Challenge Your Thinking with Dr. Linda Tucker

Beth French is one of the UK's Top 100 Most Inspirational Women.  She is a sage and a swimmer. To say that she is courageous would be an understatement.  She has had to overcome numerous challenges throughout her life and continues to push herself to discover the depths of her potential. Imagine the leap from overcoming an illness that left her wheelchair bound to ultimately swimming through freezing and shark-infested waters, Beth French is no stranger to challenges.  She understands more than most that we often don’t realize what we are capable of because we don’t believe enough in ourselves. Beth has built a life around pushing the uttermost limits of what is possible for her, and her most recent endeavor has her about to accomplish what has never been done before...swimming what’s called The Ocean’s Seven within the span of a year. Beth also happens to be humble, down to earth and insightful to boot.

Direct download: CYT_Beth_French.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:41am EDT

Simon Sinek has the #3 most popular Ted Talk of all time and four bestselling books with deliverables to spare.  He is here to share his wisdom, his "why" and how he found his way through his own struggle to the other side. If you have ever felt worried about finding your "why," or your way through your own challenges I’m confident you will find Simon’s insights right on the money.

Direct download: CYT_Simon_Sinek.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:41pm EDT

Karan Bajaj is a bestselling author and yogi who travelled half way around the world to find more meaning in his life. He left it all behind after his mother died. The twist in this episode is that he grew up in India and people from his village used to make fun of the kind of people he was becoming. Did he find that meaning he was hoping for? He did, but not in the ways he thought he would. I spoke with him from NYC a few months ago, while he was getting ready to leave everything behind for a second time...only this time he wasn’t headed for an ashram or spiritual journey the likes of which he will talk with us about in this episode. However, I warn you... he may tug at our wanderlust in an effort to find more meaning.  

Direct download: CYT_Karan_Bajaj.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:45am EDT

Pamela Meyer has become the national expert on "Liespotting."  Whether in business, life, or in any of our relationships, a lie can destroy our foundation of trust and leave us skeptical and wary. Our current political climate is a prime example. While most of us are very aware of the importance of telling the truth, we might not always be able to recognize even a big fat lie when we hear one or see one because as much as we want to believe the best about others, the cold hard truth is that we all have the ability to lie in small and large ways.  So if the truth is as important to you as it is to me...our next guest is here to share her findings and some tips for us.  Bestselling author, Harvard MBA, CEO, entrepreneur, top twenty Ted Talk presenter and speaker Pamela Meyer brings us behind the scenes today on what to look for before we're left feeling had.  Her curiosity about the psychology behind lying eventually led her to write what became the NYT's bestselling book, “Liespotting,” and she’s here to share not only her story, but also some helpful tips about liespotting and life as we navigate our world and our relationships.  Pamela’s story reminds us that even when we feel stuck in life, there are a myriad of practical steps we can take. And, if we’re only open to it... curiosity can be our greatest teacher when we’re willing to pay attention.

Direct download: CYT_Pamela_Meyer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:38am EDT

John Chester is an Emmy Award Winning and favorite Oprah Winfrey Filmmaker who left Hollywood to pursue a dream.  He and his wife Molly have found that growing food, caring for animals and tending the soil can teach us much about life and what it takes to move forward. If we are willing to put in the work, the hard work in...the fruits of our labor will eventually produce results. John initially stepped out from behind the lens in 2011 when he and his family left the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to risk starting an organic and biodynamic farm north of LA.  They call their land Apricot Lane Farms, and if you recognize the name, it’s because John never did completely drop that camera of his...he is one of Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday’s chosen filmmakers and you will see why.  John has found and lives the lessons that abound at Apricot Lane and he is here to share some of them with us today...because farmers or not, we’re all growing something in our lives and hopefully all of our crops will come in.  

Direct download: CYT_John_Chester.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:47am EDT

Joan Barnes--bestselling author, speaker, advisory entrepreneur, and founder of Gymboree, is well-acquainted with the difference between aiming for perfection or choosing to be real--not any California kind of fruits, nuts and flakes kind of real but the cut close to the bone, hard work kind of real.  Amidst running what became a billion dollar company, Joan experienced the widening gap between losing touch with herself and her own needs and the demands of a burgeoning business. She learned what it takes to seek out the kind of help she needed...and as a result has become the mentors mentor.  In her new book, "Play It Forward," Joan shows us how to align our inner life with outer success. Learning to step away when you need to and having the courage to disappoint others for the sake of your own personal and mental health are lessons that Joan is now able to pay forward.  Gymboree and Joan’s message is timeless---that we aren’t meant to go it alone. Figuring out how to balance both family and a successful career is no easy task; and Joan Barnes is here to tell us how it’s done.

