Think. Live. Repeat.

2022 is in the rearview mirror and time is running out. If you want to set yourself up for success in 2023, I let you in on a couple secrets that will GREATLY increase your odds of a successful (and MORE fulfilling) 2023!

On this very special holiday edition of the solo files, I dive into 2 questions you need to answer today:

1. What are 3 words that describe the life you're trying to build?

2. Are these objectives your own, or did you get them from  someone else?

I also make a confession about Call of Duty MW2. Hint: I get honest.

Part of my goal with Investing Inward and the podcast has been to have a platform to share thoughts and lessons from my life in hopes that I will inspire and motivate you to change and grow. From time to time I'll be blending in a shorter episodes like these and I'd love to hear what you think! Hit me up on my socials and share your feedback. And don't forget to leave a 5-star review!

• https://www.instagram.com/johnskomski/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-skomski/
• https://www.facebook.com/johnskomski/

Learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/:

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

Imagine a life filled with an abundance of comfort, peace & freedom.  Could you use some more of those ingredients in your life? Ken Rusk says we all could and on today's episode he shares some secrets on how to grow those areas of your life.

Ken, President of Rusk Industries, built a massively successful construction company having never went to college a day in his life. He's now on a mission to help people reimagine their futures and position themselves to experience a more satisfying life. He wrote a Blue Collar Cash as a manual for those looking to take their lives to the next level and regularly creates educational & inspiring content on social media. 

Oh yeah, and you'll want a pack of crayons handy as you listen!

Some highlights from our conversation:

1. The power of visualization and how it took Ken 7 years to buy his dream car.
2. How to navigate a personal tragedy and use it to grow and thrive.
3. Are you playing the long or short game with your parenting ? 
4. Smartphone: the death of creativity. 
5. What makes an ideal employee?
6. Does everyone have to go to college?

Order your copy of Ken's bestseller Blue Collar Cash on Amazon today: https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Collar-Cash-Ken-Rusk/dp/006298960X

Ken's website is a wealth of information, including some tremendous blog posts https://www.kenrusk.com/

Follow & interact with Ken on Instagram & Facebook:

• https://www.instagram.com/kenruskofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.facebook.com/KenRuskOfficial/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

"I just need to get motivated!" Ever say that before? If we're honest, we've all been there. Before you embark on another futile attempt of change, you need to listen to  Dre Baldwin's groundbreaking insights on how to create change that LASTS . Here's a secret...it's not what you think. Simply conjuring more motivation won't get you there, but creating a system just might.  Curious? You gotta listen!

Dre is a former pro basketball player turned entrepreneur, author and prolific content creator. He's written dozens of books, speaks, hosts a podcast & creates daily videos on social media that challenge and inspire. Dre's website is a great place to start: https://www.dreallday.com/

Check out the Work on Your Game podcast today:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/work-on-your-game-mindset-mental-toughness-discipline/id1102601387
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdf5xLk5t3I4Vt9UwMhUu

Dre's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwHgkC8tsH6r0hQjCw_raYw 

Follow & interact with Dre on Instagram & LinkedIn:

• https://www.instagram.com/drebaldwin/?hl=en
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/dreallday/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

If you're a husband or father, you cannot afford to miss this episode. I'm not exaggerating. In fact, I'll widen the scope further and say that if you're a man who can fog a mirror, you absolutely need the next 55 minutes . I guarantee this investment of your time will not disappoint and you'll walk away ready to be a better version of yourself.

Fellow podcast host Andrew Biernat joins me for what turned out to be one of the most transparent and helpful conversations on this show yet.  There's a complete warehouse of practical insights on being a better husband & father, beating addiction, the benefits of therapy, faith, personal growth mindsets and so much more.

Andrew and I get intensely personal and go over what some would consider delicate topics that would be better left unsaid. Here's the thing: no one benefits when you hide your story and Andrew has embraced that reality as he seeks to help and inspire others! 

