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We have all been in a room where we felt ourselves shrink and not own our space, but shrinking ourselves and diminishing our unique power is not going to lead to greatness. Today’s guest is passionate about empowering others to be the catalyst for their greatness and stop apologizing for being themselves. David Brier is a branding and rebranding expert with 320 international awards in design and branding. He has been featured in Adweek, Fast Company, Forbes, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Thrive Global, NY Times, and numerous blogs and podcasts around the world. David is Google’s number 1 ranked rebranding expert, a keynote speaker, and best-selling author of Brand Intervention: 33 Steps to Transform The Brand You Have into the Brand You Need.

David has been called a branding genius by Grant Cardone, and he is here to shatter the idea of imposter syndrome and empower us all.

In this episode, David emphasizes that we are all creators and need to own our own abilities and the impact we can have on others. He offers advice on how to exude confidence and overcome obstacles that may be overwhelming. David believes that shyness is overrated and humility is B.S. Tune in to hear how to own the brand that is you.

Key highlights:

• Introduction to David Brier
• Backstory of his childhood growing up in Brooklyn, NY
• Alison’s mission to make people aware and present in the now
• Don’t apologize for being great
• We have all been in a room where we shrank
• The moment David realized his own magic
• The catalyst for your greatness isn’t out there, it is YOU
• David’s thoughts on imposter syndrome
• If you encounter something and feel overwhelmed by it, go bigger, take it head on
• We are known by the size of the problems that we solve
• How to immediately solve an argument: space, ownership, and accountability
• Your greatest ability is the power to walk out the door
• The importance of giving to others
• Changing the goal post isn’t the problem, it’s not recognizing when to change it
• Shyness is overrated and humility is B.S.
• How to reach out to David

Connect with David:

Website: Risingabovethenoise.com

Twitter: @DavidBrier

Instagram: @risingabovethenoise

Linkedin: David Brier

YouTube: David Brier

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

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When we think back to our teenage years, a lot of us cringe looking back on the difficult, awkward, or totally misguided times that we went through. Without a mentor to guide youth on the right path, they can end up with the wrong crowd and make decisions that are not aligned with who they want to be. Today’s guest is a person of influence to many adolescents and is impacting the direction of their life by being a mentor and providing a safe space.

Mike Machin is the owner and creator of Machine Studio, whose mission is to improve communities with art and hard work. Whether it's hosting free art-related events, cleaning up the streets, or just keeping the graffiti culture alive, they strive to provide safe, legal venues for underserved communities to create, share, and enjoy graffiti art. Mike shares all about his journey and how he became confident in himself and built his dream. Tune in to hear more!

Key highlights:

• Introduction to Mike Machin
• Backstory of his business and art
• Being a person of influence to adolescents and changing the direction of their lives
• The sacrifices Mike made to build his dream
• How he built a safe and fun place for teenagers that might be troubled
• How Mike's parents supported his passion growing up and he wanted to support other kids
• How do we get our confidence up?

Connect with Mike:

Instagram: @machinestudio

TikTok: @machinestudio

Website: Machinestudio.com

Graffiti Machine podcast

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

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There are 2 kinds of people in this world: People that are in need and don't know it, and people that are in need and know it. Everyone is struggling with something, and Alison’s goal for this episode is to tell others they are not alone. Our world is in desperate need of truth and vulnerability, and that is what you are going to get here. Most people are displaying their highlight reel to the world, but it is so important that you connect with people that are honest, and remember to not put any person on a pedestal. We are all human and we all struggle with thought distortion. If you are feeling stuck in a pattern of unhappiness, Alison is sharing her heart with you today so you can know there is hope to reach a state of peace.

In this episode, Alison explains that the reason so many people are unhappy is that they are not aligned with the part of them that wants more for themselves. We have to get to the root of what is fueling the repeated experience that we continue to have. When we show up bitter or insecure, there is a reason for that and there is a way to get out of this cycle. We live in a mistake-averse society where we don’t often see others’ struggles, but Alison shares her struggles with you and wants to spread the message that there is a way to find peace and show up as your confident and loving self. Surround yourself with people that will show you the truth, and start with this episode.

