Play Your Position with Mary Lou Kayser

What does it take to lead in a global marketplace? How can we become better at what we do every day in our work and our private lives? Is it possible to learn the leadership skills necessary to lead teams at a world-class level?

These are some of the questions my guest asks today on the show. Claudio Toyama returns for his second appearance on PYP to talk about his new book with the curious title, The Samurai Samba Vinci Way: How to Improve Your Executive Presence, Increase Trust and Lead Your Team at a World-Class Level. It was published in the fall of 2017 and quickly became a number one international bestseller. The book reflects the incredible work Claudio has done teaching subject matter experts over the last 10 years through his coaching and consulting practice how to become excellent leaders.

Are you more of a Samurai, a Samba or a Vinci? Learn about the power of these three personas and how they can help you improve your life in today’s episode of the PYP Podcast.

Click here to get the book!

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Category:general -- posted at: 1:11pm EDT

Aren’t all business owners happy? today’s PYP MVP Tim Fulton asks. You would think they would be being out on their own, running their own show, chasing a dream, having the freedom you can’t get with a job. But the answer to this question is a surprising no, and in the show, Tim goes into detail about why that is so -- and how to fix it.

 

Tim Fulton showed up ready to play and you’re going to love his enthusiasm. The facts about him include: he is a nationally recognized small business consultant and advocate with more than 30 years experience in entrepreneurship. His purpose and passion is helping others succeed. Over the years he has worked with thousands of business start-ups and existing business entities as a catalyst for starting and growing their business enterprises.

 

Tim has also served as the assistant director of the Small Business Development Center at Clayton State University and the Director of the Family Business Institute at Florida International University. An author of a very popular, award-winning book on small business titled Small Business Matters and the follow-up book Small Business Matters and All That Jazz, Tim also publishes his own award-winning monthly newsletter, Small Business Matters.

A popular public speaker, Tim has addressed groups from the Association of Small Business Development Centers, the Cruise Line Industry Association, and the American Society for Training & Development. He has also appeared on television and radio programs as an advocate for small business and entrepreneurship.

 

Let Tim know how much you loved his show today by leaving us a 5 star rating and review over on iTunes by clicking here. It shows the guests you appreciate them and helps spread the word about PYP!

 

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“The time you can take to care for aging parents is 10-20 years according to a survey done by MetLife,” says today’s PYP MVP Ruth Ullman. There are plenty of other sobering statistics about the wave that’s coming -- and most people are either ignoring it or denying it even exists. Our conversation goes pretty deep into what’s happening around the world today, and the trend of aging parents shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

“No one wants to think about their parents getting old,” Ruth continues. “But to pretend that’s not going to happen can cost you a lot of money, not to mention time.”

Ruth began caring for her aging parents when she was in her 40s. She had to navigate a labyrinth of financial, legal and health mazes to get answers and figure out next steps. “It wasn’t easy,” she says, reflecting on that time of her life. “And my business didn’t survive because I hadn’t set it up to work without me fully present every day.”

Because of these experiences, Ruth founded her latest business called myeldercarejourney.com which focuses on helping small businesses, entrepreneurs and consultants realign their businesses to thrive while caring for aging parents. She believes that no one should have to choose between the business they created and caring for aging loved ones.

Ruth has been featured on Fox, CBS, NBC & ABC News and lately, a lot of podcasts where she spreads her message about how to prevent catastrophe from striking when aging loved ones become front and center in our lives.

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Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

“Why are sports growing in popularity?” today’s guest Teresa McCloy asks rhetorically. “It’s because people are longing for that connection we get when we come together for an event.”

She’s right. I see it every time I go to watch a game in person. In that stadium, for a few hours at least, those of us who have chosen to spend our time watching athletes run, tackle, hit, jump, leap, throw, pound, and slide share in something very special -- and very human. Teresa gets this, which is why she has redesigned her life around helping clients discover the habits that aren’t serving them and building new ones that do.

It’s a fast-paced world out there and any professional knows the battle isn’t with information, but rather with execution on selected information relevant to us personally. As a REALIFE Speaker & Coach, Teresa McCloy partners with her clients to stop being productive and do what matters. There’s a difference, she argues, between going, going, going just because everyone else is doing that and deliberately choosing activities and strategies that are directly aligned with what matters most to us.

