Journeys with the No Schedule Man

Angela Kontgen is a meditation coach and creator who helps people live life at new levels. After a decade of coaching people in all aspects of life and leadership, these days she focuses on one thing: meditation. There are a number of reasons why, and she goes over those in our conversation I love how Angela describes herself as being able to help people shift from "survival to creation mode" and to begin using the power of their mind to become the creators of whatever it is they wish to experience and become.

If you have ever questioned the path that you were on and wondered if there's something more, you're going to want to listen through this entire conversation.

If you are in a job that does not align with you and your values and you're not sure what to do about that, you're going to want to listen through this entire conversation.

If you've ever arrived to the point in your life, whether it be in a relationship or a career situation or with a certain habit and think, "I just can't do this anymore," make sure to listen to this episode. You are going to want to hear what Angela has to share, especially throughout the second half of this conversation.

Some of the key takeaways I took from Angela included:

1. Value of Awareness – First, there's the art of noticing that you are not noticing, and recognizing the crutch of always being in a state of doing. Second, as young people we mostly did not have an awareness to even have awareness in the first place, which is why so many of us get well into our lives and find ourselves unhappy and adorned with what Angela calls the "golden handcuffs."
2. The Joy of Rediscovering Yourself – Ideally, you'll never lose yourself in the first place, but Angela rediscovered her love for wellness and physical fitness, which she had largely fallen out of touch with. For me, it was music, this podcast, creative expression … what is it for you?
3. What to expect once you decide to forge your own destiny - Angela gives a great description of this phenomenon, and it outlines why so many people never try. But if you can listen to and allow yourself to be guided by those who have gone through the fire before us, you'll see that there is, in fact, a way through.

©2017 Kevin Bulmer Enterprises

Amanda Weber is affectionately known as a Happiness Coach and recovering people-pleaser. She helps people discover their happiest, healthiest and most successful version of themselves amid the often chaotic nature of life. Through one-on-one coaching, group workshops and speaking, and through her blog and podcast called "The Full Life," Amanda helps bring clarity, perspective and what she calls the full life to those with whom she interacts. Amanda knows from experience what it's like to arrive at a certain point in your life stressed out, unhappy, and waking up at three in the morning feeling like there must be something more to life. An inherent people-pleaser, Amanda had to embark upon a journey of self-discovery, which she sometimes had to do against her initial instincts, in order to find peace of mind and joy for herself. She tells that story with remarkable clarity and honesty in this conversation.

Some of the key points I took from my time with Amanda include:

1. Take Care of Yourself So You Can Take Care Of Others – Listen for her story of how she recognized that, by depleting herself, it was affecting her kids, and how she describes her "3 a.m. promise" to stop being reactive them.

1. Life Gets Away – This happens to a lot of us without us realizing it. It certainly happened to me. If you don't stop to consider where you're going and why, life will carry you along on its own … and it won't always take you to where you'd like to go. As Amanda says, "I think life kind of got away on me … I got that first job, and it led to the second, and it led to the third, and the more that I people-pleased and got stuff done, the more the next-best opportunity would come. And so I think life kind of took me somewhere versus me deciding where I would go, and I'm not sure it lines up at all with that little person that I started out as." Sound familiar? Yeah, it does for me, too.
2. Recognizing Adversity as Opportunity – Her story of being grateful to her husband for leaving is powerful.

©2017 Kevin Bulmer Enterprises

Carl Good is the co-founder of Good Family Matters, a mediation center based here in London, Ontario that teaches and encourages positive methods mediation (PMM) where they reframe conflict into an opportunity to create a best-case working partnership.

Just as I have been, Carl has been through a separation and divorce. He's come out of it passionate about wanting to help people, not just to move through that very difficult time of their lives in as proactive a manner as possible, but to coach and equip them with the skills that will enhance their lives and the lives of their children going forward.

I have spent some time with Carl over the last many months and I can tell you that he is absolutely sincere, kind, creative and compassionate individual. He really and truly wants to help.