Key highlights:

• How to not feel so crazy in your inner world and in the way that you experience life
• Our world is crying out for truth and vulnerability
• Most of us have been conditioned to feel crappy
• It is hard to feel happy when you are not aligned with the part of you that wants more
• What core belief is in charge of your emotional experience?
• Sit and reframe the belief that you have about your pattern
• Anger is a secondary emotion, and fear is a primary emotion, most people are trying to cover their fear instead of going to the part of them that is afraid and helping that part grow
• We are shamed away from our rarity 
• Follow people that are honest, don't put anyone on a pedestal
• When we show up defensive, bitter, or insecure, we're not our best selves, we’re in survival mode
• When we show up happy and filled with love, that us that our identity 
• The people that are interested in your life are confident in themselves
• It takes two to tell the truth. There is power in connecting with others
• We live in a mistake-averse society
• Alison shares her current struggles
• No one knows anyone’s full story
• “All fear is future based” it is very important that we take the now and bask in it
• Stick with the people that share their hearts

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

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In our world today, so many people are craving truth, realness, and vulnerability. This episode is a solo where Alison gives you exactly what everyone needs to hear right now, so you don’t want to miss it because it is most likely the quick wake-up call you need. Without realizing it, so many of us are constantly looking for outside validation, and walking around with our thoughts on repeated loops. It is time to realize that we’re living in a state of automation and just repeating thoughts that have been embedded in us throughout our lives, but do you ever stop to think if those thoughts are actually YOUR thoughts, or just something you’ve always been told?

The time is now, to wake up and create a new system of thoughts that will render the old thoughts obsolete. Does that sound difficult? It might be, but it is so worth it to reach a state of peace. So many of us are anxious and living in darkness, and you might think you need to do more to get out of it, but Alison says you actually need to do less. Tune in to hear the raw honest truth that we all need right now.

Key highlights:

• The world is craving realness and vulnerability
• Everyone is looking for validation outside
• We have thoughts running on a loop
• We need to wake up and realize we are a record of experiences we continue to play in our minds
• We are addicted to feelings we feel the most
• Do you want peace? Do less
• Be awake and aware in the now, without judgment, in a state of peace
• You have to create a new thought system to replace the old one
• All fear is future based
• All depression and darkness are from a yesterday interpretation
• What to do when anxious thoughts creep in: tell yourself “I’m safe now”

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

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Ken Joslin is a powerhouse man of passion, significance, and drive. He is the leader of the coaching community Grow Stack Drive, and he has spent 25 years as a pastor and church planter turned real estate investor and business builder. Ken spends his life helping other leaders grow, and is a true definition of a servant leader. In his coaching community, Ken focuses on the 3 spheres of relationships: community, circle, and corner, and emphasizes the significance of having people that lift you up in each of those spheres. 

In this episode, Ken dives into the undeniable fact that every person needs to dedicate time and energy to working on their mindset to become the best version of themselves possible. Ken shares how he overcame his fears, insecurities, and limiting beliefs to reach massive success and get in the room with people that continue to raise him up, while he uses his talents to be a servant leader at all times. You will hear all about how Ken uses affirmations and goal setting each and every day to continue to achieve greatness and show up for himself and those around him. 

Key highlights:

• Intro to Ken as a pastor, leader in real estate, Grant Cardone licensee, and leader of the Grow, Stack, Drive community
• 3 spheres of relationship: community, circle, corner
• How Ken overcome fears, insecurities, limiting beliefs and has taken risks
• Everyone needs mindset work
• The definition of a limiting belief
• Incremental movements not monumental
• Overcoming limiting beliefs- identify, affirmations, goal setting every day
• The importance of writing your vision down every day 
• We tend to overestimate what we can do in the short term and underestimate what we can in the long term
• Dream big, make an impact, and believe that the things you write down will happen
• The importance of affirmations and gratitude
• 99% of life is showing up
• Alison’s why: I want to trust myself more
• Giving yourself grace, but not excuses
• If you do what you're supposed to do, you’ll get where you want to go
• Faith, physical condition, relationships, business, and finance must be in alignment
• The difference between community, circle, corner
• What servant leadership is: Wanting something FOR people, not FROM people
• How can you use your talents to help others?
• Get in rooms with people that think bigger than you
• Servant leaders put people's needs before their own, do things right the first time, and do things without being asked
• Be a thermostat not a thermometer
• Alison talks about how our brain waves sync with others

Quotes from the episode:

“If you need an alarm clock to get up in the morning, your goals aren’t big enough.”

“Small daily disciplined decisions over time always equal monumental results. Success can’t escape you if you do the right thing every single day.”

“When you act like you belong in the room, you’ll get in the room.”

