The Simplifiers Podcast

I love this all-star episode so much and it's perfect for our theme of Gratitude and Grace this month, talking all about how to cultivate gratitude.

My special guest today is author Nancy Davis Kho and she's simplifying how to cultivate gratitude and lasting happiness in your life by writing one letter at a time. Nancy has found healing through writing and her latest book, 'The Thank-You Project,' recounts her experience of writing thank-you letters to 50 people, places and pastimes that have shaped her lifetime so far. If you're looking to heal old wounds or create more gratitude in your life, this episode is for you.

Here's how.

• Why the practice of "deliberate gratitude" has the power to be restorative in our lives and mental wellness

• How writing thank-you notes (even ones you DON'T send) can help you create more resiliency, happiness and connection in your work and life

• What the "Thank-You Project" is and how to try it yourself in 3 simple steps… see, say, savor

• How to decide which letters you could write first and why

• Who has helped me and how?

• Who has shaped me and how?

• Who has inspired me and how?

• How to decide which letters to send and which NOT to send… and why

• …and ultimately, she shares the profound life lessons that she learned in this year-long experiment that helped her change the trajectory of things, in a good way.

I know that there is so much joy that can be found when I reconnect with beloved people from my past. When you muster up the courage to check-in, touch base, and write a letter from the heart, good things always come in return. Even if you write the letter and never send it, your heart softens, gratitude rises, and release happens.

You can do it, I believe in you… it's time to simplify!

It's time to #DoTheThing

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Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/nancy-davis-kho-how-to-cultivate-gratitude-and-happiness-304-all-star

Here's another all-star episode that I love so much and wanted to share with you today. As we round out this month's theme of "self-discipline" I think this topic is the perfect one to help us bring it all home.

Today, we are talking all about how to finish that next big project… no, really. Done, finished, tick it off the list, stick a fork in it, and be DONE. But the problem is… most projects we start, we never finish them! Why is that??!

My special guest today is author Bridgit Dengel Gaspard and she's simplifying how to finish that next big project. You see, she's got a theory that the reason we mysteriously stop within sight of the finish line is actually because not all parts of you want what you think you want. In fact, these sub-personalities inside you have a distorted loyalty to your core negative beliefs and that's what is keeping you stuck.

Here's how to squash all of that.

• Why driven, go-getter, type-A kind of people tend to lose steam just before completing a big goal in their life

• What the "Final 8th" is and how to overcome any self-sabotage when you're working towards your goals personally or professionally

• How to speak to your inner selves for clarity and insight through a technique called voice dialogue

• Why it's just as important to uncover our "core negative beliefs" as well as your core values to get at the root of things

… and ultimately, what the key difference is between a person who achieves their goals easily vs. those who don't.

You can do it, I believe in you… it's time to simplify!

It's time to #DoTheThing

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Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/bridgit-dengel-gaspard-how-to-finish-that-next-big-project-all-star

Do you wish you could sleep better at night? Insomnia, anyone?! Welp, relief is on the way because we're talking all about sleep on today's episode!

My all-star special guest today is health coach Shae Leonard and she's simplifying how to sleep better at night. Whether it's stress or something else that's keeping you up at night, Shae leads us through seven simple steps to course correct that'll have you sleep like a baby in no time at all.

Here's how.

We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including:

• How she defines "sleep hygiene" and why it's so important to focus on this right now

• What the first step is to improve your sleep hygiene to help you sleep better tonight

• What the 7 fundamentals for great sleep hygiene are and how these simple shifts can make a positive impact in the long run

• Everything we need to know about "full-spectrum light" - what it is and why we need to avoid it 1-2 hours before bedtime, plus she shares a few healthy alternatives

• Why we need to avoid amping up our brains at night and those sneaky ways we do it without even knowing it

• …and ultimately, why it is important to "quiet your digestion" at night - how to do it, starting tonight.

