Goal Magic

What’s up everyone and welcome to the GOAL MAGIC podcast, where it’s our mission to help you get unstuck and get going! Today I got to interview Robert Farrington, who is a Millennial money expert and founder of thecollegeinvestor.com. Robert’s path is a fascinating one—starting with his time working as a manager at Target while blogging on the side, to making $45,000 a month (!) on his blog. How’d he do it? Robert gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his journey in this episode!  Top Takeaways from Robert:  

• Robert always saw his blog The College Investor as a side hustle (until recently)
• He kept going because he loved it
• It took him a long time to start making money from the project
• Things started happening when he began networking with other bloggers
• Industry conferences really helped as influencers started sharing his content
• He learned to listen to readers and produce content they wanted, rather than what he wanted
• Think about your ROI before investing in an expensive degree
• "Show me where you spend your money and time, and I'll show you what you value"
• Really look at your household expenses closely. Chances are you can reduce them
• Look for ways to earn more money in your spare time
• It's important to challenge assumptions about success
• If you have an unconventional lifestyle, some people may be judgmental

Connect with Robert: 

Blog: The College Investor Podcast: The College Investor Audioshow Youtube

I hope this episode inspires you to go for your dreams! 

Here's to Getting Unstuck, Cynthia

This week's healthy episode is sponsored by Wellness by Cynthia. Wellness by Cynthia is my own site and blog where I educate and dish about my favorite wellness products, tips, and experiences. Check it out! https://wellnessbycynthia.com/   BONUS: If you enroll as a Young Living essential oils rewards member, I’ll give you $20 towards your order when you contact me at [email protected] and mention the code “Goal Magic.”

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Outro music: Nostalgia by Tobu  tobumusic.com/license https://soundcloud.com/7obu/nostalgia

I hope you enjoy this interview that I recorded with Matt Lambert, who is a social innovator and strategy consultant. Matt has had an interesting career and life journey that had him move from the US to Montenegro with his family. In one of his corporate jobs, Matt was urged to find what he loves and then craft a role around that, which had a powerful influence on how he viewed his career path from then on. There are tons of takeaways in this episode as Mike shares his hard-won insights on how to get unstuck.

Episode Highlights:

• Why leaders need to recognize and support people's unique strengths
• How you can create a job for yourself instead of just accepting what's out there
• Why it's ok to feel discontent with the different stages of life
• How it's good to challenge systems and ways of thinking that aren't working for us
• If you're going to challenge a system, you have to understand the system
• How living in a foreign country teaches humility
• "Just keep swimming."
• Failure means you're trying... it's ok to make mistakes
• Don't let an old story from your childhood hold you back from pursuing your dreams
• You can always change and do something different

Connect with Matt: Look for him on social media: @musingmr https://mattlambert.me/

Here's to Getting Unstuck, Cynthia

This week's healthy episode is sponsored by Wellness by Cynthia. Wellness by Cynthia is my own site and blog where I educate and dish about my favorite wellness products, tips, and experiences. Check it out! https://wellnessbycynthia.com/   BONUS: If you enroll as a Young Living essential oils rewards member, I’ll give you $10 towards your second order when you contact me and mention the code “Goal Magic.”

Intro Music: We are One  by Vexento We Are One by Vexento https://www.youtube.com/user/Vexento https://soundcloud.com/vexento Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Ssvu2yncgWU

Outro music: Nostalgia by Tobu  tobumusic.com/license https://soundcloud.com/7obu/nostalgia

Cynthia and I sat down for a really nice chat about how we use exercise to keep us unstuck. We shared our favorite workouts, from very easy to very, very hard! 

In the course of the conversation, I opened up about how I've fought depression for much of my life. Hard cardio workouts have gotten me up and out of the darkness, many many times.

Here are some of the highlights: 

• Cynthia has been walking a lot more... and loving it
• Twenty minutes of cardio per day helps Brennen stave off depression
• Cynthia does super hard pilates workouts when her back can handle it
• Hard workouts can shift your mindset in terms of what you think is possible for yourself
• Rather than measuring your progress by how you look, try focusing on how you feel and what you can do 
• When you look in the mirror, be grateful to be alive rather than criticizing your own appearance
• The best reason to exercise is to show yourself some love! 

If you haven't worked out in a while, we challenge you to get back in the habit, starting today... and then every day after that.

