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leadersandperformers-blog · 8 years ago

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Ask Ben: How do I Figure Out My Path in Life?

There's a variety of reader and listener questions lately, so I thought it would be fun to share a recent exchange I had with a top performer who asked a great question.

Here's the original question:

"My name is Dillon, I am a young college student from Utah. I am someone who is trying figure out what to do with their life. I am newly married and want to do the best I can for the future of my family. If you have any advice, I would love to hear it."

My Answer:

It's important to understand that intellectually, you will never understand your "path in life" or "purpose." Your mind is in a state of constant motion (like the ocean) and will never let you settle on a singular purpose. Today you may feel like you want to be an author, tomorrow an entrepreneur, the day after that an investment banker. This is entirely normal, and every top performer in the history of the modern world has struggled with this.

Instead, you must embrace the constantly changing nature of your mind. The way you do this is through a formal mediation practice where every day you sit down, focus on your breath and feel into your purpose. If you do this with enough consistency and intentionality, you'll feel pulled to certain subjects or fields of study. You won't be able to explain your attraction to these subjects. Instead, you'll feel an unexplainable visceral connection.

With that being said, we all have areas of strength where we can stand out, make a great living and uniquely express our purpose. I call it:

Your Business Destiny.

Here are five questions that I want you to answer in regards to your unique business destiny. These questions have helped me focus and narrow down the path I am supposed to follow. In the past year, I have walked 6-7 coaching clients through this, with fantastic results.

The goal is to create a one sentence business destiny plan that is unique to you.

Let's Get Busy - Your Business Destiny

These questions above work well for figuring out your career path or giving you more insight into the projects and entrepreneurial endeavors that come up.

These questions were developed by cognitive scientists, psychologists, top entrepreneurs, and neuroscientists. They work because they help you focus on personal strengths, the environment you grew up in and the areas of life where you find passion and purpose.

Each person is going to have a unique business destiny and should not try to follow or copy anyone else.

The Questions:

What sort of influences, subjects, topics and themes were consistent in your childhood and adolescence?

What have you been doing for the last ten years?

What compliments do strangers give you consistently? This is huge. If people who don’t know you mention it consistently then it’s something immediately noticeable in your demeanor, energy, appearance, spirit, consciousness, etc. Spend a lot of time with this one.

What do you talk about with friends on a Friday or Saturday night effortlessly?

What did I want to do at 14 years old?

How to Do It:

The goal of this exercise is to create a one sentence business destiny plan that is extremely specific to you. It won't be perfect, and that's OK.

Side Point: Like I mentioned earlier, due to the constantly changing nature of your mind your answers to the questions above will change depending on your level of consciousness and the current belief systems you hold.

Brainstorm - Answer each question with as many ideas that come to mind. Get messy and throw everything on the table.

Wash, Rinse, Repeat - A day later, go back and answer the questions again on a new sheet of paper. Compare them to your first set of answers.

Find the hidden ties that bind - Ask yourself, where do all these questions intersect?

Wash, Rinse, Repeat - Repeat the questions over and over until you come up with an answer you are satisfied with. You should talk through your answers with your parents, friends, family, mastermind partners, coworkers, etc.

For Example, here’s the evolution of my many attempts:

1st Attempt: Helping men and women find their own path, meaning, purpose and truth. To help them step out of social conditioning and start living life on their own terms. (huh?)

2nd Attempt: I am unleashing the potential of people and systems. (one could easily imagine this being read during the unveiling of the original Macintosh in 1984)

3rd Attempt: “Answering life’s hard questions with science” (what?)

4th Attempt: - not worth sharing - (complete garbage)

10th Attempt: Exploring Life's Hard Questions Using Science, Spirituality, and Philosophy (closer)

Using this framework, you can develop a filter in which you can judge all career paths, business opportunities, or projects which come your way. You will understand what types of work will make you happy and which ones will make you miserable.

Let's Recap

You have two action items:

Start a daily formal meditation practice. 5-10 minutes first thing in the morning is a good place to start.

Complete the business destiny questions and refine your answers until you feel an unexplainable connection to your unique business destiny.

Article Inspired By:

#Ask Ben #FindingPurpose

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leadersandperformers-blog · 8 years ago

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The Secret To Courageous Living Discovered by "The Real Indiana Jones"

At some point between 18 and 50, you stop, look around and ask yourself: “Is THIS it?"

You work all day doing pointless work in an uninspiring job. You sit in infuriating bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic. You drive to your local grocery store with the sterile fluorescent lights. You return home to spend a few hours mindlessly surfing the net - too tired to do the things that would set your life in motion. The grand vision of your life seems like a distant fantasy.

As a culture, we've become complacent to work a mediocre job, drive a mediocre car, return to a mediocre home, eat mediocre food, have mediocre relationships, watch mediocre shows on Netflix, lay in mediocre bed where we buy mediocre products on Amazon, binge internet surf on mediocre social media and get mediocre sleep. We wake up only to do the same mediocre routine again and again.

There are too many mediocre things. Your life experience should not be one of them.

What happened to bold living?

What happened to excitement?

What happened to novelty?

What happened to inspiration?

What happened to your spark?

Modern adult life is designed to stamp out your aspirations with the ruthlessness of a honey badger attacking an abandoned limping baby gazelle.

Moreover, we wonder why we are the most overweight, overworked, over medicated, over-educated, stressed out, anxious, in-debt cohort of adults in the history of the earth.

Previous generations fought wars of life and death. Our war is one of spirit.

Enter “The Real Life Indiana Jones”

Answers for the future can often be found by digging in the past and perhaps there is no better example of courageous living than Jon Goddard. Some call him “The Real Indiana Jones” others call him the world's biggest adventure junkie. Regardless, we can all learn something from the way he unapologetically lived life.

On a rainy day in 1939, a 15-year-old John Goddard sat down at the kitchen table of his Los Angeles home with a yellow legal pad felt the spark of inspiration.

Staring at the yellow legal pad, he asked the big question:

“What do I want to do with my life?”

Inspired by the muse of the moment he wrote down three words at the top of the page: “MY LIFE LIST.”

The words stared back, simple and clear. The vision of Goddard’s future appeared and his hand wrote the vision which appeared in front of him.

The inspired Goddard started wrote and did not stop until 127 "Life List" goals stared back at him. Each goal originated in passion, curiosity and his unique search for meaning.

Inspired by the muse of the moment he wrote down three words at the top of the page: “MY LIFE LIST.”

The words stared back, simple and clear. The vision of Goddard’s future appeared, and his hand wrote the image which appeared in front of him. He wrote and did not stop until 127 "Life List" goals stared back at him on the yellow pages. Each goal originated in a place of passion, curiosity and his unique search for meaning.

His Life List goals were not simple or easy. They were not SMART goals. However, his goals had the two elements which precede any significant achievement or life breakthrough: Clarity and curiosity. Goals without these two elements are just dreams.

His goals included climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, “milking” a poisonous snake, speaking Arabic, writing a book, reading the collective works of Shakespeare, owning a cheetah, exploring the Nile River, and learning Jujitsu. Some of were downright crazy (visit the moon).

When Goddard passed in 2013, he had lived a life of adventure, achievement, happiness, and purpose, accomplishing 109 of his 127 "Life List" goals. [1]

Perhaps he was the world's greatest goal achiever.

Reintroducing "The Life List"

If you think reading, writing, and podcasting about personal development means I have it figured out you are completely wrong. For the most of 2016, I was stuck. Unable to make progress towards my long-term goals. Stuck in a cycle of procrastination, perfectionism, and resistance. Just plain stuck.

