Invincible Life - It's time to live the life you deserve

We are experiencing a stressful time in America. It doesn’t matter who you support or who you voted for; the chaos and anxiety of this moment affect all of us.

People are angry, worried, stressed, and fearful, which can spill over into their everyday interactions with friends, loved ones, neighbors, and coworkers.

And it’s not just the U.S., dear readers and listeners. I have friends and family all over the world, and they are worried, too. They’re worried about how things will change here, but they are also dealing with their own local uncertainty, political challenges, and dangers.

So yeah, we are all going through a lot and need to process our feelings and the physical impact in healthy ways. Yesterday, my Invincible Career community had its first live meeting of the year.

* A few of us talked about how we use intense exercise to manage our stress and depression.

* Some create music to deal with their anxiety and stress.

* Some create art.

* And some of us write.

I use exercise and outdoor activities to stay sane. But I’m a writer, too (obviously). I write a ton of nonfiction (e.g., newsletters, articles, books), but I also write a lot of fiction (e.g., stories, poetry).

I also start every single day with morning journaling. It helps me process my thoughts, regulate my emotions, and feel more hopeful about the future. I’ve discussed the power of writing and journaling, which you can read in the article linked below.

From the Harvard Business Review:

A certain kind of guided, detailed writing can not only help us process what we’ve been through and assist us as we envision a path forward; it can lower our blood pressure, strengthen our immune systems, and increase our general well-being. Expressive writing can result in a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression; improve our sleep and performance; and bring us greater focus and clarity. (source)

In today’s podcast episode for Invincible Life, I explain in more detail how and why I created my new morning journals, how to use them to get the most out of morning journaling, and why journaling is so good for you and your well-being!

I wanted the journals to support the personal ebb and flow of life, the daily ebb and flow of creativity and energy, and the seasonal ebb and flow of what matters to you in those moments of time. The journal covers below reflect this seasonal design.

Scroll up, hit play, and listen. I’d love to hear how you’ve used journaling — if you’re willing to share in the comments.

I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you become a more "Invincible You" so you can live your life on your terms instead of being controlled by someone else's rules. My wife and I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe.

Guess how much a provider billed me for a recent medical expense (an angiogram)?

Oh, I should first explain that I live in the U.S. You know, the country that thinks it’s okay to put people into debt for healthcare?

Okay, if you’re done guessing, I’ll tell you. $27,000.00.

Yep, $27K.

So, it got me thinking about the importance of an emergency fund. It’s money set aside to cover significant, unexpected expenses. For example:

* Medical expenses (like mine)

* Home repairs

* Replacing a major appliance

* Major car repairs

* Emergency trips (e.g., if a loved one is ill)

The funny thing is, none of this should be “unexpected.” When you’re young, you don’t know better. But, as you grow older, you realize that any and all of these types of major expenses will occur eventually.

We’ve encountered many of these expenses before — some recently.

* We had a plumbing leak that, luckily, occurred right after we came home from a vacation. But, it was an unexpected expense that we couldn’t put off.

* A few days later, my son’s car wouldn’t start. Unfortunately, it was more than just the starter and will turn out to be a $3K expense.

* Our oven stopped working a few months ago (more repairs).

* Earlier this year, the main water line to our house sprung a big, expensive leak. Man, I hate plumbing!

Luckily, this isn’t our first rodeo. We’ve been down this road of emergency expenses many times in our lives. So, we’ve learned to put money aside for an emergency fund vs. dumping expenses onto credit cards with their high interest rates.

However, telling people they should create an emergency fund is much easier than making it happen. Where does this “extra money” come from? How can you save to fund the fund?

Here are a few ideas:

* Automatically put a small percentage of your paycheck into the fund.

* If you have a cash-back credit card, put those rewards into your fund and pretend you don’t have that money.

* Cut some expenses and redirect what you were spending into the fund. For example, I used to spend $2-3K/year at Starbucks! So, I stopped doing that and used the money for more important things.

* Review your monthly subscriptions, put some on hold, and cancel others. For example, 25% of households spend more than $75 monthly on streaming subscriptions.

* Americans spend an average of $300/month dining out. Reduce that expense by making more home meals and putting the savings into your emergency fund.

* Sell some things around the house you need to get rid of anyway (e.g., old laptops, electronics, clothing) and put the earnings into the fund.

Where should you keep your emergency fund? It has to be easy to access, but you don’t want your money just sitting there waiting for an emergency to occur. So, a high-yield savings account is a good place to store the funds so they can keep growing.

No one enjoys unexpected expenses. But, unfortunately, they are a part of life. Having an emergency fund takes away a bit of the pain.

➡️ I go into more detail in the audio, so scroll up, hit play, and listen.

