The Eternal Optimist

Want to master the art of succeeding in all aspects of life? There's something you're probably ignoring - and it's not hard work, luck, or persistence. 

In today's episode, Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Reena Friedman-Watts to discuss the one thing guaranteed to bring you success in all areas of your life. They also share how overcoming life's challenges can make you a more confident person and how Mom-preneurs can excel at business and family life

Reena is a Media Marketing Specialist and host of The Better Call Daddy Podcast. If there's anything to know about her, she lives for the story, the people behind them and bringing them to life. Her knack for storytelling has taken her to unexpected places, from the daytime drama of the Jerry Springer Show to the legal drama of the Judge Alex Show. 

Topics Covered:

• 00:00 Introduction 
• 01:20 Reena's experience working on the Jerry Springer Show
• 03:30 The thrilling story that got Reena a promotion on the Jerry Springer production team
• 06:59 How Reena got her last two names, "Friedman-Watts"
• 08:58 Major challenges in Reena's early life
• 12:01 What it takes to be successful in all aspects of life
• 14:21 The benefits of making people feel like you're their best friend 
• 17:05 Why you should never change who you are just to fit in
• 18:58 The source of Reena's confidence 
• 20:00 Reena's "Why" and what keeps her going
• 22:31 The power and importance of words of affirmation
• 25:17 What makes a good husband?
• 27:29 Mom-preneurship and how to excel at business and family life
• 30:13 A simple tip to help you say No without sounding rude
• 33:33 Reena's podcast and what it's about
• 36:05 What Reena looks for in a podcast guest
• 37:21 Front Row Dads and the makings of better fathers
• 41:38 Reena's definition of an Eternal Optimist
• 43:35 Reena shares a story she's never revealed anywhere else
• 44:55 Parting thoughts

Links and Resources Mentioned

Reena's LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/reenafriedmanwatts/

Reena's website -  https://bettercalldaddy.com/

Connect with Reena on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/reenafriedmanwatts/

Better Call Daddy Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/better-call-daddy/id1525296416

Mentioned in this episode:

Buy Book on Amazon!!

Do you feel like a failure? Imagine being so bad at doing things that you worry you might fail at ending your life. 

In today’s episode, Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Mike Skrypnek to discuss how your failures and success are profoundly connected to your childhood trauma. They also talk about the things you should do when you feel like a failure, how to uncover and fix your childhood trauma, and whether toxic masculinity actually exists.

Mike is an accomplished, nine-time author, international keynote speaker, men’s mental health advocate, and nationally recognized business coach. His coaching focuses on purpose at the intersection of personal, professional and philanthropic development.

Topics Covered:

00:00 Introduction 

00:41 Major challenges in Mike’s early life

03:08 Mike shares the time he almost ended his life

04:32 Mike reveals how a community leader sexually abused him when he was 11

08:00 The ability to reset your entire life

07:08 Mike’s inability to trust good men

11:20 More about “The Men Worth Meeting” community

15:42 A space for amazing men to have open conversations

17:13 The shocking stat on male suicide

20:20 The link between humility and wisdom

24:10 Mike reveals how his entire life was shaped by playing just above average 

27:09 The path to discovering self-awareness 

30:07 Telltale signs you’re onto something incredible

31:51 The only change worth changing is people’s lives

35:58 Why coaching teens is super complicated

37:08 Mike’s definition of “Toxic Masculinity”

40:33 Lightning round - quickfire questions

45:47 Parting thoughts 

Links and Resources Mentioned

• Mike’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/growgetgive/
• Mike’s website - https://www.mikeskrypnek.com/
• UNLimited WORTH: Lessons of Healing from Childhood Trauma; Finding Happiness, Love and Success for Male Leaders by Mike Skrypnek - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BF34MGYL
• UNLimited Worth Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/unlimited-worth/id1627174518

Men Worth Meeting - https://www.mikeskrypnek.com/menworthmeeting

Mentioned in this episode:

Buy Book on Amazon!!

Do you struggle with Alcohol addiction? Here’s some good news: you don’t need to hit rock bottom to drop your drinking habit. If you know you need help and truly desire to stop, don’t wait; just take action, no matter how messy it is. 

In today’s episode, Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Kay Allison to discuss how people can successfully drop a drinking habit, eliminate anxiety, and increase energy by using their drinking habits as a ticket to personal growth.

Kay Allison is a successful entrepreneur, author and leader of an alcohol-free community. She is also the Founder and CEO of Juicy AF, where she helps women transform their lives by stopping the drinking spiral and creating a rich, rewarding, joyful future.