While I could describe all of my problems with all of the vocabulary and flair of a seasoned high-performance coach, there was little I could do to drag my ass back into a state of actually producing (actually working towards my goals).

Like many people who feel stuck, I kept asking the bigger picture questions like:

"What is my purpose?"

"How can I make money and still live in a meaningful way?"

"What does God / The Universe want me to do with my life?"

"What do I need to accomplish in order to die complete?"

Nothing.

I kept asking. Still nothing.

When I do not make progress, I am not happy. When I am not happy, I get stuck in my head. When I get stuck in my head, I think too much and don't produce. And the cycle continues.

Around this time, my mastermind partner Robert James Collier recognized what was going on. He introduced me to the concept of The Life List and Goddard. After reading his article, I felt the spark come back.

Inspired by Goddard and the Life Lists of my mastermind partners (check out Robert's here and Sunny's here) I decided to create my own. Like Goddard, I sat down with a legal pad, put myself back into the mind of my 15-year-old self and started writing, remembering what I wanted to accomplish as a youth, young adult and a man.

I wrote until my fingers hurt and didn't stop until five pages were filled.

To my surprise, the missing sense of clarity, purpose, and direction returned. My spark returned. My mind opened again, and the ego slithered back into the depths of my subconscious.

Many of the things I wrote were utterly insane (go to space… i still want to), and some were quite tangible (read the works of Thoreau). In any case, I was excited again. I had a roadmap and felt a sense of clarity for the first time in months.

Since writing my initial list, I have checked off three items - build a dining room table for my family, make a home and give a best man speech. Instead of these moments passing into obscurity, I was able to fully appreciate and understand the magnitude of the moment and experience deep states of fulfillment, joy, and purpose. Each accomplished “Life List” item felt like a tremendous achievement and inspired me to tackle another "Life List" item.

I want the same for you and challenge you to create your Life List.

Here’s how:

Sit down with a notepad (put your phone in the other room and do not use a computer).

Set a timer for 25 minutes.

Remember what you wanted to achieve when you were 13, 14 or 15.

Write MY LIFE LIST across the top.

Begin. Write what inspires you. Don't worry if it is realistic or not. Your only criteria for success is if it sparks your curiosity.

Think about it for a few more minutes.

If nothing else comes to mind, stop. Take a break and do something active like walking around the park, run errands, play a round of golf, hit the gym or take a nap. When something pops into your head, write it down.

Keep the list with you for an entire week, writing down everything which comes to mind.

Compare your list with the lists of others for inspiration. Remember, "Good artists copy; great artists steal" – Picasso. (Check out Goddards original list here)

Refine. Rework. Redraft.

Keep the items which inspire you. Discard the rest.

Place your list in a place where you frequently have to look at it. Your desk, wall or social media profile are good places to start.

As more ideas come to you over the coming weeks, months and years add to your list. Discard anything that grows stale.

When opportunity knocks take advantage and start crossing off items on your list.

Your Call To Action

"The first move toward mastery is always inward - learning who you really are and reconnecting with that innate force. Knowing it with clarity, you will find your way to the proper career path, and everything else will fall into place. It is never too late to start this process." -- Robert Greene, Mastery

At some point you’ll stop and realize “THIS IS IT”. You’ll understand the only way to find your “path in life”, “your purpose” or “make an impact” is to reconnect with your natural curiosity and let it guide your decision making.

The best way to do this is by first creating your Life List.

Resources:

[1] http://www.johngoddard.info

#John Goddard #Life List #Indiana Jones #Purpose #FindingPurpose #overcome fear

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leadersandperformers-blog · 8 years ago

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Stop Wasting Willpower. Light A Fire Under Your Ass.

Doing the right thing is exhausting.

Going to the gym. Eating the right foods. Writing your first book. Being present with your partner. Developing your passion project. Putting in extra hours at work. Giving 100% all out effort. Putting down the remote and reading a book. Moving to Africa to start a school. etc. etc. etc.

Why is it that everything worth doing is hard? And everything that's a waste seems to happen without effort or thought?

Thinking about these questions reminded me of the times I was able to consistently push my comfort zone. The times when I was able to do the right thing and enter periods of exponential personal growth.

All of these times had one thing in common - I had fire under my ass.

Here's the story...

In the 80 and 90's Astroturf became very famous for high-use athletic fields. Astroturf didn't need to be watered, maintained or manicured. You showed up, and the field was ready. If you watched American football during the 90’s, you saw a lot of games played on Astroturf.

In the early 2000's most high-use athletic fields in the inner city, areas were changed from Astroturf to a new type of turf called "Sprinturf," which was superior in almost every single way.

Overall it was about 10X better than Astroturf - fewer rug burns, more cushion, limited injuries and it made the transition to playing on real grass much smoother.

But, there was one fatal flaw of Sprinturf which happened on hot summer days. After roasting in the late summer sun, the rubber cushioning of the Sprinturf absorbed heat like a giant cast iron skillet. The combination of leather cleats, blister-generating friction, and black bits of rubber caused your feet to sweat, burn and blister. So much that, at the end of practice your feet resembled bubbly mozzarella on top of a hot Neapolitan pizza. Any time you stood in place for more than a few seconds your feet began to sizzle.

To make matters more intense, our head coach harnessed his inner Herb Brooks and would yell and scream at us for any sign of apathy, laziness or lack of 100% all out effort. If someone were dogging it or saving their energy, we would all pay with sprints until our legs, lungs, and feet burned. It was grueling.

The environment demanded a sense of urgency. Otherwise, your feet would burn off, and you'd be cut, publicly humiliated or be shamed into submission.

With an extreme scene of yelling, screaming, burning feet and where laziness wasn't tolerated, you learned to move fast, stay focused and give 100% all-out effort. There wasn't time to procrastinate or be a perfectionist. The present moment was the only thing that mattered.

My point is - whatever goal you are trying to achieve, it's a lot easier to do the right thing when there are consequences for failure.

So instead of blaming yourself for failing with diet, business, relationship, fitness goal, or passion project...

LIGHT A FIRE UNDER YOUR ASS.

#Success Habits #Success Environment

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leadersandperformers-blog · 8 years ago

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Katrina Razavi - The Secrets of World Class Charisma, Influence and Confident Communication

Have you ever wondered why sometimes you are the life of the party and other times you feel like an awkward junior high student talking to the popular kids?

My friend Katrina Razavi has the answer for you! She's spent YEARS perfecting her techniques for effective communication, rock star charisma, and Jedi-like influence and today she's going to share it all with you!

As a former introvert, she learned how to flex her "extrovert muscle" and connect with influencers on a deep and meaningful level. She has leveraged these skills to pitch in front of top Silicon Valley VC’s, approach VIP’s like Marc Cuban, Arianna Huffington, and Magic Johnson and EVEN go to VIP events like Kim Kardashian and Kanye's engagement party (now I'm really jealous!).

In this exclusive interview you'll learn:

The most common things you see people do WRONG in social situations!

How to keep conversations flowing naturally, even if you feel awkward right now.

Effective "Conversational Cue's" and Katrina's "3'S" technique!

How to master your “Power Pose” and convey confident body language.

How to shut up that negative inner voice (you know, the one that gets in the way ALL the time).

Click On The Play Button To Listen Now!

Guest Bio:

Katrina Razavi is the founder of CommunicationForNerds.Com. She helps people who struggle with communication make the impression they want and communicate in an authentic way.

She’s used her communication skills to pitch in front of top Silicon Valley VC’s, approach VIP’s like Marc Cuban, Arianna Huffington, and Magic Johnson and EVEN go to VIP events like Kim Kardashian and Kanye's engagement party.

