working in-office and from home. So, what steps can leaders take to nurture these roots of psychological ownership in their staff? Create Control When staff have a say over their work, they achieve a sense of control in their role. This helps them to feel ownership of their tasks, boosting their motivation, engagement and performance. To increase feelings of control in employees, leaders should: Clarify the purpose and goals of staff's work but let them choose the best way to achieve them. Encourage staff to share their knowledge and insights with others – this strengthens their feeling of control by demonstrating their competence and confidence. Foster open communication channels by determining when individuals are and aren't available Build Intimacy Intimacy is a key ingredient for creating a positive and fulfilling work environment, particularly in a blended workforce. Intimacy leads to a stronger sense of belonging with colleagues, increases collaboration and conflict resolution, and deepens our appreciation of our role, its purpose and its impact. Leaders can build intimacy with and between employees by: Scheduling regular one-to-one meetings and informal catch-ups to check in on each other's well-being, goals, and challenges Be empathetic, actively listen and ask open-ended questions to show interest and understanding Arrange social events and activities that promote getting to know each other outside of work Build trust via transparency, sticking to commitments, and being consistent. Encourage self-investment How much employees invest themselves personally in their work influences their sense of ownership over their jobs. Investment can take many forms – time, skills, ideas, physical and psychological, and intellectual ener...
During the show tonight, Brooks and the boys are going to discuss the continued nightmare of college football's schedule. We are also going to start breaking down some incoming players for college football players. Starting with Alabama. During the local hour, we are bringing back offseason meetings. Tonight, it's the wide receiver room. Follow Brooks on Twitter: twitter.com/brooksaustinba Follow Brooks on Instagram: Instagram.com/brooksaustinba Subscribe to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brooksaustin Use promo code BROOKS on Sleeper and get 100% match up to $100! https://Sleeper.com/promo/BROOKS. Terms and conditions apply. #Sleeper Use my code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/FILMGUY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount Merch: https://www.universitiesforever.com/collections/the-film-guy?srsltid=AfmBOorER1HarPFY2LnaE-o7-Buoaixs652Lkv_NzIGKModpY-HVb1sV Follow Brooks on Twitter: twitter.com/brooksaustinba Follow Brooks on Instagram: Instagram.com/brooksaustinba Subscribe to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brooksaustin Merch: https://www.universitiesforever.com/collections/the-film-guy?srsltid=AfmBOorSWVqg5rlU_J9F7pluw8PS5w0WleTpUI__e81vY_hCHSllA_mN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Chuck's opening monologue. Chuck and Heath discuss the impact of Georgia losing an up and coming assistant to the NFL. Connor Riley of Dawg Nation looks at the latest stories from Georgia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2/4/26: Steele Chambers' Twitter Beef, CFP Scheduling Issues, Ohio State's “WR U” Reputation & So Much More!
Most people think the Super Bowl is just about the game, snacks, and halftime shows. Nope! This episode reveals the wild world of betting odds, bizarre props, and conspiracy theories you never knew existed—like whether Bad Bunny's gonna bring Drake out or if Sam Darnold is secretly Super Bowl MVP material. Join us for a ride through the weirdest Super Bowl bets, from orange Gatorade to barefoot Mack Hollins, and get the inside scoop on betting strategies that could make you richer than a Lombardi trophy. We break down everything from jersey numbers to national anthem lengths, plus who might be the next big coaching casualty or success story—because in football, it's not just the players who keep us glued. We also dive into the sticky reality of the NFL's bizarre scheduling, why the playoffs are so late, and whether the sponsors are secretly sabotaging your viewing experience. If you think this is just about football—you're dead wrong. This is about understanding the game behind the game, and having a few laughs while you're at it. Perfect for sports fans, degenerate gamblers, or anyone who wants a good laugh at the absurdity of it all. Plus, a cheeky debate on which halftime show legends should headline next—Blink-182 or All American Rejects? Spoiler: it's probably not the ones you expect. If you want to sound smart at the Super Bowl party—or just want to know which odds to throw your paycheck on—this episode is your new best friend. Don't miss out, hit play and turn those casual viewers into the smartest fans in the room. Pull up a chair and join the conversation!
Episode # 145 scheduling triathlon in life Today we chatted about fitting training into life. We chat about the value of routine and planning. We deep dive into how to best arrange your schedule in order to get the most out of yourself at the right time by how you arrange your workouts in a day and week with life. We also touch on the nutrition side of this fun game of Tetris.
Episode Description Your brain has spent decades as a corporate drug addict, getting its dopamine fix from deadlines, presentations, and feeling important. But when you retire, the dealer cuts you off—cold turkey. This episode explores the neuroscience behind why retirement can feel so devastating, and what you can actually do about it before you clock out for the last time. Key Topics Covered The Great Retirement Myth Why the "golden ticket" narrative sets us up for disappointment The deafening silence after the leaving party Understanding retirement as a form of grief The Science Behind the Emptiness Dopamine withdrawal: When the "pings" stop coming Cognitive decline after retirement (Whitehall II study findings) Loss of identity and social tribe Why your brain is "use it or lose it" The Five-Act Drama of Quitting Work The Run-Up: Excitement mixed with anxiety The Honeymoon: The world's longest bank holiday The 'Oh, Bugger' Phase: When freedom feels empty The Re-Build: The hard graft of reinvention The New Normal: Finding your rhythm Rewiring Your Brain for a Decent Retirement Three essential pillars to build before you retire: Pillar One: Stop Being a Noun, Start Doing Some Verbs Redefining yourself beyond your job title The "I am..." exercise (10 non-work identities) Setting achievable goals for dopamine hits Pillar Two: Build Yourself a Tribe Finding your "Third Place" (beyond home and work) Scheduling social connections like board meetings Why social connection predicts longevity Pillar Three: Find a New Rhythm Creating a keystone routine to anchor your day The art of tinkering: trying things without pressure Finding purpose through engagement, not grand passion Key Takeaways Retirement isn't just a lifestyle change—it's a neurological shock to your system The psychological adjustment is as important as financial planning, yet we ignore it completely Feeling lost or irrelevant after retirement isn't a personal failing—it's a predictable human reaction Your brain needs structure, achievement, and social connection to thrive Retirement is a "lifequake" that can clear the ground for a stronger, more authentic version of yourself Research Mentioned Whitehall II study on cognitive decline and retirement The "use it or lose it" principle of brain function Cognitive reserve theory The concept of "Third Places" in sociology Action Items for Listeners Complete the "I am..." exercise (10 non-work identities) Identify your potential "Third Place" Create one keystone routine to anchor your day Schedule social connections deliberately Start "tinkering" with new activities and interests Join the Conversation Share in the comments: What's one thing you're planning for—or anxious about—for your own retirement? Humans vs Retirement Podcast Subscribe for more deep dives into the psychology of life's biggest transitions.
During the show tonight, Brooks and the boys are going to discuss the continued nightmare of college football's schedule. We are also going to start breaking down some incoming players for college football players. Starting with Alabama. During the local hour, we are bringing back offseason meetings. Tonight, it's the wide receiver room. Follow Brooks on Twitter: twitter.com/brooksaustinba Follow Brooks on Instagram: Instagram.com/brooksaustinba Subscribe to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brooksaustin Use promo code BROOKS on Sleeper and get 100% match up to $100! https://Sleeper.com/promo/BROOKS. Terms and conditions apply. #Sleeper Use my code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/FILMGUY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount Merch: https://www.universitiesforever.com/collections/the-film-guy?srsltid=AfmBOorER1HarPFY2LnaE-o7-Buoaixs652Lkv_NzIGKModpY-HVb1sV Follow Brooks on Twitter: twitter.com/brooksaustinba Follow Brooks on Instagram: Instagram.com/brooksaustinba Subscribe to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brooksaustin Merch: https://www.universitiesforever.com/collections/the-film-guy?srsltid=AfmBOorSWVqg5rlU_J9F7pluw8PS5w0WleTpUI__e81vY_hCHSllA_mN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2/3/26: Sporting News' Bill Bender Talks Conference Scheduling Changes, Notre Dame's Lou Holtz News, Buckeyes' Super Bowl MVP Odds & So Much More!
Pierre Poilievre received 87.4% support in his leadership review at the Conservative convention in Calgary — a number we said in last week's episode would be the “most boring” because it would be neither extremely high nor problematically low. But now that Poilievre has passed this test, he has to face his next challenge: closing the widening gap in the polls between his Conservatives and Mark Carney's Liberals.This week on The Numbers, we discuss the aftermath of Poilievre's leadership review and what the polls are saying about the state of the national race. We also chat about the NDP leadership contest, where Avi Lewis has opened a wide fundraising lead. Plus, we have some new provincial polls out of B.C., Alberta and Quebec.(Our discussion of the upcoming federal byelections was before the Liberals announced they had nominated Ontario NDP MPP Doly Begum as their candidate in Scarborough Southwest.)Scheduling note: Starting next week, new episodes of The Numbers will be published on Thursdays. Look for the next episode of The Numbers on February 12!Looking for even more of The Numbers? If you join our Patreon and support this joint project of ours, you'll get ad-free episodes every week, bonus episodes several times per month and access to our lively Discord. Join here! https://www.patreon.com/c/thenumberspodThe bonus episodes are also available via an Apple Podcasts subscription.You can watch this episode on YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Two Parents & A Podcast, you already know the phase we're in - MORE nesting, third-trimester TIRED, and getting ready for baby #2 while CONTINUALLY realizing how much community matters. We kick things off with a micro-bicker (is this a new thing?!) that isn't really a REAL debate because we agree (fake flowers vs real flowers), then get into how I'm scheduling rest for “third trimester tired” instead of fighting it. We revisit last week's Bicker of the Week (drying off in the shower vs on the bath mat), share a weighted vest update (for those who asked in the comments!!), and talk about what phase 2 of nesting mode looks like when you're about to have two-under-two (spoiler: toddler-proofing everything). From there, I share my battle-tested opinions on baby shower gifts you should buy that are NOT on your friend's registry (plus two bonus picks from Harrison that are genuinely top notch). And like speaking of buying things off of registries… we spiral about why every single store now needs your phone number just to let you check out (hard pass). Then we give an update that kicked off a bigger conversation - Tate officially got off a preschool waitlist I put her on at three months old (WOAH), which leads into a conversation about community, the people you surround yourself with, and why that matters more than ever right now. And yes, your village can include DOGS… when it makes sense to add one with kids, what we're actually considering, and why this question suddenly feels very real. We wrap with a new Bicker of the Week (is it ever okay to talk to your partner once they've fallen asleep?) and a really sweet Things We DMed about celebrating other kids' wins - the kind of reminder that makes you appreciate your village (even if it's just the folks on the sidelines!!) LOVE YOU GUYS. Thanks for listening :) Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Two Parents & A Podcast! 00:03:26 Micro-Bicker of the Week: Fake flowers vs real flowers 00:05:45 Scheduling rest for “third trimester tired” 00:08:42 Bicker of the Week Re-Visit: Drying off IN the shower vs ON the bath mat 00:11:19 Weighted vest update 00:13:55 Nesting mode cont'd (and toddler-proofing everything) 00:17:55 Harrison's cookbook-only cooking era 00:21:58 My top baby shower gifts NOT on your friend's registry (+2 bonus picks from Harrison) 00:33:30 Why do you have to give your phone number before buying EVERYTHING? 00:44:44 Tate got off the waitlist I put her on at 3 months old 00:50:07 The people you surround yourself with (and why it matters) 00:58:48 We're getting a dog?! 01:07:46 Bicker of the Week: Is it OK to talk to your partner once they fall asleep? 01:11:27 Things We DMed: Celebrating other kids' wins 01:16:40 LOVE YOU GUYS #twoparentsandapod --------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors this week: *Hungryroot: For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to https:// www.Hungryroot.com/TWOPARENTS and use code TWOPARENTS *Edmunds: Checking your car's value is an easy win to cross off your to do list. Go to https://www.edmunds.com/appraisal *Hers: Visit https://www.forhers.com/TWOPARENTS to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. *Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at https://www.ForaTravel.com/TWOPARENTS *Magnetic Me: Right now, new customers can get 15% off sitewide at https://www.magneticme.com --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Two Parents & A Podcast: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/twoparentsandapod TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@twoparentsandapod Follow Alex Bennett: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/justalexbennett TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@justalexbennett Follow Harrison Fugman: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/harrisonfugman TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@harrisonfugman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