A recovering workaholic who was addicted to all the latest apps, software, and bestselling books on productivity, she is now passionate about helping business leaders and entrepreneurs to assess their habits and execute a REALIFE Process to take their everyday ordinary life to something Xtra-ordinay in their REALIFE, REALWORK & REALSELF. Teresa is a founding trainer and coach with the 12 Week Year system, and uses tools such as iEnneagram© and Life Maps, serving her audience and clients through speaking, masterminds and training to discover their REALIFE Process.

As we begin to gather with loved ones and friends in the coming weeks of the Holiday Season, let's remember Teresa's message about reconnecting to what matters most. Hold close the ones who you love best and express gratitude for the blessings both big and small you have in your life right now. And if it suits you, venture out to a live game somewhere to gather with those who share the joy in spectating, cheering, and celebrating being human together.

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Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Nancy Martin loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. A Pennsylvania girl through and through, she gets football and what it can mean for a town, city and region. When she’s not cheering for the black and gold, she is a renowned speaker, facilitator, and best-selling author of Dance Your Way to an Empowered Self, and the creator of “Back Off” - a proprietary method of teaching women and girls how to embody confidence so they can repel potential abusers and claim their own authentic voice.  

Her mission is to reach as many women and girls as possible before they become victims of abuse so they can build a light, happy future. We met through a mutual friend and PYP MVP, Claudio Toyama. Nancy has a lot of energy and loves to laugh while cooking delicious meals from scratch. She is vibrant, dynamic and dedicated to raising her son to be thoughtful, kind and driven by his own sense of self.

In her work, she uses a specialized combination of dance, movement, and intensive coaching to show her clients how to use their bodies powerfully and make the changes needed to repel aggressors and build core confidence. As a result, they experience a quick, dramatic change in self-assurance that affects their entire being. Not only do they learn to be true to themselves in all situations, but they also realize they are enough and their choices become fully their own.

Nancy’s extensive and valuable knowledge of the body-mind connection will help you think differently about how you are physically showing up each day -- and give you even more incentive to dance in the end zone, and not just on Sunday!

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Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Debbie Johnston’s motto is, “If I have touched one life, it was worth the journey.” And let me tell you -- she has touched many. November is National Adoption Month and among the many pursuits Debbie has engaged in over the years, advocating for children of all ages to find permanent homes is at the top of her list.


Over the span of her successful careers, she has been recognized as the Entrepreneur of Richmond, Virginia, Philanthropist of the Year, and Woman on the Move. As founder and President of Care Advantage, Nurse Advantage, and All About Care, she has created a dynamic compassionate care company that is devoted to giving back to the community. Her former companies employ approximately 3,000 health care professionals in central Virginia and surrounding areas. Debbie's journey to the top did not start off all glitz and glam though. In fact, she had a very humble start. Debbie grew up in a small town with her biological mother's sister and her husband who adopted Debbie at a young age. She was raised on a farm with four younger sisters and one brother, working hard with farm-life chores, too busy and loved to realize her actual scarcity.

"Originally I wanted to be a secretary like my mom, but after considerable coaxing from my dad, I decided to go into nursing,” Debbie says. “My dad told me that nursing would always afford me a job in good times and bad." Somehow, her parents scraped up the three-year tuition for Debbie to attend the Johnston-Willis School of Nursing.

Following nursing school, she decided to work in the operating room where she learned a lot in a short amount of time. In her book, The School of Heart Knocks, she tells the story of watching a 14-year-old girl receive her last rites in the emergency room. It was then that she decided to become a recovery room nurse, in order to lessen the close interaction with patients and guard against such heartache. "I began to see people being discharged quicker and sicker, which prompted my curiosity about what was happening to patients once they were sent home. It was this curiosity that led me into my career of home care."

Debbie sought and accepted an offer as a salesperson for a new national home health company in the area. After one year, she took the idea of home health care to a large hospital conglomerate and became the administrator of the division. However, the chief hospital administrator spun the home health division out on its own and decided to sell it. Debbie then received a push from a friend and started her own health care company. Care Advantage, Inc. was born out of a need to help people once discharged home. This has naturally evolved from helping patients leave the hospital to holding their hand and making their last few hours the best possible.

Today, Debbie is the sole owner and president of Care Advantage, Inc., which has become a leading company for personal and companion home healthcare, with 17 offices and affiliates throughout Virginia. "I believe that one of the best things about growing a financially successful company is having the ability to give to others. We have given over a million dollars to organizations all over the community. I also started ‘Eunice's Circle of Friends,’ which is a social group for Widows and Widowers, and those individuals who have lost a loved one." In 2014, Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed Debbie to the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority and as the Adoption Champion for the state of Virginia and these days, she spends a lot of her time helping match deserving kids with deserving parents.