Check out Your Personal Growth, Personal Brand Podcast today!
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-personal-growth-personal-brand-podcast/id1582631566
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ke6utmYOPbWA6bMnwA0Oy

Follow & interact with Andrew on LinkedIn & Facebook

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjbiernat/
• https://www.facebook.com/andrewjbiernat/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

When is the best time to change careers? When you & your wife are expecting your first child (obviously). Okay, so that may not be the ideal time, but Grant Baldwin sure knew what he was doing when he made the decision to pivot into a career of professional speaking.  Grant successfully grew his own speaking career and ultimately launched the Speaker Lab, where he and his team teach aspiring speakers the ins and outs of the industry and ultimately how to book gigs and get paid to speak. It's a great organization!

You'll hear about Grant's journey and many of the lessons he learned along the  way. Grant talks about the importance of investing in yourself and  shares how he turned a gift from his dad into an invaluable part of his training.

We also spent a good deal of time talking about the benefits of coaching, how to make the most of it and pitfalls to avoid. Grant also dropped this great line: people who pay, pay attention. Paying for advice is a great motivator to follow through on it!

Oh yes, and we discuss pickle ball. 

You can listen to The Speaker Lab Podcast here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-speaker-lab-podcast/id1072835737
https://open.spotify.com/show/5o0FZUZduijjwWGxyBpnzG

You can order Grant's book The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platform here: https://www.amazon.com/Successful-Speaker-Booking-Building-Platform/dp/0801094089

If you want to explore a career in speaking for yourself, check out the Speaker Lab's website: https://thespeakerlab.com/

You can learn more about Grant's background here: http://grantbaldwin.com/

Follow & interact with Grant on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-baldwin-641a03105/
• https://twitter.com/grantbaldwin
• https://www.instagram.com/gbaldwin/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

Your kids are listening and absorbing things like sponges. Are you talking to them, or is someone else? Kids crave stability and assurance and if you're not the person speaking that into their lives, someone else will (and it might be a less than positive influence).

 Whether we're talking parenting, marriage or career, the people who look to us for guidance need us to be consistently communicating confidence and stability. Even when things aren't going according to plan, they need to know someone's working on it and everything is going to be okay.

It doesn't mean you pretend nothing is wrong. On the contrary, kids' BS meters can spot that a mile away. Be real, let them know the way things are. But then give them hope...let them know there's brighter days ahead and just keep consistently sharing that message with them.

Wait, no guest? That's right...

Get ready...we're introducing a new format into Think.Live.Repeat..  I'm going solo! The interview style has been fantastic and don't worry, that's not going anywhere! HINT: I just recorded a couple heavy hitters over the past few weeks, can't wait to share them with you!

Part of my goal with Investing Inward and the podcast has been to have a platform to share thoughts and lessons from my life in hopes that I will inspire and motivate you to change and grow. From time to time I'll be blending in a shorter episodes like these and I'd love to hear what you think! Hit me up on my socials and share your feedback. And don't forget to leave a 5-star review!

• https://www.instagram.com/johnskomski/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-skomski/
• https://www.facebook.com/johnskomski/

Learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/:

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

"So this is why people get a PhD"...that's what ran through my mind as I listened to Mike Palanski's incredible insights in leadership development. He's a professor, speaker, author and coach and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet!

Mike developed the Me1st Method (and wrote the book) as a step-by-step framework and groundbreaking way for leaders to grow and get ready to face the Next Big Challenge.

The Me1st Method is for motivated leaders who are in new roles and facing big challenges. Whether starting in a new role, career, or organization, leading a major new project, or simply desiring to do something radically different, leaders will find insight and encouragement to develop keen insights and create meaningful change.

Mike also dropped this gem about half way into the conversation: The complexity of the solution should match the complexity of the problem. Far too often we come up super difficult solutions that do nothing except complicate a problem situation further. Don't get cute, don't get fancy - think in terms of practical and effective.

Oh, and you're going to have to listen to the very end of the episode to understand the title.

You can order Mike's book The Me1st Method  here: https://www.amazon.com/Me1st-Method-Hands-Leadership-Development-ebook/dp/B0BHZX7VP2

Check out Mike's website: https://me1stmethod.com/

Follow & interact with Mike on LinkedIn

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepalanski/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

Today’s guest is a relationship ninja! Parents, spouses and employers alike will all walk away with a toolbox full of tools (you’ll get the reference in a minute) to level up their communication and leadership abilities!