437 | Interview with John Geyston — Relationships, Retention, and Staying Fulfilled as a School Owner Podcast Description Episode 437 is a wide-ranging conversation with Master John Geyston—a longtime friend of Allie's and a school owner who's built and operated multiple locations over decades. Duane and Allie dig into what keeps John motivated at 63, what's changed about leadership and mentorship in a distracted world, and the simple business fundamentals John believes every school owner has to nail. They also get real about how different markets require different models. John compares his long-established Illinois school to his newer Tampa location, explaining why retention, scheduling, traffic patterns, and even family behavior can look totally different depending on where you are. Finally, John shares how he's expanding his impact beyond the mat through his kids' book Embrace Your Awesome, an upcoming illustrated book, and a parent-focused online program—plus where school owners can find him and his resources. Key Takeaways The “Four R's” keep you grounded: Relationships, Recruitment, Retention, Revenue John's point is simple: you can't out-marketing a weak relationship, and you can't build a stable business without retention. Many school owners get distracted chasing tactics, coaches, and “the next system,” but the fundamentals don't change. If you want a quick self-audit: ask yourself which “R” is weakest right now—and fix that first. “Friendship over membership” is a retention cheat code John heard this from Rorion Gracie: it's easy to cancel a membership, but it's hard to walk away from a friendship. That doesn't mean you have to be best friends with every family; it means you're consistently friendly, present, and invested. In a world where people are connected digitally but disconnected relationally, genuine connection becomes a competitive advantage. Different markets require different delivery—even if your principles stay the same John sees a higher dropout rate in Tampa than in Illinois, and he's had to adjust the model while keeping the same core principles. Scheduling realities (older kids getting home later), high mobility (families traveling for long stretches), and traffic patterns all change what “works.” The lesson: don't copy/paste what worked in one town and assume it will work in another. Test, measure, and adapt. Parents say they want discipline… until it's uncomfortable John points out a common contradiction: parents ask you to “crack down,” then pull their child when correction creates resistance. Duane frames it as the long game: there's no quick fix—just thousands of conversations over time. School owners have to keep educating parents that the “fight worth having” is often the one they want to avoid. Fulfillment beats “success” if you want to stay in the game long-term John distinguishes happiness from fulfillment: you can have students, money, and locations and still feel empty. What keeps him going is being “most alive” on the mat teaching, mentoring, and serving. That's a reminder for school owners: if you're burned out, it's worth revisiting what part of the job actually fuels you. Action Steps for School Owners Run the Four R's audit (15 minutes) Relationships: Do families feel known? Do you know names, goals, and what's going on in their lives? Recruitment: Is your lead flow consistent, or are you riding “hope marketing?” Retention: Where are you losing people—first 30 days, 3–6 months, pre-black-belt? Revenue: Are your prices and expenses aligned with a healthy margin? Make one schedule change that removes friction Look at your most common late arrivals and dropouts by age group. Ask: is the problem motivation… or logistics? Test a 15-minute shift for one month and track attendance changes. Build “friendly professionalism” into your culture Decide what “friendly” looks like in your school (greeting by name, eye contact, quick check-ins, celebrating wins). Train your team: you don't need BBQ friendships with every family, but you do need consistent connection. Use the lens: make it harder to leave because it feels relational—not transactional. Create a parent education script for the “I want to quit” moment Keep it calm, direct, and values-based. Remind parents: you already guide your child in other areas of life—this is one of the important ones. Use Duane's framing: the obstacle is often the way. Expand your impact beyond the mat (one small step) If you've got a message you repeat inside your school, consider how to package it: a handout, a short email series, a mini-course, or a book recommendation. John's example: turning in-school coaching into books and a parent program. Start small—consistency beats perfection. Additional Resources Mentioned John Geyston's website: JohnGayston.com Podcast: Embrace Your Awesome Lifestyle (Apple, Spotify, YouTube) Book: Embrace Your Awesome (kids 6–12; used by leadership teams and as a parent resource) Upcoming illustrated book: The Power Inside You Want to keep the conversation going? If you're a martial arts school owner, come share what's working (and what's not) inside the School Owner Talk community—and let us know what market differences you've had to adapt to (schedule, traffic, mobility, parent culture, etc.).
Coming back from a few days off work should feel refreshing. Instead, it often means opening your inbox to 200 unread emails and not knowing where to start. In this How I AI episode, we look at how AI can help you get oriented faster by scanning, sorting, and summarising what’s landed while you were away. If email is a constant source of friction in your workday, this conversation will help you approach it more strategically. We talk through practical ways to use AI to triage your inbox quickly, catch up on long email threads, and create daily or weekly digests that surface what actually needs your attention. We also cover how to use AI to write better replies in your own voice, reflect the communication style of the person you’re replying to, and schedule meetings directly from an email thread using Microsoft Copilot. Neo and I discuss: Which AI tools can access your inbox and what that depends on Using AI to summarise unread emails after time away Creating tables that show what matters, what needs action, and what can wait How to generate daily or weekly inbox digests automatically Catching up on long email threads with clients, projects, or teams Using sent items to identify emails you still need to respond to Writing better replies by analysing your own writing style Reflecting someone else’s communication style to get better responses Scheduling meetings directly from email threads using Microsoft Copilot Connect with Neo Aplin on LinkedIn and via inventium.ai, where he leads Inventium’s AI training and upskilling work with organisations and teams. My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: Martin Imber See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Todd Fuhrman's picks from Vegas Bo Nix sounds off on Sean Payton's comments about his injuries Future SEC non-conference scheduling TNR Plays Family Feud PLUS, Tyler's Viewing Menu presented by Michelson Laser Vision! FOLLOW TNR ON RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/c/c-7759604 FOLLOW TNR ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/7zlofzLZht7dYxjNcBNpWN FOLLOW TNR ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-round/id1797862560 WEBSITE: https://nextroundlive.com/ MOBILE APP: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-next-round/id1580807480 SHOP THE NEXT ROUND STORE: https://nextround.store/ Like TNR on Facebook: / nextroundlive Follow TNR on Twitter: / nextroundlive Follow TNR on Instagram: / nextroundlive Follow everyone from the show on Twitter: Jim Dunaway: / jimdunaway Ryan Brown: / ryanbrownlive Lance Taylor: / thelancetaylor Scott Forester: / scottforestertv Tyler Johns: /TylerJohnsTNR Sponsor the show: sales@nextroundlive.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In dieser Folge tauchen Daniel Dippold, EWOR, und Mike Mahlkow tief in ihre persönlichen Produktivitäts-Setups ein. Sie sprechen offen und konkret über die Tools, die ihnen wirklich Zeit sparen und ihren Arbeitsalltag effizienter machen – von E-Mail und Kalender über File Management und Meeting-Transkription bis hin zu Hardware-Tipps. Dabei geht es nicht um Tool-Overload, sondern um die Frage: Wie findet man die richtige Balance und was bringt wirklich Return on Time? Was du aus der Folge mitnimmst: Konkret & ehrlich: Welche Tools Daniel und Mike täglich wirklich nutzen und warum – von Superhuman für E-Mail, Raycast für Mac, cal.com/WimCall für Scheduling, Optiverse für Meeting-Transkription bis zu ClickUp und Google für Projekt- und Wissensmanagement. Prozess statt Hype: Wie man Tools auswählt und woran man erkennt, ob sich das Onboarding und der Wechsel wirklich lohnt. Hardware matters: Warum ein guter Laptop, stabile Kopfhörer, Mikro & Internet genauso produktiv machen wie die beste Software. Ergonomie & Gesundheit: Wie ein Laptopständer und externe Tastatur Nackenproblemen vorbeugen. Tool-Philosophie: Produktivität ist kein Tool-Overload! Es geht um wenige, aber wirkungsvolle Tools – und darum, regelmäßig zu prüfen, was wirklich Zeit spart. Bonus: Ausblick auf AI-Workflows und warum ein bewusster Umgang mit neuen Tools und Automatisierungen immer wichtiger wird. ALLES ZU UNICORN BAKERY: https://stan.store/fabiantausch Daniel Dippold LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldippold Website: https://www.ewor.com/ Mike Mahlkow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemahlkow/ Website: https://fastgen.com/ Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter: 2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach: https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/ Kapitel: (00:00:00) Produktivität: Tools und Prinzipien (00:01:30) Superhuman & E-Mail-Produktivität (00:04:42) Snippets, Scheduling und Follow-ups in Superhuman (00:07:15) Inbox Zero & Unified Inbox (00:09:09) Raycast & File-Management auf dem Desktop (00:12:15) Naming, AI-Features und Quick Links in Raycast (00:16:42) Kalender-Tools: cal.com, WimCall & Scheduling-Infrastruktur (00:22:48) Meeting-Transkriptionstools & Automatisierungen (00:26:21) Hardware: Kopfhörer, Mikrofone, Laptops & Setup (00:37:16) Die drei wichtigsten Tools für junge Companies (00:38:27) Project Management: ClickUp, Google Docs & Knowledge Management (00:42:47) Internet & Tastatur als unterschätzte Produktivitätsfaktoren (00:46:07) Ergonomie: Laptopständer & Nackenprobleme (00:47:46) Zeittracking & ROI von Tools (00:49:05) Fazit: Weniger ist mehr & Ausblick auf AI-Tools
Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing
How important is Sundance to your career as a commercial director? Matt and Oren talk about their experiences in Park City before the festival wraps up its last year in Utah. With Matt working to raise money for his latest film, “Bad Feeling”, there's a lively discussion about whether making narrative films can advance your career as a commercial director. And the answer is, for some directors, it can make you stand out. But for others, there's a better way.Then Oren talks about his latest experience shooting outside Los Angeles. And Matt and Oren talk about how to handle the shoot schedule your AD creates. And they raise some good points about what to watch for when shooting out of order. Especially when working with athletes.For example, in LA, actors and crews will help you manage issues related to continuity that have more to do with than just “was this there in the last scene”. It's Oscar time, Sundance season, and the festival circuit is just kicking off! And if you're looking to stay present in your work and while forging your career path forward, this is a great episode to help keep you grounded as the year gets rolling!Help Matts' film: wefunder.com/badfeeling---Help our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/JustShootItPodMatt's Endorsement: The films "Marty Supreme" and "Hamnet". And also Jacobi Jupe's performance in the title role, Hamnet.Oren's Endorsement: The show "Wonder Man" on Disney+. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Catch “The Drive with Spence Checketts” from 2 pm to 6 pm weekdays on ESPN 700 & 92.1 FM. Produced by Porter Larsen. The latest on the Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, Utes, BYU + more sports storylines.