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Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Love is missing from the workplace. That’s what today’s PYP MVP believes. “If you can satisfy people’s emotional needs, you can produce business results you never thought possible,” says Cort Dial. He would know. Cort has been working as an executive coach for several decades and has seen every facet of human behavior you could imagine. His work has taken him to some of the toughest places on earth, from oil rigs off the coast of Texas to the deserts of the Middle East and everything in between. In fact, over the last 30 years in a variety of environments ranging from corporate skyscrapers to South American jungles, he has honed his signature method of leadership development called All-In Performance Transformation. With it, he trains and certifies business executives and rising leaders at his Heretics to Heroes Leadership Mastery Summits held throughout the year in Austin, Texas. Despite all the advances in technology we’ve experienced over the last ten years, Cort is adamant that we human beings are still the same: everyone just wants to feel a sense of belonging. Everyone wants to play a big game. Everyone wants to make a contribution in one fashion or another. “The world is lacking great leadership,” he says. But has has faith that, with a combination of the right training, some time and patience, things can change for the better. “I’m really good at asking the tough questions no one else is willing to ask,” Cort says. He believes that asking the hard questions is one of the keys to developing great leaders and that it takes a special form of leader to inspire a performance transformation within organizations. Cort calls this new breed of 21st-century hero the All-In™ Leader. He explores the roots and results of his unique All-In Leadership philosophy in his Amazon Top 10 book, Heretics to Heroes: A Memoir on Modern Leadership, named the Best Business Book of 2016 by Canada’s Globe and Mail. Cort lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and best friend Julie of more than 38 years. He has a son and a daughter and two grandsons named Max and Jake. Oh, and he’s a big Texas Longhorns fan. While it’s been a tough road for the Longhorns recently, they’re having a decent season this year. “As long as we beat Oklahoma, us fans are okay,” he chuckles.

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Thanks to PYP MVP Will Cuddy from Show #106, I had the honor of talking to Noah Schultz this week. Noah is currently on tour across the United States promoting the documentary about his life called Perception: From Prison to Purpose. We had a fantastic conversation and I was moved by his story.

Noah Schultz is a poet and a writer who was incarcerated at the age of 17 under Oregon’s Measure 11. During his time in custody, he was introduced to creative writing, and has since transformed his worldview. While in prison, he earned an Associate’s Degree and two Bachelor’s Degrees, and even created and taught a poetry curriculum to other inmates. He is an aspiring entrepreneur interested in poverty, human trafficking and environmental issues and is currently in the process of launching his own fashion line, Forgotten Culture Clothing, with his best friend.

Noah’s favorite team is the Portland Timbers and he brings a lot of positive energy to every audience he serves, and Team PYP, we are no different. Assisting others in finding their inner greatness is why he wakes up in the morning and he loves to encourage people to say to themselves, “I am qualified!”

 

You can buy a copy of his poetry book “Morse Code Kisses” on Amazon here.

One of Noah’s favorite things to say about sports is: “It’s not just a game...it’s a language that connects the world to you and me.”

We love that, too!

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Gustavo Serbia is the Corporate Director of Human Resources for Crescent Hotels & Resorts and refers to himself as an HR non-HR guy. He is also the founder of Stretch the String, a personal development movement dedicated to helping fine tune the most important instrument of your career: YOU! Gustavo has worked in hospitality, entertainment, with airlines and universities. His work has taken him around the world including places like Mexico, Hong Kong, and Europe. Fully bilingual, Gustavo speaks both English and Spanish and on a personal note, he loves baseball, has a collection of M&M branded items and considers himself a tech nerd.

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Jake Carlson is a business leader, an inspirational speaker, and a 9-5 dropout. After 11 years as a tax attorney, he chose “different”. Taking his three kids out of school for the adventure of a lifetime, the family spent a year living in 12 countries from Bagan, Myanmar to Paris, France, overcoming robbery, red-eye flights and Haggis while learning to love the rich cultures of the world. All of which he expected. What he didn’t expect was the journey of Leadership this decision would create. From the high-rises of London to the nipa huts of Malaysia, the need for strong leadership is everywhere. But where are the leaders? Jake is on a mission to help Elite Achievers become leaders by mastering the CIA of Influence: Conviction, Irresistibility & Accountability. Join us today for a lively conversation full of exciting adventure stories and insights on how to become a better leader!