Andre Young is a prolific content creator! Not only is he an author & speaker, but he also hosts a podcast, writes a blog and creates daily motivational videos. His content is practical, simple to understand and easily translates into the real world. Whether you're a manager at your firm or a parent with kids, his content will elevate your ability to lead and communicate.   

On the note of parenting: If you are a parent, I promise you this episode will deliver more value than an entire weekend seminar on raising kids. Don't miss what he has to say!

Andre also shares about his time early on as a mental health professional and dealing with some of the worst situations imaginable. We discuss ways to proactively raise kids to hopefully avoid some of those worst case scenarios.

You can order pre-order Andre's newest book The Leader's Toolbox here (12/13/22 release date): https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Toolbox-EVOLVE-Leadership-leading/dp/1631959239

Check out Andre's website: https://youevolvingnow.com/

You can listen to the You Evolving Now podcast here: 
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1066093

Follow & interact with Andre on YouTube, Instagram,  LinkedIn & Facebook:

• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYOX4qvfAqARfYhoNZzYe1A
• https://www.instagram.com/youevolvingnow/?hl=en
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/youevolvingnow/
• https://www.facebook.com/MenEvolvingNow/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

Jay Fantom is a man on a mission. He’s the host of the popular podcast The Story Box, author of an incredible brand new book and he comes wrapped up in an amazing Australian accent. This episode will not disappoint!

Jay’s book The Path of an Eagle: How to Overcome and Lead After Being Knocked Down  is a handbook for dealing with all the obstacles life throws at you. Jay wrote the book with his former self in mind - the book he wished he had as he was navigating these struggles.  You'll read about how he dealt with addiction, trauma, panic & anxiety and the strategies he employed to overcome them. You'll also be equipped with the tools that you need to overcome your own inner demons and make consistent progress on a daily basis. 

Jay & I also take some time and do a deep dive into the struggle of anxiety and panic. We both get real and share stories of what it’s like to live with it and strategies for thriving and overcoming. 

Check out Jay's website: https://thestoryboxpodcast.com/

You can order Jay's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Path-Eagle-Overcome-After-Knocked/dp/163758492X

You can listen to The Story Box podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-box/id1486295252
https://open.spotify.com/show/7h8Qv3r2ZV29f7ktJOwmgM

Follow & interact with Jay on Instagram,  LinkedIn & Facebook:

• https://www.instagram.com/iamjayfantom/?hl=en
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-fantom-91a6b96b/
• https://www.facebook.com/jarred.fantom

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

You won't want to miss this episode, trust me! David Naylor blows the doors clean off the house and reveals some incredible insights into the science that is motivational intelligence (MQ). MQ is a recently discovered field hailed as a top 10 most promising scientific discovery of the twentieth century and it even won a Nobel prize

If you've ever wondered why some people are more motivated than others, how to become more motivated yourself and how to overcome self-limiting beliefs, this will be an incredible 40 minutes for you. David shares one actionable tip after another - you'll walk away with a boatload of insights and things to implement.

We cover the gamut from the secret of Tom Brady's success to how babies learn to walk in spite of falling down 17 times per hour (yes, it's true). DISCLAIMER: this was recorded several weeks BEFORE the news about the looming divorce with Tom & Gisele. You gotta admit, we were a bit clairvoyant on this one!

David is the Executive Vice President of Global Learning @ 2Logical ( a Top 20 Global Leadership company) and is a  contributor to several prestigious publications, including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, INC. Magazine and Fortune.  

You can listen to 2Logical's Motivational Intelligence podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motivational-intelligence/id1472287796
https://open.spotify.com/show/6kJtig0CghSDEucTjRxKtP

Check out 2Logical's new app called Mojo.  Simply punch in "Mojo motivational" into the IOS or Google Play stores and download today.

Follow & interact with David on LinkedIn:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-naylor-2logical/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)