If you've been enjoying The Independent Advisors podcast for a while now and want to take the next step in your financial journey, I'd encourage you to head to our website, jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) . Matt offers a 15-minute initial call where you can discuss your financial goals and see if JWM is a good fit for your needs.Scheduling is easy—once you land at jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) just click “Schedule Initial Call” and select a time that works best for you!There's a quick survey to fill out that will help guide the conversation and ensure your time is used efficiently.If you're ready to learn more, visit jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) and book your call today!Take advantage of our partnership with LifeLock and get discounts using our link: https://lifelock.norton.com/offers?expid=LLONEYEAR&promocode= JSPW24&VENDORID= _JESSUPWM&om_ext_cid=ext_partner_ JSPW24_Productpage $)· Post-pandemic travel spending surge - travelers prioritizing experiences over luxury goods (22:12)· Younger travelers spending more on travel despite financial pressures (17:49)· Rising luxury travel costs, including €2,000/night hotels in Italy (23:42)· Increase in multi-generational travel across life stages· Long-term travel planning (5–10 years) integrated with financial planning (05:28)· Early planning saves money vs. last-minute bookings, especially around holidays (10:52)· Travel advisor value & compensation model (design fees + commissions) (25:21)· Relationship-based personalization improves trip quality and reduces stress (14:53)· Importance of travel insurance for high-cost trips and risk mitigation (18:54)· Managing geopolitical risk & booking flexibility in unstable regions (29:27)· Emerging and alternative destinations to avoid crowds and improve value (27:43) https://www.huffmantravel.com/team/andre-lauren-tony Hosts:Mark McEvily - Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner Matthew Jessup – Chief Executive Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Managing PartnerAddress: 35 Park Ave. Dayton, OH 45419 Phone: 937-938-9105 https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/ Social Media:Facebook: @JessupWealthManagement LinkedIn: @JessupWealthManagementTwitter: @jessupwealth Instagram: @jessupwealthhttps://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/disclosures-page
You can't build a six figure empire on a burnt out Sunday... Here's the truth, most moms are stealing their own rest by following someone else's template for the week. If Sundays have been feeling like more of a prep day for the "Monday blues" - this episode is for you. Get ready to optimize your week based on a non-traditional approach, so you can stop forcing your life into a box and start aligning your schedule for the highest and best results. See Jessica Cerato's Strategy in action HERE ✨PS. Reclaim your time and create a routine that feels good while making you more money
Being an adult is so hard because of the constant, low-level decisions that never stop - the scheduling, the errands, the emails, the meals, the maintenance, and the mental load that quietly piles up in the background of daily life. In this episode, I'm breaking down the systems and skills that have made my adult life feel calmer, more predictable, and more manageable. Instead of relying on motivation or discipline, these are practical frameworks I use to reduce decision fatigue, lower stress, and support my nervous system through everyday life. We talk about scheduling in a way that actually works, why maintenance prevents burnout, how to manage life admin without overwhelm, why feeding yourself consistently matters more than you think, and how self-regulation ties everything together. This episode is about building a life that feels lighter - not by doing more, but by creating systems that support you when things get busy.Subscribe to Beyond Your Budget:https://breakyourbudget.substack.com/Personal Finance Starter Kit: https://breakyourbudget.substack.com/p/your-personal-finance-starter-kitHow to Be Organized Article: https://annanewton.substack.com/p/how-to-be-organised-in-2026BREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES:
Are you a telehealth therapist? Do you see most of your clients virtually? As a fully remote Canadian private practice owner, I have done lots of trial and error to find the daily routine that works for me, helps me prevent burnout, and allows me to feel recentered between each client. Of course, there are some days when I need to change things up, but now I have found a system for taking breaks throughout the day so that I am fresh and grounded before each virtual session - while avoiding burnout. If you're looking for some inspiration for a schedule or a guideline for breaks to try out, feel free to give this episode a listen! In this episode: Preventing burnout Take a short morning break A mindful lunchbreak Afternoon break and evening breaks Taking breaks throughout the week Preventing burnout 'For me, burnout is me feeling wired but tired. I'm feeling tense and jittery; my nervous system is probably overactive. I'm tired, but I have adrenaline, and a feeling of "Go-go-go!" and I start to push myself, and in this state I get a lot done - but it's really not worth it, because once I stop working, I find it really hard to relax and wind down.' - Jules Smith Burnout can be tricky to manage because it doesn't happen overnightt. While it may seem like it helps you to get more done and work a lot, it often comes at a cost. You feel overwhelmed and tired, but too wired to fully rest. This means that you don't replenish your spent energy, leaving you slowly but surely burning out until you physically can't go on. 'Even though I get a lot done in this "wired-but-tired" state, it's really not worth it in the long-run, because it just leads to burnout. So, this year I'm going to be organizing and using my breaks differently to prevent this wired-but-tired feeling!' - Jules Smith Take a short morning break In the past, Jules used to wake up and get ready for the day, log in to work, and complete tasks until lunchtime. However, they noticed that working for such an extended period of time created a tense feeling by midday. So, this year, Jules is trying out a new schedule. Rather than working in a block of time from the start of the day until lunch, Jules is taking a short break between emails and work to give their mind a break and a short rest. 'So far, what I'm noticing is just taking that little break in the morning has been really helpful in not feeling on edge by the time I take my lunch break … In the past, I would tell myself I'd take a break, but then get lost in work, and then forget to take a break. But now, because I still need to get ready for the day, I take that break each morning.' - Jules Smith If you don't work from home, maybe try giving yourself a short 15-minute coffee or tea break in between your tasks so that you have some time to recenter. A mindful lunchbreak The quick answer: No more scrolling while eating on lunchbreaks! Give audiobooks a try instead. Jules used to often scroll during their lunchbreaks, but as the therapists listening will know, social media and reels are sensory overloads to our minds. Time on social media often leaves us feeling way more jittery and wired than rested after we've spent some time scrolling. 'Our brains are processing a ton of information in just a few seconds, and doing that over and over and over again, obviously, isn't going to help me feel rested after the break is over. So, instead of going on Instagram and watching reels during lunchtime, I'm now going to be listening to audiobooks while I eat my lunch. So far, that has been really calming and relaxing!' - Jules Smith Therefore, instead of mindless scrolling, Jules is trying mindful listening, and the results have been hugely positive. Try listening to audiobooks or a quiet podcast while you eat - if you want to do something extra while eating! Afternoon and evening breaks Jules always makes an effort to head outside or go to the gym in the afternoon, since no matter which season it may be, there's a good chance the sun will be out! Secondly, (and this is something Jules has done in the past already), Jules takes a 30-minute break between each client throughout the day. 'After my afternoon break, I get home, and I set up for my clinic hours, which are in the evening, and in between each client, I always take a 30-minute break. During this time, I do the billing, I write my notes … I plan to move around, maybe eat something, look outside my window, take some breaths, and maybe do some stretching.' - Jules Smith During these 30-minute breaks, Jules also recommends staying away from your devices to minimize the risk of scrolling through social media because it can disrupt your intentional choice to rest. Protect your energy and your peace by being mindful of how you spend your breaks. Taking breaks throughout the week In the past, Jules tried out a 50/50 workweek. If you are interested in learning more or trying it out, give this podcast episode a listen where Jules describes the process, pros, and cons. For the start of 2026, Jules is making Thursdays a day to focus on SEO and have clinical meetings with their associate. So far, this system is working out great for them! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 186: Anabeli Jackson: Secure Email Solutions for Canadian Therapists | EP 186 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress! Check out my private practice Listen to my podcast episode on trying out a 50/50 workweek! Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn
Let me start with something simple—but uncomfortable.Most people don't fail at their fitness goals because they chose the wrong workout. They fail because their workouts were optional.Not bad workouts. Not ineffective workouts. Just… optional.And today I want to talk about one of the most underrated, boring-sounding, but powerful behaviors you can adopt if you want consistency, results, and long-term success:Prebooking and scheduling your workouts.Not when you “feel like it.” Not when the day goes perfectly. But ahead of time, the same way you'd schedule:A work meetingA doctor's appointmentPicking up your kidsBecause once something is scheduled… It stops being a suggestion and starts becoming a priority.Resources:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
Looking for daily inspiration? Get a quote from the top leaders in the industry in your inbox every morning. Every year, millions of attraction visitors lose hours in line instead of making memories. Since its inception, accesso's virtual queuing has saved more than 4.5 billion minutes of wait time, freeing guests to pack their day with more rides, eats, and excitement. The result? Happier guests who spend more and a better bottom line for you. Ready to turn waits into wins? Visit accesso.com/ROIClinic. The queues are virtual. The results are real. Loren Barrows is the CEO of Alcorn McBride. With a business background that includes customer service, project management, and personal development training, she found her way into themed entertainment after moving to Florida and pursuing a company whose values matched her own. She shares how she joined Alcorn McBride, why the company engineers audio, video, and show control for reliability and uptime, and how its people-first philosophy is tied directly to long-term business success. In this interview, Loren talks about helping people become better, common sense, and hiring for culture. Helping people become better “While they're there to help you with your business, you're also there to help them with life.” Loren explains that many careers overemphasize the “what” of work and underinvest in the “how” of being human while doing it. She's drawn to the skills that help people show up better day-to-day, like perspective, listening, and prioritizing what matters when life is happening around you. She also frames leadership as a two-way responsibility: businesses rely on people to run well, but leaders should also recognize the full person behind the job title. That mindset shaped her early work in personal development and continues to influence how she leads, coaches, and builds an environment where people can thrive professionally without ignoring real life. Common sense “The thing that I like the most about Steve and his philosophy when it comes to Alcorn McBride, is he does everything based on common sense.” Loren describes “common sense” at Alcorn McBride as removing unnecessary friction and trusting adults to do great work. Instead of burying people under rigid rules, she highlights a practical, human approach: if something goes wrong, fix it; if life happens, respond like a human, not a policy manual. That same thinking shows up in how the company supports customers: engineer for reliability, reduce downtime, and avoid avoidable complexity. The goal is simple: make the work easier for both the internal team and the people building guest-facing experiences, because stress doesn't stay at work, it follows people home. Hiring for culture “We hire for culture fit.” Loren says protecting culture starts with who you bring into it. At Alcorn McBride, they'd rather hire for the “how” and train the “what,” then validate technical skills while making sure the person aligns with the team's curiosity, care, and personality. She shares that their process is intentionally personal: candidates spend time with the broader team in relaxed settings, and the hiring team watches how someone reacts when the room inevitably turns playful. For Loren, culture fit is often revealed in those small human moments, not just in polished interview answers. Loren can be reached at loren@alcorn.com. She also notes their team is open to conversations, mentorship, and connections, and encourages listeners to reach out to learn more about Alcorn McBride and the work they do. This podcast wouldn't be possible without the incredible work of our faaaaaantastic team: Scheduling and correspondence by Kristen Karaliunas To connect with AttractionPros: AttractionPros.com AttractionPros@gmail.com AttractionPros on Facebook AttractionPros on LinkedIn AttractionPros on Instagram AttractionPros on Twitter (X)
Lisa Marker-Robbins argues that course scheduling is more than fulfilling academic requirements — it's a strategic signal of direction, fit, and readiness. Through her lens as a master career coach, she reframes learning as a lifelong tool for validation, confidence, and momentum.In this episode, she walks high school students, college students, and graduates through how to use classes, credentials, and real-world experiences to stand out in both admissions and hiring. Her approach emphasizes intentional choices that lower anxiety and open opportunities at every stage of early adulthood.In this episode, you'll discover:How course scheduling can signal direction in college, career, and lifeThe role of intentional learning during high school, college, and early adulthoodUsing credentials, experiences, and course choices to build employable skills and a strong resumeReframing education as lifelong, exploratory, and strategic rather than obligatoryKey Takeaways: For High School Families (01:16): Intentional course selection can validate career interests or demonstrate fit to colleges/employers using tools like dual enrollment, industry credentials, and credit flex options. For College Students (09:32): Students should protect space in their schedules to pursue real-world experiences (internships, research, projects) and short-course credentials (e.g., Coursera) that employers increasingly prioritize over second majors. For Graduates Not In School (11:37): Clarity can be regained post-graduation by treating job postings as signals for what skills or credentials to pursue next, and by viewing learning as lifelong rather than tied to a classroom. Universal Relevance (14:44): Scheduling choices—whether in high school, college, or adulthood—act as competitive career signals that lower anxiety, build momentum, and shape future options when done with intention.“Getting unstuck is often going to start with learning something new.” – Lisa Marker-RobbinsEpisode References:#169 The Hidden Impact of College Major Selection on Admissions with Rick Clark https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/169LinkedIn Guide https://flourishcoachingco.com/linkedinLaunch Career Clarity Course https://flourishcoachingco.com/courseFlourish Coaching Newsletter https://flourishcoachingco.com/newsletterBYU Online High School https://is.ce2.byu.edu/#/Coursera https://coursera.orgGet Lisa's Free on-demand video: THE CAREER IDENTIFICATION COMPASS: How To Be Certain Your 15 To 25 Year Old is On The Right Path to Launch With Confidence–Not Confusion: flourishcoachingco.com/video Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co
The Dad Edge Podcast (formerly The Good Dad Project Podcast)
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nicole McNichols, psychologist, professor at the University of Washington, and author of You Could Be Having Better Sex, for one of the most honest, research-backed conversations we've ever had about sex, intimacy, and connection in long-term marriage. This isn't about sex positions, tricks, or "trying harder." It's about why good marriages lose momentum over time, how pressure and expectations quietly kill desire, and why emotional connection is often the real foreplay. Dr. Nicole breaks down why scheduling sex can backfire, how shame and guilt around sex are learned early, and how curiosity—not performance—creates the kind of intimacy couples actually crave. I also share personal stories from my own marriage about connection, timing, and why mediocre sex just to "check the box" no longer works. If you want a healthier, more connected sex life, this episode gives you a roadmap grounded in science and real-life experience. Timeline Summary [0:00] Why this episode isn't about sex positions or tricks [1:26] Introducing Dr. Nicole McNichols and her background [2:09] Why scheduling sex can quietly backfire [2:36] How pressure and expectation kill intimacy [2:58] Emotional connection as the real foreplay [3:36] Why intimacy dates matter more than sex calendars [5:18] How Dr. Nicole became a "sex professor" by accident [6:10] Loneliness, disconnection, and the role of sexual health [7:08] Shame, stigma, and misinformation around sex—especially for women [9:14] Why healthy sex improves forgiveness, health, and longevity [10:25] The failure of shame-based sex education [12:10] Countries with sex-positive education and better outcomes [13:18] Identifying the sources of shame we carry into marriage [15:09] Why sex shouldn't be the first thing sacrificed in busy seasons [16:07] Why conversations about sex should happen with clothes on [17:00] Using curiosity instead of pressure to improve intimacy [18:11] Announcement: Dad Edge Alliance February focus on intimacy and attraction [20:03] Curiosity vs. agenda in hard conversations [21:17] Why scheduling sex alone doesn't work [22:09] Creating the right context and mood for intimacy [23:24] Sexual effort that creates pressure instead of desire [24:55] Emotional lead-up and responsive desire [26:01] Initiation–rejection cycles and resentment [27:23] "Intimacy dates" and reconnecting outside the bedroom [29:11] Larry shares a personal story about connection over convenience [31:26] Choosing quality connection over mediocre sex [33:17] Maintenance sex vs. meaningful sexual connection [35:04] Balancing connection and realistic expectations [37:22] Long-term rejection cycles and rebuilding intimacy [39:00] Hormones, menopause, and why libido changes aren't personal [41:29] Division of labor, resentment, and loss of identity [43:48] Gottman research and why distance doesn't heal intimacy [45:43] Making your partner feel seen and heard [47:23] Listening vs. fixing in emotional conversations [49:13] Resources for better conversations with your wife and kids [49:31] Dr. Nicole's book and New York Times features [50:44] Where to find Dr. Nicole and her work [53:08] Why improving your sex life is a powerful way to start 2026 Five Key Takeaways Pressure and expectation kill desire, while curiosity and emotional safety create attraction. Emotional connection is often the real foreplay, especially in long-term marriages. Scheduling sex without context can backfire if couples don't create space to reconnect first. Sexual shame is learned, and identifying its sources is the first step toward healthier intimacy. Better sex isn't about frequency—it's about quality, safety, and connection. Links & Resources 25 Intimate Conversation Starters: https://thedadedge.com/25questions Conversation Cards for Kids (Ages 5–Teen): https://thedadedge.com/kidquestions Dr. Nicole McNichols – Faculty Spotlight (University of Washington): https://psych.uw.edu/newsletter/summer-2020/faculty/faculty-spotlight-on-nicole-mcnichols New York Times – Modern Love Podcast Feature: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/podcasts/modern-love-better-sex-tips.html Book — You Could Be Having Better Sex Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1430 Closing Remark If this episode gave you language, clarity, or hope around intimacy in your marriage, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. Strong marriages don't drift into great sex—they build it intentionally, with curiosity, connection, and courage.
