Mastering Midlife Podcast

Brian Souza is the Founder and CEO of Productivity Drivers, a sales leadership training and consulting firm specializing in building world-class, high-performance teams and organizations. He is also a New York Times bestselling author and a highly sought-after keynote speaker. His book The Weekly Coaching Conversation is an informative and accessible coaching framework backed with years of thorough research. He has influenced and instructed over ten thousand sales leaders and managers worldwide with clients that include Google, ServiceNow, Boeing, and Wells Fargo. Brian currently resides in San Diego with his wife, two daughters, and his dog.

Today, Brian joins me to share his journey from the early days in 90’s Silicon Valley with Netscape and other hi-tech startups to a fast track of success and substantial corporate responsibility. He reveals how a creeping feeling of lack of direction and meaning led him and his wife to quit their high-status jobs to reevaluate their lives while on a worldwide sabbatical. Brian stresses the need for people  to look at the quality of our lives and why we should be considering what we will think of our life lived when it comes to the ‘rocking chair test.’ He also explains the necessity for sales leaders to have genuine introspection of their methods and results and why self-awareness is key to achieving the right mindset for a high-performing leader.

“It starts with awareness and, more specifically, self-awareness. It's realizing that how you perceive your management approach is probably very different than how your team members perceive your management approach.” - Brian Souza

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Why escalating his career too fast and too early meant Brian needed to tap out and reevaluate
• How to motivate sales leaders with both extrinsic and intrinsic methods
• Why we should be thinking about designing a life rather than just ‘making a living’
• How to take a moment to search for introspection and reflection of your life
• What happens when a great leader has meaningful conversations with their workforce
• Why there needs to be continuity within a corporation's management philosophy

Connect with Brian Souza:

• Productivity Drivers Website
• Brian Souza on LinkedIn
• Book: The Weekly Coaching Conversation: A Business Fable about Taking Your Team's Performance - and Your Career - to the Next Level

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I’ve discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity. 

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you.  My “10 Uncomfortable Truths” about overwhelm, from “Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life.”

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book. 

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

When a topic gets repeated by three people you respect in the same week, you listen.

Sure, big goals and big vision are needed to accomplish great things.  But they are usually accomplished playing small ball.  Little wins every day that add up.

"Have big goals and big dreams, have a posse’ of people to hold them, then concentrate on the small wins”  – Mark J. Silverman

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I’ve discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity. 

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you.  My “10 Uncomfortable Truths” about overwhelm, from “Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life.”

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book. 

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Steve Schlafman is the Founder of High Output, a boutique leadership development company, where he coaches to improve the habits, productivity, and energy management of high-performing entrepreneurs. A certified coach, Steve is also an angel investor, facilitator, and speaker, with a Bachelor's Degree in Business from Northeastern University. He has previously held a mix of operating and investor roles with companies including Primary Venture Partners, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, RRE Ventures, The Kraft Group / The New England Patriots, and Microsoft. Steve currently splits his time between Manhattan and the Catskills and enjoys spending time with his family, meditating, reading, cooking, and - of course - watching the Patriots.

In today’s episode, Steve shares the moment he became aware he was not living life the way he felt it should be lived after reading Eckhart Tolle's most famous book, The Power of Now. He shares his journey of recovering from an addiction he had managed from his teenage years until his mid-thirties. Steve explains the process of acknowledging he was done with the corporate life and just how long it took to take the idea of coaching to become a fully qualified and experienced coach. He also reveals the aspects of coaching that many founders and high-performing leaders need and benefit from and shares his own unique experience of what working in those industries brings to his coaching.

“Energy Management is more important than Time Management.” - Steve Schlafman

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• How reading The Power of Now was Steve’s lightbulb moment
• Why ‘energy management' is more important than time management
• How meditation was the gateway to Steve’s self-discovery
• Why leaders find sharing their struggles difficult
• The difficult conversations new companies should have

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: The Power of Now

Connect with Steve Schlafman:

• High Output Website
• The Founder Library
• Steve Schlafman's Website
• Steve Schlafman on LinkedIn
• Steve Schlafman on Facebook
• Steve Schlafman on Twitter

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I’ve discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity. 

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you.  My “10 Uncomfortable Truths” about overwhelm, from “Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life.”

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book. 

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Warning: The podcast host is in a bit of a grumpy mood. 

What starts off as a rant about the coaching industry (maybe I should have cut it out) turns into a discussion about “authenticity.” 

Is authenticity really a thing?  How do we find it?  Create it?  Live it?