Connect with Ken:

Website: growstackdrive.com

Instagram: @kenjoslin

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

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This very special episode of Alison Answers - Mission Awake is one of both vulnerability and incredible strength. Kayla Stoecklein lost her husband, Andrew—pastor of Inland Hills Church in Chino, California—to suicide. Being that Alison lost her husband in the same tragic way, Kayla and Alison feel compelled to awaken the world to the hidden shame that comes along with suicide. The aftermath of enduring such a painful and heart-wrenching loss can be too much to bear, but through these immense losses, there are lessons and messages that need to be shared with the world.

In the wake of Kayla’s husband’s death, she embarked on a brave journey to better understand his harrowing battle with mental illness and, ultimately, to overcome the stigma of suicide. She knew she needed to become informed on the painful grip that mental illness can have on someone, and now she shares her story with the world through speaking events and her 2 amazing books, Fear Gone Wild, and Rebuilding Beautiful. Kayla and Alison’s grief and pain have been transformative in a way that they want everyone to know how to support someone in the depths of pain, and also those that are enduring grief. 

Key highlights:

• Introduction to Kayla
• Alison and Kayla’s desire to awaken the world to the hidden shame that comes along with suicide
• Bedrock Principles
• Pain is transformative
• Kayla’s tragic loss and her mission to understand mental illness
• The meaning of the title “Fear Gone Wild”
• Her husband’s start of his mental illness
• “Rebuilding Beautiful” meaning
• The power of her blogs and writing for other people
• Realizing she was part of a bigger story
• Putting away the victim card and taking out the bravery card
• Vulnerability allows us and others to take off their mask- that's the key to relationships and helping others
• How we need to hear other’s cries for help, don't make it about you
• Advice to people that may have loved ones dealing with suicidal thoughts
• As soon as an outcome happens, everything before it is illuminated
• Reaching out to others if you feel this way
• Kayla’s life after loss - why she decided to move away and start over
• How to support someone in their grief when you feel like you don’t have the right words
• Your presence is a gift for someone dealing with pain and grief
• Triumph after loss
• When you see someone in shame, help them separate the shame from themselves

Episode resources:

Fear Gone Wild by Kayla Stoecklein

Preorder Rebuilding Beautiful by Kayla Stoecklein

Connect with Kayla:

Website: kaylastoecklein.com

Instagram: @kaylasteck

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

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Chris Warnes is back on Alison Answers: Mission Awake, with another very important episode all about relationships, and how we can strengthen the relationships in our lives. Alison and Chris dive into the topic of dealing with someone in our life that often plays a victim, aims to make us feel guilty and at fault, and may be unaware of how to communicate more effectively. Relationships are all about communication, yet so many people don’t know how to communicate in a way that both expresses your feelings, and doesn’t trigger a defensive feeling in another person. 

Getting to the root of our feelings and actions is the real key, yet is often overlooked. Someone with an “eggshell ego” may not know how to communicate effectively, so Alison and Chris share how you can make space for that person to come to a realization of the effect of their actions. It is also our responsibility to do the work to undo our subconscious programming and learn to be in a healthy relationship. 

Tune in to hear more!

Key highlights:

• Alison’s example of a relationship with someone that is always the victim and makes you feel guilty
• Chris’ journey of healing and overcoming anger and triggers
• Boundaries within ourselves- why we need to set them
• Dealing with an eggshell ego
• Effort to change is key
• Redirect to understand the other person
• You need to understand yourself and make space for the other person
• Find the lesson and action plan to not make the mistake again
• We have been taught to always fight to be right
• We need to undo our subconscious programming
• Breaking the bot in us

Episode resources:

Book: Dominate Your Day: A high performer's guide to winning at life by Chris Warnes

Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Connect with Chris:

Website: chriswarnes.com

Instagram: @chriswarnes_og

YouTube: Chris Warnes

Podcast: The CW Clinic

Facebook: Christopher Warnes

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

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Today’s episode features the amazing Abbruzzese brothers, Nick and Anthony. They are members of the Arete Syndicate along with Alison, and they are exemplary examples of high-level gentlemen and healthy masculinity. Together, they own their own flooring company, Abbruzzese Floors, and they are intentional about using each of their strengths to run their business in harmony. With their goals always in mind, these two are continually focused on their goals and making improvements in the aspects of their life that mean the most to them. Finding a balance between life, family, and business, is such a significant aspect of life that so many people overlook, but Nick and Anthony strive every day to push themselves to be the best versions of themselves they can be. They are here on the podcast to share their lessons with all of you.