DAT consultant Kristy breaks down what exactly took place for a practice that didn't have a solid admin team, struggled to find team members, and other challenges to hit its goal of $3 million in revenue. She touches on what core systems were implemented, how delegation worked, case acceptances successes, and more that got this office meeting its five-year goal 44 months early. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: speaker-0 (00:00) Good morning, Dental A Team listeners. I am so excited to be here. You guys know that the consultants and I love recording these podcasts and I get to be here. This is our Monday morning mix up here for Kristy and I. have switched on some of our podcast recording and honestly starting my day. with these beautiful, beautiful minds has been something that's really, really turned a corner for me. I love starting the week and starting the day with podcasting. Kristy, thank you so much for being here today. ⁓ Gosh, how are you? How's life? How's Kristy's world? speaker-1 (00:35) Absolutely. I love being here and starting the day and the week with you as well and going well. mean, hitting the ground running end of year and really pushing planning for next year. It's been fun. Fun celebrating with clients and looking toward new goals for the new year. speaker-0 (00:55) Amazing. I love it. And you guys know we record these in ⁓ succession. We record these in advance and we get these prepped and ready for you. And something we're really excited to bring you today is something Kristy's found within her digging. So every year we help all of our clients prep for the next year. We look at what did we do this year? What was your growth this year? And it gives us an opportunity to see everything that has been done and what's worked really, really well. With all of our clients, we do this obviously monthly. And then we do a really big quarterly report and get all those information over there and make sure that we're on track for our yearly goal. But at the end of the year, it's this big push to say, realistically, realistically, where are we? And then where can we take you next year to really prep and plan? So this I am really excited for. like to, you know, I like to pick the brains of the consultants. And towards the end of the year now, as Kristy is getting all of these things ready and this recording, you know, comes out early January that or early new year, I should say at least. ⁓ We're just really excited to be able to see these numbers, share them with you, and then share some tactical pieces that Kristy's been able to develop and implement with this specific practice we picked today. So I am so excited, Kristy. Thank you for being here. Thank you so much for allowing me to pick your brain on your clients. I know you have a handful of platinum and gold clients that you work with constantly. are a... ⁓ you are a digger. Like I feel like you just you dig and you dig and you dig until you find that last missing piece that is that you know, I feel like you've got like thousand piece puzzle and you find you finally found that piece hiding under the table to finish your puzzle and that's it feels like that's what you did this year with this specific client. So Kristy again, thank you for letting me pick your brain and gosh, I I think the best place to start Kristy is to really highlight where they were this specific practice and then we can get into where you were able to take them with your consulting and their ⁓ you know their leadership within the practice. So where were they when they came to Dental A Team? They signed up just so you guys know as a platinum client. So this means that they had an hour and a half of dedicated time with Kristy dedicated means an hour of time an hour and a half of time with Kristy with access to Kristy outside of that. So that's why it's that dedicated time. So I know there were emails and there were text messages and then they also did the platinum package has two in office visits or our in person masterminds choice to be made there at sign up. So just so you know, they had the full package and Kristy take us, take us through it. Where were they when they signed up for that platinum package and they were just like, girl, get in my office. We need you here. What did their life look like? Yeah. speaker-1 (03:38) ⁓ truly Tiff, they were about 2.8 million last year and really pushing, striving to hit over that $3 million mark for this year. ⁓ but really having, struggling with team. they had no admin team members really when we started. so, ⁓ outsourced insurance, ⁓ trying to get that back on track and really struggling to find teammates, ⁓ of quality. So there was a lot of moving pieces I would say for this year. speaker-0 (04:14) Yeah, and how many providers did they have in office at 2.8 million for reference? speaker-1 (04:18) ⁓ Actually, they had ⁓ two and a half because they did have an associate starting the year as well, which phased out ⁓ through the year. speaker-0 (04:31) and how many hygienists. speaker-1 (04:34) three, three, four. speaker-0 (04:35) Hygienist, awesome. For two and a half doctors. Yes. Yeah, that makes sense. So thank you, Minette 2.8. I've been really looking to break that 3 million barrier with two and a half doctors, three hygienists. I like three hygienists is probably a little bit light for two and a half doctors, but that's where that 2.8 comes into play. It actually works out perfectly. So looking to really increase hygiene, to increase doctors, to really hit the ground running and get that 3 million. speaker-1 (04:38) Yeah, two and a Okay. speaker-0 (05:03) As you said, when they came, I think they, I recollect that they came and they just really didn't know what that extra piece was for that 200,000. Like they were like right on the cusp of it and where do I find it? And even just saying that, like going from 2.8 to 3 million, right? That 200,000 is like, oh, when I say it as 200,000, now I can think in providers, what do I need to do as far as providers, as far as treatment, et cetera? That makes sense. So it sounds like they needed an extra at least 200,000. They needed team members. They needed to figure out why they didn't have team members and then probably reduce their outsourcing and bring stuff back in-house, I'm sure. So Kristy, as it just brought oversight before we get into the nitty gritty, that's where they started. 2.8 lacking team members, really needing a plan. I know their profit was reflective of 2.8, they were reflective of needing more profit. Now, by the end of the year, so by the end of 2025, working as a platinum client with you, where did they end up? speaker-1 (06:10) Yeah, they're ending the year over 3 million and actually even cut working hours, Tiff. And I'll back up a minute and say truly, it was probably closer to two doctors by the time they split hours and still looking for another hygienist actually to add to the mix. with that being said, they hit their mark and surpassed it for sure. They've got about 18.5 % growth over last year. and doctors working less hours. speaker-0 (06:41) Amazing. And I think that's the ultimate goal, right? Most doctors come in and they're not like, okay, Kristy, teach me how to work five days a week and make $300,000. They're like, teach me how to work three days a week, two days a week, even get an associate in place and make $3 million or more, whatever that goal is. So 18 and a half percent growth is massive. And I know that's reflective also in their profit. And then where did their team kind of, I know that there's You guys, just have to say this for whatever reason, an instability in teams is not super uncommon anymore. It's just, is an ever fluctuating space. It's a, it's a moving piece that dentistry has not had in our lives before. think it's been in other industries. think other industries have felt these kinds of waves and they've dealt with this. It's not something that dentistry has really had until the last few years. So to say that they, had a lot of outsource to say that they had not as many team members as they might need coming into the year is not the most uncommon thing. And to continue to fluctuate with that is not the most uncommon thing. So I do want to preface with that, but Kristy, how did their leadership come along? And to get 18 and a half percent growth, there's got to be some sort of personal growth as well and leadership growth and kind of team stability in some areas at least. So how does that look? speaker-1 (08:06) Yeah, absolutely. And you are spot on. We did a lot of self-reflection and dug deep in our own leadership style and working on ⁓ developing a feedback loop for team members and for team members to doctors, right? And giving that reinforcing feedback and then developmental feedback along the way. So making sure that we had team touches every quarter. to guide the growth and development for sure. speaker-0 (08:37) Amazing, amazing. So leadership within the doctors for sure and the owners, but also leadership within the team and self-reflection within the team of job descriptions. this what I'm really good at? Is this what I want to do? Where can I do better or ⁓ learn more to enhance my position within the practice and really talking about those things? feel like I remember this. client and I remember because most clients are this way, they come in and they're just not talking about the things and I think that happens in every industry and every company and even families. We just don't talk enough and so really ramping up the communication within their departments and within each other as a full team, I think really helped to highlight some of the systems and implementations that you guys were able to develop. Do you agree? speaker-1 (09:29) I agree 100 % painting that clarity through their duties. And really we worked on delegation too. Being able to delegate and trust and then come back and track and verify. And it gave the doctors a peace of mind that things were happening. And once they started seeing that, it was easier for them to continue to delegate. speaker-0 (09:53) Absolutely. So I want to come back to the delegation because I know everybody is sitting there thinking, I need to write this down. How do I, what do I, what do I delegate? Right. It's not always just the, do I delegate? But sometimes it comes down to what do I delegate? So I want to come back to the delegate. But first I want you to maybe just highlight a few of the core systems that you guys were able to implement. And then we'll talk about within those systems, what were they able to delegate out to the team? So I can imagine. that there was some room for growth and some space for some diagnostics and making sure that we're diagnosing enough. know the first place doctors like to go or practices like to go is new patients. And that is a space and I'm not going to discredit new patients. But oftentimes we have to really take a step back and think, we making the most out of the opportunities that we already have and have been given? Or do we need more opportunities? So that's a That's a space where I think the consulting comes in and really helps to decipher based on the data that we have because we know what it takes to diagnose certain amounts. And yes, it depends. I know I've got an office that's in like a college area. And so yeah, he needs more opportunity because he's not got a lot of, you know, implants or whatever. But I know you guys really, really dug in and focused heavily on that aspect of the diagnosis, the new patients, all of that. So what were you able to uncover? within the diagnosis space and realistically that turns into your case acceptance too. speaker-1 (11:22) Yeah, really multifo-tiff, but for the most part, what we were noticing is doctors were really great at diagnosing. ⁓ They had probably over $3 million in diagnosed treatment even this year, and ⁓ case acceptance was a little bit lacking in that regard. ⁓ We had probably $2 million of unscheduled treatment walking out the door. and being able to hone in on our skills for ⁓ case acceptance, not only ⁓ financially finding solutions, but also how we're speaking to patients at the chair to create that value. We really worked hard to dial that in and it showed. We really captured and gained more case acceptance from patients. speaker-0 (12:17) Amazing. It sounds like that is again, going back to the communication within the team. So getting the communication or getting the team talking more, communicating more, really, really helps to increase the trust that the patient feels that the team starts trusting each other more. And you don't even walk around thinking I don't trust these people. It's not an apparent lack of trust. But the more you communicate with someone, the more intentional conversations you have. And the more you talk about the needs even just treatment planning that trust naturally builds. And then you just, you have a closeness. All of a sudden you're closer with people than you were prior and that's what it is. You're not walking