The Nth Degree Podcast with Tracy Timm

This week, Now that you have your "why," we have a completely different, potentially even gargantuan challenge. That's the challenge of letting go of the definition of success given to (or even forced on) us by others. Instead, we have to realize that the traditional models of success might not be exactly how we would define success for ourselves. In fact, we might even have to embrace the idea of defining success in our very, own, unique way. But how do we actually do that, when our entire lives have probably read like a report card? Get good grades: check! Play a sport: check! Get involved in extracurricular activities: check! Get into a "good" college: check! Get a "good" job: check! How do we break this seemingly never-ending train of living up to the expectations of others and defining success for ourselves? Hop on over into the episode to learn my fool-proof method for defining success on your own terms.

Last week, we started a series on how to accomplish anything in life. I shared an awesome piece of advice that was gifted to me by a friend. Here's the breakdown: Know the needle you want to move. Know why you intend to move that needle. Know where you want the needle to go. Know how to move that dang needle. And most importantly… Do the things that move that dang needle! Put even more simply: Choose a goal. Define your “why”. Determine what “winning” looks like. Figure out what you need to do to move closer to that goal. And of course, most importantly… TAKE ACTION. Last week, we dug a little deeper into that advice by talking about Step One: Choose a goal. As you remember, this was no ordinary goal-setting session. If you have not listened to that podcast, go do that now. Rather than setting what have come to be known at SMART goals, I challenged you to set, what I like to call, stupid goals. Crazy goals. Outlandish goals. Big, hairy, audacious goals. More specifically, goals that are just “cool” to you and your life. And I asked you to commit to that goal for the next 5 weeks while we go through this exercise.   So now that you have your very “cool” BHAG, what’s next? In the words made famous most-recently by Simon Sinek, we have to define our “why.” Our “why” is our reason for being. Our belief, our dream, our hope.   Not only do we have to choose and define our why, but we also have to learn why our "why" is so dang important. See what I did there? ;) If you don’t understand the why behind the “why” (yes, I realize that’s sooooo meta), then you will skip over this step completely. And that would be a shame, because it’s actually one of the most vital. So, without any further ado, I give you... my five reasons to "start with why" and how to define your intention so that it gives fuel to your fire.

I’m a sucker for a good metaphor. All the world’s a stage. Books are the mirrors of the soul. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Young love is about as awkward as two porcupines trying to mate. Yes, I know that’s a simile. But still, it's funny. But in all seriousness, I love a good metaphor. They have the power to bring abstract concepts to life. They give our words movement in time and space. They paint pictures that allow us to understand stories in a more profound way. So when I heard this unexpected metaphor for life, I just had to share it with Timmbit Nation. A while back, I shared a blog with you about a friend I met-- Will Merrifield. Will came across my path as a potential client but remained on my path as a valuable friend and mentor. Without any prompting from me, Will shared one of the greatest metaphors for success in life that I have ever heard. Up until now, I was only able to share that metaphor with you in words, but today you're going to get to hear it form Will, firsthand. This was, hands down, the most succinct, most inspiring, most relatable, most understandable, and dammit the most downright entertaining piece of advice I’ve ever received in my life. And it was… completely unsolicited. Without any further ado I give you the first of five installments that were inspired by a three-minute long voice message from Will himself. Enjoy! As we go through these next few weeks, we're going to be asking these 5 questions (remember, this week, we've already talked about #1). What’s your engine?! Do you have enough fuel to power the engine?! Where is your finish line?! What’s your odometer needle?! And...       5. How are you going to make that dang needle move?! Because then, as Will says, we’re talkin’. And then, we can have some fun.

