Season 3 Finale.  This episode walks you through exactly how to draft your blueprint.  Like I said at the end of last season, each season finale I will present one of the 8 keys.  Last season’s finale was the first key, Dream Big.  So, if you haven’t already, make sure you listen to the episode or maybe go back and listen again.  In that episode, we spent some time dreaming about all the things we want, and thinking about the time frames we hope to get them.  Now that we have figured that out, and more importantly written down, this episode picks up with how to go about getting the things on that list.  How to draft a set of plans to get you there.  So get out your journal or go to www.8keys2great.com and download the free pdf file to start creating your personalized blueprint to success. 

I have said from the beginning that the goal of this podcast is to profile “Ordinary people living extraordinary lives”.   So, the idea of interviewing a marathon runner trying to make to the Olympic qualifier seemed far from ordinary.  Imagine being able to run a mile in a little over 6 minutes.  Now imagine doing that for two hours and 45 minutes.  That’s exactly what it takes to be a world-class marathon runner.  And that’s exactly who Shawanna White is.  Shawanna eats, sleeps, and breathes running.  On any given weekend, you will find her bouncing around the country not only racing marathons but throwing in some 5 and 10ks and even a few half marathons just for fun. But as amazing an athlete as she is, what struck me is how humble and normal she is in person.  While most competitive athletes can have a rigid plan or schedule and rarely spend much time training with mere mortals, Shawanna’s favorite aspect of the sport is the camaraderie it brings. A lot of her runs are at slower paces with close friends that are just recreational runners.  She shares this and many more hilarious aspects of her lifestyle all on social media.  Never taking herself too seriously and always remembering to be grateful for the gifts she was given, I know you will love my conversation with Shawanna White. 

Whether it's writing about cars, introducing new beers, or creating live art experiences, Ale Sharpton is always open to learning, growing, and expanding.   Ale found his gift at an early age and with the help of great parents and his younger siblings, he has developed his craft and honed his skills.  Designing a lifestyle, he loves through a lot of hard work, dedication, and consistency.  Using positive self-talk and a desire to help others, Ale has established a presence both on social media and the local Atlanta scene. 

After starting his writing career at Cornell creating a comic strip, Ale was first published years ago in the local paper Caribbean Star and Cypher magazine. From there he found mentors to help polish his writing and find his voice.  He now reviews restaurants, breweries, artists, and musicians for an ever-growing list of syndicated publications.  His own blog and his new series Cruisin’ for Brewsin’ is the place for what’s poppin’.  

Always open to improving, Ale is now a mainstay in multiple industries and a go-to influencer for everything from cars to fashion.  Through his creative agency Always Open, Ale is not just reviewing, he is doing.  Whether it’s releasing his signature Piano Keys Imperial stout with new Belgium brewery, starting his own podcast, or hosting more live art events, Ale is consistently developing his brand, his love, and his mission of unity.  The epitome of cool, check out my conversation with the real Ale Sharpton.

Living Your Dream Life starts with knowing where you want to be and who you want to be there with.  Chris and Courtney Trice have this figured out.  Settling into the beautiful canyons of Boulder County, Chris and Courtney have found a perfect spot to start a family.  And they are crafting a lifestyle designed around that family and all the things they love.  They’ve done this in their professional lives as well.  Combining hobby, technology, and a love of your job, this team is making a difference for their community and potentially saving lives in the process.  Whether using geo-spacing technology to allocate water resources for the fire department or understanding a long term vision for the exploding real estate market along the mountain front, Chris and Courtney Trice are making an impact.  But they still find time to do all the things they moved to Colorado to enjoy in the first place.  So sit back, mellow out and enjoy my conversation with Chris and Courtney Trice. 

Sharing stories is one of the best ways to motivate, inspire, and compel change.  And one of the best ways to share these stories is through film.  No other medium can provide a more complete experience.  At least so far.  In part two of my interview, Bert Hesse shares not only the compelling stories they are currently producing but how all these stories will be shared and experienced in the future.  From short-form episodic content specifically designed for our phones to the immersive experience that is the future of virtual reality, part 2 of our conversation discusses what all this will look like in the future and how entrepreneurs who are paying attention can take advantage.  Learn how to manage high-level negotiation and hang out with an American idol in the rest of my conversation with Bert Hesse.  