Topics Covered:

• 00:00 Introduction 
• 00:45 Challenging parts of Kay’s early life 
• 01:46 The moment Kay realized she had an alcohol problem 
• 03:45 You don’t have to hit rock bottom to drop a bad habit
• 05:40 When Kay made the commitment to change 
• 07:21 Kay’s journey to sobriety 
• 09:49 The pains of getting over an addiction
• 12:47 Is it possible to go through life without building anxiety?
• 14:40 The 5 Ms of overcoming anxiety
• 16:00 How to blossom after dropping an addiction
• 17:29 Ways to stay in flow with yourself 
• 19:20 The 3 primary parts of Kay’s new book, Juicy AF
• 21:30 Giving up alcohol: Tips to help you on your journey
• 23:40 There is no shame in the road to sobriety
• 26:38 Kay’s relationship with her kids before and after quitting alcohol
• 28:40 Kay’s vision for an alcohol-free future
• 30:15 Closing questions  

Links and Resources Mentioned

• Kay’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayallison1/
• Kay’s website - https://www.kayallison.com/
• The Novel Cure: From Abandonment to Zestlessness: 751 Books to Cure What Ails You by Ella Berthoud - https://www.amazon.com/Novel-Cure-Abandonment-Zestlessness-Books/dp/0143125931
• Juicy AF Book - https://juicyaf.life/book/
• Juicy AF Website - https://juicyaf.life/

Mentioned in this episode:

Buy Book on Amazon!!

In this episode of the Eternal Optimist podcast, host Josh Goodman shares his remarkable journey from staffing industry employee to successful business owner in the draft beer and beverage industry. He shares how he reached out to a local expert to gain industry knowledge and how he secured a $10 million project with a public company. Josh also talks about his successful partnership with an Austrian company, which doubled his sales with their investment. Despite facing challenges like nightly server outages, being asked to sign a 30 year non-compete, and an investor backing out at the last minute, Josh persevered and achieved great success. He shares some of his most memorable moments, such as seeing his system implemented in a high volume location and receiving tickets to the Masters from an investor. Josh's story is a testament to his resilience and determination, and it is sure to inspire listeners who are striving for entrepreneurial success.

Topics Covered:

• 00:00:00 Building A Legacy Together
• 00:02:41 The Eternal Optimist Podcast: Interviewing Josh Goodman
• 00:04:46 Overcoming Obstacles In Life And Work
• 00:09:24 A Unfair Business Deal
• 00:10:07 Pain Leads To Growth And A Desire To Work For Oneself
• 00:14:04 Selling Carpets In The Rain: A Failed Venture
• 00:17:05 A Chance Encounter At The Masters Leads To A Partnership In Self Serve Beer Tap Systems
• 00:18:40 The Rise Of The Beer Table Concept: From South America To Baltimore
• 00:27:05 Starting A New Company: Challenges And Breakthroughs
• 00:28:26 Finding Strong Partnerships After Difficult Relationships
• 00:30:26 Collaboration Brings Success
• 00:38:02 A Valuable Lesson Learned With A Smile
• 00:41:24 Securing Investment From Coca-Cola Despite A Global Crisis

Links and Resources Mentioned:

Pour My Beer Website - https://pourmybeer.com/

Josh Goodman's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshgoodman9/

Josh Goodman's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selfpourjosh/?hl=en

Mentioned in this episode:

Buy Book on Amazon!!

Dr. Kelly has an inspiring story of personal growth and transformation. After completing his PhD, he married a woman with the same name as him, which caused some confusion for everyone, including the TSA. His ego then wanted to take advantage of his newfound identity and use it to get things. He spent a few years getting to know himself apart from his ego and discovered that he loved to write something he had never considered before. His blog went viral and he ended up on the Today Show, which led him to writing a book called Lovable and connecting with the Front Row Dads community. He realized that his ego was in charge when he was successful only 50% of the time, but made progress by learning how to participate without trying to be in control. He also learned that weaponizing curiosity can be an ego move to retain a sense of power or control. He discussed how people build an ego wall around middle school, add ego cannons in high school, and arrive at an ego castle in early adulthood.

They discuss the importance of letting go of ego and participating in life without trying to control the other person. Dr. Flanagan shares his experience transitioning from a brick and mortar therapy practice clinician to online coaching of entrepreneurs, and how he overcame the feeling of being uninteresting. He also talks about his castle metaphor for understanding the false self, and how to recognize when ego is reasserting itself. Finally, he shares his advice on how to open up and receive a moment without trying to do anything to it.

