Strength Through The Struggle

It can be a challenge figuring out business and life.

We are all on a Hero's Journey as we walk this earth although sometimes it seems as if we are just stumbling along. With ever changing roles and responsibilities in our modern culture here in the United States, transforming ourselves has become a necessity. With technology changes and expectations in a state of flux, it feels like a full-time job just keeping up.

As we change and grow into different roles at work and at home, we have to become a new, upgraded version of ourselves. We literally have to become a new person, leaving behind the older model that can no longer support the latest version of who we are.

I ignored that idea years ago and it turned around and bit me. I accomplished a major goal but didn't upgrade my skillsets to grow more. I got stuck at that spot and stayed there for years. Eventually I got back on track and the new goals and skills I pursued gave new meaning to my life and what I do each day.

Even if we are conscious about what we are doing, where we are going and how we are going to get there, the external forces of our life and culture can come out of nowhere and blindside us. The complicated issues of men and women and what our natural strengths are is being debated daily across the country.

One thing that can't be debated is the crisis men are feeling as the roles and responsibilities of men and women are in such a state of flux. Men have not developed the skills of communicating their feelings and sadly, men are 3-4 times more likely to die by suicide than women.

Mental health, be it male or female is something that can't be overlooked or minimized in this day and age. If you know someone who might be in pain, please reach out to them. If you are in pain, please reach out to someone you can trust. In spite of not wanting to please do reach out anyhow. You are important. You are needed. And if someone knew you were hurting that much, they would want to help you. Reach out.

What if you could develop a Navy Seal Mindset? Who wouldn't want that? This week we dive into a SEAL mindset with Larry Yatch. Larry is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate who served ten years as a Navy Seal officer. He was medically retired due to battle incurred injuries and is now helping others outside the military to develop a SEAL Mindset in life in order to overcome challenges and succeed in business and life.

Larry offered up amazing ways to get more out of life and about learning how to overcome obstacles, challenges and failures. One of the powerful distinctions Larry made was to consider the words we use can help us or hinder us. That applied to our self-talk or when speaking with another person. That was really just the tip of the iceberg. The entire episode is filled with useful, actionable tools to help you and I become the best version of ourselves.

This episode it helped me to see the idea of persevering so much more clearly and usefully in my own life. Persevering frequently felt like a load I was carrying. Like just trying to make it through the day many times. With the distinction Larry made, persevering now it seems more like an open door, an invitation to rise up and not just endure.

There was a time when my heart was heavy that I didn't want to be on my path mostly because it was so damn hard.

I didn't want my son to have to go through with his challenges and his challenges, by extension became my challenges. Looking at the car accident as an event that derailed our destiny wasn't serving me or Josh. Seeing that event as a destiny that is bringing about a lot of good is way more powerful and useful to Josh and I aw well as the world.

I guess you could say me seeing things differently has caused a change in my heart. Maybe that is what life is all about. Living, Learning, Growing. Changing towards the positive where we can. Allowing our hearts and minds to change where needed and where we can in turn serve the world and ourselves in a bigger, better, more complete way.

Live. Learn. Love.

Philip McKernan joins Mark on the podcast today to discuss his latest book called "One Last Talk." This episode showed a more personal side of Mark and encourage you to listen all of the way through to get the full perspective of this powerful episode.

Join the Facebook Group to discuss Finding Your Strength Through Your Struggle.

If you've ever been married, you know it can be a challenge. From miscommunication to misunderstandings. From unfulfilled needs to disregarded opinions. It can be a jungle out there. Our guest this week, Larry Bilotta, is here to tell us why the problems exist and it isn't what you may be thinking.

Larry takes us all the way back into the past to enlighten us as to why the dynamics in marriage are playing out the way they do. I like how he put the root of the problems into three separate categories with two types of problems in each category.

Traver Boehm had a great life: a wife, a kid and a great job until he lost it all. He tried to heal himself by going into isolation for 28 days without contact from the outside world and no electricity.

Traver discusses his journey with me during this episode.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Steve Roy joins me on the podcast today to discuss how he got himself out of a bad state in life after realizing his marriage was not what he initially expected. He gained weight which led to a loss of confidence.

He didn't get out this losing himself until a friend of his sat him down and told him the truth.

This interview is his journey to finding himself after being lost.

This episode was fun for me in that I was familiar with the culture of the Philippines as I served there for 3 years in the Air Force. I was also married to a Filipino woman for seven years. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.

This weeks guest is Philip Lomboy who grew up in a home that I would say was culturally intact. Both parents were born and raised in the Philippines. However, Philip grew up here in the United States as a military dependent once his father joined the US military.

There were challenges of being from a different culture and having to navigate life here in the US. Additionally, from the age of two, Philipp also had to deal with frequently moving which led to a great deal of insecurity.

Can you imagine moving every six months to 4 years of your life? I can't. I grew up in the same town for the first 20 years of my life and it was a small town to boot. There were aunts and uncles and cousins within blocks or just a few miles of my house.

It takes a lot to feel rooted physically or emotionally. It is difficult to understand but I can only imagine what Philipp, and others like him to go through. Definitely something we can learn from and in turn develop some understanding and compassion for those who have had to do the same thing.

Phil Randazzo joins me on the podcast today to discuss the way he had to rebuild his life after burning out at work. He succeeded and shares his process with me and you in this interview.

Phil works with military veterans to get back on their feet after they return from active duty.

I found my next guest by watching a Tedx Talk entitled Because I Said I Would. I immediately went to his website to get his promise cards about which he discussed in his talk.

I was very impressed by what Alex had to say and you will be as well.

Today on the podcast, I interview Chris Natzke, a speaker, coach and corporate leadership trainer who has extensive experience is corporate sales and owning multiple martial arts businesses.

Chris has had a tough past, but tells me he focuses on the future instead of dwelling on the past to give his kids the best life they could have.