Category Archives: Personal Development

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204: Finding Happiness, Focus, and Productivity No Matter How Busy You Are

with Free-Time Formula author, Jeff Sanders

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It wasn’t that long ago that today’s guest found himself in the ER wondering whether he’d just suffered a heart attack.

This despite the fact that he was a marathon running, healthy eating, 32-years-young man. What in the world?!

jeff sanders

The good news for Jeff Sanders is it was actually something relatively minor (an esophageal spasm, accompanied by shortness of breath, according to doctors). This scary-at-the-time episode, it turns out, was brought on by overwork and stress.

Jeff’s body was trying to tell him something. It was time to make some dramatic changes. This is where you and I reap the benefits. Jeff has indeed made some major changes since then and learned that, while caffeine and little sleep work when it comes to getting things done, they only work temporarily. Then what?

That’s what Jeff and I spend the better part of our time today chatting about.

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203: How to Leave a Legacy (a Tribute to My Father)

Born January 14, 1937 | Passed away February 12, 2018

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Monday, February 12, I got the phone call everyone dreads. My father, aged 81, had passed away in his sleep that morning.

What I’ve learned since my father’s passing was the incredible impact he had on everyone he encountered. I knew him as a generous, kind, compassionate and loving man. What I failed to realize was how far his well-lived life managed to reach.

jeff brown

In the week since his passing, the stories continue to come in. What particularly intrigues me is the impact he had on my childhood friends. People who remember his impact decades later; enough to want to pay their respects and share their memories. It’s been nothing short of amazing.

This episode is my feeble attempt to convey what I believe to be the secret to legacy. Every little action we take individually is just that. Little.

However, as they accumulate over the course of our lives, they compound. As they do, their impact grows exponentially.

Take any single day from my dad’s life, and you’ll see ordinary. The accumulation of those days, however, is nothing short of extraordinary.

I invite you to join me as I honor my dad.

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202: How to Think Like a Superconnector, Not a Networker

With Superconnector co-author Scott Gerber

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If you’re anything like me, you struggle with networking. I’ve maintained a long-held disdain for these, often, after-work events.

I’ve recently realized that one of the reasons I’ve detested it so, is because I was mostly doing it wrong. Thankfully for you and me, today’s guest is here to help us understand the ‘right’ way to build relationships, and build them he has.

scott gerber

I’m talking about Scott Gerber who, along with Ryan Paugh, has written a fantastic book (surprise) on the subject. Scott and Ryan are the co-founders of CommunityCompany, the team behind professional communities such as YEC, an organization composed of more than fifteen hundred of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs founded by Scott and Forbes Councils.

Their book comes out officially on February 27, 2018, but you can pre-order it now. It’s called Superconnector: Stop Networking and Start Building Business Relationships That Matter.

I hope you’ll sit in with us as we discuss Scott’s book together.

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201: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future

With Skip Prichard, author of The Book of Mistakes

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I’d heard the name before. In fact, we are even “connected” – whatever that means – on several social media platforms.

But, when former Read to Lead guest Kary Oberbrunner asked if I’d like an introduction to Skip Prichard, I said “absolutely!” I mean, I knew Skip, but I didn’t really KNOW him.

skip prichard

That introduction led to Skip and I chatting about his latest book and a potential spot on the show. You and I are the beneficiaries of that generous introduction by Kary. Skip’s book has quickly become a favorite of mine.

It’s a business parable, a la Pat Lencioni, Og Mandino, Bob Burg, Andy Andrews or Mark Schinnerer. And, it’s one of my favorite business parables in some time. I absolutely loved it and I think you will too. It comes out today and is called The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future.

The book takes you on a rather inspiring journey that follows an ancient manuscript with powerful lessons inside; lessons that will transform your life.

I hope you sit in with us as we discuss Skip’s book together.

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200: A Look Back at 5 Killer Books on Public Speaking and Effective Communication

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Wow, what a road this has been. Over 4 1/2 years after the podcast began, episode 200 is here. It has been an incredibly rewarding journey.

I’ve decided to take a look back over the last 100 episodes and feature 5 episodes that centered around one of my favorite topics.

episode 200

These episodes each touch on a topic I think is so important, I ask a question related to it of nearly every guest that comes on the show.

I’m talking about communicating, relating, and, more specifically, public speaking. The art of public speaking and the ability to relate effectively to other people is as important, in my view, as any skill you can hone. In fact, if I weren’t doing the Read to Lead podcast, I’d likely be doing a public speaking-related show. Maybe someday. 

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