Her work has been featured on the Huffington Post, LifeHack, Smart Business Revolution, and much more.

Questions/Topics We Cover!

How did you become interested in communication and what's the story behind Communication for Nerds?

What has studying communication allowed you to do in your professional and work life?

Let's talk about communicating as aspiring leaders who can influence and motivate others to take action.

What are the core beliefs someone needs to begin their journey as effective communicators?

Practical strategies for developing confidence in our social conversations and presentations?

Why do most of us struggle to communicate with confidence?

What are the most common things you see people do wrong in social situations?

Why are we so afraid to connect and put ourselves out there?

We are our worst critics. How can we STOP blaming ourselves when things go wrong?

What are effective strategies for developing confidence in social situations and presentations

What strategies can someone implement today that will help them keep conversations going naturally?

Are there any daily habits, rituals or practices that you teach to develop long-term core confidence?

Rapid Fire Questions:

What is the #1 habit you contribute most to your success?

Organizing

What is your current morning routine like?

Meditation

Gratitude

coffee

What is the #1 book you’ve recommended to others and why?

What is your favorite online tool or app?

Evernote

Spotify

Is there a course either online or in person that you consistently recommend to others?

Toastmasters

Before you take off, can you let us know where the best place is to connect with you?

www.communicationfornerds.com

Liked the episode? Get her FREE E-COURSE now by following the link below!

Click HERE --- > WWW.COMMUNICATIONFORNERDS.COM/unleashed

#Katrina Razavi #Communication #Charisma #Influence #Leadership #Success Habits

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leadersandperformers-blog · 8 years ago

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Dr. Jeff Spencer - Why some people succeed and others fail.

Why do some people succeed and others fail?

Our next guest on the podcast Dr. Jeff Spencer has an interesting perspective on the question.

For the past forty years, he’s been a professional student of human achievement and has worked with and alongside Gold-Medal Olympians, World-Champion Athletes, Fortune 500 Leaders, Including Sir Richard Branson, Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Bono and U2, Maria Sharapova and many other top performers just like you.

In this exclusive Interview with Dr. Jeff Spencer, you’ll learn:

The success framework Dr. Spencer used to become an Olympic athlete.

How to crack the code of the champions blueprint.

Why not getting what you want right away is a good thing.

The distinction between passion and purpose.

How to find purpose by following your natural curiosity.

How to create laser-like focus and not deviate from your goals.

How to differentiate between goals and wishes.

Why all objectives are often like romantic relationships.

How to develop a winning mindset, push through resistance, and excel as a leader.

Click On The Play Button To Listen Right NOW!

Questions and Topics Covered:

Tell us what you do and how you became interested in peak performance?

How did you discover that you wanted to dedicate your life to teaching others to be the best version of themselves?

How to distinguish between temporary passion and meaningful purpose

How did your career as an athlete influence your ability to master new subjects and skills later in life?

Champions Blueprint Workshop:

Tell us about the workshop and what someone can expect if they attend?

Creating a Legacy Statement

How do we develop a state of readiness so that we can perform during those pivotal moments?

What steps can someone take right now if they want to start creating their champions blueprint?

Rapid Fire Questions:

What is the #1 habit you contribute most to your success?

Persistence

What mentor had the biggest impact on your life and why?

His Olympic cycling coach, especially when he said: “your highest obligation is to follow your curiosity.”

Do you have a morning routine or a ritual to prime yourself for the day?

Take the time to be aware of your conscious awareness before you do anything else, where revelation and problem solving are presenting to our consciousness.

Wait 2-3 minutes before we go into full conscious awareness.

What is the #1 book you’ve recommended to others and why?

Art of War - Lao Tzu

The Bible

Where’s the best place is to connect with you?

www.drjeffspencer.com (Signing up for his email list!)

Resources Mentioned During the Show

Attend A Workshop with Dr. Spencer

Get more information about the Champions Blueprint by clicking here.

#Podcast #UNLEASH Your Inner Genius #Dr. Jeff Spencer #Success Habits #UNLEASH

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leadersandperformers-blog · 8 years ago

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Kris J. Simpson - The 5 Fundamentals of High Performance Health

Diets don't work.

If you’ve ever attacked your health and fitness routine like a maniac, only to fall back into old bad habits… this is the show for you!

Enter Kris J. Simpson and his All Inclusive approach to keeping the weight off and creating high-performance health.

In this interview you will learn:

Kris’ unbeatable S-M-A-R-T Shift acronym for achieving your goals.

His incredible story of overcoming addiction and developing the strategies for living a life of richness, gratitude, and fulfillment.

Strategies for balancing your F.E.A.R.S. (Food, Emotions, Activity, Relaxing and Sleeping).

Kris’ practices for creating a peak state and smashing your fitness and wellness goals.

How to keep the weight off by sustaining a balanced and normalized lifestyle.

Tactics for overcoming your F.E.A.R.S. (False Expectations Appearing Real Syndrome).

How to find peace, presence, and fulfillment in less than 20 minutes a day.

In the episode, Kris also gives you a copy of his new book, All Inclusive Diet: Finding Balance & Keeping the Weight Off. Tune into the episode to get the details!

Listen Now By Clicking The Play Button!

Kris’ Bio:

Kris J. Simpson is a veteran of the weight-loss, fitness, and physical rehabilitation industry. He is an elite personal trainer, former national bodybuilding champion and CEO and founder of Bodies By Design Fitness Studios. He was also featured as a spokesperson for health and fitness on CP24, City TV, and the E! Channel.

As a Weight-loss Coach, Seminar Leader, Speaker, and Author, Kris found his calling to help other people restore balance and keep the weight off as he did for himself. As his motto states, he will continue to – Inspire to Aspire™

Question/Topics We Will Cover:

What’s the story behind your Interest in all things health, weight loss and fitness?

Why do you think so many top performers tend to yo-yo diet and struggle to keep the weight off?

In your book, you mention the 5-P’s of food logistics. Could you describe what they are and how someone living a busy/high-stress lifestyle can implement the 5-P’s?

In your book, you talk about the five facets of health. Could you say what those are and why each chapter begins with “awareness” and includes some form of tracking or measuring progress?

How do you recommend people approach fitness, health, and weight loss goals (the 7 Day S.M.A.R.T. SHIFT)?

Rapid Fire Questions:

What is the #1 habit you contribute most to your success?

Guided Meditation (Headspace)

Do you have a morning routine or a ritual to prime yourself for the day?

The 5 Minute Journal (Gratitude Journal)

What is the #1 book you’ve recommended to others and why?

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself

What is your favorite online tool or app?

Google Apps

What podcasts do you tune into regularly?

Art of Charm

James Altucher

SuperHuman Entrepreneur

Get a Free Copy Of Kris’ Book By Taking the Following Steps:

Open your email.

Compose a message to Kris (at) krisJsimpson.com

In the title write: “Your excellent Interview on UYIG!”

In the body text write: “ Hi Kris, I heard your wonderful interview on UYIG, could you please send me a free copy of your book? - Thanks! ”

Get your free copy, with no hassle.

Other Books/Resources Mentioned:

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself

Author Incubator - Angela Loria

#Podcast #Kris J Simpson #All Inclusive Diet #Smart Goals #Goals #Health #Gratitude

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leadersandperformers-blog · 9 years ago

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All Leaders Have An Inner Circle - How To Build Your Team From The Ground Up

You Can't Do It Alone.