around thinking I don't trust people, but then all of a sudden you're like, my gosh, I love these people. And that's how it's developed. So developing that within the team then transpires into the team, communicating more with the patients as well and communicating on a different kind of level, think, chair side even. regarding treatment and trusting the treatment planning. if we've got a team that's like, just honestly, if we've got a team that's not super emotionally close to the doctor or the practice or our vision or our why, if we're not bought into why we're here, we're not as intentional speaking about treatment. So really ramping up that communication, Kristy, feels like it was just such a space that transformed how they communicated about the treatment that gave them the opportunity to level it up. speaker-1 (13:48) Yeah, I agree with you 100%. We actually took a step back and revisited the doctors why and shared it with the team and let that really be our beacon of light in every, every interaction with our patients. So, um, and I would say even, even with that, you know, creating the team buy-in back to doctors, why and purpose for the practice. Um, and they were all committed and it showed. speaker-0 (14:17) That's beautiful. That's beautiful. And it really does make a difference because we need to know, we need something to believe in. We need something to go after. We need a goal. And then we need the inspiration of a why of something to believe in. What are we even doing here? So I love that. How what kind of systems did you use? And you can use actual, you know, dental lighting systems are all here on these podcasts somewhere we love giving. We love giving the information out. But what were the actual chair side? or ⁓ communication tools, what were the actual systems that you helped them implement that really changed their communication? So we can say, talk more. We've got to have the system behind it. speaker-1 (14:57) Absolutely. ⁓ Number one, the handoffs, making sure we're communicating with patients, whatever they came in on the phone call, whatever they said, making sure that was communicated to the clinical team and addressed with the patient. So they understood out of the gate, wow, you listen to me, right? And then hygiene handoffs to the doctor when they come in the room. ⁓ And then back to... the clinical team and clinical team going handoff to the front, all that whole connection all the way through Tiff. ⁓ And again, also working on our communication of what matters most to the patient, finding out their motivator and tying everything back to that. When we can find out the patient's why, we're not just telling them what they need, right? It really is relational, not just the relationship between us and our handoffs, but the relationship with the patient. So those were some of the big ones that we really worked on to increase communication all around. ⁓ And I would also say financial ⁓ presentations, starting with comprehensively financing treatment, even if we're phasing it out, we found a solution to get the patient healthy, even if it was over time. And that made a huge difference. in their case acceptance too. speaker-0 (16:25) sure you made it relatable for the patient and attainable. speaker-1 (16:29) Yeah, 100%. And if a patient didn't, mean, sometimes it does take a little bit to build trust, right? We did our two to two follow ups, making sure that, you know, the patients understood even though they left and they didn't schedule something, we care about you and it's important. And those make a difference too, because how many times do they leave and patients start wondering, well, do I really need it? They didn't. I mean, they don't care to call me. They just said, call me when you're ready. Right. speaker-0 (16:58) Yeah, totally, totally. we're not, it's not the same as when you go to the store and you want this jacket or this outfit or car bar, I don't know, whatever it is that you went to the store and you're like, gosh, I really want that, but not right now. Like not yet, I need to just wait on this. And then you go home and you're thinking about it you're thinking, gosh, I should have gotten it. I could be wearing those sweats right now. I could be so comfy. Like you're not thinking that about your dental treatment. You go home and you're like, well, I'm going to set this down on this counter over here. and come back to it in six months when I go get my cleaning again, which hopefully we at least scheduled that. So I think that's beautiful. A follow up is key because we have to remind, know, Lululemon or Yori or whoever, like they're not calling me saying, don't forget you love those pants. You know, that's in my mind. I'm not going to forget it's there. I want it. But my dental treatment, I'm never going to think about again. If I leave the practice rarely ever, I can't say never, but rarely. I love that. So you were able to seriously change the community that they're they're sitting in because you guys were able to really implement some amazing amazing tools and that 18 and a half percent is Nothing to cough at that is a massive amount of growth and again, that was while Like decreasing doctor hours so really tightening up the schedule so I imagine there was some some scheduling tools as well that were put into place and Scheduling tools that were put into place and really just like ramping up what that schedule looked like. What did you do? I know we talked block scheduling a lot. So tell us a little bit about that block scheduling, because I'm sure that you have so much that you've done over there with that. And tell me a little bit more about that. speaker-1 (18:40) Yeah, Tiff, we really dug into their procedure counts and formulated an efficient schedule. One doctor started the year about $9.50 an hour and ended his year closer to $1,100 an hour. Wow. Yeah. The other doc started about $600 an hour and ended close to $900 an hour. And hygiene. speaker-0 (19:06) amazing. speaker-1 (19:08) This will blow your mind. They started about 128 an hour and they ended at 147. They did ⁓ get a new laser for hygiene, but literally adding the blocks in there to make sure we had room for perio, make sure doctors had room for their big cases just by taking a look at where they were performing and leaving room for additional growth in that. And then ⁓ reverse engineering it to what speaker-0 (19:14) my gosh. speaker-1 (19:39) They wanted the outcome for their goal to be. Yeah, it was fun. It was fun. They designed it and I helped guide them with it and it worked and they all are following it because they see that it creates easier days for them and they don't have the roller coaster of really high production one day and then really low production the next. speaker-0 (20:02) That's amazing. Even hygiene, and I know you said, yeah, they implemented the laser. They brought the laser on board. But bringing a laser, buying a laser, taking the course for the laser, getting certified, and then actually using it to increase production and increase your patient's health is a completely different thing. So they were able to, I would imagine, find the space within their ⁓ our appointment or to our appointment or however long they were scheduling for that, they were able to find the space to actually implement it, to feel comfortable and confident to do it. That's really, really cool. I actually really love that. So to wrap it, you've done handoffs, you've done chair side handoffs, you've done handoffs with the front office, and then also blocked scheduling and really, really dove into the metrics and the numbers and how It's kind of like that lemon that you have that you're like, gosh, I just have like one or lime, right? I have one taco left. Like I don't have any more limes. You're squeezing the last little bit of juice out of the taco, or out of the lime on the taco, but you're really making it so that everything is flowing better. Everything is smoother. It's more efficient and it's really running like a well-oiled machine so that they could get that 18 and a half percent increase. speaker-1 (21:21) Yeah, 100 % Tiff. And truly, ⁓ it took us really dialing into the why because as you know, so many offices, ⁓ they do have relationships with their patients. But when you have healthy mouth patients and we're reappointing those and not leaving room for the infected patients, it directly affects the doctor's schedule. So letting them see, kind of triaging it like a... hospital would, right? If I'm coming in and I'm bleeding, I'm going to take precedence over somebody that ⁓ has a, I don't know, ingrown toenail. Re-framing that and letting them know, hey, we can still see those people and we want to see them, but we need to formulate a schedule that allows us to not only make our goals, but treat our patients in a way that aligns with our vision. speaker-0 (22:01) Yeah, absolutely. speaker-1 (22:18) ⁓ and mission, it really made the big difference. speaker-0 (22:23) That's beautiful. That's beautiful. That's amazing. And Kristy, kudos to you. Kudos to this team. You guys worked really, really hard. And I know you worked tirelessly with them to support them and guide them and give them the tools that they needed and really give them the support and the accountability. I did say I'd come back to the delegation so quickly. What did they end up being able to delegate to other, maybe team members so that it wasn't all the doctor or the owner? speaker-1 (22:51) Yeah. First and foremost, it was them sitting in on those one-on-one meetings, guiding the new employees. Because as I told you, the admin team was... They weren't even there. So they ⁓ hired somebody that could help manage the office and allowing her to see their style. And then... speaker-0 (23:05) They didn't have one. Yeah. ⁓ speaker-1 (23:15) watching her implement and run with it gave them the courage to let go and let her do it. ⁓ with that being said, that was huge implementation there. speaker-0 (23:26) And I would imagine too, that they didn't do all of the informational search. They didn't do all the digging on the financial options, but they probably allowed their team to also help find what would work for the patients. And they're not going and sitting on these calls with Cherry and implementing the tools. they're allowing the team to have a part in this so that they're actually using the tools as well. Am I right? speaker-1 (23:54) Yeah, absolutely. ⁓ In fact, bringing in other financial solutions. Yeah. One thing also that they uncovered was one of the insurance ⁓ insurance plans was really holding them back and allowing the team to have say in, hey, I think we need to look at this one and maybe eliminate it because it's not serving us. speaker-0 (24:17) That's beautiful. So making more dollars per hour production for the treatment that you're doing, getting paid, getting paid what you should. I think that's brilliant. And this is, this is the time and age to be doing that. A lot of practices are looking at that. I love it. I love it, Kristy. So handoffs, chair side, handoffs, ⁓ just within the team in general, handoffs at checkout, handoffs at treatment planning, all those different spaces and really, really looking for the opportunities that are being missed. So we often look for quantity and we look for, let's bring in more. We're not getting enough case acceptance so we need more like to diagnose. they often, oftentimes practices will look at that new patient space and it could be the new patient space. I'm not gonna discredit that, but sometimes it is within the case acceptance. And so you've already got it there, increasing the systems and really looking at the why, getting a team fully on board, delegating the things that you can delegate, increasing that can make a massive difference. And then you're. serving the patients that are already there even better than you were before. So Kristy, this is beautiful. I think there are a lot of nuggets that people can take from this. And again, 18 and a half percent, that's nothing to cough at. And I'm not saying you guys that everybody's going to get 18 and a half percent. They have the space and the availability and they did it. I have seen 5%, 7%, 12%. I've seen 22 % growth. It just depends on where you're at, what you're capable of doing within the size limitations that you have. And we are just so happy, Kristy. Thank you for working so hard with this practice and with others. You are an incredible consultant and your clients are very, very lucky to have you. speaker-1 (25:50) Thank you. It was fun. It's fun. I love seeing their visions come true. speaker-0 (25:56) Same, same, I love it. Well guys, I hope that you were able to take some notes. If you are driving, please re-listen and then take notes. Don't drive and take notes at the same time. Drop us a five star review. We always love to hear what you're thinking or any nuggets that you picked up from this. And as always, you can reach us at Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. Thanks guys.
