Active Action

What if the biggest thing holding your business back is you?

In this episode, Dr. Nazif talks with Steve Barton, an executive coach, author and creator of the Game of Ten, an awareness-based framework that helps leaders work with clarity, confidence and purpose. Steve brings more than 47 years of business experience, including growing his family’s small flower shop from $200,000 to $2 million in annual revenue.

Steve explains how fear, self-doubt, guilt and shame quietly shape everyday business decisions, from hiring and delegation to pricing and hard conversations. He also explains why founders who can’t let go of control are often struggling to trust themselves. He shares the idea behind the Game of Ten, why positive thinking alone won’t get you to your highest level, and how to treat your mind, your identity and even AI as tools rather than who you are.

Connect with Steve: https://www.stevebartoncoaching.com

Learn more on Life Skill School: https://lifeskillschool.net

What You’ll Learn:

• Why your business can only grow as big as your awareness as a leader
• How fear, self-doubt, guilt and shame show up in hiring, pricing, delegation & difficult conversations
• Why founders struggle to delegate, and how that links to self-trust
• What the Game of Ten is, and why “you are already ten” is the starting point, not the goal
• Why positive thinking has limits, and what letting go of thoughts makes possible
• How to set healthy, loving boundaries with people who “anchor” you.
• Why you should hire people who are equal to or better than you
• How to turn a big idea into reality with proof, such as purchase orders and letters of intent, before going to the bank?”
• How to use AI, your mind and your skills as tools without letting them use you

Be sure to check the webpage of Steve at the Active Action Podcast Website to learn more about his work, and ways to connect with him.

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What does it really mean to go "beyond potential" in your career? In this episode of the Active Action Podcast, Dr. Nazif talks with Kate Kayaian, a career strategist, author, and former professional cellist who rebuilt her career from the ground up.

Kate shares the three R's framework from her book Beyond Potential: reassess, redefine, and reignite. Along the way they cover how to tell when it's time for a change, why reinvention is usually evolution, how to make the leap without burning the ships, and her 90-day approach to turning intentions into real progress.

Whether you feel stuck, are eyeing a change, or want to grow within work you already love, this is a practical, encouraging roadmap for your next move.

What you'll learn in this episode

• What "beyond potential" actually means, and why your potential is something you get to redefine rather than a fixed target set for you
• How to recognize the signs that it is time to reassess your career, and why the nagging feeling usually tells you more than the people around you
• The three R's framework for career change: reassess, redefine, and reignite, and what work each stage asks of you
• Why the first step most people skip is unearthing the old stories that keep them stuck, and how to rewrite them
• How to reconnect with who you are now (even questions as simple as your favorite color or ice cream flavor) to redefine what you want
• Why 90-day goals turn intentions into real progress, and how to set a realistic goalpost instead of a five-year plan you never start
• Why reinvention is usually evolution: you carry every skill and bit of wisdom from past versions of yourself into the next one
• How to make a career change without burning the ships, using a financial runway, living on less, and small trial-run goals
• What sustainable excellence looks like, and how to hold a high standard across work, rest, and relationships without chasing perfection

Be sure to check the webpage of Kurt at the Active Action Podcast Website to learn more about his work, and ways to connect with him.

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Host Dr. Nazif sits down with Kurt Uhlir — CMO of EZ Home Search and a leader known as "the king of scaling companies." Across 11 industries and 60+ funding rounds and exits (including an $880M IPO and an $8.1B exit), Kurt has built a reputation as the person VCs call when revenue stalls or spending spirals.

The topic: how leaders cut waste and build revenue in the AI era.

Kurt breaks down the real difference between authoritative and servant leadership, why outdated growth playbooks quietly drain companies, and where AI genuinely helps versus where it silently burns money and damages your brand. Practical, hype-free advice for anyone who leads a team or manages a budget.

What Listeners Will Learn:

• The clear difference between authoritative leadership and servant leadership — and why servant leadership uncovers problems three to eight times faster
• Why so many companies are still using growth playbooks built for an outdated market
• How outdated leadership habits quietly waste money, time, and team energy
• Where AI genuinely adds value in marketing and SEO — and where it silently creates "unbounded risk" for your brand
• Why you should never trust AI output without human checkpoints, even when YouTube says a task takes 15 minutes
• The three time horizons every revenue-building company tracks — and why you shouldn't mix them in the same conversation
• Why 79% of B2B buyers default to a top-three brand, and what that means for your sales and marketing spend
• How to move teams from scattered effort to focused action by segmenting time and protecting long-term work
• The three biggest myths about servant leadership — including the misconception that it's "soft" or slow
• Why servant leadership teams hold themselves more accountable than authoritative ones
• How serving your team leads to faster, better decisions — cutting strategy-correction time from 24 months down to six

Be sure to check the webpage of Kurt at the Active Action Podcast Website to learn more about his work, and ways to connect with him.

