Ever Better Today

Greg Tehven is a co-founder of Emerging Prairie, an organization in Fargo, North Dakota created to celebrate and connect the entrepreneurial ecosystem. It's had quite an impact. In August 2016, Fargo was named the 7th best U.S. city for entrepreneurs by Entrepreneur Magazine, and Emerging Prairie was cited as a factor.

A fifth generation North Dakotan, Greg's great-great grandfather was an early settler from Sweden. Greg grew up with the security of a large, close-knit family and neighbors who cared for each other, but longed to experience life in a larger city. He attended college at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and then traveled the world, before coming home to rediscover the magic of Fargo.

Listen to the podcast to hear Greg discuss:

• False humility - the 'disease' of his community
• Emerging Prairie's evolution from blog producer to event creator
• The popular, graffiti-decorated co-working space shown below
• 4 Principles of Emerging Prairie
• • Educate our city
  • Infuse the arts
  • Build on our bright spots
  • Be radically inclusive
• Supporting creative products and services through financial means, not just exposure
• Working with "The Misfits"
• The impact of 1 Million Cups on the Fargo community
• Other community-building projects that inspire Greg:
• • The Dandelion Project from Marc Winn, featured on Ever Better Podcast 23
  • NEWaukee in Milwaukee, WI
  • Co.space in State College, PA
  • Creativity Week in Brookings, S.D.
• Removing barriers for entrepreneurs through Startup House
• Taking the first steps to make a difference in your community
• Celebrating the strange
• Why drones have become such a large part of the N.D. economy
• Attending the State of the Union and getting marriage advice from politicians
• Midnight Brunch - an amazing Thursday night event in Fargo
• Stacking events back-to-back to create a more immersive experience for attendees
• The greatest challenges to our world
• • Listening deficit - not enough people can share who they really are
  • Productivity culture - we worry so much about growth that we don't rest enough

Quotes from Greg

"My inheritance isn't wealth or resources or an art collection, it's this incredible tribe of people that have cared about each other for generations."

"Entrepreneurs drive the economy but artists drive culture."

"We don't think about advertising, we think about creating a world class experience for the people in the room. We're trying to delight our guests. We are trying to add so much value. We are trying to love them so much that they can't help but want to come back, they can't help but to tell their friends."

"Let's create a community we all want to live in. Let's create the community we want to be part of."

"I want to live in a city where anyone, of any background can participate."

Contact Greg:

On Twitter @GregfromFargo

Emergingprairie.com

Contact Lisa:

[email protected]

@EverBetterU

Lori Hart has a highly sought after beauty business in Beverly Hills. She helps women and men transform from the inside out using natural makeup and non-invasive procedures. Through working with celebrities like Laura Dern, Timothy Dalton, Charlize Theron, and Donald Sutherland, she's observed that those who radiate on the outside are the ones who have done work on the inside.

She works with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, yet her products and services are modestly priced because she believes that every person should be able to feel beautiful.

In this discussion, she shares beauty tips for people of all ages. And, she explains how her drive to bring out natural beauty stems from a time in her life when she was working for Playboy and succumbed to pressure to have liposuction. That decision created health issues that still linger over 30 years later.

Listen to the podcast to hear Lori discuss:

• How women transformed while visiting her mother's beauty parlor
• Donald Sutherland's reaction to Lori's salon
• Beauty tips for people of all ages
• Which celebrities radiate the most on the outside
• "If something hurts, that is a warning sign, don't do it!"
• Botox, bangs, and sunblocks
• Working with cancer patients and seeing the effects of radiation and dehydration on their skin

• Using her Certified Dream Coach training to help people plan and achieve their dreams

• Working with Playboy models including Pamela Anderson
• Working with Eddie Murphy on rock videos
• Her belief that a woman should not be reliant on a man for money
• Makeup techniques informed from her training as an artist such as chiarscuro vs strobing
• Being motivated by listening to John Assaraf and Tony Robbins who Lori describes as "heart-centered coaches"
• Her 90 year-old client who can't see her own makeup but wants to present her best face to the world (and find a boyfriend!)
• Why you shouldn't over-exfoliate or thin your skin
• Be wary of procedures that involve numbing. If it hurts, be wary!
• Tips for applying sunblock
• Makeup is the largest revenue producing section in a department store. Be aware of makeup salespeople who know how to sell but don't know about skin care.
• Her motto: "If you look made up, we screwed up."

• How surgery and Playboy helped fuel her passion for non-harmful beauty treatments

• Jouve - Her favorite tightening and restoring serum. Call Lori to learn more!

Quotes from Lori:

"A woman will do anything if she doesn't love herself, or feel good in her own skin, even hurt herself."