One day... I'll be ready. One day... I'll take that next step. One day... I'll have it all figured out. How many times in your life have you told yourself "one day"? I remember, 4 years ago (which is still amazing to me), I was sitting at the same desk, in front of the same 4 computer screens, being yelled at by the same angry men, at the same job that I hated, and no matter how miserable each new day might be, I still told myself... "One day"... I'll quit this job. "One day"...I'll do something I really love. "One day"... I'll be free. Thankfully for me, that one day came much sooner than I expected, but for most people, "one day" always seems to loom somewhere off in the distant future. For most of us, that "one day" will only come when we've done enough research, made enough money, had enough conversations, or cried enough times that we feel... gasp... ready. But what if there was a fool-proof, sure-fire, tried-and-tested method to avoid all this wishin'.. and hopin'... and dreamin'... and prayin'? What if there was a way to decide to leave your job that not only allowed you to have zero fears or doubts when you left but also allowed you to remain in that job as long as you needed without feeling like you were missing out on something else? What if there was a process you could use to go from believing you were meant for something more to actually doing something more? Would you do it? My friend Andrew Tarvin is with us today to talk about, among other things, the method he used to quit his comfortable job at Proctor and Gamble with no fears, no doubts, and no regrets. Andrew and I talk about the process he followed (and enjoyed along the way!) to get from a 9-to-5 to a completely nomadic lifestyle that he lived successfully for over 18 months. We also talk about the ways you can build more confidence and commitment in your life by using simple strategies that businesses have used for years. Our guest today is not only a great friend and mastermind partner, he is also an hilarious and gifted professional speaker and comedian. He's spoken in all of the 50 states and several countries internationally. He started one of the most popular college improv groups in the country, went on to work for one of the most impressive Fortune 500 companies in the world, and began his own successful career in speaking and training in the span of just 10 years. Andrew is a force to be reckoned with, and I'm delighted he could be here today to share his wisdom and knowledge with you. Without further ado, I give you, Andrew Tarvin!

What can I say about Jeff Hoffman that hasn't already been said? Jeff is a successful entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, published author, Hollywood film producer, and a producer of a Grammy-winning jazz album in 2015. He has been the founder of multiple startups, has been the CEO of both public and private companies, and has served as a senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known companies, including Priceline.com. uBid.com, ColorJar, and more. Yup, that's already been said. Jeff serves on the boards of companies in the US, Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in more than 150 countries. He also serves on the boards of Global Entrepreneurship Week and The Unreasonable Group. He supports the White House, the US State Department, the United Nations, and foreign governments on economic growth initiatives and entrepreneurship. Yes, that too. Jeff is a frequent keynote speaker, having been invited to speak in over 50 countries, on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business leadership. He is the co-author of the book SCALE, a how-to guide for growing your business. Jeff also teaches innovation workshops to major corporations on a regular basis. He's been featured as a business expert seen on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, CNN International, Bloomberg News, CNBC, ABC, and NPR, and in publications including Forbes, Inc., Time, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and more. Woof, this guy is BUSY! Outside of the world of technology, Jeff has produced movies, has produced musical events including concerts, tours, and charity events with such artists as Elton John, Britney Spears, NSYNC, and others, and serves on numerous charity and non-profit boards. Yes, friends... NSYNC for-crying-out-loud! Here's what I can say about Jeff Hoffman that no one else has said-- he gives a mean hug. I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff while I was a student on Semester at Sea in 2013. Thanks to a bond that goes well beyond time and space (Yale alumni!) we immediately began a friendship that has lasted to this day. In this episode, Jeff and I talk about practical strategies for finding your purpose, the do's and don't's of choosing a mentor, how to know if you have "entrepreneurial DNA," and oh this little idea of how to determine what your life is all about. This episode is great for you if you've ever wondered what sets great achievers apart from everyone else, how you can start to do more of what you want and less of what the world expects you to do, and you want to laugh a little bit while you learn a TON. I'm so honored to have Jeff on the show and so thankful he could share his wisdom with you today. Without any further ado, I give you, the incomparable, Jeff Hoffman.

