In the world of personal development and entrepreneurship, people are always looking to learn from experts and gurus. But my guest for today's podcast asks a great question: does your mentor walk on water? For many years, Donna Johnson has been a mover and shaker in her industry and has been wildly successful; but her greatest desire is to encourage men and women to embrace Jesus as THE greatest mentor in their lives. For that reason, she felt led to write a book! Within a couple days of the book hitting the market, it sold hundreds of thousands of copies and rocketed to the top of the charts! The reason is that the book offers great guidance and hope to people across the spectrum - whether they are committed believers or simply people open to truth. I know you are going to benefit - personally and professionally - from my great conversation with Donna.  Find her online at mentordonnajohnson.com and @mentordonnajohnson on Instagram. 

What in the world does art and creativity have to do with pursuing your potential and/or succeeding in business? The surprise answer is: a lot! For this very unique episode of the Vaughn Kohler Podcast, I traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona and met with my friends Cyn Silva and Laura Madden. Both had or have "day jobs" and both have been successful in pursuing their passion for creating works of art. In part 1 of a 2-part episode, we talk about their backgrounds, how they came to develop their craft, and how people need to think if they want to do something they love. In part 2, we talk about principles for cultivating creativity, whether it's better to think of your passion as a "hobby" or a "business," and how to deal with other people's reactions (good or bad) when you have the courage to "put your work out there." True confessions: This may not be a conversation for the average personal development / entrepreneurship podcast listener, but if you are open-minded and consider yourself a creative type (the truth is, we're all creative types!) then you'll love it! You can find Cyn at cynsilvaart.com or on Instagram @luxurycynsilva and Laura at iamlauramadden.com or on Instagram @iamlauramadden and @refashionedart.

What in the world does art and creativity have to do with pursuing your potential and/or succeeding in business? The surprise answer is: a lot! For this very unique episode of the Vaughn Kohler Podcast, I traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona and met with my friends Cyn Silva and Laura Madden. Both had or have "day jobs" and both have been successful in pursuing their passion for creating works of art. In part 1 of a 2-part episode, we talk about their backgrounds, how they came to develop their craft, and how people need to think if they want to do something they love. In part 2, we talk about principles for cultivating creativity, whether it's better to think of your passion as a "hobby" or a "business," and how to deal with other people's reactions (good or bad) when you have the courage to "put your work out there." True confessions: This may not be a conversation for the average personal development / entrepreneurship podcast listener, but if you are open-minded and consider yourself a creative type (the truth is, we're all creative types!) then you'll love it! You can find Cyn at cynsilvaart.com or on Instagram @luxurycynsilva and Laura at iamlauramadden.com or on Instagram @iamlauramadden and @refashionedart.

When I met Dr. Alex Spinoso five years ago, he was working as a doctor in a penetentiary and living with his wife in an 800 square foot foyer (that's right, foyer) in a home in Las Vegas. Now, he is the CEO of Genesis Lifestyle Medicine, a company with 30+ locations, that he scaled to 8-figures in 16 months. (Oh, he runs a handful of other companies, too!) Alex is a really good man who has an astonishing vision for what is possible and a titanic work ethic to make it happen. The three foundatons of his mindset and approach to success are 1) OWN your life 2) OPERATE at the highest levels and 3) OVERCOME anything. From his story of living in a freezing attic during his college years to the way his beloved grandfather Giovanni motivated him to overcome a devastating injury, you'll love hearing about Alex's life and learning his lessons for success. Connect with Alex on Instagram: @dralexspinoso 

In this engaging episode, I am joined by Persich & Company, a boutique consultancy founded by my clients, Garrett and Mary Persich, that offers "coaching" to help people think more biblically about their money and manage it in a way that is both practically effective and honoring to God! (Legal disclaimer: They are NOT financial advisors or counselors.) We dive into the fascinating world of money management from a biblical standpoint and explore age-old wisdom that helps us become wise stewards of our finances and align our money choices with our faith. This is a wide-ranging discussion that covers everything from Jesus' Parable of the Talents (which has some shocking aspects to it!) to practical tips for budgeting. Give it a listen...I know it will provide value! Find Garrett and Mary at www.persich.co. 

I do something totally different this episode! My friends and would-be co-hosts Derek Richards ("the greatest realtor in America") and Stephan du Plooy of Motion Media join me and the three of us share our favorite movies, why we love them, how they motivate us, and what they teach us that can be applied to personal development, entrepreneurship, and faith! I wrap up the discussion by recommending a little-known, but powerful movie that will help you live a life of God-centered heroism in a culture that often rejects truth, goodness, and beauty. 

Do you struggle with energy? There could be a number of reasons for this - from a dietary allergy to an unconfessed sin. In this episode, I share two practical insights I've gained over the last couple years that have enabled me to live with more energy and enthusiasm. As humans, we are "a unity of the spiritual and the physical" and these insights are relevant to both your body and soul! I think this episode will help you grow in faith and feel better!

You probably ought to give this episode to hopeless, young losers...er, I mean hopeless, young men and women you know...or maybe just take the lessons of this episode into your own heart and life! The reality is, so many people complain that the culture and economy are not conducive to happiness and success...but my 19-year-old guest (he might be 20) is proof this is definitely not the case: Stephan du Plooy...Multi-Billionaire (no, not really...not yet) Founder and CEO of Motion Media, faithful Catholic, ardent anti-Communist, and Entrepreneurial Wonder Boy joins me in the studio and we talk about mindset, work ethic, opportunity, and faith! No matter how old you are, I'm confident this conversation will give you hope, give you good food for thought, and give you no excuse not to go all in all pursuing faith, happiness, and success! Connect with Steph at motionmediaweb.com or @stephduplooy on Instgram.

Former NFL football player and current health coach Brad St. Louis joins me today to talk about his journey to Jesus, taking ownership of your life and faith, the importance of accountability, and the principles that have helped Brad succeed on and off the field. A former standout football player for Missouri State University and an NFL veteran who played ten years for the Cincinnatti Bengals, Brad is a faithful husband, loving father, skilled coach, and man who sincerely wants others to maximize their potential and make the most of their lives. Find him online: bradstlouis.com or @bradst.louis on Instagram. 

I want to talk today about the attitude that we can and should embrace as we navigate the various crises that we encounter here on planet Earth. I want to propose that what we embrace is what I call “Happy Realism." In this episode, I illustrate the concept with a reference to a geeky fantasy movie and (hopefully) demonstrate that the concept is 100 percent consistent with the teachings of Jesus. Not gonna lie...I was feeling pretty reflective and melancholy when I recorded this, but I do end on a note of hope and triumph!