Success 2.0

#094 - Greg Baumer: True Riches

Greg Baumer and his buddy were in a class in the Harvard Business School and had to write a a final paper about the relationship between God and money. After after hundreds of hours of research, they would go on to publish their findings in a book that became a #1 New Seller on Amazon called God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches At The Harvard Business School. Since then, Greg has become a leader in the world of Stewardship, and a pioneer in the economics of giving....

#093 - Andrew McPeak: Leadership for Today's Young Adult

I am an unashamed old guy, and at times I feel completely out of touch with today's young adults. I know from hundreds of conversations with professionals that I'm not alone. Today's younger generation is different - but that doesn't mean that they aren't as capable and driven as any other group. We just need to figure out how to more effectively understand where they are coming from and how best to communicate. In today's episode, I talk to Andrew McPeak, co-author of the new book, Marching off...

#092 - Thanksgiving 2017

Ever since I got married, Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. We pile the kids in the minivan and head to visit my in-laws. This year, we considered going to FL for about 10 seconds. For some reason, there's no place I'd rather be than with my family in Decatur, IL. That's right, I said Decatur, IL. Running down a list of your blessings almost always starts with family and I couldn't be more grateful for my in-laws, Mike and Alice. In today's show, I'll talk about the proven benefits of...

#091 – It’s Time We Redefined Success

"To know and not to do, is really not to know". - Stephen Covey For many years, I've talked about redefining success and focusing on what's really important. But, I've noticed that all my talking hasn't resulted in as much change with my clients and audience as I would like. As a result, in 2018, I will be focusing my message on pushing people outside of their comfort zones so that you can actually feel a shift in behavior. In today's podcast, I'm going to introduce the new brand and discuss my ...

#090 - How important is Winning?

I love to win. In fact, it's quite possible that I take winning a little too seriously. I enjoy my teams taking the top spot, my business outdoing the competition and my political preferences being elected. It's OK to strive to win or be the best - to a point. We run into a problem when our desire to win becomes and obsession. It's one thing to strive to be the best - it's another when we believe that winning is the "only" thing that matters. In today's podcast, I'm going to talk about a differe...

#089 - John O'Sullivan: Changing the Game

There’s a chance that I may have been, once or twice, that guy at a youth sporting event who gets overly worked up and yells at the refs, players and worse – the other parents. Unfortunately, I’m not the only one. The truth is that youth sports in the US has exploded into a multi-billion-dollar business that is taking over the lives of millions of kids across the country. Today’s guest, John O’Sullivan , helps us understand the impact our obsession with youth sports is having on our children and...

#086 - Erin Falconer: How To Get Sh*t Done

The good news is that there’s a podcast, blog, video, webinar, etc. that will provide an answer to almost any question that we could ever imagine. The bad news is that there’s a podcast, blog, video, webinar, etc. that will provide an answer to almost any question that we could ever imagine. We are drowning in information. Today’s guest, Erin Falconer , talks about how to cut through all the clutter and focus on what’s really important. She helps us understand how the digital world is evolving b...

Episode 87 - Rethinking Giving with Wayne Elsey

Episode 86 - Mom- Anything But Average

“It’s better to keep your mouth shut and let people think that you are an idiot, than open it and remove all doubt. - Shelly McClanahan On Monday September 25 in the late afternoon, my mom, Shelly McClanahan, passed away peacefully. She was 68 years young. She was different to say the very least. There will never be anyone quite like her. Today’s podcast is a tribute to a woman whose subtle, quiet, unassuming impact on the world will be felt for generations.

Episode 85 - A New Approach to Disagreeing

" Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. ” - Dr. Steven Covey Are disagreements healthy? Sure they are! Disagreements breed innovation, ideas, and efficiency. They make us face new concepts and consider solutions to problems from unique angles. But what happens when our disagreements turn sour? What happens when they become about the reply rather than the solution? Does the solution fall wayside to getting a quick jab in at your "political ...

Episode 84 - How to Create a Compelling Story | Jennie Nash

This week I’m honored to introduce my friend and amazing book coach, Jennie Nash. Jennie’s work shouts overachiever. She’s written for dozens of national magazines including The New York Times, authored eight books and founded AuthorAccelerator- a company with 22 book coaches dedicated to working with authors and shepherding them through the process of writing and publishing. Through coaching, her clients have landed top New York agents, and had books published by Scribner, Simon & Schuster,...