Every great leader has an inner circle of friends, mentors, peers, mastermind partners, teachers, pupils and family that are a source of their genius. If you are working toward becoming the best version of you, you'll need a team.

The Story Is Wrong

Our culture loves the idea of the genius leader who accomplishes everything on their own. We want to believe that Steve Jobs created all of his Apple products by himself in his parents' garage. Or Mark Zuckerberg coded Facebook while drinking beer in his Harvard dorm room. Or Nelson Mandela single-handedly freed South Africa from Apartheid.

But, You Can't Do It Alone.

Every icon, leader and entrepreneur has had a team which supported their goals.

In the next few sections, we'll break down the fundamentals of building an inner circle so that you can attract the right kind of people in your life and get the support you'll need.

In this article you'll discover:

Why you become the average of the people in your inner circle.

How the people you spend time with will determine your level of success.

Who to include in your inner circle.

Why you shouldn’t be the smartest person in every room or the most incompetent.

How to build it - the practical strategies

Discovery - Who You Spend Time With Is Who You Become

In the 80s and 1990s, neurophysiologists Giacomo Rizzolatti and his colleagues at the University of Parma conducted a series of studies designed to monitor the neurons specialized in control of the hand and mouth actions of Macaque monkeys.

By placing electrodes on the ventral premotor cortex of the macaque monkey, they found that some of the neurons recorded would respond unexpectedly. When a monkey saw a person pick up a piece of food with their hand, the animal's neurons in the premotor cortex would also respond as if the monkey was picking up the food. [1]

Recent research has revealed that humans also have neurons with "mirror" properties, but on a much higher level of sophistication. Humans mimic the actions, facial expressions, body language, the tone of voice and behavior of the people in their environment. This mirror system evolved for thousands of years by our ancient ancestors and was used to improve social talent, develop empathy, learn new skills, and forge stronger community bonds by mirroring the patterns and behaviors of the successful people in their environment. [2] [3]

Humans also have the ability place our awareness inside the minds of others and visualize what they are thinking and feeling. It's one of the reasons why we can predict the behavior of others and use this knowledge to inspire and lead.

In short, you mirror the people your environment both good and bad.

Who to Include – The Law of 1/3

The best way to grow as a leader is to have a mixture of people in your inner circle as follows:

1/3 Pupils. Mentoring teaches you to be a leader. It shows you how to manage, inspire, and deliver your ideas - all necessary skills for any phase of your life.

1/3 Peers. You want people who are at or near your current capabilities of to challenge and push your boundaries.

1/3 Mentors. You learn the most from mentors who have been there before you and can provide feedback specific to your needs. Mentors streamline your progress.

If you’re the smartest person in every room, it’s time to get in a room with more intelligent individuals who challenge you. Conversely, if you are the lowest person on the totem pole in every situation, you won’t develop as a leader.

Growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone, and you’ll to surround yourself with a mix of people below your current level, at your level and above your level.

Practical Strategies For Building Your Inner Circle From The Ground Up

You won’t build it overnight. It takes time, shared experiences and common values to develop meaningful relationships - just like you and your best friend didn’t become besties overnight. Most people fail to make investments in meaningful relationships, and they pay the price in mediocrity. Your potential as a leader relies on the quality of people in your inner circle.

Below we'll go through several strategies to find, meet, attract people who will help you grow into the type of leader you wish to become.

Finding Your Inner Circle

Join Paid Communities – Paid masterminds, online groups, and networking events are a great way to weed out the people who have no interest in taking action. When you spend your hard earned dollars on something it usually means you're serious. Paying for something shows intention, focus, desire and that you’re willing to take right action towards your goal.

Join Free Communities – Yes, sometimes free isn’t so bad. In fact, all 4 of my mastermind partners I met as part of the Rich 20 Something community.

Join Local Meetup.com Groups - One of my buddies moved from the rural part of MN to the Twin Cities. His favorite hobby is rock climbing, so I encouraged him to join a local rock climbing group. Now he only dates rock climbers, hangs out with fellow climbers, and leads rock climbing trips on the weekends. He found a local group interested in his passion and now has a support system for his climbing goals.

Start a blog, podcast, newsletter or publication - One of the easiest and best ways to build your inner circle is by sending an email that begins with the phrase "I WANT TO FEATURE YOU ... ". From there you interview the person and publicize their work (now that's 100% pure value). If there's a genuine connection you can begin working together.

Attracting People To Your Inner Circle

Be Intentional - When you find someone outstanding, reach out.to them. This was how Robert James Collier and I connected last year. We hit it off and now chat every other week giving valuable feedback and advice. Not everyone you encounter is going to be a good fit, so when you find someone with shared values, take them out to coffee, use flattery and be genuinely interested in them.

Give Value To Everyone - Being an emotional toxic leech with a victim mindset is the best way to scare off everyone you encounter. I used to think the phrase "to get what you want you to have to first give it" was complete bullshit. And yet, each year that I'm alive I realize every win is directly correlated with me first giving value.

Be Congruent to Who You Are - Cat Neligan from the League of Creative Introverts is a perfect example of this. She owns her shy and introverted personality and doesn't apologize for it. That's what makes her interesting. Your inner circle deserves the real version of you. Not a fake paper thin veneer of someone you think you should be.

Play To Your Strengths - You are exceptional at a few things and average in many other areas. When giving advice, feedback or offering help stick to the areas where you are exceptional. For example, one of my mastermind partners Sunny from the Bushido Code is the best graphic designer I've ever met. His understanding of colors, placement, layout, text and size are second to none. When he gives me feedback on design, I listen. Seriously, check out the Bushido Code Instagram page. However, when I ask him a question that's out of his strengths zone he's honest. He doesn't say something just to say it.

Thoughts To Action

Knowledge holds no value when it sits in your head and collects dust. Reading an article like this does absolutely nothing for you if you don’t take some sort of positive action towards creating an inner circle that supports your goals. It's time to put thought into action.

I challenge you to do one of the following:

Join an in-person or online community.

Go to a live event or seminar.

Start a blog and interview someone.

Reach out to someone with common goals.

Do you think you can handle that?

Finally

Who we surround ourselves with determines our level of success, happiness, fulfillment, joy, gratitude, and performance. An inner circle comprised of great friends, mentors, peers, co-workers, and partners can push you when you need a boost and provide a platform to generate breakthrough ideas.

There’s a genius inside each of us that’s just waiting to be unleashed. You’re doing a disservice to yourself and the world by holding back.

You can't do it alone.

Resources

[1] Rizzolatti G, Fabbri-Destro M (2010). "Mirror neurons: from discovery to autism". Exp Brain Res. 200 (3–4): 223–37. doi:10.1007/s00221-009-2002-3. PMID 19760408.

[2] Keysers, Christian (2011-06-23). The Empathic Brain.

[3] Greene, Robert (2012). Mastery

Article Inspired By These Books:

#Inner Circle #Network #PersonalDevelopment #top performers #peak performance

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leadersandperformers-blog · 9 years ago

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Ep 7: Andrew McDermot - Forging A Champions Mindset

CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON TO LISTEN!

About Andrew

Our next is the founder of the nutritional performance company First Finisher. He’s also a good friend and the host of the Champion's Mindset Podcast.

Andrew welcome to the Unleash Your Inner Genius Podcast!

Question/Topics We Will Cover:

Tell us about the work you do and how you became interested in mindset, nutrition, health, fitness and peak athletic performance?

What’s the story behind your interest in supplementation and building a champions mindset?

What daily health, lifestyle, and nutritional principles do you recommend to others who live a busy high-stress life?

Do you have any strategies for lowering stress and relaxing at the end of a hard day (PM Routine)?

