Mastering Midlife Podcast

Dan Waldschmidt is a renowned business strategist, author, keynote speaker, and ultra-runner, with one of his achievements being the 10th person to run Everest. He helps business leaders build their strategies in a way that affords them time to live life outside of work. Dan also wrote the book, Edgy Conversations, where he imparted wisdom that aims to make readers rethink their definition of success and show them how successful leaders do it.

Dan joins me today to share his thoughts on how people define success and how they equate it with material possessions and luxury. He explains the negative effects of trying to be like our heroes and having a mindset of who we think we should be. He discusses how you can progress in life even when what you're doing isn't awesome to other people. Dan also describes the importance of meditation and breathing exercises.

"It is the truth that just working hard isn't good enough to get you where you want to be." - Dan Waldschidt

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• How consumerism is slowly causing us to lose our vigor.
• Why chasing our heroes can be impractical and demotivating.
• The kind of conversation we should be having all over the world.
• What it feels like to be stuck and how to get out of this state.
• Not appearing to be doing something awesome, but doing something that feels awesome.
• Why you shouldn't have a mindset of what you should be.
• How you can be honest with yourself and other people in your life.
• Why you should meditate and how it helps you during a busy day.
• Knowing someone's state of mind just by their breathing.

Resources Mentioned:

• Relentless by Tim Grover

Connect with Dan Waldschmidt:

• Official Website
• Book: Edgy Conversations
• Grab a copy of Dan's Free E-book

Get FREE Access to the Only 10's Course

Are you struggling with knowing what, when, and how to focus your efforts to get things done? As a long-time sufferer of severe ADD, I understand the struggle - and that's why I created the Only 10's system. This system has helped me and thousands of others clear the clutter and focus their energy on getting the right things done.

The Only 10's free online course is based on my proven system to help you focus your attention and maintain momentum around your day-to-day life.

Sign up for the Only 10's free course today!

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.

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.

Karen Goldfinger Baker is a powerful Executive Coach with a demonstrated history of working with inspired leaders to be extraordinary. Significant experience, knowledge, and skills in Business, Nonprofit Organizations, Coaching, and Team Building. Strong, direct, networked professional with certification from Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

It doesn't matter your accomplishments (a Super bowl Ring), or your title, shame and worthiness are part of the equation if you are a thinking, feeling human being. Karen Goldfinger Baker works with NFL Players and Top Executives and shares with us the common themes that even the elite deal with. I love this conversation because what I learned from Karen, is that the self-talk, the negative feelings, or even the evidence that we are not up to the task, do not matter. Go and create anyway!

"We often have conversations about magnificent possibility, and then we get to….'but not for me,' and it's heartbreaking." – Karen Goldfinger Baker

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• The cost of holding on to the façade.
• How Karen creates amazing things, even with the feelings of shame and unworthiness.
• Karen's one-line business plan: "Heal what you can, accept what can't, and get what you want anyway.
• Listen for how Karen really expresses the above statement. Way more visceral.
• The secret sauce from unworthiness to peace.

Resources Mentioned and Connect with Karen:

• Contact Karen
• com
• Trauma Hiders Club Podcast
• Karen Goldfinger Baker LinkedIn

Get FREE Access to the Only 10's Course

Are you struggling with knowing what, when, and how to focus your efforts to get things done? As a long-time sufferer of severe ADD, I understand the struggle - and that's why I created the Only 10's system. This system has helped me and thousands of others clear the clutter and focus their energy on getting the right things done.

The Only 10's free online course is based on my proven system to help you focus your attention and maintain momentum around your day-to-day life.

Sign up for the Only 10's free course today!

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.

Sam Morris is a partner at the Human Kind Holistic Consulting Firm and the founder of Zen Warrior Training, an embodied wisdom coaching program dedicated to helping high performers achieve self-mastery. After enduring a spinal cord injury in 1999, Sam dove deep into the somatic healing arts, depth psychology, wisdom traditions, and the innate intelligence of the human body. Today, Sam is dedicated to helping his clients live from an awakened state of presence in their businesses and lives through the mastery of mind, body, and spirit.

Sam joins me today to share his journey and how he became the Zen Warrior. He discusses why the first thing he did after surviving a car accident was learn to forgive. He describes the intelligence of the human body and how one can tap it for healing. He shares the insights he realized while recovering in a hospital and discusses how we can find our spirit when we recognize our humanity. Sam also explains why grace and grit are powerful when combined and underscores how we can cultivate equanimity amidst a time of constant change.

"You can cultivate an unstoppable level of equanimity in your mind. No matter what's going on around you, you can be the eye of the hurricane in a world of chaos." - Sam Morris

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• The power of forgiving others for your own sake
• The intelligence of the human body and what somatic healing entails
• The energy of resentment
• How the subconscious mind holds our life's history and how it impacts our wellbeing
• Our tendency to repeat the patterns of our parents
• The fear of the unknown and rebelling against limiting beliefs
• How Sam started rebuilding his identity while he was recovering from his spinal cord injury
• Letting go of pride, shame, and ego
• Using deep, conscious breaths to reactivate the parasympathetic nervous system and relieve anxiety
• Serving from a place of love and finding creative opportunities in a crisis
• What makes the combination of grace and grit powerful

Connect with Sam Morris:

• Zen Warrior Training
• Human Kind Consulting on LinkedIn
• Sam Morris on LinkedIn
• Sam Morris on Instagram
• Sam Morris on Facebook
• Sam Morris on Twitter

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.

We all make mistakes. They can riddle us with regret. But that don't have to.