30 for $20! ☎️

Schedule a call and get 30 minutes of coaching for just $20 on any career topic you want to cover. Save $177 off the regular price! Note: This offer is only available for new clients who haven’t worked with me before.

I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you become a more "Invincible You" so you can live your life on your terms instead of being controlled by someone else's rules. I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.

Over the 33+ years of our marriage, my wife and I have noticed something:

* When I’m down, she’s up.

* When she’s down, I’m up.

We never intentionally tried to do this or discussed that we should do it. It just naturally happened.

We also have people in our lives (or past lives) who weren’t in balance with us like this. So, when one person struggled (e.g., depressed, worried, scared), the other person piled on and the situation spiraled down.

So, we’ve been paying attention to this dynamic in our relationship and the relationships of others (e.g., our friends and family). When couples don’t provide this counterbalance for each other, the relationship isn’t very healthy. In fact, we’ve watched relationships fail because the couple was in sync in all the wrong ways.

In this episode, we share some examples of how we’ve done this for each over the years and how beneficial it’s been for our relationship. Scroll up, hit play, and listen.

30 for $20! ☎️

Schedule a call and get 30 minutes of coaching for just $20 on any career topic you want to cover. Save $177 off the regular price! Note: This offer is only available for new clients who haven’t worked with me before.

I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you take complete control of your work and life so you can become a more “Invincible You.” I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.

My old friends canceled on me yet again. We’ve been trying to have lunch or dinner together for years, and it's pretty frustrating.

31% of Americans say they find it challenging to make new friends. I totally get it. I’ve struggled to make new friends, especially after moving away from the Bay Area in California about eight years ago and leaving the corporate world to work as a solopreneur about 14 years ago. My old social circles have slowly slipped away.

Many people I know have talked about how hard it is to make friends as you grow older. It was a lot easier while we were in school and during our early career years. But, once people got married and started families, the free time in our lives evaporated. It’s hard to make time for recreation and meeting new people when you’re working long hours and raising a family!

Another unfortunate complication in the U.S. has made it even more difficult to make new friends or even maintain old friendships: the political divide that has torn this country apart for the past eight years. People’s views have polarized, and social media has made it worse. I know some folks who are no longer talking to their parents, other close relatives, or old friends. It’s pretty bad.

I’ve lost friends because I won’t tolerate people who are racist, sexist, or homophobic. I had no idea that some of these people held these beliefs until it became okay to blast hate-filled rhetoric all over social media. Now, I know.

So, how do you make friends in this modern world?

Yes, you can make online friends all over the world, and I have. But it’s not the same as having local friends. It’s really nice to have a drink with a friend, enjoy a nice dinner with another couple, or go hiking with some interesting new folks.

I explore this topic more in this podcast episode. So, scroll up, hit play, and listen.

What has worked well for you? Leave a comment and help us out!

I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you become a more "Invincible You" so you can live your life on your terms instead of being controlled by someone else's rules. I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.

My youngest son recently turned 21. So, we’re done parenting, right? 😂

I used to think that—before we had children.

However, the parent-child relationship simply evolves and changes. It deepens.

You are the one person in this world who will always be there for them. Always!

In this podcast episode, Nicole and I discuss how our parenting has transformed as our children grow older.

I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you take complete control of your work and life so you can become a more “Invincible You.” I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.

I tire of hearing the usual BS about homeschooling. I recently mentioned that we homeschooled our children and received the usual uninformed opinions.

I responded to many of those folks to let them know more about our experience with it. But, like many things that irritate me, I decided it was time to write an article and record a podcast with my wife, who did 99.9% of our homeschooling.

* Maybe you are a young parent, and you’re struggling with decisions about your children's future education.

* Or you’re a parent who has already discovered that the educational system is failing your child—for one reason or another.

* Or, you’re a grandparent concerned about your grandchild’s education.

So, in this episode, my wife and I clear up a few myths about homeschooling. For example:

* People only homeschool for religious reasons.

* Kids will miss valuable socialization.

* Homeschooling is an all-or-nothing proposition.

* Only teachers have the skills to educate children.

* You must do all the teaching yourself.

* Homeschooled children struggle to get accepted to college later.

* Homeschooled children will struggle in the “real world” later.

Scroll up, hit play, and listen to our full conversation in this episode.

Here are some resources to learn more about homeschooling:

* National Home School Association (NHSA)

* The Homeschool Association of California (HSC)

* Home Study Resources and Curricula (U.S. federal resource)

* Homeschooling international status and statistics

I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you take complete control of your work and life so you can become a more “Invincible You.” I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.

