Relaunch - Never Give Up On Your Possibilities

Author and podcast host Kirsten Ross launched her business as a single parent about ten years ago and has been a catalyst for helping companies motivate their employees getting buy-in for the long-term vision. She has two great books out Defeat the Drama and From People Problems to Productivity. She’s been all over the media like NBC Nightly News and NPR. She also hosts her own show - Defeat the Drama.  Kirsten's backstory >>> She had been called a failure and a sham for so many years, for her own self defense and survival, she she would shrink and make herself smaller and smaller. Emotionally wounded, but persistent in spirit, she did what a lot of moms and wives often do, she tried to fix what was beyond repair.  Her ideas and energy started to flow once she shifted her focus from repair mode to creation mode - specifically, creating a business and a home that would support her faith and family.  Follow woman entrepreneur Kirsten on Twitter, Facebook, visit her site, and subscribe to Defeat the Drama.  

Many of us self-help and personal growth junkies have read books or listened to programs in which the creators ask us to imagine or write-out what we want our ideal life to look like. It's a great approach for some and no doubt, can be very revealing. However, for today's guest, it was a different framework that caught her interest and gave her the clarity for what to do next.  She focused her attention and her intention on how she wanted to feel each and every day.  Beyond business metrics, to-do lists, and conference calls, what she really wanted to experience was - peace and calm. Accountability coach, productivity strategist, and host of Live your Life Now and Get the right (bleep) Done, Liz Brazier joins us on this very practical show to share how she walked away from twenty-plus years in IT sales in the corporate world, to experience a life of her own making.  Book recommendation: The Fire Starter Sessions by @DanielleLaPorte  Liz shares Productivity Tips and Techniques that will help you: Track your ti

Path of Development - Jane Atkinson has been helping speakers catapult their careers for more than 20 years. She started as an agent representing speakers and when several of them quickly went from 0 to 80 engagements per year, she became known as an influencer in the speaking industry. With that kind of rep, she landed a VP spot with International Speakers Bureau in Dallas, where she represented several celebrities, best-selling authors and business experts and learned. For the past 10 years, Jane has run Speaker Launcher. Common rookie mistake for new speakers - Lack of positioning. Marketing yourself as an expert in multiple categories.(Ex. leadership, team-building, time management, conflict resolution, goal setting, etc.) Business advice – While everyone has a story, not every story is sellable (in the speaking business). Package your speech or a version of your story in a way that people will pay for. Get Jane’s book – The Wealthy Speaker and The Wealthy Speaker 2.0. How to be a triple threat in your bu

At age 40, she felt like “playing Small, playing Safe” - She was making other people wealthy but have not achieved her life's goals. The famous coach for speakers Jane Atkinson shares her midlife relaunch and great tips for speakers. The first lady of speaking, Jane Atkinson has been helping speakers catapult their careers for more than 20 years. She started as an agent representing speakers and when several of them quickly went from 0 to 80 engagements per year, she became known as an influencer in the speaking industry. Need to polish your skill? Get Jane's latest how-to guide - The Epic Keynote. With that kind of rep, she landed a VP spot with International Speakers Bureau in Dallas, where she represented several celebrities, best-selling authors and business experts. For the past 10 years, Jane has run Speaker Launcher. Here's a link to the first show we did with Jane. In it, she outlines the common rookie mistakes of new speakers, how to be a triple threat in your business, and what contributed the most 

Do you remember what we were doing two years ago - early Spring, 2012? Our guest, Stephanie Decker, was in the middle of a storm. As a category five tornado ripped through the tiny town of Henryville, Indiana, lifting her home off its foundation and smashing it to the ground, she used her body as a shield to protect her two young children from flying debris, falling beams, and a disintegrating house. Even after her legs were crushed from a structural collapse, her motherly instincts did not fail her - directing her kids on what to do next. She did what any mom would do for her family. Because of her heroic efforts, her children walked away from the rubble unscathed. As she explains on the show, “Not even a scratch.” Since the accident, Stephanie has inspired a nation. She has appeared on the Today Show, The Ellen Degeneres Show, ABC World News Tonight (as "person of the week"), and featured in publications such as USA Today, and People Magazine. She also started the Stephanie Decker Foundation, which helps ch