What are the key supplements for the peak performer?

Do you use any nootropics to maintain a champions mindset?

What personal development strategies do you recommend for building a champions mindset (books, courses, daily practices, etc.)?

Rapid Fire Questions:

What is the #1 habit you contribute most to your success?

Waking Up early

Do you have a morning routine or a ritual to prime yourself for the day?

He reads the 12 rules of his life which are a series of quotes, philosophy, affirmations and rules his lives his life by.

20-30 minutes of philosophy.

Most important task.

What is the #1 book you’ve recommended to others and why?

Mastery by Robert Greene

What is your favorite online tool or app?

Evernote

What podcasts do you tune into regularly?

The Tim Ferriss Show

Ask Gary V

Self Made Man

Hardcore History with Dan Carlin.

Where’s the best place is to connect with you?

Firstfinisher.com

Champions Mindset

Connect with Andrew on Twitter and Facebook

Other Resources Mentioned:

Anthony De Mello

Letters to Seneca

Way of The Tao

#Podcast

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leadersandperformers-blog · 9 years ago

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Ep 6: Ron Tsang - From Presentation To Standing Ovation

Listen By Clicking The Button Below

About Ron

He's a presentation skill expert and author of the Amazon Canada #1 best-seller “From Presentation to Standing Ovation”.

Unlike most public speaking coaches, Ron is a former stock analyst who has been pitched to by thousands of CEOs and CFOs. Ron was responsible for evaluating these presentations, so he has a unique perspective on how to communicate at the highest levels.

Ron, welcome to the Unleash Your Inner Genius Podcast!

Question/Topics We Will Cover:

Tell us about the work you do and how you became interested in public speaking?

What is your definition of effective communication?

For this next question, we’re going to assume that the person listening is not terrified of public speaking. For those of us who want to improve their ability to communicate to others, where do we begin?

What techniques or rituals do you recommend for getting in “the zone” before public speaking?

How do we develop a natural speaking personality and use it to win over hearts and minds of our audience?

Why is storytelling important and how can we use it to improve our presentations?

What’s the number one thing you consistently recommend to your clients in order to improve their public speaking and communication?

Any additional habits or suggestions for communicating with power and influence?

Rapid Fire Questions:

What is the #1 habit you contribute most to your success?

Learn new information and apply it!

Do you have a morning routine or a ritual to prime yourself for the day?

Meditate

Exercise

5 Minute Journal Gratitude

Productivity Planner

What is the #1 book you’ve recommended to others and why?

Success Principles - Jack Canfield

What is your favorite online tool or app?

An egg timer in the shape of a pig!

What podcasts do you tune into regularly?

Jay Wong - Your Inner Change Maker

Where’s the best place is to connect with you?

www.rhtsang.com

Get the book on Amazon!

Click On The Cover To Get The Book!

If you have already bought the book, get your freebies here - http://rhtsang.com/book/

Other Links Mentioned In The Show:

National Speakers Association - http://www.nsaspeaker.org/

#Podcast #Ron Tsang #Public Speaking #Communication

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leadersandperformers-blog · 9 years ago

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3 Books So Mind Blowing They'll Make You Want To Change Everything

"I’ve continued to recognize the power individuals have to change virtually anything and everything in their lives in an instant. I’ve learned that the resources we need to turn our dreams into reality are within us, merely waiting for the day when we decide to wake up and claim our birthright." -- Tony Robbins

Stop.

Think about the influences from your life. All of the moments, experiences and stories that make up every fiber of who you are.

Is there one that stands out? Was it a movie, documentary, book or person? Did it force you to evolve to a new paradigm?

For some, you're thinking of books that were catalysts in your life. You understand how words have the power to imprint deeply within your subconscious and create lasting change...

In this week's article, we're featuring a guest post from Austin at Heightened Living. He's going to share a few of his influences with you.

Take it away Austin…

(this is where I stop writing and Austin starts :) )

In life, most people have a defining moment, and this defining moment was an amazing lifestyle change.

That’s when I dropped out of college in Michigan and drove to Florida to pursue my dream job.

Funny enough, three books ultimately influenced my decision to live a life for myself rather than what is pushed into the mainstream.

These three books are dear to me, and I have a feeling will be dear to you as well.

So let’s dive into the three books that changed my life forever.

1. Mastery by Robert Green

Robert Greene is a fantastic author and is most widely known for the 48 Laws of Immutable Power

But, the book of his that truly stood out to me was Mastery.

Of course, reading any article on Stopstartdo makes you a go-getter by nature, and that is the influence that this book provides.

Mastery is a collection of stories of all of the greats we have heard of Beethoven, Henry Ford, and Mozart just to name a few.

Although, I think the actual value in this book is the ability to identify with what Robert is trying to teach you.

Life is about mastering something, and to be someone who goes down in history comes a big responsibility.

One which most people will never embark on.

We, on the other hand, love to dive head first into creating a permanent change for this world.

To achieve mastery Greene talks about venturing into the darkness by following your natural inclination toward becoming the best at something.

Maybe you like health and fitness, maybe music or whatever your one thing is, it is what you have to pursue.

No matter who or what is in your way.

Even your parents, friends and family may be standing in your way to accomplishing your dreams.

Which can be very problematic.

Going against those who hold our foundations and have raised us can be such a hard thing to do, but in the quest for mastery, anything goes.

Well, I haven’t drastically altered relationships because of reading this I took to heart that your situation may be what is causing stagnation.

Which made me leave the Frat House I was living in and drive to a new environment in Florida.

My dream job was waiting and with it a circle of productive, friends I would have never imagined.

Every day is now a mastermind and working towards mastery seems effortless.

2. AntiFragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Nicholas is the writer of the Black Swan, but the concept of this book isn't a ballet dancer.

Instead, it is a mind opening piece of fictional non-fiction.

He writes using a character most can identify with, but he breaks down concepts that would be hard for most to understand.

This book caused me to abandon every obligation for two full days as I devoured 400 pages in what seemed like 10 minutes.

But, why was it a motivational force in a drastic life change?

Well, the concept itself is something I think me and you should keep in our minds.

Antifragility is a term coined by Nicholas but “is a property of systems that increase in capability, resilience, or robustness as a result of stressors, shocks, volatility, noise, mistakes, faults, attacks, or failures.”

In short, it is things that gain from disorder.

Just like us.

There is a commonality amongst all go-getters, hustlers and people trying to better themselves.

With discomfort comes growth.

Muscle doesn't grow unless it is beaten up and broken down, and neither will we.

Leaving where I spent 20 years of my life to move somewhere that I knew absolutely no one, on the whim of working a dream job isn’t exactly comfortable.

And for most people seems illogical.

But, the concept of antifragility has always stuck with me.

I have to put myself into situations that make me uncomfortable, where I don't have the answers because it will lead to internal growth unlike ever before.

A prime example is when a relationship ends.

I know we have all had the experience of breaking up and feeling lost, only to rebound and grow much beyond who we previously were.

That is what always needs to happen.

A bit of momentum provided by hitting the wall and bouncing back with more force than ever.

3. Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

Keith is a master networker and before buying this book (thinking it may be about health), I understood the importance of networking.

Imagine getting the chance to be friends with Richard Branson, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates.

Do you think you life would change a bit?

I think with a network like that it seems that anything would be possible.

In Never Eat Alone, Keith continually reinforces the fact that everyone (including you and I) is a sum of our networks.

By growing and expanding our network we not only increase our self-worth and what we can get done, but we build a powerful foundation to lean on in hard times.

Here is where it gets interesting, though.