It's crazy to think that the majority of people are going to be fast asleep at 2am tonight in your neighborhood and city. Like the whole world powers down to rest, all at once. If you're someone prone to late night brain whirling or you seem to be tossing and turning for no reason at all, I hope today's conversation really gives you some tools to try out tonight.

And let us know what worked! I'm always keen to hear from listeners on what you're learning from the podcast, testing out in your own life, and seeing results in simplifying… reach out on Instagram @thesimplifiers, tag us, DM me… I'd love to hear from you!

It's time to #DoTheThing!

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Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/shae-leonard-how-to-sleep-better-at-night-all-star-302

Are you feeling a bit stuck when it comes to your income? Like you've hit a plateau and can't seem to surpass it? We've all been there before at some point in our journey of running a small business and the tendency is to believe the myth that we just need to work HARDER or put in MORE hours or push, push, push until our bodies break and relationships suffer. Bleh… no thanks. There's definitely a better way.

My all-star special guest today is Amira Alvarez and she's simplifying how to make an income breakthrough. She's sharing all the inside secrets on how to master the inner game of entrepreneurship and manage your mindset to grow your business. If you've been pushing for way too long and are ready to try something different, grab a pen and paper… and get ready to take notes. This episode could spark you on a new path towards tripling your income in one year like Amira did.

Here's how.

We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including:

• What (typically) stops most female small business owners from hitting a certain threshold of income - what's really happening underneath it all

• Working more hours does NOT equal more income… she shares a better way to look at it, strategically:

• • identify your blocks

  • focus on the most essential, needle-moving actions like sales

• What the 7 questions are that you must ask every single prospective client that's going to help you get closer to 7-figure sales this year:

• • What do you want? Then, what's important to you about having that?

  • What's stopping you from having what you want?

  • So, are you saying… ???

  • What happens if you don't solve this?

  • Are you committed to solving this?

  • Great, would you like to hear about how I can help you with this?

  • Would you like to get started today?

• …and ultimately, what the 3 simple and effective ways that you can scale your work this year to significantly increase your income and how to decide which is best, when:

• • Raise your prices

  • Sell more quantity, and/or

  • Add a new channel of income

It's time to #DoTheThing!

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Show notes available with all links mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/amira-alvarez-how-to-make-an-income-breakthrough-all-star

Do you need to write and deliver a compelling keynote speech soon? What about a sales pitch? Or do you need to formulate the words to really motivate and empower your audience? If yes, you're in the right place.

My all-star special guest today is professional public speaker Robbie Crabtree and he's simplifying how to write a compelling keynote speech. Writing a compelling speech takes skill, a bit of wit, and a mastery of the craft of storytelling.

Here's how.

We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including:

• Why it is important to sharpen your skills as a compelling communicator

• What he learned as an attorney that helped him become a better keynote speaker and communicator

• He reveals his "Performative Speaking" framework and how to create your "go-to" story for your keynote speech. Here are the secrets...

5 ingredients to a good story:

• identify your characters

• define their relationships

• describe the environment with all 5 senses

• create a conflict that needs to be resolved

• have a clear resolutions that ends the story with impact

4 stages of the "Performative Speaking" framework:

• adventure

• adversity

• triumph

• humor

• How to create emotion and captivate your audience in a compelling way

• …and ultimately, we talked about utilizing the power of video - what are some ways you can deliver a keynote speech (or tell your story) online, rather than in person?

It's time to #DoTheThing!

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Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/robbie-crabtree-write-a-compelling-keynote-speech-all-star

Do you want to write your first book this year? So do I! I'm knee deep in the process already but when I first got started, I know I had swirling thoughts like, "…umm, how do I do that?!"

My all-star special guest today is Elizabeth Kracht and she is simplifying how to write your first book. If you've never done it before, it can be a mystifying and harrowing process. Do you self-publish or not? Do you write the whole book or just start with a rough outline? And where in the world do you meet a literary agent?? So many questions… all the questions! Don't worry, I asked them ALL for you.

My hope is that today's conversation spins you in the right direction if you're just getting started on writing your first book.

Here's how.

