The Alignment Show

Brenda Yoho has spent a career in education, working as a teacher in grade K-5, an assistant principal, an elementary principal, and a middle school principle before reaching district level leadership as Director of Educational Support Services. Along the way she has battled Crohn's Disease, survived a lightning strike, overcome breast cancer, and come back from a near-fatal car accident. She recently published a book entitled Lead with Two Rules, and we talked with her about how those two rules have changed lives for hundreds of teachers and thousands of students.

Among the resources we talked about:

* Brenda talked about the impact the murder of Jessica Roach had on her and her community. Here is a story about the crime and its aftermath.

* Brenda has had a close relationship with researcher and bullying expert Dorothy Espelage. Her books include Bullying Prevention and Intervention: Realistic Strategies for Schools, Handbook of Classroom Management, and Feeling Safe in School: Bullying and Violence Prevention Around the World.

* Brenda’s book is Lead with Two Rules: Feeling Good & Feeling Safe. It not only distills her insights but also includes dozens of pointers to resources for implementing them.

* Donn’s newest book in The Sparklight Chronicles is Medium Well: The Journey from Believing to Believing In. Learn about all his books at Books2Read.com/DonnKing.

You can catch video replays at the following links, or hear audio replays at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon podcasts, and Substack.

* LinkedIn

* YouTube

* Facebook

Someone you know needs this inspiration for identifying core values and persisting through challenges.

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You don't have to be in a bad place to realize it's time for a life change. Angelique Liles loved her work as leader with a top insurance company, and just realized after 18 years it was time to move on to the next step in her journey. Now, she empowers business leaders and their employees to unlock their natural talents and strengths to increase team productivity and goal clarity. We had a great conversation that will help you and literally en-courage you to not only determine your own next step, but take it.

Among other resources, we discussed:

* Angelique’s website

* Reaching Angelique on LinkedIn (we didn’t actually discuss this, but we should have)

* We mentioned the Clifton Strengths

* Find Donn’s books, including his newest, Medium Well, now available in print (be careful with price, though—some retailers have it marked at an inflated price).

You can catch video replays at the following links, or hear audio replays at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon podcasts, and Substack. (Note we had lots of comments shared on the screen that we couldn’t share in audio since the interview was pre-recorded, so you might want to check out one of the video replays.)

* LinkedIn

* YouTube

* Facebook

You need this, and you probably know someone else who also needs the nudge or the encouragement.

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Talk about following your values! Wulf Moon has known pretty much his whole life that he is a writer. But growing up in an abusive household, he didn't get support for that—far from it! His dad told him he would never be any good as a writer. Despite the challenges, he stuck with it under the encouragement of a teacher who recognized his ability. He published his first science fiction story when he was fifteen. It won the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards–the same contest that first discovered Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Peter S. Beagle, and a host of iconic names in the arts. It became his first professional sale in Science World.

Since then he has won over 40 awards in writing and over 30 in public speaking, and he has shared his knowledge with the world in several forms (we will link to some below). Hear how he weathered the barriers and navigated the extreme challenges to live his values and value his life.

Among other resources, we talked about:

* How to Write a Howling Good Story, Wulf’s new book that distills all his writing wisdom. Read about it on his website or get it on Amazon or any of many other retailers.

* Wulf’s Patreon community, Wulf Pack Writers.

* Mark Leslie Lefebvre, who was a guest on The Alignment Show recently, published Wulf’s new book through Stark Publishing.

* Wulf mentioned Dean Wesley Smith, a prolific writer who shepherded him around a major convention and encouraged him as a writer. Dean has written dozens of books, including Writing Into the Dark.

* We briefly discussed a “hippie classic” called Das Energi by Paul Williams. You might have an interest.

* Donn’s new book is out! You can get an ebook directly from him, or pick up an ebook or print edition from any number of retailers. You can keep up with all of Donn’s books as they are published at Books2Read.

You can catch video replays at the following links, or hear audio replays at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack.

* LinkedIn

* Facebook

* YouTube

You know someone who doesn’t get a lot of encouragement and could use a story like Wulf’s.

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What a wild ride this episode was! We had a technical glitch in the middle of the live episode because I lost power about 20 minutes in. The video replays still have the frozen moments (and what an awkward expression froze on my face!), but we edited the audio version since dead air that is “audio only” is really, really challenging to listen through. At least with the video, you can see what Kim is doing, and she handled the unexpected interruption just fine!