 

Direct download: CYT_Joan_Barnes.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:18am EDT

Susan Bennett is someone that everyone of us knows but we may not know why. She answers our questions, helps us with directions, and when we can’t figure out that song on the radio, she’s there to solve the mystery. While we’re all familiar with Siri, most of us have never met the Oz behind the curtain, so to speak. In this episode, we have the honor of hearing from Susan Bennett--arguably, the world’s most well-recognized voice-over artist. And while her voice is heard all over the world, she opens up to us today about how she’s learned to navigate her career in the entertainment industry as an introvert, and why she decided to go public with the voice we all know. Susan reminds us that we all have our own path to walk, and no one can live our lives for us. The best we can do is be generous with one other and give back in some way because we all have some something in our lives that challenges us.

 

 

Direct download: CYT_Susan_Bennett_V2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:24pm EDT

Caroline Paul walks the walk in being courageous in her life and in her new bestselling book, "Gutsy Girl." She "focuses on important life lessons of courage and empowerment, while eschewing talk of fear, caution and failure while deftly combining practical advice with unerring encouragement." Caroline is here to reclaim bravery as a trait available for both sexes, and not reserved for males alone-- while sharing some amazing personal stories of her own that will leave you on the edge of your seat. From climbing the Golden Gate bridge to being one of the first female firefighters to thermal flying through a thundercloud... Caroline lives the message she teaches.  Whether you’re a parent of girls, or curious about living a more adventurous story for yourself, you will not want to miss this interview. We can all use a bit more courage because lets face it...fear will always be a part of our lives whether we’re female or male. And as Caroline reminds us, the hopeful truth is that it’s ours for the taking.

Direct download: CYT_Caroline_Paul.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:26am EDT

Sudeep Balain ended up learning the lessons he needed to learn about love through divorce.  As counterintuitive as it sounds, we often learn our most profound lessons through our failures, even extreme failures and disappointments.  At some point each one of us will come to a crossroads in our lives. It’s rare that a single one of us is immune from disappointment, tragedy, failure or even perceived failure. However, we are all given a choice...do we retreat in fear and despair, or slowly start to rebuild and move forward? Sudeep Balain had it all: the secure job, great house in Marin County, CA, and a growing family. But, it all came crumbling down when his wife of sixteen years wanted a divorce. Although life as Sudeep knew it was falling apart he decided on a journey that he ultimately realized he sorely needed.  If you wonder about the title or worry that this is some California fruit, nuts and flakes kind of interview you will miss something important.  In his book, You Are Love, Sudeep recounts his travels around the world and his process of beginning to know himself, and how he discovered that at the core of who he is...is simply love. Sudeep reminds us that we can only come face to face with our internal motivations and fears when we take time to pause and recharge away from the noise. And while some might consider self-care or self-discovery a selfish act, it’s actually the most loving thing we can do--because we can only extend generosity and love to others when have taken the time to really know and accept ourselves first.

Direct download: CYT_Sudeep_Balain_V3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:51am EDT

Kata Hay understands that if at first we don’t succeed it’s worth trying again.  It takes a good kind of inner strength and determination to pick yourself three, four, and even five times. This is where belief comes in...do you believe in what you’re doing?  Kata Hay caught the attention of three of the four judges on NBC’s 10th Season of The Voice, after giving an unforgettable performance.  And, this was Kata’s fifth attempt at auditioning for the show, and this time she managed to prove that she had become a force to be reckoned with. Kata has been singing for most of her life, and now at twenty-nine, let’s just say that Kata won’t be backing down from her fear anytime soon. She is here to  remind us that it’s often the hardest and the darkest right before the dawn of our dreams. And often, what we fear the most is exactly the direction we should be moving towards.  I’m confident you will soon understand why Christina Aguillara, Adam Levine, Pharrell Williams and millions more fell in love with her endearing personality and remarkable ability to not back down or change herself for anyone.

