Tales With Taylor

David Medansky is the Founder of LIFE 42 Wellness, a corporate wellness system designed to help organizations reduce absenteeism, burnout, and turnover through simple, proven concepts.

David believes most people already know what they should do to improve their health. What's often missing is a system that helps them do it consistently. LIFE 42 Wellness was created around that philosophy, providing organizations with a practical approach to employee wellness focused on sustainable behaviors rather than short-term challenges, incentives, or complicated programs.

David's work was inspired by his own health transformation. At age 61, a serious health wake-up call led him to change his daily behaviors, shed 50 pounds in four months, and completely rethink his approach to wellness. He hiked up Mt. Kilimanjaro at age 67.

An award-winning, international bestselling author and speaker.

LOSING WEIGHT

• Drink more water and less soda, even diet sodas. Avoid fast food and ultra-processed foods. Try to stick to whole foods as much as you can.

• Eat slower. This will help you eat smaller portions and avoid accidentally overeating.

• The HCG diet can be very effective.

• Drink water first thing in the morning.

• Don't rely on the scale to tell you how you're doing.

• Your body composition will change first. Pay attention to how your clothes fit, how you feel, and what your energy is like. Those will be the first things to change when you improve your lifestyle.

CHANGING YOUR MINDSET

• Don't stop your lifestyle changes after the diet is done. You need to make permanent changes if you want permanent results.

• It's not just about counting calories. You also have to consider the nutritional value of the food.

• Think positively. Your mindset has a huge impact on how you feel. You need to be kind to yourself.

• Beating yourself up won't accomplish anything.

• Here's an affirmation to try: "Everything I eat and drink heals and nourishes my body, which helps me achieve and maintain excellent health."

• Focus on the things you can control.

• You can control how you react to things. You can choose to dwell on the negative or find the positive, make a plan to move on, and learn from the situation.

ACCEPTING HONESTY

• Be open to feedback. Getting other perspectives can greatly improve the quality of what you're working on.

• Be prepared for honesty if you're asking someone for their opinion. Don't take it personally or get mad at their criticism.

• Being clear is kind.

SEVEN DAILY TASKS

• Drink lots of water.

• Move your body for 30 minutes throughout the day.

• Eat simple, whole foods.

• Get 7–8 hours of good-quality sleep.

• Keep a positive mindset.

• Learn something new.

• Practice mindful eating. Eat slower and have smaller portions.

BOOKS BY DAVID MEDANSKY

• A Path Forward: Echoes of a Second Chance by David Medansky

• Discover Your Thinner Self: A Common-Sense Approach for a Slimmer, Healthier You by David Medansky

• If Not Now, When?: Reduce Weight - Create a Healthy Lifestyle in 90 Days by David Medansky

• Break the Chains of Dieting: 9 Fundamental Must Have Principles for Healthy Weight Loss by David Medansky

• Stop Dieting Start Thinning: 9 Golden Rules to Weight-Loss for People Who Love to Eat by David Medansky

• Echoes of Tomorrow by David Medansky (editing at time of recording)

• The Cost of Success by David Medansky (writing at time of recording)

You Need Strategy

• “If you build it they will come” is a myth
• You need strategy to grow your business and reach your audience
• Be passionate about your brand
• Update your messaging every 2-3 years
• Does your in-person brand match your online brand?

Be Human, Be Yourself

• Find what makes you different than the other businesses in your industry
• Don’t be afraid to show off your personality, let people know who they’re going to be working with
• You should try to avoid using digital personas for your business, use your image, use your voice. Even if it’s uncomfortable, practice and you will get better and more comfortable being on camera
• People want human connection
• People buy because they like you as a person

 Find What Clients Need

• Your clients may be coming to you asking for one thing but they actually need something different
• Talk with the client and find out what they need and how you can best help them
• Ask the right questions and really listen to your clients needs. Find the gaps

 Focus On Your People

• Focus on your target audience, not everybody is going to like you or need your services or products
• Put your energy and resources into the people that will like you and need your business

 Goals

• Think deeply about what your goals are. What is the life that you’re working towards?
• What do you actually want to accomplish and find ways to work towards those goals, always keep them in mind when making decisions
• Know where you’re at, who you want to be, and where you want to go
• Aim for simplicity in your solutions. Focus on what you do best and automate / hire for the rest. The simpler the solution, the better

 Be Organized

• Have all your assets in the same place
• Create a brand guide. This saves so much time and makes it easier to have a consistent brand across platforms

 Automation

• AI can be helpful for daily operations
• AI can look at your calendar and let you know what’s priority
• Use it for sending updates, checking up on clients, and sending reminders about unpaid invoices

The SBDC

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a free resource for small businesses. They’re not just for startups; the SBDC can help at any stage of your business journey. They can provide an outside perspective, remind you of your successes, encourage you to keep going, and help you determine whether you’re on track for your industry.

