Serve Strong Finish Strong

When you think of the new year, what's one thing that comes to mind? I bet you would likely say New Year's Resolutions. The old adage, "New Year, New You," is indicative of starting fresh for a whole new calendar year.

And yet, researchers have consistently shown that nearly 80% of all resolutions die a quiet death sometime around the second week of February. And no one shares a selfie failing at a January promise.

Why such a repetitively high number of failures? And what in the world do the other 20% of the population know that the rest don't?

That's what we'll be addressing in the series "The SOLUTION to Resolutions: Creating A Lifestyle of Growing UP".

This episode, entitled "Remember the Cable," sets the tone before the 4-part series begins because it highlights the backbone of continued success in personal growth.

Listen as Nelson shares his story of scuba diving with his son (first shared in the August 2, 2022 episode, which you can listen to here:
 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-5-year-plan-with-nelson-witmer/id1628610694?i=1000574759261 )

TWO ACTION STEPS:

First, SAVE THE DATE for a live webinar to be held on January 5, 2023, at 5:30 pm. During that call, we will answer your questions and talk more about making the new year as fantastic as possible. If you're interested in attending, email me at [email protected] and tell me you're "interested in the webinar."

Second, CHECK OUT THE COMMUNITY. We are launching a new online community platform for people across the world who are designing and living their own fantastic lives with the goal of growing UP and finishing strong. Visit http://finishstrong.mn.co and request to join.

To learn more, visit:
www.servingstrong.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

We can talk about living a fantastic 4th quarter.
But how much better would it be if we could hear from someone who already is? Good news. That's what this episode is about.

But let me warn you, it's not a journey of daisies and unicorns. My guest, Lance, has really gone through the ringer to get where he is today.

In fact, at about 10:50 into the recording, he shared some very deep experiences. So deep that he asked that we remove that section from the podcast (which I complied with).

Lance's story is a part of the podcast because it's a story of hope. No matter what you've been through, you too can design and live a fantastic 4th quarter.

Lance has been on the leading edge of the battle against depression and suicide for more than 40 years. His personal traumas and tragedies, both as a teen civilian and as a U.S. military member, provide Lance with the experience, insight, recovery, and megaphone to tell his story in a way that is saving lives. Over the last two decades as a veteran services counsellor, he has discovered how both he, our military heroes, and everyone else can rise out of the depths of sadness and suicide risk when one shares their personal story.

Lance is a U.S. Navy military veteran and holds a Master's Degree in Education (Student Services emphasis) from Old Dominion University. For 20 years, Lance has served as the Director of Veteran Today, a military veterans' service organization, and counseled scores of men and women struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other service-related issues. He is a Certified Peer Support Counselor and Conflict Mediation Specialist. He is also the author of four books, including "Creating the Life You Want."

An accomplished speaker, Lance has made over 1,000 public presentations since 2005. His deeply personal experience with his topics maintains an authenticity in delivery that is deeply felt by the audience.

You can find him at
https://www.lanceabrims.com

To learn more, visit:
www.servingstrong.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

You've been hurt. We all have. Getting hurt is inescapable. The question is not, "Will I ever get hurt?" -- The question is, "WHEN I get hurt, how will I process that hurt?"

Unprocessed hurt will hinder your ability to craft and execute a fantastic 4th quarter and finish strong.

That's why I'm excited to share this episode with you and my conversation with Steve Wormer.

Steve Wormer is the Executive Director for Caring Resources, which is known for their transformational program Hurt to Hope. Caring Resources is a non-profit organization helping people with all kinds of backgrounds to overcome painful experiences. 

He has also led three churches and is currently leading a church in the Memphis area.

Steve is a speaker and a certified Leadership and Life coach.

He lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with his wife Rebecca of over 26 years and their three children.

Find Steve here:
[email protected]
https://hurt2hope.org/

To learn more, visit:
www.servingstrong.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

Death. It's a topic we all put off. Why is that?
Perhaps we're afraid we'll jinx ourselves, or we're too busy, or because we don't know where to start.

My guest, Rick Craig, today says that having a map to follow takes away guessing and confusion. Having the same terminology and map to follow for families when discussing end-of-life can promote cooperation among family members when engaging in topics where vision and desires may differ. 

And, well, Rick should know. He wrote a book on it.

Rick Craig has been an ordained Christian pastor for over twenty years. He felt led to share his professional and personal experiences to help others navigate this journey.

Having planned and officiated well over 150 funeral and memorial services, his expertise in this area is invaluable.

In his book, entitled When It's Time, he shares his own stories of loss, along with others' testimonies and insight from contributing authors who are experts in their fields.

The book contains relatable stories to guide and equip anyone to take the next steps in end-of-life planning. His aim is to help you see how a well-thought-out plan can be one of the best gifts that become part of your legacy.