By the way, I recorded this episode with my new microphone, and I love it! It’s the Audio-Technica AT2035 Cardioid Condenser Microphone (my affiliate link). Check it out if you do podcasting or record audio.

* Do you feel nervous speaking in front of strangers?

* Does presenting to your work colleagues give you butterflies?

* Do you get tongue-tied meeting new people or going on a first date?

You’re not alone! Most people fear public speaking. They avoid networking events, talking to strangers, presenting at conferences, and speaking on panels.

I used to be the same way.

I’d feel sick to my stomach when I had to present at a department meeting. I also avoided speaking at conferences. My palms would sweat, my heart would race, my chest would feel tight, my throat would close up, and my voice would sound weak.

However, I knew it was holding me back in my career. Heck, it was holding me back in life! So, I took a two-day course to improve my public speaking.

Later, I was promoted to management and leadership. Guess what? I had to do a lot more public speaking!

So…

* I got media training.

* I was interviewed by reporters.

* I spoke at conferences and panels.

* I spoke at meetings and events every week.

Believe it or not, I eventually fell in love with public speaking. I want you to fall in love with it, too!

My wife and I are developing courses to help people become better communicators, speakers, and presenters. In this episode, I share more details about the following twelve steps. Hit play and listen since I don’t share all the info in the text.

12 Steps to Becoming a Confident Speaker

* Tuning your vocal instrument.

* Improving your verbal delivery.

* Leveraging body language.

* Conquering your fear.

* Calming your nerves.

* Mastering your message.

* Presenting with confidence.

* Telling stories that connect.

* Embracing your humanity.

* Practicing — and even more practice!

* Building rapport with the audience.

* Learning to love it!

As I said, we are creating a series of courses focused on these topics. Would you be interested in developing and enhancing your speaking skills?

If you answered yes, subscribe to be notified when the courses are ready. Thanks!

I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you take complete control of your work and life so you can become a more “Invincible You.” I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.

Note: My mic picked up some interference and generated static at a few points in my recording. Sorry about that!

In this episode, my wife Nicole joins me again as co-host.

We wanted to talk about our new empty nest life and how we are managing it. Our youngest child recently graduated from college. So, now we’re bracing for the next phase of his moving farther away to start his new life!

We discuss:

* The feelings you experience during graduation milestones.

* How life is an endless series of small losses, but how you can seek new gains.

* What that empty nest syndrome is like for each of us.

* Some risks and myths about the empty nest.

* What comes after this phase of raising children to adulthood.

* How we stay connected to our children.

* What parenting looks like when your children become adults.

* How we are transitioning to this next phase of our lives.

Scroll up and hit play to listen to the full episode… 

I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you take complete control of your work and life so you can become a more “Invincible You.” I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.

In this episode, I have a special co-host: My wife, Nicole!

I thought it would be fun to talk with her about our fitness and health journey over the past 16 years. I have her to thank for getting me on track!

We discuss:

* How we decided it was time to do something about our health.

* The journey we took to get started with exercise.

* How we stay motivated.

* What we’re doing now that we have an empty nest.

* Some myths about weightlifting and exercise for women and older people, but why it’s so important to keep doing it!

Scroll up and hit play to listen to the full episode… 

🤖 By the way, you might enjoy checking out the new AI Coach I created over the past few weeks. I leveraged over 8 years of my articles, podcast episodes, and videos to feed the knowledge base. You can ask it questions about life, career, business, or whatever you feel like!

I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you take complete control of your work and life so you can become a more “Invincible You.” I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.

⛔️ WARNING: I talk about alcohol abuse and depression in this episode.

Believe it or not, I hit rock bottom at 20 years old.

I’ve never shared this story before, but as someone who coaches people who sometimes worry they are failing in life, I think it’s time. I want folks to know it’s always possible to turn their lives around.

Judging by some comments I’ve received on social media and in my DMs, I think some people believe my life has always been easy. That I’m a lucky person. Somehow, it’s all been sunshine and puppies and unicorn ponies frolicking in a meadow filled with beautiful wildflowers.

How cool would that be?

Unfortunately, it’s not true.

However, it is true that now I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. I focus relentlessly on my relationships, being healthy, working on things I believe in, and spending my days the way I want.

And that’s because I hit bottom once and didn’t like where my life was heading. I didn’t like who I had become. I knew I had to find a better path forward. So now, I refuse to backslide.

They say it’s always darkest before the dawn. That’s certainly true for my life.

I stumbled and fell. It seemed hopeless. But I got on my feet, reinvented myself, and created an amazing life despite those colossal mistakes.

No matter how down you feel, you can always come back and become the person you know you are capable of being.

I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you take complete control of your work and life so you can become a more “Invincible You.” I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.