Join me today as we explore how to shift perspective on our mistakes.

"I wouldn't go back and tell my 18 or 25 year old a thing if it would change anything about my life today."– Mark J. Silverman

• I have made health, financial, relationship mistakes, and I have few regrets
• Mistakes look like mistakes at the time, but eventually, the gold may reveal itself
• The scars I have make me who I am
• Dedication and commitment to make anything that happens, for the good, is essential
• When you are in the thick (of a regrettable situation) of it, choose the best possible perspective
• What is the lesson we can learn, shift we can make, impact we can create because of this experience?

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.

Kara Goldin is the Founder and CEO of Hint Inc., the leading brand of unsweetened flavored water. She is the author of Undaunted: Overcoming Doubt and Doubters, a Wall Street Journal best-selling book about the doubts, fears, and challenges she faced as she built her own company. Before founding Hint, Kara had worked in many companies across various industries, such as Time, CNN, and Aol. The Huffington Post listed Kara as one of six disruptors in business—alongside Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg—while EY named her as Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California. Kara is also the host of The Kara Goldin Show, a podcast where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs, and other disruptors across industries.

Kara joins me today to discuss how trying to be healthy and giving up diet soda led her to create Hint. She explains how to find an idea that can turn into a business and cautions against rushing to become an entrepreneur. She describes how her family shaped the person she is today and discusses why entrepreneurs shouldn't put all their eggs in one basket. Kara also highlights the importance of looking back at your greatest challenges and underscores the power of stories in creating advocates for your business.

"Doing your best to keep your head held up high allows you to recover and know that you can come back." - Kara Goldin

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• How Kara went from working as a company executive to building her own company
• Why you shouldn't rush to be an entrepreneur
• Why stories are powerful and the importance of having a "try and see" attitude
• Kara's childhood and how it shaped her attitude towards entrepreneurship
• Why nothing is ever stable—even in a large company
• The certainty of risk and why entrepreneurs need to look back at their biggest challenges
• Losing graciously and how Kara managed her emotions amid business problems
• What the 2008-09 global financial crisis taught Kara about resilience

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Future Proofing You: Twelve Truths for Creating Opportunity, Maximizing Wealth, and Controlling Your Destiny in an Uncertain World by Jay Samit

Connect with Kara Goldin:

• Hint Inc.
• Kara Goldin Website
• The Kara Goldin Show
• Book: Undoubted: Overcoming Doubt and Doubters by Kara Goldin
• Hint Inc. on LinkedIn
• Hint Inc. on Instagram
• Hint Inc. on Facebook
• Hint Inc. on Twitter
• Hint Inc. on Pinterest
• Kara Goldin on LinkedIn
• Kara Goldin on Instagram
• Kara Goldin on Facebook
• Kara Goldin on Twitter
• Kara Goldin on YouTube

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.

How do we combat imposter syndrome? We check the facts.

The question comes up, "Who am I to do X?

"Have you turned down something cool because you thought you weren't qualified?" – Mark J. Silverman

• Answer the question: "Who I Am Is…"
• List your accomplishments, your grit, your creativity
• If you are stretching for something beyond your norm, internal resistance will show up
• What's in your world that you want to try…. That may be outside your current expertise?
• Make sure you have a Posse' who remind you when you forget

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.

Brad Demuzio is "The Middle-Aged Survivor." Brad was a former trader who was supposed to be put in a white-collar prison. Instead, he was mixed with people incarcerated for crimes related to violence. However, looking back, he realized that it was for the best. While in federal prison, he learned about himself, people, and life. Today, Brad is making the most out of his second chance, teaching others the mental and physical skills he learned in prison to survive and thrive in life.

Brad joins me today to share his experience in federal prison as well as the seven reasons everyone should go to one. He describes his first conversation and the friend he made, and shares the lessons he learned by interacting with other inmates. He explains why he thinks the prison system is a "warehousing" situation and why it promotes further unlawful behavior. He also underscores the wisdom of self-honesty and confession and highlights the value of listening with one's heart.

"People often keep their problems as secrets, keeping it at bay so nobody knows about it. That's imprisoning. The best thing you can do to free your soul is to be honest with yourself." - Brad Demuzio

Today on Mastering Midlife:

• Brad's life before he went to prison and how he became The Middle-Aged Survivor
• How prison became a home and what he learned from his cellmate
• Our tendency to dehumanize people who are imprisoned
• How Brad overcame self-loathing with honesty
• Why people need to be honest with themselves
• The first year of Brad's imprisonment and how he started to enjoy his life there
• The insidiousness of large stretches of unproductive, idle time
• How the prison system is not geared towards rehabilitation and how it can worsen unlawful behavior
• Re-discovering God, peace, family, respect, and prosperity while imprisoned
• How Brad and his wife are rebuilding their relationship after his incarceration
• The role of money in maintaining a relationship
• Learning the value of listening with the heart in prison
• The power of confession

Connect with Brad Demuzio:

• Brad Demuzio on Twitter

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.

Dr. Neil Fiore in his incredible book, "The Now Habit," asserts that fear is the cause of most procrastination. He suggests focusing on starting rather than finishing as a goal.

Today I discuss how starting leads to momentum and ultimately a product of that effort.

It all begins with that first word, step or call.

"Once you start, the ideas and creativity come." – Mark J. Silverman

• D.D. and the fear of the fog
• The first 10 Podcast episodes to number three hundred and twenty-eight
• Starting a writing habit
• Dickie Bush's Ship 30 for 30
• Public declarations, cohorts, creating in public

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.