Personal Development Interviews

Gratitude is rarely spoken about and often overlooked in business.

In business, be grateful for any opportunity that comes your way. Be grateful for getting a job interview, be grateful for finding new clients, be grateful for your staff of employees. Show gratitude in your voice and actions. You want to create a culture of positivity in your business.

However, maintain a balance and do not focus entirely on work. Otherwise, you will burn out or get into a rut. Be grateful for all kinds of things from family and friends to a parking space. From business opportunities to cheese curls and Yorkshire Tea.

Start a gratitude journal. Document what you are grateful for: people, places, experience, things, feelings, and tangible items. You start to focus on being grateful and things you take for granted.

We don’t always feel grateful for what we have, so get into the habit of being grateful. There are so many things that happen during the day, so there is for surely something to be grateful for each and every day. 

About Russ:

Russ is based in New York City and works with more than 75 clients. As a business, life, and career coach, he helps so many people realize their dreams and passions through gratitude.

He is the author of, “My Gratitude Journal,” in which he documented different expression of gratitude every day.

Challenged Issue:

In this podcast, we are challenging you to be more gracious in your approach to business; and look at what that karma can bring to you and your enterprise.

Russ’s Actionable Tips:

* Start a gratitude journal. Use whatever format you prefer – pen and paper, Word document, Excel spreadsheet, etc. Your life will be changed for the better!

* Encourage and inspire others to document what they are grateful for every day.

* Support Russ’s mission to change the world to become more grateful. Buy his books or contact him. 

Top Quotes:

* “When you open your mind and think of different things to be grateful for, the examples keep flowing like a bountiful river.”

* “You become a lot more positive as a person.”

* “Even though I was angry, I was able to find something to be grateful for.”

* “My biggest thing with gratitude is grateful for things, people, places, experiences, feelings and intangible items.”

* “In life, the more balanced you are, the more at peace you are.”

* “When you start down this path, you will be amazed.”

* “You can go out there and create situations to be grateful for.”

* “Gratitude helps increase confidence.”

Guest Links:

* Russ Terry Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RussTerryLifeCoach)

* Russ Terry (http://www.russterrylifecoach.com/)

* Amazon (http://amzn.to/1bYQB66)

* Email ([email protected])

Resources:

* Jacqueline Wales (http://www.thefearlessfactor.com/)

* Jacqueline Wales on Russ Terry Podcast (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chixtalkradio/2012/12/11/the-russ-terry-show-live-your-best-life--be-fearless)

* Jim Rohn (http://www.jimrohn.com/)

* Google (google.com)

* The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (https://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/)

Innovation is a word that most businesses use, but don’t really “get”. So, what is innovation? Well, according to Dominic Irvine - innovation is creativity with a job to do.

But why innovate? Don’t stand still or you are going backwards. Innovation is a process that includes several steps. You need to continue to evolve, improve, and develop. Otherwise, your business will eventually collapse.

You need to innovate because you are in competition not only with other companies, but with the latest technology and devices. You can innovate around social media, marketing, finance, supply chain, etc. Think outside of the “product” box. Constant innovation includes figuring out what people want, not what they need.

These days, people expect extra value and customer service - yet another reason to be innovative! You can even include customers by engaging them in the journey of product development. Make them a part of the creativity process. Then they have a much more vested interest in your company.

Embrace innovation. Your customers benefit by getting a much better product. And you benefit as a business owner. It is a win for everyone!

About Dominic:

Dominic is a founding partner of Epiphanies LLP, a people development consult company that focuses on leadership, performance, and innovation.

Challenged Issue:

In this podcast, we challenge the use of innovation. How can we integrate innovation and how can we move forward in our businesses by being innovative?

Dominic’s Actionable Tips:

* Follow the Process: Start from the beginning through to the implementation phase. What can go wrong and when? Determine how to avoid failure and reach success.

* Failure is a really important part of innovation. Learn from failure!

* What if we couldn’t do it that way? As that question because it forces a different way of thinking to solve problems. 

