Next Simple Step

Paul Goldsmith discusses the importance of learning to say no to protect your time and energy. Drawing parallels to professional sports and entrepreneurship, Paul emphasizes the need for personal growth, risk-taking, and the importance of prioritizing critical opportunities over lesser ones.

He shares three practical tips for learning the art of saying "No".

1. Assert your boundaries clearly and politely – being direct,
2. Practice in low-stakes situations
3. Offer alternatives.

Paul highlights how saying no can lead to increased productivity, better business decisions, and more meaningful relationships with those who matter most.

Paul Goldsmith challenges the notion that being perpetually busy is a virtue. It means you have a lack of priorities. Paul shares his journey from working in an office to realizing the freedom of owning his own time as an entrepreneur.

Reclaim hours in your day through strategic planning and prioritization. The 8-hour workday culture, driven by corporate interests, keeps people in a state of dissatisfaction that fuels consumerism. Negotiate your time, prioritize self-care and your health!

Being fit and focused creates margin in your life. Everyone gets sick, or worse, at some point, which is exactly why it's critical to be proactive with your health and build up as much health margin as possible. Train every day like your life depends on it because it does.

I ran 6 miles in 100-degree heat today. Not because I wanted to ... it was just part of "the plan", my marathon training plan. My encouragement to you is to create your own life plans and be prepared for hard days, life's challenges, and setbacks along the way.

Many people start out with the best of intentions and get lost along the way of life because they don't have a life plan. Once you have lifetime goals, break them down into yearly and quarterly goals.

It's your life! Prioritize activities that yield the highest returns both in the short term and long and remain proactive and agressive in pursuing your life plans.

If you are disheartened in your current situation ... and thinking of making a pivot, listen to this episode. Paul Goldsmith shares his observations about how pride and fear often hold people back from making necessary changes. He shares inspiring stories of individuals who have successfully pivoted in their careers to be in alignment with their current interests, including an MIT-educated neurosurgeon who dramatically pivoted his life by quitting when he became disheartened by the medical industry.

Be curious, and take proactive steps toward your desired future, and don't get tripped up by sunk-cost fallacies.

Paul Goldsmith shares 4 CORE lessons for entrepreneurs and business owners, inspired by Christian radio.

If you want to make more money, you have to be worth more to your customers. 4 ways to do that is to prioritize:

1. Connection
2. Operational Execellence
3. Relational > Transactional
4. Evidence (Proof of Value)

Paul Goldsmith discusses the importance of overcoming fear to pursue your dreams. To become the person you want to become, you must have the courage to be disliked. Paul shares his inspiration from the book "The Courage To Be Disliked," highlighting key concepts such as the separation of tasks and choosing happiness. The overall message is to live authentically and pursue your goals with courage and resilience.

If someone was spraying acid with a hose, you wouldn't stand there and take it or even take the hose from them to spray others. You would, hopefully, find the source and turn off the hose.

The same goes for negativity. If someone is negative to you, don't receive it and please, whatever you do, DO NOT SPREAD IT.

Your mindset is your property and responsibility to manage. No one else can do it for you.

Paul Goldsmith shares a few thoughts on how he thinks about taking ownership of his mindset, coaching others, and takeaways from the book EXTREME OWNERSHIP.

If you're feeling stuck, or like you're in "the wilderness" of life, let this episode be an encouragement to you. It's not too late to dream big! You Might Be a Late Bloomer, writes David Brooks in The Atlantic. Paul shares his thoughts on being a late bloomer and how to keep forward momentum on your dreams no matter your age.

One way is to see obstacles in your way, rather than issues to be solved, maybe they are polarities to be managed. There's a whole philosophy called Polarity Management that can help you balance living in the now while also having big dreams for the future.

If/when you hit the wilderness, just keep moving forward. In a previous episode of the Next Simple Step podcast, Paul interviewed Luke Lefevre. Luke describes the wilderness as a necessary part of doing Holy Work.

What work do you need to do to achieve your dream? Take the next simple step today!

Paul Goldsmith discusses how to achieve more calm and presence in your daily life.

He shares three simple practices: writing morning pages to clear your mind, spending time outdoors to improve mental and physical health, and managing energy instead of time by prioritizing tasks when your energy levels are highest.

Paul Goldsmith shares insights on the challenges that come AFTER achieving entrepreneurial goals, emphasizing the importance of planning, hiring, and teamwork.

Using his recent experience of opening a Saladworks restaurant, he highlights the need to prepare for success beyond just getting started, stressing the role of a well-prepared team in sustaining growth. He also discusses the value of hiring strategically, even on a trial basis, to ensure long-term success.