We all have inner  critics, voices so to speak that keep us from achieving our best selves.  Some call them trolls.  Even the most successful people you may know of have them. But did you know that the more successful you become, the louder these can become? Today I will explore with you 7 ways you can overcome these inner critics and set yourself up for the success you truly deserve!    But first the quote of the week: Your inner critic is a bully. When you can tune out that noise, you can tune-in to your real inner voice. Your soul. Your spirit. Your purpose. THAT voice will never lie to you.  Beth Caldwell   Points to covered: 7 Ways to Overcome the Inner Critic 1. Identify and Name the Inner Critic The first step to overcoming your inner critic is recognizing when it’s active. Pay attention to the negative thoughts and self-doubt that arise in your mind. Awareness allows you to question its validity and take control of your narrative. 2. Challenge Negative Beliefs The inner critic thrives on assumptions and exaggerated fears. Challenge these beliefs by asking yourself: “Is this really true?” or “What evidence supports this thought?” Over time, you'll learn to rely on facts and possibilities rather than harsh self-judgment. 3. Practice Self-Compassion Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer a close friend. Regularly practicing self-compassion rewires your inner dialogue to be more nurturing and encouraging. 4. Shift Your Focus to Strengths The inner critic tends to highlight weaknesses and flaws, so intentionally focus on your strengths. A strengths-focused mindset helps to drown out the negativity of the inner critic with affirming truths. 5. Set Realistic Expectations Unrealistic expectations fuel the inner critic by setting you up for failure. Learning to balance ambition with realism helps reduce self-criticism and build resilience. 6. Cultivate Mindfulness Mindfulness teaches you to observe your thoughts without judgment, creating space between you and the inner critic. This shift enables you to live in the present moment, free from the weight of self-criticism. 7. Seek Support and Accountability Overcoming the inner critic is easier with the help of a supportive network. A coach can also provide structured tools and strategies to reframe limiting beliefs and build long-lasting confidence. Each of these steps empowers you to replace the inner critic's voice with a narrative of self-love, growth, and possibility.   Did anything resonate with you?  Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect. I always offer a free, complementary, no commitment, coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.  If this was your first time, I’m glad you’re listening and I hope you can come back for more podcast episodes and feel free to listen to all the previous ones I have.  I can’t wait to be here with you next week but until then keep closing that 18-inch gap!

5 Types of Runners- which one are you? Today I want to explore with you the idea of running.  We are all in a sense running in our lives. Sometimes we run fast and sometimes we jog. Most of the time we walk. But today I want to connect the action of running to the ideas and goals you may have. To do that, I want to explore 5 types of runners I have encountered, but first the quote of the week: You didn't get this far to only go this far: Ben Alldis, fitness and health professional from the UK Points to covered:  Ok so here are the runners I plan on covering:   1.                     The planner: This runner plans and plans but does not actually run at all because they are trying to perfect every single aspect of the run. They analyze the route, the clothing, the sneakers they will need.   2.                     The Sprinter: This runner is one that runs impulsively all of the time. He gets his shoes on no matter if they are sneakers, boots or dress shoes. They don’t plan, they just burst and run out of energy very quickly never getting very far.   3.                     The fair-weather runner: This runner only runs when the weather is just perfect. A sunny day for them is too hot, a light rain for them is a downpour and they only run when they think the weather is just right. This type of runner does not realize that no two days are the same. 4.                     The dreamer: This runner is the one that dreams about running, dreams about world championships, crossing first in the finish line at all the biggest marathons, winning an Olympic gold medal but never actually doing anything but dream about it.   5.                     The committed runner: This runner has it all and is balanced. The planning gets done, paces himself so he does not burn out, goes out to train no matter what the weather is like as long as they are not in a dangerous situation, and enjoys the training.   Which one are you most dominant in? You have all five of these runners in you, but one stands above the rest. Even if you are the last one, the committed runner, you still can have a lot of room for improvement. Even the best runners in the world need help.  Do you see yourself spending a lot of time in any of the first four?  Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect. I always offer a free, complementary, no commitment, session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.   

Closing the 18-Inch Gap Podcast-EP038: You are in control Today I’m recording this as one of the biggest days looms over us, Election Day. Many will say that we are more divided and polarized than ever and while that is true, I also believe that we are more connected than ever as well. Just yesterday, I met two people that I will have an opportunity to meet and talk more about our dreams and goals and encourage each other. And none of it will have to do with the current events of the world. You see, you can only control what is in your reach. So, today’s podcast will be a very short one as I want to focus on what really matters and that is you. But first the quote of the week: “As important as your obligations as a doctor, lawyer or business leader will be, you are a human being first. And these human connections with spouse, with children and with friends are the most important investments you will ever make. At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child or a parent. One thing will never change. Fathers and Mothers, if you have children, they must come first. You must read to your children, you must hug your children and you must love your children…. Your success as a family, our success as a society depends not what happens at the White House, but what happens inside YOUR house.” ― Barbara Bush Points to covered: You and no one else can control your mind, everything presented to you will have a motive and a bias of where it comes from. I briefly cover points regarding finances, careers, world events, promises made and social media. You have the final say in your life; no one else can.

People often aim big with their dreams, too big if you ask me, sometimes leading to failure, instead of making steady, achievable progress. Today I’m looking at 12 reasons this may be the case with each reason reflecting either and internal or external pressure, mindset, and/or a belief that pushes people toward this "go big or go home" approach, along with the potential drawbacks of each. Instead I want to encourage you to play small to win big.    Quote of the week: “Little by little, a little becomes a lot.”      – Tanzanian proverb   Points covered: 1. Desire for Recognition ·                  Many people crave the admiration that comes from big achievements, as they’re often celebrated more publicly.  2. Romanticizing Success ·                  Many people idealize the notion of success, associating it with an all-encompassing life transformation.  3. All-or-Nothing Mentality ·                  An all-or-nothing mindset implies that anything less than the big dream isn’t worth pursuing, which can be very limiting.   4. Overconfidence in Abilities ·                  Some people overestimate their current skills and resources, assuming they’re ready for a monumental goal.  5. Misunderstanding of Progress ·                  People often underestimate how small efforts compound over time, thinking only big actions yield results.  6. Misjudging the Effort Required ·                  People sometimes underestimate the resources and dedication needed to achieve big dreams.  7. Inspiration from Success Stories ·                  People are often inspired by stories of successful individuals who achieved greatness.  8. Desire for Legacy ·                  Leaving a legacy can be a powerful motivator, pushing people to think they need to achieve something monumental.  9. Difficulty in Breaking Down Goals ·                  Breaking down a large goal into smaller, actionable steps can be challenging, leading people to pursue the goal all at once.  10. Impatience with Progress ·                  Many people become impatient when they don’t see rapid progress, leading them to abandon small, steady goals.  11. Over-Reliance on Motivation ·                  Relying too heavily on motivation alone can be problematic, as motivation is often short-lived.  12. Desire for a Fresh Start ·                  The idea of a complete life transformation can drive people to set ambitious goals.  In each of these cases, the allure of a big dream often overshadows the value of making steady, achievable progress. While it’s natural to aim high, combining ambition with realistic goal setting, patience, and appreciation for small wins is often the most effective way to build success and fulfillment over time.   Did anything resonate with you?  Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect.  I always offer a free coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.

 Resistance can be seen as an invisible enemy that stops you in your tracks, delays your dreams, and puts out your fire.  Yet without resistance we would not become stronger or more resilient than we already are.  Without it, there would be no pressure to get better, faster and smarter.  Today I will be diving into the last episode in this series about change and how to approach it. Quote of the week: To fly we have to have resistance.   Maya Lin  Points covered: Today I will be covering points from the book The War of Art by Steven Pressfield which is a powerful piece of writing on this subject. Let’s look at the three sections the book is divided into: 1.      Resistance: Defining the Enemy as the universal, insidious force that prevents us from pursuing our dreams. 2.      Combating Resistance: Turning Pro.  Let’s explore the distinction between amateurs and professionals. According to him, the amateur succumbs to Resistance because they take their work lightly, while the professional is committed, disciplined, and approaches their work with a sense of duty. 3.      Beyond Resistance: The Higher Realm. He suggests that when we overcome Resistance and commit to our work, we tap into something greater than ourselves, which he refers to as the "Muse." He argues that the act of creation connects us to a larger purpose, and by confronting Resistance, we align ourselves with our true path.  10 Reasons Why People Give in to Resistance So Easily : 1.                     Procrastination: Delaying the work leads to increased Resistance, making it harder to begin. 2.                     Perfectionism: The desire to do things perfectly can lead to fear of doing anything at all. 3.                     Overwhelming Goals: Setting overly ambitious goals can make the path forward seem too daunting. 4.                     Fear of Judgment: Worrying about what others will think can deter people from pursuing their dreams. 5.                     Lack of Clarity: Unclear goals or lack of direction can lead to indecisiveness and inertia. 6.                     Unrealistic Expectations: Setting overly high expectations can lead to disappointment and quitting when progress is slow. 7.                     Negative Influences: Surrounding oneself with people who discourage effort can lead to giving up. 8.                     Imposter Syndrome: Feeling like a fraud can prevent people from taking themselves seriously. 9.                     Overthinking: Constantly analyzing can lead to decision paralysis. 10.              Complacency: Being content with the status quo can make people less motivated to pursue something new. Pressfield ultimately suggests that these tendencies are common but conquerable. By identifying and naming the Resistance, you can begin to take practical steps to overcome it and pursue their true calling with determination. Did anything resonate with you?  Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect. I always offer a free, complementary, no commitment, coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.  If this was your first time I’m so happy you’re listening and I hope you can come back for more podcast episodes and feel free to listen to all the previous ones I have.  I can’t wait to be here with you next week but until then keep closing that 18-inch