Regrets. One thing we all have, and simultaneously, one thing we all wish we didn't have. Maybe you wish you would have struck out on your own. Maybe you wish you would have taken the risk of starting your own business. Maybe you wish you would have quit that job you hate a little sooner. Maybe you wish you had never taken that job in the first place... No matter how old you are or what you've done in life up until now, it's very likely that you live with a few (or maybe even many) regrets. Despite wanting to live a regret-free life, there are plenty of things I regret doing. Cheating on a test. Gossiping about a friend. Putting an "all-you-can-eat" sushi restaurant to the test. Fanny packs. You name it! There are plenty of things in my life that I've done that I regret. But a few years ago, while I was sailing on other side of the world, I learned a simple secret about regrets that has completely changed my life. I no longer worry about regretting things that I do... Instead I worry about regretting the things that I don't do. Come check out the podcast this week for a breakdown of this simple secret and how you can start to live a regret-free life today.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to find work you actually love? Have you ever wondered what it feels like to love the work you do? Have you ever wondered if it was possible to have both things at once? I know I have... There was a time when I was so miserable at work that I wondered if I would ever find anything that lit me up and got me excited about life again. I was so down that I lost my sense of wonder and forgot that the world was full of possibilities. I would go from feeling hopeful one day to completely hopeless the next. I was worried it would never end... Sound familiar? If this doesn't describe you, then statistics tell us that it probably describes the person sitting next to you. Studies show that nearly 75% of the workforce in the United States is either not engaged or actively disengaged with their work. That means that the majority of us are either asleep at the wheel or just downright hate our jobs. So where do I get off talking about "loving the work you do" when most of us are dreading Mondays and counting down the clock until 5pm? Enter Debra Swersky. This week's podcast features one of the most positive and enterprising young women that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. In addition to being a good friend and colleague, Debra personifies the idea of doing what you love and loving what you do. In good times, she's reveled in the fact that she is fulfilled by her work and in bad times she learns to love whatever is right in front of her. This approach has led Debra through a series of incredible adventures including planning international events, working with celebrities, launching products, getting her MBA, traveling to Africa, starting a non-profit, owning her own business, and just generally being a badass. This episode is great for you if you've ever wanted to find a new job, create your own dream role, take advantage of your greatest assets, or get plugged in to a new city. Debra's advice goes way beyond traditional career advice, so listen closely. The secret to loving what you do and doing what you love is just around the corner.

Raise your hand if you've ever been daunted by the question: "What is your purpose in life?" Uhhhh... what?! Are you telling me I just have to have one purpose in life?! And only one?! And I have to figure it out now?! What if I don't get it right... Is it possible for me to miss it completely?! I get the shakes just thinking about that question. It wasn't until several years of battling with that question, several failed attempts at labeling my career and profession, and several sleepless nights wondering if I would die purposeless... that I decided to abandon this question completely and opt for an entirely new one. I think the idea of defining your life's purpose in one way or one word or one calling is a bit ridiculous. Our life's purpose changes all the time based on our current circumstances. So, in honor of that dynamic-ness that is life on this Earth, I decided to go with the following question instead: "What is my purpose in life... right now?" Right now... your purpose could be being the best daughter possible. Right now... your purpose could be being the best employee possible. Right now... your purpose could be being the best un-employed person ever. Right now... your purpose is given to you based on where you are in life! If we embrace life this way, it frees us from the constraints of having to figure out our one purpose, and worry whether or not we are fulfilling it. If we embrace this question instead of the alternative, then we can be totally present and start serving our calling now instead of waiting around for some divine signal of what to do or where to go. If we embrace this idea instead of being enslaved by the idea of "one," then we can start living the dynamic, meaningful lives we were meant to live. We can start having impact... right now. That is how I'd like to introduce today's guest, Carrie Fabris. Carrie is living and incredibly dynamic and meaningful life by prescribing to this exact idea-- that our purpose in life can change with the seasons of our lives. And it is precisely by embracing this idea that we remain fully engaged with our lives and the lives of those around us. In this way, we can live our purpose every day-- our unique purpose for that day-- if we decide to stay in tune with the ebb and flow of our own individual circumstances. Carrie is an incredible story-teller, and I'm so excited to have her on the show as a mentor. This episode is perfect for you if you've ever worried about having to define yourself one time in life, wanted to change careers, felt bad for your conflicting or multiple desires in life, or just wondered about how to be true to yourself as your situation and circumstances in life unfold before you. Carrie is wonderful about sharing the successes and the struggles, and has truly helped me understand that sometimes in life, my purpose will change. But that, my friends, is the very, best part. So without any further ado, I give you, Carrie Fabris!

Suffering. Sadness. Sorrow. No, I'm not trying to get you to leave this page! These words evoke pain, but the most interesting thing about them is that they are 100% identifiable by everyone on this planet. All of us experience pain, misery, heartache... even just generic unhappiness... from time to time. But for some of you, you're carrying a bigger cross than normal. Something happened recently in my life that made we want to reexamine suffering. I wasn't exactly looking for answers to why we suffer. Rather, I was looking for ways to make sense of suffering... to use it to our (or the world's) benefit. I once heard someone say that suffering is a horrible thing to waste. I agree. And after this podcast, I think you will too. With all my love, enjoy.