"Your skin is a carrier, not a barrier."

"If you want something done, ask a busy woman."

"Don't get Botox. Grow your bangs!"

Favorite Quote:

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I'm possible."

- Audrey Hepburn

You can contact Lori through her website lorihart.com or email her at [email protected] or call her directly at 310.600.2449

Learn more about Ever Better at EverBetterU.com.

Email Lisa at [email protected]

This week's Ever Better episode is a journal narrated by me, Lisa Conner Vogt. it highlights a common theme that I've observed with my guests, and brings you some of the best moments of recent episodes. This episode celebrates my guests who draw on their highly unique experiences to craft businesses that help others, as only they can. And, when I talk about their experiences, I'm including how and where they grew up, their families, the schools they attended, the jobs they've held, where they've lived, and their spiritual traditions. They're taking the accumulation of their life knowledge and using it to help others. As I was thinking about the five guests that you're about to hear from, I also considered how I'm building on my life experiences. And here's what I came up with… My professional career spans almost thirty years – Yikes! I've worked for corporations, non-profits, small companies, and had my own businesses. I've held positions in marketing, communications, strategy, system development, project management, and I've managed hundreds of people. When it comes to producing a podcast, I'm drawing on everything I've done in my life to put it all together. It turns out that creating and sustaining a podcast is a fairly complex undertaking! It involves booking guests, interviewing, organizing, marketing, networking, audio production, and website development. But everything I'm doing is an extension of what I've done before. And as I coach, and speak to groups, I'm drawing on my own unique life journey, and sharing my business, academic, personal, and spiritual experiences. By building on my life experiences as a podcaster, I'm hopefully enriching others' lives. So, I have a challenge for you! As you listen to this episode, think about your life experiences and how you're using those to enrich your families, your communities, your colleagues, people you volunteer with, and others you come into contact with. Is there more that you could be doing? Is there more that you could be giving? If love to hear your thoughts! Send me a note at [email protected]. And now, onto my guests... Today, you'll hear from Jessie Mejia, Lise Metzger, Marcus Bullock, Erin Elizabeth Wells, and Dave Conley. Jesse Mejia was my third podcast guest way back in December 2015. Jesse draws on his family, academic and business experiences as he mentors and coaches Latino students and professionals who are considering next steps in their careers. South Central L.A. is where Jesse grew up with parents from El Salvador who don't speak English. Many would consider him to have come from "disadvantaged circumstances." But Jesse did well in school, earned a scholarship to Philips Exeter Academy and then went on to college and earned an MBA. He did very well in the corporate world rising to the position of Corporate Strategy Officer for VW. And then he left, to pursue his mission-driven focus. In this clip, Jesse explains how some of his childhood experiences prepared him for the leadership role that he plays today. Lise Metzger, my guest on episode 26, uses her experiences as an editor, photographer, mother, and food educator to create the Grounded Women blog. She uses her writing, photography, and interviewing skills to learn and share stories of women farmers and to educate readers about the many benefits of knowing where your food comes from. She discusses how her Grounded Women blog got started in this clip. Marcus Bullock, from episode 27, was convicted of carjacking at age 15 and spent the next 8 years of his life in jail. His family wholeheartedly supported him throughout that period of his life and made sure that they stayed in touch. As CEO of Flikshop, he's drawing on his firsthand knowledge that staying connected to friends and family while incarcerated makes a significant difference while someone is in prison, and helps them to reconnect when they are released. Marcus explains the origins of Flikshop. Erin Elizabeth Wells, from episode 28, is an intentionality expert and productivity specialist at Chosen Course. She has studied and been involved with world religions throughout her life. And now, she's combining her spiritual nature, her writing skills, and her talent for organizing to help her clients take "inspired action" to set and achieve goals. She discusses the evolution of her business in this clip. Dave Conley, my guest on episode 29, is an igniter! Through his company, Limitl.es, he helps people start new companies, new initiatives, and reach new levels in their personal lives. He draws on his business experience that includes helping to get 32 million people onto the Internet with AOL, the joy he felt mentoring entrepreneurs throughout his career, starting his own companies, and his experiences working for the federal government. But, as you'll hear, Dave is still striving to learn and improve each day. Learn more at EverBetterU.com.

You can reach Lisa at [email protected].

Dave Conley is an integrated business coach who helps clients to ignite their ideas! This can involve starting a company, advancing an idea or pursuing a personal goal.

He's been on an incredible entrepreneurial and personal journey and in this discussion shares ideas and lessons that he has put into practice and that you may want to try for yourself!

Dave lives a "flipped model," first concentrating on living a mindful life, knowing that success in his business and personal life will follow.