You can find Rick here:
https://whenitstime.org/

To learn more, visit:
www.servingstrong.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

None of us are going to make it out of this life alive.
How's that for an uplifting description of a podcast episode?

Seriously though, how many of us live as though we're going to live forever and therefore put off one of the most important parts of our lives until it's nearly too late?

I'm talking about succession planning. Who will succeed you in what you're currently doing? How will it continue after you're gone?

That's the topic of this episode.

My guest, Steve McKee is the co-founder of McKee Wallwork, a nationally recognized marketing advisory firm that helps stalled, stuck, and stale organizations generate new momentum.

He is the author of When Growth Stalls: How it Happens, Why You're Stuck and What to Do About It, an award-winning business book now published in four languages, and Power Branding: Leveraging the Success of the World's Best Brands, which New York Times bestselling author Jay Baer called "the definitive book on modern branding" that "should be mandatory reading in every business school in America." 

Steve's new book, Turns: Where Business is Won and Lost, will be released in Q1, 2023.

McKee Wallwork made the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America in its first year of eligibility and has twice won the prestigious Effie Award for marketing effectiveness from the American Marketing Association.

Steve was a Businessweek.com columnist for a decade and currently writes a popular monthly column for SmartBrief on Leadership. He has been published or quoted in The New York Times, USA Today, Forbes.com, Investor's Business Daily, and The Los Angeles Times, among others, and has appeared on CNBC, ESPN2, CNNfn, Bloomberg, and network television affiliates across America.

You can find him here:
https://www.mckeewallwork.com/

To learn more, visit:
www.servingstrong.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

You crave freedom. Who doesn't?

But freedom so often eludes you. Why is that?

The answer, according to my guest, is a healthy lifestyle. Freedom to move, to do what you want to do. To get down on the floor with your grandkids. To stay up with your spouse when walking through town. Freedom.

Listen as we talk about what keeps a person in their 40-50s from healthy living and what you can start to do as soon as you finish the episode to get on your own path to freedom.

In fact, here's the link to simply have a discussion about what you can do and how Patrick can help you:

https://form.jotform.com/ThrivingWithPatrick/Health-Evaluation

Patrick W. Becker retired from a 28-year career in the US Army Reserve in 2017 as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his career, he held a variety of staff and leadership positions, culminating in his assignment as an Area Coordinator for the Army Reserve's Command & General Staff College instructional unit in the western US. 

Shortly before his retirement, he opened his own health & wellness practice where he provides access to information, support and a positive Community to anyone wanting to live a better life.

He also guides his entrepreneurial-minded clients to create their own successful businesses to create impact across generations. 

Patrick is also a founding member of the 123 HELP App, LLC partnership preparing to launch a new app for homeowners enabling them to connect with reliable emergency service providers in a time of need.

In addition to his entrepreneurial interests, Mr. Becker has also been employed for over 16 years by United Healthcare, where he is currently a Program Solutions Manager for the Community & State Government Operations segment. He manages a remote team of 6 analysts across the US supporting numerous Medicaid reporting requirements and is responsible for their career development and advancement.

A native of western Pennsylvania, Mr. Becker has been a full-time resident of the Phoenix metropolitan area since moving to Arizona in 1992. He is the proud father of one son who is attending Law School at the University of Pittsburgh.

You can contact Patrick using these links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthCoachPatrick
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ThrivingWithPatrick 

Mobile: 1-602-509-5763

To learn more, visit:
www.servingstrong.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

Uh-oh. Your life is already consumed with your job, your family, your hobbies... and now you just got a call that your mother is ill. In fact, it's a diagnosis you didn't see coming, nor are you prepared for - dementia.

What's your next step?
How do you handle news like this?
Who will help you?

That's the topic of this episode. Listen as my guest, Melissa Chambers, shares valuable insight from her personal and vast experience.

Melissa Chambers brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience to her clients, having led operations and sales in the long-term care sector.

She holds certifications as a Personal Care Home Administrator in PA as well as a Certified Dementia Practitioner, a Certified Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Trainer, and a Virtual Dementia Tour Certified Trainer.

As the Founder and Chief-Consultant for her company, she is a dynamic speaker and is committed to and passionate about being a resource to her community and providing excellent customer service and care to all she serves.

Additionally, she has been an Alzheimer's Association Support Group Facilitator for over 12 years, a Community Educator for the Alzheimer's Association, a Master Trainer in the Habilitation Approach to Dementia Care using the "Caring For People with Alzheimer's Disease" curriculum through the Alzheimer's Association, a Dementia Friend and a Dementia Friends Champion through Dementia Friends Ohio & Pennsylvania.

Find Melissa at:
https://www.melissachambersconsulting.com/

To learn more, visit:
www.servingstrong.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

Life can change on a dime. One phone call; one slip; one simple phrase, and you are instantly thrust into a whole new trajectory.