Relying on others is not how to build a network, instead providing the most amount of value possible to other parties is what truly makes a good network.

You should always be aiming to create everlasting friendships and relationships that leave others wanting more from you.

With this message, I realized that moving to Florida not only would benefit me and my network but allow me to provide immense value for those that I want as my mentors.

I could help to craft a beautiful network by putting myself out there and helping those I look up to.

That was an opportunity you never let fly by.

So I didn’t

And neither should you.

What You Should Get From These Three Books

These are some of my most prized books.

They have taught me countless of lessons and a lot more than I can express in a short article.

If there were one thing that I wanted you to take from this it would be that putting yourself out there, is what makes dreams come true.

Life is something so malleable that it can be crafted to anything you want.

The first step is knowledge and getting both the motivation/know how to take control of your life.

Success will only happen when you start on the right path.

These three books will kick start your potential energy and provide the momentum needed to ride out into your future.

Are you going to answer the call?

Let me know if you have read any of these books, and what you think!

-Austin

Greene, R. (2012). Mastery. New York: Viking.

Taleb, N. N. (2012). Antifragile: Things that gain from disorder. New York: Random House.

Ferrazzi, K., & Raz, T. (n.d.). Never eat alone: And other secrets to success, one relationship at a time.

About The Author

Hey I am Austin, Owner of Heightened Living, I am a productivity specialist, lifestyle hacker, habit creator, and all around self-improvement junkie. Everything I write and do is aimed at taking your life to great heights. Check me out at Heightenedliving.com and let me know what you think!

#Guest Post #Books #Book Of The Day #Reading List

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leadersandperformers-blog · 9 years ago

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Ep 5: Cultivating Courage With Cat Neligan & The League of Creative Introverts

Click On the Button To Listen!

About Cat

Our next guest is the Founder of The League of Creative Introverts, an online community for those who struggle with self-promotion and confidence. She's is on a mission to help other creatives get over their fears of self-promotion and get their work seen and shared.

Cat welcome to Unleash Your Inner Genius!

Question/Topics We Will Cover:

Tell us about the work that you do and who you help.

What’s the story behind The League of Creative Introverts?

What does it mean to be an introvert in trying to make it in today's super connected world?

What are the most common excuses people use to stop working towards their goals?

What are some of the methods/tactics/habits you teach others to cultivate the courage they need to go and promote themselves?

For those who are introverts, how do we put ourselves in a position to succeed?

Rapid Fire Questions:

What is the #1 habit you contribute most to your success?

Waking Up Early

What is the #1 book you’ve recommended to others and why?

War of Art - Steven Pressfield

What is your favorite online tool or app?

Trello

What podcasts do you tune into regularly?

Creative Pep Talk

The Sessions with Sean Croxton

Unmistakable Creative

Before you take off, can you let us know where the best place is to connect with you?

TheCreativeIntrovert

One More Thing!

Cat is Giving Away A Free BOOT CAMP For Creatives To All YOu UYIG Listeners!

Click Here To Get it

Other Books Mentioned During The Show

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

The Highly Sensitive Person

The One Thing

#UNLEASH #UNLEASH Your Inner Genius #Cat Neligan #Creative Introverts #Self Promotion

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leadersandperformers-blog · 9 years ago

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5 Crazy Things You Can Do To Overcome Your Fear Of Rejection

This post is going to be very different than anything else I've put out.

It's going to challenge you, push you, make you uncomfortable and hopefully inspire you. It starts with a story about dealing with success barriers and follows with 5 crazy things I did to overcome my fear of rejection.

Some of them are obvious, others are downright silly and they all can help you (if you actually do them).

My hope is that you can learn from my experience and complete at least one of the five challenges. If you do, I'd love to hear about your experience. You can either post in the comments section or send me a email.

Here's the story:

The email glowed in my inbox. It softly whispered my name and pulled me in.

The title read: let’s partner together?

I clicked. Inside there was an application to be a part of a very exclusive 12 person mastermind meeting of industry leaders. The type of thing that NEVER happens.

The potential rewards were huge and the downsides were minimal. If I got accepted, it could skyrocket the success of Stop. Start. Do.

To say I was excited, would be an understatement. Visions of success, money, and fame entered my mind. I saw myself hanging out at the pool with industry titans, sipping on mojitos, laughing, and building life long relationships with millionaires.

Then, like a series of lightning bolts, negative thoughts started flashing in my head.

I don’t have a chance. Why would they choose me? I'm not qualified. I'm not the right person. I don't deserve this yet. I'm an impostor.

Like anything important, I procrastinated for 3 FULL DAYS before filling out the application.

I was nervous. My heart pounded and I could feel the insides of my veins expanding. My cursor hovered over the green Submit Button for a few minutes - my eyes fixated on the black text.

A few more minutes passed...

The pressure was really building now. My body told me to get up, drink a glass of water, go the bathroom, and check my email... ANYTHING TO RELIEVE THE TENSION!

I recognized what was happening, took a deep breath, said my prayers and clicked Submit. It was no longer in my hands.

Then, the unexpected happened. At 7:01 PM that night, I got the call.

I WAS IN.

Going though this process forced me to re-learn ONE very valuable lesson:

NEVER REJECT YOURSELF.

The world puts enough limitations on you, why limit yourself more?

If you want to overcome your fear of rejection, smash your success barriers, push your limits, and turn off those annoying voices in your head, there's only one solution - Stop Thinking, Start Doing.

Below are 5 exercises which helped me overcome my irrational fear of rejection - all took less than 5 minutes. It took a little peer pressure and some arm twisting, but I'm glad I did them.

I'm challenging you to do the same. Pick one that scares you and do it today.

Challenge #1: Reach Out To A VIP.

Is there someone you admire? Someone whose work has changed your life? An actor, star, writer, blogger, influencer, entrepreneur, or president?

Who is this person for you? Get the picture him/her in your mind... Got it?

Your Challenge: Reach out to him/her and try to get a response. Call them, write them, tweet them, message them. Tell them exactly how much their work has changed your life.

It's the only way you can offer of value. Don't be needy. Just Give.

If you actually do this, you'll be surprised at how many of them will respond to you (like this one or this one or this one).

Ben's Note: I've tried to get a response from Richard Branson several times (at least 2). If someone can get a response from him, send me a screenshot because that would be awesome.

Challenge #2: Ask Your Family And Friends.

This one is powerful. It even made me cry.

Credit goes to my mastermind partners Martin and Raj, who made me do it. There's no way I would have done it on my own. It shifted my perspective about how the world sees me and helped me figure out the person I wanted to become.

I hope it does the same for you.

Here's how to do it: Pick 5 People. It can be your best friend, coworker, peer, teammate, lover, spouse, mistress, boy toy, bae etc. Preferably, someone who knows you well.

And Send them THIS EMAIL:

----------------------------------------------

Hi [Their NAME], I am taking part in a personal development exercise, and I need your help.

Could you please answer the questions below? It would really help me a lot.

Questions:

What am I great at?

What other people come to mind when you think of me?

What’s one word that best describes me?

Thanks’ for your help! I appreciate your support.

-[Insert Your Name]

------------------------------------

I guarantee their responses will surprise you. It just might make you cry.

Challenge #3. Allow Yourself To Be Vulnerable (In Public).

It's strange... We are a world connected like never before, yet everyone feels so ignored. We want to be seen, to be heard, and to feel like someone cares. Yet we avoid putting ourselves out there at all costs.

This is why everyone at singles bars gets completely wasted. If they get turned down or rejected they can blame it on the alcohol. This way they don't challenge their self-image and their ego's stay intact. It's easier.