Join me for this exploration…

"We relive the first seven years of our lives, unless we interrupt those patterns.”  – Mark J. Silverman

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Media Mark vs Private Mark.
• Tim Storey, coach to the stars, being candid about his humanity and his brand.
• Is authenticity really real?
• What does it mean to be authentic?
• Are you your name? Your personality?  Some trait?
• How conditioning contributes to “who we think we are.”
• What the Jesuits say about “adults.”
• Steve Chandler on Reinvention.
• Actually, there is a part of us that is authentic.

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I’ve discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity. 

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you.  My “10 Uncomfortable Truths” about overwhelm, from “Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life.”

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book. 

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Peter O Estevez is the Host of the Coming Clean Podcast, a show committed to connecting international thought leaders who help others to thrive in our ever-changing world. Sober for 18 years, Peter’s advocacy for addiction support has led to him writing his upcoming new book, From Lies to Riches - 13 Steps to a Healthy Life in Recovery. Born in Mexico City and living in the US since he was ten years old, Peter is now an irrepressible entrepreneur. He is Co-Founder of EGO Mergers & Acquisitions LLC and a partner of several companies, including BLUESKY Biofuels, developing relationships between America and Mexico for the Energy, Oil, and Gas industries.

In today’s episode, Peter joins me to discuss growth, giving back, and the importance of our contribution to the world and the legacy we leave. He reveals the personal struggles he had with his father and what he recognized in his own behavior when his son accused him of failing him. He describes his long journey with recovery and how being sober alone did not solve his problems, leading to revisiting the 12-Step Program, and at one point, a week in jail for contempt of court. Peter also shares his search for the answers to becoming a better person, the workshops he joined, and what he discovered about himself to make that transformation.

“Most of us are afraid of making change. We stay in the comfort zone, not because it's comfortable, but because it's known. It is easier to be complacent than to take action.” - Peter O Estevez

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• How self-discovery came out of Peter’s recovery
• How Peter stopped the cycle of parental neglect by forgiving the generations before him
• Why going back to the 12-Step Program helped even when Peter was sober
• How a Google search led Peter to a workshop with Michael Beckwith
• Why you shouldn't confuse comfort for a safe or satisfying existence
• How you can be the one to break a cycle of negative family behaviors

Resources Mentioned:

• Michael Beckwith
• Clubhouse

Connect with Peter O Estevez:

• Peter O Estevez’s Website
• Peter O Estevez on LinkedIn
• Peter O Estevez on Instagram
• Peter O Estevez on Facebook
• Peter O Estevez on Twitter
• The Coming Clean Podcast

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I’ve discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity. 

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you.  My “10 Uncomfortable Truths” about overwhelm, from “Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life.”

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book. 

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

In 2009, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon.  I couldn’t run a mile when I declared it publicly, but I was determined, it was a “10.”  What got me through the time challenges, the exhaustion, the whining, the pain?... The fact that I said it to the world, documented my progress and took people’s money for charity.  I couldn’t back out.

"Now that people were giving me money for every mile I ran, I couldn’t back out?”  – Mark J. Silverman

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Decide what you want to do.
• Make a public declaration, no matter the feedback.
• Practice, talk about it, struggle with it….in public
• Put money on it.
• Get Support.
• Do things you never thought possible.

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I’ve discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity. 

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you.  My “10 Uncomfortable Truths” about overwhelm, from “Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life.”

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book. 

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Tom Mendoza currently resides as a Director on the boards of several companies including Unipath, Veronis, and VAST Data. He is the former President and Vice-Chair of NetApp, a hybrid cloud data service and data management company that has ranked in the Fortune 500 list since 2012. After 25 impressive years with NetApp, Tom retired from the company to share his wealth of knowledge and experience by guest lecturing on the power of corporate culture to benefit the younger business generation. Tom is a big believer in the power of social media content, where you will find his articles and talks on LinkedIn, Forbes.com, and YouTube.

In today’s episode, Tom shares the history of his father’s journey: the son of Cuban & Irish immigrants, a WW2 Veteran, and a midlife Merrill Lynch graduate adored by all, and how this influenced Tom’s own measurement of success. He discusses the principles on which NetApp was built and how this improves the quality of the people they hire. Tom invokes Teddy Roosevelt’s principles in the agreed belief that ‘people don't care how much you KNOW until they know how much you CARE.’ He also discusses the power of influence at the top and why you should never underestimate how kindness will be repaid in terms of respect, loyalty, and business.

