Today's guest is Mark Berntson, someone I've known his entire life.

Mark is a guitar teacher in West Fargo, ND where he splits his loyalty between the West Fargo HS Packers and the West Fargo Sheyenne HS Mustangs.

Mark is a true connector, certainly through his music, but also by inviting people to join him for coffee dates and baseball games, all on his dime.

Mark demonstrates the power of relationships in everything he does, including what he shares on his Facebook page on peoples' birthdays.

Even his Facebook profile picture is an AI created version of him resembling Mr. Rogers (which isn't a far stretch).

Join us in this dialogue where we reminisce about growing up in the same home town, with parents who were teachers, and the influences made for each of us.

Follow Mark on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/readychild

Mark French is nearing the end of his epic 2024-2025 photographic journey through the lower 48. When he started this adventure, his plan was to document the beauty of each state he visited in his trusty Dodge Journey SUV which doubles as his living and work space.

While that was part of the experience, Mark shares some of the unexpected joys and a few heartaches that came with that intention. 

His goal is to live his life with no regrets, and during this conversation, he shares some of the lessons he learned with me and also with a high school classmate and her husband, Suzanne and Bob Schultz, who joined us for this coffee shop conversation.

Shout out to Bully Brew Coffee, where we shot this episode, and the partner who kept Mark caffeinated throughout his travels.

To find out more about Mark, visit his website, www.mafrenchphoto.com where you can also purchase photos and contribute to a charity that's near and dear to Mark (you'll hear a bit about it in this episode).

 

I'm facilitating another cohort of the REAL Me: Intensive course and today's lesson is on Energy.

As I'm contemplating our agenda today, I'm pondering some situations in my life recently that have shown me pretty blatantly that awareness and understanding are not the same.

Awareness means we perceive the fact of something. We have knowledge about it. Understanding involves comprehension, perspective, context, and wisdom.

When we have knowledge and even awareness but lack understanding, it's as if we are wasting the knowledge. We haven't come from curiosity and contribution but from telling.

Here is where you can get more information about my course REAL Me: Intensive: www.getrealcircle.com

Often, the effectiveness of a communication exchange isn't so much what's said as how it's said.

I've had some really amazing conversations in the past few days, some of which really surprised me. One in particular wasn't planned, and with that spontaneity a really enjoyable connection was enhanced.

What are you noticing about the conversations and dialogues, discussions, debates, that are happening around you, with you, for you?

In this episode I mention the Enlightened Leadership Lab (www.enlightenedleadershiplab.com) as well as the book "The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership" by Dethmer, Chapman, and Klemp.

Today is the 20th anniversary of the launch of my coaching and consulting business, so I'm reminiscing about who I've become over this 2-decade career.

 

Today I'd like to talk about rules. Not because I love them, but because I wonder what life would be like without them.   Is there a purpose to rules? If so, what is it?   Today I share information about the government and the rules it's working to keep in place, namely to make people more free.   I also share upcoming events I've got coming up: REAL Me: Intensive 6-week live virtual course (www.getrealcircle.com) and Think and Grow Rich in Ten Minutes a Day, 6-week study starting Wednesday, June 18 from 11-12 central. Reserve your spot here: https://getrealwithjodeebock.regfox.com/think-grow-rich-in-10-minutes-mastermind-study

In today's episode I explore what might keep us (me included) from taking action on the outcomes we desire.

Why are we so sure about complaining and so unsure about moving toward what we want instead?

I share information about upcoming learning opportunities: Dare to Lead book study - Brewhalla in Fargo starting June 3 at 5 p.m. REAL Me: Intensive 6-week live virtual study starting June 11. Application open at www.getrealcircle.com Think and Grow Rich in 10 Minutes live virtual study - June 18 - July 23, 11 - 12 central (register here: https://getrealwithjodeebock.regfox.com/think-grow-rich-in-10-minutes-mastermind-study)

In today's episode I share some current wonders and ponders regarding what it really means to be unconventional.

The opposite is conventional, which means based on, or in accordance with, what is generally done or believed. Normal. Regular. Ordinary.

What if that's not what we really desire? Or what we really are, deep down? What if we're more wired to be deviants? That means departing from an established course or accepted standard.

The book I mention in this episode is "The Economics of Higher Purpose" by Robert E. Quinn and Anjan V. Thakor.

I also mention the Enlightened Leadership Lab (www.enlightenedleadershiplab.com) and Purple Dialogue (www.purpledialogue.com).