With an aim to make the most money he could, Johnny Washington, from McKinney, Texas, acknowledges that he used to take way too many risks. Amped on the rush-to-action tendencies typical of the idea-oriented personality, he thought he could do just about anything he imagined. He produced many significant breakdowns, and burdened by some of his choices says, "I still don’t see a clear way out."

Our 2018 Annual Member Conference in Los Cabos included a podcast episode dinner with a few members of our faculty. You'll hear from Vice President Drew Knowles, Dr. Gary Ward, James Walls, Marne Power, and Suzanne Pool—five faculty from five different countries—as we dialogue about why Influence Ecology has become their tribe and speculate on the possibilities the future may have in store for our education and its role in people's lives and society.

Always willing to help, but never able to ask for it, Tara Collison's journey as a student of Influence Ecology is a useful case study in the conceit of independence. She discovered that her ‘independence’ was merely ego and that this view and the subsequent actions alienated others, left her exhausted, and had long-term consequences to her finances, health, and family. Now eager to discover more of her flaws, warts, and vulnerabilities, she's currently collaborating to expand her newly branded consultancy, Meddlers. As "Chief Meddler," Tara blends her two decades of experience working in the Fortune 50 and her training as a psychologist to meddle where most are afraid to go. In today's guru talk, we listen in on a discussion about the naiveté of self-sufficiency.

Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture designs buildings and places that bring people together. As award-winning architects, their projects are sharply differentiated from competitors, but the final selection still often won to price. Wanting more control of their future, CEO Craig Bouck pursued an education in the elements of value; the firm had mastered practical utility, but they hadn't yet positioned themselves as a scarce resource. They then did the hard work to deeply understand their clients' breakdowns (which go well beyond the design of a building) and developed specialized tools and processes that help communities overcome the complex hurdles that threaten the success of building and operating a community recreation center. In doing so, they changed the perception—from an expensive community accessory used by a few—to a vital, sustainable community asset that raises the quality of life and acts as an economic driver. This episode's guru talk is a study of the elements of value and how too often this naiveté can lead to labor, frustration, and lost income.

As Canada’s authority on cultural reconstruction in complex emergencies, Dr. Sarah Jane Meharg is the principal and founder of Peace and Conflict Planners, often called upon by the Canadian Forces to help stabilize war-torn or post-disaster affected communities. She's authored two books: one on navigating the military and humanitarian divide and the other on measuring effectiveness, success, and understanding in peace operations and crisis management—a work endorsed by the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Martti Ahtisaari. Her studies with Influence Ecology taught her about mitigating the cost she is to others in social exchanges; specifically, that persistence can be high cost—both to herself and those she is persistent with—and that persistence is not always warranted or called for to achieve her aims. This episode's guru talk is from a portion of the Fundamentals of Transaction Program where Vice President Drew Knowles and Co-Founder Kirkland Tibbels address how unaware we are to the cost we impose on others in transactions.

How do you produce a robust identity amongst thousands of peers in a large corporate environment? Ron Sprengeler is someone who's done just that. Rather than join the naïve ranks of those whose viewpoint is that the job alone entitles them to a respected identity, Ron's case study demonstrates how to produce a powerful corporate identity in two ways: one, you'll hear how he's become well known and admired for his specialized knowledge and two, he shares just how he's cultivated a respected identity, reputation, and character among his peers. He's survived a big merger and feels confident that what he's learned from Influence Ecology will continue to help him provide real value in the marketplace. Our latest guru talk distinguishes some of the fundamental principles that produce a respected identity—not only for the small business owner but also for any employee working within any size organization.

Melissa Baer earned a university education in marketing and business and was raised on an organic farm. She's an uncommon hybrid of 'stilettos and rubber boots' weaned on her father's mantra that without money in the bank, you can't make a difference. She's battled both business and health challenges only to discover peace, satisfaction, and vitality through the study of transactional competence. You'll hear her speak about the profound impact of coming to understand the Influence Ecology mantra: You're Always Transacting.