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Category:general -- posted at: 10:37am EDT

Jeff McManus grows things. As the Director of Landscape Services at the University of Mississippi, he grows plants...he grows people...he grows ideas. Jeff is a problem-solver, understanding that doing more with less is a 21st century mandate. He developed his GROW-theory into an impactful management and professional development leadership program for his staff and has been recognized nationally for it by the Princeton Review, PGMS, Newsweek and every faculty, staff, student and visitor who has walked onto the Ole Miss Campus. His message rings true for any industry leader or manager looking to grow a high-performance and dedicated workforce.

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Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Like millions of people across the United States, I watched the solar eclipse. But I have a confession. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t interested in the solar eclipse. Like, at all. It wasn’t until my dad started talking about it when I was on vacation with him in Maine earlier this month that I realized my non-interest was stemming more from not liking all the hype surrounding the eclipse rather than the actual eclipse itself. Today's Bonus Audible is all about my experience getting ready for this once-in-a-lifetime event, along with some actual raw audio footage minutes before the moon nearly obscured the sun in my little part of the world in Oregon. It's a piece of living history, and the whole experience turned out far cooler than I initially imagined. Some interesting and unexpected things happened during it, so pop in those head phones and take a listen to today's episode of PYP!

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Category:general -- posted at: 7:39pm EDT

Chances are good if you’ve been on Facebook lately you have seen a chatbot. A chatbot is an automated communication sequence inside FB Messenger, on your website, or an on ecommerce site that allows the user to drive the experience while interacting with your chatbot to get questions answered, get content, make orders, etc. --  instantly and 24/7. Today’s guest knows a few things about chatbots and unpacks their potential for Team PYP. His name is Peter Lisoskie and he spends his time helping early adopters in business capitalize on new trends in tools, technologies, and marketing strategies. He’s discovered that many early adopter companies want chatbots developed for leads, inside sales, content delivery, information gathering, ecommerce, customer service and more. With Peter’s extensive background in product development he can help your company develop and deploy a chatbot strategy to support your brand and deliver a winning customer experience. Peter is a proud geek: He runs a business incubator, hangs out with neuroscientists, and has been known to write a line of code or two if it brings a product to life. Get ready for a lively conversation about the future -- it’s closer than we think!

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Mark J. Podolsky (AKA The Land Geek) is widely considered the country’s most trusted and foremost authority on buying and selling raw, undeveloped land within the United States. He has been actively investing in real estate and raw land since 2001 and has completed over 5,000 unique transactions. Mark’s company, Frontier Equity Properties, LLC, is an A+ rated BBB real estate company. Mark has achieved this level of success largely due to his core business philosophy – “Happy Customers Guaranteed.” I would add his success also comes from the fact that he chooses to use a treadmill desk. “Sitting is the new smoking!” he reminds us all. Mark is also the host of one of the top rated podcasts in the Investing Category on iTunes aptly titled “The Best Passive Income Model and The Art of Passive Income.” As if he wasn’t already busy enough, Mark hosts “The Land Geek Podcast- Work Smart. Earn More. Learn How.” You can check those out on iTunes and wherever else great listening is enjoyed.

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This week's audible title is inspired by the latest book I listened to called "The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work and Confidence with Everyday Courage" by Mel Robbins. It's a fantastic listen and I share my review of this book along with six others I recommend for your Summer 2017 reading/listening pleasure. While summer is typically a time to slow down and take some time off, we can continue feeding our minds with great stories and inspirational content so that when things ramp up again in the fall, we are empowered and powerful. Enjoy!

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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 host, image consultant and workshop leader who is committed to helping all of us live a life less ordinary. Her book, Navigating Career Crossroads: How to Thrive when Changing Direction, is a #1 Amazon bestseller and definitely worth the read. Even if you aren’t going through a career transition right now, Jane’s book has useful tips and exercises that you can use to fine tune your current position. She’s got sections on values clarification, choosing a suitable wardrobe and how to connect effectively with key decision makers on social media platforms like LinkedIn. She’s been featured in all kinds of great publications including the Sydney Morning Herald, the Huffington Post, and Cosmopolitan. Mother of two beautiful daughters, Jane lives in Australia where she runs her international business and brings a lot of class to everything she does.

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Category:general -- posted at: 10:59am EDT

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 the programs prepare for their future careers. He is currently the CEO of Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs (JKCP), an organization specializing in youth-to-adult programming that turns curiosity into passion and skill. He has been with JKCP for 18 years, and as a result, he’s really got an inside edge about a population that will one day lead the world. In this role, his primary responsibility is to cultivate a culture that results in memories lasting a lifetime for their participants and staff. Steve oversees 20-plus programs and camps ranging from cooking and sports to pre-college academics and more- attracting participants from all over the world. JKCP partners together with highly esteemed institutions such as University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Villanova University, and even the NFL!