Direct download: CYT_Kata_Hay.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:47pm EDT

Dr. Andrew Newberg is a prominent neuroscientist, author and researcher who has studied what our brains do with our beliefs, enlightenment and even with God.  He will show us that the first step towards true understanding is being willing to acknowledge our biases and predisposed ways of thinking.  In other words, there is always another side to hear but we often fail to truly listen because we are afraid that the opposing side might threaten our own viewpoint.  Dr. Newberg knows what it looks like to hold ones convictions because he does so with a sense of openness and compassionate curiosity.  He is a pioneer who has taken on neuroscience and theology--two fields that at first glance, seem more opposed than interconnected-- and helps us to make sense of exactly what our brains experience in the process.

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Andrew_Newberg.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:35am EDT

Dr. Glen Gabbard is a renowned psychiatrist and psychiatric educator whose research has been invaluable in the mental health field and elsewhere.  An abuse of power can happen at work, in the church or any institute or organization that runs hierarchically.  His message is for all of us, because the moment anyone believes they are infallible they are bound to make mistakes.  At its best, the relationship between a patient and psychotherapist should be a safe place where learning, personal growth and healing can happen.  In some ways we could say something similar about working for a company where we have a manager who supervises our successes and/or our failures. That is why Dr. Glen Gabbard’s research, counsel and writing about blurred boundaries is so important in our every day lives.

Direct download: CYT_Glen_Gabbard.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:28am EDT

Dr. Amy Cuddy is a Harvard Professor, Researcher, Author and Social Scientist.  In 2012, she graced the Ted Talk stage and became one of their top two all time favorite presenters by discussing how nonverbal behavior and snap judgments can affect us from the classroom to the boardroom. Millions of us--nearly 34 million to be exact-- sat up and listened. She has expounded upon that Ted talk and turned it into her new bestselling book called “Presence.” Amy Cuddy is doing meaningful work by showing us what authentic presence really means and she is touching a nerve around the world with her research and her new book. Rather than trying to protect how we are perceived, Amy advocates that we tap into our vulnerability by letting our true selves be seen.  While it might seem easier in the moment to shrink back and avoid the risk of being seen, we will ultimately miss out on the deep sense of connection and satisfaction that comes from being authentic.

Direct download: CYT_Amy_Cuddy.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:33am EDT

Angie Keilhauer is going places and she wants you to come along.  As you will hear if you listen to this episode Angie has both grit and talent, and is well on her way to making her mark in the music industry. Long before appearing on the most recent season of NBC’s wildly popular show "The Voice," Angie was playing in local bars, cruise ships, and pretty much anywhere that she could perfect her craft. She was also rejected from "The Voice" three times before having this final opportunity.  Many of us would have already given up by then. What allows one person to continue to take risks? As you will hear, Angie Keilhauer possesses wisdom far beyond her years. You will probably hear it in her singing voice as well: there is a maturity and soul that has kept her persevering and continuing to say yes to the opportunities that have come and will continue to come her way. Angie’s story reminds us that in order to fulfill our dreams, we must be committed even when no one is watching, and when we love what we do in life it not only shows...people will often want to be around us.

Direct download: CYT_Angie_Keilhauer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:56am EDT

Shannon Huffman Polson not only knows what grit is, she has lived it. Shannon is now highlighting stories of bravery and resilience in the lives of other women in her Grit Project.  As a native Alaskan, Shannon has always been drawn to adventure and the road less traveled. Whether it was venturing far from home to attend Duke University, or joining the army and being one of the first women to fly a military helicopter, she has dared greatly throughout her life.  Shannon understands first-hand that just as there are moments of thrill and anticipation, there will also be loss and sorrow. Grappling with the tragic death of her father and step mother, Shannon embarked on a personal pilgrimage to make peace with her loss that she documented in her book "North of Hope." As you will soon hear for yourself, Shannon is someone who is shows up for life with a full heart--even during the difficult times. She has come to intuitively understand that hardship is often the birthplace for grit.