After ten years with a nationally recognized financial planning practice, Wesley Pingelton had ambitions to go out on his own. In doing so, he got what he wanted: great success, creative freedom, and the opportunity to work with the right client. But with each complex case, a unique solution produced a massive amount of labor. In short time, he cringed at the thought of growing his business. You'll hear how he learned to construct a business model that's allowed him to scale his business, meet his financial goals, and truly enjoy his family life. In our Guru Talk, you'll hear Co-Founder Kirkland Tibbels and I address how most people make offers they are unfit to present, commit to, or fulfill. Many just cannot prove that they are fit to build and maintain the transactions that would satisfy their aims.

Raised in the Soviet Union, Kristina Panchenko's view of life was conceived in an environment of hard work, scarce resources, and limited opportunities. Subsequently, her guiding philosophy was that rewards and honor only come through hard work, suffering, and struggle. Now living in Miami, Florida, her study with Influence Ecology has helped reorient her view of business and life to take full advantage of her valuable time, exceptional talents, and remarkable history. She credits the philosophy of transactionalism as her new guiding philosophy. A virtual CFO, Kristina Panchenko offers emerging businesses the financial tools and knowledge to take their business to where it ought to be. Her firm helps small business owners with critical forward-looking financial management tools and consulting that are typically only affordable to large enterprises. You'll also hear Influence Ecology co-founders Kirkland Tibbels and I address the history of the philosophy of transactionlism and the relevance of this history to developing your own transactional competence.

As a successful Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Dawn Dalili offers an approach that guides patients toward a vibrant life. In this episode, Dr. Dalili and Co-founder John Patterson discuss why attending to a partial aspect of the body - or a transaction - doesn't address the whole truth; that contemplating whole systems and processes isn't easy, but exponentially more effective. Transactionalism is a philosophical approach that addresses the fundamental nature of social exchange or human transaction; that all human exchange is best understood as a set of transactions within a reciprocal and co-constitutive whole. In our Guru Talk, you'll hear Co-founder Kirkland Tibbels and I address Transactionalism and the Transactional Whole; offering a preliminary definition of this philosophy and our study of its importance and relevance. In our Guru Talk, you'll hear Co-founders Kirkland Tibbels and John Patterson address Transactionalism and the Transactional Whole; offering a preliminary definition of this philosophy and our study of its importance and relevance.

As biological exchange animals, our moods and transactions are inextricably linked. Most people are naïve to the moods appropriate (or inappropriate) for transacting. To transact powerfully, you must attend to producing appropriate moods. Valorie and Lee J Howard are entertainment experts skilled at building the perfect mood for their customers. They care deeply about delivering customized entertainment and special event experiences, having created over 5000 local and national events since 1995. Listen to them share about the power and potency of mood. In our Guru Talk, you'll hear Co-Founder Kirkland Tibbels address how many people haven’t considered that producing appropriate moods doesn’t always mean that they should express highly positive moods. On the contrary, moods of agitation, respect, and caution are highly efficient and often required to increase a transaction's speed and effectiveness; sometimes optimism, wonder, and humor can easily repel or produce indifference when it is inappropriate.

Miranda McCroskey is a 20+ year defense attorney who founded Unlock Legal to help 'accidental criminals' unlock their professional license from the collateral consequence of one bad choice. As a business owner, she discovered that the saying “keep it small and keep it all” might also lead to “the new poverty of self-sufficiency.” In other words, as animals of exchange and specialization, we humans only thrive in groups as our ability, capacity, and efficiency is multiplied by a large number of others. Miranda realized that if she didn’t leverage her time by hiring expert help - and expand her circles of influence to find valued help - she would always stay small. In our guru talk, we hear a clip from a webinar about the importance of seeking specialized help in the marketplace.