Personal Success

Think about what success means to you personally. What kind of life do you want to be living? Success is being happy to go to work and happy to come home. Take time to appreciate your progress.

Continuous Growth

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t know what you don’t know, and the SBDC is a great resource for learning how to improve your business. Embrace authenticity, because it can help you stand out and make a greater impact than hiding behind a facade of perfection. Don’t avoid the aspects of your business that make you uncomfortable. Growth comes from confronting those fears.

Resources

AZSBDC Events & Workshops: https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/events.aspx

About Nancy Sanders

Nancy Sanders is the Program Director of the Small Business Development Center at Maricopa Community Colleges, part of the Arizona Small Business Development Center Network.

With a strong commitment to small business success and economic development, Nancy leads a team that provides no-cost, confidential business counseling, training, and resources to entrepreneurs and established business owners.

Under her leadership, Maricopa SBDC clients have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in capital. Her team works collaboratively with educational institutions, economic development organizations, government agencies, funders, and business-support organizations throughout Arizona. Her work includes strengthening programs and partnerships, supporting student entrepreneurs and pitch preparation, advancing specialized initiatives such as SBIR/STTR assistance and government contracting, and incorporating practical technology and market-research tools into business advising.

In another life, Nancy launched, built, and sold marketing and personal services businesses.

In this episode of Tales With Taylor, we discuss practical tips for standing out in business, creating high-quality print designs, attracting the right customers, and turning your ideas into reality.

STAND OUT

Find ways to be unique in your industry instead of offering the same things as everyone else. Listen to your clients, understand what your target audience needs, and adapt your offerings accordingly.

TIPS FOR HIGH-QUALITY PRINTS

Patience is key to getting the best results. AI can be useful for brainstorming and conceptualizing designs, but high-quality prints require professionally prepared artwork exported in formats such as EPS, SVG, or high-quality PDF.

Designers can recreate AI-generated designs in print-ready formats, but complex designs can take considerable time to reproduce. Whenever possible, provide the original layered design file to save the print shop time when adjusting artwork to fit the final product.

SCREAM WHAT YOU DO

Make sure your storefront signage clearly communicates what your business does. State your services on the front of your building and display your products or services on your windows so potential customers know immediately whether you offer what they need.

BUSINESS CARDS

Be intentional about networking. Instead of handing out business cards to everyone, give them to people who could genuinely be a good fit to work with you.

JUST START

If you have a business idea, trust your gut and take the leap. Start your business, build your dream, and remember that life is what you make it.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

After 20 years of selling capital equipment to large printing companies, our guest retired and purchased a small vinyl and banner sign shop in April 2018. Since then, the business has grown into a much larger custom sign and vehicle wrap company.

Their signature product is handcrafted, bespoke illuminated exterior and interior signage. They also specialize in illuminated lobby logos and creative wall murals, helping launch more than 200 companies every year.

CHANGE THE WAY YOU USE AI

• Be specific when prompting AI.
• Give AI as much information as possible about your business so it can learn your voice and sound more like you.
• Always verify information from AI. It doesn't know what's true or false and can hallucinate answers that sound convincing but aren't accurate.
• Give an AI tool 6–12 months before abandoning it. It can take time to get comfortable with the tool and train it to work the way you want.

THE FLOW METHOD

• FLOW stands for Foundation, Leverage, Optimization, and Workflows.
• Make changes in phases to help everyone adjust comfortably.
• Stop wearing all the hats in your business.
• Identify what can be optimized and delegated so you don't have to handle every repetitive task yourself.
• Focus on your CEO tasks.

ANSWER ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (AEO)

• Optimize your website to appear in AI-generated answers.
• FAQs are a great way to help your content show up in AI answers.
• Repurpose old content. Review old blog posts and make sure they include clear questions and answers. AI can help speed up this process.