281. Excel in Social Skills and Etiquette and Teach Your Children To Do The Same with Monica Irvine Proverbs 20:11 NIV “Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?” Ephesians 4:32a AMP “Be kind and helpful to one another,” *Transcription Below* Monica Irvine, President and creator of The Etiquette Factory, LLC, is a master motivator and dedicated instructor who loves to help children and adults see the benefits and rewards of having proper etiquette, mastering professionalism and excelling in social skills. As a Certified Etiquette Instructor and working in the hospitality industry for 24 years, Mrs. Irvine specializes in etiquette and professional instruction to help ensure the success of each individual both personally and professionally. Mrs. Irvine is the published author of three books on Etiquette and one book on Scheduling including: Etiquette for Beginners, Etiquette Intermediate, Etiquette Masters and A Schedule Makes for a Happy Family, in addition to authoring several monthly columns in national publications such as Everything Knoxville, The Homeschool Handbook and the Homeschool Magazine. Mrs. Irvine is a national speaker, speaking to thousands of parents, educators and children every year. Residing in Knoxville, TN with her husband, Mrs. Irvine spends her free time playing tennis, running and enjoying her family of three boys and a granddaughter. You may contact Mrs. Irvine at monica@TheEtiquetteFactory.com or via her website at www.TheEtiquetteFactory.com. Rise Up Parenting FUNdamentals 4 Kids Life Skills Essentials Thank You to Our Sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka Questions and Topics We Cover: What are some red flags we can identify in our lives if we are too busy and what wisdom do you recommend instead of our overstuffed schedules? As parents, why must we proactively teach these qualities to our children, rather than just instruct them in a moment of correction? Will you share stories of ways the Holy Spirit has nudged you to use etiquette and it resulted in something miraculous? Other Savvy Sauce Episode Mentioned: Unexpected Grief and What Helped Me Through It Can Help You Too with Singer and Blogger, Brittany Price Brooker Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“ Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“ Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” *Transcription* Music: (0:00 – 0:10) Laura Dugger: (0:11 - 2:19) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here. The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today, over 55 years later, at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka. Owned and operated by the Burchie family, Sam Leman in Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at LemanGM.com. My guest for today is the charming Monica Irvine. She is president and creator of The Etiquette Factory. She's a master motivator and dedicated instructor who just loves helping children and adults to see the benefits and rewards of having proper etiquette. She also loves to help people master professionalism and excel in social skills. So, she's going to give us insight into all of these ideas and share stories today for ways that we can actually seek the Lord and love others well and value people through the proper use of etiquette. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Monica. Monica Irvine: (2:19 - 2:20) Thank you. Thanks for having me, Laura. Laura Dugger: (2:20 - 5:41) Well, I'm so excited to get a chat with you today, but let's just begin here. I'm so fascinated because you were born and raised in the South. Is that right? Monica Irvine: Well, yes, Tennessee. Absolutely consider myself Southern. Laura Dugger: I love it. And I grew up in the Midwest and got to live in the South for a few years. And I was very struck by the difference in manners. And I'm just curious if manners and etiquette were intentionally taught to you, both in your family and then just kind of in your Southern culture around you. Monica Irvine: (2:20 - 5:32) Well, yes. So, when I think about being raised in the South, I think and maybe my mom and my grandmas were a little different. But what I would describe my upbringing is very particular, meaning everything was made special. And my parents and my grandparents took a lot of pride in making things beautiful and lovely. And so, of course, my mom cooked every night. But like at my home growing up and we did not have a lot of money, just know that my parents struggled. But my mother would never put a ketchup bottle on the table or a mayonnaise jar. Everything had to be put in little bowls with little spoons. And it's funny because my friends that I have today, I get given little spoons for birthdays and occasions because my friends all know how much I love little dainty things. But, you know, and some people, you know, might think that's a little ridiculous. But I'll tell you something. I don't know that we need to eat that way every night, seven nights a week. But it made dinner time feel special. And even the way my mother and my grandmothers kept their house, everything had its place. It was not messy. We had clean homes. And I think it also just helped me be proud of my home. I mean, once again, we did not have a lot of money, but my friends thought my home was so nice. Well, the reason it was so nice is because my mother kept such care of it. And so, I was raised with a lot of cousins and live close to both of my grandparents. And so even the outside of their homes, both sets of grandparents, everything was beautiful. And so there was a lot of pride in who we are, how we presented ourselves. But you're going to laugh at this. So, my mom, my dad tells me this story that right after my mom and dad got married, my dad came home from work one day and my mom was ironing. You know, she'd spend a whole day ironing every week or half a day. And my mom was ironing my dad's underwear. And my mom's name is Janice. And he was like, “Janice, honey, what are you doing?” And “I know just ironing, Bob.” And he's like, “Babe, you don't need to iron my underwear.” But, you know, the thing is, that to my mother and my grandmothers being a good wife and being a good mother meant making sure everyone in the family looked nice, that their clothes were clean, that the home was clean, that there was good food on the table. And that was part of their identity, of this is what it means to be a good wife and mother. And I love that about my upbringing. Laura Dugger: (5:33 - 5:41) And do you have any reasons why you think that's changed a little bit over the years? Monica Irvine: (5:42 - 8:34) Yeah, I think we've gotten lazy. Well, no, I just I think there you know, there's balance, right? There's when I look back, I can't really remember my mom playing with me. But now, listen, I don't feel like I missed out, but I do recognize it. But I guess even as a little girl, sure, I would have loved my mom to play with me. But that's just not in my mind what moms did. Moms cleaned house and made everything and cooked your meal. And so, I do. I'm grateful that as a society, we have adjusted somewhat. Sometimes I believe too much but have adjusted in going. What's the most important things? And because I'm a big believer in playing with our children and our grandchildren and creating memories. But now my family, my parents and we worked a lot together. Like if we were if the yard needed raking, it wasn't kids go rake the yard. Mom, dad, kids were in the yard raking. If a car needed to be washed, it wasn't go wash the car. We were all out there washing the car. So, I think that's why I don't feel like I missed out because my family did so many things together. Whereas today we're so separated. No parents give their children and babies phones and iPads so they'll just be quiet so they can get their important work done. Like grocery shopping or cooking. And I just think that instead of teaching our children how to self-soothe and self-entertain and how to creatively play even by yourself, sometimes we just always believe there has to be a babysitter to distract our children from wanting mom and dad. It's just I you know, this could be a whole other talk, Laura, but I just you know, I see it. It breaks my heart sometimes on the lack of how often families work together, play together and do things together. But now, you know, dad's watching his game in this room. Mom is in another room, maybe on her computer doing social media. The kids are in their rooms on their games. And I see a lack of family unity. So once again, even though maybe my mom and dad didn't play with us and I'm glad we've shifted with that thought process. Still, we were a united family. Laura Dugger: (8:35 - 8:56) I love that. And the Lord has clearly given you a passion for that instilling that in others. And He invited you into a journey that eventually led to The Etiquette Factory, which is the work that you get to do today. So, can you share the impetus for that and what that journey looked like for you? Monica Irvine: (8:56 - 13:54) I will. I love my company. I feel like it's just yet another beautiful adventure the Lord has allowed me to be on in my life. And so, I feel like I'm just outside looking in at this beautiful little business that has allowed me to minister to children and adults in need. So, years ago, I was homeschooling our kids. I was homeschooling our youngest son at the time, and we were studying the life of President George Washington. And I just kind of stumbled upon this list. It was called George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior. It is a beautiful list of 110 chivalry skills. And apparently, President Washington was encouraged to focus on some chivalry as was part of a formal education in those days. He found a French book that had these list of chivalry kind of considerations, and he copied them. He hand copied them, of course. And we have that list of 110 chivalry skills in President Washington's handwriting. But as I started reading over this list, the Lord penetrated my heart. I just I was like, these are so beautiful. I mean, some of them were kind of funny. Some of them were. It's not polite to remove lice from your companion in public, which I think is good to know. But most of the beautiful chivalry skills were very applicable to today. And I was like I want my son to memorize these skills. So, we started memorizing one Washington skill a week. And because they were written in that old English, you know, sometimes we were like, what does this mean? And it just I just decided for my son's sake, who was nine at the time, I wanted to just kind of make my own version. But what was so a light bulb moment for me is as we started making manners part of our daily discussion in school, I noticed a change in my child's behavior and my son would be like, “Mom, let's do another one. What's the next one? Let's do one more.” And I found that so fascinating because, as you know, most of us parents, when we teach manners, we're teaching it in the moment, usually correcting bad behavior. It's not that that's our goal. It's just that that's when we think about it. Our child says, or does something that's not the most polite, and all of a sudden we're going, “Oh, honey, no, honey, you can't say that. That's not polite.” And then we make the correction and then we teach the skill. And what I learned and realized is that so often that's when I was teaching my children manners in the moment of correcting. And what I've learned about that is when we're being corrected, whether you're three years old or 30 years old, we harden our heart typically because it's self-preservation. You know, we stiffen up when someone's like, “Monica, you really shouldn't have.” I'm like, whoa. And it's just because of our own pride. We don't like being called out and neither do our children, even when we're doing it gently and politely. It's still a correction. And so, what I found is when our heart is hardened, as the scripture says, it's not the best time to absorb information. It's the opposite of being humble. To be humble means to be teachable. To be hardened means to not be teachable. So, when we have a hardened heart, it's hard for us to absorb things of the spirit, which all truth comes from God. So, anything that is lovely of good rapport is of God. So, when we're teaching our children to be kind and to have kind considerations for others, those are God's truths and God's truths cannot seep into the soul of our heart unless our heart is soft. And so that is what happened is I was like, today we're going to learn how to use our napkin properly. Or today we're going to learn how to apologize. But how do you make it sound sincere and how do you be sincere when you don't really feel it? And so, as we started just working on one skill at a time, the conversations were typically beautiful. Parts were changed and behavior ended up changing. And so really, that's what then later became The Etiquette Factory. Laura Dugger: (13:55 - 14:20) I love that because I think it gives our children confidence because then they're equipped and prepared and understand what's expected of them in different situations or what can bless others in the way they act. But then I'm curious, you gave a few examples of those. Can you think of any of George Washington's chivalry lines that would still apply today? Monica Irvine: (14:21 - 19:07) Yes, well, so I'm not quoting, I'm summarizing. So, for instance, one is it is not polite to hum or sing in the presence of others that would cause distraction. And so basically it's not polite to draw attention to ourselves but also draw attention or interrupt other people's day life when we haven't been invited to do so. So let me give you this definition we use for etiquette. So, at The Etiquette Factory, etiquette is helping those around us to feel valued and to feel comfortable. Well, if I'm sitting there humming along, but the person beside me really doesn't want to hear my humming, then I might be causing that person to feel uncomfortable. Same thing, you know, whenever I start off teaching a class, because usually when everyone thinks of manners, they think of table manners. Of course, there's so much more. But I use this example. I say, well, if I were to come to your home and sit down and I started eating like a pig in the presence of your family, I mean, I'm chewing with my mouth open. I'm making a smacking my lips. I'm taking too big of bites and food is falling in my lap or I'm making a mess on the table. Or I eat so fast that I am finished eating, getting up to leave. And you're just on your third bite of food. Well, any of those behaviors, I would be sending a message. And that message is, look, I'm here for one person and that person is myself. I came to fill up my belly because I'm hungry. And beyond that, I really don't care. I don't care if I'm making you uncomfortable. I don't care if I'm grossing you out. I don't care if you actually wanted to talk to me because I just came here to eat and I'm out of here. You see, we don't realize it, but a lack of chivalry is called selfishness. A lack of chivalry is inward focused. When we focus outwardly on what message am I sending to those around me? Am I sending a message of love and care and value? That is etiquette. I get emailed all the time and message like, “OK, Monica, I've got this shower I'm putting on. And my daughter is not going to invite her work friends to the wedding. But is it OK if we invite all of them to a wedding shower?” And they'll go, so what's the etiquette rule? Well, there is no etiquette rule about that, except etiquette is about helping those around us to feel valued. And so that's how I answer every question. I'm like, well, let me ask you if you were invited to a wedding shower, where you're asking her friends to shower your daughter with gifts and love to celebrate her wedding. But yet those friends were not valued enough to invite to the wedding. How do you think it would make them feel? And so that's what the answer is with etiquette. Now, there's exceptions. In fact, that case, that's a real email I got. And she ended up having the shower because her daughter went and told her co-worker who offered to give her a wedding shower. “You know what? I thought that is so thoughtful. I'm so grateful that you were willing to do that. But we're having a very small, intimate wedding, you know, for financial reasons and intimacy reasons. And so, I just don't feel comfortable inviting people to bring gifts for me and knowing that we're just we're not going to be able to invite everyone to the wedding.” And that co-worker said, “We don't care. We knew you were having a small wedding. We want to celebrate you.” And so, you know, you can there be exceptions, but a lady and a gentleman always try to be very aware of those unspoken messages. And that guides our conversation, our answers, our actions. And that's what we teach children and adults to do at The Etiquette Factory. Laura Dugger: (19:07 - 21:17) And now a brief message from our sponsor. Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Burchie family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago. If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle. This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple, welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different. I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life, and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread, so come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you, and they appreciate your business. Learn more at their website, LemanEureka.com, or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them at 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship. I loved, this was a few months back, but we came to a homeschool convention, and I loved your talk on purposeful parenting. One thing that you said, just I think backing it up and looking at our family in general, you said, “If we're too busy to do the most important things, we're too busy. Stop allowing the adversary to tempt us to remain too busy.” So, Monica, what wisdom can you share for maybe red flags that can help us identify when we're too busy to focus on the most important things, and what do you recommend instead of overstuffing our schedules and our lives? Monica Irvine: (21:18 - 26:23) You know, that's a great question. Those are good questions that every family should ask themselves. You know, I think that if we are to strive to focus on the most important things, step number one is, has mom and dad identified the most important things? Because if you don't know what your goal is, then you're not going to as easily recognize when something is interfering with your goal. So, for instance, maybe mom and dad sits down and says, “Well, our number one goal is to make sure that our children know Jesus Christ. And so, what do we need to do to make sure that we're doing our best to help our children know who He is?” Well, and so a family might decide, well, we want to have daily scripture study and daily family and individual prayer. We want to make it a priority to be at church so that we can worship on the Sabbath, but also so that we can meet together with other like-minded Christians and minister to one another as we're taught by the Savior. That's important for us to do. And perhaps we want to learn to do as the Savior does. And that's why we're going to learn of His attributes and try to follow in His footsteps and be a family of service. So, let's just say those are our four of the most important things. If that's our goal, then hopefully mom and dad could recognize when we're starting to stumble off the path that leads to our goal. For instance, I can't tell you how many parents have come up to me after they hear me speak on this topic and say, “Monica, I wish I had heard you say this 10 years ago. But we got sucked up into the what the world has to offer, and we started allowing our children to play competitive sports on Sunday. And so, we stopped going to church years ago because there was always a championship game on Sunday morning and always another tournament. And we wanted our children to have, you know, college opportunities.” And there's nothing wrong with college opportunities unless that college opportunity interferes with our most important goal. And so that's why first mom and dad have to decide what is the most important, because then it's easier to recognize when we are being tempted by the adversary to focus on what the world is trying to offer us. And the world offers us shiny things that tempt our human nature to want to be popular and loved by all and wealthy. And so, we just have to always go back to our goals. You know, I've got families that say, “I wish we had eaten dinner together more often. But we allowed our children to be so scheduled that there was not one night or there was only one night a week that we actually sat down at the table together.” You know, parents. You will regret that. And you can't take back these precious, very short years that you have your children under your roof in your home. And you will be someone like me one day where all of my kids are graduating and grandchildren and all you live for is your children to come visit and your children to come have dinner. And so, when you allow the world to creep in and be more important than spending time with your family, time with the Lord, time on good and lovely things, you will regret it. And I just think that probably every year come January, mom and dad should sit down and go, let's look at last year. What were we missing from our family schedule? What do we need to reevaluate whether that is the most important thing? And so that's something I think all of us have to do on a regular basis. Laura Dugger: (26:24 - 27:20) I think you're hitting on something profound there, that reflection with the Lord or with our spouse. I think we have no excuse because if there is no spouse in the picture, we always have the Lord. But to be intentional, to take that time, maybe on a Sabbath and go through a few questions and reflect back. I think that could save us from a lot of regret. So, I really appreciate that response. And going back to etiquette, then you've taught us that it is a learned behavior. This isn't something that our children will just naturally pick up. It's best to do in times where their hearts are soft, so proactive if possible. But I'd love to know in your own life, when were times that the Holy Spirit nudged you to use etiquette and it resulted in something miraculous? Monica Irvine: (27:21 - 32:56) Oh, goodness. Okay, well, to me, I think miraculous is seeing the Lord's divine hand in our life. I see the miracle of the Lord every day in my life. But probably most often is when I kneel down at the end of a day, I repent daily because I need to daily. And it's always a little nervous because I pray and I ask the Lord, as sometimes I know what I need to repent of. I know that I recognized I stumbled that day on something, but sometimes I just I pray and I say, “Lord, you know, just help.” If something needs to be brought to my mind that I need to repent of and that I need to do better, would you bring it to my mind at this time? And it wasn't that long ago that the Lord brought to my mind something that I had gotten in the habit of doing that I didn't feel like it was wrong, but it was wrong. And so, etiquette, one of the etiquette skills I teach everyone is that it's not polite for us to gossip. A lady and a gentleman always draw attention to the lovely and wonderful things that other people do. Now, if there's a safety issue, that's different, but I'm just talking about we don't share negative things about other people. And so, it's something I teach every year, all year long. But I feel like I've done so much better than I did twenty-five years ago when the Lord really chastised me one time for gossiping. But in the last couple of months, I had gotten in the habit of sharing with my husband. So sometimes, you know, when you share with your spouse that you kind of feel like that's a safe place that the same rules don't apply because you and your spouse kind of talk about everything. And so, I was in the habit of sharing with my spouse something that I was worried about that another person in our family did. But I was constantly going, “Oh, I don't like that. They do this and I don't like that. They do this and I'm worried about it.” And I actually was worried about it. But I just was constantly kind of highlighting these things that I didn't like that someone in our family did. Well, one night I was praying and asked the Lord to bring to my mind and the Lord brought that to my mind. And it was kind of like he said, “Monica, don't you remember that? If you're worried about someone. Instead of sharing those negative things, even with Charles, my husband, what would be more effective is if you prayed and asked me to bless that person, to help that person, you know, in the ways that they need help and ask me to help, you know, of ways that you could be a better example to that person. But you don't need to constantly draw attention because it's starting to make you be negative towards this person.” And I just like right when the Lord said that to me, I was embarrassed. I was like, “Monica, that. Yeah. Like, how do you not know that? That you should know better than that.” Well, so immediately I repented and I apologized to the Lord and I and I started doing what he asked me to do. And within just a couple of days, like I started just noticing all of the wonderful, lovely things that this person is and does. And so, just to me, that is miraculous and it happens all the time. And if I'm humble enough to repent and to listen to the Lord, because the Lord wants to help us and he wants us to strive to be like him. But we've got to ask where we need to be corrected. And so, I teach etiquette, I teach we don't gossip. And then lo and behold, I had kind of gotten myself in another trap again. You know, and I just I think it's a miracle what happens when we listen to the Lord. He immediately turns our mind to good, lovely, beautiful things and allows us to be a vessel of light instead of vessel of darkness. And we can be that vessel of darkness just right inside our own marriage, even though we think that's kind of a safe place to maybe be a little looser with our tongue. So, there's one example. Laura Dugger: (32:57 - 33:26) I love that. And I remember you also explaining whenever you get a thought in your head that you don't want to do, it's likely 100 percent from God. So, can you share a couple specific stories of times that that was the Holy Spirit telling you something that you didn't maybe want to do, but you obeyed? I'm remembering something about a grocery store and another time separately about a phone call. Yeah. Monica Irvine: (33:26 - 40:29) OK, well, I'll tell about the phone call just because it's less sad. So, yeah, one time there was this lady and she was just kind of investigating our church and starting to come to our church and kind of fill it out. So, I had just met her and I found out that her what led her to come looking for God is her husband was an addict and she was just at her wits end and their marriage and family was falling apart. And so, she came looking for the for help for the Lord. And so, I learned a little bit about her story. I ended up taking her to one of those celebrate recovery places at another church because I knew they had a wonderful program. And so, I had interacted with her a couple of times. I probably had only known her about a month when one night I was running late to take my kids to youth on Wednesday night and I was cooking some spaghetti and I was just, you know, cooking that spaghetti at the stove. And all of a sudden I had a thought come into my mind, “Call her.” And, you know, I was like, oh, yeah, I do need to call her. I need to call and check on her. I will, you know, after church tonight. And so, I, you know, kept cooking that spaghetti. And the second time the Spirit, because that's who it was talking to me, because that's who tells us to do good things. Not us, but God. The Spirit said, “Monica, call her.” But I was running late and I was trying to get my kids fed and I was like, I will call her as soon as I get the kids fed, you know, drop them off at church and then I'll call her, you know, and so I really meant to call her. But I. Finally, a third time, and it seems to always take me three times before I realize, OK, he means now. And so, a third time it was like “Monica call.” And so, it was so strong. And I, I know it's the Lord, but I, I just turned the stove off. I went into my bedroom, got my phone out, dialed her number. And as it was ringing, she picked up the phone and all I heard was just some quiet sobbing. And she couldn't speak. And I, you know, I said her name. I said, “Hey, so and so it's Monica. I just. I see that you're upset. I just wanted to call and check on you. In fact, the Lord insisted that I call and check on you.” And then her, you know, her crying just continued. It wasn't until, you know, she had calmed down and she just said, you know, “Monica, I had been praying and just asking the Lord to just show me that, you know, show me that you care that this is happening to me.” Something like that. And, you know, I, I, in that moment, my stomach kind of did that little knot because I knew how close I had come to just not calling. And sure, I could have called her an hour later. It would have been at least an hour later and maybe, you know, it would have mattered. But the Lord knew that it mattered right in that moment. She needed an answer. She needed to know that the Lord was listening. And I've learned that in my life, that whenever we get a thought that comes into our mind and that thought is to do something good, like calling someone, you all is a good thing. Visiting someone, writing a letter to someone. Those are good things. And all good comes from the Lord. And sometimes I wonder, does the Lord trust me? Does he know I'll respond when the stakes are high? You know, sometimes I think as we continue to learn how to hear the spirit, we have to practice. Oh, that was the spirit. And probably if you're like me, I've learned a lot about the spirit by not listening. And then later going, “Oh, yeah, Lord, I did miss that. You tried. You tried to warn me, or you tried to get me to do that. And I dismissed it.” But so, you all I just think it takes practice and I'm still practicing. But I do believe that especially when it's something that we don't really want to do or we think we don't have time. And I just realize I felt the Lord going, “Monica, do you not think I know you're cooking spaghetti? Do you not think I know you're running late? But right now, there's something more important I need you to do than to get your kids to church on time.” And so, I think at some point we have to decide, do we trust Him or don't we? And if we trust Him, we have to trust Him completely. And that means when we receive a prompting that we will act quickly because the Lord knows what we're doing. And He knows that we don't have the best relationship with that person. Yet you're feeling like you should call. He already knows that. And it doesn't mean that everything's always going to turn out the way we think it will. Sometimes I think the Lord just wants us to know ourselves that we'll do what He asked us to do, regardless of how it will turn out. And sometimes I feel like the Lord has told me to do something and I did it and it didn't go well. And I'm like, “Lord, like, why? Why?” And I know all of us, you all sit there and go, wait, was that my thought or was it God's thought? And you know what I have learned is that just stop worrying about it. Just act in faith. And the Lord always backs up His people. The Lord doesn't, as you and I are praying and striving to understand the Lord's will. And let's say we get an idea and so we act on it because we feel like it was a prompting and then it does not go well. I believe the Lord loves so much that you were trying to listen and be obedient and the blessings will come. Sometimes we just don't know the timing or how, but we've just got to trust. Laura Dugger: (40:29 - 43:59) I love that. And we never know what's happening on the other side of our obedience. And I'll link back to Brittany Price Brooker's episode because she was one who had lost her husband and was crying out to the Lord. I think she was bathing her young children, and they didn't have food in the house and maybe they were sick. And the only thing that sounded good to their child was apples, but it was late at night. She couldn't go get them herself. And she was just praying like, “Lord, do You see me? Do You know my needs? I need You to meet my needs.” And right then the doorbell rings and somebody showed up and she said, “The Lord told me to buy you these apples and bring them to you.” And I think that highlights something else. You articulated it well when you say whenever you get that thought in your head that you something that you don't want to do, it's likely 100% from God. I would say a lot of times too, it's also awkward or inconvenient. We don't know why. And then I think back to the Bible, Abraham was put in a very awkward situation with his son and Noah, that was very awkward to be building the boat when there wasn't rain. But look at the blessing that comes on the other side of obedience. So, appreciate those stories are really helpful. By now, I hope you've checked out our updated website, thesavvysauce.com, so that you can have access to all the additional freebies we are offering, including all of our previous articles and all of our previous episodes, which now include transcriptions. You will be equipped to have your own practical chats for intentional living when you read all the recommended questions in the articles or gain insight from expert guests and past episodes as you read through the transcriptions. Because many people have shared with us that they want to take notes on previous episodes, or