Before embarking on a full-time real estate career, Karina Christensen was part of the personal flight team for American business guru Jack Welch and media proprietor Oprah Winfrey, having the opportunity to travel with them for many years around the world and cultivate within herself what it takes to partner with high-profile clientele successfully. As a specialist now working with Keller Williams Luxury Homes International, she and her team specialize in luxury condominiums in Denver, Colorado. Having lived in Munich, London, Singapore, and Montana, Karina followed the sage wisdom, "you are the company you keep," and built her career by nurturing coveted relationships. Attracted to this education and its influential ecology of peers, Karina learned that 'relationship' is only one of many powerful tools and unlocked the ceiling on her income and satisfaction. In a recent program webinar, Vice President Drew Knowles and I spoke about the Influence Ecology conferences and the value of placing yourself in a powerful environment to connect, study, and practice.

What she considered flaws are now valued assets — having embraced her Judge Personality, she has become keenly aware of the resource, value, and role she offers a transaction. Lisa Baptista is a senior faculty member at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, a leading chiropractic institution with an international reputation for excellence. Her extensive family originates from a Portuguese colony off the coast of China next to Hong Kong; raised bi-culturally Portuguese and American, her grandparents' generation helped her family lineage survive the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong and immigrate to America. Now residing in New Zealand, she's overcome a lifetime of feeling like she had to hide what she had considered her flaws: being introverted, analytical, or judgemental.

New York Pastor E. Bernard Jordan measures his faith the same way we measure health, money, and career. He preaches that if it doesn't get practiced — if it doesn't get measured — it doesn't get valued. His ultimate aim is for all people to know their value and recognize it as key to honoring others as they honor themselves. His participation at Influence Ecology taught him much about the business of an ever-expanding church and that 'those who transact powerfully, thrive.' In our Guru Talk, we listen in on a webinar classroom led by myself and Co-Founder Kirkland Tibbels, where we address the measurement of our Conditions of Life.

Michael Dunn in Wellington, NZ, is highly regarded for advising governments across all areas of public finance and economics - he helps build forecasting models for government revenues. Superbly analytical in his thinking and personality, he has learned (and is still learning) to develop his ability to navigate the general environments where extreme analytic prowess may prove a social scarlet letter. In our Guru Talk, we listen in on a webinar classroom co-led by Co-Founders John Patterson and Kirkland Tibbels, where we address how we sometimes think we'll look weak if we ask for help.

Ross Clennett has applied accurate and objective thinking to his financial plans and his business model to produce a robust and satisfying life. He's a high-performance recruitment coach in Melbourne, Australia, whose successful journey did not begin so well. However, you'll hear how he overcame the naïveté of his trajectory, fired his biggest client, and took the right actions required to live a great life. We'll also listen in on a webinar classroom co-led by myself and Co-Founder Kirkland Tibbels, where we address the opportunity of your specialized knowledge and the importance of knowing your aims.

John James and Lauren Cato Robertson are co-founders of the C-Section Recovery Center. They are massage therapists with a specialized practice that focuses on clients suffering from C-Section Recovery. Their assertion is that, in modern times, we often "interrupt the biological process" and don't account for the impact of that interruption to our children - or our own bodies. Through their study with Influence Ecology, they have discovered their own entitlement and conceit and have not only learned to specialize and accept help from others, but have also overcome their differences to develop a solid, powerful, and working partnership. In their words they "both grew each other up." In our guru talk, we listen in on a webinar classroom led by Co-Founder Kirkland Tibbels, on the topic of specialized knowledge and how this unique and uncommon knowledge is so more than just another kind of focus.

Our featured interview is with an outstanding Chicago trial attorney who talks about his critical and analytical judgy-ness and how it has become a great asset. In this episode, Joe McNerney and Co-Founder John Patterson take the time to learn more about the Judge and Inventor personality and how personality, when understood, can help all of us transact more effectively. But Joe also cautions us all about the error of independence and self-sufficiency. In our guru talk, we hear from Vice President Drew Knowles and Co-Founder Kirkland Tibbels as they lead a conversation about the need to be surrounded by a surplus of great help.

