Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 1680:

James Altucher recounts the story of “Pat,” an unshakably gracious billionaire whose quiet superpower is simple but rare: saying thank you. By consistently checking in, expressing gratitude, and maintaining relationships, even after major losses, Pat illustrates how emotional intelligence and goodwill can compound into lasting success.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://jaltucher.medium.com/i-m-going-to-tell-you-about-the-most-successful-person-i-know-4e4df4fb4fa6

Quotes to ponder:

"Even if my best friends write me sometimes, I don’t return the emails. I don’t know why. I’ve actually lost friends over this and still do."

"A tiny thank you is like putting a little bit of money in a savings account and watching it grow through compound interest."

"Pat says 'thank you' probably ten to twenty times a day to people as he builds his goodwill account."

Episode references:

1-800-Flowers (Jim McCann): https://www.1800flowers.com

Department of Defense contracts: https://www.defense.gov/Resources/Contract-Resources

Trade Like Warren Buffett: https://www.amazon.com/Trade-Like-Warren-Buffett-Altucher/dp/0471655848

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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at:⁠ ⁠⁠OLDPodcast⁠⁠.⁠⁠com⁠.

Episode 1679:

Christine Comaford breaks down the essentials of crafting a business plan that truly drives growth, emphasizing clarity, purpose, and alignment across teams. Learn how to communicate your vision, set achievable objectives, and engage both logic and emotion to create buy-in from investors and stakeholders.

Read along with the original article(s) here: ⁠https⁠⁠://⁠⁠smarttribesinstitute⁠⁠.⁠⁠com⁠⁠/⁠⁠how⁠⁠-⁠⁠to⁠⁠-⁠⁠create⁠⁠-⁠⁠a⁠⁠-⁠⁠killer⁠⁠-⁠⁠business⁠⁠-⁠⁠plan⁠⁠/⁠

Quotes to ponder:

"People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it."

"A business plan is a tool that communicates your vision, inspires others to join you, and keeps everyone on track."

"Facts tell. Stories sell."

Episode references:

Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder: ⁠https⁠⁠://⁠⁠www⁠⁠.⁠⁠strategyzer⁠⁠.⁠⁠com⁠⁠/⁠⁠books⁠⁠/⁠⁠business⁠⁠-⁠⁠model⁠⁠-⁠⁠generation⁠

Start With Why by Simon Sinek: ⁠https⁠⁠://⁠⁠www⁠⁠.⁠⁠amazon⁠⁠.⁠⁠com⁠⁠/⁠⁠Start⁠⁠-⁠⁠Why⁠⁠-⁠⁠Leaders⁠⁠-⁠⁠Inspire⁠⁠-⁠⁠Everyone⁠⁠/⁠⁠dp⁠⁠/1591846447⁠

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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 1678:

Colin Wright shares a candid look at how he became a consultant and why the role offers more freedom than fame. By walking through his early experiments, client missteps, and mindset shifts, he offers valuable insights into creating a career defined by autonomy, not just income or recognition.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://exilelifestyle.com/consultant/

Quotes to ponder:

"I’ve never been interested in being famous, but I am very interested in being free."

"I realized I could pay my bills doing something that wasn’t what I most wanted to do, or I could take a risk and do what I loved, and maybe still pay the bills."

"Consulting became my go-to method of paying the bills while maintaining maximum autonomy."

Episode references:

Startups for the Rest of Us Podcast: https://www.startupsfortherestofus.com/

Getting Real by Basecamp: https://basecamp.com/books/getting-real

The 4-Hour Workweek: https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357

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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 1677:

Marc Chernoff reveals seven daily habits practiced by highly creative individuals to fuel inspiration, sharpen focus, and sustain long-term innovation. By adopting even a few of these mindful rituals, like scheduled solitude, idea journaling, and conscious media consumption, you can reignite your own creative energy and push past mental roadblocks.

Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.marcandangel.com/2014/12/14/7-rituals-you-should-steal-from-extremely-creative-people/

Quotes to ponder:

"Most creative types schedule their days around a specific creative ritual, something that consistently triggers their creativity."

"Creative people pay close attention to what they let into their minds."

Episode references:

Steal Like an Artist: https://www.amazon.com/Steal-Like-Artist-Things-Creative/dp/0761169253

Brain Pickings: https://www.themarginalian.org/

TED Talks: Your Elusive Creative Genius by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_your_elusive_creative_genius

The War of Art: https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026

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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 1676:

Marc Chernoff reveals seven powerful habits practiced by highly creative individuals, offering practical rituals that boost inspiration, clarity, and productivity. Learn how small daily routines, like intentional solitude and reflective journaling, can unlock your own creative genius and keep it flowing.

Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.marcandangel.com/2014/12/14/7-rituals-you-should-steal-from-extremely-creative-people/

Quotes to ponder:

"Solitude is required for the unconscious to process and unravel problems."

"Creative people journal to get clarity about what they think, feel, and want."

"Creative people don’t wait for inspiration; they act in anticipation of it."

Episode references:

The Artist's Way: https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience: https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061339202

Daily Rituals: How Artists Work: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Rituals-How-Artists-Work/dp/0307273601

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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 1675:

Brian Tracy breaks down the often overlooked psychological and strategic missteps that cause even seasoned salespeople to lose deals. This eye-opening guide offers simple mindset shifts and actionable techniques to close more sales by focusing on trust, self-belief, and client-centered communication.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.briantracy.com/blog/sales-success/top-3-shocking-reasons-you-keep-losing-sales/

Quotes to ponder:

"People only buy from people they trust."

"You must absolutely believe in your product or service."

"The biggest reason for failure in selling is that the salesperson talks too much."

Episode references:

The Psychology of Selling: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Selling-Increase-Sales-Faster/dp/0785288066

Eat That Frog!: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-That-Frog-Great-Procrastinating/dp/162656941X

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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 1674:

Cal Newport challenges the popular belief that passions are magically discovered and instead argues that they’re often built over time through deliberate practice and increasing competence. By exploring real-world examples and research, he shows how pursuing what you're good at can ultimately lead to deeply satisfying work.

Read along with the original article(s) here: http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/11/24/are-passions-serendipitously-discovered-or-painstakingly-constructed/

Quotes to ponder:

"Passion is a side effect of mastery."

"Working right trumps finding the right work."

"Compelling careers often have complex origins; they rarely result from a quick match to a pre-existing passion."

Episode references:

The Courage to Be: https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Be-Paul-Tillich/dp/0300084714

So Good They Can’t Ignore You: https://www.amazon.com/Good-They-Cant-Ignore-You/dp/1455509124

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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 1673:

Stephen Warley breaks down how to approach delicate conversations with your family when you're leaving traditional employment to work for yourself. He offers strategies to communicate your vision, address their concerns with empathy, and build a support system that aligns with your new path.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://lifeskillsthatmatter.com/talk-to-your-family-about-working-for-yourself/

Quotes to ponder:

"Your family loves you and wants the best for you, but they may not understand what working for yourself means."

"Don’t seek their permission, seek their support."

"You are the one who has to live with the consequences of your work choices, not them."

Episode references:

The War of Art: https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield/dp/1936891026

Designing Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Your-Life-Well-Lived-Joyful/dp/1101875321

The Big Leap: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level/dp/0061735361

Quiet: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153

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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 1672:

Chalene Johnson breaks down a high-impact strategy for getting more eyes on your blog by mastering the art of promotion. Her step-by-step tips help you stop relying solely on SEO and start using smarter, faster tactics to drive traffic, grow your audience, and build authority.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.chalenejohnson.com/promote-your-blog/

Quotes to ponder:

"Just because you write a blog doesn’t mean people are going to read it."

"The trick is to work smarter, not harder, by promoting your blog in places where your ideal audience already spends time."

"If you’ve taken the time to write a great blog post, you owe it to yourself to promote it like crazy."

Episode references:

Canva: https://www.canva.com

Later (social media scheduler): https://later.com

Google Search Console: https://search.google.com/search-console

Pinterest Business: https://business.pinterest.com

BuzzSumo: https://buzzsumo.com

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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.

Episode 1671:

Jodi Flynn reminds us that the talents we use to serve others should first be applied to ourselves, especially when burnout and stagnation hit. She shares a powerful personal story of realigning her schedule, mindset, and business practices, turning self-neglect into self-leadership with practical, game-changing results.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.eofire.com/first-and-foremost-your-talents-should-be-used-on-you/

Quotes to ponder:

"The Cobbler Syndrome is when you are the last person to benefit from the unique talent or skill that you bring to the people around you every day."

"I felt like a fraud, I was not walking my talk, and I began beating myself up about it."

"If you are finding that you are feeling 'stuck' or 'behind', take a look to see if you are giving yourself, or your business, the best of YOU."

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