I'm going to take a little departure today because there's something I think you need to know. I see you... hiding back there in the shadows. You are wondering what all of this has to do with you. You've thought about the possibility of starting a business of your own. You've heard about the success other people have had. But you just don't think it would work for you... Well, let's talk about it in today's episode.

Okay, I confess... I'm in love!  With short form video, that is. I talked about it a little bit in last weeks episode on trends, but this week I want to focus just on short form video and why I think it is so important for you to start using... like yesterday. 

So, let's cue up the intro get this episode started.

4 Trends to Watch in 2022

Social media changes a lot! The social media of 2022 is quite different from the social media of 2012 -- there are even big differences from just last year! It can be hard to keep up with the changes, and I don't consider myself an expert, necessarily, but I do follow trends and influencers, and after looking at what everyone else said would be a trend for this year, I narrowed it down to the 4 that I feel are pretty important to watch.

So, let's cue up the intro and look at the 4 Trends to Watch in 2022.

They say practice makes perfect... but I'm not so sure about that. I think perfection is highly overrated and, well, pretty unrealistic when it comes right down to it. But, you certainly improve with practice. So, let's just say practice makes proficient.

You get better, faster, more competent, and you are able to be more creative... once you have the foundation down, you can experiment without feeling like you have to color only within the lines. 

It's been a busy week. I haven't stopped learning, but I have been putting into practice what I've been learning... and hopefully getting better! 

So today, I'm going to dive into what I've been working on and what's working. Maybe you'll get some ideas that you can use for your business.

The Danger of Overtraining

If a little exercise is good for you, more must be better, right? Yes, but only up to a point. There is a tipping point where it starts causing harm. Some of the negative side effects are decreased performance, increased effort, excessive fatigue, agitation and moodiness, insomnia or loss of sleep and psychological stress and/or depression.

And before you think you've got the wrong podcast, no this episode isn't about physical training (although every one of those side effects is ALSO a possibility for athletes who over train) these are very real side effects of overtraining in your business as well.

Overtraining is just another form of professional procrastination. Trust me, it's one of my specialties, and that's what we are going to talk about on today's episode.

Where Are Your Habits Taking You?

Habits can be good or bad. They can take you where you want to go, or keep you stuck right where you are. And the tricky thing is, the habits that work for you might not work for me. 

So, how do you know which habits to develop and which to dump? That's what we are going to talk about on today's episode.

I'm back!!! With an unscripted, off the cuff apology for being absent for so long!!! 

And... let me give you a heads up on why nothing really changed when 2022 began, and what you can do about it.

Strap yourself in, crank up the sound and let's get ready to rock this year.

This might be a little raw… and a major departure from my previous episodes. You probably noticed I’ve been silent for a while. This whole virus thing has made me rethink a lot of things… and I promise not to say I have decided to “pivot”. I don’t know about you, but there are certain “buzz words” everyone jumps on that begin to get irritating after a while… And for me, that’s one of them.

But, I am taking a step back. You’ll notice a music change for this episode. You’ll also notice there are no commercials. It just doesn’t feel right. And while I’m still all about Making Connections, I think there is a far more important connection I need to make… a heart to heart connection with you, and hopefully, strengthening your connection with God.

Remember in Episode Zero I confessed that I’m a Christian and would talk about God from time-to-time. Today’s episode is going to be one of those times. So, grab a cup of coffee and let’s chat… about caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease, about cancer, and about redemption.

Maybe it’s just me…  but I’m having a little trouble focusing lately. And I’m finding myself a little more emotional than usual. Today’s episode is going to be more of a check-in really, to see how you are doing.  

Life is funny sometimes, isn’t it? Not funny as in “ha ha”, but funny as in strange. 2020 sure isn’t turning out the way I thought it would.  You either?

Let’s talk about it… how you’re feeling, how you’re coping, whether you’re working or off work, whether you’re quarantined at home or still leaving home and going to work somewhere.

So how has your life changed?  Besides not being able to buy toilet paper. – and what’s up with that anyway? I can’t believe that several weeks in, the toilet paper shelves are STILL empty at Wal-Mart. What are people doing with all that toilet paper anyway? 

How are you coping with the “new normal”? 

If you have time on your hands, how should you be spending it now?

I think “normal” is going to look quite different on the other side. There’s no better time than now to start working toward a whole new future for yourself.

I’m a day late, but welcome to Episode 12 of the Making Connections Podcast.

Note to self: Don't ever work on your podcast at 2:30 am and publish it without listening to the whole thing once through from start to finish. My apologies if you tried to listen to the previous version of this episode!

Okay, admit it. You like a great rags to riches, or underdog comes out on top kind of story. Doesn’t everyone? I mean, that’s why there were 8 Rocky movies. (If I wouldn’t get in trouble for copyright violation, I’d cue the Rocky theme right about now.)

Why do we like movies like Rocky so much? Because they give us hope. We identify with Rocky Balboa. If he could come out on top against all odds, then we have this glimmer of hope inside of us that we can too.

We want to be that champion that comes out on top. We want to do what everyone thought was impossible – at least for us to do. So, let’s dissect the plot line and discover what it was that made Rocky Balboa a champion.

This is Episode 11 of the Making Connections Podcast - Take 2!