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:00 Dr. Kelly Flanagan: A Masterclass On Ego, Emotional Intelligence, And

00:08:47 Exploring The Ego And The Soul: A Journey To Authenticity

00:12:44 Letting Go Of Judgments To Participate In Reality

00:14:20 Letting Go And Moving On

00:17:03 Controlling Curiosity: Invading Or Participating In A Child's Day

00:21:08 Exploring The Castle From 2008-2011

00:27:09 Facing The Pain Of The Past To Create A Lovable Life

00:37:37 Understanding The Role Of The Ego In Creating Opportunities For Choice

00:41:24 Exploring Inner Pain To Connect With Younger Self

00:44:43 Surrendering To Writing A Novel: Overcoming Fear And Resistance

Links and Resources Mentioned:

Dr. Kelly Flanagan's Website - https://drkellyflanagan.com/

Dr. Kelly Flanagan's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/DrKellyFlanagan/

Dr. Kelly Flanagan's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drkellyflanagan/?hl=en

Dr. Kelly Flanagan's Book on Amazon

Mentioned in this episode:

Buy Book on Amazon!!

This conversation is about vertical development, a concept that was invented about 10 years ago. It comes from the field of developmental psychology, which has been around since the 1880s. Vertical development is the idea that adults can develop and go through different stages, just like children do. Ryan shared his experience of going from a prevention mindset to a promotion mindset and how it changed his life. He credits this shift to reading The Five Minute Journal and doing an exercise every day to focus on what would make today great, what three amazing things happened today, and how could he have made today even better. He also shared his mindset assessment which looks at four different mindsets and how they can be used to create an opening for people to reinvent themselves. He also shared his vertical development assessment which looks at what level people are prone to operate from. Ryan encourages everyone to take these assessments in order to gain a deeper level of awareness and figure out where they need to go in terms of their own development.

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 Finding Hope And Overcoming Challenges With Eternal Optimism

00:06:30 Exploring The CEO's Insecurities And Self-awareness

00:09:55 Awakening To A Promotion Mindset: A Unique Form Of Development

00:13:30 Regrouping After Being Fired: My Heat Experience

00:24:28 Exploring The Benefits Of EMDR Therapy For Trauma And Mental Blocks

00:32:00 Exploring Vertical Development: A Look At Developmental Psychology

00:38:46 Uncovering Fixed And Growth Mindsets Through Assessments

00:41:22 The Pursuit Of Success: Examining The Operating Systems Of Executives

00:55:06 Normalizing Trauma And Healing: A Conversation With Ryan Gottfredson

Links and Resources Mentioned:

Ryan's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryangottfredson

Ryan's Website - https://ryangottfredson.com/

Ryan's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@RyanGottfredsonPhd

Mentioned in this episode:

Buy Book on Amazon!!

What comes to mind when you see a successful person? If you're like most people, you automatically assume they must have had it easy. Or maybe they overcame one or two hard things. But the reality is, we all have challenges. And there is no better person to share how challenges shape our lives than Marcia Martins. 

Matt Drinkhahn and Marcia Martins have an amazing discussion about navigating challenges by figuring yourself out first and co-creating your own reality. 

Marcia is an entrepreneur, executive consultant, global speaker, international best-selling author and personal development pioneer. Renowned as one of the top transformational trainers and executive and life coaches, Marcia has provided training for global organizations in Europe, South America, Africa, Canada, Mexico, Asia and the USA. Her clients include Capital One, Warner Bros., InterContinental Hotels, McCain Foods, Evian Water (DWA) and Hard Rock International. She was Knighted in 2012 by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem for her humanitarian contribution to the world.

Topics Covered:

00:00 Introduction 

02:24 Major challenges in Marcia's early life 

05:53 Understanding that challenges are gifts from the universe

08:23 How Marcia hit rock bottom and came out stronger 

12:02 Your brain on trauma: How the mind hides traumatic memories

15:34 Go through life knowing you always have a choice

19:03 Why alignment is the key to success

22:14 Marcia shares the story of her brother's prison transformation

25:45 The foundational books everybody should read

28:30 What's it like living in a rainforest

33:46 Marcia's journey to meet the indigenous Achuar tribe

39:20 Marcia shares one of the major highlights of her life

46:40 Meeting George Clooney and Brad Pitt

49:35 Where to find Marcia online 

52:30 What to expect from Marcia Martin on demand 

53:24 Parting thoughts 

Links and Resources Mentioned

• Marcia's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcia-martin-971b7037/
• Marcia's website - https://www.marciamartin.com/
• Marciamartinclub.com - https://www.marciamartinclub.com/
• The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz - https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319
• The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself Michael A. Singer

The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins

Mentioned in this episode:

Buy Book on Amazon!!

Do you trade time for money? Newsflash - there’s only so much time you can trade for money. It would be best if you focused on giving value. Find out what people want and give it to them. Remember, if the only thing you can give is your time, then you will be stuck where you’re at forever. 

In today’s episode, Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Eric Wohlwend to discuss lessons on how to adapt to any situation, raise your kids to be winners, and why it’s really hard to live a good life without money. 

Eric Wohlwend is a Best Selling Author, Trainer & mentor for business & real estate investing, Speaker, and founder of Clear Sky Training, where he teaches investors how to maximize returns and minimize the hassle and risk of all of their investments.