After his wife passed way five years ago, Dave began to concentrate on getting healthy. He changed his diet and exercise habits and lost 150 pounds. He says that he's half the man he used to be! Dave also became selective about how he spends his time and was determined to not be glued to the T.V.

Dave hopes that people won't wait for a tragedy to occur before they begin to live with greater purpose.

Dave's resume includes being one of AOL's first project managers where he helped 32 million people get on the Internet. He also held an executive position with the Patent and Trademark Office, and he's built his own start-ups and mentored dozens of entrepreneurs. And now, as a startup coach, he loves to help mission-driven entrepreneurs assess their ideas to determine if there is a market fit. Learn more about his services at Limitl.es.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dave discussing how he's learned to blend work and personal time so that he can suck the marrow out of life!

What you'll hear in this episode:

• The importance of mindfulness practice

• The Flipped Model=A Changed Focus

• Do meaningful, magical work

• Dave's daily practices, which starts with a liter of water!
• A co-working space: What it is and how it works

• A pivotal moment: Losing his wife suddenly 5 years ago

• Hitting the giant reset button
• How Dave lost 150 lbs.!

• Dave's eating habits (NO white foods!)

• How Dave started 7 companies in 2 years!
• Working with mission-driven companies like Bezi.co

• Product-market fit

• Patent trolls
• Dave's first job at AOL ("You've got mail!")

• How Camp Good Life Project changed everything

• A favorite quote: From Alice in Wonderland—"If you don't know where you're going, then every path's a way."
• Dave's father, who lived a life with no regrets

Resources:

Email Dave: [email protected] (But, ironically, Dave HATES email! He would rather you call or text him at 703-999-8711.)

Contact Lisa: [email protected]

Learn more at EverBetterU.com

My guest today is Erin Elizabeth Wells, an intentionality expert and productivity specialist. Though originally from Cincinnati, she fell in love with the New England coastline and settled in historical Salem, MA. Erin lives a short walk from the ocean there, along with her husband and cat. She is the author of Inspired Action: Create More Purpose, Productivity, and Peace in Your Life. Join me to learn more about Erin and her work! You won't want to miss a moment of this episode!

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Erin's unusual journey through Yale, Harvard Divinity School, to modern pagan

• Erin's early passion for interfaith work

• How her work as a grad student for the "classically overcommitted absent-minded professor" set her course

• How being a professional organizer became her "ministry"

• How she blends productivity and intentionality for her entrepreneur clients

• Pagan philosophy and the spiritual connection to nature

• How Erin shifted her original focus when writing her book—that took over five years!

• The unusual structure and usability of Erin's book

• Four categories of people in relation to PURPOSE: Manifesters, Resistors, Doubters, and Drifters (Which one are YOU?)

• The connection between purpose, happiness, and impact

• Mindset—it REALLY matters!

• Erin's tools and techniques: Uninstall limiting beliefs, timeline re-imprinting, and empowering questions

• Make a Lifestyle List (NOT a Bucket List)

• How Erin makes travel a priority

• A client success story who created memories with his teenagers

• Erin's morning/evening routine

• A Master List of Tasks

• Practical tips for making intentionality a pattern

• How to create content for books or blog posts

• Erin's meditation practice and favorite meditation apps

• Quantum Jumping—What is it?

• Erin's core values: service and joy

• Erin's favorite quotes: From Aristotle, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." From Rabindranath Tagore, "I slept and I dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and I dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and I saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy."

Resources:

www.chosencourse.com

www.chosencourse.com/everbetter (A gift for our listeners, Erin's PDF about creating a Master List—check it out!)

Email me: [email protected]

Marcus Bullock is an entrepreneur with an extraordinary story. He's the founder of Flikshop, what he calls the "coolest app in the app store." Flikshop allows anyone, anywhere in the world, to take a picture and write a personal note that will be printed and delivered to any prison in the United States.

Marcus committed the crime of carjacking when he was 15 years old. He spent the next 8 years of his life in a maximum security prison with adults. Marcus says that getting a flik, or a picture, was like winning the lottery.

But Flikshop goes well beyond keeping spirits up. Marcus believes that prisoners who stay connected to friends and family assimilate more smoothly when they are released, making their chances of being arrested again less likely. And, with a prison population exceeding 2 million men and women, this app has the power to change the trajectory of millions of lives.

While he was incarcerated, Marcus educated himself and planned for a productive future, thanks to the persistence of his mother, his extended family, and friends. After his release, he started a construction company, and then Flikshop, and most recently, he and his colleagues established the Flikshop School of Business to help give men and women who are incarcerated a blueprint for success and role models.