You Got This,  Brennen & Cynthia 

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Outro music: Nostalgia by Tobu  tobumusic.com/license https://soundcloud.com/7obu/nostalgia

One of the worst feelings in the world is telling yourself you were going do something and then letting yourself down and not doing it. It could be a vow to exercise or send that important email to a client or apply for that inspiring new job you really want. Breaking your promises to yourself is just the worst kind of letdown right? It leads to negative self-talk and poor self-esteem over time.

In this episode, we chat about our ways of keeping promises to ourselves and others. Cynthia also shares some details about how she got started on her new wellness business. 

We recorded this back in the dead of winter in Philadelphia, but hopefully it's warm wherever you're listening! 

Book Recommendation: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Here's to being true to ourselves! 

Onward, Cynthia & Brennen

This week's healthy episode is sponsored by Wellness by Cynthia. Wellness by Cynthia is my own site and blog where I educate and dish about my favorite wellness products, tips, and experiences. Check it out! https://wellnessbycynthia.com/   BONUS: If you enroll as a Young Living essential oils rewards member, I’ll give you $10 towards your second order when you contact me and mention the code “Goal Magic.”

Intro Music: We are One  by Vexento We Are One by Vexento https://www.youtube.com/user/Vexento https://soundcloud.com/vexento Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Ssvu2yncgWU

Outro music: Nostalgia by Tobu  tobumusic.com/license https://soundcloud.com/7obu/nostalgia

Lisa Lord is a dynamic and inspirational speaker and executive coach who developed her point of view initially as an executive in Human Resources working for Fortune 500 corporations.

After decades of experience on the inside of corporations, Lisa chose to launch a unique coaching and consulting service to share her wisdom and help individuals advance their careers.  She is frequently engaged to help businesses re-humanize their employment practices, remembering that people are more than just assets. Lisa’s unique approach and passion helps individuals and leaders to make a meaningful connection with one another.

Lisa has helped clients to address disconnects due to generational differences, changes in employment practices, and a lack of self-awareness.  When individuals discover how to let their strengths shine, amazing transitions occur.

Key quotes and takeaways from this awesome interview: 

• "I've really learned to pay attention to what inspires me."
• "I'm the kind of person who was always comfortable making changes."
• "As you're discovering what you do, you end up learning a lot about yourself."
• After she left corporate life, Lisa started having lunches and coffees with everyone she knew.
• Finally she got the advice to just start doing a thing she thought she might love, and do it for free, while paying attention to how it made her feel. 
• She tried to do more things that she found inspiring. 
• She's a huge fan of Audible.com.
• When your brain is engaged in something creative and inspirational, the rest of your brain lights up. 
• Cynthia's big positive shift happened when she realized corporate life wasn't her "everything."
• How it's totally normal to not know what your passion is.  
• What does a good life look like? What would it feel like?
• Key question to ask: What it something you did that made you feel really, really proud?
• Just because you're good at something, doesn't mean you love it. 
• Telling people that they can do anything, DOES add a lot of pressure to someone. 
• If you have a bunch of side hustles, you don't necessarily need to pick just one. 
• Look for a "money job" that will give you the flexibility to find your dream job. 
• Try the Gallup Strength Finder. 
• What to tell people who might not understand your quest for an inspiring career. 
• What we should tell our kids instead of "you can do anything."
• Book Recommendations: Brene Brown's Daring Greatly and Amy Cuddy's Presence
• The key to inspiration is that you'll know if it's working in the first thirty seconds. 

Connect with Lisa: 

• lisalordconsulting.com
• Email: lisa AT lisalordconsulting.com

Here's to Getting Unstuck, Cynthia

This week's healthy episode is sponsored by Wellness by Cynthia. Wellness by Cynthia is my own site and blog where I educate and dish about my favorite wellness products, tips, and experiences. Check it out! https://wellnessbycynthia.com/   BONUS: If you enroll as a Young Living essential oils rewards member, I’ll give you $10 towards your second order when you contact me and mention the code “Goal Magic.”

Intro Music: We are One  by Vexento We Are One by Vexento https://www.youtube.com/user/Vexento https://soundcloud.com/vexento Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Ssvu2yncgWU

Outro music: Nostalgia by Tobu  tobumusic.com/license https://soundcloud.com/7obu/nostalgia

I'm so happy to share this interview with my friend Alexis Siemons. As a tea enthusiast, Alexis writes about her steeped adventures on her website and blog, Teaspoons & Petals. She also teaches a series of culinary tea classes, and develops tea-infused recipes for restaurants.

