Play Your Position With Mary Lou Kayser

Jane Jackson and I have never met in person. In fact, I "met" Jane Jackson via a video she made as part of an online course I took in June. I live in Oregon in the US and she lives in Sydney, Australia. I was so impressed with her message and presence, I reached out to her on LinkedIn and the rest is history. That's the way it works today. I often comment to my guests each week how we never would have connected were it not for this phenomenal thing called the Internet. It has literally opened the world to all of us and the looming question is: how will you leverage it today to get the ball of your life, business and/or career into the end zone? Now one thing about Jane I want to mention is she knows nothing about American football, yet was such a terrific sport throughout our conversation as I tossed out one football metaphor after another. We laughed a lot, and at one time she even called a time out! Here's what else you will want to know about Jane Jackson -- she is a career coach, author, speaker, podcast

One of the best parts of my conversation with Steve Robertson this week (and there were many!) was hearing his deep insights into what makes Gen Z tick. "Young people have more in common with their international peers than they do with their parents," he reflects. Gen Z is the generation coming after the Millennials (who are now entering their 30s and beginning to settle down). What are their concerns as they come of age in a highly digitized world? What are they most eager to learn? Who do they look up to and why? For any of us working with young people, building businesses, educating, and/or simply wondering how to engage a generation that sees things very differently than their Gen X parents and Baby Boomer grandparents, today’s PYP MVP Steve Robertson will give you the goods. Steve is an expert on youth development and education as well as understanding and adapting to youth. His experience comes full circle from being the business leader and establishing the culture of the camp to helping the students in

Andrea Jordan is a business strategist who is living a life many people dream of: seeing the world while working remotely. As a digital nomad, she is currently travelling throughout Latin America, enjoying the many sites this region of the world has to offer. She earns her living supporting creative entrepreneurs who want to live a life less ordinary, just like she’s doing. With a rare combination of expertise in corporate law and business coaching, together with a degree in accounting, this woman knows her stuff! When she’s not working with entrepreneurs, you can find her with a camera in hand capturing the beauty that she sees and volunteering at animal shelters. Be sure to follow her on Instagram to see the many spectacular photos she publishes there regularly. Ultimately, Andrea wants to live in a world where everyone looks forward to Mondays and living a creative life is the norm. I think many of us here at PYP heartily support that vision!       Shownotes Follow PYP on Twitter

Most of us have heard a variation of the popular Vince Lombardi quote: "Winners never quit and quitters never win." While that meme may have worked back in the mid 20th century when the world was very different, it’s not so relevant today. Winners actually quit all the time, and here’s seven specific ways those quitters win: Quit holding on to the past. Mistakes. Coulda-shoulda-wouldas and the like are barriers keeping you from moving forward. Let go of what has already come and gone. Quit thinking you can’t do something. I get it. These days with the prevalence of online everything, it’s easy to compare ourselves to everyone else who seems to be doing so much better than we are in every category imaginable (e.g. health, wealth, relationship, career). Believe me, everyone is struggling in one way or another. You can do things if you decide those things are what you want, even if it seems scary or impossible. Do them anyway. Quit watching so much television/Netflix/sports/porn. See #6. Quit waiting for someon

“The Internet still has a voodoo quality to me, even after all this time,” laughs today’s PYP MVP Matt Miller. Old school through and through, Matt loves the physicality of peeling a sticker off its backing and then sticking it on something, like the cover of his laptop. Matt is the first guest to make a second appearance on PYP, and we had a ball catching up on where he’s taken his franchise-based business School Spirit Vending since the last time he came on the show in 2015. If you’ve ever wondered how much a company can actually grow in 18 months, pay close attention to what Matt shares with us on today’s show. Matt Miller proves that when old school meets newschool it’s possible to not only prosper, but have a lot of fun, too. Connect with PYP on Twitter Shownotes page

