Build Your Utopia

We are very pleased to present part one of our interview with Eden Sunshine. Eden is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author.

Eden Sunshine has suffered through every business problem an entrepreneur or small business owner could face. He had financial issues, employee issues, regulation issues, government issues, and motivational issues. Through those issues, he realized that work shouldn't be a four letter word, we should make work an enjoyable part of our life. With that mindset, Eden has decided he doesn't want to retire, he wants to continue to contribute as long as he is able.

Eden Sunshine's vision of a Utopia is to live the Woo Hoo moment every day, both in business and in life. It is important to continue to learn, grow, and move forward. Once you accomplish your current goal, give yourself a big WooHoo and keep growing.

We also learned that both Josh and Eden work out of their homes and they love it. Eden's worst commute in was bumping into his mother-in-law in the hallway. Josh, on the other hand, got called out on a video call with a customer about working out of his bedroom (don't worry, he has a dedicated home office now).

Follow Eden Sunshine here:

• Eden Sunshine's site
• Eden Sunshine's Twitter

As always, a special thank you to The Strand for our intro and outro music!

We're excited to share with everyone the second half of our interview with Joel and Pei of Relaunch Show!

Joel and Pei both firmly believe that taking care of yourself is a priority and must not be overlooked. It is because of this priority that they do not find it hard to make time to be active.

Joel, much like our host Josh, is a runner. Pei enjoys Yoga. Sometimes Pei feels selfish with her yoga because she teaches a class and charges for her time. This is the perfect example of making the most of a situation! Pei enjoys Yoga, and she knows it well enough to teach. What better way to stay motivated than by leading a class that people pay for? Now everyone wins! Pei's students receive instruction from a knowledgeable person while Pei is motivated to work out and earns some additional income for herself.

The Yoga conversation then leads to a surprising revelation between our hosts. Josh, who is very physically active, is not very limber or flexible. Ben, who is not physically active at all, can indeed touch his toes without bending his knees.

Joel and Pei also share their experiences with hiring additional staff to remove some of the burdens of their job. Josh asks them some detailed questions to help himself and Utopians when it comes to hiring additional staff, including virtual staff.

Joel and Pei round out the show with their three important lessons:

• Learn to Delegate
• Quit asking for permission and do it already!
• Focus on marketing, it is a noisy world out there

Joel and Pei also shared some of their favorite books:

• Finding Your Voice by Joel Boggess Amazon and iTunes
• Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker Amazon and iTunes

Follow Joel and Pei here:

• Relaunch Show
• Joel's Twitter
• Pei's Twitter

As always, a special thank you to The Strand for our intro and outro music!

We are excited for today's show, this is part 1 of our interview with Joel Boggess and Dr. Pei Kang, both of which are Radio Hosts, Speakers, and Entrepreneurs.

Joel and Pei have a great definition of Utopia, it is the ability to live where you want, contributing how you want in a way that not only adds value to the greater good, but also to yourself. Josh and Ben dive into that through the lens of Build Your Utopia and how the show started as a way to add value to Utopians, but it is also a way to add value to their own lives.

Pei also gives us a glimpse of her inner Texan by giving us an enthusiastic "YEE HAW!!" Something she says she has never done before. It also gives us a great transition into Joel and Pei's point of Seasons of Life and living in the moment. Joel and Pei believe that life, just like a farmer has seasons for planting, tending, harvesting, and resting; there are seasons to life, relationships, and business. It is best to identify what season you are in so you can best maximize that season. They then share the example that with their current show, The Relaunch Show, is in the planting phase as they ramp up the show.

Joel and Pei share that The Relaunch Show is actually their 5th show. They have made this one successful by taking all the lessons they've learned from the previous shows to make this one the best it can be.

Joel and Pei also shared some of their favorite books:

• Finding Your Voice by Joel Boggess Amazon and iTunes
• Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker Amazon and iTunes

Follow Joel and Pei here:

• Relaunch Show
• Joel's Twitter
• Pei's Twitter

As always, a special thank you to The Strand for our intro and outro music!