Top Quotes:

* “We are about challenging the way people think.”

* “If it doesn’t deliver change in business reports, doesn’t result in you doing something, it’s not innovation. It’s just creativity.”

* “We don’t stand still. We are constantly evolving. We are constantly developing.”

* “We often end up very, very focused on the product. But sometimes, it is what sits around the product that offers us the greatest opportunity for innovation.”

* “What else can I do that’s going to drive value into my business?”

* “We have to think about the whole world in which we engage with.”

* “Bringing the customer into the process early is really vital.”

* “Every single time we come across a new idea that comes aboard, there is a degree of resistance.”

* “The hardest challenge you will face is escaping from the old ideas.”

* “Innovation loves constraint.”

Guest Links:

* Epiphanies LLP (http://epiphaniesllp.com/)

Resources:

* M&S (http://www.marksandspencer.com/)

* Royal Mail (http://www.royalmail.com/)

* Centrica (http://www.centrica.com/)

* Tetra Pak (http://www.tetrapak.com/)

* Apple Inc. (apple.com)

* Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/)

* Pat Flynn (http://patflynn.com/)

* Michael Hyatt (http://michaelhyatt.com/)

* John Lee Dumas (http://www.entrepreneuronfire.com/)

* Tim Ferriss (

Everyone has problems and struggles. No one is perfect. Yet, sometimes many people cannot overcome the imposter syndrome. They present this false confidence and bravado. They pretend to be someone they are not.

We live in a world that is becoming so much more exposed due to social media and other outlets. You have an open window to people’s worlds and lives. Most people are putting their best foot forward on social media in order to keep up with a particular image. However, what’s online is not all rainbows and unicorns!

You would never guess that someone who appears confident and self-assured is actually struggling. How can you and others use transparency to overcome imposter syndrome.

You can use outlets like blogs and podcasts to call attention to and express brokenness. Rather than being an imposter, take the first step and do something.

About April:

April MacLean has dealt with many struggles. She experienced sexual and emotional abuse. Then she went into foster care and became pregnant when 15 years old.

However, dance changed her life. She fell in love with it and got a degree in dance. She opened a studio just for adults to dance. It turns out that dance provided therapy that she and others were not able to get elsewhere.

Also, April’s Messy Warrior brand was born out of interactions with people at the dance studio. They encouraged her to share and talk about her experiences and struggles. So she started blogging, writing a book, and so forth.

Challenged Issue:

In this podcast, we challenge the old issue of imposter syndrome.

April’s Actionable Tips:

* Start with the why: Why are you doing what you are doing? What are you offering to the world that makes you excited? Write down your answers. But don’t make it about you. Who are you trying to serve? Make it about them.

* Focus: Read the book, The One Thing. You will discover what it means to really focus and manage your time. Dedicate yourself to only the work you can do, that matters the most, and has the most impact.

* Educate yourself on personality styles. This will help you understand how different personalities work, how they communicate, how they need to be motivated, and how you can relate to them. Start having real conversations with people!

Top Quotes:

* “Yes, I did overcome some obstacles. But, let’s talk about the fact that I’m still not a super hero.”

* “I’m still just as much of a mess as the next person.”

* “That was the consistent message that I was receiving; is that people were struggling with self-worth.”

* “How scary it is to say. ‘Who am I to do something like that?’”

* “The one person that is negative, is the only person you listen to.”

* “You will never please everybody. It’s absolutely impossible.”

* “People put their best selves on social media.”

* “No one can do this like me. No one can talk in my voice. No one can walk in my shoes.”

Guest Links:

* Messy Warrior (http://www.messywarrior.com)

* Room to Dance Studio (http://www.roomtodancestudio.com/#!)

Resources:

* Marianne Williamson (http://www.marianne.com/)

* Start With Why – Simon Sinek (https://www.startwithwhy.com)

* The One Thing (http://the1thing.com/)

* Wired That Way (http://www.amazon.com/Wired-that-Way-Comprehensive-Personality/dp/0830738401)

* The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your...