Alexis is currently a tea consultant for La Colombe, which is one of my favorite cafes and also the place where Cynthia and I came up with the idea for GOAL MAGIC. Alexis’ recipes and stories have been published in Women’s Health, Grid Magazine and Design*Sponge… among many other publications. But above all else, Alexis is a positive and fearless entrepreneur who has turned her passion into her life’s work, and that is why she’s on the show!

Key quotes and discussion topics:

• The very first post on Teaspoons & Petals
• Why it's important to take time to appreciate beauty
• The power of designing your own major 
• The pitfalls of the advertising industry for creative people
• Why short-form writing is taking over the Internet
• "Tea is like traveling through your taste buds."
• Alexis recommends oolong tea as a good place to start learning about tea flavors
• How drinking tea can help manage stress
• If you're succeeding at everything, then you're probably not doing things to their fullest
• Why we should celebrate failures
• "I want to hear no a lot because that means I'm reaching out and trying to create something unique and when that yes comes along, it's going to be a great fit."
• The value in nurturing a community
• How to find your "tribe"
• What to do when you hit a dry spot in your business
• Why if it's not 100% a yes, it's a NO
• "My definition of success is waking up every morning and wanting to jump out of bed to go pursue your career."
• Don't let fear stop you

Contact Alexis: Email: alexis AT teaspoonsandpetals.com Instagram Teaspoons & Petals

Stay Magical, Brennen

Sponsor Love: This delicious episode is sponsored by Whipped Bakeshop. Their award-winning cookies make perfect gifts. Fall in love: https://whippedbakeshop.com/ 

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Outro music: Nostalgia by Tobu  tobumusic.com/license https://soundcloud.com/7obu/nostalgia

 I am delighted to share an interview I recorded with Ruben Vergara Meersohn. Ruben is a true multi-passionate entrepreneur who started out working multiple odd jobs in a pizzeria, making wine, welding steel, and also serving as a translator. Ruben eventually ventured into corporate work where he worked for a major bank. But after the suicide of his colleague while working at the bank, Ruben realized that he needed to proactively go after his dreams. He quit his banking job and pursued his passions and today he owns and runs multiple successful businesses.

Ruben is a super-talented and generous person and he had so much advice and wisdom to share in this episode, so I'm excited for you to check it out! 

More about Ruben:  Ruben Vergara Meersohn is a 26-year-old husband and father with a really cool day-job. He was raised in Italy and after dropping out of high-school, he kickstarted his career by working in Chianti wine production when he was fourteen years old. Early in his career, he started working for the second biggest translation company in the world, which led him to move to Australia. Later on moved to the United Kingdom to work for an Investment bank.

Ruben's entrepreneurial spirit emerged upon returning to Italy, where he launched his first business. In 2012, he decided to relocate all his businesses to Montenegro where he has been living for the past six years. He launched Wall Street International Magazine in 2011, with two partners, as an educational hub that focused on tracking cultural content and creating a high-end multimedia tool. Under his leadership, WSI Magazine has grown to over 1,000 people worldwide and 10M yearly readers. Ruben also serves on the boards of directors of several companies, including Villas Link, a luxury villas rental company, Admaiora Group, a firm that provides concierge services, and Cecchi de Rossi, a high-end fashion company that produces leather bags treated with wine. He is also the manager of a real estate investment fund.

In recent years, Ruben has ventured into business consulting and mentorship to promote positive entrepreneurship and inspire more people to seek their full potential.

Connect with Ruben:

email: info AT rubenvergaram.com www.facebook.com/rubenvergaram www.twitter.com/rubenvergaramwww.instagram.com/rubenvergaramwww.linkedin.com/in/rubenvergaram

www.rubenvergaram.com www.wsimag.com www.villaslink.com www.admaioragroup.com www.cecchiderossi.com

Here's to Getting Unstuck, Cynthia

Author Anna Goldfarb is one of my favorite creative people, and I'm so happy to have her as a guest on GOAL MAGIC! I first learned about Anna back when she was the editor behind the wildly popular (but now retired) dating blog Shmitten Kitten. Since then, we’ve built up a friendship based upon our shared love of writing goofy email newsletters. Just to let you know, Anna writes my favorite newsletter in the whole world and you should totally go subscribe to it at annagoldfarb.com.

Now happily married with Shmitten Kitten in her rearview mirror, Anna makes a living writing fearlessly about relationships, culture and food for publications like The New York Times, Vice and Thrillist. Anna writes with a bold and exuberant wit and she’s not afraid to offend people who might disagree with her. With titles like “What I wish I'd Known Before Moving in Together” “The Top 10 Worst Things I’ve Eaten at Trader Joe’s” and “What to Say When People Ask Why You’re Not Having Children” you can see why Anna’s articles get tons of impassioned comments from readers. 