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In this powerful episode of the Active Action Podcast, host Dr. Nazif sits down with Ari Rastegar, founder and CEO of Rastegar Capital and author of The Gift of Failure. Starting with just a $3,500 student loan in law school, Ari built a multi-billion dollar real estate investment empire—but his real story isn't about the money. It's about the mindset.

Ari opens up about the soul-crushing failures that shaped him, why he believes "failure is how we learn to win," and the meditation practices that keep him grounded as he runs a major firm and raises three children. From a single catastrophic week where an ice storm destroyed his Super Bowl event and a Legionnaires' disease outbreak cancelled his Playboy Mansion party to the wisdom he's drawn from Tony Robbins, Dr. Joe Dispenza, and Nelson Mandela—Ari shares hard-earned lessons on resilience, ownership, and the difference between pain and suffering.

If you've ever felt stuck after a setback or wondered how successful people actually think, this conversation will change the way you see your own struggles.

What Listeners Will Learn

• Why pressure is non-negotiable for growth — and how meditation can help you stay calm inside it
• The crucial difference between failing and being a failure (hint: only one is permanent)
• Why you should "lay on your back" after a fall before getting back up
• How keeping promises to yourself builds the self-respect that makes transparency possible
• The difference between pain and suffering — and why suffering is often a choice
• Why ownership and total responsibility are the foundation of a meaningful life
• How shifting from "how much can I make?" to "how much can I protect?" transformed Ari's investment philosophy
• What Nelson Mandela's response to Tony Robbins teaches us about preparation vs. survival
• The single week that turned Ari from a millionaire into a broke 20-something — and why he's grateful it happened

Be sure to check the webpage of Ari at the Active Action Podcast Website to learn more about his work, and ways to connect with him.

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Become a Premium member! Access bonus episodes, personal development strategy guides and and other exclusive contents : www.activeactionlab.com/member

What does it take to lose 220 pounds with no drugs, no surgery, and no shortcuts? In this powerful episode of the Active Action Podcast, Dr. Nazif sits down with Stanley Bronstein, an attorney, CPA, life coach, and author who transformed his life at age 49 after staring down a terrifying truth: if he kept going the way he was going, he would be dead in five years.

Stanley shares the raw, honest story of how childhood trauma, poor habits, and decades of obesity nearly cost him his life—and how one decision on February 1st, 2009 changed everything. From giving up scotch and soda pop, to going vegetarian, to eventually going fully vegan, Stanley's journey was gradual, intentional, and permanent. Today at 66, he has the bloodwork of a 30-year-old and walks the equivalent of crossing continents every year.

This episode is for anyone who has tried to lose weight, failed, tried again, and wondered if lasting change is truly possible. The answer, according to Stanley, is a resounding yes—and it starts between your ears.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why temporary changes produce temporary results — and what "permanent action" actually looks like
• The three simple, doable habits Stanley recommends to anyone starting a weight loss journey
• What processed food really means and why added sugar and sodium are sabotaging your health
• Why you cannot exercise your way out of a poor diet — and what to do instead
• The truth about carbohydrates: why not all carbs are the enemy
• How to eat healthy when you're busy and don't have time to cook
• Stanley's four-pillar success framework: Willingness, Belief, Discipline, and Commitment
• Why 90% of weight loss is a mindset challenge, not a physical one
• How to handle setbacks without quitting — and why mistakes are proof you're trying
• The one shift in language that makes healthy living feel like a privilege, not a punishment

Be sure to check the webpage of Stanley at the Active Action Podcast Website to learn more about his work, and ways to connect with him.

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In this powerful episode of the Active Action Podcast, Dr. Nazif sits down with Alan Lazaros, founder and CEO of Next Level University — a top 100 podcast and seven-figure business dedicated to helping people reach their full potential. After a near-fatal car accident at 26 (eerily close to the age his birth father died in a car crash), Alan made a life-altering decision: he would reach his full potential and teach others what schools never do. With 2,300 episodes, a 23-person team, and 126 paying clients under his belt, Alan shares his holistic framework for success across health, wealth, and love. From the 1% daily improvement philosophy to handling overwhelm without crumbling, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom for anyone ready to become the most productive and effective version of themselves.

What Listeners Will Learn

• Why a holistic approach to success (health, wealth, and love) is the only way to avoid being unfulfilled despite external achievements
• The 1% daily improvement strategy and why small, consistent actions compound into extraordinary results over time
• How to set goals that stretch your capacity without breaking you — and why maxing out repeatedly leads to burnout
• Why self-improvement is the foundation of real success and how trying to have an extraordinary life without becoming an extraordinary person is "unintelligent and undoable"
• The difference between reacting to adversity life throws at you versus proactively preparing for inevitable challenges
• How Alan manages multiple ventures without crumbling: the truth is life doesn't get easier, you just handle hard better
• Why sustainability beats intensity every time — and why working out 30 minutes for 18 days straight beats one 9-hour session

Be sure to check the webpage of Alan at the Active Action Podcast Website to learn more about his work, and ways to connect with him.