“I don’t like doing the same thing over and over,” says Dana Malstaff, founder of the growing brand “Boss Mom” and mother of two. “That’s probably why I wouldn’t be good at football because I’d want to play all the positions!” Dana is a mother, author, business & content strategist, coach, and podcaster whose energy is infectious. She lives with her family in San Diego and loves what she does. As the author of Boss Mom: The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Business & Nurturing Your Family Like a Pro, Dana lives by the advice she gives to other young moms looking to build their own business without guilt. As the founder of Boss Mom, she serves a community who yearns for more time and less guilt when it comes to building their business and raising their family by providing the tools they need to get more out of their content and business -- without sacrificing their family goals. She believes in “momentary mentors” as well as life long coaches, and sees the Boss Mom brand becoming a movement in the next coup

He’s crashed the Toronto Film Festival. Had dinner with Amy Cuddy and her family in the nicest restaurant in Boston. Imitated his favorite superhero in a bathroom stall before nailing an audition. Won multiple awards for his indie film “Linea.” Attended Oscar parties with Hollywood A-listers and acted across from Reese Witherspoon in the critically acclaimed film, “Wild” (based on fellow Portlander Cheryl Strayed’s best selling memoir). He’s also an up and coming film maker, former acapella singer, Oregon Ducks fan, and happens to be my neighbor. His name is Will Cuddy, and you are going to love his take on the future of film, how to be bold, and the truth about Millennials. Despite being next door to each other at the scheduled time, we recorded the episode in our respective houses. “I’ve never done a podcast with my guest in the same room,” I confessed. “I know there are plenty of people who do. I just don’t have the right set up yet.” Will’s warmth and playful spirit made it feel like we were sitting acros

Too many Americans are living as prisoners in their own bodies, held captive by bad habits that have drained them of their livelihood and sentenced them to a premature death. These harsh realities are what have kept Dr. Phil Carson passionate about practicing pharmacy since 1985. After encountering many patients who were seeking answers when their needs were not met by traditional medicine, Dr. Phil founded Carson Natural Health in 2005 with the mission of helping patients find the best natural solutions to their health problems. Patients come to him with problems and leave with renewed hope that they can be healthy again. In fact, he has not only consistently improved many patients’ quality of life, but also literally saved a few of them. Connect with PYP on Twitter Shownotes

“At my lowest point, I ate 88 cent pasta and $1.88 sauce from Walmart for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It literally saved my life,” says today’s PYP MVP Rob Dial. Those days may be behind him, but Rob will never forget them. "Being an entrepreneur is like waking up and getting punched in the face every single day,”  he says. “You have to develop a CEO mindset and model your actions after the people you want to be like.” A shy kid who was bullied a lot, Rob grew up in a city whose claim to fame is being the #1 city in America where kids overdose on pills. His dad died from alcoholism when Rob was a teenager, and life in general was hard. Rob believes these tough experiences gave him the drive to become a 7-figure business builder -- twice -- all before he turned 30. No stranger to hardship or hard work, Rob has reached a point in his life today where he recognizes that experiences are far more valuable than things. “I’ve had the cars, the house, the stuff,” he says. “I’ve had it all and lost it all. I like lif

What happens when you realize you aren’t as good as you thought you were? That, after devoting over half your life to one pursuit, it didn’t work out? Today’s PYP MVP Siphiwe Baleka knows exactly what this feels like...and shares his story of personal reinvention, reclamation and redemption with us on today’s episode. Siphiwe was raised in Chicago by a single dad and went on to graduate from Yale University. He is the first African American ever named to the First Team All-Ivy League Swim Team. He missed qualifying for the 1992 Olympic Swimming Trials in the 100 freestyle by just eight tenths of a second and that one event changed his life -- and position -- forever. Currently, he is the founder of Fitness Trucking, LLC and serves as the Driver Health and Fitness Coach at Prime Inc., one of America’s largest trucking companies. His innovative, on-the-go wellness program has helped thousands of truck drivers lose weight and reclaim their health (69% of truck drivers are obese; the trucking industry is the leas