• What the very first step is that you need to take once you've decided to write a book

• A few questions that'll help you define the core building blocks of your book and ensure you stay on track throughout the entire writing process. Ask yourself…

• • What do you most want to say with your work and WHY?

  • How do you want to help people with this book?

  • Who is your exact target audience?

• How to decide which genre is the very best for the message you want to convey and she shared a few different genre options that are best if you're writing a non-fiction book

• What elements you'll need to include in your book proposal, including…

• • the overview

  • the target audience

  • about the author section

  • your marketing plan

  • your list of competitive titles

  • the chapter outline

  • a couple sample chapters

• All about the bells and whistles… what are a few additional features that you could include in your book that would make it a richer reading experience and more exciting for your reader? Things like…

• • case studies

  • music playlists

  • worksheets & journaling prompts

  • recipes and more

• How to format your book, especially if you're publishing in the US

If you're anything like me, I bet half of your heart is totally excited about the writing process and ready to dive in… and the other half is utterly petrified! It's the fact that "you don't know what you don't know" that makes the entire process exhilarating.

That's why most people don't do it. It's the great unknown and it's much, much easier to sit back, instead of taking action on this dream. But if you're tuning in right now and you hear that Divine whisper in your heart telling you to "write that book!" - my hope is that today's conversation gives you a little more confidence and a whole lot of spark to go out and #dothething!

Show notes available with all links mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/elizabeth-kracht-how-to-write-your-first-book-all-star

Ethical Hour is the world's first and largest online community for changemakers, social entrepreneurs and impact businesses, where you can meet like-minded friends, collaborators and supporters - and get the help you need to grow your income, influence, and impact.

To learn more and get connected, visit: ethicalhour.co.uk/simplify

Are you ready to step up and be the CEO of your well-being? If last year taught us anything at all, it reminded us of how incredibly important it is to take good care of our body, mind, and spirit in order to stay grounded through big change. Self-care is no longer a "should" but a "must-have" priority to maintain your well-being as an entrepreneur.

My all-star special guest today is author Naz Beheshti and she's simplifying how to be the CEO of your well-being. Like a CEO, you're setting the vision for the year ahead, making calculated predictions that will hopefully pay off in the months to come and equally, making cuts where necessary. All of this requires a whole new vantage point on how you live your life and a possible shift in your mindset to level up.

Here's how.

We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including:

• What she learned while working as Steve Jobs' executive assistant, inside the pressure cooker of Silicon Valley… how this brilliant person took great care of himself and equally grew the Apple brand simultaneously

• Her book is called "Pause. Breathe. Choose." - we take a deep dive into all three sections and she defines what mindfulness could look like through a pandemic

• How to make better choices that will help us manage our stress and build resilience, using the ACE Method: acute, chronic, eustress

• …and ultimately, what the "3 P's to well-being" are - pain, prana and purpose, understanding how we can tap into all three areas to our advantage, through our work. We also do a breathwork exercise together to build that prana life-force energy.

It was fascinating to hear her stories of working with Steve Jobs early on in her career, to really get an insider's peek into that world when Apple was booming.

And it certainly rings true for me… when I take good care of myself, get enough sleep, drink more water than coffee, move my body, take time to focus in on my breath, rest, reflect and prioritize it into my daily schedule, I become a better CEO for The Simplifiers. Opportunities (magically) open up and I achieve flow state for longer periods of time.

This is truly living a simplified, joy-filled life. And I hope today's conversation sparks something new for you, as well.

It's time to #DoTheThing!

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Show notes available with all links mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/naz-beheshti-be-the-CEO-of-your-well-being-all-star

Today, we are talking all about how to harness your inner power - what it is, how to tap into it and how it'll help you gain more confidence no matter what situation you are in. And I mean, really… who doesn't want more of that, right??!

My all-star special guest today is leadership coach Wendy C. Williams and she's simplifying how to harness your inner power. She advises businesses all around the world, training leaders to tap into their own source of personal power. Through this practice of understanding that "everything is energy" - her clients have gained confidence, learn how to show up with authenticity and as a result, they build and lead highly productive teams.