In our discussion, Marcus explains what it was like to "grow up" in the prison system, his drive to further his education, his future plans for Flikshop, and, a story I love, how he met his wife!

Listen to the podcast to hear Marcus discuss:

• Living at an adult, maximum security prison facility from age 15 to 23.
• Being in denial for his first two years behind bars.
• Educating himself in prison.
• Lifelong friendships established in jail.
• His mother's encouragement and her achievement of earning a PhD to become Dr. Bullock.
• How Flikshop grew out of Marcus' desire to share his construction company's success with his friends who were still incarcerated.
• Justice Policy Institute: using data to demonstrate why children are being locked inside prison with adults.
• 2.2 million women and men currently incarcerated in the U.S.
• Launching a mobile app.
• Flikshop School of Business that provides a path to success for inmates - introducing life skills, job readiness skills, and entrepreneurial skills.
• Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop
• Winning the Aspen Ideas Festival - barnstorm prison to spread the success stories of other former inmates - "A speakers bureau for prisons."
• Three practices:
• • Spiritual prayer warrior
  • Making to-do lists
  • Using the calendar on his phone
• Bootstrapping the business and preparing to accept venture capital
• Best friend Dwayne's book of poetry.
• Being inspired by his 5-year old son, Marcus, Jr.
• Meeting his wife, Andrea.

Contact Lisa: [email protected]

Lise Metzger is an award-winning professional photographer known for her elegant photo shoots for advertising, magazines and corporate clients. In recent years, she's expanded her portfolio into new dimensions through photographing and writing about women farmers.

On her blog, Grounded Women.com, Lise shares engaging profiles of women who have chosen farming as a way of life. Her compelling narrative and photos capture the daily joys and challenges of life on a farm. This project is a labor of love for Lise, and just one facet of her commitment to the sustainable food movement.

Listen to the podcast to hear Lise discuss:

• Educating people about the benefits of eating "real food."
• Grounded Women, Lise's multimedia website about women farmers.
• Life as a professional photographer, teacher, and editor.
• Transitioning from magazine editor to photographer through taking classes at the Corcoran.
• Hosting a CSA (community supported agriculture) and what Lise does with her vegetables (including bartering for a website).
• Master food volunteering at homeless shelters, food banks, farmers markets.
• Her daughter's gap year in Americorps.
• Finding her voice and writing rhythm.
• Learning about farming through spending time on Shannon Varley's farm in Knoxville, MD.
• The creative challenge of photographing farm animals vs. humans.
• Why women farmers are drawn to their lifestyle.
• Kelly Hensing's story of creating Hilltop Acres Farm in Dayton, MD. She became a farmer because she wanted her family to have raw milk; so she bought a cow, then three pigs, and ten sheep.
• Nora Crist, of Clark's Elioak Farm, a seventh generation farmer, who controls her rheumatoid arthritis through her diet.
• Selling her farm prints.
• Financing Grounded Women through donations and corporate sponsors.

Quotes from Lise:

"I'm on a mission to change the way people eat."

"The food we eat has a huge impact on how we feel."

"Women farmers compose one of the fastest growing demographics in the U.S."

"1 in 3 kids will develop type 2 diabetes."

"Half of the crop land in America is used to grow corn and soy."

"Only 2% of our farmland goes to growing fruits and vegetables."

"Get to know your farmers. Talk to the farmer and find out how the food is grown."

Learn more at http://www.everbetteru.com/podcasts

Contact Lisa: [email protected]

A Better World, One Story at a Time

A meaningful story has the power to change one person's life. And, if stories can change lives, they can also move a community, and maybe even elevate a nation. On the most recent Ever Better podcasts, Marc Winn, Marsha Shandur, and Beckie Thompson shared their personal stories, and described how and why they are helping others to do the same. In this journal episode you'll hear highlights from these three podcasts and afterwards, if you haven't had a chance to listen to the full episodes, you might want to check them out.

• In Episode 23, Marc Winn explained how change is happening in his country throughThe Dandelion Project.
• In Episode 24, Beckie Thompson described how and why she is sharing stories to encourage girls and women to be anything they want through "I Don't Want to be a Princess."
• In Episode 25, storytelling coach, Marsha Shandur, gave insights into coaching others to share their stories for greatest impact.

Marc Winn

Marc Winn is working to make Guernsey the best place to live on Earth by 2020. Guernsey is a small island-nation in the English Channel and Marc and many of his fellow citizens believe that it's the perfect environment in which to release the potential of the community and thus, the country.

Marc formed "The Dandelion Project" so that ideas and connections shared through his events and programs would take root in unexpected places just as dandelions do.