Today I’m continuing  a series on change. Before we dive into an overview, let’s look at the quote of the week:    Quote of the week:   "Change is inevitable. Growth is optional" — John C. Maxwell  I chose this one because I’m a huge Johnson Maxwell fan. I have many of his books and audiobooks and he is definitely a source of inspiration to me. He will challenge you and me to expand our comfort zone far beyond what we could think is possible. Points covered: Change, no one likes it.  Even I don’t like it.  As humans, we are creatures of habit, and we can stay comfortable for the most part without any change.  Like I said in the last episode, coming from a law enforcement background, the best way to describe some changes is like being released from a prison.   Although I have never been in a prison and never hope to have to, I saw again and again how clients after being free were still in their own prisons mentally speaking. I’ve seen it happen over and over again and unfortunately some people cannot handle change or know how to go about it.   In case you missed the last episode,  I spoke about my old job and how I felt like I was in a very oppressing and difficult situation.  Regardless of the raise I had just gotten, and it was a MASSIVE raise, the environment simply was not one I wanted to be in.  I know I needed to make a change but, in my mind, that was at least 5 years away and impossible to accomplish.  Nothing was set up yet, nothing, and the change came suddenly and without notice. I also explained in detail what happened.  So, give it a listen and this episode will make more sense.   Now, let me review the points I brought last time and will list the remaining points I want to explore with you in this series. Points that I am in fact applying to my current situation. 1.                     Change happens- there is no way around this.  2.                      Anticipate the change-don’t be surprised when the change does come. 3.                     Monitor the change- this is what is often referred to as, and I also call, “the writing on the wall.   So, without any further delay, here are the points I covered in this episode:   1.                     Adapt to change- the sooner you are able to adjust to your new environment, the better.  Perhaps even see quicker results that you are seeking. 2.                     Change- when it comes do not resist it, move along with it. 3.                     Enjoy change! And the rewards that it will bring as well! 4.                     Get used to change because it will often happen If any of these points sound familiar to you it’s because the concept is based on the book titled Who Moved my Cheese.  The book I have referenced in this podcast before. It has some tremendous insights and is also extremely easy to read. I read it in under an hour; it was the first book I read shortly after my job resignation And something I do want to point out that was never mentioned in the book is the fact that if you want to keep up with any changes, regardless of what they are, you really need to read. There’s no way around it. I suspect that few people that ever graduate from high school and don’t go to college will keep reading. That is such a disservice to yourself if you don’t read.  And if you don’t like to read if you are someone that simply falls asleep when reading then there’s also audiobooks. These are very popular, and you can get them in an app called Audible where many of the most popular books written are read by either the author or a professional reader. There’s just no excuse to get a book in you. Did anything resonate with you?  Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect. I always offer a free, complementary, no commitment needed, coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.  If this was your first time I’m glad you’re listening and I hope you can come back for more podcast episodes and feel free to listen to all the previous ones I have.  I can’t wait to be here with you next week but until then keep closing that 18 inch gap!

Today I’m starting a series on change. I have several points I want to bring.  I’m not sure how many I will end up recording but I will definitely let you know when I plan on wrapping up the series.  I just feel its too important to just bring the points in one shortened podcast episode. I’m aiming for 3-4 but I will definitely keep you posted when I plan on wrapping this series up.  Quote of the week:  The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” Steve Jobs   Points covered: Change, no one likes it.  Even I don’t like it.  When I resigned from my job, and I will be explaining this in detail in one of the points so you can also learn form my painful lesson, the sudden change after almost 27 years was a shock to say the least!  Change can be gradual or unexpected.  As humans, we are creatures of habit, and we can stay comfortable for the most part without any change.  Here are the points I will be covering briefly today as an introduction and deeper in the points that time will allow:   1.       Change happens- there is no way around this 2.       Anticipate the change-don’t be surprised when the change does come 3.      Monitor the change- this is what is often referred to as, and I also call, “the writing on the wall.  This is also where I will explain in detail what happened at my last career 4.      Adapt to change- the sooner you are able to adjust to your new environment, the better.  Perhaps even see quicker results that you are seeking. 5.      Change- when it comes do not resists it, move long with it. 6.      Enjoy change! And the rewards that it will bring as well! 7.      Get used to change because it will often happen again and again, within reason of course.   If any of these points sound familiar to you it’s because the concept is based on the book titled Who Moved my Cheese. I’m not going to be recording this podcast reading word for word what the book says, I will be diving into the concepts behind it bringing some in-depth exploration to each point.   1.      Change happens- there is no way around this.  Without change life will be boring. Without change there would be no progress. Change is the way of life keeping us on our toes. 2.       Anticipate the change-don’t be surprised when the change does come. To not be ready for change is to really set yourself up for ultimate failure. 3.      Monitor the change- this is what is often referred to as, and I also call, “the writing on the wall.  This is also where I will explain in detail what happened at my last career. Make sure you give this episode a listen for all the details involving change and how you too can navigate through it. Did anything resonate with you?  Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect. I always offer a free coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.  If this was your first time, I’m glad you’re listening and I hope you can come back for more podcast episodes and feel free to listen to all the previous ones I have.  I can’t wait to be here with you next week but until then keep closing that 18-inch gap! Books mentioned: Closing the 18-inch Gap Write a Must Read

Closing the 18-Inch Gap Podcast-EP033: 14 Ways FEAR Holds You Back I look at fear as a bully in the playground. You want to have fun and succeed in life, but that bully is always around to pick on you. It will not let you play in peace. Well today we’re going to look at a short list of 14 reasons why that may be the case, especially when working with a life coach.  While the reasons why people hesitate to seek help from a life coach can vary widely depending on individual circumstances and personalities, here are 14 common reasons that individuals might hesitate, more on the other side: Quote of the week:  “The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”  Nelson Mandela Points covered: 1. **Self-Reliance**: Belief that they should be able to handle their issues on their own without external assistance. 2. **Cost**: Worries about the financial investment required to engage with a life coach, especially if they perceive it as expensive. 3. **Fear of Vulnerability**: Apprehension about opening up to someone else and being vulnerable about personal struggles or weaknesses. 4. **Lack of Trust**: Doubt about whether the life coach can truly help or if they have the necessary expertise. 5. **Unsure of Effectiveness**: Skepticism about whether life coaching will actually make a difference in their life. 6. **Fear of Change**: Resistance to the potential changes that might result from working with a life coach. 7. **Denial**: Difficulty acknowledging or accepting that they need help or that their current approach is not working. 8. **Fear of Dependency**: Fear of becoming dependent on the life coach or feeling reliant on them for guidance. 9. **Time Commitment**: Concerns about the time required to engage in coaching sessions and implement changes in their life. 10. **Perception of Self-Help**: Belief that they should be able to solve their own problems through self-help methods or resources. 11. **Lack of Awareness**: Not fully understanding what life coaching entails or how it could benefit them. 12. **Feeling Overwhelmed**: Feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of addressing their issues and unsure where to start. 13. **Difficulty Trusting Others**: Difficulty trusting others due to past betrayals or experiences. 14. **Fear of Discomfort**: Fear that the coaching process will be uncomfortable or emotionally challenging.  t's important to note that while these reasons may prevent some individuals from seeking help from a life coach, many find great benefit and support from working with a skilled coach. Turn fear into a positive thing by allowing it to mean Face Everything And Rise!!! To your success! Did anything resonate with you?  Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect. I always offer a free, complementary, no commitment, no credit card needed, no endless follow-ups taking up your time, coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.  If this was your first time am glad you’re listening and I hope you can come back for more podcast episodes and feel free to listen to all the previous ones I have.  I can’t wait to be here with you next week but until then keep closing that 18 inch gap!

Resistance is the enemy of progress. Resistance according to Steven Pressfield, who wrote the famous book based on this very subject called The War of Art, describes it as: Resistance is described in a mythical fashion as a universal force that has one sole mission: to keep things as they are. Pressfield claims that Resistance does not have a personal vendetta against anyone, rather it is simply trying to accomplish its only mission.  Today I will bring you 15 ways to resist the urge to quit.  This is different than the resistance itself as when you give into resistance, you end up doing just that:  Quitting!!!  And today I will show you 15 was to not quit by resisting the resistance. Quote of the week:  I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.' Muhammad Ali Points covered: 1. Fear of Failure- or is it fear of success?  Something to think about.  Sometime you may feel afraid to succeed because you don’t now if you can keep up with your success. Resist Quitting by: Reframe failure as a learning opportunity. Set small, achievable goals to build confidence. Celebrate progress, not just the end result. 2. Lack of Motivation Resist Quitting by: Identify your "why" and keep it visible. Use rewards as incentives for completing milestones. Create routines that make motivation less necessary. 3. Overwhelm Resist Quitting by: Prioritize tasks and focus on one thing at a time. Use time management techniques, like Pomodoro. Take breaks to prevent burnout and regain focus.   4. Impatience Resist Quitting by: Remind yourself that good things take time. Focus on consistent effort rather than quick results. Track small wins to visualize growth over time. 5. Lack of Clear Goals Resist Quitting by: Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). Break down long-term goals into short-term actions. Visualize success and remind yourself of the bigger picture. 6. Perfectionism Resist Quitting by: Accept that "done" is better than "perfect." Focus on progress, not perfection. Set realistic expectations for yourself and your work. 7. Negative Self-Talk Resist Quitting by: Replace negative thoughts with affirmations or positive statements. Practice self-compassion; be kind to yourself. Challenge irrational beliefs and fears. 8. Lack of Support Resist Quitting by: Seek out mentors, peers, or a supportive community. Join groups or forums where you can find encouragement. Create an accountability system with a partner or group. 9. Comparison to Others  Resist Quitting by: Focus on your own journey and progress. Limit exposure to social media if it triggers comparison. Remember that success is personal and varies for everyone. 10. Lack of Immediate Results Resist Quitting by: Acknowledge that success is often a long-term process. Shift focus to the process rather than the outcome. Set short-term benchmarks to stay motivated. 11. Fear of Success  Resist Quitting by: Visualize how you’ll handle success in positive ways. Break success into manageable steps to reduce anxiety. Seek support to handle the pressures of success. 12. Procrastination Resist Quitting by: Use tools like task lists or time-blocking to stay on track. Set deadlines and stick to them to create urgency. Remove distractions and create an environment conducive to focus. 13. Self-Doubt Resist Quitting by: Write down past accomplishments to remind yourself of your capabilities. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. Focus on actions you can control to build confidence. 14. Burnout Resist Quitting by: Schedule regular breaks and downtime to recharge. Adjust your workload to avoid overextending yourself. Engage in activities that nurture your mental and physical well-being. 15. Fear of Rejection  Resist Quitting by: Understand that rejection is part of growth and not a personal failure. Treat rejection as feedback to improve your approach. Keep trying different paths until you find what works.   Did anything resonate with you?  Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect. I always offer a free, complementary, no commitment, no credit card needed, no endless follow-ups taking up your time, coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.  If this was your first time am glad you’re listening and I hope you can come back for more podcast episodes and feel free to listen to all the previous ones I have.  I can’t wait to be here with you next week but until then keep closing that 18 inch gap!