Here's how.

We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including:

• How she defines what "inner power" is and is NOT - she busts the misconceptions some have about power and goes much deeper than surface level

• • spoiler alert: authentic power is not about dominating others… it's time to deprogram the patriarchy, friends!

• What she means by "acquiring energy eyes" in order to read the room and also read yourself, energetically and how you show up in a space

• One super simple, practical way you can harness your inner power when you are about to do something big and scary in your work, such as a big pitch meeting or having a tough conversation

• …and ultimately, what the difference is between your ego and your soul and how to communicate between the two for greater alignment and a foundation of inner strength.

This conversation was such a delight! And about halfway into it, she led me through an exercise where I needed to get a bit vulnerable and share a question I've had on my heart for a while now to gain deeper clarity in my own work trajectory…

I decided to leave this bit in because well, we're all human and I hope seeing a little bit behind my "Wizard of Oz" curtain was of value to you, especially if you're contemplating the same. Friends, we learn together and so, if you're here now, it means you and I were put together in perfect, Divine timing. So, I hope this episode provides a fresh perspective for you, especially if you've been feeling a little stuck lately or have lost your mojo somewhere along the way.

It's time to #DoTheThing!

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Show notes available with all links mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/wendy-c-williams-harness-your-inner-power-all-star

Today, we are talking all about how to improve your digestion. Are you feeling a bit bloated, and well, clogged up? Aha, this one is for you!

My all-star special guest today is Cool Beans co-founder Tyler Mayoras and he's simplifying how to improve your digestion. There's nothing worse than having tummy aches and feeling like your body isn't working right. Tyler believes that with a few simple shifts in what you eat, all of this could improve fairly quickly.

Here's how.

We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including:

• Why focusing on your gut health and digestion is so (darn) important these days for whole body health and wellness

• What the big secret is behind beans as a superfood… and how to incorporate more beans into your meals, in a simple way

• How to have more food diversity in what you eat weekly and why so many people are going plant-based nowadays

• With new food innovation these days, there seem to be more plant-based choices in our grocery stores than ever before. How to avoid the "vegan junk food" craze and make better choices when grocery shopping

• …and ultimately, I asked him about his take on "The Carnivore Diet" (aka. only eating meat) that seems to be the latest fad and is it good for your body or not?

If you've been contemplating making a shift towards a plant-based diet or going vegetarian, you'll definitely enjoy this conversation. And it might start small like doing "Meatless Monday" or taking the time to read the labels when you shop for groceries. Remember, you're looking for items made from whole food, minimally processed ingredients. Less packaging and added chemicals/preservatives, more plants is best. You'll find your brain fog disappears, the bloating melts away, and your skin is clearer. Yes, yes, and YES!

It's time to #DoTheThing!

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Show notes available with all links mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/tyler-mayoras-improve-your-digestion-all-star

How resilient is your heart right now and do you feel like you're in a space to cultivate more joy? My all-star special guest today is Dr. Eva Selhub and she's simplifying how to cultivate joy through resilience. No matter what hard season you're going through right now, she shares the secrets to shift your mindset now, so you can get back to center and back to finding your joy faster.

Here's how.

My all-star special guest today is Dr. Eva Selhub and she's simplifying how to cultivate joy through resilience.

We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including:

• How she defines the concept of 'resilience,' especially for entrepreneurs and small business owners

• Like a high performance athlete who trains their muscles, how to build your resilience through mindset work

• What the 6 pillars of resiliency are and a deep dive into how to practice 'emotional equilibrium'

• How to avoid the 'victim's mindset' when things seem to be spiraling out of control

• …and ultimately, we talked about stress. It's inevitable, right? So, how to use stress to our advantage in business and in our lives the next time it happens.

Q: Are you ready to cultivate more joy in your life? If yes, this one is for you.

It's time to #DoTheThing!

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Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/eva-selhub-cultivate-joy-through-resilience-all-star