In this episode, Nick and Anthony share the wisdom they learned from their parents that set them on a path to working hard to start their business, and strive to not shy away from the discomfort of growing and improving through every stage of life and success. Alison asks some very important questions about the biggest challenges they have faced, and the intentional steps they are taking to overcome them. Tune in to hear more!

Key highlights:

• How they started their family floor business
• The key to their harmony
• The lessons they learned from their parents
• How their quality of life has changed in 5 years
• Reverse engineering your life: have a goal and work backwards
• Alison’s advice to be the person now you want to be in 10 years
• What their wives would say about them
• Alison breaks down some common reasons couples have communication issues
• Their goals for their future and business
• How their father instilled hard work in them
• Dealing with growing pains and chaos
• Challenges they face
• What they wish they would focus on more
• Their definition of success
• The importance of pushing yourself and getting uncomfortable

Quote from the episode:

• “If you're not experiencing discomfort you're not growing”

Connect with Nick and Anthony:

Website: abbruzzesefloors.com

Nick’s Instagram: @abruze

Anthony’s Instagram: @antabruze

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

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Today’s guest Patrick Robertson, is the owner and founder of Momentous Building, a construction company that is built on integrity, transparency, and communication. Patrick’s ability to create this successful business comes from his own ability to realize that it was his responsibility to make decisions, take action, and let go of everything that was no longer serving him. This realization is one that so many people in this world are lacking, and continue to blame their circumstances for the outcome of their life. 

In this episode, Patrick and Alison have a deep and inspiring conversation about how we all have choices to make in our life, and we have to continually focus on the vision that we see for ourselves, not allowing any limiting beliefs to hold us back. We should also make sure that all transactions and relationships in our lives are benefiting all those involved, and that we are always doing good by others, which is the belief that Patrick’s company operates by. Tune in to hear more!

Key highlights:

• Patrick’s background growing up in the construction industry
• His moment in college that forced him to wake up and make better choices
• Alison talks about how our religion can make us fear failure, and see failure as a mistake and not a lesson
• People are choosing short term pleasure over long term happiness
• We need to make the decision to take action
• Patrick’s advice to not limit yourself
• His vision for his company 
• Forgetting the limiting beliefs
• Business shouldn't always be transactional

Quote from the episode:

• “Everything in this world serves us until it no longer does”

Connect with Patrick:

Website: https://momentousbuilding.com/

Instagram: @projectpatrick96

Facebook: Momentous Building

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

Send us a text

This episode is a must listen for everyone, as it is all about a very important topic that applies to us all - relationships. Whether it’s a relationship with a spouse, partner, your children, friends, family, or any one important to you, we have always heard that relationships are a two way street, but what does that mean exactly, and how do we apply that concept in our lives? In this episode of Alison Answers: Mission Awake, Alison has a very in depth conversation with Chris Warnes, all about something that is plaguing our society - toxic relationships. 

Unfortunately the majority of us have experienced some sort of trauma in our lives, and without being aware of it, we can project our trauma onto the people in our lives that mean the most to us, causing harm to that relationship. In this episode, Alison and Chris are kicking off the start of something very exciting: “Relationship truths: A New Series for Success”, and they are teaming up to break the cycle of destructive relationship patterns. This episode is part 1 of this series, and you don’t want to miss the realness, vulnerability, and psychology-based explanations of what is happening in so many relationships, and how you can start to reverse them now. Tune in!

Key highlights:

• Introducing this new series about relationships with Chris Warnes
• People are operating from unwritten rules that they got during childhood and they're ruining relationships and don't even know it
• Self awareness and emotion intelligence is rarely executed these days
• The importance of understanding our triggers
• Disempowered males are plaguing our society
• What is a masculine male 
• What is a disempowered male
• Masculine vs. feminine energy
• The problem with men being raised to not talk about feelings, which leads to no emotional intelligence and problems in relationships
• How women want to be taken care of but sometimes have a hard time trusting
• If you rage, you need to learn to put yourself in check
• What yelling is saying about you and why you need to stop
• The goal of this series is to fix the “Connected in brokenness relationships”
• Chris’ experience with relationships with others that have unhealed trauma
• How everything is a two way street and no one should be raging
• We’re all responsible for our own emotions 
• The key to a great relationship: listen and be selfless and everything will fall into place
• Be willing to be wrong and be grateful when someone corrects you

Episode resources:

Book: Dominate Your Day: A high performer's guide to winning at life by Chris Warnes

Connect with Chris:

Website: chriswarnes.com

Instagram: @chriswarnes_og

YouTube: Chris Warnes

Podcast: The CW Clinic

Facebook: Christopher Warnes

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac