Richie Norton's Blog, page 3

Stephen M. R. Covey — SPEED of Trust — with Richie Norton

Stephen M. R. Covey wrote the forward to my book The Power of Starting Something Stupid. Love him so much!



Stephen M. R. Covey — SPEED of Trust: How to Stay Red-Hot Relevant with The One Thing That Changes Everything (Advanced Learnings, Implement Now) — Interview with Richie Norton on The Richie Norton Show Podcast



S1 E5 Stephen M. R. Covey — SPEED of Trust: How to Stay Red-Hot Relevant with The One Thing That Changes Everything (Advanced Learnings, Implement Now) with Richie Norton

Listen to the episode right here, right now with with just a click:

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Or, listen on your favorite podcast platform – Search “The Richie Norton Show.” This episode is rare, includes exclusive Q&A and content that will transform your ability to trust yourself, trust others, build trust, restore trust and create trustworthy environments that will increase the speed of your business and personal interactions for greater success.

Stephen M. R. Covey is a New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The SPEED of Trust—The One Thing That Changes Everything. He is the former CEO of Covey Leadership Center, which, under his stewardship, became the largest leadership development company in the world. Stephen personally led the strategy that propelled his father’s book, Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, to become one of the two most influential business books of the 20th Century, according to CEO Magazine.



The Richie Norton Show: A Podcast for Happiness, Entrepreneurship, Lifestyle and Productivity (Self-H.E.L.P)



Stephen M. R. Covey — SPEED of Trust: How to Stay Red-Hot Relevant with The One Thing That Changes Everything (Advanced Learnings, Implement Now)

#5. The SPEED of Trust — This episode is insane. Learn advanced principles from longtime mentor of Richie, Stephen M. R. Covey (!) on how to create environments of trust, trust yourself, trust others, be trusted, restore trust and more.

“The first job of a leader—at work or at home—is to inspire trust. It’s to bring out the best in people by entrusting them with meaningful stewardships, and to create an environment in which high-trust interaction inspires creativity and possibility.” 
― Stephen M.R. Covey

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Leadership Development Pioneer Stephen M. R. Covey is a New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The SPEED of Trust—The One Thing That Changes Everything, which has been translated into 22 languages and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. He is co-author of the #1 Amazon bestseller Smart Trust.  He is the former CEO of Covey Leadership Center, which, under his stewardship, became the largest leadership development company in the world. Stephen personally led the strategy that propelled his father’s book, Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, to become one of the two most influential business books of the 20th Century, according to CEO Magazine.

As President and CEO of Covey Leadership Center, Stephen nearly doubled revenues while increasing profits by 12 times. During that period, the company expanded throughout the world into over 40 countries, greatly increasing the value of the brand and enterprise. The company was valued at $2.4 million when Stephen was named CEO, and, within three years, he had grown shareholder value to $160 million in a merger he orchestrated with Franklin Quest to form FranklinCovey.

Stephen co-founded CoveyLink with Greg Link, a consulting practice, which focuses on enabling leaders and organizations to increase and leverage trust to achieve superior performance. Stephen recently merged CoveyLink with FranklinCovey, forming the Global Speed of Trust Practice, where Stephen serves as Global Practice Leader.

A Harvard MBA, Stephen co-founded and currently leads FranklinCovey’s Global Speed of Trust Practice.  He serves on numerous boards, including the Government Leadership Advisory Council, and he has been recognized with the lifetime Achievement Award for “Top Thought Leaders in Trust” from the advocacy group, Trust Across America/Trust Around the World. 

Stephen is a highly-sought after international speaker, who has taught trust and leadership in 55 countries to business, government, military, education, healthcare, and NGO entities.

Please welcome Stephen M. R. Covey.

THE RICHIE NORTON SHOW COMMUNITY

We can chat here about the conversations we have on the podcast. So rad. So fun. SOOO good!

Click here for to join our free community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/richiepodcast

DON’T MISS THE AFTERCAST AND SOLOCAST



S1 E6 Experience is Overrated: How to Practice the 13 Behaviors of High-Trust Leaders



#6. STEPHEN M. R. COVEY AND RICHIE NORTON INTERVIEW AFTERCAST MINI-TRAINING: 



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#6. STEPHEN M. R. COVEY AFTERCAST MINI-TRAINING: Richie takes you on a mini-training deep dive that will help you put into play The SPEED of Trust principles, practices and the 13 Behaviors of High-Trust Leaders to increase your relevancy, credibility, character and competence (based on his interview with Covey and works).

Richie also shares insights he learned from Stephen R. Covey (Sr) personally and why you need to avoid having a hidden agenda. 

“Effective people lead their lives and manage their relationships around principles; ineffective people attempt to manage their time around priorities and their tasks around goals. Think effectiveness with people; efficiency with things.” ― Stephen R. Covey, Principle-Centered Leadership

Richie goes deeper into his conversation with Stephen M. R. Covey and how experience is overrated and the importance of continuous learning and improvement by asking you series of thought-provoking questions to help you implement the principles here and now.

S1 E7 How to Trust Yourself: Do You Trust Yourself Enough to ______ ? 



#7: RICHIE NORTON SOLOCAST MINI-TRAINING:



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Fill in the blank with whatever is top of mind, whatever is most important to you, whatever you want to do but you’re scared to do it. How to you increase your confidence so you can move from your comfort zone (the things you’re currently doing) to the confidence zone (the place you want to be or the things you want to do or the circle of influence you want to reach).

How do you trust yourself when you are faced with fear?

Learn the counterintuitive ways to push through fear, right here. Do you trust yourself? How do you develop that ability to increase your trust in yourself and others? Download this episode and increase your capacity to trust yourself and others. Please share this episode with people you love and/or work with to help them learn how to build from trust and create an accountability partner for your projects. Trust. And be trusted.

What is an Aftercast and a Solocast?

Every Interview is followed by what I call an Aftercast and a Solocast. So. each episode becomes a three-part training. These mini-trilogy trainings can be listened independently. I’ve included the Aftercast and Solocast for those looking to create significant, meaningful life and business transformations.

All improvement is self-improvement.

I invented / coined the term “aftercast” to mean an in-depth, post-show review of the interview show I do with my guests to serve my listeners as mini-training for greater implementation. An aftercast is a reward for action-takers interested in the topic(s) my guest. My aftercast podcast draws primarily from my guest’s content as the subject material for life and business lessons.

The solocast piece in this three-part scenario is the last episode in the podcast training trilogy. In a solocast, I teach my listeners entrepreneurship, life lessons and more drawing primarily from my own teachings, philosophies, experiences and works around the topics discussed with my guests.

If you listen to all three parts in what I call a podcast stack or podcast stacking, you will 1) learn from an expert in an interview format, 2) take a deep dive into the expert’s content as if it were a high-level training or masterclass on subject-matter strategy, and 3) learn additional ways to from me on how I implement the information and you can to as a practical, hands-on approach.

Strategy is in the head. Tactics are in the hands. Results are in the heart.

The Richie Norton Show podcast stacks are similar to the stuff trainers sell for a lot of money because they are valuable. I know because I do sell this stuff, my clients sell this stuff and we buy this stuff. It’s that good. Hope you enjoy this free content…free is a fast way to spread a message but my fear is that you won’t take it for the value it can provide. I hope the effort to listen will help you learn, launch and live for the better–whatever that looks like for you.

Dream big and act on the small things.

One.Day.At.A.Time.

Listen Here to The Richie Norton Show Podcast: Happiness, Entrepreneurship, Lifestyle, Productivity

The post Stephen M. R. Covey — SPEED of Trust — with Richie Norton appeared first on The Blog of Richie Norton.

Gretchen Rubin — Don’t Aim for Minimalism — with Richie Norton

Gretchen Rubin with Oprah PC: Harpo, Inc / George Burns



How to Implement Outer Order, Inner Calm, The Four Tendencies and The Happiness Project (Interlocking Patterns, Life Learnings) with Bestselling Author Gretchen Rubin



S1 E2: Gretchen Rubin — Don’t Aim for Minimalism: How to Implement Outer Order, Inner Calm, The Four Tendencies and The Happiness Project (Interlocking Patterns, Life Learnings)

Listen to the episode right here, right now with with just a click:

Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcher

Or, listen on your favorite podcast platform – Search “The Richie Norton Show.” This episode is fire!

Gretchen Rubin PC: David Cross



The Richie Norton Show: A Podcast for Happiness, Entrepreneurship, Lifestyle and Productivity (Self-H.E.L.P)



How to Get Your Life in Order, Understand Which of the Four Tendencies You Identify with and Live Be Happy

#2. Richie interviews legendary New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin about why she writes and how her books fit together, how to implement the principles and specific examples around Outer Order, Inner Calm, The Four Tendencies, Better than Before and The Happiness Project. Gretchen shares stories, tips, tools and even an important question to ask yourself to be more effective in decluttering, relationships, self-awareness, personal and professional projects and more…all leading up to becoming a happier, healthier human both mentally and physically. We also discuss the tragedy that is an open office, visual noise and why you shouldn’t aim for minimalism (but what’s right for you). 

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Gretchen Rubin is one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. She’s known for her ability to distill and convey complex ideas with humor and clarity, in a way that’s accessible to a wide audience. 

She’s the author of many books, including the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers Outer Order, Inner Calm, The Four Tendencies, Better Than Before, and The Happiness Project. She has an enormous readership, both in print and online, and her books have sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide, in more than thirty languages. (The Happiness Project spent two years on the bestseller list.)

On her top-ranking, award-winning podcast “Happier with Gretchen Rubin,” she discusses happiness and good habits with her sister Elizabeth Craft. She is also a CBS News Contributor. Every Monday on CBS This Morning, the final “Before We Go” segment features her solutions and tips for living a happier, healthier, more productive life.

She’s been interviewed by Oprah, eaten dinner with Daniel Kahneman, walked arm-in-arm with the Dalai Lama, had her work written up in a medical journal, and been an answer on the game show Jeopardy! 

In her work, she draws from cutting-edge science, the wisdom of the ages, lessons from popular culture, and her own experiences to explore how we can make our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative.

Gretchen Rubin started her career in law and was clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor when she realized she wanted to be a writer. Raised in Kansas City, she lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

THE RICHIE NORTON SHOW COMMUNITY

We can chat here about the conversations we have on the podcast. So rad. So fun. SOOO good!

Click here for to join our free community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/richiepodcast

DON’T MISS THE AFTERCAST AND SOLOCAST



S1 E3 How to Create Your Own 12 Happiness Commandments (Immediate Application)



#3. GRETCHEN RUBIN AND RICHIE NORTON INTERVIEW AFTERCAST MINI-TRAINING: 



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Happiness Tendencies: Are You An Upholder, Questioner, Obliger or Rebel? Take the quiz! Richie takes a deep dive into the lessons learned from the interview with Gretchen, creates his own 12 happiness commandments following the teachings of Gretchen Rubin and shares how you can do this same. Thought-provoking questions are asked for self-reflection to help you better become self-aware of what happiness looks like for you–including the type of weather you thrive in. These building blocks will help you achieve greater joy and productivity in your life and life’s work. Put happiness at the top of your decision tree and get psyched to create an environment of high-happiness! It’s time to get your life aligned with your highest values. If not now, when?

S1 E4 How to Make Space for Joyful Spontaneity: 5-Step Intentional Pattern



#4: RICHIE NORTON SOLOCAST MINI-TRAINING:



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Learn how you can cut out years of waiting and bring your dream to you today through projects. ⁣Let’s put together the 5-step pattern that can help you be happier. This is a method and methodology Richie put together over the last 9 years to help people get jobs, quit jobs, create jobs, become entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, freelancers or whatever they want. The goal? Create an environment where your work supports your dream and your dream supports your work. Lifestyle is an intentional art. Learn how to live life on your own terms. You don’t have to live your life tiptoeing around selfish, hidden-agenda-driven, crab-bucket, talk-behind-your-back, weasel people. You just don’t. At work, church, home or play — seek people who embody the future you want and surround yourself with loving influences. You deserve that circle of inclusion and influence, but it’s up to you to create it. Freedom, influence and impact first, expansion second. Live to support your lifestyle, don’t live to support your work.

What is an Aftercast and a Solocast?

Every Interview is followed by what I call an Aftercast and a Solocast. So. each episode becomes a three-part training. These mini-trilogy trainings can be listened independently. I’ve included the Aftercast and Solocast for those looking to create significant, meaningful life and business transformations.

All improvement is self-improvement.

I invented / coined the term “aftercast” to mean an in-depth, post-show review of the interview show I do with my guests to serve my listeners as mini-training for greater implementation. An aftercast is a reward for action-takers interested in the topic(s) my guest. My aftercast podcast draws primarily from my guest’s content as the subject material for life and business lessons.

The solocast piece in this three-part scenario is the last episode in the podcast training trilogy. In a solocast, I teach my listeners entrepreneurship, life lessons and more drawing primarily from my own teachings, philosophies, experiences and works around the topics discussed with my guests.

If you listen to all three parts in what I call a podcast stack or podcast stacking, you will 1) learn from an expert in an interview format, 2) take a deep dive into the expert’s content as if it were a high-level training or masterclass on subject-matter strategy, and 3) learn additional ways to from me on how I implement the information and you can to as a practical, hands-on approach.

Strategy is in the head. Tactics are in the hands. Results are in the heart.

The Richie Norton Show podcast stacks are similar to the stuff trainers sell for a lot of money because they are valuable. I know because I do sell this stuff, my clients sell this stuff and we buy this stuff. It’s that good. Hope you enjoy this free content…free is a fast way to spread a message but my fear is that you won’t take it for the value it can provide. I hope the effort to listen will help you learn, launch and live for the better–whatever that looks like for you.

Dream big and act on the small things.

One.Day.At.A.Time.

Listen Here to The Richie Norton Show Podcast: Happiness, Entrepreneurship, Lifestyle, Productivity

The post Gretchen Rubin — Don’t Aim for Minimalism — with Richie Norton appeared first on The Blog of Richie Norton.

How Living Gavin’s Law Will Make You Insanely Happy: Live to START. START to Live.

Richie and Natalie Norton Family in Cinque Terre



S1 E1: How Living Gavin’s Law Will Make You Insanely Happy: Live to START. START to Live.

Listen to the episode right here, right now with with just a click:

Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcher

Or, listen on your favorite podcast platform – Search “The Richie Norton Show.” You’re gonna love this episode. So grateful for you.

The Richie Norton Show: A Podcast for Happiness, Entrepreneurship, LIfestyle and Productivity (Self-H.E.L.P)



How Living Gavin’s Law Will Make You Insanely Happy: Live to START. START to Live.

#1. Let’s goooooo! Discover EXACTLY why you need to start, crush fear and get your mindset aligned with your GREATEST desires to create something BIGGER THAN YOURSELF. Gavin’s Law: Live to START. Start to Live. My son Gavin passed away 10 years ago. Over those 10 years I’ve reached millions of people with a message that helps people move from distraction to action. This podcast goes even deeper into what I’ve experienced and learned since writing the award-winning bestseller The Power of Starting Something Stupid. 

Your life should consist of more than commuting, working, eating, surfing the Internet, sleeping and watching TV. Your life should be filled with purpose-driven experiences and projects that bring excitement, passion, energy, and authentic meaning and joy into your life.

Start here. You won’t regret it. I hope you listen this podcast to make a deep and wide impact for good in your world. Let’s get stupid in here!

We can chat here about the conversations we have on the podcast. So rad. So fun. SOOO good!

Please join THE RICHIE NORTON SHOW PODCAST COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/richiepodcast

The post How Living Gavin’s Law Will Make You Insanely Happy: Live to START. START to Live. appeared first on The Blog of Richie Norton.

The Richie Norton Show is LIVE today! NEW PODCAST IS LIVE! SO EXCITED!

WOW WOW WOW! The Richie Norton Show: Happiness, Entrepreneurship, Lifestyle, Productivity Podcast is LIVE! Brand new! Please subscribe!

I come from a punk rock background and I’m used to making albums. So the symphony of the episodes and their order are actually intentional to help you go from where you are to where you want to be every 90 days–like building blocks you can move around / choose your own adventure to create your next big project.

A MIND-BENDING STORY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR ME

In 2007, I received an unexpected call from Stephen M. R. Covey, former CEO of FranklinCovey and author of the bestselling book, The Speed of Trust. He asked to meet with me. We sat down in his conference room, and Covey told me that after hearing me speak at a recent event he hoped I might consider coming to work for him presenting Speed of Trust trainings.

As soon as I scooped my jaw off the floor, I told him that, although I was incredibly flattered, I felt I was too young and inexperienced even to entertain the idea.

“What would the gray hairs think?”

Then, Covey taught me a priceless principle that would forever change my outlook on the nature of education and experience. He said,

“Richie, experience is overrated. Some people say they have twenty years’ experience, when, in reality, they only have one year’s experience, repeated twenty times.”

That statement blew my mind and opened windows of opportunity all around me. In an instant, I felt free from the self-inflicted mental bondage I had created for myself about my age and my feelings of experience- based inadequacy. I suddenly realized that if something was important enough to me, if I was truly committed to achieving success, I could learn what I needed to know along the way! Nothing could have felt more empowering.

It’s very important to note that Covey wasn’t implying that experience isn’t important. Take a look at the way he elaborated on this concept in his book, The Speed of Trust.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

I did my first podcast interview 76 days ago on my son Gavin’s birthday and took my own advice with the 76-Day Challenge. Miracle of miracles…Apple approved it 76 days later on my son’s heavenly anniversary!!! SO GRATEFUL.

I JUST PUBLISHED SEVEN (7!) INSANELY VALUABLE EPISODES AS PART OF MY LAUNCH!

THE RICHIE NORTON SHOW

This podcast is different. I do an Interview, follow up with what I coined as an “Aftercast” and then follow that up with a “Solocast.” So, one interview becomes a 3-part training. The stuff people pay for…but free. Yeah baby. I’ve been on over 400 shows as a guest…finally turning around the mic and doing my best to make it the most effective listens of your life.

Each episode is evergreen and independent, however, when interlocked and integrated each Interview becomes the type of training people pay for…I know because I sell them, teach others to sell them and buy them…it’s legit.

1. I’m launching with BALLERS. My first Interviews are with THE Gretchen Rubin and THE Stephen M. R. Covey. Yep.

(Remember when Stephen M R Covey sat me down and asked me to be a speaker for them and I said I was too young? And he said …. “Richie, experience is overrated. Some people say they have twenty years’ experience, when, in reality, they only have one year’s experience, repeated twenty times” ???? — WE TALK ABOUT THAT ON THE SHOW TOGETHER AND SO MUCH MORE!)

Gretchen Rubin —

She’s been interviewed by Oprah, eaten dinner with Daniel Kahneman, walked arm-in-arm with the Dalai Lama, had her work written up in a medical journal, and been an answer on the game show Jeopardy! one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. Author of many books, including the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers Outer Order, Inner Calm, The Four Tendencies, Better Than Before, and The Happiness Project.

Stephen M. R. Covey — 

New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The SPEED of Trust—The One Thing That Changes Everything. He is the former CEO of Covey Leadership Center, which, under his stewardship, became the largest leadership development company in the world. Stephen personally led the strategy that propelled his father’s book, Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, to become one of the two most influential business books of the 20th Century, according to CEO Magazine. As President and CEO of Covey Leadership Center, Stephen nearly doubled revenues while increasing profits by 12 times. During that period, the company expanded throughout the world into over 40 countries, greatly increasing the value of the brand and enterprise. The company was valued at $2.4 million when Stephen was named CEO, and, within three years, he had grown shareholder value to $160 million in a merger he orchestrated with Franklin Quest to form FranklinCovey.

2. I will release 3 episodes a week all at the same time so you can binge them since they are an integrated suite of learnings. Each Season is 3 months and with 12 Interviews, Aftercasts and Solocasts (36 episodes per season on average).

– Interviews are with experts in their field. We laugh a lot Jimmy Fallon style. We learn a lot Einstein style. :-)

– Aftercasts are short deep dives I do personally into the behind the scenes learnings from the Interview and the topic we discussed.

– Solocasts are short trainings where I teach you exactly how to apply the teachings, how I integrate them into my life with specific advice on how to use the strategies (head) and tactics (hands) to improve your life and business.

3. It would mean EVERYTHING TO ME if you download now and listen to the episodes, subscribe, rate it with all the stars today while it’s fresh and new (whatever I deserve) and leave a review. I don’t really know how New & Noteworthy works, but I’m shooting for it. Please download on Apple, but I know half of you hate Apple (lol) so I’ll provide links below to a couple other platforms. It should be available on almost everywhere people listen as well. Just search “The Richie Norton Show.”

APPLE

SPOTIFY

GOOGLE PLAY

WANT TO KNOW MORE OF WHO I’VE INTERVIEWED SO FAR? OK. (Please subscribe so you get them when they release.)



A Few Guests On The First Season of The Richie Norton Show – Including (from Left to Right): Sirah, Jeff Goins, Stephen M. R. Covey, Jacquelyn Umof, Pat Flynn, John Lee Dumas (JLD), Susan Cain, Gretchen Rubin

JOHN LEE DUMAS

JLD is one of the top podcasters in the world, the founder & host of Entrepreneurs On Fire, an award-winning podcast with millions of listens per month where he interviews inspiring Entrepreneurs. He is the author of The Freedom Journal, The Mastery Journal and The Podcast Journal. His work inspires millions worldwide.

SIRAH

SIRAH (Sara Mitchell) is a Grammy award winning rapper (Skrillex – Bangarang) who overcame abject poverty, homelessness, kidnapping, rape, drugs, gangs, violence and addiction. She lived through the unimaginable and created a new life through self-determination. She brings her uncommon experience and wisdom into her music and outreach efforts. As a singer songwriter she works with many artists and travels the world. She is a life coach to celebrities, teens and women and is based in Hollywood.”

SUSAN CAIN

Her record-smashing TED talk has been viewed over 30 million times on TED and YouTube, and was named by Bill Gates one of his all-time favorite talks. She is the author of the bestsellers Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts, and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in A World That Can’t Stop Talking, which has been translated into 40 languages, is in its seventh year on the New York Times best seller list, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine. LinkedIn named her the 6th Top Influencer in the world. Susan has partnered with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant and Dan Pink to launch the Next Big Idea Book Club. Cain has also spoken at Microsoft, Google, the U.S. Treasury, the S.E.C., Harvard, Yale, West Point and the US Naval Academy. She received Harvard Law School’s Celebration Award for Thought Leadership, the Toastmasters International Golden Gavel Award for Communication and Leadership, and was named one of the world’s top 50 Leadership and Management Experts by Inc. Magazine. She is an honors graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School.

PAT FLYNN

Pat is routinely praised for his authentic leadership style and business principles. Forbes recently named him one of the ten most transparent leaders in business. The New York Times profiled him as a case study in smart online business building. One of the top podcasters in the world, his podcast Smart Passive Income has over 60 million downloads where he teaches online entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and lifestyle businesses.

JACQUELYN UMOF

Jacquelyn has been ranked top 5 Yoga Instructor to follow on Instagram, and has been featured in Shape Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Bride Magazine, the Alo Yoga Mindful Movement Book, and was a select interview guest on Los Angeles’ Morning News KTLA 5. Jacquelyn has a deep understanding of the body & mind from being a life-long ballerina and former Laker Girl and is on a mission of impacting 1 million women in her Stretchy Fit App to heal the body-mind so that they can be confident, happy and free to create the life of their dreams!! Jacquelyn is on a mission to empower you to move everyday, connect deeply with your body, and cultivate inner awareness and consciousness for optimal health and ultimate confidence. Jacquelyn travels around the world to speak and teach on healing the body through movement and meditation and has trained Hollywood’s A-list celebs.

JEFF GOINS

Jeff is a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur. He is the best-selling author of five books, including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don’t Starve. His award-winning blog Goinswriter is visited by millions of people every year. Through his online courses, events, and coaching programs, he helps thousands of writers succeed every year. His blog is visited by millions every year. His work has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Psychology Today, Business Insider, The Huffington Post, Time, and hundreds of other publications. Jeff lives with his family just outside of Nashville, TN, where he makes the world’s best guacamole.

MORE SURPRISES TO COME!

HERE IS WHAT IS ON THE PODCAST RIGHT NOW

1. How Living Gavin’s Law Will Make You Insanely Happy: Live to START. START to Live.

Let’s goooooo! Discover EXACTLY why you need to start, crush fear and get your mindset aligned with your GREATEST desires to create something BIGGER THAN YOURSELF. Gavin’s Law: Live to START. Start to Live. My son Gavin passed away 10 years ago. Over those 10 years I’ve reached millions of people with a message that helps people move from distraction to action. This podcast goes even deeper into what I’ve experienced and learned since writing the award-winning bestseller The Power of Starting Something Stupid. Your life should consist of more than commuting, working, eating, surfing the Internet, sleeping and watching TV. Your life should be filled with purpose-driven experiences and projects that bring excitement, passion, energy, and authentic meaning and joy into your life.Start here. You won’t regret it. I hope you listen this podcast to make a deep and wide impact for good in your world. Let’s get stupid in here!

2. Gretchen Rubin — Don’t Aim for Minimalism: How to Implement Outer Order, Inner Calm, The Four Tendencies and The Happiness Project (Interlocking Patterns, Life Learnings)

Richie interviews legendary New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin about why she writes and how her books fit together, how to implement the principles and specific examples around Outer Order, Inner Calm, The Four Tendencies, Better than Before and The Happiness Project. Gretchen shares stories, tips, tools and even an important question to ask yourself to be more effective in decluttering, relationships, self-awareness, personal and professional projects and more…all leading up to becoming a happier, healthier human both mentally and physically. We also discuss the tragedy that is an open office, visual noise and why you shouldn’t aim for minimalism (but what’s right for you).

3. How to Create Your Own 12 Happiness Commandments (Immediate Application)

GRETCHEN RUBIN AFTERCAST MINI-TRAINING: Happiness Tendencies: Are You An Upholder, Questioner, Obliger or Rebel? Take the quiz! Richie takes a deep dive into the lessons learned from the interview with Gretchen, creates his own 12 happiness commandments following the teachings of Gretchen Rubin and shares how you can do this same. Thought-provoking questions are asked for self-reflection to help you better become self-aware of what happiness looks like for you–including the type of weather you thrive in. These building blocks will help you achieve greater joy and productivity in your life and life’s work. Put happiness at the top of your decision tree and get psyched to create an environment of high-happiness! It’s time to get your life aligned with your highest values. If not now, when?

4. How to Make Space for Joyful Spontaneity: 5-Step Intentional Pattern

RICHIE NORTON SOLOCAST MINI-TRAINING: Learn how you can cut out years of waiting and bring your dream to you today through projects. ⁣Let’s put together the 5-step pattern that can help you be happier. This is a method and methodology Richie put together over the last 9 years to help people get jobs, quit jobs, create jobs, become entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, freelancers or whatever they want. The goal? Create an environment where your work supports your dream and your dream supportsyour work. Lifestyle is an intentional art. Learn how to live life on your own terms. You don’t have to live your life tiptoeing around selfish, hidden-agenda-driven, crab-bucket, talk-behind-your-back, weasel people. You just don’t. At work, church, home or play — seek people who embody the future you want and surround yourself with loving influences. You deserve that circle of inclusion and influence, but it’s up to you to create it. Freedom, influence and impact first, expansion second. Live to support your lifestyle, don’t live to support your work.

5. Stephen M. R. Covey — SPEED of Trust: How to Stay Red-Hot Relevant with The One Thing That Changes Everything (Advanced Learnings, Implement Now)

The SPEED of Trust — This episode is insane. Learn advanced principles from longtime mentor of Richie, Stephen M. R. Covey (!) on how to create environments of trust, trust yourself, trust others, be trusted, restore trust and more.

6. STEPHEN M. R. COVEY AFTERCAST MINI-TRAINING: Richie takes you on a mini-training deep dive that will help you put into play The SPEED of Trust principles, practices and the 13 Behaviors of High-Trust Leaders to increase your relevancy, credibility, character and competence (based on his interview with Covey and works).

Richie also shares insights he learned from Stephen R. Covey (Sr) personally and why you need to avoid having a hidden agenda.

“Effective people lead their lives and manage their relationships around principles; ineffective people attempt to manage their time around priorities and their tasks around goals. Think effectiveness with people; efficiency with things.” ― Stephen R. Covey, Principle-Centered Leadership. Richie goes deeper into his conversation with Stephen M. R. Covey and how experience is overrated and the importance of continuous learning and improvement by asking you series of thought-provoking questions to help you implement the principles here and now.“The first job of a leader—at work or at home—is to inspire trust. It’s to bring out the best in people by entrusting them with meaningful stewardships, and to create an environment in which high-trust interaction inspires creativity and possibility.” ― Stephen M.R. Covey, The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything

7. RICHIE NORTON SOLOCAST MINI-TRAINING: Fill in the blank: Do I trust myself enough to _____?

Fill in the blank with whatever is top of mind, whatever is most important to you, whatever you want to do but you’re scared to do it. How to you increase your confidence so you can move from your comfort zone (the things you’re currently doing) to the confidence zone (the place you want to be or the things you want to do or the circle of influence you want to reach). How do you trust yourself when you are faced with fear? Learn the counterintuitive ways to push through fear, right here. Do you trust yourself? How do you develop that ability to increase your trust in yourself and others? Download this episode and increase your capacity to trust yourself and others. Please share this episode with people you love and/or work with to help them learn how to build from trust and create an accountability partner for your projects. Trust. And be trusted.

JOIN THE RICHIE NORTON SHOW COMMUNITY:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/richiepodcast

If you read this far, you are my BFF. Love you!

Please, please forward this email and this link to your friends, coworkers, family, anyone that cares.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-richie-norton-show/id1493699560

Love you!

Richie

P.S. Thank you again and again for your support. I know this podcast can help you turn your ideas and dreams into reality. Thank you for giving me a chance to share with you.

The post The Richie Norton Show is LIVE today! NEW PODCAST IS LIVE! SO EXCITED! appeared first on The Blog of Richie Norton.

The Richie Norton Show Podcast: Happiness, Entrepreneurship, Lifestyle, Productivity (Self-H.E.L.P.)

ASKING A SMALL FAVOR: THIS WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO ME

I’m launching my podcast and need your help launching it!

Will you click here and join my podcast launch team? Thank you soooo much!

Launching My Podcast! Thanks.for.being.rad.

I’m SOOO excited to finally be launching my podcast! A while back many of you filled out a survey about my podcast. Need your help to spread word.

Will you be a part of an exclusive group who will help me launch my podcast(and learn how to launch your own behind the scenes)?

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 14 YEARS, 14 LESSONS

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Picture in Central Park in May 2016 of our 12 year old son taking a picture of us. Picture Credit: Cardon Norton, our 11 year old son. Not pictured is Lincoln, our 9 year old son running around under the bridge near those steps. :-)

How could we already be into this marriage of ours FOURTEEN years?! Cray. Time doesn’t stop for anyone.

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that every year for the last four years, on our anniversary, I like to share some things my wife and I have learned about cultivating a happy marriage. That said, if there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that we’re certainly not perfect and we’ve got to be patient with our imperfections.

This post is coming up a little later (our anniversary is in August), but we’ve been having the time of our lives and I just didn’t have time to pause and write is all down…until now that my ankle is broken (story to come!). :-)

New here? Get caught up:

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 10 YEARS, 10 LESSONS

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 11 YEARS, 11 LESSONS

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 12 YEARS, 12 LESSONS

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 13 YEARS, 13 LESSONS

Note: This is more of a post for me and Nat. I’m not being “preachy.” I’m not a marriage counselor. I don’t have a degree in family therapy. I’m just a happily married dude, and this post is a reflection of my experience, well. . . as a happily married dude. Of course, we have our own set of problems. EVERY couple does, and I would certainly never try to hide that fact. But this isn’t a post about what hasn’t worked for Nat and I, it’s a post about what has. And I sincerely hope that what I share here can help you reflect on your own life and work toward creating a strong, happy marriage as well!

14 TIPS TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE
#14. Life is CRAZY.

Life is just crazy…married or not. The craziness of life can help or hurt your marriage. We’ve had foster kids the last two years and nothing hurt more than when they left. It was similar to the pain of Nat’s brother Gavin passing and also our baby son Gavin passing. However, these three babies of ours are still out there somewhere and we can’t protect them any more. This experience is hard. Hard times infinity. People don’t see it like a death, yet in many ways, it is worse. So we push on and rely on each others as opposed to relying on the world and pushing away each other.

#13. Take a pilgrimage.

After our babies left, we went on a pilgrimage. We flew to NYC and have been traveling now for almost five months. We needed to huddle our kids together after so much loss and just be. Whatever your circumstance, take a moment to go on a pilgrimage that will center your soul, bind your marriage and free your mind from the every day troubles of every day life.

#12. Be grateful for your health (and take care of your mind and body).

Natalie had a scare on our way to the airport to NYC when something happened and she couldn’t speak or remember certain things. Read about it here and here as Nat describes her feeling as her “mind started to slip.” I say “be grateful” because some things (most things!) are completely out of your control, so enjoy the good while you have it. I say “take care” because there are many things within your control that you can do to enhance your life’s enjoyment and best utilize the health you’ve been given. Many of the people in retirement that I interviewed personally (hundreds) have told me how they spend on their wealth on health and they’d do anything to have their health back.

#11. Act now…or forever miss your moment.

Many of the same retirees that I have interviewed over the years (for my books and serving or working with them in one way or another) say something like this: “I waited my whole life to do what I really had in mind to do when I would finally have more time, more education, more experience and more money…only to find that when I got there…I still needed more time, more education, more experience and more money.” In other words, the moral of the story is that you’ll never have enough. That being true, act now and leverage existing resources or you will miss your moment to build something great. You’ll miss the chance to “start stupid,” gain experience and become and expert. You’ll miss it. You will. ACT NOW with whatever you have. No waiting. Now. Natalie and I and our pilgrimage is an example of living in the now.

#10. Learn how to make money that is not tied to an employer.

Nat and I are entrepreneurs. It’s been feast of famine over the years. One of the greatest blessings in our lives is that when times get tough, we are willing to do the hard and necessary…even if that means digging out cans from the trash can at the park to recycle them for money and use the change to get gas to drive into town to buy groceries (true story). As a result, Natalie and I have spent time learning business models, pricing strategies, coaching skills and useful talents that we can sell to our target markets. In fact, this entire road trip from New York to California to Mexico and now on to Canada has been funded by making our money on the road. Take the time to protect yourself from a bad employer/employee situation (which will come) by learning how to make money. Watch this (link available for a limited time — it’s a free training on how to make money by doing high-value projects).

#9. Choose happiness.

You will get frustrated. You will break your ankle (I did climbing in Yosemite a couple weeks ago). It will be hard. You will disagree. It’s okay. Don’t use a bazooka to kill a fly. Choose happiness despite hardship. Choosing happiness doesn’t mean things are always good. Choosing happiness means you choose to find knowledge and to apply it to create a better life especially during challenges. My wife’s favorite book (aside from scripture) is Man’s Search for Meaning. We love these quotes from that book and hope to test our choices: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way” and ““When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves” (Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning).

#8. Like each other.

One of the best compliments Natalie and I received when we were getting our pictures taken after our wedding was this: “You like each other. Many couples I photograph love each other but don’t like each other.” Do you love your spouse but have a hard time liking him or her? Change that.

#7. Sacrifice.

It’s been said that a sacrifice isn’t a sacrifice when you get back more than you give; it’s an investment. I’ve also received the advice to sacrifice until it hurts and then sacrifice more. There is a sanctification in sacrifice–that’s where the Greek word comes from. Now whether you take that sanctification (or holiness) literally or figuratively, there is a glow about people who serve and give and sacrifice for others. Nat and I have found that the more we give the more we get. However, we don’t give to get. That would destroy the purpose of sacrifice. We give to serve and we are blessed in return in ways we can’t imagine. Sacrifice will bless you. Look for ways to serve others. It’s not a sacrifice if it doesn’t hurt.

#6. Talk about it.

Sometimes people let things simmer until they boil over. Why? An explosion of anger creates more problems than talking about it. Talk straight. Be kind. Don’t be a door mat, but don’t be a bulldozer either. It’s about respect. Respect your spouse and have an agreement that you’ll be able to talk about hard things without fear of the other getting mad. Talk about how you will talk about the tough stuff.

#5. End E.G.O.

Natalie calls ego “E.G.O. = Edging God Out.” Yep. She invented that one. So smart that girl. :-) Don’t edge God out. Pray. Ask for help. Receive with gratitude and move forward. You’re a son or daughter of a loving Heavenly Father and He hears you and answers.

#4. Take T.I.M.E.

TIME is an acronym I created for Today Is My Everything. You could say that TIME is our Norton family anthem. Simply put: You can’t do anything tomorrow. Nothing. Today is today. In fact, today IS yesterday’s tomorrow. Take TIME with your spouse, your family, for yourself and to focus on the important stuff. Click here for a cool, free TIME Mantra poster.

#3. Be cool.

Not like “cool” cool. But, cool. Be kind. Be generous. Take it easy. Cool people are understanding, forgiving, fun, serious (when needed), don’t take themselves too seriously and take care of others. Be cool and prosper.

#2. Bring out the best in your spouse.

Like siblings, spouses know how to push buttons. They know the worst thing to say at the worst moment to get the worst out of their spouse. It’s easy. Instead, take time to bring out the best in your husband or wife. It doesn’t take much to say the best thing at the best time to get the best out of your spouse. Just make up your mind to bring out the best in your spouse and watch the magic happen.

#1. Bring out your best self.

When you want to impress someone in life or business, you bring out your best self. The day-to-day grind makes it easy to be meanest to the people you care about the most.  Do a little experiment. Bring out your best self today and for the next 21 days. One day isn’t enough. So over these 22 days, watch what happens as you act your best, bring out the best in your spouse, be cool, take T.I.M.E., end E.G.O., talk about the hard stuff with your spouse, sacrifice, like your spouse (not just love), choose to be happy, learn to earn additional income as a solopreneur / entrepreneur, act now, be grateful, take a pilgrimage and accept that life is often crazy…you’ll discover an entirely new world and wonder why the rest of life couldn’t always be this way. It can. Now go.

BONUS

– We’ve created a new project called the #Ruckuslist –it’s better than a bucket list because you do it now, not later, and it’s about becoming (not just doing). Check out our new YouTube channel (nothing is there yet) and subscribe for some amazing new and prizes and videos coming soon!!! Click here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ruckuslist

– I’ve created a 37-page action guide to help you get a personal project going. Consider applying the steps I outline to a “marriage project.” You can work on something fun that brings you and your spouse closer together!

– Get your free action guide here.

3 Critical Lessons Entrepreneurs Need to Learn About Fear

 

When I was a kid and learning how to surf in Oceanside, another guy in the water gave me some great advice when I was scared to take off on bigger waves. He said, “You gotta take your spills to get your thrills.” I’ve taken that advice with me in every new venture. It’s tough in the beginning. You’re going to fall. You’re going to fail. But if you keep going, it’ll be worth it. You gotta take your spills to get your thrills.

In that spirit, let me share with you three lessons I’ve learned about facing fear as an entrepreneur…because this is a critical topic that will make or break you. I’ve learned these lessons from both personal experience and coaching / consulting thousands of other entrepreneurs. My promise to you is that if you embrace these three lessons, you’ll have more confidence, more success and more influence in your endeavors.

3 Lessons Entrepreneurs Need to Learn About Fear
1. We’re all scared.

Yes, all of us. In fact, I’m afraid every day. If I’m not afraid, I must not be doing something I need to be doing. I believe that when you’re doing important work, you feel fear because you don’t want to fail. The challenge is to not let the fear stop you from doing the work that will enable you to achieve your goals. You need to recognize the fear for what it is and allow your “why” (your compelling vision) for what you’re doing be bigger than the fear itself.

Lesson: You’re not alone in your fear.

“We’re all scared most of the time. Life would be lifeless if we weren’t. Be scared, and then jump into that fear. Again and again. Just remember to hold on to yourself while you do it.” ― Emma Hooper

2. People who succeed are more afraid of what will happen if they don’t follow through.

So what’s the difference between people who don’t succeed and people who do? People who don’t succeed let fear lull them into the belief that they should settle for the status quo. People who do succeed transform fear into power and get to work.

Lesson: Be afraid of what will happen if you DON’T follow through.

“Feel the fear and do it anyways.” – Susan Jeffers

3. Achievers allow the fear of missing out (FOMO) to drive them to success.

Achievers are actually MORE afraid than non-achievers. Achievers are afraid that if they give into their fears, their pain will actually be greater than if they face their fears.

Lesson: Lean into fear.

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

Tell to Sell: Harnessing the Power of Storytelling to Build Your Brand

Cindy Stagg is a rockstar client of mine that you will LOVE! In only a few short months she’s taken a proven concept that she has used with her business and clients and turned it into a #1 bestselling book! I did an interview with Cindy that I know will help you tell better stories, sell more products/services and build your brand:

Richie: Tell us a little about yourself and the book.

Cindy: Thanks, Richie! I’m so honored to be here. I’m a writer, and I know this sounds cliche, but I’ve been a writer my whole life. I grew up in Arizona, where I loved listening to Native American Legends in school. I was the kid who stayed in from recess just so I could write stories.

Richie: That doesn’t sound nerdy at all…

Cindy: Right! Well, I wasn’t into kickball, so writing it was! Anyway, I’ve been writing professionally for about fifteen years and started my own copywriting business, The Bright Words, about three years ago. I learned that the best articles were the ones that utilized some sort of story.

My book is called Tell to Sell: Harness the Power of Storytelling to Build Your Brand. As the title states, it’s all about storytelling and how businesses can use it to create brand alignment.

Richie: What inspired you to write it?

Cindy: I actually came up with the idea after attending a business conference in Salt Lake City last February. The theme of the conference was storytelling, and speaker after speaker stood up and told their personal stories. As I sat there listening, I realized that I was a storyteller myself, and that I could use that skill to help other entrepreneurs and businesses create alignment through stories.

Richie: Sounds like a pivotal moment.

Cindy: It was! You were one of those speakers, and your story inspired me to take my stupid idea and turn it into my smart reality. Nine months later, I have a book climbing the charts on Amazon, I’ve spoken to various groups about storytelling, my business is growing, and I’ve developed the Kitchen Table Phenomenon.

Richie: The Kitchen Table Phenomenon?