THE HUMAN ELEMENT

• Stay authentic and relatable. Authenticity matters when everything else is so polished and digital.
• Avoid using AI-generated images of yourself in your marketing.

SOFTWARE MENTIONED

Claude: https://claude.ai/

NotebookLM: https://notebook.google.com/

Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/

Manus: https://manus.im/

GUEST CONTACT

Cheryl James
Email: [email protected]

ABOUT CHERYL JAMES

Cheryl James is the Founder and Fractional COO of CL James Consulting, LLC. She helps trades and service-based business owners stop lead leakage and buy back their time by building simple, sustainable systems that keep sales and operations running smoothly. After 27 years in corporate roles supporting Fortune 100 clients, Cheryl left the burnout cycle to help entrepreneurs grow without hustle or constant firefighting.

She partners with clients to streamline day-to-day operations, tighten follow-up, and connect the right tools—CRMs, automations, and workflows—so nothing slips through the cracks. From SOPs to onboarding and retention, Cheryl turns scattered processes into a clear, repeatable way of working that supports steady growth.

Known for her hands-on, strategic approach, Cheryl makes backend work feel practical and doable—so owners can lead like CEOs, not live in their inbox.

CL James Consulting, LLC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcljames?stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllynnjames/

Website: https://cljamesconsulting.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.odomsjames

Dr. Sharise L. Erby is an award-winning Non-Profit Executive, author, speaker, and transformational leader dedicated to helping people and communities unlock their fullest potential. As Managing Director of Per Scholas Phoenix, she leads the expansion of technology workforce development across Arizona, creating pathways to high-growth careers and economic mobility.

She is the founder of the Phenomenal Woman Empowerment Network, Chair of the Phoenix Women's Commission, and author of Just Do You: The Re:Boot, empowering others to embrace purpose, resilience, and reinvention. Dr. Erby is a two-time Phoenix Titan 100 Honoree, a Women We Admire Top 30 Women Leader in Arizona, a City of Phoenix Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have a Dream" Awardee, and a Global Icon of Influence Top 20 honoree.

Whether leading organizations, mentoring future leaders, or speaking on stages across the country, Dr. Erby's mission is simple: transform lives by helping people realize that their current circumstances are not their final destination, they are simply the starting point of their next chapter.

Per Scholas Phoenix

They set you up to have a successful career in tech.
They teach you the hard and soft skills you need and get you connected with people in the industry to help you get hired.
They do mock interviews with people in the industry so you know exactly what tech companies are looking to hire.

Having Options

Having options unlocks generational wealth.
Stay agile and ready for different seasons of your life. There’s always going to be changes that you need to navigate.
It’s okay to pivot when you need to.

Grieving

You need to give yourself time to grieve.
Don’t force yourself to go back to how things were. Embrace the new normal and find new meaning in your life.
You don’t need to feel better by a certain date. Give yourself permission to grieve as long as you need to.

Say Yes

Don’t be afraid to say yes to important opportunities. Believe in yourself and you can do it.
Never stop growing, evolving, and becoming something new.

Changing Careers

• Transitioning between careers is a difficult change, but it is possible with the right planning and persistence
• Work on building the skills needed for your new career
• Develop as many relationships and connections as you can within in your current position, you never know who’s going to help you in your new career

Parenting

• Let you kids be kids, they need to be free during their childhood because it only lasts so long
• Don’t put immense pressure on your kids at such a young age. Let them be carefree while slowly introducing more responsibility

Qualifying For A Mortgage

• Build your credit and have a consistent stream of income before looking for a mortgage
• Talk with a mortgage professional to help answer all your questions

Set Goals

• If you want something to change, then you have to change
• Be intentional with all your actions. Ask yourself if it aligns with your goals before doing it
• Focus on little habits that build over time, not changing your life overnight. Small changes are sustainable
• Take time to appreciate how far you’ve come and the progress that you’ve made

 When in real estate, being available is important.

- If you want something to change, you have to change. Write your goals and understand them.