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Shannon_Polson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:22pm EDT

Karen Thompson Walker believes that fear is here to teach us.  We often think of fear as something to avoid, but what if we could learn to view fear as a kind of harbinger to creativity and risk? Meaning, fear will almost always be partnered with the two. I’m not talking about things we should be afraid of such as putting ourselves in harm’s way like walking down a dark and dangerous street late at night.  I’m talking about something else: the kind of necessary fear we encounter when we try something new or challenge ourselves to be more, better, and even the best version of who we are. My guest today is the bestselling author Karen Thompson Walker, who is here to show us how fear can actually propel our imagination, as it forces us to imagine a different, possible future and how to cope with the fear that instills in us. In her own creative life, Karen has not only embraced her fear, but she’s even allowed it to inspire her recent New York Times bestseller, "The Age of Miracles." And in her popular TED Talk “What Fear Can Teach Us,” she explores the wisdom to be gained from fear. I'm not talking about the irrational kind, but the kind that acts as guardrails or warning signals as we find our way through the world. Whether or not you consider yourself a creative person, we have all experienced a resistance to fear in our lives in one way or another. And as the old saying goes, if we can’t go around it, we must go through it. Maybe creativity and fear are “conjoined twins”--like Elizabeth Gilbert suggests--so you can’t have one without the other. Maybe the point is...if we spend all of our energy trying to become fearless, we will miss the lesson of what our fear has to teach us. Anyone of us who is willing to move beyond their comfort zone will certainly feel it. Karen is doing meaningful work in revealing fear’s surprising wisdom, and we now have the opportunity to hear more about her unique perspective.

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Karen_Walker.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:33am EDT

Tom Corley believes that our daily habits play a much larger role in success than we might have previously understood. Tom grew up in a household that became familiar with the struggles of poverty. After dedicating three very focused years to researching the differences between the rich and the poor, Tom Corley has collected a series of habits that he believes can help shape our future into a more successful one. In his book "Change Your Habits, Change Your Life" he delves into the subconscious realm of how habits work, and offers practical ways that we can implement rich habits into our daily routines. Tom reminds us that good habits put us on the path of opportunity, and that when you find something you truly love, you will be surprised by your own persistence in making it happen. And, as Tom believes...if you change your habits, you will ultimately change your life.  

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Thomas_Corley.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:45pm EDT

Adam Steltzner went from being described (by New Yorker Magazine) "as a dropout and small town playboy with few skills and fewer prospects" to someone who made history. This episode is about how Adam took that kind of history and made history.  And, not only history, but history that each and every one of us followed in the news.  If you ever wondered how the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab successfully landed a 2,000 pound, 2 and a half billion dollar Curiosity Rover on the surface of Mars a very special historian is here to enlighten us and teach us that we can be called many names in life, and we always have the ability to prove others wrong.  Adam Steltzner is the lead NASA Engineer and manager for entry, descent and landing on Mars. He has also written a book about this experience and his own entitled, The Right Kind of Crazy,”  and we are lucky enough to have him tell us all about what it takes to make our passion(s) a reality. 
Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Adam_Steltzner.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:48am EDT

Trina Laughlin has been a clinical social worker for twenty plus years specializing in trauma therapy. She specializes in helping others find their way from the darkness of loss to what can feel like rays of hope. And, here’s the thing about Trina...trauma isn’t something she studies from afar--she’s lived it, too. Back in 2007, two days before Christmas, her twenty two year-old son died unexpectedly. In order to process and cope with her loss, she began writing about the many layers of her grief, the unspeakable emotion of it all--and her writing eventually became a book that she calls, “Season of the Fallen Sun.” Trina reminds us that there is hope beyond even the most excruciating emotional pain, and that we need other people to help put us back together when our lives feel shattered.  Trina is a powerful reminder that when we try to shut off or shut down our pain, we end up closing off our capacity to experience joy as well.

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Trina_Laughlin.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Dr.Ron Friedman is considered an expert in human motivation, and his research lends us some helpful answers to what motivates us and what keeps us engaged. In his book, The Best Place to Work, he offers insightful suggestions about how to improve our workplaces by appealing to our psychological needs of competence, relatedness, and autonomy. And you may be surprised to know that most of the changes Ron suggests have little to do with money. Ron believes that our workplaces could change for the better if only we learned how to better value human connection and accountability, as well as allow for the integration of work and our outside of work life rather than trying so hard to keep them separate. Ron offers practical tips you might end up using yourself... such as holding walking meetings, putting a window in your office, making time for exercise, and introducing your co-workers by describing who they are outside of work rather than just reciting their job description.  If you feel like you are just barely getting by and are struggling to find motivation in the mundane, I’m confident that Ron’s findings will inspire you and spark some ideas about how to keep work and ultimately your life more interesting.