Here are some key takeaways I took for my time with Carl Good:

1. Negative Becoming Normal and Your Environment Changing Who You Are – When Carl's divorce court proceedings were over and he was ready to move on, he thought he should have been happy but he wasn't. Negative had become normal and he didn't know what to do next. He also gives a great account of what was happening in his police career and he realized he was becoming more negative and cynical and that it was wearing on him. He noted that he was living in fear and he didn't like what that was doing to him, that it was "changing who he was." Have a listen to see what he did about it.

2. Finding Common Ground - He said it took about four years but after all of that negativity there was there was a time when he and his former wife came together over an issue involving the school that their child was attending. This brought them together he shares a story about it that I found extremely touching. There is an incredible power in common ground, especially when you realize that you're in it together and are really willing to put the children first.

3. Check Your Ego - For the sake of yourself and your future, and your children (if you have them) and their future … when the waters get rough, take as many deep breaths as you need to. Check your ego. Make good decisions. If you listen to nothing else from this episode, listen to about the last 15 minutes where Carl gets into detail about the process of separation and divorce and gives an example of what's likely to happen if you take it to the courts.

©2017 Kevin Bulmer Enterprises

Laurie Hawkins is a certified business coach, success strategist, speaker, facilitator and founder of Hawk Inspired. She inspires business leaders and teams toward peak performance and achievement, and has walked an interesting path – both personally and professionally – to get to where she is today and I think you're going to find the story really interesting.

Laurie knows her stuff. She's had some terrific mentors from a very young age, and has been able to repeatedly tune into her inner wisdom to navigate along the journey, which have included some big up and downs both at work and at home.

Some of the key takeaways I took from my time with Laurie included:

1. Guiding vs Telling – Laurie gives some great accounts of her father guiding and mentoring her versus just "telling" her what to do or not do. It's a huge difference! Have a listen for that.

2. Service & Authenticity – The more of these podcasts I do, the more I am convinced that these are two essential elements for success in life in any form: contribution and being true to yourself. What a potent combination, and it's right there waiting for every single one of us to embrace and employ.

3. Human Connection – From sales techniques to the priorities of people in other parts of the world to the coming and going of technological trends, we discussed it all and agreed on one thing that applies for it all: human connection. And for a great way to initiate those connection, see the other two key takeaways, listed above.

Steve Zanella helps people learn to overcome anxiety, stress & fear with meditation, mindfulness and love. As he says, "he's just sharing his story."

Right from childhood, Steve struggled with anxiety. As he grew older, it only got worse, and showed itself in new and more challenging forms like panic attacks and social withdrawal. Eventually, he began to self-medicate with alcohol and found himself in a very dark place. In this conversation,

Steve openly discusses the challenges he faced for much of his life. But he also shares an open and honest account of what he did – and is doing – to reclaim his well-being and to live a life free of anxiety. He is living proof that it is possible, and it's part of his mission to help as many people as he can by authentically sharing his experiences from this point on.

Michael Doyle is a speaker, musician, business coach and author who believes that everyone has the power to follow their dreams and live their purpose. At the time of this discussion, he is just about to release his first book called "At The Helm: Take Control and Live Fully."

Doug Vincent is, among many other things, a Charter Member and Past President of the Woodstock-Oxford Rotary Club in Canada. He has traveled the world on Rotary humanitarian aid activities and is a Rotary Representative to the United Nations

As a third generation graduate of his family's successful farm equipment business, he is now an International Advisor to family business corporations, with a focus on harmony and communications in family business.

Doug is an honorary "Colonel" in the Philippine National Police, recognizing his role promoting global understanding, brotherhood & world peace. He has been recognized with several Leadership and Appreciation Awards for his work, including a President's Citation and the prestigious Service Above Self award, among many others. Most recently he was recognized as a distinguished Canadian with a special Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal. Doug is often called Rotary's "Roving Ambassador."

Eustan Matthews is a Business Coach, Consultant & Speaker who helps busy entrepreneurs and business owners avoid or escape what he calls "The Freedom Quandary."

Like anyone else, Eustan's story is not without its challenges. Being moved from his home country of Trinidad at an early age left him with feelings and questions he's had to carry with him since. And, like most of us, his journey has taken twists and turns and has provided opportunities for him to re-examine his path and what he can be doing to best represent his authentic self on a day-to-day basis.