Fuck That.

Your friends, family, fans, followers and tribe want to hear your story, read your words, see your face, and hear your voice. They want to connect with the real part of you. They don't care about the picture you post on Facebook of your dinner. They want to know the real you.

How to do it: Tell your story (this may take more than 5 minutes). Tell the world about a defining moment which changed your life. Post it to Facebook, Instagram, your blog, this blog, whatever. The medium doesn't matter. Just word vomit, proof it and post it.

If you are an inspiring musician, artist, writer or creator, just put your work out there! Show us who you are.

Remember... You are enough as is. This exercise will give you proof.

Challenge #4. Call A Friend Who Changed Your Life.

Is there someone who you haven't seen in a while? Do you wonder what they are up to? Is there a good reason why you haven't hung out? Other than it it's been a while and feels ackward?

I can almost guarantee, they are wondering the same thing.

How to do it: Pick up the phone, call them, and ask to meet for coffee. Don't email. Don't text. Call and ask. If they don't answer, leave a message.

Ben's Note: After writing this I immediately called my elementary school teacher. She taught me how to follow my curiosity and let my natural interests lead me down new paths. Buying her a cup of coffee and letting her know how much she impacted me, is the least I can do for her.

Who is this person for you?

Challenge #5. Ask For 10% Off Of Your Next Cup Of Coffee.

In order to get what you want out of life, sometimes you need to ask.

App Sumo's Noah Kagan challenged me to do this 2 years ago and I still vividly remember it.

How to do it: You walk up to the barista, order your drink and then ask for 10% off. Then you smile and wait.

Let them speak first.

If they ask why? You say you're taking a course in leadership and this is your homework. Then you smile and wait.

Doing this teaches you 3 things:

1st. It's OK to ask for what you want.

2nd. The worst that happens is they say "No" (which really isn't bad).

3rd. If you ask, you may get what you want.

Your Challenge

Pick one of these and do it today. If you wait until tomorrow, you won't follow through. After you have completed one of items, let me know what happened in the comments section below. Or, if posting on public websites isn't your thing, email me (see below). I want to hear your success barrier smashing story!

Remember... You become a better leader when you challenge yourself each and every day. It begins with dumb little challenges like this and then grows into all areas of your life.

#successhabits #SuccessBarriers #ChallengeOfTheDay #Challenge #brainblocks #NoahKagan #Volnerable #Ask #Steven Pressfield #Seth Godin #Lewis Howes #rejection #fear #stopstartdo

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leadersandperformers-blog · 9 years ago

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Ep 4: Alison Cebulla On Increasing Innovation By Embracing Vulnerability

Our next guest is a good friend and an expert in the areas of health and wellness.

She is a Huffington Post blogger and speaks at conferences in the US and Europe about trust, intimacy, and intuition including the 2105 Bulletproof Biohacking Conference and the Upcoming Oui Share fest in May.

She's on a quest to always improve physical and mental health and to share what she learns with others.

Alison Cebulla, welcome to the Show!

Click The Play Button To Listen!

Background/Your Story

How did you become interested in wellness and what's the story behind your career as a coach?

Overcoming Shame

What is shame and why do most people believe that it's not an issue for them? Where does shame come from?

How does shame affect and control our lives?

Do you think perfectionism and procrastination come from shame?

What are some common shame triggers for men and women? Is shame different for men and women?

What is a practical process or habit someone could use to deal with their shame triggers?

How do we deal with imposter syndrome?

Embracing Vulnerability and Empathy

What is vulnerability and why do we need to embrace it? What's the benefit for doing so?

What routines, habits or processes do you teach in order to embrace vulnerability on a daily basis?

How can we use gratitude and empathy in order to embrace vulnerability?

Rapid Fire Questions:

What is the #1 habit you contribute most to your success? Paperlist

What is the #1 book you’ve recommended to others and why? Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle

What is your favorite online tool or app? Grammarly

Is there a course either online or in person that you consistently recommend to others? Inspire Leadership Emotional Intelligence

Before you take off, can you let us know where the best place is to connect with you?

www.Alisoncebulla.com

#brene brown eckhart grateful gratitude innovation nowofpower shame tolle triggers vulnerability willpower #books #Brene Brown #Volnerability #Innovation #Shame Triggers #Podcast #Alison Cebulla

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leadersandperformers-blog · 9 years ago

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Smart People Read Biographies - Here's 19 To Add To Your Reading List

Once the motivational flame is lit, it doesn’t take much to keep it going.

One of the best ways to keep the internal fire raging, is to flood your brain with the stories, biographies and memoirs of great people who have achieved the impossible. Their stories inspire us to keep pushing. There’s a reason why almost all transformative leaders read biographies.

Here's 19 you should add to your reading list.

Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story - Arnold Schwarzenegger

Young boys from the Austrian countryside are not supposed to move to the US, become bodybuilding champs, millionaire businessmen, movie stars and politicians -- and that’s exactly what Arnold did. Through sheer reps, sets and disciplined approach to everything he did, Arnold was a master of personal transformation -- one that continues each and every day.

What he did is fascinating. How he did it, provides a master class for anyone who dreams big and wants to actualize those dreams.

When I stop Talking You’ll Know I’m Dead – Jerry Weintraub

Jerry Weintraub is the most famous person you've never heard of.

He's Hollywood's greatest promoter and biggest dealmaker and the man behind Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, John Denver, The Ocean’s 11 Franchise, The Karate Kid and many more.

No matter what life threw at him from club rooms of Brooklyn, to Mafia hangouts of NY’s Lower East side, to the hills of Hollywood he found a way to promote and sell tickets to his shows. His biography 'When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead' tells his rise from obscurity to entertainment millionaire super-mogul. It’s a master's class of case studies in finding mentors and creating business relationships.

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike – Phil Knight

We forget that even the big guys like Nike, were at one point the little guys. Nike co-founder Phil Knight started the company by taking a leap of faith and traveling to a post WWII worn-torn Japan. Once there, he pitched an executive team at Onitsuka Tiger Athletic Shoes and secured an exclusive deal to sell their shoes in the US, despite not having a business to do so. This is the type of ballsy move that everyone talks about and very few have the courage to pull off.

Once back on US soil, Knight started by selling pairs of Tiger athletic shoes out of the trunk of his car and out of his parents basement. He company grew slowly at first and then exponentially. After a few years of business with Tiger, his exclusive agreement collapsed and he needed something else to sell. In the aftermath, Nike was born.

We all know what happened next...

Man’s Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl

When the markets are crashing, everyone you know is in debt, you're boss is being an asshole or you're stuck in traffic -- it's hard to be grateful for the wonderful quality of life that most of us experience. Man's Search For Meaning is a painful and beautiful reminder of how much pain and suffering each of us can take and still feel happiness and meaning in our daily existence.

After losing his entire family and trapped in a Nazi death camp, Viktor Frankl had to find hope in his dehumanizing existence at the hands of his torturers. If you're interested in understanding human suffering, this book will teach you it's true meaning.

Losing My Virginity - Richard Branson

Before a big interview with a CEO of a mid-sized company, my friend recommended this book. He said it would help me understand the mind of a founder and leader.

He was right.

Losing My Virginity provides a look into the mind of the man behind Virgin Airlines, Virgin Music, Virgin Mobile and Virgin.... everything. It’s the story of a young founder finding his way into the business world and the leadership philosophies he used to build Virgin into a mega brand.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption – Laura Hillenbrand

How would you handle your plane crashing over the pacific, spending 41 days at sea in a life raft, fighting off sharks while being shot at by Japanese Zero machine guns -- only to be rescued and spend the next few years in Japanese POW (death) camps and losing 100 lbs?