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Ron_Friedman.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:44pm EDT

Coach Reed believes that "progress hinges on the gap between who will talk in private and who will act in public." Of all the quotes that runs through his head, that is the one that really resonates. It has become his morning mantra, because "until we act, every thing we do in private makes no change in the world." Coach Reed is a Sports Coach with a message for all of us...and, if you think this is a message for athletes alone you will be missing out. He has a unique perspective that is not only refreshing, but in my opinion... needed. As a coach for 20 plus years, he is passionate about many things and one in particular...and this is one I can get behind...Coach Reed is all about developing confidence in his players, rather than controlling them with fear. As the Executive Director of STAR Soccer Club- a 500 player club in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a Ted Talk alumni Coach Reed isn’t “just” about coaching kids. He also trains parents, coaches, and sports leaders alike on cultivating healthy communication in competitive environments. I think you hopefully agree that we need more kindness in our lives and in our world...perhaps of late especially in the political arena especially. As we’ll learn in this interview... kindness is not weak; instead, it requires the strongest kind of discipline we have to give. And really listening to another human being is a skill that takes time and commitment to develop. Like the saying goes: “be kind, everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Coach_Reed.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:05am EDT

Barbara Jenkins is a bestselling co-author and traveler who received the attention of National Geographic Magazine with a cross country trek she took with her ex husband back in the 70's.  Don't be fooled.  This woman is as vibrant today as she was back then.  Barbara is a natural born storyteller who is all about the power of saying "yes" and she joins us today with wisdom to spare.  When adventure came knocking, Barbara Jenkins answered. And it wasn’t just any adventure--but one that would take her on a walk across America and change the trajectory of her life forever.  Some of you may be familiar with the New York Times best-sellers Walk Across America and The Walk West, written by Barbara and her then-husband, Peter Jenkins. In today’s interview, we get a glimpse behind the curtain into the story behind the stories, and the wisdom that Barbara has gathered along the way. Barbara has faced numerous challenges throughout her life: being hit by a car, walking pregnant across a mountain range in a blizzard, and then eventually raising three children as a single parent while simultaneously navigating a writing career on her own. Barbara’s story of resilience, extraordinary adventure, empowerment, and perseverance is a reminder that struggle is essential to growth. That even after one door closes, another door will open in due time if you’re willing to keep your head up and keep doing the work.

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Barbara_Jenkins.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:24am EDT

Richard McCann is living proof that our stories aren’t over even after the darkest of tragedies. He was only five years old when his mother was murdered by a serial killer.  While it’s hard to comprehend this type of devastating loss, Richard has somehow managed to keep his heart so open that he has become an inspiration to others and a well sought after motivational speaker. His journey has been a profound one taking him down roads that we might never have taken but we can certainly learn from his choices and lessons learned.  His most profound lesson to date has been to choose forgiveness. Richard understands that when we share even our most painful stories, we have the opportunity to learn what it means to live with an open heart.
Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Richard_McCann.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:53am EDT

Jim Riviello is a business growth expert who reminds us that focusing on the next three steps in front of us will slow us down long enough so we won't feel overwhelmed.  If we are successful in business but our children, spouses or employees want little to do with us then we have not achieved true success.  If we don't take the time to find out who we are it's unlikely that anyone else will ever really know us either.  Jim emphasizes that while planning for our future is important and necessary for achieving our goals it is also important to slow ourselves down and liv in the present.  Nothing meaningful ever comes easy, and that includes personal growth.  Honoring our journey, or what I call the process, is just as important as getting there.  One can often preclude the other so it's especially important to accomplish both.  