In today’s world of social media, accountability, and transparency - being a brand means so much more than the products a business puts out. Brand or image is manufactured to create an impression in customers’ minds.

A brand is something businesses can manage – their image, what you say and don’t, etc. However, reputation is something that businesses can’t really manage – what is said behind their backs.

All businesses need to consider, understand, and focus on their reputation. Therefore, reputation is far more important now than brand. As customers and employees, we demand that businesses behave properly. People can quickly identify when they are being duped or tricked by a business.

Businesses should create a culture of service and value for both customers and employees. They have to combine all components – branding, reputation, staff, culture, and so on. Businesses need to think about all of the pieces and understand the “Big Picture.”

Google, Apple and other businesses are known for their culture. Those are companies with reputations that make people want to work there – and where customers go for products and services!

About Neil:

Neil specializes in reputation management with some of the world’s biggest brands. He had a background in graphic design when he started getting requests about the importance of image for businesses – this is otherwise known as branding.

However, in today’s world, branding has given way to something else – reputation! So now he helps organizations think about their reputation. He helps them understand the importance of reputation and to create strategies that build the best reputations possible – based on the truth.

Challenged Issue:

In a world built on reputation, what are you doing to make sure you stay on top of that?

Neil’s Actionable Tips:

* Reputation: Sit back and think about reputation. How does it play a role? Why is it important?

* Use Independent Resource: Find someone you trust who can go out and discover the truth about your organization.

* Understand Timeframe: Building your reputation takes time, and you need to put in the necessary effort and time.

Top Quotes:

* “Brand has changed, in a lot of ways, into reputation.”

* “Your reputation – can’t manage at all.”

* “People are cynical about brand.”

* “You can very, very quickly share your thoughts about an organization or brand.”

* “The thing about reputation is that it has to be based on the truth.”

* “It (reputation) affects the bottom line.”

* “There is a very clear understanding of what they are in the business of doing, and how each and every one of them contributes to that – for a positive reason.”

* “They want to work for those companies because they are cool!”

Guest Links:

* Neil Gaught & Associates (http://neilgaught.com/)

Resources:

* Merrill Lynch (ml.com)

* Google (google.com)

* Apple (apple.com)

* The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (https://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/)

Key Timestamps:

* 00:28 Podcast introduction

* 00:40 Challenged issue

* 00:47 Guest introduction

* 03:05 Difference between brand and reputation

* 05:13 Reputation and truth

* 06:32 Which companies need to consider reputation

* 08:20 Reputation in the marketplace

* 11:53 Culture of service and value

* 15:14 Internal impact

We live in a world of technology, and start-ups are so prominent. There are many different challenges, and things can scale very fast. Start-ups are very serious business. Here's how you can learn from one of the tech industry's brightest ventures and scale your business quickly, effectively and for longevity.

Most of us have the notion that start-ups are wildly successful and make people millionaires. However, AJ says that is nothing farther from the truth. Instead, if you plan to create or participate in a start-up business, you will be working long hours, not making much money, and be stressed out.

It is a wild ride with a tough learning curve. Yet, AJ finds it fulfilling. People involved with start-ups need to take risks, be prepared to absorb as much information as possible, be a part of everything, and have a willingness to learn. Go with your eyes wide open!

AJ never envisioned the fast growth of his company. It took a lot of hard work and dedication. Also, there was a lot of fear of the unknown, in trepidation, and concern. What lies ahead? Are we making the right decision?

But you can’t slow down and take time off if you want grow your business fast and be successful!

About AJ:

In 2010, AJ founded iCracked in his college dorm room out of necessity. He kept breaking and cracking his cell phones, so he would take them apart and fix them.

iCracked offers on-demand repair and trade-in network services for iOS devices. Now, his company features more than 1,885 certified iTechs across the United States (and 11 other countries).