Happy Friday! We are excited to come back to you, just Josh and Ben! Part of our 'new format' of the show is to have a monthly recap show and discuss things we've learned from all the guests this month.

First Ben and Josh talk about Brianna Wu's interview. Josh is convinced, though Ben asserts Josh is wrong, that Ben has a crush on Brianna. Crush is the wrong word, Ben admires what she does and how she does it. Josh and Ben could agree on Brianna's value-bomb of "be honest with yourself, keep on your 'mission objectives'." Ben and Josh also discuss what her message means to us.

Next, Josh and Ben review their time with Josh's crush, Shannon Hernandez. Josh clears things up and says Shannon is just a fun guy to hang out with. We talk about some of the stories Shannon shared and we also agree on his value-bomb "stay persistent and allow yourself to grow in small steps." This is huge and we talk about how Shannon is living this idea.

Then Ben and Josh cover Susan Carlson. Josh and Ben both enjoyed speaking with Susan and both have a ton of respect for her. She is very articulate and passionate about her goals and thoughts on the education system here in Phoenix. Susan's value-bomb that stuck with us is "keep on keeping on." This point also echos Shannon's point.

Before Josh and Ben discuss the most recent interview of the month, they get on a bit of a tangent about motorcycles (especially considering Josh just purchased a new bike).

Finally, Ben and Josh speak about Brett Gajda. Brett shared some fun stories in his interview. While it was a great time, it was also super informative. Brett left us with a great value-bomb "breakdown almost always comes before break through." Huge advice, and something we all should keep in mind when things get difficult.

As always, a special thank you to The Strand for our intro and outro music!

We have a great show for you today, this is part 2 of our interview with Brett Gajda, coach, speaker, and podcast host.

According to Brett, success is being able to live your average perfect day, everyday. While he isn't there yet, he as built all legs and is fine tuning them to be able to support his utopia. Brett currently owns his business, which he can operate geography free, and earn passive income.

Once Brett Gajda has all the supports built up strong and stable and able to support his utopia, what is he going to do next? He worded it great by saying he "can't plan for the back side of the mountain until he reaches the top."

Planning and building your business is key, and you have to have the vision and followthrough to make it. Brett told a story of a friend who wants to learn to play the guitar that really brings the point home.

Brett Gajda gave us three valuable lessons today:

• Compromise your lifestyle for what you need, not what you want
• Breakdown almost always comes before break through
• Ask for support, we are all in this together

Books and Movies from Brett's interview:

• Three Feet From Gold on Amazon and iTunes
• Sliding Doors on Amazon and iTunes
• Star Wars on Amazon
• Princess Bride on Amazon and iTunes
• Back to the Future on Amazon and iTunes (parts one, two, and three)

Follow Brett Gajda here:

• Where There is Smoke
• Twitter

As always, a special thank you to The Strand for our intro and outro music!

We have a great show for you today, this is part 1 of our interview with Brett Gajda, coach, speaker, and podcast host.

According to Brett, success is being able to live your average perfect day, everyday. While he isn't there yet, he as built all legs and is fine tuning them to be able to support his utopia. Brett currently owns his business, which he can operate geography free, and earn passive income.

Once Brett Gajda has all the supports built up strong and stable and able to support his utopia, what is he going to do next? He worded it great by saying he "can't plan for the back side of the mountain until he reaches the top."

Planning and building your business is key, and you have to have the vision and followthrough to make it. Brett told a story of a friend who wants to learn to play the guitar that really brings the point home.

Books and Movies from Brett's interview:

• Three Feet From Gold on Amazon and iTunes
• Sliding Doors on Amazon and iTunes
• Star Wars on Amazon
• Princess Bride on Amazon and iTunes
• Back to the Future on Amazon and iTunes (parts one, two, and three)

Follow Brett Gajda here:

• Where There is Smoke
• Twitter

As always, a special thank you to The Strand for our intro and outro music!