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Jim_Riviello.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:12am EDT

Brigadier General, Dr. Rhonda Cornum is tough and gentle.  I find the two are often a package deal.   In today's interview with  Brigadier General and Physician Rhonda Cornum, we will learn that resilience can be taught, learned and even mastered. However, here is the best part...whether you are a civilian or in the military or even feel like the walking wounded today’s episode is for you. After surviving a helicopter crash while on a rescue mission during the first Iraq war General Cornum was then taken prisoner. if that isn’t a petri dish to test one’s resilience, I don’t know what is.  Gen. Cornum is well acquainted with the double-edged sword of hardship, but as you will soon learn, she is also adamant about not being defined by those experiences... except in terms of lessons learned. When Dr. Cornum returned back to the States after being rescued, people were often confused when she would explain that instead of experiencing PTSD, she felt stronger because of her experience. As Dr. Michaela Haas notes in her book Bouncing Forward, in the early 1990s, the term “post traumatic growth” had not yet been discovered. Instead of blindly accepting what some consider constricting labels that trauma survivors are given, Dr. Cornum focused on re-claiming the agency over what she could control. Before she retired from the military, Dr. Cornum developed the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program, which not only helps boost resilience in troops, but can help all of us in everyday life. Rhonda’s story is a reminder that the human spirit is capable of surmounting unimaginable challenges, and that if anything, living through a near-death situation can make life that much more precious and cherished.   

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_General_Rhonda_Cornum.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:35pm EDT

Travis Meadows is known by "Rolling Stone" magazine as "Nashville's most badass songwriter."  Whether or not you’re familiar with or even like country music, it is often about love, loss and and human resilience. “Riser,” a song co-written by Travis Meadows and performed by Dierks Bentley, is one of those songs that stays with you long after you listen to it, and you can’t help but wonder about the life behind those words. If you listen closely, you get the sense that Travis’s depth of insight has been forged because of struggle, and that taking the long way has given him something rare and irreplaceable. Dealing with cancer at fourteen, growing up with an absent father, and wrestling with addiction are only a few of the mile-markers on his life’s journey. Today you will hear how Travis discovered how to make peace with his past and how he learned that you can’t truly appreciate light without the darkness. Travis teaches us to aim for authenticity rather than accolades, and to accept what we cannot control. He has written songs for country artists such as Eric Church, Jake Owen, Leann Womack, and Wynonna Judd to name a few, making his unique artistry unmistakable. As Travis agrees and I believe...nothing meaningful ever comes easy. Travis has had to fight for his voice, and in the process of doing so, discovered the "Riser" inside of him.

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Travis_Meadows.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Mark Schulman is here to teach us that we can all overcome stage fright if we follow what he calls the Three C’s. He has played drums with some of the most famed musicians of our time. From Tina Turner to Cher, to Stevie Nicks, Billy Idol to Beyonce, and three world tours with Pink you might get the sense that he’s just warming up.  Before he was voted one of the “Top 3 Pop-Rock Drummers” in the 2014 Modern Drummer Reader’s Poll, he learned what it would take to get there...putting in the long hours practicing his craft so he would be ready for opportunity when it came knocking; and, knocking it did. Mark has performed for an estimated one billion people over the course of his 27 year long career, so it might surprise you that he’s had his share of stage fright to overcome and understand from the inside-out. He has learned to harness his fear to be helpful rather than debilitating, and has written about his experience in his new book, Conquering Life’s Stage Fright. Mark’s story shows us how failure can be disguised as a pivotal moment for growth, if we’re willing to be open to the lesson.

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Mark_Schulman.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:21am EDT

Aaron Walker was 27 years old when he reached a level of success people dream about.  What he wasn’t prepared for was the hollow feeling that came with it.  His message today is get your priorities straight...and, by all means pay it forward.  While he could have settled into an early retirement and what some people consider the “comfortable life he didn't. Intuitively, he  knew there was more out there for him. When you fear missing an opportunity more than failure, success is only a matter of time. Aaron began seeking out others who wanted similar things in life: growth, opportunity, and to “give back” in some way. He also found what he hadn’t had before...mentors who would help him develop his potential. Today, Aaron helps others discover how to build significance into their lives by investing in relationships, not just retirement plans. If you’ve ever doubted whether a successful life can also be a meaningful one, then you’ll want to keep listening; because moving forward in your career and building lasting relationships don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Aaron has a powerful message for anyone spending more energy holding onto regret rather than focusing on what you can control---your future.

Direct download: Challenge_Your_Thinking_Aaron_Walker.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:37pm EDT

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