C.S. Lewis had many incredible quotes, but my favorite one is this: "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What? You, too? I thought I was the only one...'." Our guest today, Jenn Ostman, is about to become your new best friend. That's because this entire podcast of full of moments where you will think Jenn is sitting inside your brain, thinking your thoughts, and making your decisions for you. I don't think I've ever had a guest on the show who was so eloquently and accurately able to describe her current transitional phase in life and how she's grinding out the day to day while planning for the more ideal future. Her honesty and authenticity are both incredible and humbling. She's brave enough to air out her laundry for everyone to see, but most importantly to learn from. And not to learn what to do and what not to do. But to learn that it's ok. You are enough. Your choices don't have to look fancy on Facebook or envious on Instagram. They just need to align with who you really are and what you really want out of life. Right now. Not yesterday. Not when you were growing up. And certainly not when you were UIO (under the influence of others). Jenn's courageous story and humorous honesty will help you put your life back into perspective and allow you to see how you're already so much closer to where you want to be than you think. Without any further ado, I give you, Jenn Ostman!       Play by play: 4:00 Jenn’s dream job and how she got it 6:30 How Jenn realized that her dream job might not be everything she wanted it to be 8:30 Jenn’s journey from her dream job to her parents’ couch 10:00 What happens when you derive your identity from your work 12:00 How Jenn proved to herself that she made the hard, but right, decision for her 14:15 How to build a new identity when your job doesn’t cut it anymore 16:30 Getting perspective on your life when you’re stuck in the mode of comparing yourself to others 17:30 The difference between self-identity in the East and self-identity in the West 20:00 Jenn picks up her story with her cushy, cushy bridge job 20:30 Learning from complacency and finding something more 23:40 Finding the right job for the life you want to live right now 25:30 Walking the line between money and happiness—do we have to? 26:20 How Jenn put all the puzzle pieces together to find her new dream job 27:30 Mentors who helped Jenn discover her passion 29:30 Jenn proves that “nothing is ever wasted” with her own life 31:55 The #1 priority in Jenn’s life and how she honors it all the time 33:30 How to figure out your place within healthy relationships 34:20 A key thought that took Jenn YEARS to learn, but is truly foundational 35:50 The best answer to the “what about the starving kids in Africa” question 37:10 How to know if you’re chasing squirrels or following your intuition 38:40 Jenn’s method for ranking your priorities and maintaining consistency in life 43:55 Why examining your life is a sometimes scary but so necessary life practice 45:45 How Jenn used the Predictive Index to find out her true behaviors and motivations 50:15 Hot to start seeing your natural personality as a strength and asset if you haven’t done that before 59:15 Once you have all the puzzle pieces of life, how do you start to put them together 1:01:30 How to find an environment that allows you to thrive 1:02:40 Jenn’s major “adulting” realization and how it’s guiding her career decisions 1:05:30 What about when you have to put in your dues to get to where you want to go 1:06:00 What gets Jenn through the hard times and stuck feelings 1:07:20 How to look at life as an evolution of growth instead of a never-ending list of “theres” to get to 1:08:40 Jenn’s mom’s INCREDIBLE piece of advice and why you should tell it to yourself everyday 1:10:30 How I learned one of life’s greatest lessons in a confessional 1:11:15 The story of one of the greatest human beings I’ve ever met 1:13:45 How to embrace constant transformation by remembering that it’s never too late 1:15:00 How Jenn gets perspective on her life by remembering how teeny tiny she is 1:16:50 How to take your nature, nurture, and network and put it in the context of now 1:19:00 How to get out of the “all or nothing” mindset that will paralyze your life 1:23:00 How to let go of what other people think and honor where you are in your life 1:25:00 How to find your light at the end of the tunnel 1:27:00 The importance of setting deadlines for yourself 1:27:30 How I know Jenn will be an amazing inspiration for so many people 1:28:45 Jenn’s #1 piece of advice for you right now 1:30:10 Little love fest and mimosa time 1:30:30 Get in touch with Jenn at @jennostmanyoga 1:31:00 Get in touch with me @thetracytimm or facebook.com/tracytimmfan 1:31:20 Do what you were created for, now!