Challenged Issue:

We challenged the issue of how to grow a young business extremely fast and more importantly, how to do it properly.

AJ’s Actionable Tips: How to grow your business fast!

* Hiring Employees: Is this the best person in the world for this job right now? Wait for the right person! And remove existing employees who are not right for the company.

* Capital: Every company goes out of the business the same way. Scale each department according to revenue.

* International/New Markets: What may work in one market wildly fails in another market. Make sure to change your business plan as needed.

Top Quotes:

* “I think one of the important things of being a founder is really putting yourself in the shoes (of your customers).”

* “We’re servicing hundreds of thousands of customers a year, which was not even in our wildest dreams three years ago.”

* “We’re kind of going down that dark, winding path of starting a company where we know 90 percent of the start-ups that we’re involved with will probably not be around in five years.”

* “You are probably going to work harder than you ever have in your life.”

* “You have incredibly high highs, but even lower lows where you start doubting yourself.”

* “If you’re going to take money from people, make sure you research and know exactly who they are and what their expectations are.”

* “Fail fast, move fast, and make sure your company doesn’t die while iterating and trying new things.”

* “It’s just been a wild ride. I don’t think I’ve slept very much over the last three years.”

* “You have to diversify quickly and you have to stop doing things that aren’t making sense very, very quickly.”

Guest Links:

* iCracked (icracked.com)

Resources:

* WhatsApp (http://www.whatsapp.com/)

* Uber (https://www.uber.com/)

* Instagram (instagram.com)

* Facebook (facebook.com)

* Y Combinator (

In the past few years, many of us have experienced a slump and downtime in business. We have faced downsizing and the need to change and diversify. What can we do in the next few years to get back on track?

Aaron Walker is a life and work coach who can help us thrive and feel more confident in our professional and personal lives. We just have to develop the grit and determination needed to be successful.

We need to have a can-do attitude and fill our minds with powerful podcasts, books, etc. We need to watch and read valuable content that empowers, invigorates, and lifts us up.

To be successful and significant at home and in business, we have to be well-rounded and not solely focused on making money. Money is important, but not the central focus. Family should come first and foremost. You get multiple opportunities to make money, but only one opportunity with your family.

Life changes so quickly, make the best of it!

About Aaron:

Aaron started out in the pawn shop business. Then he went into the construction industry. Now he spends time coaching entrepreneurs and working with mastermind groups.

He has a wealth of experience and has helped businesses achieve their wildest dreams!

Challenged Issue:

Keep moving forward! Establish the grit and determination needed to reach heights that you never thought were possible – both professionally and personally. Discover what success means to you!

Aaron’s Actionable Tips: How to achieve your measure of success!

* Faith: Utilize your faith to get you centered and focused.

* Reflect and Focus: If you want to do something, you can do it. Reflect on what you want to accomplish.

* Build Relationships: Intentionally build relationships on a daily basis. They are vital to personal and professional success.

Top Quotes:

* “It’s absolutely been a game changer for me…People that have unbiased opinions. Nothing to gain, nothing to lose. So they can offer the truth in every scenario and situation.”

* “We’ve gone through the hard times. We’ve gone through the real tough state of affairs.”

* “Can’t couldn’t do it. And could did it all.”

* “You don’t go to bed at night and wake up the next day smarter.”

* “Everything that glitters, and everything that sparkles and shines is not necessarily something we need to chase.”

* “If they (podcast listeners) want to develop that grit and determination, fill yourself with information, get the knowledge, have the wisdom; and you’ll make much better choices going forward.”

* “I’ve been an entrepreneur, literally, my entire life.”

* “I haven’t been dependent on a paycheck my entire life.”

* “Success is not necessarily defined in terms of dollars.”

* “You can succeed at work, but if you don’t win at home, you are going to end up a loser.”

* “Make sure you have your ladder leaning on the right wall.”