Episode 83 - Should You Stay or Should You Go? Signs you're in need of a career switch

The old trend, from the 1940s to early 2000s, was that you picked a career and stuck to it. Many folks would stay with the same company for sometimes two or three decades before finally retiring. In our culture today, we've thrown this old notion out the window. More and more, we're starting to see tenures, especially amongst millennials, is becoming increasingly short. Which begs the question... When do you know it's time for a career change? Of course, the answer depends on your current situat...

Episode 82 - How to Build Your Leadership Launchpad with Renown Expert Jim Kouzes

“If they [employees] can’t see themselves in the picture, then they can’t imagine that it’s a possibility for them.” This week on the show we’re joined by Jim Kouzes, an accomplished author, game-changer on the subject of leadership, and exceptional mentor. In all honesty, during this episode we’re swerving all over the road. We discuss everything from the culture crisis within Uber and other tech giants, the leadership challenges that have faced managers for decades, and the critical principles...

Episode 81 - From Roaring Crowds to Ministry: Ryan Ahlwardt on Making An Impact in Other's Lives

When it comes to friends with GREAT, not good, GREAT hair-Ryan takes the cake. Wow, he's got some great locks. Soon after being signed by Atlantic Records, Ryan Ahlwardt began his journey as a touring musician with the group Straight No Chaser, an a cappella group that started in Bloomington, IN. Ryan's musical career led him throughout the US where he routinely performed in front of thousands of screaming fans, yet he felt like he was called for a higher purpose. Nowadays Ryan's life is a bit q...

Episode 80 - Work/Life Lessons From Seinfeld, George Castanza, and Mr. Cleaver

Do you really believe it when an autoresponder says, "I'm out of the office with limited access to internet?" Us either. In fact, my hope is we navigate away from this phrase at all costs. At any given moment you, me, the kid on the other side of the world in India can plug in and work. Does this mean that the idea of the balanced work and personal life is dead? This week on The ThriveMap Thursday Podcast we're diving into lessons we can learn from Seinfeld, Castanza, and Mr. Cleaver. Maybe they...

Episode79 - Cut Your Stress Level in Half by Helping Others

I seem to have a tendency to get stuck in my own universe. If my stress levels are high, my little bubble limits my perspective to my own woes. Sometimes, this bubble is burst when I’m temporarily exposed to the outside world and I realize that my life is not nearly as sad or stressful as I think it is in my head. Unfortunately, this feeling can also be short-term and I can just as easily get back into my bubble. So, what are some ways we can stay mindful and full of perspective as often as we c...

Episode 78 - The Rule of Five with Jack Canfield

In this podcast you will hear about: Jack’s Rule of Five Why quitting is not an option for your passions The significance of meditation in Canfield’s life Jack’s use of the Holistic Model Dangerous trends in life coaching Why reading actively makes you a leader Join us today for a conversation with New York Times bestselling author and coach, Jack Canfield. Jack’s inspiring genre of Chicken Soup for the Soul®series has proven to be one the world’s most successful book series while his acclaimed ...

Choose Your Mindset

Throughout your life, it’s probable that you’ve identified a handful of basic characteristics. Maybe you’re naturally athletic, anxious, afraid to try new things, or smarter than most of your peers. We’ve all got a few traits that seem to be hard-wired from birth. There’s no problem noticing these tendencies. The issue arises when you begin to believe that these are locked in for the rest of your life and there’s nothing you can do about it. In today’s podcast, I’ll discuss the difference betwee...

Workplace Stress - Episode 76

You are stressed out. I’m comfortable making this blanket statement because the data is clear – workplace stress is becoming the health epidemic of the 21 st century . As a nation, we are working more than ever with more than 40% of Americans putting in at least 50 hours a week. Compounding the problem, technology has increased the amount of information, projects and tasks we can handle. The result is a marketplace filled with exhausted, workaholics who’ve never seem to have enough time to get c...

The United States of Achievement

The data is clear – Americans are achieving a ton. We make more money, live in bigger homes and go on better vacations than ever before. Additionally, we love to buy new stuff – so much so, that a $30 billion self-storage industry popped up to warehouse all our excess. All this achievement has come at a cost. We’re working more hours, feeling more stress, neglecting our closest relationships and ignoring our health. Before we can address the situation, it’s important to focus on the cause and as...

How Do We Make Giving a Priority?

As of this podcast, there are officially 1,123,455 books that claim have found the secret to joy and satisfaction (not true at all – I made this up, but I’m certain it’s a big number). Chances are that you, like me and most overachievers, have read a few of these titles hoping to find a simple set of strategies that leads to instant success. We’re all searching for our purpose, the meaning of life, and the key to happiness. The “self-improvement” industry (books/videos/seminars/courses/etc.) con...

Why Don't We Give

Many years ago, I served as the chairman of the stewardship (group tasked with asking for money) committee at my church. Shortly after I took the position, I was given a list of our members and what they donated annually. I noticed that there were numerous families who donated very little and yet lived in huge homes, drove expensive cars and went on extravagant vacations. I then looked at my own giving and realized I wasn’t significantly more generous than many of these individuals. I wondered i...

New Definition of Success - Episode 72

I assumed we would be able to celebrate the accomplishment for months, if not years. One of my first clients had just hit a “milestone” revenue target that we had been working towards for almost 18 months. It was the type of accomplishment that would transform the business leading to a great bottom line, healthy cash flow and a strong balance sheet. Minutes after we exchanged the obligatory “high-five”, the next thing you know, the achievement was fading in my client’s rearview mirror and he was...

Negative Thoughts

“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!” - Stuart Smalley Positive affirmation is great! In some cases it can even help with those negative thoughts creeping around in your brain. But is that the only tactic that can help you deal with your negative thoughts? Other strategies that work similarly to positive affirmation are: Journaling Reading Staying busy All of these strategies do one thing; they fight the negative thoughts. In the last few years I have found that fi...

Episode 70 - Interests vs Commitments

Besides your work week, think about all the other things that take up your schedule. What activities do you take part in? What commitments do you have that suck up all the available time you have- time which could be spent on things you actually care about? The reality is that if you're a high achiever, you will be tempted to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. However, being a "Yes Man/Woman" eventually leads you to frustration because you stop doing the things that you actually p...

#069: Overcoming Obstacles

"To live this life. To live it with wholeness and gratitude and trust. In the pain and the glory. In the mess and the grace. In the sacred and the desperation. This is the stuff of which real superheros are born." - Jeannette LeBlanc The chances are that if you find an entrepreneur on the street and ask his or her advice on what is the most important thing to have in order to be successful, chances are this person will return your question with some form of the word “resilience”. Whether you’re ...

#068 - The Power of Relationships

In this episode: The importance of putting in time in a relationship How in the worst of times, our relationships become our rocks The fruitfulness in expressing appreciation for your relationships Sometimes unexpected events occur, and it feels like the ground is shaking. If the ground beneath us trembles just enough, we fall to our feet. When we are in this state, how are we to be caught, so that we might rise from the ground again? It is our relationships that catch us like a safety net when ...

Episode 67 - MBA Vs. School of Hard Knocks

Think back to when you were at a major crossroads in your life. Whether you were 22, 30, 45 or so on, you had to decide to pursue one path over another: learning in the field or in the classroom. When I think about my career and how much I’ve learned over the years, I realize that it’s what I learned in the School of Hard Knocks that has been the best classroom I could ever have encountered. Why? Two things: the utter pain of failure and the utter joy of acquiring a new skill. Failure and skill ...

Episode 66 - The Thank You Note

In this episode: A moment where I caught myself moaning/groaning about travel and bitching about weather Why marketing is built to make you feel inadequate The power of writing a thank you note How to craft a thank you note and who to send it to Other than Amazon, how often is it that you receive something in the mail that isn't marketing, a bill, a newspaper, or some form of advertisement? In today's age, a gesture as simple as a 'Thank You' is not only a rarity, it's virtually nonexistent. Yet...

Episode 65: Weekly Planning

“Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the world.” –Archimedes The other day I was scrolling through my Twitter account, and saw this quote. Usually, my instinct is to scoot past these graphics, but in this case I was caught in my tracks. As someone who could have a graduate degree in wasting money on “self-improvement” products, I feel uniquely qualified to speak on the subject. I could throw out countless examples of books, apps, software programs, seminars, eBook ...