Five Crucial Steps to Achieve Life Balance Today I want to talk about the number one reason people come looking for me as a life coach. It’s about life balance. I’ll be looking  at this in an interesting way and see if there is in fact a balance that can be found. We will be going through five steps you need to go through to achieve this. Life balance, is there such a thing? Can it be achieved? We’re about to find out. Quote of the week:    Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. Albert Einstein Points covered: So, these are the five steps covered in today’s podcast: Perspectives, Choice, Co-active strategy, Commitment and Action. Each one plays a very crucial role in getting where you want to be. Perspectives:  this really comes down to what I spoken a lot in the past about the front stage in a backstage.  Meaning what you’re going through being a backstage and what you see other people going through just being in front stage. You have to be careful what beliefs, assumptions, and expectations you assign to the perspective as well. Choice: This is the next point I want to bring the bottom line is you have a choice. You have the power to choose. You are absolutely and unequivocally in charge of your choices. But how you choose can also change the trajectory. The you choose very quickly and impulsively? Do you take your time analyzing or perhaps sometime over analyzing? Co-active strategy (in other words a complete cooperation with where you are): the best way to describe this is where you form a bridge between the awareness that you now have in taking action. Remember this is a bridge for now. It’s getting into an attitude and emotional state that can motivate you to move forward. Commitment: This is when you reach the point when your past of aimless wandering or thinking or over analyzing. This is where you commit to move forward in do what you need to do to gain that life balance you so much looking for. I can the key word here is commitment not a choice. Action: This is the last step. This is where the power is all at. It’s all been building up to this crucial moment. Without action your balance will be incomplete it’ll be just a conversation about a point of view nothing else. It’s the actions that you take that will keep you moving forward and motivated.   Did anything resonate with you?  Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect. I always offer a free, complementary, no commitment, no credit card needed, no endless follow-ups taking up your time, coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.  If this was your first time am glad you’re listening and I hope you can come back for more podcast episodes and feel free to listen to all the previous ones I have.  I can’t wait to be here with you next week but until then keep closing that 18 inch gap!

Episode Title: Closing the 18-Inch Gap Podcast-EP030: Watch your mouth, 15 ways your self-talk is hurting you! We’ve all heard about trash talk when someone gets trashed. But did you realize you probably trash talk yourself more than anybody else? Perhaps more than you realize? Negative self-talk will make it nearly impossible to close your own 18-inch gap and I don’t want to see you in that situation. Today we will look at 15 ways you can sabotage yourself and how you can change that. But first the quote of the week: Be careful how you’re talking to yourself because you are listening. Lisa Hayes Points covered: Here is a list of 15 ways negative self-talk can be destructive, along with the positive self-talk solutions for each: 1. Negative Self-Talk: "I'm not good enough for this job." 2. Negative Self-Talk: "I always mess things up." 3. Negative Self-Talk: "I'll never be successful." 4. Negative Self-Talk: "I'm not as talented as others." 5. Negative Self-Talk: "Nothing ever goes right for me." 6. Negative Self-Talk: "I don't deserve happiness." 7. Negative Self-Talk: "I'm always going to fail." 8. Negative Self-Talk: "I'm too old (or young) to achieve this." 9. Negative Self-Talk: "Nobody likes me." 10. Negative Self-Talk: "I can't handle this stress." 11. Negative Self-Talk: "I'm always unlucky." 12. Negative Self-Talk: "I can't change; this is just who I am." 13. Negative Self-Talk: "I'm a failure." 14. Negative Self-Talk: "I don't have the energy to do this." 15. Negative Self-Talk: "I'll never be happy." Positive Self-Talk: Each and every point listed above has a positive point that can be used to counter the negative talk. They are explained in the podcast recording and can be listened to on every single point, yes all 15 of them! Did anything resonate with you? Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic? If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect. I always offer a free, complementary, no commitment, no credit card needed, no endless follow-ups taking up your time, coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself. Don’t hesitate, reach out to me right away. Again, simply send me an email to [email protected], I’ll be waiting.

Struggles are part of life. There is no way around it. I still believe that the bigger the struggle the bigger the victory. But what about when you’re trying to reach a goal and it takes forever. At least it seems that way. It takes me back to a previous episode I did of why the tortoise will win and not the hare. So today I want to look at seven struggles you will face and how to overcome them. But first the… Quote of the week: If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Frederick Douglass Points to covered: The first point I want to cover is why we struggle to succeed is fear. Fears come in many ways. Fear the unknown, fear of failure and yes even fear success. It’s an instinct that we have been born with. How do we overcome this? The second reason you may struggle a lot is because of this thing called perfectionism. What you’re trying to do you may wanted to be so perfect that I’ll never get finished. If that was the case we would never see the most beautiful paintings, the greatest songs, the best stories ever written or anything else because they would still be waiting to be met with perfection. The next struggle many people have is not knowing what to do next. They don’t know what to do so they do nothing. Are you this way? Do you feel overwhelmed? You’re not alone, once again many others feel the same exact way. As I mentioned in the previous point another struggle many have is being completely overwhelmed. This is from having too much information coming from too many directions. That’s why in point number three I alluded to some of what I want to further expand on this point. Struggle number five that I want to bring to you today is what I call in my world the shiny object syndrome. That’s the need to test and buy in they with every newest little gadget that comes out. The sixth reason that people struggle comes back to them not keeping the main thing as the main thing. And in other words, they cannot focus. The focus is all over the place as already described in the previous point. The last thing I want to mention that people will struggle with and interferes with their success is having too much activity without any strategy. This basically means that you’re very busy doing nothing. Busyness seems to be a badge of honor but being busy is not productive unless there is a strategy behind it. Did anything I say today resonate with you? Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with these points? As a coach, I can help you overcome these and many more If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect.

Closing the 18-Inch Gap Podcast-EP028: The Seven Cardinal Rules of Life I Live By Quote of the week: today’s quote of the week comes from Andy Andrews and it’s perfect for today. It says: “Life itself is a privilege, but to live life to the fullest well, that is a choice.”   Points to covered: I love each and every single one of these because they have such impact.  Which one of these will resonate with you? Here the seven cardinal rules by which I live by:  One: make peace with your past so it does not screw up your present.  I can truly say that at this today I feel more energized and excited about where I am going that I have in the past 18 months. That was roughly around the time I resigned from my career 27 years. And I realized and still realize right now that it was not a career that was meant for me to be for my entire life until retirement. Two: what others think of you is none of your business. There is no way to get around this one. That’s true, the lies, rumors, misunderstandings and no one bothered even to ask about, and anything else out there that people twist to their own liking and pleasure of belittling others to make themselves feel more big and comfortable is absolutely none of my business. Three: time heals almost everything, give it time. The key word here is almost. Some things may never heal completely but at least must be allowed to meet a point where the pain is manageable. Four: don’t compare yourself to others and don’t judge them. You have no idea what their journey is all about.  In other words don’t compare your back stage of someone’s front stage.  What this simply means is don’t compare what you see in others to what others do not see in you. Five: stop thinking too much. It’s all right not to know the answers. They will come to you when you least expect it.  All the answers that I needed to know when I resigned from my career were just too much to have answered in a day a week or even a month.  A year and ½ later those answers are certainly coming more frequently and at a faster pace than they have before. Six: no one is in charge of your happiness except you.  There’s no question that no one else can be in charge of your own happiness only you can be in charge of that.  Seven: smile. You don’t own all the problems in the world.  Aren’t you glad for that truth?  You don’t own all the problems the world. If you ever have a problem I seem to keep getting down by it, remember someone will have a bigger problem than that yet.   Did any of these resonate with you?  Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected]  and let me know what resonated with you and how we can connect.  

Quote of the week:   A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not in the branch, but in its own wings. Always believe in yourself. Charlie Wardle   The Olympics just finished in Paris and there were plenty of medals awarded. I guarantee that every single one of those athletes that has a metal around their neck also has a coach.  Points to covered:            Wisdom-your own to tap into your own wisdom and connect with what really matters in life!             Happiness and success-get crystal clear your values and how you measure your success and happiness   ·    Your strengths and talents-shine! Discover your strengths and talents and how to apply them in your life.   ·       Get there faster-not only will your coach help you decide where there is, the stretch and challenge you to get there faster!   ·       Experience boldness-learn to be bold in life, go after what you want, face your fears and get out of your comfort zone to be your best!   ·       Tips tools and ideas-coaches are brimming with new perspectives, tips, tools and inspiration ideas to absorb!   ·        Accountability – a coach looks out for you, holding you accountable for what you say you are going to do!   ·       Cut through the clutter of your life – see your self-destructive habits and clear out whatever you’re tolerating in life   ·       Overwhelm be gone – work toward your version of life balance. Importantly, learn to say no to yourself and others.   ·       Amazing, authentic you- A coach will help you take steps to express the uniqueness and beauty you have to offer.   ·       Choose you – let go of your limiting beliefs and inner critic. Find your inner strength and start afresh.   ·       Harmony and fulfillment – when who you are, what you doing what Amazing authentic you – a coach will help you take steps to express the uniqueness and beauty you have to offer you say are in alignment, fulfillment and inner peace are possible Let’s face it, even the best champions have coaches. You don’t get to where they are by themselves. So let me ask you what’s was keeping you from hiring a coach. Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with this topic?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect. I always offer a free, complementary, no commitment, no credit card needed, no endless follow-ups taking up your time, coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.  Don’t hesitate, reach out to me right away. Again, simply send me an email to [email protected]  I’ll be waiting. Credit to The Coaching Tools Company for this information that was provided so you can benefit from it. Book: Closing the 18-Inch Gap

Closing the 18-Inch Gap Podcast-EP026:  10 Powerful Questions I ask in A Coaching Session.  Quote of the week:  Identify your problems but give your power and energy to solutions.  Tony Robbins A big way to closing an 18 inch gap is through coaching that gives you power and energy to find your solutions. In today’s podcast I am going through 10 questions that pack some tremendous power in getting that 18 inch gap closed. These are coaching questions that I would use in a likely coaching scenario.  Points covered: 1.      The first question is what do you really, really want?  How many people do you know who settle for less? As a coach, it’s my job to help people go after what truly excites and inspires them. 2.      What do you mean by  (fill in the blank) and what does (fill in the blank) me for you? So, what do you really mean? These questions help me understand how I can help you understand yourself.   3.      Why is this important now? What makes this goal important to work on now as opposed to any other time. I would use this question get to the heart of your motivation and why. 4.      What else? Asking you to go beyond your first and most obvious answer getting close to the truth of things really helps go into a deeper session. I may ask several times for more information and to really get to what’s deeply rooted in your thinking and what you’re feeling.   5.      By saying yes what are you saying no to? And by saying no what are you saying yes to? Whether it’s an issue, person, decision or goal, all too often we say yes to what we think we should do without first understanding the impact it will have in our life.  6.      What would be the best question I could ask you right now? This is perfect when you’re stuck.  This question also empowers you when you seem scattered, lacking confidence, disempowered or even overwhelmed.   7.      What do you not want me to ask you? It’s important to establish boundaries with you. I would never ask questions you don’t want me to go into.   8.      What’s the first or easiest step you can take? Sometimes you can be held back by fear, feeling overwhelmed or like you’re drowning in the details of a huge goal.   9.      What was your biggest win from our session today? This question will help me identify and reflect on the coaching that I have been giving you and identify what was most helpful. 10.       And finally, possibly the most important powerful coaching question of all is absolutely nothing at all. What does this mean? It’s simple. The coach’s most powerful tool is silence. There are endless questions and answers in silence.    Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with the topic of today?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply send me an email to [email protected] and let me know what your question is and how we can connect.  

How To Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals Everybody has goals.  Well, everybody should have some.  But are they smart goals? S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym I will be going into today that breaks down how goals should be structured. It’s a framework I learned many years ago and I alluded to in the last podcast episode, and I want to bring it to you today. Points to covered: S: specific. Goal needs to be specific to begin with. You can hit a moving target. You must know what you’re aiming for. If you don’t know where you’re going, then you certainly will get somewhere it just might not be where you intended to get. M: measurable. How will you measure your progress? Measurable goals can be tracked, allowing you to see your progress. An answer to the questions of how much or how many. It also tells you when your goal is complete. This is where it’s important to measure in small increments. A:  actionable. Are you able to take action to achieve your goal? Actionable goals ensure the steps to get there are within your control. I think we can allude to the previous point with M in this point as well. The key here is to have these actions within your control. In this goes even further back to the very first point of speaking specific. This is where your goal will show itself if it’s too big or too small. R: realistic. Avoid overwhelming, unnecessary, stress and frustration by making the goal realistic. As you can see, this ties to the previous points and builds up as you go along.  Being realistic will help you stay focused on what’s important to prevent distractions by less critical tasks to take you away from your goals. T: time bound. In other words, put a deadline on it. This is where Parkinson’s law is so crucial. Parkinson’s law states that the idea that work will expand to fill the time allotted for completion is true to his every word. Basically that means that whatever time you give yourself to do something is how long it will take. If you don’t set a deadline, you will never get it finished.   Books mentioned: Closing the 18-Inch Gap: Closingthe18inchgap.com Clockwork- Mike Michalowicz:  https://shorturl.at/wSF78 Everything is Figureoutable- Marie Forleo:  https://shorturl.at/khGwV   I want to see you succeed. And I know you want to succeed as well. Did any of these points resonate with you today? Do you want to explore deeper how I can help you with the topic of today?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. I always offer a free, complementary, no commitment, no credit card needed, no endless follow-ups taking up your time, coaching session where we can explore how I can help you and you can see coaching action for yourself.  Simply send me an email to [email protected], and let me know what your question is and how we can connect.  Don’t hesitate, reach out to me right away. I’ll be waiting for you.

What type of expert are you?   They often say that everybody is an expert at something. Sometimes people think they are an expert at everything.  But I do agree that we are all an expert at something. Today I’m going through 10 different types of experts and I will ask you, which one are you? These were inspired by a coach named Kim Avery who happened to be my very first teacher in my coaching school. I will be doing a deep dive into each of these 10 experts. But first the…  Quote of the week:  In order to design a future of positive change, we must first become expert at changing our minds. Jacque Fresco Points covered in this episode: The first expert is the distiller, these are types of people that the distill large amounts of information down to its key components. The second expert is the professor. The professor investigates the subject thoroughly and systematically. They are interested in the facts. The third one is the organizer and this person organizes existing ideas and facts into understandable groupings, sequential steps, etc. Fourth is the motivator, this person moves others into action by giving them a reason to act. The fifth one is the Explorer, this is a person that investigates a way of living and teaches others what they have learned. Number six isthe expander, takes one word or concept and explores it in a very deeply way. The seventh one is the curator, this person collects the best information, examples, resources etc. and passes them on to their audience. The eighth one is the storyteller, this person fleshes out and enlivens a general principle or truth in story form. The ninth one is the innovator, this person introduces a new thought, idea or a way of acting into an old situation. And the last one is a journeyer, this person travels the same path as their audience sharing experiences along the way.   Did any of these points resonate with you?  I want to see you succeed. Don’t settle for anything less than what you’re meant to do or be.   If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply email me at  [email protected], for a complimentary, no strings attached, no further obligation coaching session with me.  

Dreams do not come true on their own.   It takes work, sacrifice, effort and so much more.  Today we are going to look at ways to keep those dreams going  and keeping them alive so they do not slip away into the land of what could have  been. First Lets quickly look at 12 People Who Fought for Their Dreams and Never Gave Up: Nelson Mandela - Anti-apartheid revolutionary who became South Africa's first black president. After being in prison for 27 years!!! Helen Keller - Deaf-blind author and activist who became a symbol of triumph over adversity. Malala Yousafzai - Advocate for girls' education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Walt Disney - Founder of The Walt Disney Company and creator of iconic animated characters. Oprah Winfrey - Media mogul and philanthropist who overcame a challenging childhood. Stephen Hawking - Theoretical physicist and cosmologist who made significant contributions to science despite ALS. J.K. Rowling - Author of the Harry Potter series who faced numerous rejections before achieving success. Abraham Lincoln - 16th President of the United States who led the country through the Civil War. Steve Jobs - Co-founder of Apple Inc., known for his innovation and vision in technology. Maya Angelou - Poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. Ludwig van Beethoven - Composer who continued to create music despite losing his hearing. Vincent van Gogh - Post-impressionist painter whose work gained immense popularity posthumously. Quote of the week: “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” — Langston Hughes     Points covered in this episode:   Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity Failure is not the end; it's a stepping stone toward success.   Surround Yourself with Supportive People The company you keep can significantly influence your journey toward your dreams   Set Clear and Achievable Goals Clear goals provide direction and a roadmap to success.   Take Consistent Action Dreams remain dreams without action. Consistent, daily efforts, no matter how small, contribute to your long-term success.   Be Persistent and Never Give Up Persistence is key to overcoming obstacles and achieving success.   Visualize Your Success Visualization helps you mentally prepare for achieving your dreams.   Stay Adaptable and Open to Change The path to your dreams may not always be straightforward.   Take Risks and Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Achieving big dreams often requires taking risks.   Don’t lose Your Passion and Purpose, in other words don’t forget your why!  Pursuing dreams that align with your passion and purpose makes the journey more fulfilling.   Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance Achieving your dreams shouldn't come at the expense of your well-being.   Stay Resilient in the Face of Adversity Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks.   Celebrate Small Wins Celebrating small wins boosts your motivation and morale. Acknowledging your progress, no matter how minor, keeps you focused and inspired.   Stay True to Your Values and Beliefs Staying true to your values and beliefs ensures authenticity in your pursuit of dreams. Integrity and authenticity build trust and respect from others. It also keeps you aligned with your true self and purpose. Staying true to your principles helps you stay grounded and focused on meaningful goals.   Stay Motivated and Inspired Keeping your motivation and inspiration high is essential for sustained effort.   Take Care of Your Mental Health Mental health is critical for achieving your dreams.   Give Back and Inspire Others Achieving your dreams isn't just about personal success; it's also about making a positive impact. Book based on this podcast:  Closing the 18-Inch Gap