- The Power of Intention – Wayne Dyer (Book), Atomic Habits – James Clear (Book)

Bio:I am a father of two. Loan officer for the past 8 years. Former athlete and ASU grad. From Sugar Land, Texas

Links:

ig @MtgMikeJones1

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-jones-338bba6b/

tiktok @ThemJoness

Mjones.Peoplesmortgage.com

Stuart “Stu” Selbst is a community-driven technologist, entrepreneur, and the heart behind StuTech, where his mission is simple: help people feel safe, supported, and confident with their technology. With over 30 years in IT, telecom, and cybersecurity, Stu combines deep technical expertise with something far more rare — patience, relatability, and a genuine passion for helping others. What started as helping seniors in his neighborhood quickly turned into a thriving company built on trust, integrity, and real human connection. Stu is known for breaking down complicated tech into everyday language, protecting people from modern threats, and treating every client like a neighbor — because many of them are. A devoted husband, proud cat dad, lifelong Dodgers fan, and someone who believes in kindness, service, and doing the right thing, Stu shows up every day with one goal: to make technology simple, safe, and stress-free for the people who rely on.

https://www.youtube.com/@stutechaz

IG: @stutechaz.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartselbst/https://www.linkedin.com/company/stutechazhttps://www.stutechaz.com https://www.facebook.com/stutechaz

Avoiding Scams

• Be careful of phishing scams and romance scams
• iPhones are more secure than android phones which makes them a better fit for seniors
• Apple has a stricter approval process for the app store than android does
• Phone call scams are some of the most prevalent scams. Medicare, social security, banks, the IRS, all the things that scammers claim to be would not reach out to you by phone asking for your personal information
• Awareness is your best tool
• You need to be a human firewall

Personal Social Media

• Set up multi-factor authentication on your accounts
• Set your personal social media accounts to private to reduce scams
• Do not post about your location

 Maintaining Your Computer

• Keep things clean and up to date
• Update your firmware and hardware drivers when they need updating, not just your operating system
• Getting a new computer will not solve the problem if you’re just moving everything from the old one onto the new one
• Bloatware is a huge issue on new computers, delete all the preinstalled programs you don’t need to help your computer run better

Kristin Cetone, Reading Specialist, educator, author, and founder of Nuts About Reading, joins us to talk about helping children become confident, capable readers.From understanding your child's reading level to identifying areas that need strengthening, Kristin shares practical insight for parents, homeschool families, and anyone supporting a child's literacy development. She also discusses reading assessments, sight words, teaching strategies, and why parents sometimes need to step back and let children struggle, make mistakes, and learn independently.Kristin brings decades of experience in education and literacy, along with her work through Nuts About Reading, an informal reading assessment and tutoring resource designed to help parents better understand and support their children's reading journey.Whether you're homeschooling, supplementing your child's education, or concerned about their reading progress, this conversation offers practical ideas for helping young readers build skills, confidence, and independence.Links:

https://www.facebook.com/kristin.cetone/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristincetone/

https://nutsaboutreading.com/

https://www.pinterest.com/buckaroobuckeye/

Alika Victor is a Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, Practical Wellness & Sustainable Performance Expert, speaker, and founder of Thrive Now Wellness. After more than a decade leading product strategy and operational excellence in healthcare technology, she now helps busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and caregivers reduce stress, prevent burnout, and build sustainable habits that fit real life. What sets Alika apart is her strengths-centered approach. Rather than focusing on what's wrong, she helps people reconnect with times they've been successful before—uncovering the strengths, resilience, and capabilities they already possess and applying them to the challenges they face today. Through her Practical Wellness Method™, Alika combines evidence-based behavior change, tiny experiments, resilience practices, and personalized coaching to create meaningful, lasting change. She is also a movement and flow artist and writer/director who believes joy, creativity, and play are essential to well-being. Her mission is simple: to help people feel healthier, more resilient, and more like themselves again. As a thank-you to your listeners, I'm offering a special discount on my Reconnect With Yourself program. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, running on empty, struggling to make healthy changes, feeling disconnected from yourself, or simply ready for a positive shift, this experience is designed to help you stop focusing on what's wrong and start reconnecting with the strengths, resilience, and successes you've already demonstrated—because lasting change often begins by remembering who you already are. Normally $79, podcast listeners can enroll for just $59. From there, if you'd like additional support, you can continue into one of my small group or one-on-one coaching programs, where I'll help you create the positive shift that matters most to you—whether that's more energy, less stress, healthier habits, stronger relationships, greater confidence, or showing up as your best self at work and at home.

https://www.youtube.com/@thrivenowwellness/shorts

https://www.instagram.com/showuphappy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alikavictor/

https://showuphappy.com/https://www.facebook.com/showuphappytoday