Guest Links:

* Iron Sharpens Iron (http://www.ironsharpensiron.net/)

* View From the Top (http://www.viewfromthetop.com/)

Resources:

* Entrepreneur on Fire (http://www.entrepreneuronfire.com/?s=aaron+walker&posttype=podcast&widget=advanced-search-widget-3)

* Dave Ramsey (http://www.daveramsey.com/home/)

* Dan Miller (http://www.48days.com/)

* Frist Foundation (http://fristfoundation.org/)

* INGRAM (

Are you stuck in a rut? Get your head out of the sand! Get unstuck so you can move forward and past obstacles in your life and business. Mark Asquith and Rémy Chaussé each share three tips to help you get unstuck!

Rémy’s Tips:

* Doubt always has a message about your own values. You have questions and doubt - something’s not right. That’s a red flag! Are your doubts showing you a message about your own values?

* When you are stuck, you already have the resources and assets you need – and often, those resources are your own values. Re-evaluate your environment and consider your resources and how you can use them to get out of your stuckness.

* You already know what’s right for you. Don’t lose yourself. Who’s running your day-to-day actions? Are you leading your own life?

Mark’s Tips:

* Focus on what is most important to the business and to you, not just what interests you.

* Remember the “why.” Take some time out. Reassess why you are doing what you are doing.

* Be honest with yourself. Don’t focus on what others, such as competitors, are doing. Move past fear and judgment. Tread your own path!

About Rémy:

Rémy is a professional UNstuckologist! She got unstuck, and now she teaches others how to get unstuck. She created the UNstuck revolution.

Challenged Issue:

What is your biggest challenge right now? Use the tips and advice provided in this podcast to resolve that challenge.

Top Quotes:

* “Being stuck and doubt, the two seem to go hand in hand.”

* “Don’t let the doubt set in. Dig deeper and look for the message.”

* “Whatever tool you need to get out of your stuckness, is already there.”

* “When you’re stuck, the real key is to remember your own assets.”

* “The problem really isn’t there at all. It’s simply there to push you to develop a skill, to align your values, or to call on a resource you’ve forgotten you have.”

* “It is so easy to take for granted what we have inside of our own minds.”

* “They (clients) dishonored one of their values, and that’s the point when they became stuck.”

* “If you aren’t leading your life, who is?”

* “I had to get out of the rut that I found myself in.”

* “There’s no such thing as an obstacle, only an opportunity to create.”

* “There’s no shame in failure.”

Guest Links:

* Rémy Chaussé (http://remychausse.com/)

* Get UNstuck E-course (http://getunstuckecourse.com/)

* The Get UNstuck Revolution (http://thegetunstuckrevolution.com/)

Resources:

* Excellence Expected (excellence-expected.com)

* The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (https://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/)

* Danielle LaPorte (http://www.daniellelaporte.com/)

* Simon Sinek (http://www.startwithwhy.com)

Key Timestamps:

* 00:45 Introduction of podcast

* 01:00 Podcast topic

* 02:10 Guest introduction

* 03:21 Rémy’s Tip 1

* 07:25 Rémy’s Tip 2

* 12:00 Rémy’s Tip 3

* 18:12 Mark’s Tip 1

* 21:21 Mark’s Tip 2

* 24:38 Mark’s Tip 3

Don’t forget, the more you expect from yourself the more you WILL excel!

We are so competitive - we gotta keep up with our neighbours. We have to have the biggest house, the most expensive car, the best clothes, etc. It is envy and greed that drives many of us. We want to make as much money as possible. 

But what do we sacrifice to make more money? Our family. Our relationships. Is it worth it? Money – you can’t take it with you.

Of course, money is something we all think about, and often worry about. However, if you take power away from money and put it in its proper place, money becomes a tool for you to enjoy your life and bless others.

Jamie Munson believes money is either a God you worship or a gift from God. It is something not to be stressed about, but to steward and manage. Then we are freed up to help others. Enjoy it rather than freak out about it!

