The BIGG Success Show

Episode 1191: Life doesn’t always follow the plan — and that’s exactly why contingencies matter. In this episdoe of The BIGG Success Show, George and Mary-Lynn dive into Step 6 of the Life Map Course: Your Contingencies — How to Stay on Track When Life Happens.

They explain why even the best goals need flexibility, how contingencies help you adapt without losing momentum, and why planning for disruption is a sign of wisdom, not doubt. You’ll learn how to assess risks, create simple Plan Bs, so progress continues even during challenging circumstances.

Inspired by a memorable fable and grounded in entrepreneurial thinking, this episode shows how to stay resilient, adaptable, and focused when life throws surprises your way.

Be sure to get the free one-sheet that goes with this podcast episode to help you identify what might get in your way and create simple, realistic backup plans to stay on track when life gets unpredictable. Click here to get it.

Thanks for listening!

Here’s to your BIGG Success,

George & Mary-Lynn

BIGG Takeaways:

• In life, unexpected surprises are inevitable, so it's essential to have contingency plans in place.
• Contingency planning is not a sign of doubt; it's a wise way to prepare for real-life unpredictability.
• When faced with obstacles, remember to shake it off and take one step at a time toward your goals.
• Planning for failure means preparing for success; create backup plans that support your main objectives.
• A solid plan is good, but a flexible plan that accommodates life's surprises is even better.
• Identify three potential challenges to your goals and develop simple Plan Bs to keep moving forward.

BIGG Chapters:

[00:16] The Fable of the Farmer and His Donkey

[02:08] The Resilience of the Donkey

[03:10] Understanding Contingencies in Life Planning

[04:37] Responding to Life's Surprises

[08:16] Challenges in Contingency Planning

[10:33] Wrapping Up and Moving Forward

Links referenced in this episode:

• Episode 1186 – Your Baseline
• Episode 1187 – Your Vision
• Episode 1188 – Your Values
• Episode 1190 - Your Goals
• Mission statement podcast freebie
• Follow our podcast
• Join our newsletter

Episode 1190: Aligned goals are the key to turning purpose into progress. In this episode of The BIGG Success Show, George and Mary-Lynn dive into Step 5 of the Life Map Course podcast series: Your Goals. They open with a powerful story about misalignment and show how the wrong goal — even a “good” one — can pull you off course.

Building on past episodes about your baseline, vision, values, and mission, learn how to choose goals that truly align with who you are and where you want to go.

Be sure to get the free one-sheet that goes with this podcast episode to help you turn your vision, mission and values into focused, meaningful actions by giving you a simple framework to choose the right goals. Click here to get it.

Thanks for listening!

Here’s to your BIGG Success,

George & Mary-Lynn

BIGG Takeaways:

• Crafting purposeful goals starts with understanding your mission, vision, and values clearly.
• Aligned goals transform your dreams from mere thoughts into actionable steps, driving real progress.
• Setting too many goals can lead to overwhelm; focus on what truly matters to you.
• Milestones are essential as they break down larger goals into manageable, achievable steps for motivation.

BIGG Chapters:

[00:18] Transitioning to New Opportunities

[01:35] Setting Goals that Align with Your Mission

[02:35] Creating Aligned Goals

[04:12] The Importance of Aligned Goals and Milestones

[05:21] Challenges in Goal Setting

Links referenced in this episode:

Episode 1186 – Your Baseline

Episode 1187 – Your Vision

Episode 1188 – Your Values

Episode 1189 - Your Mission

Goals podcast freebie

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Episode 1189: Finding your mission is the key to staying focused, motivated, and resilient—especially when life gets hard. In this episode of The BIGG Success Show, George and Mary-Lynn explore Step 4 of the Life Map Course: Your Mission.

They share why your mission matters, how it connects your daily actions to your bigger purpose, and simple strategies to uncover your why.

You’ll learn the difference between goals and mission, the pitfalls to avoid, and how to create a mission statement that guides and inspires you.

Be sure to get the free one-sheet that goes with this podcast episode to help you reflect on what drives you and draft your first mission statement. Click here to get it.

Thanks for listening!

Here’s to your BIGG Success,

George & Mary-Lynn

BIGG Takeaways:

• Finding your mission is crucial because it connects your daily actions to your bigger purpose.
• Laura Bradford’s journey shows that passion paired with purpose leads to incredible achievements.
• Defining your mission statement can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be perfect initially.
• Reflect on moments of fulfillment to help uncover your why and what drives you.