That's what happened to my guest, Jocee. She was on a routine phone call with her daughter, who was on her way home from college. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, Jocee literally sat and listened to the horrible sounds of the accident her daughter was in. Totally helpless and emotionally struck, Jocee entered a journey she never thought she would be on.

Listen as she tells her story and how she was eventually able to leverage that event in her life for a fantastic life today.

As you listen, think about the major life disruptions you have faced. How are you leveraging those moments for your own fantastic journey?

Jocee Kelly is a freelance writer based out of Des Moines, Iowa.

As a young child, she was blessed to experience her grandparent's love for their entire family, including their profoundly disabled son, Jimmy.   When Jimmy was born in the late '40s, it was rare for a family to ignore the advice to institutionalize their disabled child. Jocee's grandparents raised their son as an important part of their family, church, and community. Caregiving has been a significant part of her life, eventually including the role of primary caregiver when her mother was diagnosed with dementia.


Jocee has a BA in Special Education. In addition to a teaching career, she has worked in the Early Childhood field and more recently fulfilled her dream of becoming a freelance writer specializing in the aging and retirement niche. Jocee has a deep desire to promote intergenerational caregiving thanks to the beautiful example she experienced within her own family.

To learn more, visit:
www.servingstrong.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

If you're like many in their 3rd Quarter of life, you struggle with a sense of your own identity. You've spent the past 20+ years building your family, your career, your financial stability. But all that is built, and you're wondering what's next.

My guest has an answer for you: Learn to tell your story.

It's in telling your story that you can reconnect with who you are. Armed with this awareness, you can have a greater 4th Quarter of life because you can integrate your story into an alignment that comes alive!

Kim I. Plyler is a US Navy Veteran; the CEO of Sahl Communications Inc. (a creative communications and public relations firm based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania); she owns and operates Arete Gallery, a community art gallery in New Hope, PA.; and is a public speaker and creator of the "Master Your Story, It Matters!" programming.

Kim uses her platform to encourage individuals and brands to find their stories and to share those stories.

Whether she is using the success story of a technology company or getting out in front of a story before a crisis arises, she believes every person's story can help change the world. You just need to be comfortable in your vulnerabilities and be able to see the beauty in humanity.

Kim is a storyteller at heart; from her education in theater to her speech writing for admirals in the United States Navy, she has traveled the world and heard stories from all different cultures. People feel comfortable opening up to her and sharing their experiences.

She has the perfect mix of empathy, humor, self-humility, and compassion. Her ability to coach and find the best angles results in an uplifting, motivating, and compassionate experience. By tapping into her personal experiences, she empowers you to find your inner story and reach greater heights.

She is a member of the Forbes Agency Council, Professional Services Council, International Association of Business Communicators, and the Public Relations Society of America.

You can find Kim at :
[email protected]
https://www.MYSmatters.com
https://www.SahlComm.com
and https://www.AreteGallery.com

To learn more, visit:
www.servingstrong.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

Your brain is an incredible listener. It will take what you tell it and do what you want.

Why is that important to know in midlife?

Because it can mean the difference between a lousy aging journey and a fantastic aging journey.

Cody and I talk about the importance of what you believe. We talk about what's really going on in your brain when you sleep. We talk about why water is so important.

But best of all, Cody shares why we should have hope. Our brains aren't declining as much as we were told they do when we get older. There's so much more going on in the brain.

Listen to this episode and be encouraged.

*whispering*
Did I mention the social platform we are working hard to develop for your successful journey? It's called The Community, and you can request to join for free to get an early pass as we build it.

Just go to https://finishstrong.me and request your membership.

(shhh. It's a secret!)

Cody Isabel serves as the CEO and Co-Founder of Rewrite and Rise, which is a Mind Brain and Body Lab that focuses on bringing successful treatment outcomes to those healing from emotional abuse, burnout, or an identity crisis like after a breakup or during a quarter-life crisis.

He and his team use biometric & behavioral data to aid in the treatments they provide their clients. Their mission is to provide better ways to objectively measure, diagnose, and treat individual mental health conditions.

Cody also serves as the Co-Founder of CBAi, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Company that specializes in building AI more like a human brain, where he contributes brain architecture & anatomy knowledge as well as does internal coaching with all the developers & team to prevent burnout while optimizing productivity.

Together, these two companies are working to create affordable Human-Machine Neurotechnology devices & software tools to help people regulate mental & emotional health, heal trauma, live a healthy lifestyle, and edit beliefs and behaviors faster than ever before.

You can find Cody at :
https://www.rewriteandrise.com/

On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mindbrainbodylab

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindbrainbodylab/

To learn more, visit:
www.servingstrong.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour