Enhancing The Human Experience

(Please note:  Some of the content in this interview may be inappropriate for young listeners. Please use your own discretion.) Mike O’Leary is an author, business man, and a self-made millionaire.  I recently sat down with him and asked him to share his thoughts about living a good life, becoming wealthy, and preserving America's greatness.  As you'll discover in the interview, he’s done a lot of interesting things in 89 years.  I thank him for sharing what he's learned with us. Show Notes Mike was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother was a Christian and his father was an Atheist. As a young boy, he made the decision to allow himself to learn and work hard in life. He promised his mother that he'd live a good life, and that's just what he's done. When he was very young, his mother had to leave him with his grandparents in Colorado, just north of Denver. He lived with his grandparents on their ranch for six years. At age seven he went to live with his father, where he stayed until he was fourte

(This week's episode is a little different.  It's a light-hearted look at the different ways men and women see the world.  I'll return to my regularly scheduled content next week.) Ladies, are you frustrated by the fact that your man just doesn't see the world the way you do? That he doesn’t see all of the things that need to be done around the house, and then just do them.   Things like taking out the garbage, doing the dishes, or cleaning the bathroom?   Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not your man’s fault that he doesn’t see these things. The truth is, he can’t see them. Evolutionary biologists have recently discovered that over the past million-or-so years, men’s ability to see these kinds of things has been diminished to the point that they are literally invisible to us. That’s right. Through the process of natural selection, men have lost the ability to see these types of things. Since this scenario causes a lot of tension within relationships, I saw the need to create a product that solve

Four years ago I began building a business around my passion for personal development, spirituality, and the creative power of thought.  At that time I had a day job (and I still do), but I made a decision to devote most of my free time to building this business.  It's been an exciting and often frustrating process, but I wouldn't change a thing.  I knew when I embarked on this journey that the real pay off would be my own personal development and overcoming the fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs I held about myself. I've learned a lot about myself over these past four years.  I've also learned a thing or two about business.  While I still have much to learn, I wanted to take this opportunity to share some of what I've learned with you.  My hope is that you will be able to learn from what I share and go further, faster, in your own business and entrepreneurial pursuits. The lessons: Succeeding in business (and in life) requires both inner and outer work - We've got to remember to schedule time each day t

Have you ever noticed that sometimes all you need to do to take more effective action is make a subtle shift in your thinking?  Understanding the difference between struggle and effort is one of those subtle shifts. Show Notes There's a big difference between struggling and exerting effort. In our culture, we have a tendency to insulate ourselves from uncomfortable experiences. If we never learn how to cope with pain (of any kind), we'll never be able to handle things when life get’s hard (and chances are it will). Difficult experiences can give our lives as much (if not more) as enjoyable ones. Finding the strength to endure our current challenges helps us prepare for our futures challenges. When we lace your actions with emotion and desperation our effectiveness suffers. Emotion and desperation only creep in when we are attached to the outcome (and fear losing it). We have so much more power when we're able to hold our center despite what life throws at us. Remember, it's not about what y

One of the things I find fascinating about life is the fact that we’re all living on one world, but we’re all having different experiences (sometimes vastly different).  If this isn't evidence enough that we ourselves are responsible for the experiences we have in life, I don't know what is.  All of the masters talk about this phenomenon.  They tell us that it's our state of consciousness that is the cause of the experiences we have in life.  Everything flows from our conditioned state of consciousness.  So, if we want to change any aspect of our lives, we have to begin by addressing the root cause -- our consciousness. Show Notes The inner work we do really centers around developing our consciousness in specific ways to align us with the experiences we want to have in life. In addition to family, cultural, and societal influences on our consciousness, we come into this world with certain tendencies, preferences and quirks. To change our experiences in life, we have to change the way we perceive oursel

Are you about to set an audacious goal?  Or, maybe you’re working towards one now?  Either way, one thing's for certain, you will encounter doubt at some point along your journey.  When the doubt comes, it’s helpful to have some effective tools to counter the detrimental effects, so it doesn’t derail you from realizing your goal.  In this episode I share three of my favorite thought tools for doing just that. Show Notes If you’re moving toward a goal or a dream that is well outside of your current experience you’re going to encounter doubt. There will be times when you want to stop, turn around, and go back. Since the human experience is ultimately about growth, expansion, and development, living outside of our comfort zones is important.  This is often easier said than done. When we lean into fear, uncertainty, and the unknown, we grow as human beings. Here are three of my favorite ideas for dealing with doubt: Remember your why:  When doubt creeps in, remember your why.  Before you embark on yo

When it comes to improving our results in life, there is only one variable.  Us.  We are the only thing that stands between what we have and what we want.  That's why personal development is so important.  When we improve ourselves, our results naturally improve. Show Notes A being board is a powerful tool for personal transformation. It’s a visual reminder of the qualities, characteristics, and attributes we need to embody in order to improve our performance and our results in any area of life. Success begins within.  This is why personal development is vital to winning in business and in life. Developing our state of being is the starting point of all success we will ever realize. This exercise is one of the free downloads I include with my book, Just Be It!: The Secret To Having What You Want In Life Everything you do and have in life flows from your conditioned state of being. When you improve your state of being, you’ll find yourself doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right w

Jana Mitchell has been a hospice nurse for over 12 years.  During this time, she’s worked in a number of different capacities within this field.  She’s currently a clinical director.  I recently sat down with her to discuss her perspective on living and dying well.  Jana has a unique perspective on the human experience that most of us don’t have.  She cares for people who are at the end of their lives.  This gives her the opportunity to see how people die (and how they've lived), and to witness the things that matter to them at this point in their lives. It’s no secret that death and dying are not popular subjects in our culture.  While this is the case, there's value in being aware of our own mortality.  In a very real sense, death is perhaps our greatest ally in life.  Death is always there to remind us to get on with the business of living, and not waste precious time.  To do the things we came here to do – and not put them off until tomorrow.  To make every moment count.  And make memories while we still

*FDA disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast and on this website is for educational purposes ONLY.  It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.  Neither myself, nor my guest is a doctor.  We are not attempting to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  Additionally, we must inform you that the FDA has not evaluated the claims made about the Asyra Bio-Resonance Scanning Device.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  Please seek the advice of a professional medical person before implementing anything mentioned on this podcast.  By listening to this podcast and viewing the show notes, you release the producer, the host, and the guest from any and all liability.  Thank you. D. Trentamus Briggs helps his clients' improve their lives.  By utilizing a variety of health and wellness practices, including Reiki mastership, Bio-Resonance Meridian Stress Analysis, and intuitive coaching, he offers his clients a multi-dimensional a

Tifane Falvey is an iPEC certified life coach who specializes in manifestation.  She helps her clients align with the experiences they want to have in their lives, by educating them on the hidden laws of the Universe.  These laws need to be understood to produce real and lasting results here on the physical plane.  Tifane began her professional coaching career in 2006, but she has been coaching since college. Show Notes Life coaching has been around since the beginning of time. Your intuitive self has always been aware of the power to manifest. Tifane holds a vision of success for each of her clients. She only accepts clients who have the capacity to excel at a high level. She feeds off her client’s excitement, especially when they succeed. Tifane feels she’s more of a witness to her clients' success. She learns something from each and every client she works with. To realize more success in your life you have got to stay focused on what is working. Focusing on what is working in your life b

Are you at a crossroads in life, either personally or professionally?  Maybe you just feel stuck and you’re looking for a little guidance as to what you should do next.  This is all too common.  As we move through life, we all face this type of scenario (and for most of us, it happens frequently).  Knowing how to handle it – and how to ask for guidance – is critical to our continuing success and happiness. The guidance I'm referring to is asking your intuition for a message or a clue as to what you should be doing.  As woo-woo as it sounds, some of the most successful people in the world consult their intuition on a regular basis to help them navigate their personal and professional lives. Related Podcast: A Tale of Two Minds: How to Align Yourself with Infinite Success - ETHE 003 Show Notes Why your mind can’t be trusted to give you the guidance you need and want: Because the mind is a tool:  It's an extraordinary tool, but a tool nonetheless.  Our mind (both the conscious and subconscious components) s

The Rainmaker story conveys a powerful message about how we can make our lives work.  You can find this story, originally told by Carl Jung, in many places online.  Today, I'll read you one of my favorite versions of this short but profound story. Here's the story of the Rainmaker, as told by Chin-Ning Chu in her book, Do Less, Achieve More: Discover the Hidden Power of Giving in: "There was a village that had been experiencing drought for five consecutive years.  Many famous Rainmakers had been called, but they had all failed to make rain.  In the villagers' last attempt, they called upon a renowned Rainmaker from afar.  When he arrived in the village, he set up his tent and disappeared inside it for four days.  On the fifth day, the rain started to fall and quenched the thirst of the parched earth.  The people of the village asked the Rainmaker how he had accomplished such a miracle.  The Rainmaker replied, “I have done nothing.”  Astounded at his explanation, the villagers said, “How can that be?  After

In this episode I share a simple two-step process you can use to design and live an extraordinary life. The idea for this show came to me the other day as I was driving. I was thinking about something Florence Scovel Shinn said, and that is; "Life is a game of giving and receiving." If you haven't read any of her stuff, it's all excellent -- very practical and accessible. Her most prominent work is titled, The Game of Life and How to Play it. It's a concise and practical book filled with great remedies to heal any aspect of your life by addressing the root cause -- your consciousness. It was published in 1925, and it is her most famous book. For those of you not familiar with here work, she helped her clients dissolve troubling circumstances in their lives by prescribing powerful affirmations for them. These consciousness cures are just as valuable today as they were when she was alive. Here are some examples of her healing affirmations taken from the book, The Game of Life and how to Play it: (For

What's the hardest thing in the world to do? Keep an open mind, of course. And since this is so important, it's the topic of this week's episode. Why is this so important? Because, what we think is the cause of what we do, and what we do is the cause of the results we have in every area of our lives. Adopting better ways of thinking causes us to act more effectively, and ultimately realize better results. And better results is what we all want, don't we? Show Notes The hardest thing in the world is to remain open to everything and attached to nothing. Remaining open to new ideas is the key to enhancing the human experience. In my humble opinion, the worst way to go through life is with a closed mind. Always be seeking new ways of thinking. The mind wants to attach (and never let go) to ideas.  This is conditioned thinking and it is detrimental to personal growth and expansion. "Change is the only constant." ~ Heroditus How to remain open: The best way to remain open is to simply realize th

AlejAndro Anastasio is a professional speaker, podcaster, lover of children, and wanna-be superhero.  And on top of all this he just launched a new podcast.  If you're into professional storytelling with a message, you're going to love it.  You can listen and subscribe on iTunes or on his website onehandspeaks.com.  It will also soon be available everywhere you find podcasts. I've known AlejAndro for many years.  We met when I became a student of his at 3 Shapes Aikido here in Boise.  Practicing aikido, and training with AlejAndro was one of the best things I've ever done for my own personal growth and development.  During training sessions, in addition to learning world-class aikido, AlejAndro shared many stories about his life.  Each one had a underlying message about how to succeed in business and in life.  You can expect these types of stories and much more from his weekly podcast. Show Notes AlejAndro was born without two hands. His podcast is titled One Hand Speaks and is an extension of his brand

(Note - In this episode I said that Venice Bloodworth was Thomas Troward's student.  I was incorrect about that.  Genevieve Behrend was Troward's student.) In this episode of the podcast I share the books I recommend to people who want to start learning about manifesting.  I should point out that these books are also the one's I recommend to seasoned students in this arena. You won't generally find these books in the manifesting section of your local bookstore.  Why?  Because the majority of these books were written in the early-to-mid 1900's.  They simply aren't shiny and new like the current books are.  And, there isn't a lot of money to be made in them.  So publishers aren't marketing them to you.  But take my word, they are amazing.  And I'll let you in on a little secret.  All (yes, all) of the authors writing about manifesting in our day and age are inspired by, and draw upon the works of these amazing men and women. So, in addition to picking up some current books on manifesting, pick up some of the

This episode of the podcast is all about less.  Specifically, how having less (less stuff, less obligations, and less debt), can help you to have more (more time, more money, and more freedom).  Like most of the topics I discuss on the podcast, this one will definitely come up again.  Because it's such an important aspect of enhancing the human experience. I recently watched Minimalism: A Documentary About The Important Things.  This is the film about Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn's experience adopting and living a minimalist lifestyle.  I've followed these two characters for years, so I knew it would be good, and it was.  If you're not familiar with these guys, I've put a link to their website in the resources section below.  They're big-time players in the minimalist movement. I've practiced minimalism for some time now.  It's made a big difference in my overall quality of life.  I still have stuff, but I have a lot less of it than I used to.  And I'm happier because of it.  Like everything in

Show Notes The challenge we all face each and every day is to condition ourselves to get and keep that winning feeling, despite any resistance (internal or external) we may encounter. If we cultivate the losing feeling we simply won't be able to realize our goals and dreams. The winning feeling is just the means to an end.  Feeling like a winner causes us to act like a winner.  And when that happens, we get the results of a winner. Shifting your state of being is an art.  It takes practice. Saying, "I am and I can", will help you align your thoughts and your actions with the goal you want to realize. It's all about being aware of your state of consciousness, and noticing when you start to slip into that losing feeling.  When you do, take a minute and shift your consciousness back to that winning feeling by thinking as if you've already realized your desired outcome. The key to life is this; feel like a success and a winner all of the time. How to get that winning feeling: Dress for success.

Show Notes Not sure if now is the best time to do it? Maybe you’ve been listening to your inner critic and you believe it’s best to wait. Well, to help you get it going, in this week’s podcast I share 5 reasons why now is the best time to do it. I hope these reasons will help you realize, like so many before you have, that there’s no time like the present. Not sure what it is?  Here are some clues to help you clarify what it is, and what it isn't. What it is: It’s your passion. It’s your purpose. It’s your calling. It’s why you came here. It’s what makes you come alive. It’s whats in your heart and soul. It’s what your higher self keeps telling you to do. It’s what sparks joy within you. It’s what energizes you and makes your eyes light up. It’s what your intuition has been nudging you to do. That's what it is. What it isn’t: It isn’t what the voice in your head (a.k.a your intellect, a.k.a the monkey mind) tells you you should do. It isn’t what the radio, television, magazine

This week's podcast is another in the ongoing series about winning in the game of life.  A few weeks ago I did an episode where I shared the 3 things I learned from Charlie Sheen about winning in the game of life. Today's show is about the lesson I learned from Muhammad Ali about winning, and how we can apply it to winning the inner game of life.  I'm referring to the battles we fight every day with our own ego mind.  The ego is the inner opponent we encounter whenever we do something that is outside of our current experience. The ego's objective is to keep us separated from our greatness, our divinity, and from living an extraordinary life.  It uses any number of tactics to accomplish this, including fear, doubt, anxiety, worry, and indecision.  These tactics can keep us stuck and cause us to lose faith in our ability to realize our goals and dreams in life. Ali was arguably one of the greatest boxers of all time.  He also had a high level of self-confidence, which is vital to winning in the game of life.