That’s not the most important part of this episode, though. Kim Farber, the Founder of ELEVEN11 Real Estate and Academy, is dedicated to empowering others to reach their greatest potential, and you can hear that throughout our conversation. Kim is committed to sharing her knowledge, guiding others on their journey of transformation, and developing a deep connection with their authentic and highest selves. She strives to empower others to embrace their full potential and lead heart-centered lives. She impresses me as someone working in one of the most pragmatic industries (real estate) determined to practice in a way that aligns with her core values, while also helping others call forth something similar from their own hearts.

Resources we discussed include:

* Kim’s Real Estate website, Eleven11RealEstate.com.

* Kim’s Eleven11Academy.com.

* A shout out to the podcast run by Yermi Kurkus, “The Exceptionally Irresistible Show,” from which we “borrowed” a question.

* The release of Donn’s new book, Medium Well: The Journey from Believing to Believing In. At showtime, the book is only available through Donn’s store at a 25% discount for the ebook. That link will continue to update as print versions become available and the ebook reverts to regular price.

You can catch video replays at the following links, or hear audio replays at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack.

* LinkedIn

* YouTube

* Facebook

You know someone who could benefit from Kim’s example and encouragement.

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I have been listening to and benefiting from Mark Leslie Lefebvre for a long time in several different roles. He has been a bookseller (yes, children, real books printed on paper and such), an author, a professional speaker, a podcaster, a corporate asset, a publisher.... He's done a lot of things! But there is a thread that runs through it all, through his own creative writing and as an enabler of other writers. We had a conversation with another of the people that I fanboy over (I hope you enjoy those as much as I do), and, in the process, shared insights that will help you live your own values.

I will also say in passing that Mark exemplifies commitment. He did this episode live despite having strep throat because of his commitment—you might even say because of his commitment to commitment. I think he is the poster child for fulfulling your promises, and I appreciate that in him.

Resources we talked about include:

* Mark’s website, including links to all his many books

* The website for Mark’s podcast, Stark Reflections (one of my three “must listen” podcasts every week)

* We specifically mentioned Wide for the Win, Mark’s guide to avoiding all the actual and potential problems of putting on all your book eggs in one basket

* My upcoming book release, Medium Well: The Journey from Believing to Believing In (that link will stay current for whatever is happening with the book when you read this)

You can catch the video replay at any of the following channels, with audio versions available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack.

* LinkedIn

* YouTube

* Facebook

Someone needs the unique encouragement of this episode, and you know who they are.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations to help you live your values to value your life.

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Both of these gentlemen have been on The Alignment Show before. Each is a best-selling author. Each is impressive all by himself. They have teamed up to bring forth a new business parable that combines their superpowers. This is what the Avengers would be if they were authors. We had a great conversation that delved into what brought them to this partnership. Their insights can help you in your own journey, whether in business or in personal life.

Among the many resources we discussed are:

* Some of Bob’s books

* Endless Referrals

* The Go-Giver series

* Some of Jeff’s books

* The Unexpected Tour Guide

* Said the Lady with the Blue Hair

* Their current book together, Streetwise to Saleswise

* An impactful book entitled Go for No, another business parable that teaches a related mindset.

* The Go-Giver Success Alliance

* Jeff’s website

* Bob’s website

* Donn’s website

* Donn’s books

* The Way of the Three-Year-Old Why

* First chapter of Medium Well

* Medium Well: The Journey from Believing to Believing In

You can catch the video replay at any of the following channels, with audio versions available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack.

* LinkedIn

* Facebook

* YouTube

You know someone who could benefit from this conversation!

Make sure you don’t miss upcoming episodes and always have easy access to the show notes.

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It's hard to put a description on Matthew Brackett. Just as a small example: he can conduct conferences in any one of three languages. He came from a small town in New England, but he has worked in leadership, educational, and consulting roles in Italy, Ireland, England, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico. He served as a chaplain in the United States Navy. He is a certified coach and speaker who has completed graduate and post-graduate degrees in theology, counseling, and leadership from universities in Rome, Chile, and Pennsylvania. In an age of specialization, Matthew serves effectively as a sort of human Swiss Army knife. We had a fascinating conversation about what led him from that small town to engage a big world, and how he now uses the challenges he faced in life to help others face their own challenges.

Among resources we discussed:

* The many resources Matthew shares

* Matthew’s website

You will want to bookmark those and come back—he is getting ready to launch a course that will help you to live your values and value your life.

In addition, you can get the first scene of Donn’s new book that is on the verge of publishing. No obligation—see if the story grabs you! Here’s a bit about it:

When Skye Jackson starts her new job at the hospital, she wants nothing more than to fit in. But she makes a startling discovery—she can communicate with comatose patients in a way no one else can. At first doubting her own sanity, Skye finds herself helping doctors understand their nonverbal patients better. 