Today I want to talk about what I learned from watching the story of the tortoise and the hare. It had been in my mind for quite some time just would not let me go so I jumped on YouTube and looked up the video. As childish as it may seem I learned an incredibly important lesson from it. I looked for what I believe is the original video from 1935 of the story from Disney. I included in the show notes if you want to look at it. But today we’re going to look at lessons I’ve learned from that video and why the tortoise, in other words the slow grinding pace, will always far exceed the fast pace of the hare. More than ever, we need to slow down. In last week’s episode I spoke of resetting in a podcast titled ready, reset, grow! I invite you to listen to that previous episode if you haven’t yet.  Quote of the week. “Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.” ― Plato Lessons from the Hare’s Loss: Overconfidence Can Be Detrimental: Arrogance and underestimating the competition can lead to failure. Consistency Beats Speed: Rapid bursts of effort are not sustainable without consistent follow-through. Underestimating Others: Assuming others are incapable can lead to complacency. Value of Task Management vs.  Time Management: Managing tasks wisely prevents unnecessary delays. WE all have the same exact amount of time. Ego as an Obstacle: Ego can cloud judgment and hinder performance.“It’s better to go slow in the right direction to go fast in the wrong direction”  Simon Sinek 6.      Importance of a Good Start: Starting strong can set a positive tone but must be maintained.Mental Endurance: Sustaining mental effort is crucial for long-term success. Pacing Oneself: Efficient pacing is key to maintaining momentum. Avoiding Distractions: Staying focused on the goal is crucial. This is the Biggest take away I got form the video so far.   Lessons from the Tortoise’s Win: Belief in Oneself: Confidence in one’s abilities is crucial. Importance of Patience: Patience leads to steady progress. Setting Realistic Goals: Achievable goals lead to success. Staying the Course with a Strategic Approach: Committed effort brings long-term results and a well-thought-out strategy leads to success. Avoiding Comparisons: Focus on personal progress rather than comparing with others. Taking One Step at a Time: Small, consistent steps lead to big achievements.  It also leads to the Value of Incremental Progress: Small gains accumulate over time Building Momentum: Consistent effort builds momentum over time. Overcoming Self-Doubt: Belief in oneself helps overcome challenges. Staying Motivated: Continuous motivation is necessary for long-term goals. Commitment to Goals: Commitment is crucial for achieving goals. And ONE BIG FINAL Lesson from this story: Trusting the Process: Have faith in your efforts and the journey.   Link to video in YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DrKmpuKhKE My book:  Closing the 18-Inch Gap

Episode title: Overcoming Adversity with Fierce Resilience Quote of the day:  A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.   Anonymous   Points covered in this podcast episode:   ·  Learn from Failure: Treat failures as learning experiences. ·  Develop Problem-Solving Skills: Tackle issues with a structured approach. ·  Stay Flexible: Adapt to changing circumstances. ·  Embrace Change: Accept that change is a part of life. ·  Seek Support: Reach out to friends, family, or mentors. ·  Build Strong Relationships: Foster connections with supportive people. ·  Find Balance: Balance work and rest to avoid burnout. ·  Use Affirmations: Reinforce positive beliefs about yourself. ·  Stay Committed: Be dedicated to your goals. ·  Set Boundaries: Protect your time and energy. ·  Reflect Regularly: Assess your progress and mindset. ·  Develop Resilience: Strengthen your ability to bounce back. ·  Find a Mentor: Learn from someone who has faced similar challenges. ·  Read Inspirational Stories: Learn from the experiences of others. ·  Stay Grounded: Maintain a sense of reality and perspective. ·  Focus on Solutions: Concentrate on finding solutions, not problems. ·  Engage in Hobbies: Take time for activities you enjoy. ·  Believe in Yourself: Have confidence in your ability to overcome adversity. For complimentary, no obligation or credit card needed, no strings attached intro coaching session plese email me at [email protected] Books Mentioned: My own book:  Closing the 18-Inch Gap A Wrinkle in Time Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Episode Title:  Closing the 18-Inch Gap Podcast-EP020:  Ready, Reset, Grow! How Slowing Down Can Move You Faster  It’s no secret that we live in a fast-paced world. Everything is go, go, go. It’s the rat race of the ready set go! But what if I told you that by slowing down you could actually speed up and get more done. Today we are looking at five areas where you too can Ready, Reset, and Grow!   The first category I want to look into resetting is Employment.  I want to dive into the Stockholm Syndrome. Do you feel affected by this at all? First of all, let’s see a brief explanation below about this before I tie everything together. Stockholm syndrome: The Stockholm syndrome describes the psychological condition of a victim who identifies with and empathizes with their captor or abuser and their goals. Stockholm syndrome is rare; according to one FBI study, the condition occurs in about 8 percent of hostage victims. (Google search).  To read more about a famous case with someone named Patty Hearst involving this condition, simply Google her name and you will see a fascinating true story on how this very thing took place. The second area that we often need to reset is in the area of:  Faith Like I’ve said many times in this podcast may or may not have faith in the literal sense but we all have faith in something. We all believe in something bigger than us. But it hasn’t stopped me from resetting. And just recently I had to do just that. I was at a place where my face just wasn’t what it was before, and it wasn’t being met the way I felt it needed to be. So, I did the same thing I’m telling you to do my friend. I reset. I looked for a new place of worship to gather around other people and continue my journey. The third area that we often need to reset is in the area of: Emotional Health Chronic Stress: Ongoing stress from work, relationships, or life events. We are living is a world and culture where the hustle is rewarded.  Trauma: Past experiences of trauma or abuse. Unresolved Grief: Not processing or dealing with loss or bereavement. Social Isolation: Feeling disconnected from others The fourth area that we often need to reset is in the area of: Physical Well-being Poor Diet: Consuming unhealthy foods and drinks. Lack of Sleep: Not getting enough restful sleep. Genetic Predispositions: Inherited health conditions. Lack of Knowledge: Not understanding how to maintain physical health.   The fifth and final area that we often need to reset is in the area of: Finances Lack of Financial Literacy: Not understanding basic financial concepts. Job Instability: Frequent job changes or periods of unemployment. Unexpected Expenses: Sudden costs like medical bills or car repairs. Financial Scams: Falling victim to fraud or bad investments. I want to see you succeed. Don’t settle for anything less than what you’re meant to do or be. Are you ready to reset in any area in your life? On the other areas I have not mentioned but this also speaks to?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply go to [email protected], and I will get to my calendar for your complementary initial consultation. 

Do you dare to dream big? In fact, do you dare to dream at all? Why is that, or why not? I’ve come to the conclusion that it takes the same amount of energy to think of a small task as it does to think of a big task. Let’s look at how we can take the right perspective and Dream Big!  “Dreams come a size too big so we can grow into them”.   Josie Bissett I want to explore 9 ways to dream BIG and get to those goals you think are out of reach, and here they are: 1.    Create a Vision Board: Use images and words to represent your dreams. I did exactly that. 2.    Seek Inspiration: Read about or watch stories of people who have achieved big dreams. 3.    Write Down Your Dreams: Put your dreams in writing to make them feel more tangible.  It increases your chances of completing them by more than 40%. 4.    Don’t be afraid to strike out: even Babe Ruth one of the greatest and most famous baseball players ever to play baseball had more strikeouts than home runs but he kept showing up! 5.    Practice Gratitude: Be thankful for the journey and the opportunities.          6.    Eliminate Negativity: Distance yourself from negative influences.  I can’t say            enough about this point.  Negativity is contagious, resist it!           7.    Use Affirmations: Reinforce positive beliefs about your dreams.            Affirmations are statements that you can create and repeat to yourself.           8.    Practice Patience: Understand that achieving big dreams takes time.  Even           an eagle egg must hatch before that eagle eventually soars high in the skies.  9.    Develop Emotional Intelligence: Understand and manage your emotions. This is the last one into biggest one probably of all the rest. And that's all of them!  Don’t let anything stop you, keep dreaming big! And with that there’s one last thing I don’t want you to forget my friend is that you are capable of doing many things that you dream of. These nine points barely scratch the surface. Never forget that you also carry in you what I call the 18 inch gap. Those doubts, limiting beliefs, lies you have been told, and so much more that keep you from closing the 18-inch gap between your heart your mind can be put aside. Your mind plays against you, but your heart tells you still can do it. Go with the heart and train the mind, you can do this! Link to my book:  Closing the 18-Inch Gap

No one likes setbacks.  I just finished the next project related to my business and podcast yesterday.  It was something that should have taken 10 days or so but instead took more than 6 weeks.  I started to even doubt if it would be completed or if I would need to find someone else to finish the tasks I requested.  I even pushed myself out of my own comfort zone and completed what I could.  So, with this in mind, today we’re going to explore together:   9 Different Ways to Transform Setbacks Into Stepping Stones For Success:   1.    Develop New Skills: Use setbacks as a reason to learn something new.  Discover something you were not aware of. 2.    Learn from mistakes: analyze what went wrong and why. It’s only a mistake if you don’t learn from it.  Otherwise, it’s a lesson.  3.    Be willing to learn: explore by staying curious.  Be willing to make the effort to learn something new.  4.    Embrace Failure: Accept that failure is a part of the journey. 5.    Change your perspective to see setbacks as learning experiences by reframing the setback.          6  .    Delegate Tasks: Do not be afraid to ask for help or delegate. 7.    Leverage Technology: Use tools and technology to aid your progress. 8.    Journal: Keep a journal to track your thoughts and progress. 9.    Enjoy the Journey: Appreciate the process, not just the end goal. Free consultation:  Email me at [email protected] Get my  book by clicking on this link:  Closing The 18-Inch Gap

Relationships are difficult to say the least.  They involve every aspect of our interactions as humans.  To not be in some type of relationship, even just the most basic social norms of relating with someone else is harmful to say the least.   Today I’ll be reding directly from my own book and dive deeper into this important subject. Starting on page 12 of my book near the bottom it reads: I learned this along with many other aspects of running a marathon from a very wise coach and marathon runner herself, Jevonnah Ellison. Let me tell you a little more about Jevonnah, or as she is affectionately called, “Lady J.” Lady J is one coach I worked with who still speaks into my life. She brings an extra level of expertise directly related to coaching. Lady J taught me how we need to work with others by building relationships through the following analogy:   A tree has roots, branches, and leaves. Root people are strong, stable, and secure. They can help you to thrive in so many areas of your life. When you can find some people in your life who are like the roots of a tree, then you have found something special. They are hard to find because they are not trying to be seen and their only job is to ground and support you, and help you live a strong and healthy life. If you thrive, they are happy.   Branch people have the potential to lift you and help you grow. But some branches may be too damaged and weak to support you so be careful not to mistake branches for roots. And if you want to grow, you must allow yourself to be pruned from the toxic branches that are holding you back.  Leaf people come into your life, and they are like leaves on a tree that are only there for a season. Like leaves, they are there to take what they need and as soon as it gets cold or a wind blows, they’re gone. Don't waste your energy being frustrated with them. And don't be angry at them, it's just who they are. Instead, change your narrative and the company you keep. Spend more time with people who are like roots and have strong branches. You'll find comfort, kindness, and the ability to thrive there. ### End of book reading ###   Let’s take a deeper dive into his: ·       Let’s start with the roots- who are your root people? ·       Who is your 2 AM friend? ·       The late Dan Miller counted over 100 people we had on this list. That’s a lot of people at summation point. ·       Professionals can be root people that are closer to the surface ·       Very close family members and a few very close friends will be the deeper and stronger roots   Let’s look at the branch people next: Some branches may be too damaged and weak to support you. I also like to add another aspect of the tree not mentioned in my reading. And that’s the length of the branch, the longer the branch the more reach it has.   Some people will have a further and better understanding than others. You must allow yourself to be pruned from the toxic branches that are holding you back because just like a tree in real life it must also be pruned back. The reason for this is because the more branches a tree has, the more energy it needs to keep itself completely alive.  Now let’s talk about the third version of the tree, the leaves: ·       There is a true story in that book in which I changed the names and never identified the work, at least not in the book.  I call it the Jonathan story.  Jonathan is a real person with a different name.  Jonathan would also be asking me for my resignation almost 27 years after started my work there. ·       Leaves are very important when you think about it. If you know where little bit about biology, you’ll know that oxygen comes from the leaves on trees. ·       We need leaves in our lives and like my reading of my book states they will come and go in seasons. ·       The area of the United States in where I live, there are seasons. ·       Each season represents part of a journey and the tree. A little bit about the mistakes I have made that have caused me significant pain but have taught me to close my own 18-inch gap as well:   Point number one: I always thought everyone was roots.  Point number two: I often saw myself as wanting to be a root but wanted to also be seen. Point number three: there are people that I must look for branches when they were roots. Point number four, that I learned about relationships: when people leave don’t chase after them. Point number five: I didn’t recognize close enough when the seasons of change came.  Always remember that you don’t need a huge amount of friends to be able to thrive. Having too many people speak in your life will have you listen to too many voices which will confuse you. Do you want to talk more about this with me.  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply go to [email protected] for a 100% confidential and 100% free consultation. I look forward to hearing from you.    

Perspectives, How Exact Words Can Have Two Completely Different Meanings Words can have serious power.  But what about when the same exact words can have two completely different meanings, I’m not talking about a point of view, rather a perspective completely opposite although the same exact words are being used.  How can this even be possible?  Well, I’ll be sharing this exact exercise in this episode. Essay included in this episode: Today was the absolute worst day ever And don't try to convince me that There's something good in every day Because, when you take a closer look, This world is a pretty evil place. Even if Some goodness does shine through once in a while Satisfaction and happiness don't last. And it's not true that It's all in the mind and heart Because True happiness can be attained Only if one's surroundings are good It's not true that good exists I'm sure you can agree that The reality Creates My attitude It's all beyond my control And you'll never in a million years hear me say Today was a very good day Now read the same essay from the bottom up and see what happens. Interesting, right?  Two completely different perspectives yet I read the same exact words!  Today I will look at 15 reasons why people often have completely different perspectives on the same exact issue.  I know it sounds like a lot, but I will cover each one of these briefly: 1.    Cultural Background: Different cultures have different values, beliefs, and norms, influencing how people interpret situations. 2.    Personal Experiences: Individual life experiences shape how people view the world and respond to various situations. 3.    Cognitive Biases: Biases such as confirmation bias, availability heuristic, and anchoring can lead to different interpretations of the same facts. 4.    Social Influence: Family, friends, and social groups can significantly shape opinions and perspectives. 5.    Media Consumption: Different media sources often present information in varied ways, leading to different viewpoints. 6.    Religious Beliefs: Religious values and teachings can heavily influence one's perspective on various issues. 7.    Political Ideology: Political beliefs can shape how individuals interpret events and      policies.           8.  Geographical Location: Where a person lives can influence their perspective due to             local culture, economy, and environment. 9.    Generational Differences: Different generations often have distinct viewpoints shaped by the historical contexts in which they grew up. 10. Health Status: Physical and mental health can affect how a person perceives and interacts with the world. 11. Access to Information: Variability in access to information or misinformation can lead to different understandings of the same issue. 12. Past Trauma: Traumatic experiences can significantly affect how individuals perceive and respond to certain situations. 13. Motivations and Goals: Personal goals and motivations can influence how one interprets information and events. 14. Intellectual Humility: The degree to which one is willing to accept that they might be wrong can influence openness to other perspectives. 15. Expectation and Predictions: What people expect to happen can color their current perceptions, often based on past patterns and beliefs. Looking for a better perspective in life through coaching?  Reach out to me via email for  free consultation at [email protected]  Author of Closing the 18-Inch Gap available in Amazon

Closing the 18-Inch Gap Podcast-EP015:   Developing a Creative Partnership In this episode I’ll be bring 8 points for you.  The first four are what I can offer the coach, and the second set of four are what you get as a client. It’s important to know that a coaching relationship is a creative partnership. It’s just a small sample of what so much a coach can do for you in a coaching relationship.  It’s a journey of discovery over a period of time. A seeking of what is inside of you, but you don’t realize yet. And through this creative partnership you and I can bring it out and watch it do amazing things The first way a coach Develops a Creative Partnership is with: listening, but not just any listening but listening deeply.    The second way a coach Develops a Creative Partnership is:  looking for ideas and clues to your hidden success outside the box.  A coach helps you look at your life in new ways, identifying fresh solutions and opportunities.   The third way a coach Develops a Creative Partnership is with: vision and goals.  Envision the dream you have for your life and set goals to achieve it.   The fourth way a coach Develops a Creative Partnership is: by empowering you.  Your coach helps empower yourself! Beyond dreaming, you must be bold and take action.   As I mentioned earlier, this is a creative partnership.  Like all relationships in our lives, they need to be developed. But coaching is so creative because it’s so multi-faceted and has so much freedom to explore and go in so many directions.  Now let’s look at four more points in the creative partnership we are exploring. The first four are what I would offer as a coach to you. But these next four are what you would receive from me as a coach. In other words, you get to have these four things for you.   The first thing you get to do when we develop a Creative Partnership is: live your best life. Learn not to settle for the second best! Laugh, let go of perfection and enjoy life to the fullest.   The second thing you get to do when we develop a Creative Partnership is: overcome fears and limitations. Uncover what holds you back and take steps to conquer your fears. The third thing you get to do when we develop a Creative Partnership is: the fulfillment of simply living your values every day. Discover what’s most important to you! The fourth thing you get to do when we develop a Creative Partnership is: to embrace life fully! Get out of your comfort zone, enjoy new ways of being and create a life you love. Do any of these points resonate with you?  Reach out to me and let me know so we can schedule your free coaching session. Simply go to [email protected] and let me know that you are interested and I will follow up with you.   Book: Closing The 18-Inch Gap

Closing the 18-Inch Gap-EP014: 10 Questions That Embrace Passion, Purpose, and Legacy Hello, my friend, thank you for joining today.  In this episode I ask you 10 questions that will help you live with passion, lead with purpose, and leave a legacy. In today’s world it seems everyone has an answer for everything. But the important thing is not the answers, the important thing is the questions. It’s in the questions that lies the power of change and forward momentum. And today I want to bring you some of these questions so that you can think about them.  Here is a snapshot of what I dive into today:   Question number one: what should I stop doing?  Question number two:  what is everyone thinking, but no one has occurred to say or ask? Question number three: what do I need to learn today? Question number four: what I’m doing to get better at my strengths?  Question number five: what one small problem can I solve today? Question number six:  does what I’m doing fit my values?  Question number seven: in what ways can I improve my communication with others? Question number eight: what do I stand for or against? Question number nine:  what do you most/least like about your job? In a sub question to this would be, what are you willing to do about it?  And now the biggest question of them all!!! Question number 10: How can I help you?   I want to help you achieve what you have set out to achieve. I do not want you to take your dreams to your grave. I want to see you succeed. Don’t settle for anything less than what you’re meant to do or be. You owe it to yourself first and foremost, and then to the rest of the world to offer the best you have of yourself to make this world a little bit better for someone else. I have a strong conviction in saying that if only 20% of the world did that, this world would be a good radically different place. Will you be one of those 20%? I hope so. Ready to go to the next dimension in your life?  If so, reach out to me and let me know. Simply email me at  [email protected]   Steven Pressfield’s bestseller book titled: The War of Art My own book:  Closing the 18-Inch Gap  