maybe their spouse prefers to read our conversations rather than listen to them or watch them now that we're offering video rather than just audio. So, we heard all of that and we now have provided transcripts for all our episodes. Just visit thesavvysauce.com. All of this is conveniently located under the tab show notes on our website. Happy reading. So, at that same conference, when I heard you speak, you shared something that really stuck with me. This one was about our daughters. So, I want to talk about daughters first and then we'll move to sons. But you mentioned there was this one study where over 3,000 men were surveyed. And they were asked, what's the number one quality that you desire in your wife? Either current wife or someday in the future when you're married. And do you remember the response? Yeah, it was kindness. Kindness. That she is kind. And so, I wondered, was there another side for the boys then too? What do you think women would say for their future or their current spouse? What attribute do you think they would identify? Monica Irvine: (44:00 - 47:35) It didn't have that for the other side, but a word that we don't use as much anymore. And I try to use it a lot is, I think most women, even if it wouldn't come to their mind immediately, once they heard it, they'd be like, oh, wait, no, yeah, that. And that is honorable. They would want their husbands to be honorable. And to be honorable means that we do honorable things. And honorable things always 100 percent of the time require some level of sacrifice. That's what makes them honorable when we sacrifice and give up our time, ourself in order to better someone else to help our country, our family, others. And so, I think today what we all want is for our spouses, husbands and wives to be kind and to live honorable lives. Those lives, it doesn't mean a perfect life, but to be honorable means we strive to have integrity. We strive to be godly. We strive to do what we say we're going to do. We strive to live up to our divine nature as God called mothers and fathers and husbands. And so, I would think to me that is the most important, because if you live an honorable life, then you honor God. You honor your marriage covenant. You honor your children by treating them and speaking to them with honor. You honor your job. You make sure that you have integrity at work and that you're dependable. And the same goes for us women. You know, but I think I think we all struggle with selfishness. I mean, that is ultimately what we struggle with every day is what do I want? What do I need? What's important to me versus trying to live a selfless life for our spouse, for our family? Anyway, it would be interesting to do that survey, but I think what's so kind of funny about the kindness is that whenever I read that survey results that I had read years ago, when I say that to a crowd of women. And men, but when I say that to the crowd, you can always see I just see this rippling of women making this kind of gesture. Or because they know that they could be more kind, because usually we can be kind to everyone in the world. But in the walls of our home, we struggle more with just kindness. Laura Dugger: (47:37 - 48:00) And so if we go further upstream than before we're married, if that's what God has for us, what are practical ways that we can teach and instill kindness in our children and honorable character? Or any other practical tips for conduct? Monica Irvine: (48:00 - 53:03) Yeah, well, I love when I do a workshop at a convention on a family of service, because honestly, when we have our children in our home, it's practice ground. We have once again a few years to help them learn to love the Lord and to love others. You know, the two great commandments, love me and love others. Well, to me, the best way to teach our children to love God and love others is to get our children out and serving others. Because, as you know, typically, like, for instance, when someone calls us and says, “Oh, hey, Monica, hey, would you mind, you know, the Smith family, they just had their new baby. Do you think you could cook dinner for them one night next week?” If you're like me, I'm going to say yes. And then I'm going to hang up. And then I'm going to have that anxiety because already my week is so full and I was already stressed out about how I was going to get all the things done I needed to get done. And now I've just added another thing. And I'm not saying there are not times that we don't need to say no, because we absolutely have to say no sometimes. But my point is, I cook the dinner and I go drop it off. And as I'm pulling, as we are pulling away from that home, how do we feel? Do we feel better or do we feel worse? Do we feel happy or do we feel sad? Honestly, almost 100 percent of the time, y'all, we're going to feel happier. We're going to feel grateful. We're going to be grateful that we had the opportunity to cook that dinner for that sweet family. We're going to be reminded of how sweet the Lord is to give us opportunities to be His hands and His feet and His mouth here on the earth. And so, we want our children to learn to love. To love others, but it takes practice. It's not until you serve again and again and again that you start to realize that the secret to being happy, the secret to having peace in your life and love abounding in your home is when we lose ourselves in the service of others. It's the secret to fixing siblings arguing with each other. It's the secret to helping husbands and wives draw closer together and have more love for one another. It's the secret to less contention overall, to more peace, to more joy and happiness is to lose ourselves in the service of others. And so, to me, if you want to raise if we want to raise honorable, kind, generous, compassionate, empathetic human beings, they've got to lose themselves. To find themselves and define God. And so, yeah, I think that's the secret. And of course, Jesus Christ tried to teach us that over and over and over again. He tried to teach His disciples over and over again that if you love me. Then love my sheep, feed my sheep, teach my sheep. And what's interesting is that you all. The more we do that, the more we serve and love others. Do you know what I believe? I believe it's kind of like the Grinch. Remember when the Grinch's heart grew? That's real. That's really what happens. The God expands our ability to love others. And in doing that, it actually expands our deep love of God. I think it's so fascinating that that's the fruit of service is a deeper and abiding love of Jesus Christ. It seems like it would be the opposite, right? Well, I've got to love Jesus more in order to have a greater desire to serve. But it's the opposite. He wants you to go serve when you don't really feel like it. And he wants you to go serve when it's not convenient. And your kids are crying and no one wants to go rake her yard. And then the fruit of acting in faith and trusting God is the love. Laura Dugger: (53:05 - 53:34) That's what I would do. That's so good. Such a good medicine or anecdote to selfishness and issues we're having in the home with our children and for ourselves. Well, Monica, you have shared so much goodness with us throughout this conversation. Can you explain how you can help partner with us as parents to help us teach our children etiquette at neutral times? Like you said, when their hearts are softer? Monica Irvine: (53:35 - 56:52) Yes. Yeah. So, we've got some awesome resources, parents. And number one is we do have a parenting course called Rise Up Parenting. And it's just this beautiful 52-week course that you get lifetime access to in case it takes you three years to get through your 52 weeks. But it is a course for mom and dad, or mom, or dad by themselves. But it's just a beautiful way to help parents focus on one parenting skill a week. I've learned that when we have purposeful parenting, when we focus on one improvement at a time because we can get so overwhelmed, like we want we want to teach our kids to be selfless and that be ambitious and to serve and share. And I mean, it's just, it's endless. But the Lord is a house of order. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a house of order. And so as long as we're going in the right direction, y'all, we are successful. And so, this parenting course teaches a biblical principle and then a parenting principle that are related and allows you to just make little increment steps of improvement. Because when mom and dad improve, it blesses your children. So that's the first resource. And then the other two most popular resources is we just have two programs. We have a program called FUNdamentals4Kids that targets children preschool through about third grade. And it's so fun. It's just these wonderful, fun board games, flashcards, songs, stories, crafts, where we try to encourage you to twice a week set aside 15 minutes of your school day for an official manners activity and watch what happens. So, we've organized it for you. And for the little kids, we found out that if they can play with it, sing about it, make some food with it, that it helps them to go, “Mom, let's do a manners lesson.” And then they don't even know that they're being taught these beautiful, wonderful skills. So that is so wonderful. And then for kids about fourth grade through 12th grade, we have a course called Life Skills for You. And it's just so fun and it's so effective. Basically, it's 142 little three-minute lessons. We once again just try to get you to commit to twice a week sitting down with your family, watching a three-minute lesson where I'm teaching the etiquette skill. Plus, we show teenagers doing the skill the wrong way and the right way. So, it's kind of funny, but it just creates some really great conversation with the family. And so those are our top three selling product lines. And you can find all of that on our website, theetiquettefactory.com. Laura Dugger: (56:53 - 57:15) Thank you for sharing. We will certainly link to all of that in the show notes for today's episode. And Monica, you may be familiar that we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, this is my final question for you today. What is your savvy sauce? Yeah. Oh, that's a hard one. Monica Irvine: (57:15 - 59:06) I thought about this and I'm like, it's so hard. You all. Honestly, my savvy sauce is Jesus Christ. It just is. I know sometimes we want the answer to be something else, but in all practical terms, it's Jesus. Meaning I start my morning out every day with Jesus. I end every night with Jesus. I pray throughout the day and ask Him to help me make a decision. And I thank Him for all the beautiful things that happened to me throughout the day. And I just He is this person, this real person that is at my side every day, all day, I hope. And that's how I do anything. That's why I am the mother that I am. Not that I'm the best mother, but because of Him, I can mother and because of Him, I can be a good wife. And because of Him, I can be a good friend and I can minister to others through The Etiquette Factory. It's just it is Him. And, you know, sometimes people will ask me, “Monica, I I want to have the knowledge you have or I want to be able to whatever parent the way it sounds like you parent.” And I'm like, you guys know, it's just it's called Jesus Christ. And Jesus will tell us all things that we should do. And so my sauce is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It truly is well said. Laura Dugger: (59:06 - 59:24) And, Monica, you are such a gifted communicator and your heart of compassion is evident in your outward behavior. It's been such a joy to get to spend an hour with you today. So, I just want to say thank you for being my guest. Monica Irvine: (59:24 - 59:43) Oh, thank you, Laura. And it's been such a joy. You're so kind. And I appreciate the beautiful ministry that you're doing here on The Savvy Sauce. What a blessing for families to be able to just hear these resources that you've created. So, thank you. Laura Dugger: (59:44 - 1:03:26) Thank you for being a part of it. One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news. Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved. We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him. That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started. First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process. And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today. And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.
Sam Lessin is a partner at Slow Ventures, a former VP of Product at Facebook, and a two-time founder who's now teaching etiquette to Silicon Valley's founders. In this unconventional episode, Sam explains why proper etiquette has become a vital skill for founders in 2026—especially as technology becomes more central to society and trust becomes harder to build. His etiquette book and courses have become surprisingly popular, teaching founders how to “show up in a room with a low heart rate” and quickly build trust.We discuss:1. Why etiquette matters2. Sam's framework for showing up confidently, with a low heart rate, in any room3. How to navigate introductions, small talk, meetings, and meals like a pro4. Simple hacks for remembering names and handling awkward social situations5. 30+ specific etiquette tips—Brought to you by:10Web—Vibe-coding platform as an APIDX—The developer intelligence platform designed by leading researchersWorkOS—Modern identity platform for B2B SaaS, free up to 1 million MAUs—Episode transcript: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/silicon-valleys-missing-etiquette-playbook—Archive of all Lenny's Podcast transcripts:https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/yxi4s2w998p1gvtpu4193/AMdNPR8AOw0lMklwtnC0TrQ?rlkey=j06x0nipoti519e0xgm23zsn9&st=ahz0fj11&dl=0—Where to find Sam Lessin:• X: https://x.com/lessin• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wlessin• Website: https://www.wlessin.com• Podcast: https://moreorlesspod.com• Lettermeme: https://lettermeme.com/lessin—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Sam's background(04:18) The role of etiquette in business success(09:30) Introductions and entering a room(16:20) Engaging conversations and building relationships(23:55) Hygiene and dress code essentials(33:42) Dining etiquette(37:15) Tipping etiquette(41:36) The “B&D trick”(43:05) Humor in social settings(45:18) Self-deprecating humor(47:42) Winding down conversations(49:20) Scheduling etiquette(55:23) Communication and email etiquette(01:02:28) Meeting etiquette tips(01:04:03) Virtual meeting best practices(01:05:15) The importance of cleaning up after yourself(01:05:58) Exiting and follow-up etiquette(01:07:24) Final thoughts(01:09:20) AI corner(01:11:13) Contrarian corner(01:16:25) Lightning round—Referenced:• Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com• Kleiner Perkins: https://www.kleinerperkins.com• “Lose Yourself” by Eminem on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7MJQ9Nfxzh8LPZ9e9u68Fq• Alison Gopnik on Childhood Learning, AI as a Cultural Technology, and Rethinking Nature vs. Nurture: https://conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/alison-gopnik• Garry Tan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrytan• Bain & Company: https://www.bain.com• Evernote: https://evernote.com• Calendly: https://calendly.com• Morning Brew: https://www.morningbrew.com• Cursor: https://cursor.com• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• DigitalOcean: https://www.digitalocean.com• Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com• SpaceX: https://www.spacex.com• Marc Andreessen on X: https://x.com/pmarca• Landman on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Landman-Season-1/dp/B0D4D8RTMD• Dave Morin on X: https://x.com/davemorin—Recommended books:• Modern Etiquette in Technology, Finance, Society, and at Home: A Slow Ventures Handbook: https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Etiquette-Technology-Finance-Society-ebook/dp/B0G4HSKSY5• Life, the Universe and Everything: https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Everything-Hitchhikers-Guide-Galaxy-ebook/dp/B001ODEQ7A• The Ancient City: A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome: https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-City-Religion-Institutions-Greece/dp/0801823048• Man's Search for Meaning: https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl-ebook/dp/B009U9S6FI• Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base: https://www.amazon.com/Area-51-Uncensored-Americas-Military-ebook/dp/B004THU68Q• The Lessons of History: https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-History-Will-Durant/dp/143914995X• The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America's Banana King: https://www.amazon.com/Fish-That-Ate-Whale-Americas/dp/1250033314• The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Kings-Shanghai-Jewish-Dynasties/dp/0735224439—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com