When you meet Lou Radja for the first time, most people are struck by the warmth of his smile, followed by his remarkable ability to command a room with his wonderful stories. If you hang around long enough after he’s finished speaking, you’ll be one of the lucky ones to get a hug from this incredible man. Lou was born in Boston, but spent the next 16 years of his life in the Congo when his parents moved there with him and his siblings. It was in the Congo where he developed his love of storytelling and learned how to think and speak in metaphors. Lou returned to the US when he was 17 and noticed right away the many opportunities America afforded its citizens. He has since dedicated his life to helping people live at the intersection of success and significance, that magical place where it’s possible to truly experience “uhuru:” pure freedom. Lou is an international speaker who inspires and uplifts audiences everywhere he goes. He’s also an author and coach, but perhaps most importantly, he is a proud husband

What can we learn from having a bad boss, or working with a really bad coach? Emotional Intelligence expert Dr. Tracey Adams says plenty! Tracey and I recently met via a mutual friend and PYP MVP Elizabeth Case (thanks, Elizabeth!) and we hit it off immediately. Enthusiastic is an understatement when it comes to describing this powerhouse. I learned so much from our conversation on today’s episode, and I know you will love what she shares. One of the big takeaways is this: when we allow other people to take the credit for winning, we actually win bigger. Tracey shares a great story about a time when she experienced this very situation -- along with her honest feelings about what was happening inside her mind while it was happening (many of you will relate to the story she was telling herself). When she’s not off facilitating private retreats for women so they can show up more powerfully by using emotional intelligence for better well being at work and at home, Tracey teaches emotional intelligence within orga

100 is a nifty number. It’s many people’s favorite currency denomination (who doesn’t like having a pocket full of Benjamins). It carries a certain and enviable weight. Just saying the words “one hundred” can send currents of excitement through our brains. Did you know, for example, that the numerology number 100 represents energy that's self-determined, independent, and has infinite potential? That the number 100 can be seen as a practically unlimited number 1? That it is highly self-sufficient and feels comfortable being alone doing what it prefers to do for its own reasons? Okay, some of this may be a bit meta for Team PYP, but in celebration of my 100th episode this week, I wanted to pass along some interesting trivia about the number 100. I share some of these fascinating tidbits in the show itself. But for this part of my show description, I am passing on what I recently learned about the number 100 as it relates to numerology. In numerology, the number 1 brings independence, leadership qualities, and t

If you were deathly afraid of spiders, would you deliberately spend the night in the jungles of Borneo? Today’s PYP MVP Sue Ritchie did, and said it was one of the best experiences of her life. Sue is a leadership coach who knows how to shake things up and move us out of our comfort zones so we can thrive in the new world of work and life. No stranger to taking calculated risks, Sue walks her talk and can attest to the importance of stretching ourselves so we know life in a new way. She is an expert on establishing effective leadership presence, and has pinpointed the X factor for exceptional leadership across all industries. I’m not sure if I’m ready to sleep on the floor of a jungle anytime soon, but she certainly got me thinking about ways I can show up a little bit smarter, a little bit better. I admire Sue for the way she has crafted her life, and I think you will too! Connect with Mary Lou and PYP on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Shownotes

I first met Karen Lopez McWilliams in the lobby of a Hilton Hotel in Southlake, Texas. It was late June 2015 and she arrived with all the materials she’d agreed to bring for our two day strategy session together on her passion project: big post-it paper, colored markers, legal pads, pens. For the next 48 hours, we hashed out the game plan she would use to create her book, The Ones Who Believed: True Inspirational Stories Honoring Everyday People Who Took a Chance, Shaped a Life and Made a Difference. All those proverbial Xs and Os made sense and showed us something incredible was unfolding before us. At that point I did not yet know my role in the project would extend beyond the planning stage into the subsequent 18 months of full-time writing, revising, designing, publishing and ultimate launching and promoting the book right alongside Karen. What I did know was she had an incredible concept on her hands that no one else had explored the way she wanted to. Writing a book is no easy feat and it takes a team o

I love the Super Bowl. I was not happy with the outcome on Sunday as I wanted the Falcons to win. But hats off to Tom Brady and the Patriots for pulling out of their tailspin and coming back to win the game. History making event. But enough about football. Ha! Today I want to talk about the halftime show because it was out of this world and I couldn’t help myself...I was enjoying it not just for the entertainment value, but also for the business value...looking at Lady Gaga as the epitome of an artist entrepreneur who plays her position to a tee. I’ve been a distant fan of Lady Gaga for years, with a few of her big hits on my playlist. She is an icon of my daughter’s generation more than one of mine. But I gained an entirely new level of respect for her after Super Bowl 51’s halftime show. Here are three things that stood out to me about Lady Gaga’s performance at Super Bowl 51: When you show up as yourself, you win. I can’t think of another performer today who is as much herself as Lady Gaga, and the halfti

When I was in my twenties, I loved buying expensive shoes at Nordstrom. While I’m not nearly as obsessed with fancy shoes as I was in those days, I still enjoy splurging once in awhile on a great pair of kicks. In fact, I know plenty of women whose appetites for shoes and other fashion accessories have only increased over the years. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what people decide to spend their money on because it’s a personal decision. Some women like shoes. Some men like motorcycles. Most people at some point or another ask asks themselves the following question: How can I play my position better? As much as we’d like a one-size-fits-all answer, no such thing exists. A vacation to Maui every spring is the answer a friend of mine offers. More naps is the answer of another. And I’m not joking. Figuring out who we are, what we stand for and what we want in this life are universal themes we will encounter. Some meet these questions early and get them all dialed in. Others spend a lifetime trying to unravel the k

In the second half of my conversation with Thor Conklin, Thor gets into the details of how to execute on the plans we make for our lives, our businesses, our careers. Think that’s easy? It’s actually not. For the last 16 years, Thor has been obsessed with finding out what makes the difference between the people who succeed wildly in life and the ones who say they want to succeed wildly -- but never do. With the same energy and enthusiasm as he put forth in the first half, Thor doesn’t skimp on the value he freely shares with Team PYP. It’s practically impossible not to want to run out and get stuff done after listening to him walk through the parts of his Ultimate Success Map. This is an episode you will want to listen to again with pen and paper so you can catch more details of Thor’s Ultimate Success Map the second time through and apply them to your life.

It’s fun listening to Thor Conklin. He is full of energy, insights and passion for helping people achieve peak performance. What I noticed right away about Thor was his conviction: what he shares with us in the first half of our conversation in today’s episode is nothing less than spectacular -- and totally doable. That’s another quality I admire in Thor. He breaks down big ideas that may at first seem too far out reach to someone just getting started or in a place of confusion. There is a reason, after all, why Thor is a successful business owner, author, executive coach and content-driven podcaster. Gritty, experienced and accessible, Thor brings to bear what holds people back from realizing their full potential. Through his latest venture, Peak Performance Nation, he teaches the tools, tips, tricks and strategies necessary to be a Peak Performer  no matter what you do for a living. He qualifies the psychology of success in one word: Execution. His mantra is, “Nothing you’ve learned matters – unless you can

Being the Best. I’ve been reading Seth Godin’s book The Dip this week. If you haven’t read this book, I recommend it. In a nutshell, The Dip is a book about helping readers figure out when to keep going, when to quit and “having the guts to do one or the other.” Sounds simple enough, but it really isn’t. A Short Book with a Long Punch. The Dip is a short book, but it packs a long-lasting punch. It gets you thinking about what you’re doing, and whether or not what you’re doing is worth it. It tells you that it’s easy to start things, and not so easy to hang in there until you’ve achieved mastery. One of the themes of the book is being the best at something. How do you know if you’re the best? What does being the best really mean? Why aren’t more people the best at something? These are but a handful of the many questions he asks. Make 2017 Extraordinary!