EXTRAordinary Podcast

One of the key characteristics all my guests have in common is a desire to know more. A thirst for Knowledge. Whether trying to improve in some area of their personal lives or the continual pursuit of information for their chosen career, each guest is on a quest to find a deeper understanding. Devin O is no exception. Discovering books at a very early age, Devin has always impressed me with the depth of knowledge he has acquired from reading, studying, and constantly looking for new and often opposing perspectives. Although his profession consists primarily of 30 second ads for new trucks, health insurance or cable tv service, his true talents lie in the shows he has written and produced while taking his family along for the ride on the ever challenging roller coaster that is the entertainment industry. Finding along the way that the expected path is not always the one you find yourself on. Being able to adapt and grow to the opportunities you are given is the truest example of how to live your dreams. Devin has been able to do this by growing into the challenges he was given. Proving that patience, while continuing to learn can not only help you to achieve your dreams but also be a role model for others hoping to do the same. Especially when its your own kids. Devin has been able to do this remarkably well. While chauffeuring from his kids from audition to audition, he is also taking the time to teach them what the process of learning is really all about. Please enjoy my vacation conversation with actor, writer, producer and Mr. Mom, Devin Ordoyne.

How to write well and raise good kids are probably two of the most unrelated topics I could come up with for a Podcast episode. But both concepts are covered masterfully by author, professor, speaker and father Rob Jenkins. Rob has been a mentor for me n writing and raising kids as I have stumbled my was through both. Teaching college kids how to write since the days of early computers, Rob's message has changed remarkably little. The tools may have, the methods and qualities of Good writing have not. Rob shares his insights on why writing well is so important, now more than ever, especially in business. His message about father hood is equally compelling. Robs advice and insights on fatherhood have shaped how I engage with my own family. He and his wife Bonnie set a great example of what an EXTRAordinary family can look like. I hope you enjoy the extensive wisdom and knowledge of Rob Jenkins.

Performing at our best takes work and effort over time. Peak performances come as a result of doing the little things consistently day after day. Week after week. Year after year. Creating small but effective habits embeds success into what we do everyday. But our own efforts can only carry us so far. Our own will can only push us for so long . So how do top level performers take their skills and abilities to the absolutely pinnacle? Coaches. Coaches take average performers and make them great. They mold great athletes into superstars. They transform talent into legacy. Coaches reveal the keys to greatness We cannot see within ourselves. Amanda has always been a talented runner and performed well in races. But getting a coach; while overcoming tremendous physical adversities, She realized her goals and exceeded expectations she never even thought to consider). Through the coaching process she learned what she was capable of. She learned that she capable of even more. So get ready to get inspired and coached up with my run buddy Amanda Partee-Manders.

Tom Hyser has been living his life by design since the before high school. He has always had a vision for what he want and has lived an amazing life pursuing this vision. Its been quite a ride reflecting back on how many different ways and places Tom has done this. It all first started right after graduation when 4 crazy kids took off to California for an epic summer of adventure I will never forget. But Tom had a plan, even back then, that plan saw him become a pro skater. Which took him to Seattle to design in-line skates for K2. Then, coming back home to GA, he started a dot.com company at a time when few had done so. After growing that brand and establishing a skate community in the Southeast, he then realized his dream of working for Rollerblade growing both the industry he helped establish and creating a culture along the way. Now back from a stint in New England that saw him crystalize his role of father and husband, He and Erin have taken the next step in realizing their dreams of a lifestyle by design. For them, That's now the pro mountain biker lifestyle which is exactly what both their kids are well on their way to becoming. Hope you enjoy my conversation with the always entertaining Tom Hyser.

Journaling is not an easy task to start, but it is THE most impactful thing we can do to live an extraordinary life. Benjamin Hardy has taken this concept to the extreme and seen amazing success as a result. His peak-state checklist is POWERFUL! It was the catalyst for the development of my 30 day journal challenge, stay tuned to the end of the episode to learn more.

The most astounding thing about his process is how Ben has been able to take his long term goals and compress the time-frame substantially. Whether growing his blog to millions of subscribers while still in school or having 5 kids in just under a year, just wait til you hear his story. Benjamin's interview shows us that simply writing down what you want and how you are going to get it will define your story. Through the journaling process you too can create your own EXTRAordinary life.

Learning how to enjoy and learn from the Process of Doing. Mudcat shares how just taking action will help us to be successful at whatever we are trying to do. The first step toward achieving our goals is to take action. Begin the Process of an EXTRAordinary life.

I have always been fascinated with Simone Bergese. But after hearing all about his life's adventure and the experiences that ultimately brought him to Georgia, I am even more impressed. Simone like his mentor in Sicily, is truly becoming a force of Nature. This idea has stuck with me since our interview, What does it mean to "Be a Force of Nature"? How do you become a force of nature? What are those characteristics and can I develop them?

Simone seems to have found a way. Whether tussling with the Sicilian mafia or learning massive scale wine production in Australia, Simone journey is absolutely fascinating. He has spanned the globe from Tahiti to Virginia, Soaking up a wealth of knowledge and experience all along the way. He may not have a had specific plan, but the overarching dream led Simone to not only be an Extra ordinary wine maker but to become……. A Force of Nature.

Consilience is the theme for my guest today. consilience is the idea that evidence from independent, unrelated sources can "converge" on strong conclusions. In other words, arriving at the same results through various fields of study. And that seems to be exactly how Jeremy is living his life and running his businesses. Jeremy Gilbertson is headed down a path few understand or appreciate. While Music is his passion and ultimately the primary focus, the path through that medium and life in general is both multi-disciplined and multifaceted. Watching him trail-blaze this path has been so inspirational. His openness to new experiences and preparation for opportunity has led Jeremy to be involved in a lot of unique projects. Whether conducting a song writing workshop for vets at Camp Southern Ground, or orchestrating the film score for a civil rights short, Jeremy seemingly does it all. But he still maintains a work/life balance thanks in large part to his amazing wife Traci, who , as he will tell you, makes it all possible. Please enjoy my conversation with Jeremy Gilbertson.

"Success is when preparation and opportunity meet." IF there is one take away from my interview with Matt, it is that preparation is what separates the highest performers. Doing these little things. Steven Covey said, "Amateurs practice until they get it right, but professionals practice until they can't get it wrong." Every time I fall short of my goal, I can usually point to a lack of preparation as the reason. Whether getting ready for a race, or prepping for an interview, the more I have prepared, the better the results. This has certainly been the case for Matt who has dominated the Trail running scene in this region for the past decade and was a highly decorated high school and collegiate athlete. And Working for the Atlanta Falcons has really given him an inside look at what it takes to achieve extra ordinary results at the highest level.

Visit www.8keys2great.com for more episodes.