Anna is also the author of the humor memoir, Clearly, I Didn’t Think This Through: The Story of One Tall Girl’s Impulsive, Ill-Conceived, and Borderline Irresponsible Life Decisions. It’s a hilarious and heart-warming book. 

We discuss these topics (and many more) in the episode: 

• Being intentional with your network
• How a creative network is different from other social networks
• How Anna knew her husband was "the one"
• How to survive as an adult living in your parents' basement
• The best locale for forcing yourself to write
• How to deal with one-star reviews online
• How we sometimes confuse our friends with our fans on social media
• The pros and cons of freelance writing
• The value of finding an "accountability buddy"
• Remember: success is not a straight line!
• How jealousy can lead to personal insight

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it! 

Stay Magical, Brennen

Sponsor Love: This delicious episode is sponsored by Whipped Bakeshop. Their award-winning cookies make perfect gifts. Fall in love: https://whippedbakeshop.com/ 

Intro Music: We are One  by Vexento We Are One by Vexento https://www.youtube.com/user/Vexento https://soundcloud.com/vexento Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Ssvu2yncgWU

Outro music: Nostalgia by Tobu  tobumusic.com/license https://soundcloud.com/7obu/nostalgia

I'm happy to share this chat I recorded with entrepreneur Ellin Lolis. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, Ellin found herself in Sao Paolo Brazil. Ellin and I discuss what it was like for her being an ex-pat in Brazil, the highs and lows that she experienced in acclimating personally and professionally to a different country, and how some of the cultural hurdles actually pushed Ellin to start her own successful consulting business.

We also touch on how Ellin uses her coaching for students considering an MBA, and why an MBA track isn’t always the next best step. There so much to learn from Ellin’s journey and her story may make you ask yourself your own WHY’s, so you won’t want to miss one second.

We discussed these topics and many more: 

• The importance of delegating tasks as a business owner
• How entrepreneurs (especially) need to be able to say no
• How to respond when clients ask for a huge discount
• You have to trust yourself and your ability to deliver value
• How to convey credibility, even if you're just starting out
• Why money isn't always the greatest motivator for everyone
• Why it's critical to follow your own path and not someone else's

Connect with Ellin: http://ellinlolis.com/  LinkedIn

Here's to Getting Unstuck, Cynthia

Sponsor Love: This sparkly episode is sponsored by GLDN jewelry. Use code MAGIC at checkout to save 15% on your first purchase! https://www.gldn.com/

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Outro music: Nostalgia by Tobu  tobumusic.com/license https://soundcloud.com/7obu/nostalgia

I am delighted to share an interview I recorded with a dear friend and life coach Jennifer Blaine. Jennifer and I had talked back in episode 3 of our podcast but in this one, Jennifer and I talk specifically about how you can start to get unstuck. We discuss how to figure out what moves you spiritually and emotionally, and how identifying that can help direct your energy towards getting unstuck. 

We covered the following topics:

• We are always in transition
• Most people are searching for their life's work, "the big thing"
• The power of literally saying hmmmm when you feel stuck
• How you can experiment in real time to see what you like and what you don't like so you can do more of what's working 
• Things take as long as they take when it comes to emotional healing or dealing with tragedy
• It helps to write down the things you love so much that you wish they could be your job
• Even before we know what "the big thing" is, we can still make an intention of some kind 
• How we are when we're on the way to a goal is how we'll be when we reach the goal
• Always be in gratitude or appreciation as you work toward goals
• Make the intention to listen to yourself
• You can get clues to your "big thing" by watching other people and getting inspired by them AND by noticing a rising energy in yourself when you think of a certain undertaking or path

Here's to Getting Unstuck, Cynthia

This week's healthy episode is sponsored by Wellness by Cynthia. Wellness by Cynthia is my own site and blog where I educate and dish about my favorite wellness products, tips, and experiences. Check it out! https://wellnessbycynthia.com/   BONUS: If you enroll as a Young Living essential oils rewards member, I’ll give you $10 towards your second order when you contact me and mention the code “Goal Magic.”

Intro Music: We are One  by Vexento We Are One by Vexento https://www.youtube.com/user/Vexento https://soundcloud.com/vexento Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Ssvu2yncgWU

Outro music: Nostalgia by Tobu  tobumusic.com/license https://soundcloud.com/7obu/nostalgia