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Become a Premium member! Access bonus episodes, personal development strategy guides and and other exclusive contents : www.activeactionlab.com/member

What does it truly mean to lead — not just others, but your own life? In this powerful episode of the Active Action Podcast, Dr. Nazif sits down with Molly Kennedy, a disability consultant, self-advocate, and founder of Molly Kennedy Consulting. Born with cerebral palsy, Molly has spent her life defying expectations — from being the first student with a disability at her Catholic school, to earning her master's degree, to launching a nonprofit after losing her ability to walk. Molly shares her deeply personal journey of building confidence, embracing failure, and using self-determination as the foundation for authentic leadership. Her philosophy is simple but profound: "It's not what I overcome — it's what I become." Whether you live with a disability or simply face life's inevitable setbacks, this episode will challenge you to rethink what leadership really looks like.

What Listeners Will Learn

• How self-advocacy changes the trajectory of your life
• The role confidence plays in becoming a leader
• Why leadership starts with leading your own life
• How to reframe setbacks instead of being defeated by them
• Why failure and risk-taking are essential parts of the human spirit
• That disability does not limit your right to dream
• What self-determination really means in practice

Be sure to check the webpage of Molly at the Active Action Podcast Website to learn more about her work, and ways to connect with her.

Read a blog on this episode.

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Listen to and follow my podcast for new content every week:

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In this inspiring episode of the Active Action Podcast, host Dr. Nazif welcomes Heath Jones, an Australian health and fitness expert dedicated to empowering individuals over 50 to live life to the fullest. Heath shares his journey from a registered nurse and army veteran to founding the Active and Ageless Fitness Center. Discover how his unique blend of clinical knowledge and personal experience fuels his passion for healthy aging. Tune in to learn about the importance of strength training, resilience, and the mindset shifts necessary for maintaining an active lifestyle at any age. Whether you're looking to improve your fitness or find motivation, this episode offers valuable insights and encouragement.

Be sure to check the webpage of Heath Jones at the Active Action Podcast Website to learn more about his work, and ways to connect with him.

What you'll learn

• The journey of Heath Jones from a registered nurse and army veteran to a fitness expert for those over 50.
• The importance of strength training and its impact on daily life for mature adults.
• How resilience and mindset shifts can help maintain an active lifestyle at any age.
• Insights into the unique fitness needs and challenges faced by individuals over 50.
• The role of community and support in achieving fitness goals and improving quality of life.

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Join us in this inspiring episode of the Active Action Podcast as Dr. Nazif sits down with Aisha Makara, a world traveler and artist whose journey spans over 60 countries. Aisha shares her unique perspective on life, shaped by her early experiences growing up in Mongolia and her adventures across the globe. Discover how her curiosity and courage have led her to explore diverse cultures and create art that has even reached outer space. Tune in to hear about her Joyful Living Guidebook and her philosophy on embracing life's challenges with gratitude and joy. Don't miss this captivating conversation that encourages us all to live fully and fearlessly.

Be sure to check the webpage of Aisha Makara at the Active Action Podcast Website to learn more about her work, and ways to connect with her.

What you'll learn

• The power of curiosity and courage in exploring the world and embracing new experiences.
• Aisha's journey from Mongolia to becoming a world traveler and artist, with art sent to outer space.
• Insights into Aisha's Joyful Living Guidebook and her approach to maintaining joy and balance in a fast-paced world.
• The importance of viewing the world as a family and fostering connections across cultures.
• How to face life's challenges with gratitude and transform them into opportunities for growth.

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Listen to and follow my podcast for new content every week:

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Become a ProActive member! Access bonus episodes, personal development strategy guides and and other exclusive contents : www.activeaction.fm/member

In this episode of the Active Action Podcast, host Dr. Nazif welcomes Daniel Burrus, a globally recognized futurist and AI expert. Daniel shares his journey from teaching biology and physics to becoming a strategic advisor for Fortune 500 companies. Discover how he helps leaders anticipate disruption and create exponential opportunities. Daniel discusses the importance of being anticipatory rather than reactionary, and introduces the concept of hard and soft trends. Title: Embracing the Future: Insights from Futurist Daniel Burrus on Anticipating Change. They discuss the rising healthcare costs and the potential of blockchain technology to bring transparency and cost reduction. Daniel shares fascinating examples of how technology, like exoskeletons, can transform lives, especially for the aging population. Discover how focusing on significance over success can transform your life and career. Daniel shares his journey from teaching to founding successful companies, emphasizing the importance of learning from failures and innovating with low risk. Tune in to explore how AI can augment human potential and why discovering your hidden gifts can lead to a fulfilling life.

Be sure to check the webpage of Daniel Burrus at the Active Action Podcast Website to learn more about his work, and ways to connect with him.

Read a blog on this episode.

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Listen to and follow my podcast for new content every week:

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