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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!      

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Category:general -- posted at: 11:38am EDT

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Quit watching so much television/Netflix/sports/porn. See #6.
  4. Quit waiting for someone to give you permission. No one is coming to rescue you. No one is coming to say, “Hey, you’re the one we desperately need!” As Jim Rohn loved to say, “For things to change, you have to change.” That includes picking yourself to be the next whatever it is you want to be.
  5. Quit putting yourself down. Negative self-talk is the bane of human existence. The sooner you quit going dark on yourself, the sooner you will experience the spoils of the winner’s circle.
  6. Quit turning to over eating/drinking/shopping/gambling to escape from facing the truth about your life. They are tempting. At every turn, something promises to take away the pain of being human. The question here is, do you want to go through life numb and dumb? Or are you willing to accept that cuts, scrapes and bruises come with achievement and excellence?
  7. Quit thinking you can do it all yourself. You can’t. No one can. Figure out what you do best and hire the rest. This can be applied at work and at home. A predominantly DIY culture grounded in two very powerful principles called self-reliance and independence makes us believe we are losers if we can’t announce at the next dinner party that we did it all ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be handing out business cards of my caterer than rushing around trying to restock the crudite plate or refill wine glass.

Quitters win every day. You can often see them sipping champagne from their yachts as they sail yet again around the Mediterranean.

Isn’t it about time you stepped into the quitter's circle, too? Quit something today! It's amazing what can happen when you do.

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Category:general -- posted at: 3:41pm EDT

“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.

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Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

“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 couple of years. “People are yearning to get help solving their problems,” she says. “Boss Mom is one of many ways to get answers.” Her favorite communication book is The 5 Love Languages because “when people feel valued and loved, they will do anything for you.” There’s no question in my mind -- Dana Malstaff is one to watch!

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Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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 across from each other in a comfy living room. I think you will agree. Thanks for tuning in! And please, if you enjoy the show, be sure to subscribe. I publish episodes regularly and you never know who’s going to show up and play their position.

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Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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.

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Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

“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 life better now. I’m in a good place.”

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Direct download: PYP_Rob_Dial_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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 least healthy of any industry in the country). His premise is that ANYONE with 4 minutes can get fit, and he’s written a book called 4-Minute Fit that takes readers through his simple and effective program. What works for truckers can work for any sedentary person!

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Direct download: PYP_Siphiwe_Baleka_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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 and father dedicated to showing up fully as his truest, most authentic self and doing good things in the world.

Learn more about Lou Radja here

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Direct download: PYP_Lou_Radja_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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 organizations. In fact, her doctoral research focused on the correlations between a manager’s emotional intelligence and their team’s engagement.Tracey spends her time in Portland, Oregon raising two teenagers and igniting every room she enters with her infectious positive energy.

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Direct download: PYP_Tracey_Adams_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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 the ability to work alone to the number 100. The number 0 brings openness, wholeness, comprehensiveness, and infinity to the number 100.

The two energies, 0 representing all that is and 1 representing aloneness, may appear to be incompatible. But they enhance each other when combined, making 100 a powerful and universally appealing factor (maybe that’s why number 1 is such a popular jersey number). With the influence of both the number 1 and the number 0, 100 can be seen as a virtually unlimited number 1. And that, to me, is super cool.

Supercharge your day with a free sample!

Direct download: PYP_100th_Episode.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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!

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Direct download: PYP_Sue_Ritchie.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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 of committed visionaries to make it come to life. This is why the Acknowledgement section in most books is quite dense. Many hands go into producing a book of substance. OWB was no different. Comprised of 25 true stories, it flips on its head the conventional approach to exploring success, with storytellers honoring the one(s) who believed in them to showcase their personal triumphs and breakthroughs rather than simply telling their own story. By making the honoree the central character of each tale, each story encourages readers to remember and reflect about their own one(s) who believed in them and then pass on their gratitude for the wisdom and positive impact they experienced because someone took a chance on them without any expectation of gain. How many times have we watched athletes upon winning the big game make mention of special people who believed in them? How many Oscar winners make a point of sharing with the world the names of those special ones whose belief made their accomplishment possible? If ever a time in human history was right for a book like The Ones Who Believed, now is that time. More than ever we need to find a way to connect with each other and build something great together. OWB is one way of doing that. When we’re willing to hit the pause button on our busy lives and take the time to honor someone else with sincere and genuine gratitude, nothing short of miracles can happen.

Get a copy of The Ones Who Believed here

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Direct download: PYP_Karen_Lopez_McWilliams.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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:

  1. 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 halftime show she put on demonstrated that exponentially. Her glittery costume and matching boots. Her hair, the mask over her eyes. She was confident. She was bold. She was authentic.
  2. When you serve others through playing your position, you win. Lady Gaga is all about her fans who she calls her “Little Monsters” for those listening today who don’t know much about her. Notice how she didn’t use the enormous viewing stage that comes with a halftime show to play a song she’s been working on that no one knows, or rant about her views on some issue. I have seen performers do this when they get the spotlight. They make it all about them instead of giving the audience what it wants. In Lady Gaga’s case, what her audience wants to hear are her big hits like “Poker Face” “Born This Way” and “The Edge of Glory.” And she delivered big time. Her one nod to the highly charged political climate was starting the set with “America the Beautiful.” Her message? We are all one big team here. We may not always see eye to eye but we can work together to keep this thing called Democracy we love going as red white and blue lights lit up behind her in the shape of the American flag. Brilliant..
  3. When you want to play your position at the highest level, you build a great team around you. Even though she is the name of her brand, the center of the Lady Gaga brand, she surrounds herself with the best -- the best dancers, the best musicians, the best sound team, the best choreographers… Lady Gaga is incredibly smart about her business and she holds herself accountable to the highest standards. She takes responsibility for what happens. Even in her pregame interview with Michael Strahan, she was cool under pressure, confident about who she was and what she was going to deliver. Like anyone about to launch a product into the world, she knew her performance had risk in it. But she went for it anyway and took it all the way into the end zone.

The experience was extraordinary from the opening aerial stunt when she came flying down from the fake sky to the conclusion when she dropped the mic and caught the football as she leaped off the stage into the abyss. It took my breath away when I watched it live and it’s taking my breath away now as I recall it.

For me, that was the biggest win of the day.

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Direct download: PYP_BONUS_Audible_Lady_Gagas_Halftime_Show.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:47pm EDT

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 knots of expectation thrust upon them in childhood before they had a voice of their own.  I have always known who I am and have two incredible parents to thank for allowing me and my brother to be who we were growing up rather than trying to fit us into some kind of mold that wasn’t aligned with our core. Playing our position is tough enough without having to battle external forces for the right position. Life is fundamentally about the paradox of embracing and accepting being who we are while figuring out how to do that better each day throughout our lives -- in the face of enormous and inevitable change and social pressure to conform to someone else’s ideal of who we should be. Thank goodness Nordstrom is still around for those times when nothing but a new pair of shoes will do the trick. #pyp

Direct download: PYP_BONUS_Audible_7_Things_I_Wish_Id_Known.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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.

Direct download: PYP_Thor_Conklin_2nd_Half.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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 EXECUTE!” We hear you, Thor! Game on!

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Direct download: PYP_Thor_Conklin_1st_Half.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

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!

Direct download: PYP_BONUS_Audible_Best.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:30pm EDT

“The best professionals I’ve ever met are always improving. They are never stuck in one place.” Claudio Toyoma, PYP #62


The end of one year and the beginning of a new one is always a great time to reflect, ruminate, and recharge. What better way than to showcase the best and brightest insights from the 2016 roster of PYP MVPs than with a highlight reel? Today’s episode continues the spirit of compiling key plays from each guest’s playbook to inspire you to kick off 2017 with energy, excitement and enthusiasm for what’s next. I’ve decided 2017 is going to be extraordinary and look forward to having more conversations with fascinating people who will show up and bring their A game to us. My gratitude extends to my loyal listeners of PYP and to the 2016 PYP MVPs: Asa Mathat, Dana Corey, Dr. Cynthia Boccara, Giovanna Rossi, Claudio Toyoma, Dr. Carol Parker Walsh, Matt Heinz, Rob Barisoff, Dan Kimble, Elizabeth Case, Jane Leslie, Jeany Park, David Taylor, Brandon Gaille, Kelley McElreath, Kris Miller, Paul Maskill, Marina Darlow, Nellie Akalp, Tanner Gers, Nate Osborn, Dave Sanderson, Jo Miller, Jeremy Barnhart, Ally Machate, Britney Gardner. Happy New Year, everyone!

Direct download: The_Best_of_Team_PYP_2016.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:25pm EDT

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