He wrote the book, “Money: God or Gift,” which helps others deal with money from a business perspective. Invest in your employees’ emotional and financial well-being. If they are worried about money, that is going to run over into their work. Businesses need to take a more holistic approach - employees are human beings, too. Be generous and consider: how can I serve my customers and employees?

About Jamie:

Jamie is a pastor, co-president of a premium coffee company, and consultant who helps churches and businesses make the most of their God-given resources.

He grew up in Montana and wanted to get rich quick. But that all changed when he was 19 and moved to Seattle. He became a Christian and wants to help others use their money as a tool. He helps business leaders manage, steward, and invest their resources in order to support their journey in doing great things!

Challenged Issue:

Do you think of money as your God? Or do you think of money as a gift from God? Use the tips provided in this podcast to learn how to use money as a tool to enhance your life and help others.

Jamie’s Actionable Tips:

* Be honest about the power money has in your life. Write down your dreams and fears. Then, share them with others.

* Find someone to bless. Find someone to give to and encourage.

* It is more blessed to give than to receive! Pay it forward. 

Top Quotes:

* “I’ve always had a heart for leaders, for entrepreneurs, for kind of high-growth organizations and being part of things where people have a strong vision and a bold vision.”

* “You take the power away from money and harness it as a tool; it gives a lot more joy and satisfaction in your life and in your business.”

* “Money is a powerful tool when we understand it and apply that correctly. You can do a lot of good with it.”

* “Fear is such a prevalent problem.”

* “Why not invest in their emotional and financial health as well as their business skills and development.”

* “Rather than: What can I get out of this customer? it is, What can I give to this customer?; What can I give to my team?”

* “People are a lot more important than money at the end of the day.”

* “When you’re making decisions from a place of fear, you lose your creativity, you lose your passion, often, and you lose your heart for people.”

Guest Links:

* Jamie Munson (http://www.jamiemunson.com)

* Jamie Munson’s Book “Money: God or Gift” on Amazon (http://amzn.to/1FKmDMA)

* Twitter (https://twitter.com/jamiemunson)

* Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jamiemunson)

* The Money Mission (http://themoneymission.com/)

Resources:

* The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your...

Leverage – what does it mean? How do you leverage the different areas of your life?

Leverage is defined as the power or ability to act or influence people, events, decisions, etc.; as well as the use of a small initial investment, credit or borrowed funds to gain a very high return in relation to one's investment.

Jason Hartman knows all about leveraging and investing! He is real estate investor and podcaster who focuses on leveraging three main areas in his life. And he is willing to share his knowledge with you!

He explains that there are three main areas that we need to focus on and leverage to enhance our lives:

* Profession and Business: Leverage-friendly areas are being a thought leader and using Internet marketing (podcasting).

* Personal Finances/Investments: Investing in the wealth of your life through real estate and other investments.

* Biology/Physical Being: Take care of yourself. Keep track of your vitals. What happens to us when our vitals change? There’s an app for that – and the Apple Watch!

It is important to leverage those three areas equally. Do not focus on one more than another. Just remember, you can make a lot of money, but you can’t take it with you when you go. Or, there is too much life at the end of money – so make sure you have enough money to enjoy your whole life!

About Jason:

Jason Hartman got his start in real estate as a teenager. He sold real estate, and then began investing in real estate.

Now, he has 18 different companies and focuses on being a real estate investor, helping others invest in real estate, and podcasting. He started a podcast, and the rest is history.

His company, Hartman Media Co., features podcasts on several different topics, including personal finance, investing, and economics.

Top Quotes:

* “I was really craving a long-form method to teach people about real estate investing and podcasting was the perfect fit.”

* “Entrepreneurs, however, have the biggest leverage opportunities.”

* “We’ve got to be hitting on all three cylinders, if you will, so that everything works together at the same time.”

* “Instead of just doing your job or instead of just running your business, think about what you know; and how you can take what you know and help other people and teach that to other people and develop more credibility for yourself.”

* “We live in the information age. Information can be incredibly powerful.”