We all seem to think we have all the answers, ask most of us for advice and we will know just what to do or say.  But when you get down to it none of us really knows anything.  We all have our presumptions and personal experiences that shaped who we are and what we think, but if you take a closer look, analyze the details,  our knowledge is constantly evolving, growing, changing.  Keeping this in mind, we can maintain a growth mindset and learn virtually anything.  This perspective has allowed Bert Hesse to not just be a successful serial entrepreneur, it has allowed him to jump into completely different industries in the process.  Whether starting a computer software company, creating a niche in health care, or bringing white water rapids to an urban landscape, Bert has used this mantra and mindset in every business venture he has entered.   Ultimately settling on the film production,  Bert Hesse isn’t just making movies, he’s creating the industry for Carolinas.  Partnering with the largest university in the state along with some of it’s most influential people, Bert is once again primed for success in an area he is still learning and developing.  While he will tell you he doesn’t know anything about technology, making a movie, design software, or ads for super bowl commercials, he hasn’t let that stop him.  What he does know is that combining the right people, talent, and financing together and means you don’t have to.  Simply follow your gut, ask a lot of questions, and don’t take no for an answer and you can have all the success you are after, despite not knowing anything.  Hear how he was able to do this, in Part one of my recent conversation with Bert Hesse.    

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from all of us at the extraordinary podcast.  We took last week off the spend time with family and friends and I hope you were able to do the same.  For a lot of people, this is the busiest time of year and it is hard to get the time off and others may not have friends or family close, either way, I hope that you all know how much you are loved and missed.  And if you are struggling to feel that holiday spirit, I hope you can look for opportunities to serve.  Whether for a homeless shelter or donating can goods for a local food drive, any opportunity to serve helps us to remember what Christmas is really all about.  And if you are blessed to have friends and family close, try to do some type of service together.  It will grow your bond and help spread the love.  I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and happy new year.  Now, here’s my story…..

Some people say chase your dreams, while others tell you to work hard at whatever you do.  But sometimes that just simply isn’t enough.  This is often the case in showbusiness.  Sometimes you gotta get lucky.  And the only way to do that is to find a niche and get really good at it.  “So good, they can’t ignore you.”  Perfecting your niche over a long period of time creates opportunities.  It creates “career capital” that establishes you as the expert in that field.  It’s what brings the opportunities to you. 

This was Alex Collins' experience.  Moving back to Georgia after struggling in LA as an actor, Alex built his career capital through coaching and character development.  Moving back to GA at about the same time as the film industry did, Alex’s timing was perfect.  Not only a great actor but also a polished professional, Alex began to be recognized and known for what he was great at.  Being prepared and doing the little things, Alex continues to be blessed with opportunities to work with some of the top talents in the industry.  All the while, continuing to learn for himself and mentor others along the way.  Alex is the definition of what it means to be so good they can't ignore you.  Listen how he walks the walk and talks the talk in my latest conversation with Alex Collins…

When you are chasing your dreams, you have to put in a lot of hard work.  Danny Moll defines what it means to do work., Danny is not just the drummer of an up and coming bands, he is their manager as well.  Providing the backbeat for the band Princess, Danny is providing a great example of what it takes to make it in the music business.  Not just putting in work as a musician, Danny has spent time perfecting his craft as a sound engineer, and even as a carpenter.  This all-around entrepreneur is all about figuring it out and going for it.  Going after his dreams at a young age, finding success, and going on tour, Danny learned a lot about what it takes to be successful as an artist.  He also learned a lot from the school of hard knocks.  And what Danny has learned, he now shares with others, ultimately finding a way, so check out how to Do Work with Danny Moll.

We all have stories to share.  Experiences that shaped us.  Moments in life that formed who we are and what is important to us.  But not many of us actually take the time to share these stories.  Maybe, because we don’t consider ourselves writers or maybe that our experiences are worth writing about.  But, Charlotte Andersen is a perfect example of just how untrue that is. 

A stay at home mom with degrees in CIS and Education, Charlotte’s path to becoming a prolific writer was not exactly a traditional one.  First starting a blog, that would later turn into a book and ultimately a career as an author, Charlotte is creating a life that allows her to do what she loved and live a lifestyle she designed.  Through sharing her story of the Great Fitness Experiment, Charlotte honed the craft of writing.  This Year of Trying Everything taught her how to share her experience with others and connect with readers.  She was so good at sharing her story that she soon started helping others share theirs.  And that is where Charlotte found her true passion. 

Now a regular contributor for several magazines like readers digest, O, Women’s Health, and many others, Charlotte has mastered the art of sharing stories.  Hear how she did and where she’s headed in my recent conversation with Charlotte Andersen.