Cindy: Yes. The KTP is the process I developed for creating powerful stories. One of the things I discuss in the book is going back to your roots to start your story. My story begins when I was a kid. We had relatives from Holland who came to visit us here in the states. We didn’t have the internet back then, so except for birthday cards sent through the mail, we really didn’t have regular communication. When they arrived here, we were practically strangers! We had to get to know each other – and the way that happened was around the kitchen table. We shared meals and got to know each other through stories about each other. The kitchen table was where we forged bonds as a family.

The kitchen table is a nearly universal experience. Feelings of safety, belonging, and gathering are all part of it. When people feel safe, they’re willing to open up and start talking. And that’s when the magic happens. This is alignment.

So that is what I do. I’m an outsourced CMO of sorts. Perhaps I’m an outsourced CSO – Chief Storytelling Officer! I gather everyone within an organization around a table, and we flesh out powerful brand stories.

Richie: Besides the KTP, what else can people get by reading Tell to Sell?

Cindy: In the book, I discuss how stories engage more areas of the brain than say, a list of product features. Did you know our brains are literally designed to hear a story? I give several examples of large companies that have successfully used storytelling to sell everything from coffee to cars.

Readers will also learn about the elements and subtle nuances that make up the formula to telling good stories. Finally, they’ll learn about the three crucial keys that make up the Kitchen Table Phenomenon.

Richie: Three Keys?

Cindy: Stories, connections, and people. But they’ll have to read the book to find out why!

FROM BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Why Storytelling?

Are you part of the new revolution of creative entrepreneurs, trying to get yourself and your brand recognized? Do you have a great product or service but just don’t know how to get it noticed? You know storytelling is important to your brand, but maybe you’re just not sure what your story is or how to tell it.

Whether you’re a “one man show” or an established business with employees, it can be difficult in the sea of online marketing, viral videos, mommy bloggers, adventure photographers, and even foodies to get yourself noticed, let alone make your brand stand out. The old way of advertising was to offer a list of features, maybe sing a catchy jingle, and tell someone that they needed your product. That was a great formula before social media.

But things have changed.

The new way has actually been around longer than the written word: it’s called STORYTELLING.

Human Beings are naturally wired to be drawn to stories – our brains actually crave them!

In this easy-to-digest, actionable book, Cindy Stagg show you the steps you can take right now to tell a powerful brand story that will resonate with customers and align them to your brand.

By drawing on her own personal experiences, Cindy walks you through what she calls The Kitchen Table Phenomenon and gives you the three keys essential to powerful storytelling.

Tell to Sell gives you actionable steps you can take right now:

– You will learn WHY your brand needs a story and how to benefit from it

– Learn the three crucial keys necessary for powerful storytelling and brand alignment

– How to develop and tell a great story

– How to use your story to align both employees and customers alike to your brand

Tell to Sell is a quick read that will give you lasting benefits. It provides you with the tools you need to start developing your story. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a fresh way to sell your existing product or services, you’ll find plenty of useful information to get you on your way to brand alignment.

 Click on the book cover (below) to get your copy now!

Is it Time to Disrupt Yourself?

Get the book Disrupt Yourself by Whitney Johnson by clicking right here.

IS IT TIME TO DISRUPT YOURSELF?

Choose for yourself…

Here’s what the heavy-hitters are saying about Disrupt Yourself:

“Disrupt Yourself reads like a handbook for innovation: it shows the incredible value of recognizing what you are good at and finding unexpected ways to apply those strengths to the marketplace. The dramatic ‘jumps’ that Johnson encourages us to take truly form the basis of creativity and success.” – Steve Wozniak, co-founder, Apple, Inc. and Chief Scientist, Primary Data

“I have used the word ‘disruption’ to understand how some companies blossom while other wither. Whitney has applied the word in a different context – to understand why some individuals succeed in remarkable ways. Enjoyed this book!” – Clayton M. Christensen, Harvard Business School, NYT best-selling author of The Innovator’s Dilemma

“Playing it safe is not safe in today’s fast-paced marketplace. Disrupt Yourself is a must-read for anyone looking to stand out from the crowd and pursue innovation in our highly uncertain business climate.” –Eric Ries, bestselling author of The Lean Startup

“Wow! Disrupt Yourself wins the “plain English” award–which is to say I’ve seldom if ever read a better written business/career development book. The advice is compelling, clear-as-bell, research-based, and actionable. And it’ll work as well for a forty-something as a twenty-something.” –Tom Peters, bestselling author, In Search of Excellence

Q&A WITH AUTHOR WHITNEY JOHNSON

Disrupt Yourself is packed with powerful information that will revolutionize the way you live and work. I love it! Here’s a quick excerpt from this incredible book:

“As you embark on a journey of personal disruption, you are in search of a yet-to-be-defined market. But like an explorer, you have a plan: to discover and conquer new territory. It will sometimes feel scary and lonely, and you will undoubtedly end up in places you hadn’t anticipated. But your willingness to do things different than they’ve always been done will help you successfully discover your way up the S-curve of personal disruption.”

Richie: Why did you decide to write Disrupt Yourself?

Whitney: My “a-ha” moment around disruption came when I was reading The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen in 2005. As an equity analyst, I was already persuaded that the frameworks of disruption explained why mobile penetration in Mexico was quickly outpacing fixed-line penetration. But as I read the book closely, I wondered, do these frameworks also apply to individuals? And, if innovation is an inside game, can an organization truly drive corporate innovation without personal disruption? In 2006, I had the privilege of co-founding a boutique investment firm with Clayton Christensen, the father of disruptive innovation. As I immersed myself in applying these frameworks to investing, my ideas around personal disruption began to coalesce, beginning with one-off articles in the Harvard Business Review. In truth, though, this book would not be in your hands, if my publisher, Erika Heilman, and agent, Amy Gray, hadn’t said enough already: “Stop talking. Start writing.” Or in the words of my editor friend, Melissa Stanton, “Don’t just think it, ink it.”

Richie: How do you hope people apply the principles of the book?

Whitney: My hope that people will see this as a framework for managing change, whether at the organizational or individual level. But even more simply, my hope is that these ideas will help people to move from stuck to unstuck, or to move forward even faster.

Richie: What was your greatest take-away, personally, after researching and writing the book?

Whitney: There is a widely-held, albeit unconscious, belief in investing that if a stock is up one day, the next day, it will be down. Similarly, most of us believe that things can go our way only so long before the tide turns. What I learned in my research is that this is a fallacy. The better a stock does, the better it is likely to do. The more things go our way, the more likely they are to go our way. The more we disrupt, the better we get at riding the S-curve waves of disruption. This was a powerful learning for me.

—

Personally, this book for me is a game-changer and I know it will be for you too.

Get your copy!

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 13 YEARS, 13 LESSONS

 

(Location: Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia (an island off Bali), after Nat and I spoke at the What If Conference. Photo Credit: Random Bystander.)

How could we already be into this marriage of ours THIRTEEN years?! Craziness. Time flies.

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that every year, on our anniversary, I like to share some things my wife and I have learned about cultivating a happy marriage.  That said, if there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that we’re certainly not perfect and we’ve got to be patient with our imperfections.

New here? Get caught up:

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 10 YEARS, 10 LESSONS

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 11 YEARS, 11 LESSONS

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 12 YEARS, 12 LESSONS

Note: This is more of a post for me and Nat. I’m not being “preachy.” I’m not a marriage counselor. I don’t have a degree in family therapy. I’m just a happily married dude, and this post is a reflection of my experience, well. . . as a happily married dude. Of course, we have our own set of problems. EVERY couple does, and I would certainly never try to hide that fact. But this isn’t a post about what hasn’t worked for Nat and I, it’s a post about what has. And I sincerely hope that what I share here can help you reflect on your own life and work toward creating a strong, happy marriage as well!

13 TIPS TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE

 

#13. Hold on tight!

Marriage is a freakin’ roller coaster. My grandma and grandpa just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. When asked what their “secret” was, my grandpa immediately said, “Hold on!” That’s what it’s all about. Marriage, life in general, really, is a wild ride. Hang on tight!

 

#12. Loosen up (every day).

Yeah, yeah, yeah…I just told you to hold on tight and now I’m telling you to loosen up. Hold on tight to your spouse, but loosen your grip around his/her neck! Give em’ a break. You’re in this TOGETHER. Don’t suffocate the relationship with relentless nagging, unrealistic expectations or constantly playing the blame game. Shake it off. As necessary (daily!), go for a walk, get outside, clear your mind. You’re both better when you’re fresh and loose.

 

#11. Honor your spouse (always).

Honor is the “respect that is given to someone who is admired” the “good quality or character as judged by other people” and “high moral standards of behavior.” What would it mean to you to be honored? What if you communicated that to your spouse? What if your spouse did that for you regularly? What if  your spouse told you what if felt like and meant to them to be honored? What if you honored that? What if you had this conversation and renewed this commitment with your spouse? What if you did this today? Things would change for the better, people. Honor and be honored in return.

 

#10. Simplify.

Simplicity is beautifully complex. It’s never simple to keep things simple. Simple solutions require the most advanced thinking. Simplicity requires tremendous brainpower, will and foresight. If you want an incredibly passionate, happy, alive marriage…don’t overcomplicate things. Once all is said and done, the foundational elements of a happy marriage are very simple: respect, forgiveness, service, love. Comparatively, everything else is froth. If you can focus on those simply complex elements of your relationship, everything else will fall into greater order and ease.

 

#9. Bow low.

You make mistakes. I make mistakes. We all make mistakes. But the biggest mistake we can make is failing to acknowledge and repair what we’ve done wrong. You’ll gain respect—both self-respect and the respect of your spouse—when you take ownership or and do everything in your power to make right what you have wronged. “When you bow, bow low” (Chinese Proverb).

 

#8. Be tomorrow’s version today.

How would your life change if you made decisions today as if you were already the person you want to become tomorrow? We tend to live up to our own feelings of ourselves (for better or for worse). If we plan to become something else, what better way to do so than to step into that skin now?

 

#7. Get a daily equation.

There are certain things that you have to do each day in order to keep your “life current” moving in an intentional and positive direction. I’m not talking big picture goals (though those are important as well). Your daily equation isn’t meant to be anything fancy. It’s simply a handful of things that you know you have to do each day in order to keep your head above the water and a sense of purpose and momentum in your heart. Everyone’s equation will be different. Yours may include exercise, or having a healthy breakfast every morning. It may include reading inspiring works each day, or it may be ensuring that you drink enough water to stay well hydrated. Maybe enjoying 8 hours of sleep per night is non-negotiable for you. Your equation will be a combination of things you value and know bless your daily life. Whatever your equation includes, having these daily essentials in place in your life is one of the most important things you can do for a successful life (and as a wonderful bonus, a happy marriage).

This practice ensures that even when you go through your inevitable dips and woes, you’re not losing ground. You’re ensuring that you don’t fall into that dangerous place of inactivity (which leads quicker than we realize to regression). Your daily equation is the way that you make sure things stay steady. Like rails on a railroad track. Sticking to your daily equation keeps you from getting derailed. These essentials need to become habitual. So habitual that they are akin to breathing in and out. The train may slow down from time to time, it may even stop, but with your daily equation in place, you will never leave the track.

 

#6. Forget “work-life balance.”

Work-life balance is flawed thinking. Your calendar is filled with empty meetings, hopes and dreams. Why? Because when you’re at work, you’re thinking about home. When you’re home, you’re thinking about work. When you’re at play, you punish yourself for not being at work or home. And when you’re at work or home, you’re wishing for a break to go play.  Am I right?

Changing your schedule in a million different ways, over and over again, won’t necessarily change your life. Is scheduling important? Sure. But it’s NOT a magic bullet.  No matter how you’ve divided your time in an effort to strike healthy balance, if your mind isn’t in sync with your body, you’ll never achieve the level of success you’re capable of. Stop hyper-calendaring stuff in an effort to achieve work-life balance. It’s not really work-life balance you’re after anyway. You want what you think balance can give you: freedom and happiness. If you want freedom and happiness, simply start paying attention to what you’re doing while you’re doing it. If you can pay attention to the things you’re doing while you’re doing them, you’ll reduce the amount of time it takes you to do the stuff you don’t want to do and give you more time to do the things you do. All the relationships in your business and personal life will be blessed, your marriage most of all.

 

#5. Be humble and proud of it!

In a search for humility (a good thing), don’t lose touch of your self-worth and unique ability—humility and confidence are not mutually exclusive—they can coexist. “Poor is the man who does not know his own intrinsic worth and tends to measure everything by relative value. A man of financial wealth who values himself by his financial net worth is poorer than a poor man who values himself by his intrinsic self worth” (Sydney Madwed).

 

4. Put “party” on the schedule.

The Beastie Boys had it right: you gotta fight for your right to party. Marriage brings along responsibility: jobs, kids, bills (bills, bills, bills). You know. Grown up stuff. If you don’t have “party” on your list of things to do (weekly), your life is gonna start to suck. Sorry. It’s true. I’m not talking about going out and acting like an idiot to impress people you don’t care about. I’m talking about going out and acting awesome to impress the person you do care about…your spouse. Have fun. Kick back. Relax. It’s not going to happen  unless you fight for it. Put “party” on the schedule.

 

3. Don’t be a roommate.

There’s a real thing called “roommate syndrome.” Basically, from what I gather, roommate syndrome is when a a married couple is living together, but living separate lives. That’s a slippery slope. Instead, have a shared vision for what you’d like your marriage to look like. What you like to achieve and how you can help each other get there. Natalie and I have different roles and responsibilities. We do different things. We have very different days. However, we’re working towards the same big picture goals. Don’t grow apart. Grow together.

 

2. Mix it up!

Go away for the weekend (or the month, or more!). See a weird movie. Eat a different kind of pizza. Do a dance. Learn a new skill. Travel somewhere random on one of those spontaneous cheap-flight deals. Sometimes is not the marriage that is boring, it’s your life. Don’t blame the marriage for your stagnation. Go do something different. Take initiative.

 

1. Forgive.

Forgiveness is hard. The hardest. Do it anyway. The greatest rewards come from doing the hardest of things.

 

BONUS

– I’ve created a 37-page action guide to help you get a personal project going. Consider applying the steps I outline to a “marriage project.” You can work on something fun that brings you and your spouse closer together!

– Get your free action guide here.