Diamonds are one of the hardest known rocks to exist on Earth.  The resemblance of you being a diamond also speaks of how not only you are formed but also your strength.  An unbreakable inner strength that keeps you going. A diamond is created by pressure formed in darkness (darkness representing the loneliness/solitude)  A diamond must be mined out of the ground and brought into the light, you are being discovered not only by someone else by even yourself. Excess rocks must be removed as well as the dirt, a cleansing process. Then it is shaped by cutting it get clarity and form, growing pains if you will. After this process the diamond is ready to be displayed to the world. It is said that there was an ancient person named Ali Hafed that lived near the River Indus.  He was very well off; he was very rich. Yet he felt poor when he was told what diamonds were and their value by a priest that he followed. So, he sold his farm and left his family in search of this diamond mine in after searching for years he died a broken man and penniless. I like to compare a diamond to a seed. Let’s look at a seed for a moment and see the similarities: ·       The seed that is in you, which are your ideas, dreams, desires, and much more have been planted in darkness. ·       The darkness of which I speak is that of which you do not have a full sense of clarity of. ·       That darkness can also bring turmoil, pain, warfare, and many other things that can manifest itself during this time. ·       But it is necessary for it to come through darkness first. ·       It needs to be tested, it needs to be sought out, it needs to be desired, and it needs to be found. ·       And as a seed grows it will breakthrough out of that darkness and start showing signs of life. How does this relate to you?  Let’s quickly review the process again: You are destined for a purpose. You were created for a reason, and it is your duty and due diligence to find what that purpose is and fulfill it to the maximum. It is said that the cemeteries of the richest places in the entire world. The reason for this is because those cemeteries are full of perhaps many, many people that never fulfil their true purpose. In those cemeteries lie many dreams and desires of so many things that so many people left this earth without accomplishing them. Speaking of cemeteries, what if you had the chance to read your own obituary before you actually passed away? What if what you read was a misunderstanding so horrible that it would change the world?  Well, many believe this is exactly what happened, and it was the birth of the NOBEL PRIZE.  I go into this in this in great detail in this episode. I also hear way too often people that are just unhappy where they are. Could it be that they are not finding or fulfilling their true purpose? Could it be that they feel deep inside that there is something better or bigger for them? Could it be that they feel a calling them to something greater and higher than where they are? Let me ask you, what’s holding you back? Something to think about. But remember, you are a diamond, it’s just that you are going through a process.. Are you ready to shine? As you already know by now, you are a diamond!     Old message from years ago in YouTube-  You are a Diamond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0XkwaysYnk&t=2126s The message starts at 37:00  

Today I want to talk about 9 Blocks that will hinder change.   No one likes to change but in order to make progress, we all need to make changes in our lives.  Here are the 9 points I cover in today’s episode: 1.      Not having a vision:  lack of vision or a clear vision of who you are and where you’re going. Or more importantly who you need to become first before you get where you want to go. 2.      A lack of passion: you must be extremely passionate about what you want to do what you want to go. That passion is a fuel to keep you going. 3.      Always learning but never going: too often you can get stuck in just learning and learning and learning. But always being too afraid to put to practice what you’re learning. You never know what you’re learning will work unless you use it. 4.      Not counting the cost: everything has a price. You need to be reminded of what is can I take to get where you want to go. The personal costs involved may be more than you realize. You need to adjust along the way. 5.      Not living from priority: being busy is not the same as being productive. Being productive doesn’t necessarily mean you’re moving toward your goal. You must prioritize your steps of what you’re trying to do. 6.      Not being prepared or armed for the war: creativity is a form of war. Things will rise against you that you are unexpected are prepared to seek common. You need a battle plan with contingency plans and backup plans. 7.      Not getting to the root issue: if something is keeping you or preventing you from true change, you need to seek a way to get to the root issue of what’s keeping you from making those changes. Until you do, this will block your needed changes from taking place completely. 8.      Not seeking help from others: this is something I mentioned almost any chance I get. You cannot do this alone. You need to seek help to get to where you are. There’s more than enough help out there nowadays. 9.      Not staying committed to the process: too often when challenges come up many people simply give up. To see the true change, you must stick to the game plan. If you try to do something, you’re going to need a guide. This could be there be someone that you’re in touch with on a consistent basis, a program or mentor that you possibly filing online, a book you’re reading, or many other things. Books mentioned in the podcast:  War of Art: https://rb.gy/42rzx0 Art of War:  https://rb.gy/eeb8zm My Own Book:  Closing the 18-Inch Gap   

One of my favorite quotes is the following:  The  pain pushes you until the vision pulls you… This is attributed to Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith and it really speaks to what I’m in right now. My vision is becoming clearer and clearer and is now at a tipping point. The pain is being replaced by the vision. What I would like to do today is bring you 10 questions to you that will help you in your own journey/vision that you have set before you. Like me, I want you to also be pulled by your vision and not just be pushed by your pain. And one of the best ways I can do this is by bringing  you these powerful questions where I go deep into each one:    Question number one: What are you tolerating or putting up with that is keeping you from living your best life ever?   Question number two: What do you secretly yearn for and are afraid to tell others out loud? Why are you afraid?   Question number three: What regrets would you have if you did nothing to change your life? Here are the five most popular regrets I have found that people have said in their deathbed and have been recorded: ·       I wish I’d had the courage to live a true life to myself, not the life others expected of me ·       I wish I had not worked so hard ·       I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings ·       I wish I stayed in touch with my friends ·       I wish that I had let myself be happier   Question number four: Who do you want to become in order to accomplish your goals? Who you are is not as important as who you must become in order to achieve your goals. You must realize that reaching your goals will change you into a different person. Let the time work in your favor.   Question number five: What would be different about you with how you handle each day once you reach your goals? It’s important to understand that doing the same thing every day, day in and day out without changing will never get you to where you want to be. You must think of yourself already being where you want to be in order to get there.   Question number six: What if you lowered your expectations about moving that way, would you consider it?   Question number seven: If you secretly knew what was holding you back, what would it be?   Question number eight: What are the five things you want to accomplish most before you are no longer here?   Question number nine: Were you ever really close to achieving a goal only to give up or stop and never know why? Are you willing to explore what made you stop? Question number 10: What are you avoiding and why?   Are any of these points speaking to you?  Don’t miss out on today’s episode and get the full recording.  Links to books and sites mentioned in this episode: Write a Must Read Book- AJ Harper   https://rb.gy/wmo8vk Atomic Habits- James Clear      https://rb.gy/7m2cyg Google search, copy and paste:  Top 5 Regrets of Those Dying 

What is your escape velocity? The super complicated scientific explanation of this is: The escape velocity v is expressed as v = Square root of√2GMr,where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the attracting mass, and r is the distance from the center of that mass. Basically, it’s the velocity needed for a spacecraft to break from the gravity of the earth.  My very simple explanation to bring to you in a way that is useful to you: what amount of energy will it take for you to pull away from an uncomfortable, uneasy situation to get to a better place.  I will also share a really funny story about science not being my best subject at all.  I look into the stats on the Saturn 5 rocket that applies to what I’m bringing to you today and what we can learn from this. In order for this rocket to break from the gravity of the earth it needed enough power to generate thrust at the speed of 25,031.32 mph.   It used most of the fuel in the first 2 minutes of flight and I believe I heard it was upwards of 600,000 pounds of fuel.  The further it flied upward, the less energy it required to keep going. Other points I cover: What are you trying to escape from? What no longer serves you but you are still attached to it? What belief systems are meant to be challenged in order to test if they are still true. My belief in my health was not working so I needed to change it. There was a belief that the 4 minute mile was impossible but once it was shattered, many people broke it over and over again.  To achieve your escape velocity, it requires the most effort at the beginning.  What can you expect from this process?  You will need to: Evaluate your why. Be willing to make sacrifices. Be willing to put in the hard work at the beginning of the process and not give up. Don’t expect results instantly, remember the story of the tortoise and the hare, slow always wins in the long run.  For example, what would happen if you had to choose between $4,000,000.00 up front or start with a penny and let it double every day for 30 days?  What would happen? This shows clearly how you can also develop your own escape velocity and be successful.  Let me know how I can help by emailing me at [email protected] . You can also purchase my book by clicking on this title right here:  Closing The 18-Inch Gap

Who am I and why am I here?  Today I’m taking a different approach. I’m going to tell you a bit about myself. But this is just an overview as there is a lot I can get into regarding the subject. But I just want you to know a little bit more of where I came from and where I’m going.  I’ve written and said this before in my emails, podcasts and my book. I’ve had to close a significant amount of 18 inspect gaps in my life.  Here is an overview of the points I cover: Extreme Child abuse I was in 18 foster homes before the age of 10 I was placed in mental institution at the age of 8 I was later sent to Puerto Rico to live with my father and went through the worst abuse I ever felt or had from my stepmother I then return back to my mother My mother later abandons me in the middle of my junior year of high school I then drop out of high school after trying 12th grade for the second time Yet I found myself in college a few years later and got a degree My job loss after working at the same pace for 27 years My faith is tested every day My mother’s passing away Making room for better things including letting go of relationships over and over again Life is a four letter word You must keep going and not give up, it’s important to find what matters to you and keeps you going.  It’s okay to enjoy life and revisit your childhood to stay young at heart.  I’ll also briefly talk about where I’m going from here and what’s next regarding my books. What have you been through?   Who  are you and why are YOU here?  Reach out to me and let me know. Simply go to [email protected]. I’m a coach that wants to walk along side you and explore what is next. Based on my own life experience, I can help you see the endless opportunities you have through coaching. And one last thing… you are never alone. I’m here if you need help.  As we work together, we can get you well on your way to achieving your goals and living the life you long for.  And please don’t say,  I’m too busy, that will never be a good enough excuse because we’re all busy. It’s a matter you wanting to take the step to achieve more than you ever have and be happier than you could ever imagine. My book has several amazing reviews that will help you better understand what it's about and is also available by going to this link:  Closing the 18-Inch Gap.

Today we’re diving into another list of things you can do.  Today I’m bringing you 10 things you can do when dealing with a loss. We will be looking into that today and helping you close the 18 inch gap with these 10 statements will be bringing to you. Losses come in many ways. I personally dealt with two major ones in 2023. In March I dealt with an unexpected resignation from a career of 27 years. Then at the end of 2023, December, I had the loss of my biological mother. What I’m bringing you today was given to me the day I had a consultation for mother’s funeral service. It’s actually called The Mourner’s Bill of Rights. If you live in the United States you recall anything is a bill of rights pertains to the first 10 amendments of our own Constitution. Hence the mourner’s Bill of Rights is 10 points as well. Now I was not not familiar with this person but to give credit where credit is due these were put together by Alan Wolfelt, PhD.  I did a quick Google search on him and this is what I found: He is a speaker, a grief counsellor, the director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition, and the author of several books. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. So here is the mourner’s Bill of Rights, or in my own words 10 things you can do when dealing with a loss of some kind: 1. You have the right to experience your own grief 2. You have the right to talk about your grief 3. You have the right to feel a multitude of emotions 4. You have the right to be tolerant of your physical and emotional limits 5. You have the right to experience grief “attacks” 6. You have the right to make use of ritual 7. You have the right to embrace your spirituality 8. You have the right to search for meaning 9. You have the right to treasure your memories 10. You have the right to move toward your grief and heal  Bonus: The cycle of grief is quite often quoted in times of a loss. However, many people get stuck on the fact that it's linear process. We explore these in the podcast as well and the different variants that come up. Give yourself permission to go through these in any order. Are you going through a loss of some sort. Do you know someone that is? I can help you (or that someone you know) look to a brighter future. As a coach, I can walk along side as you explore what is next. As someone from the outside with knowledge of what your situation may look like, I can be wide open to help you see the endless opportunities you have through coaching. Whether you need it now or later. And one last thing… you are never alone. I’m here if you need help. This podacst is based on my book, click on the title for further infomation: Closing The 18-Inch Gap To sign up for my email newsletters click on my name here: Edwin Soler Coaching

Today we’re diving into another 12 ideas to have more success with your goals. It based on the statement:  S.E.T. Y.O.U.R. G.O.A.L.S. and the first letter of each word.  Here is a synopsis of each one: We’ll start with the S: Set smart goals. When making a goal smart it needs to have the following elements to it. It needs to be specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and time bound. The next letter is E: excitement! Big, exciting goals are often easier to achieve because they are so inspiring to work towards.  So now we move on to the T:  Take action regularly. Give momentum and achieve goals easily through regular action, no matter how small. The next letter is Y: Your plan.  Plans are like Legos instructions. If you take smaller steps when you stack them or line them side by side, they create bigger completed steps that will lead to your goal The next is O: Outside the box.  Keep an open mind and be prepared to achieve your goals in unexpected ways. So the next letter U: Understanding why you want your goal. If you don’t understand why you want to go somewhere it can be very hard to get there to begin with. The next letter is R: Reach out!  Who will help you achieve your goals? Who supports and encourages you? Ask for help! The next letter is G. Go for it!  No more procrastination! Stop putting things off and move forward instead. There’s a reason why action brings clarity. The next letter is letter O.  It stands for obstacles.  Write them down, whether it’s you or something else that’s in the way.  Nothing worth doing will ever be easy.  However, now you can do something about them. Why? Because you wrote them down and now you see them!  The next letter is A. It stands for authenticity . For goals that feel good and are easy to achieve, align your goals with WHO you are.   The letter L: Learn to prioritize. More of us have more to do than time available. Ask yourself, “what matters most?” And work on that first.  And the last letter is the letter S: Staying focused! It seems like every few weeks to months there’s something new asking for your attention. Staying focused is harder than it ever has been. Which is why the previous point is so crucial to learning to how to prioritize.  And that my friend concludes the 12 points of ideas to have more success with your goals. Let me ask you which one of these 12 tips inspires you the most? Reach out to me and let me know. Simply go to [email protected]  Remember, I’m too busy will never be a good excuse because we’re all busy. It’s a matter you wanting to take the step to achieve more than you ever have and be happier than you could ever imagine. You can read all about this by buying my book Closing the 18-Inch Gap available in Amazon.

In this podcast I dive into 12 key points that distinguish coaching from counseling.  Coaching is still very new so to speak so I decided to bring 12 differences between the two of them.  This is based on my book titled Closing The 18-Inch Gap.  I will explain in the beginning quite a bit about why coaching is not regulated and what that means.  It’s very important to me to be able to explain this point as it’s crucial and important to know for future reference.  I later mention the governing body of coaching that oversees this powerful and amazing tool. Being someone that is experiencing both currently, it seems the perfect time to go dive into each one. I will explain and explore with you how each is opposite to each other, how coaching can benefit you and even help you even if you are in a therapeutic relationship as well.  I investigate terms like inside out and outside in, past versus future, fixing versus celebrating, analyzing versus removing, healthy versus unhealthy, reactive versus proactive, and so much more. I briefly open up and mention that I myself am currently in both a therapeutic as well as a coaching relationship.  It takes a shift in mindset to be in either.  This is something that you will hear me mention quite a lot, in fact in just about every episode I offer I will be speaking about mindset. It’s that important to say the least.  If you want to learn more but haven’t invested in my book yet, I invite you to click on this link:  Closing The 18-Inch Gap.   Are ready to upgrade your mindset to a new, unstoppable, powerful way of thinking?  Is something holding you back?  Want to speak with me directly? Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]  and let me know how we can connect so you can get a free consultation with me and we can explore deeper what I talk about in this podcast.  I can’t wait to hear from you!

In today’s episode we will look at what makes champions.  It's loaded with a tremendous amount of great information. I believe that everyone is a champion but it’s a process. You don’t have to be in sports to be a champion; people that are their best in their sports are also designed or created to fulfill what they are passionate about.    I'll be reading directly from my book Closing the 18-inch Gap part of the chapter named the same title as this episode. It’s a small portion to get a better grasp of what I am speaking about.  In this world that we live in its all about work, work and more work and no rest. That is not how to become a champion. Athletes are smart and they are well trained but also rest properly. I talk about the sacrifices that need to be made, the things that you must ignore, the things they have to do, and not to. I look at different sports such as baseball, basketball, football, and swimming. There are so many things we can take from champions as we study the way they train and learn. There are also things you can learn of what not to do as not all champions behave that way. I will also talk about what’s remembered and what's forgotten. For example, in baseball many will remember the famous home runs but not the many more strikeouts that were at bat for that baseball player. In basketball many will remember the famous games and the buzzer beaters but not remember every single missed shot. Yet to get to those gains you also go through many losses. Champions navigate through that to get to the top. So can you. I speak a lot regarding mindset. Because that is a very important portion of being a champion. It’s not letting things get in your head all the time. Ignoring social media. Ignoring the many voices that surround you. Ignoring everything that doesn’t help you. It’s finding that life balance that your seeking. Too many people live in the either/or mentality when in fact you can live in the both/and mentality. You can have both. You are the champion you want to be. And I’m here to show you just how.  

On today’s podcast episode I’ll be sharing a powerful story that I’ve read and illustrates the power of self-worth. It involves a Rolex watch, a father and a son. The father uses the watch as he tells his son to sell it to illustrate a very valuable lesson about worth. I go into the whole story in this podcast episode. The premise of it is about going where you’re valued and not sticking around too long where you are not.  As I have written in my book, Closing the 18-Inch Gap, in life you’re either celebrated or tolerated but never both. It’s up to you which one you want to choose. Many times, people are celebrated for the wrong reasons as well. As these things occur, it could lead to a lot of mindset challenges and limiting beliefs. You belief in yourself goes down, your career goes down, your family life goes down, and everything else goes down with it. You must have the right tools and the right mindset to be able to overcome this. You should never make the mistake that others determine what your value is. Only you can do that. But you will never reach that point if you have the same limiting beliefs that got you there. Your belief system is at the root of this. You can only be valuable to the degree that you believe in yourself. I also dive in this episode into four areas that are greatly influenced when it comes to your mindset. They are the following: family, school, faith community and work. There are many people that influence you through your life and I speak of high school teachers and college professors that did this in my life. Who has impacted you?   I also explain that faith community is optional. Not everyone has faith. And that’s okay, no judgment for me. The important thing is that no matter where you go, you are valued. We are still talking about the repercussions of the pandemic and how that affected a lot of where we are today and what that does to your self-esteem. So, I invite you to listen to this episode and explore your true value as I provide you with a better outlook, a better life, and a better future. Don’t miss an episode, head over to EdwinSoler.com where you can sign up for my weekly emails to get announcements of these and every episode. I hope you enjoy it!

You often hear people say to you: “don’t quit your day job”. That often comes from when you tell a joke trying to be a comedian, or perhaps you’re bad at math and it’s a way of someone saying don’t be an accountant or you try to sing a very difficult song and bomb it and many other things. But the important thing here is that I did not say don’t quit your day job, what I am saying is not to quit your daydream. So, what’s a daydream? That’s what you dream of doing when you grow up. Even though you’re grown up you’re still growing up so to speak. Do you feel stuck? It’s okay to be stuck, the problem is staying there. In this podcast episode I will give you mindset tips to keep that daydream going. What do you think about when you lose yourself in something you really enjoy doing? It’s a sign perhaps of a deeper calling in your life. And if it’s within reach and realistic there’s no reason why you can complete it. In this episode I’ll also ask you many questions to get you thinking of what you need to do to get there. I’ll also touch points on what success leaves such as clues and ask you if you’re recognizing them at all. What steps are needed to achieve this? I’ll explain the theory of 6° degrees of separation and how that can help you reach your dream. You never know what tips, tricks, and steps you can get by simply striking up a conversation with someone. This happened to me at an airport on the way back from a vacation when speaking to a pilot. I will go into the five things a daydream needs and explain them in detail. I cover many of these things in my book titled Closing the 18-Inch Gap as well. Success is not linear or straight-line/path. It takes a lot of turns and ups and downs to get where you want. You must be ready to go into it for the long haul. I will also go into detail of what Parkinson’s law is and how this affects your progress. You must have the right mindset to achieve this, I can help you with that. I will investigate limiting beliefs and how they affect you and keep you from achieving your passion for filling a daydream. So, whatever you do, don’t quit your daydream. I can help you and, in this episode, I explain just how.  Enjoy it!