“Work should be an extension of who you really are. You shouldn't have to create a work persona.” - Tom Mendoza

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Why an interest in people is the cornerstone of Tom’s business and life philosophy
• Why you should build a company for legacy as much as profit
• How viral culture building will improve your business
• The 4 constituencies of care to make a successful business you can be proud of
• Why showing due care to your employees creates a team full of trust and willingness to go the extra mile
• Why Tom wants his employees to be sure of success from their first day on the job

Connect with Tom Mendoza:

• Tom Mendoza on LinkedIn
• Tom Mendoza on YouTube
• Tom Mendoza on Forbes.com
• Tom Mendoza on Twitter

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I’ve discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity. 

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you.  My “10 Uncomfortable Truths” about overwhelm, from “Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life.”

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book. 

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Before 40, your body takes care of you, after 40 you take care of your body. 

But it’s not just your body.  So much of life needs to be deliberate and conscious in order to work, let alone grow and thrive.

"Now you have to plan sex… do I like it in the morning? Are the kids around?  Is my spouse up for it?”  – Mark J. Silverman

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Before 40, we are on automatic
• After 40, we need to take care of our body, our relationship, friendships, our career etc.
• Motivations and desires start to shift, we need to shift with them

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I’ve discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity. 

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you.  My “10 Uncomfortable Truths” about overwhelm, from “Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life.”

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book. 

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Lou George is the host of the Fierce Femmes Podcast and Founder and Head Coach of Fierce Femmes, a practice supporting successful purpose-driven entrepreneurs, creatives, celebrities, and leaders since 2014. Lou has been on her entrepreneurial journey for over 12 years, helping businesses grow from 0 to six figures after their first year. As an expert coach, Lou is in demand around the world, speaking at events such as The Awakened Woman Conference in Bali, The Positivity Summit In NYC, and Vogue Cafe in London. She has featured in a wide range of publications, including Thrive Global, Psychologies Magazine, Mind Body Spirit, Hay House blog, The Business Journals, and Huffington Post. Lou is also an actress you might have seen in ‘Our Kind of Traitor’ with Damian Lewis on Netflix or in the UK’s most popular, long-running soap Eastenders.

Lou joins me today to discuss what we can achieve if we investigate the intelligence of our heart and gut as well as our brain. She explains the practice of M-Braining: multi-brain integration techniques to explore the intelligence we can gain when our hearts and our gut are in harmony with our minds. Lou discusses the questions we should ask of each of those parts of our internal ‘corporate system’ where the brain might try to run the show without due advice from the rest of the body. She also reveals how having sudden panic attacks at the end of 2018 was so severe she thought her life was in danger and why she attributes Kundalini yoga to saving her life.

“We want to listen to our heart, follow our gut and direct our head.“ - Lou George

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Using the Multi-Brain integration techniques to resolve decision conflict between your head and your heart
• The ‘corporate’ way to take control of your thoughts and feelings to make the business of your life a success
• The questions you should ask your Head, Heart, and Gut
• How NLP will create coherence for the goals of your body and mind
• The benefits of Kundalini Yoga for aligning body and mind intelligence
• How to bring harmony back into your being

Connect with Lou George:

• Fierce Femme Website
• Lou George on Instagram
• The Money Vortex Coaching Program

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I’ve discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity. 

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you.  My “10 Uncomfortable Truths” about overwhelm, from “Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life.”

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book. 

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.

Silly name for a podcast.  Sounds like a 5-year-old recorded it.  And that’s the point.

Hint: This podcast is not about a fish tank.

"What makes your soul sing?  Do you allow yourself to experience it?”  – Mark J. Silverman

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Way too much detail on setting up a tank
• Covid fatigue is real, even if things aren’t that bad for you, you need relief
• What brings YOU joy? Real Joy?
• Give yourself the gift of what brings you that joy

Are you a busy, overwhelmed business leader?

Through my work as an author and executive coach, I’ve discovered the 10 lies we all tell ourselves that keep us away from true productivity and creativity. 

If constant firefighting is part of your daily grind, I have a free gift for you.  My “10 Uncomfortable Truths” about overwhelm, from “Only 10s, Confront Your To-Do List – Transform Your Life.”

Go to www.markjsilverman.com, click on the red banner and receive your 10 videos (one minute, one per day) as well as the first chapter of the book. 

While you are there, check out some of the other ways I may be able to help you on the journey.

Mastering Midlife...Together!

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of the Mastering Midlife Podcast: How to Thrive When the World Asks the Most of You with Mark Silverman. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.

Be sure to visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube and don’t forget to share your favorite episodes on social media.