BIGG Chapters

[00:16] Finding Your Passion

[01:16] Facing Challenges: A New Purpose

[02:28] Understanding Your Mission

[04:19] Challenges in Defining Your Mission

[04:29] Understanding Your Mission vs. Goals

[06:11] Transitioning to Step Five: Setting Goals for Success

Links referenced in this episode:

• Episode 1186 – Your Baseline
• Episode 1187 – Your Vision
• Episode 1188 – Your Values
• Mission statement podcast freebie
• Follow our podcast
• Join our newsletter

When life feels chaotic, it’s often because you’ve lost your sense of direction. In this episode of The BIGG Success Show, George and Mary-Lynn reveal how your values act as your compass—helping you calm the chaos, stay focused, and make decisions that align with what truly matters.

Get practical strategies to identify your core values, define what they mean for you, and bring them to life through simple, daily actions. Plus, learn how to avoid common pitfalls like choosing too many values or adopting ones that don’t reflect who you are.

Be sure to get the free one-sheet that goes with this podcast episode to help you identify your core values. Click here to get it.

Thanks for listening!

Here’s to your BIGG Success,

George & Mary-Lynn

BIGG Takeaways:

• To achieve BIGG success, you must identify and live out your core values daily.
• Your values act as a compass, guiding you through life's chaos and helping you stay focused.
• Avoid the common pitfall of having too many values; stick to 3 to 5 that truly matter.
• When facing tough decisions, ask yourself if the choice aligns with your personal values.
• Take small, actionable steps each week to integrate your core values into daily life.

BIGG Highlights:

[00:15] How to Avoid The Void

[01:04] Understanding the Importance of Values

[01:58] Identifying and Practicing Core Values

[03:35] Understanding Your Values: Common Pitfalls and Solutions

[05:18] Exploring Your Mission: The Why Behind Your Values

Links referenced in this episode:

• biggsuccess.com
• Values Reflection Podcast Freebie

Every success story starts with a clear vision. In this episode of The BIGG Success Show, George and Mary-Lynn reveal how your vision acts as your North Star - keeping you focused, motivated, and aligned with what truly matters.

You’ll learn four practical ways to define your vision, blending your passions and strengths to create a vivid picture of your ideal life. Plus, you’ll see how this step builds on Step 2 of the Life Map Course: Your Baseline (where you are) and prepares you for Step 3: Your Values (your compass ) for staying true to yourself as you move toward your dreams.

BIGG Takeaways:

• Defining your vision is crucial as it acts like a North Star guiding your life decisions.
• Without a clear vision, you might find yourself drifting aimlessly, much like a rudderless ship.
• Your vision should blend your passions and proficiencies to keep you excited and equipped.
• Writing down your vision in detail makes it more tangible and helps keep it top of mind.

BIGG Highlights:

[00:14] Navigating the Unknown

[01:02] Finding Your North Star: The Importance of Vision in Life

[02:04] Defining Your Vision: Strategies for Success

[02:52] Defining Your Vision

[04:32] Defining Your North Star

Links referenced in this episode:

• biggsuccess.com
• Podcast Companion Freebie

Every great journey begins with one crucial step: knowing where you are. In this episode of The BIGG Success Show, George and Mary-Lynn dive into Step 1 of the Life Map Course—Your Baseline.

They reveal why this “You Are Here” marker is the foundation that powers your goals, how to assess your personal, professional, and financial starting point, and the risks of skipping this essential step. You’ll also learn practical strategies—from self-assessment and outside feedback to journaling and SWOT analysis—that help you capture a clear picture of where you are today.

Be sure to download the podcast companion for this episode - a free one sheet with a few reflection questions to help you put today’s ideas into action. Click here to get it.

Thanks for listening!

Here's to your BIGG Success,

George & Mary-Lynn

BIGG Takeaways:

• Your baseline is the crucial starting point for achieving your big success; knowing where you are is essential.
• Understanding your current position allows for clearer goal-setting and prevents aimless wandering in life.
• Gathering insights from trusted friends and mentors can help uncover strengths and blind spots in your self-assessment.
• Regularly journaling your thoughts and progress transforms your baseline into a tangible reference for growth.
• Setting realistic goals aligned with your true priorities prevents burnout from chasing unattainable dreams.
• Utilizing a SWOT analysis can deepen your understanding of your current status and guide your success path.

BIGG Highlights:

[00:15] Understanding Your Baseline for Success

[00:58] Understanding Your Baseline

[01:59] Starting Your Journey: Self-Assessment in the Life Map Course

[03:09] Defining Your Baseline for Success

[03:56] Turning Self-Assessment into Future Vision

Links referenced in this episode:

• biggsuccess.com
• Podcast Companion Freebie

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by too many options and not enough direction, you’re not alone! We’ve noticed that many smart, talented folks, just like you, can get stuck trying to chase every shiny opportunity.

That’s why we created the Life Map course—to help you find clarity and create a clear, actionable plan that connects your personal, professional, and financial goals.