Today we have part 2 of our interview with Susan Carlson, Educational Leader and Cultural Enthusiast.

Susan Carlson sees an opportunity to improve education in Arizona. Arizona has one of the lowest ratings in the country for engaged youth. Susan explains that, in a few years, that means the work force in Arizona will be one of the least educated and least motivated in the country. The economy will suffer and national companies will either move or not even come to Arizona in favor of cities and states with a higher caliber work force. Susan and Josh discuss how this public education issue will impact even Josh's son, who is at a private school.

Susan also shares with us a lesson she learned from her mother. You are not a victim, if something is wrong, you need to do something to fix it. This has taught Susan to be proactive in creating a change and making a difference.

Susan left us with some valuable lessons today:

• Commit to an action and do it
• Keep on Keeping on
• Networks matter, cultivate and maintain yours

Find more of what Susan Carlson is doing here:

• Carlson & Affiliates
• Los Alumnos Immersion Academy

As always, a special thank you to The Strand for our intro and outro music!

Today we have part 1 of our interview with Susan Carlson, Educational Leader and Cultural Enthusiast.

Most of Susan's professional career has been in education. With the exception of a stint in real estate, she has taught, administered, and served school boards. She even chaired the ACT and AMEPAC boards.

Susan Carlson's Utopia is a place where people flourish by being able to participate in something you are passionate about.

She retired from teaching and with the support of her husband, she has started down the path of her Utopia. She knows where she wants to end up, but she is not completely sure how she is going to get there.

Find more of what Susan Carlson is doing here:

• Carlson & Affiliates
• Los Alumnos Immersion Academy

As always, a special thank you to The Strand for our intro and outro music!

Today is Part 2 of our interview with Shannon Hernandez, Professional Broadcaster, Podcast Producer, Trainer, and proponent of man buns.

Shannon Hernandez's Utopia is freedom. He has found the path and walking it, but he doesn't know when he'll get there.

Speaking of walking, Shannon Hernandez found a ton of answers at the gym while on the treadmill and on the elliptical. Shannon started working out after making a deal with himself. He knows he needs to be healthier and lose weight but he didn't want to go to the doctor. The deal was, if he can't lose weight and feel better on his own after six months, then he would see the doctor.

The trick is baby steps. Any monumental journey starts with a first step. This is how Shannon started his health plans and it is applicable to any goal you can set for yourself. Any task is easy when you break it down to baby steps.

Shannon left us with great lessons today:

• You cannot give up
• Stay persistent and allow yourself to geo in small steps
• Have fun, you have to have fun

And these are a couple books that impacted his life:

• The Go Giver on Amazon and iTunes
• Launch on Amazon and iTunes

Follow Shannon on his website and on Twitter.

As always, a special thank you to The Strand for our intro and outro music!

Today is Part 1 of our interview with Shannon Hernandez, Professional Broadcaster, Podcast Producer, Trainer, and proponent of man buns.

Shannon Hernandez has a masters degree and was a high school english teacher who worked part time at a Phoenix radio station. Then the station offered him a full time evening shift and he couldn't pass it up. This led Shannon to working full time at two jobs and in between those finding time to grade papers and sleep.

Could you get up at 6:00am and drive into school to teach a zero hour class until 4:00pm. Then take a nap and head to the radio station to DJ from 7:00 until mid night. Finally, grade papers until 2:00ish in the morning before taking another nap. This is what Shannon did for about 4 months before the school semester ended and he resigned so he could work at the radio station full time.

He made it happen because he had to. If you're really passionate, you'll sacrifice for your passion.

Shannon Hernandez found inspiration in these:

• The Go Giver on Amazon and iTunes
• Launch on Amazon and iTunes

Follow Shannon on his website and on Twitter.

As always, a special thank you to The Strand for our intro and outro music!