This is the second half of the conversation I had with Darren. In this segment, he begins by answering one of our listener’s questions about his early-morning success habits. Don't read this book, STUDY IT!!!  The Compound Effect Other questions he responds to: You take a pretty radical approach when it comes to your consumption of media. Why is it so important to you to limit your exposure to television and/or radio and how has that decision impacted your life? What is the greatest challenge people face in making The Compound Effect work? You talk about how, by using the principles found in the book, you not only strengthened your own marriage, you also helped a buddy completely turn his around. Would you share how that happened? You talk a lot about your mentor, Jim Rohn, and the importance of mentors and peak-performance partners. Why is having a mentor so important and what is the best way to find one. Follow Darren on Twitter, Facebook, and help yourself to The Compound Effect success resources.

While he may not have appreciated it at the time, those early-morning wake-up calls by his football-coach dad, were setting him up for something big - a six-figure income in his own business, by the time he was 18 and the creation of a $50 million business, by age 27. DO NOT read this book! STUDY IT!!! – The Compound Effect Publisher of Success magazine, New York Times bestselling author of The Compound Effect, husband, and humanitarian, Darren Hardy, joins us on the show. In this two-part podcast series, he talks about, among other things –  mentors, success routines, habits, momentum, media exposure, marriage, and of course, the magic of the compound effect. Here are some of the questions Darren expands upon: How do you define the Compound Effect? Why did you write The Compound Effect? And why now? You talk about how significant success stems from very small changes. How does that work? In the book, you mention that consistency is critical for the Compound Effect – how so? Talk about consistency as related

On the show, this guy is one of the most versatile, talented and funniest entertainers I’ve ever seen.His wit, humor, and genius has dazzled audiences in all the familiar hot spots - Showtime, HBO, the White House, and the famous Apollo Theatre. The performer has shared stages with Aretha Franklin and James Brown. He’s also joined Jennifer Aniston and Dana Carvey on the big screen. Originally one of my first guests (years ago), comedian, actor, humanitarian, and philanthropist, James Stephens III, joins us on the show. James’ backstory >>> (Academically trained as an attorney, funny man James Stephens III had to follow his passion to create a better way for at-risk students.) Comparing his early years to a scene from the hit movie "The Blind Side", he was born the youngest of seven children, adopted out around the age of 8 and raised by a loving family, outside of his race. Through the spiritual and emotional blend of God’s grace and his parents’ loving embrace, he not only made it through secondary school bu

[spp-player] Entrenched in a worn-out plan, he did what was expected - he went from high school, to college, to corporate, to misery. And, like you and me, the sparks that filled his dreams and kept him awake during his teen years, flickered in his twenties, smoldered in his thirties, and were all but forgotten by the time he reached his 40th birthday.  Bruce 's bestselling book - You Can Go  the Distance  Miserable by the life he was watching go by, he was battered by many of life's punches - two bankruptcies, a spousal mental meltdown, and cancer. As he explains on the show, for him, a good day was "a day I could get through". Bestselling author, life coach, speaker, and Marathon runner, Bruce Van Horn joins us on the show today to share three solid action-steps for taking control of your health, sanity, and life.  Three game-changer books in Bruce's Recovery - The War of Art,  Man's Search for Meaning, and The Alchemist.   Follow Bruce on Twitter, Facebook, and visit his site.

With only nine bucks in his pocket, he left his homeland of India in search of another dream on a different continent. Taking a sales job, he absorbed the culture, closed deals, and quickly climbed the rungs. Through a wonderful series of events and divine intervention sprinkled all along the way, he ended up with a ticket that would change the course of his life - an event ticket to see the legendary Zig Ziglar speak. From that ordained encounter, the young man from across the world, worked his way up from entry-level telemarketer, to VP of Global Ops. “I Want to Train People to Look For Light Switches, Not Just Open Doors” Success Doesn’t Happen When You Get the Opportunity”  Author, speaker, and ambassador for the Ziglar family of companies, Krish Dhanam, joins us on the show to share priceless nuggets about art and science of belonging, humility, competition, planning, preparation, and careers; gems learned from Zig himself. (If you didn't know, he is one of only two people trained personally by the maste

The Boston Globe called this guy “an uncommonly honest author”. The Wall Street Journal called him a “marketing guru”. And, as far as I know, he is the only professional actor that is also a New York Times bestselling, business author. To his credit, he has only fallen off the stage, into the orchestra pit, once… (According to my sources.) The incredible Michael Port joins us on the show to share a personal struggle with food and weight loss, and the ReLaunch that not only helped rescue his health, it strengthened his business and beefed up his bottom line. What you'll hear in this episode - honesty, humility, and humor. "The Cornerstone of All Performance is Improv, be Adaptable"  "You can’t take anything away from me. I am who I am. But when you hide something, then you feel like people can take things from you." Michael's incredible library of resources - Book yourself Solid, Beyond Booked Solid, Book yourself Solid Illustrated, The Contrarian Effect, and The Think Big Manifesto. Follow Michael on T

Author of the incredible book, So Long Inner Critic – Hello Inner Champion, nationally known speaker, trainer, and performance coach, Marcie Stern joins us on the show. Marcie's backstory >>> While she originally followed a career path that seemed to be well laid-out – a graduate degree and then a career in hospital administration, she knew that “something was missing”, and there had to be “more out there”. By her own admission – She was a gerbil trapped in the wheel of status quo expectations and experiences. Realizing she wasn’t making the contribution she knew she was capable of, she still had lingering doubts as to her own value; the question she would often ask herself – “Am I good enough?” Despite the self-doubt, she held strong to her convictions and stepped into the unknown entrepreneurial world. Her turning point: “This is my opportunity to be heard!” Beliefs and heavy questions she had to remove from her thinking: “How can you leave something that’s successful?” “Are you really contributing to your

Going into immediate survival mode, her life as a new mother changed in an terror-filled flash when Samantha, her 18-month-old daughter, almost died before finally being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. As she openly talks about on the show, she became desperate, angry, and physically unhealthy as she did everything she could to raise an insulin dependent child. It took 13 years for today's guest to realize that, while busy saving her daughter, she forgot to save herself. Inspirational speaker, strong mom, and author of the upcoming book, "Saving Her, Saving Me", Bonita Lehmann, joins us on the show to share how she took control of her life back, stayed accountable, and got her game on. Our ReLaunch! eBook gift to you - 7 Days of Self Care  Bonita's turning point After ignoring years of signs and signals that were trying to get her attention, she awoke early one morning with the imaginary realness of being choked into submission. She then heard (maybe felt) an inner voice assuring her that today was the day fo

Our guest, G. Brian Benson, is an actor, multiple award winning self-help author, filmmaker, speaker, radio personality, musician, inspirational poet, children’s author, finisher of over 50 triathlons (including 4 Ironman distance races), cross-country bicyclist, and someone that believes in YOU! On the show he shares his best ideas and tips for how to believe and trust in yourself, even if no one else does. Need ideas on how to live a healthy, fun, and balanced life? Check out G. Brian's books - Finding your Voice and Brian's List  G. Brian's backstory >>> After about twelve years in the family business (a golf center), he was burned out and ready for more than just a change; he was ready for a new beginning. Allowing himself the room to stretch, grow, and understand, he kept open to possibilities and on the lookout for exciting opportunities. And, while he's already accomplished a life's worth of work (in my opinion anyway), in real-time, all of this is still showroom-fresh for him.  Follow G. Brian on Twit

Taking a break from their studies, he and a few college friends were hoofing-it to a nearby party when he decided to short-cut through a wooded area. Making his way off the beaten-path, he found himself perched on-top of a towering train trestle, 40-feet above the rushing currents of the local river. The fall took from him the mobility he had in his legs and as he explains on the show, was an "unbelievable setback" that stacked-up to two months of rehabilitation. In the beginning of his very personal ReLaunch! he had to relearn many activities that were once second nature to him. Keynote speaker and author of the upcoming book F.E.A.R. N.O.T. - Embrace Life's Journey, Dale Spencer joins us on the show to share the two main ingredients that have steeped his courage, accelerated his professional growth and helped him achieve his goals. An empowering AHA! observation Dale shares "I am not obsessed with the journey behind me." Follow Dale on Twitter, Facebook, and visit his site.

They were both disenchanted educators. Nicole knew she was on the passion-absent safe path and Omar understood that he could be easily replaced. One of the frustrations she felt was that she couldn't see herself as anything other than a teacher. For him, his creativity was held captive. As they both felt boxed-in, they ended-up quitting at the same time - eager to stretch their legs and chase their entrepreneurial dream. Hosts of People Who Know their Sh*t, the teacher-turned-entrepreneur duo of Omar Zenhom and Nicole Baldinu join us on the show to share their hopeful message that there is life after teaching.  One of the reasons Pei and I are excited to have them on is because they have found another application for their training, experience, and passion. Don't get me wrong, they're still in the teaching, empowering, and equipping business, they're just doing it now on their terms - whenever, wherever, and with whomever  they choose. In a nutshell - Business Republic (Omar and Nicole) help bootstrapping ent

With a lifelong dream of being a comedian and an actress, she moved to Los Angeles when her daughter was only two. Understanding the urge and the importance of being available for her family, she created a business that gave her the flexibility to work from home. With self-study in a field that was very distant to her, she became an in-demand political consultant and ended-up wearing that all-consuming hat for eight years. On the show, she explains that she "hated every minute".  She even developed what she refers to as "resentment lumps". However, as you'll hear in her voice, she was more in love with her dream. Comedy actress, voice-over goddess, and co-host of the Angriest Trainer Podcast, Anna Vocino, joins us on the show to share the hopeful advice and lessons that kept her in the game. If you're new to Anna, she has an amazing ability of finding comedy in the chaos, which is a good thing because her husband and teenager still live at home.  Ideas Anna shares Personal and professional growth is an incre

Host of "My Midlife Sucks", Lori Dean joins us on the show to share four ideas and a handful of tips that can help us revive our mid-life champion. Path of Development: Lori was working at a non-profit organization when she got a surprising call to be a radio host. Since that pivotal moment in time, she has become quite the broadcast media veteran - having logged hundreds of hours as a morning show co-host and producer, as well as a creator and host of music and interview shows. ReLaunch! revival tips: Feel the excitement in your body and allow your imagination to run wild. Understand what you are supposed to be doing. Ask "Wouldn't this be a great way to live if____" Then gently push away from the ego's voice of "not possible"; The relative safety of the comfort zone is all an illusion; There will be ups and downs; accept wherever you are and know it's going to pass. What also helped: Instead of waiting for retirement to do the unexpected and courageous, Lori and her husband sold their home and travel

Actress turned healer and facilitator, Patty Alfonso, joins us on the show to teach us on how to deal with change, and to share three powerful questions that will challenge our beliefs, clarify our possibilities, and empower our soul. Patty's backstory >>> When people asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would repeatedly answer - a cross between Mother Theresa and Marilyn Monroe. In other words, an influential, compassionate saint, with an edgy flare and a bold approach. She began acting in the 8th grade making stops in Puerto Rico, Georgia, and eventually ending up in California. She figured that if she became famous enough, she would then be able to help many people. Unfortunately, her ego's desire for fame, coupled with zero spirituality led to a life of parties, drugs, alcohol, and abusive relationships.  In the words of one of our earlier guests - She was paying a high price for low living.  Her turning point, sobriety, and ReLaunch! came when she realized that there had to be more to li

Ever wonderful what makes a speaker get on stage, an author pour out their soul, or a firefighter run into a burning building; even when they're nervous, scared, or fearful? Second generation firefighter, Captain David Soler (Ret) explains.  Captain Soler's backstory >>> There's no gentle way to say this - Going through a very difficult bankruptcy (I'm not sure there's any other kind), he lost everything. Here's the encouraging news - He got in touch with what no person, challenge, or system could take away from him - his knowledge, faith, spirituality, and solid relationships he had forged.  Show information >>> Second generation firefighter, founder and publisher of Fighter Toolbox - the fastest growing firefighter online training magazine in the world with over 500,000+ page views monthly, joins us on the show to talk about the differences between fear and panic. Captian Soler (Ret) explains that while panic immobilizes, fear can be harnessed tapped into as a positive emotion. Two game-changer books that s