* “You don’t lose anything. You know, you can give it away. Yet it doesn’t cost you anything to give it away … that is the power of information!”

* “There are very powerful opportunities for us nowadays to get the word out about things that we’ve never had in the history of humanity.”

* “There’s no gatekeeper anymore. If you are not taking advantage of this folks, you are missing out.”

* “You can get your ideas to a public quickly and easily and for almost $0 cost.”

* “No matter what the content is, someone next to you is doing the same thing. But they’re not doing it in your voice.”

* “I like to call Wall Street the modern version of organized crime.”

* “It’s an amazing time to be alive.”

Guest Links:

* Jason Hartman (http://www.jasonhartman.com/)

* Become the Brand of Choice (http://www.jasonhartman.com/become-the-brand-of-choice-make-your-name-a-powerful-brand-and-earn-millions/)

* Hartman Media Company (http://hartmanmedia.com/)

Resources:

* KRLA (http://www.am870theanswer.

Just too busy to exercise and live a healthy life? Are you too distracted because there is so much happening all the time? Take a step back. Ask yourself, “What am I doing, does this matter?” Gain perspective on the important things in life and develop a better use of your time. 

A lot of people struggle with getting up in the morning and being productive. Why do I need to get up? Spin it around to make it an opportunity to do what you want. Jeff Sanders created the 5 a.m. Miracle structure to design an anchor habit and foundational way to start your day.

“If you intentionally design this 5 a.m. time well, you can have a really fantastic rest of your day,” he says.

People who are successful are intentional and have a very structured approach to their days. They have a plan, follow it, and focus on their health and wellness.

About Jeff:

Jeff Sanders’ journey began in college when he was trying to figure out how he wanted to live his life. While in college and then when he started working, he was overweight and decided he had to incorporate healthier habits. It was a back-and-forth struggle. But he started to exercise and even run marathons.

He knew that he needed to find a consistent schedule. He knew he wanted to work out, so decided to wake up and do it really early in the morning – 5 a.m. when the sun comes up. He got up early one morning and went for a run and loved it. He had more energy the rest of the day and felt fantastic. He kept doing it over and over every day; 5 a.m. became the miracle time for him.

Taking a few hours to exercise and do other things he wanted to do such as reading – doing things that mattered to him - gave him a strong foundation for the rest of the day.

This led him to share his experiences through a blog, books, and podcast series. The 5 a.m. Miracle podcast focuses on personal development and fitness, as well as purpose of intentionality for your day.

Sanders encourages listeners to get into the routine of waking up and making it a positive opportunity. “You shape it, you frame it, and say, ‘I am excited about this early morning because it is an opportunity because the things I want to do in my life can happen during that time’.”

That 5 a.m. time is a golden opportunity to work on goals and generates a success mentality. You get something done early on and can take on what the rest of the day hands you. You feel so much better the rest of the day.

The 5 a.m. Miracle structure offers both short-term and long-term outcomes:

* Short-term: You feel so much better right away because you have control over your day. You can feel the impact of these changes immediately.

* Long-term: You have a solid, consistent approach to your days and know what to expect. “Consistency over the long term to make sure you have all those long-term benefits.”

The main benefit to the 5 a.m. Miracle structure is that if you wake up and utilize that time intelligently – you will have mental clarity, focus, and energy.

And you don’t have to wake up at 5 a.m. – you can wake up whenever you want to wake up. For example, if you get home from work at 5 a.m., you are not going to wake up at 5 a.m. Natural rhythms will work with your body, and you will feel better and get more done during the day.

Jeff’s Actionable Tips:

* Drink a lot of water: If you are hydrated, you will have more energy, feel more awake, etc. “Water is ridiculously powerful!”

* Have an intentional plan for your day: How will the day flow? How can the day be more effective? Have a written plan and follow it.

* Prioritize fitness: Exercising gives you energy and vigour. 

Top Quotes:

* “How can I be the BEST version of myself?”

* “I need to find a way that I can live my life day after...