This series of events would have broken most men, but not Louis Zamperini.

Unbroken is the story of when Olympic athlete Zamperini enrolled in the US Army Air Corp, prepared like a man possessed for the unthinkable, faced death, won and came home to share his story.

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future – Ashlee Vance

If Michael Jordan was the best modern basketball star, than Elon Musk is the Michael Jordan of modern high-tech entrepreneurship.

He’s been called the real Iron Man and this book will help you understand why.

Musk is an animal -- the intensity that he throws himself into his companies and projects is stunning and the sheer amount of punishment and stress he can take is simply not human. At the very least this book will motivate you to keep pushing and trying to achieve the impossible. You'll want to work harder than your peers and try to match Musks effort. Don't. You won't last.

Musk regularly works 100 hours a week as the leader in 3 multi-billion dollar organizations (TESLA, SPACE X, SOLAR CITY), regularly shunning social events, time with family, leisure time and basic nutritional needs -- to the point of nervous system meltdown.

This book will force you rewrite your definition of a work/life balance.

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life - Alice Schroeder

If you're looking for investment advice this isn't the book for you. If you want to understand the personal transformation and the daily success habits of the worlds best investor, than you'll learn a lot. The Snowball is the story behind Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway and his 72+ billion dollar fortune.

Buffett has been idolized and put on a pedestal, by hoards of fans and financial enthusiasts, some who think of him with god-like reverence. After reading this book, you'll realize that he's human. He's a lot like you.

Open: An Autobiography – Andre Agassi

Our western culture loves the stories of overnight successes, child prodigies and "god-given" talent. Rarely do we see the 10,000+ hours of intense deep practice that led to their mastery.

Andre Agassi allows us to peer into the mind and psyche of a child prodigy who was forced to become a star, way too early in life. His honest and vulnerable account of his tennis career tells the glamorous and not-so-glamorous elements of living at the center of the sports universe for nearly 2 decades. Rarely do we see an author so unapologetically show us all of their scars, demons and ugly side.

Agassi takes us along for the ride of his career and helps us understand what was really going on during his rise, fall and comeback.

I had no idea that Agassi actually hates tennis. Did you?

The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon -- Brad Stone

Before Amazon was crushing local retail stores, it was fledgling online bookstore.

In the early days of Amazon E-commerce was small but growing rapidly. Bezos understood that the time to invest was right now, so he quit his lucrative executive position and did something crazy: he started an online bookstore. People told him he was nuts, but he invested his savings (his parents too) into his crazy big idea.

This book isn't just motivation for entrepreneurs it's a tale for any aspiring thought leader, scientist or artist. The book teaches you how to challenge the status quo and that all of rules can be broken except for those governing the physical universe.

Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan – Sean Parnell

As our modern industrialized world continues to expand to all reaches of the globe, we sometimes forget there are places in complete turmoil, where murder, rape and torture are common.

Amidst the chaos in the book is a tale of leadership and brotherhood told by Outlaw Platoon leader Sean Parnell. He brings you right to the center of the anarchy and recounts tales of bravery so fierce, you feel like you're there.

Reading this book, you'll realize the decisions you make bear little consequence compared to a platoon leader in the midst of war.

Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 – Marcus Luttrell

When shit hits the fan during war, it usually hit hard. Lone Survivor is the story of when everything went wrong for 4 Navy Seals on a reconnaissance mission.

The story shows the massive importance of preparation and training. You can' predict when unimaginable happens, but you can prepare for it.

Even if you've seen the movie, read the book.

The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help – Amanda Palmer

Everybody is afraid to ask for what we want. We're afraid we'll appear weak, incompetent or that someone will see we're an impostor. We think we're bothering someone or we'll be rejected. We're worried that people won't like us or we will be seen as weak or stupid if we do.

Nothing can be further from the truth.

Palmer breaks down myths about asking for help and shines a light on how we can let others help.

Check out the Audible version. It's fantastic and read by Palmer.

Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success -- Phil Jackson

During a recent trip to South Dakota, I downloaded this audio version before the drive. Soon I found myself hoping the 6.5 hour drive would never end.

If you followed the 90's NBA Bulls or the 2000's Lakers you know about Phil Jackson. He's the coach and strategist behind Jordan, Shaq and Kobe. What separates him from everyone else (besides 11 NBA championships) is the counter-intuitive style of coaching, philosophy and theories about basketball and life.

He teaches you his coaching philosophies, daily success habits, preparation techniques, and meditation practice that made him a winner in the NBA.

Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life – Steve Martin

As a kid my mom and I would watch an old SNL skits with Steve Martin and SNL co-star Dan Akroid on an early color TV with the aluminum channel knobs and dog eared antenna. Their famous skit "Wild And Crazy Guys" would make our home fill with my mom's laughter. Reading Steve Martin's autobiography Born Standing Up brought me back to those fun moments from childhood. The book is a portrayal of a young man trying to make it in the world of comedy in the 60's and 70's. It provides a fascinating look at the life of a professional comedian . Martin let's us in and shows the contrast between onstage appearance and what happens after the curtains close.

Michael Jordan: The Life –Roland Lazenby

Michael Jordan was THE icon of the 80's and 90's. No other superstar comes close.

Even today, he's still regarded as the "Basketball Jesus". When you read this story, you'll understand that it didn't happen by accident. Jordan was the beneficiary of a marketing genius and telecommunications powerhouse that covered his every move and put him in every household in the western world.

If you're a basketball fan or just curious about what's happening in the mind of a global super icon, you'll enjoy it.

Steve Jobs – Walter Isaacson

In his final years, Jobs new the end was coming and approached Isaacson to write his story (thinking he was in the same icon stratosphere as Benjamin Franklin or Albert Einstein -- Isaacson's previous books).

It shows Jobs at his best as a dynamic creative, transformative, disruptor who could move mountains with his super hero charisma. It also show him at his worst as a self absorbed, egomaniac, asshole, who viciously attacked people and left a wake of destruction everywhere he went.

The book has a sense of alchemy and brings together both the light and dark sides of the Steve Jobs character. It's an instant classic. Reading this book, you'll understand power of charisma and how Jobs used to create the Apple empire.

In the end, you admire the man but you see what a tragic character he was. There have been many biographies written about Steve Jobs but Isaacson's is the best. If you're interested in the Apple/Jobs story, start here.

High Price - Dr. Carl Hart

While many of the books on this list feature someone of a privileged background, I would still rather read and emulate the habits of a man who is born into adversity, struggles with drugs, teaches himself to be a world famous scientist and is working to redefine the taboo surrounding drugs.

Hart grew up in a poor area of Miami and experienced first hand the cycle of poverty and the injustices of the criminal justice system. In the most unlikely of circumstances he broke free from the shackles of poverty and used a discipline he developed on the basketball court to will his way to transform himself into a neuroscientist.

The Power Broker: Robert Moses and The Fall of New York

This is the definitive book on power.

If you are interested in learning how to acquire it, use it and manipulate it -- this book will teach you how. It is nearly 1,200 pages and every single one will teach you something about power, influence, leadership, politics, law, public perception and how to get things done within an organization.

Robert Moses was a man who started out as an idealist - unwilling to compromise, got power, fell in love with it and was transformed into a power broker. Everyone can learn from his story -- mostly how to use power and what not to become.

Bonus

One biography a month is about right for keeping the motivational fires stoked. You can choose something from this article or choose from this list that I regularly update.

#books #Books #biographies #reading #Reading List #top performers #successhabits

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