Over the next several episodes, we'll dive deep into this course and transform that scattered feeling into focused action, so you can intentionally design the life you truly want. In our next episode we'll focus on Step 1: Your Baseline.

Be sure to download the podcast companion for this episode - a free one sheet with a few reflection questions to help you put today’s ideas into action. Click here to get it.

Thanks for listening!

Here's to your BIGG Success,

George & Mary-Lynn

BIGG Takeaways:

• We all juggle too many options in life, making it hard to focus on what truly matters.
• Creating a clear roadmap helps you take control and intentionally design the life you want.
• Our Life Map course connects your personal and professional goals into one powerful plan.
• Without a plan, life can fill your time with distractions instead of meaningful progress.
• In the next episodes, we’ll break down the Life Map course step by step for clarity.
• If you feel lost or overwhelmed, stay tuned for the actionable strategies we’ll share.

BIGG Highlights

[00:13] Observations on Smart Individuals

[00:49] Choosing the Best Options in a World of Opportunities

[01:08] Introducing Our Life Map Course

[01:54] The Importance of Clarity in a Busy World

[02:44] Introduction to the Life Map Course

[03:22] Preparing for the Life Map Course

Links referenced in this episode:

• biggsuccess.com
• Podcast companion freebie

Do you ever feel like complaining eats up too much of your time and energy? You’re not alone—research shows the average worker wastes more than 10 hours a month griping, especially about bosses and coworkers. In this episode of The BIGG Success Show, George and Mary-Lynn share 7 steps to complain effectively, so your issues actually get resolved instead of stuck in a cycle of negativity. Inspired by Peter Bregman’s article in Harvard Business Review and Marshall Goldsmith’s research, this episode will help you turn venting into problem-solving. By shifting from destructive to constructive complaining, you’ll free up time, improve relationships, and feel more fulfilled.

Takeaways:

• We complain about our bosses for an astounding ten hours every month on average.
• Effective complaining can actually save you up to ten hours of your month, so why not try it?
• By changing how we address complaints, we can transform negative energy into productive outcomes.
• Complaining the easy way feels good initially but ultimately leads to wasted time and frustration.

BIGG Highlights:

[00:02] Effective Complaining Strategies

[03:19] Complaining: The Easy Way vs. The Effective Way

[04:58] Effective Complaining Techniques

[08:10] Effective Communication Strategies

[11:04] Effective Complaint Resolution Techniques

Links referenced in this episode:

• biggsuccess.com
• The Abundant Living Kit

What really motivates you? Psychological research shows there are sixteen universal desires that drive all human behavior, from power and independence to family and tranquility.

In this episode of The BIGG Success Show, we explore these motivations, inspired by Dr. Steven Reiss’ book Who Am I? The 16 Basic Desires That Motivate Our Actions and Define Our Personalities.

You’ll discover how to rank your own motivations, evaluate whether your life aligns with them, and take steps to act on what matters most.

Takeaways:

• Understanding your core motivations is crucial for achieving true happiness and fulfillment in life.
• Dr. Stephen Reese identified 16 basic desires that shape our actions and define our personalities.
• Finding and fulfilling your calling is essential to attain inner peace and feel like a success.
• Ranking your motivations can help you align your daily actions with your core values and desires.

BIGG Highlights

[00:12] Exploring Identity

[01:30] Exploring the 16 Motivations Behind Our Actions

[03:19] Exploring Human Motivations

[04:08] Basic Motivations: A Deep Dive

[05:13] Exploring the 16 Basic Motivations

[07:39] Understanding Motivation and Fulfillment

• Who Am I? The 16 Basic Desires That Motivate Our Actions and Define Our Personalities by Steven Reiss

Links referenced in this episode:

• biggsuccess.com
• biggsuccess.com/blog

Change is constant—are you letting it knock you down or riding it toward your BIGG success?

In this episode of The BIGG Success Show, we share four key steps to help you navigate personal, professional, and financial change with confidence.

Learn how to understand your risk tolerance, challenge your perceptions, spot trends before they crest, and embrace mistakes as stepping stones.

Whether you’re facing a career pivot, shifting market conditions, or a major life change, these strategies will help you catch the right wave instead of getting caught in the undertow.

Takeaways:

• Change is the only constant in life, and we must learn to ride its waves.
• Understanding your risk tolerance is crucial; wealthy individuals often take greater risks successfully.
• Entrepreneurs are not risk lovers; they are skilled risk managers who mitigate potential losses.
• You should celebrate your mistakes as valuable lessons that lead you toward big success.
• It's essential to differentiate between trends and fads to capitalize on long-term changes.
• Don’t expect perfection; embrace the learning that comes from mistakes and failures.

• BIGG Success Newsletter
• Episode 1182 blog post

Links referenced in this episode:

• biggsuccess.com/newsletter
• biggsuccess.com