Topics Covered:

00:00 Introduction 

03:24 How the US treats its veterans 

04:36 Major challenges in Eric’s early life

05:51 Why military leadership doesn’t work in the “real world”

08:53 Letting go of the hyper-masculine energy

11:21 How Eric handled being away from his newborn son for six months

15:42 It’s really hard to have a good life without money

17:03 The fine balance between being a leader and being a parent

19:50 What to do when you become the smartest person in the room

24:08 Getting people to play to their strengths 

27:12 The 3 things you need to become a billionaire 

28:40 Why Eric feels the education system needs major reforms 

31:54 Eric’s origin story and how he met his wife

36:14 The family success triangle

39:25 There is only so much time you can trade for money

45:41 Using business lessons to successfully raise a kid

46:58 You need to stop saying the word “but”

48:28 Parting thoughts 

Links and Resources Mentioned

• Eric’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwohlwend/
• Eric’s Website - https://www.clearskyrealty.com/

Family Success Triangle: BE DO HAVE by Eric Wohlwend and Lila Wohlwend - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BL8BW49C/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

Mentioned in this episode:

Buy Book on Amazon!!

Are you like most people who never explore what they want their life to look like, let alone take action and make it happen?

If so, here’s a harsh truth: you will never live up to your potential unless you take action. Whether you’ve got unclear goals or are simply afraid of failing, the only thing standing in the way of your success or happiness is you. If you’re afraid of trying new things and would rather remain miserable than fail miserably, this podcast is for you. 

Josh Painter is an Actionable Achievement Coach and Author of “Best Version Ever: Discover The MAGIC of Becoming Extraordinary.” He provides an action-oriented and inspirational roadmap to escaping the cycle of random motivational moments and falling back into the same old routines. By following the M.A.G.I.C. formula (Mindset, Aim, Gameplan, Immersion, and Consistency), you’ll learn how to shift your thinking from negative to positive, narrow down goals, and develop lifelong habits that will make your changes sustainable.

Topics Covered:

00:00 Introduction 

01:11 Josh’s experience spending time with Scott Groves

05:12 How to uncover the consequential decisions that changed your life

06:51 Josh and his love for Pearl Jam

08:10 Why Josh decided to write his book

10:25 The main idea behind the “Your Best Version Ever” live event

12:50 Dissecting Josh’s new book Best Version Ever 

13:56 The magic of becoming extraordinary

16:00 Times when Josh struggled to find his best version ever 

18:57 How to survive the dreaded rock bottom

21:50 The power of saying yes to the right things

24:55 Finding the best version of yourself is about taking action

26:51 Closing notes and what to expect from Josh going forward

Links and Resources Mentioned

• Josh’s website - https://bestversionever.com/
• Josh’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuascottpainter/
• Best Version Ever: Discover the MAGIC of Becoming Extraordinary by Josh Painter - https://www.amazon.com/Best-Version-Ever-Discover-Extraordinary/dp/1544537875

Connect with Josh on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joshpainter/

Mentioned in this episode:

Buy Book on Amazon!!

If you don't risk anything, you risk everything. 

If you are too afraid to do anything for fear of failure or embarrassment, you have lost the opportunity for failure and any possibility of success. Life is short; the minute you were born, it got risky. So instead of asking for security, seek adventure. Remember, it's not about how long you live but how you live. 

Rob Moore is an entrepreneur, investor, prolific podcaster, and Author of 18 Amazon bestsellers. He lives up to his brand and disrupts as an entrepreneur, with interests ranging from property development to public speaking and digital media. He is on a mission to change the way people think about business and aims to support people around the globe through the Rob Moore Foundation.

Topics Covered:

00:00 Introduction 

03:20 Challenging parts of Rob’s early life

01:36 How Rob used his negative emotions for positive outcomes

05:23 Learning how to dissolve the inner pain of others

08:10 The more emotional you are, the less intelligent you become

10:35 Why comfort is the enemy of greatness

13:51 How Rob met his wife

15:50 Ways to cope and rebound from a rejection

19:01 Reasons to stop judging and demonizing people

20:08 The power of embracing uncomfortable situations

21:46 Rob’s struggles with his body image

23:45 Rob’s legacy and practical steps to getting out of debt

28:09 How to invest in assets that produce recurring income

31:23 Brace for impact, the revolution is coming

33:14 How to protect yourself and your assets 

34:50 Parting thoughts

Links and Resources Mentioned

• Rob’s website - https://robmoore.com/
• Rob’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robmoore1979/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Connect with Rob on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/robmooreprogressive/

Join Rob.Team here - https://cw959.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/RobTeam-quick?cookieUUID=7c4603b7-a56a-4b2f-b0c7-8ed80a9fb12b

Mentioned in this episode:

Buy Book on Amazon!!