But as Skye tries to make sense of her strange talent, she faces skepticism and lack of understanding. When her conversations are misunderstood, she fears she could lose not only her job but her own sense of reality. Worst of all, Skye begins to doubt herself. With no one to believe in her unique ability, Skye may betray her true potential, at the cost of her life.

Medium Well is a story of self-discovery, perseverance, and learning to accept unconventional strengths. It explores what happens when one must believe not just in inexplicable events, but in one's own ability to rise above limitations, both external and internal. If you enjoyed the books Still Alice and The Vagrant, you will love Medium Well.

You can catch the video replay of our conversation with Matthew Brackett at any of the following channels, with audio versions available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack.

* LinkedIn

* YouTube

* Facebook

You know someone facing life’s overwhelm who would benefit from this conversation.

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When I joined The Go-Giver Success Alliance, the first person I met (after Bob Burg and Kathy Tagenel) was Anna Kantzavelos. She and her husband, Tony, purchased and have grown a compounding pharmacy—which may seem a strange business decision for a market dominated by chain pharmacies, but one that has enabled them to serve their customers in unique ways and connect with them on a personal level. Anna exemplifies values-based living. We had a wide-ranging conversation about how those values of family and service have shaped their lives, and how they're shaping their next chapter. Like you, Anna and Tony reached inflection points. They made decisions, took calculated risks, built on their complementary strengths, and learned.

Among other things, we talked about:

* Nora Apothecary, the compounding pharmacy they bought nine years ago and built into a thriving person-centered business

* Anna’s LinkedIn profile, a great way to connect with her.

* We mentioned 10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy.

* I couldn’t remember the name of the author whose guidance we quoted from “The Indy Author Podcast.” It was Kristina Adams, who was Matty Dalrymple’s guest on episode 225, “Right-Timing Your Release Strategy with Kristina Adams.” (To tie into our mention, Kristina is the source for the advice to evaluate your activity by asking three questions, “Is it fun? How much energy does it take? Is it making me money?”)

You can catch the video replay at any of the following channels, with audio versions available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack.

* LinkedIn

* Facebook

* YouTube

You know someone who could use the inspiring vision Anna Kantzavelos shares.

Keep up with upcoming episodes and make sure you get the show notes with useful links and join the community of people seeking to live their values to value their lives!

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We had such a great conversation this week with Deborah Kevin, the founder and chief inspiration officer of Highlander Press. Deborah loves helping change-makers tap into and share their stories of healing and truth with impactful books. She’s guided hundreds of authors to craft and publish impactful books they are proud of. Debby, a Stanford University’s Novel Writing program graduate, graduated in 2021 with a master’s degree in publishing from Western Colorado University, and she has used her marketing and technical skills along with her experience as a writer to bridge the gaps that authors face. You don’t have to be an author to learn from her example of identifying your values and aligning your life around them.

Among other resources, we talked about:

* The Highlander Press website, including resources to help you decide on the best option for publishing (I can verify: it is without hype).

* Deborah’s website, which brings together her speaking, consulting, and podcast work.

* Deborah’s book, You've Written Your Book. Now What?: A Self-Publishing Guide for Entrepreneurs

* Deborah’s LinkedIn.

* Get the first scene of Donn’s next book, Medium Well: The Journey from Believing to Believing In, releasing in March 2024, for free.

You can catch the video replay at any of the following channels, with audio versions available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack.

* LinkedIn

* YouTube

* Facebook

Share this with somebody who needs the encouragement to follow their own values!

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Kevin O’Connor has been a writer most of his life. After all, you don’t earn a Ph.D. without developing some serious writing abilities. Now in his 70s, Kevin desired to open up another creative channel. He recently published Two Floors Above Grief, adding yet one more venture to his impressive resume, and he is planning more books. We talked with him about his journey from growing up in the family funeral business through his career as an educator and speaker, and coming back to the insights of the role of funeral professionals in helping people manage grief.

Resources we talked about include:

* Kevin’s current book on Amazon, Two Floors Above Grief.

* Kevin’s website.

* Kevin’s email.

* Kevin’s Facebook.

* Kevin’s LinkedIn.

* Kevin’s Goodreads page.

* The Nonfiction Book School with Stacy Ennis.

You can catch the video replay at any of the following channels, with audio versions available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Substack.

* LinkedIn

* YouTube

* Facebook

Get full access to The Confidence Cultivator at confidencecultivator.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kingschronicles.substack.com/subscribe