Creating events where people come together to share their stories has allowed his community to be more compassionate, and to see new possibilities. Marc and his team organized TEDx and TEDx Youth events where Guernsey residents and change-makers from around the world came together to share ideas.

During these events people of all ages spoke of perseverance, the impact of kindness, mindfulness, and …how to make Guernsey the best place to live on earth by 2020.

One participant said: "TEDx StPeter Port will change the lives of many people in Guernsey, and also on this earth. "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

In this journal episode, Marc describes evidence of the changes in Guernsey and how change happens.

Beckie Thompson

Beckie Thompson created a company and community called "I Don't Want to be a Princess." Together with her daughter, Keira, she is sharing the stories of what girls and women have accomplished to encourage all girls and women to become anything they want to be.

In this journal episode, Beckie describes the importance of sharing impactful stories.

Marsha Shandur

Marsha Shandur, also known as YesYesMarsha, is a storytelling coach who discusses how and why she helps people to better communicate their stories. She's helped corporate leaders show their human and likeable sides, startups get funding for their companies, and relationships progress.

Marsha helps clients to "excavate their memories" and asks "What did it look like and how did you feel?" She says, when you're telling a story think about "making a movie inside someone else's brain." Next time you're thinking about delivering a presentation – which to be more impactful should involve stories - consider Marsha's techniques.

I'm honored to be sharing Marsha's wisdom because I had the good fortune of taking part in Marsha's storytelling workshop last year…and that was a catalyst for creating the Ever Better Podcast.

I love to hear from listeners! You can reach me directly at [email protected].

Marsha Shandur (aka Yes Yes Marsha) has the gift of making people laugh while sharing really insightful lessons. Throughout our discussion, she offers amazing ideas for communicating effectively, practices for staying positive, and lessons from the near-death experience of her great aunt...all through stories. Marsha is a professional storytelling coach and she attributes her storytelling talents to growing up in a large, close-knit Russian family that communicates through highly-detailed stories. She runs an event called True Stories Told Live Toronto, and works with corporations to help humanize leaders. And, she is the official storytelling coach for World Domination Summit (do-gooders descending on Portland).

Learn more about Marsha by checking out the web page she set up for Ever Better listeners at YesYesMarsha.com/EverBetter. Listen to the podcast to hear Marsha discuss:

- Why you should email 25 people and ask them to name your top qualities - How she became known as Yes Yes Marsha

- Marie Folio's B-School - Tips to improve social skills - Teaching people to share their "why" through their personal stories - Transitioning from DJ to storytelling coach - Memory scavengering - True Stories Told Live Toronto - How our brains respond to stories when we're in the room with the storyteller - Volunteering at a day center for seniors with dementia - The benefits of spending time with seniors and children - Growing up in a multi-generational family - Denise B. Scott's work finding volunteer jobs for nursing home residents - Favorite quotes from her granny "If they're that close, they're looking in your eyes" "You should only get married if you absolutely cannot." "We own our things; they don't own us." - Staying positive through: A gratitude practice; Prayer; Sending thank you cards - Storytelling tips: Include detail that helps someone to experience what you experienced. Don't have too many extraneous characters. - The near-death experience of Marsha's great-aunt. All the times she wasn't nice to people flashed in front of her eyes.

Share your thoughts about the podcast! Contact Lisa directly at [email protected]

Five years ago, Beckie Thompson and her husband visited Disney World with their five-year-old daughter Keira. Everywhere they went in the park, Keira was greeted and referred to as "Princess." After hearing this one too many times, she exclaimed "Mommy, I don't want to be a princess. I want to be a pilot."

Over the next few years, Beckie gave a lot of thought to the wide-ranging implications of what Keira was expressing and began developing the idea of creating a business and movement.

Listen to the podcast to hear Beckie's story followed by a special interview with Keira!

Encouraging girls and women to be anything they want is at the heart of Beckie's work. She asks: "Why don't we describe a girl based on her abilities and interests rather than as a fictional princess character? We don't do that with boys!"

"I wondered why somebody didn't do anything and then I realized I am somebody." This is Beckie's favorite quote and it sums up why she created "I Don't Want to be a Princess."

Listen to this podcast to hear Beckie share:

• Her story of founding the business and her future vision
• Points to consider about how we describe girls vs. boys
• Stories of women and girls who changed the world
• How t-shirts can build confidence. Check out the t-shirts Beckie created so that girls and women can share their personalities and character.
• Little known fact about Amelia Earhart - she had a fashion line!

Send Lisa your questions or comments at [email protected]

If you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a review on iTunes or Stitcher. This helps more people to find these inspiring stories.