Dr. Kyra Gaunt conducts research on the unintended consequences of social media, often offering expert testimony on the subject and helping protect our future employability and reputation online and off. With a focus on marginalized groups, she's Professor of Ethnomusicology and Digital Media Studies at the University at Albany and one of the forty inaugural TED Fellows. She has much to say about the aimless consequence of our own naïveté. Having studied with Influence Ecology for four years, she shares about her own wide-eyed journey through the radical transparency movement to now offer important advice: not everything should be said, spoken, liked, or shared. In our Guru Talk, listen in on a small portion of a Fundamentals of Transaction webinar classroom where we address our mantra: "You're always transacting." Vice President Drew Knowles and Co-Founder John Patterson give a talk about the blindness we have to our own transactional behavior — and how the actions we take (or don't take) influence the identity we produce with others.

Paul Adams, of Sound Financial Group, leads a team of financial professionals dedicated to helping clients define their financial goals - then helps them develop tailored strategies to reach them. His company offers an approach uncommon to the financial planning industry. You'll learn how he reinvented his business model after careful consideration of his own aims to work in the way he'd like, to labor less, and increase his income. In our Guru Talk, we hear co-founder Kirkland Tibbels address our aims for work, career, and money - and how most of us forget that money is simply a tool of exchange.

Brandon Hollembeak warns of following the herd's shortcuts. He's a tech product manager who works with startups to help them drive data-driven decisions as they begin to become scalable. His competency for accurate thinking has helped him sift through the short-cut culture popular in the current marketplace. Having assisted in the success of two well-known startups, his journey can help us all sort through the complex, noisy, quick-fix narratives of our current popular media. In our guru talk, we listen in on the second session of a Fundamentals of Transaction Program Webinar classroom to hear a talk on the importance of accurate thinking and the satisfaction of your aims.

Having more than doubled her income and moving her company's market position from #57 to #1, Kim Corbett is an account executive who considers herself a turnaround agent, turning around the sales of failing or emerging companies. She's a top performer with a proven track record for growing revenues and increasing an organization’s profitability. Always ambitious, she had previously struggled to get beyond her current income range — until studying with Influence Ecology. In this interview, you'll learn what changed. We'll also hear a segment of a recent Fundamentals of Transaction Program classroom webinar. Here, Vice President Drew Knowles and Co-Founder John Patterson discuss the subject of "Autonomy." Traditionally thought of as a "condition of independence," we reorient our students to think of Autonomy as a "Surplus of Help."

A panel of advanced members shares how the immersive and practical environment of our global Annual Member Conference produces real, lasting and consequential results. This special feature is an exclusive interview with a panel of advanced members who just returned from our 2017 Annual Member Conference; our flagship global event held annually in some of the world's best luxury resorts. We conducted this interview as a study in the immersive impact of learning and practicing in a social and consequential environment. While most conference participants suffer 'death by powerpoint,' the Influence Ecology conference is known for it's 'game'; an entirely constructed strategic real-life situation that may last 2-3 days. It produces "real experience" and consequential conditions which maximize learning by doing. You'll hear how each of these participants left the conference with a practical and emboldened experience of their ability and capacity to meet their aims.

Dr. Khush Cooper holds a doctorate in social work. Her journey is quite relevant to those in the non-profit sector, the conscious capitalism movement, or anyone who has ever struggled with making a living and wanting to do good. You'll hear how her view of money changed when she began to understand that money is an exchange of help, rather than a necessary evil. This episode's closing segment is from a membership webinar on the subject of 'indifference of the marketplace'. You'll hear Co-Founder Kirkland Tibbels address the State of Mind of an Ambitious Adult. In her interview, Dr. Cooper refers to "passively waiting rather than ambitiously transacting," and this talk underscores the difference between "most people" and those who act with Ambition.

Siblings Laura and David Senior Garcia hold senior roles with Equilibria, the Personality Diversity Experts chosen to coordinate 10,000 volunteers for the 2017 Super Bowl. Their company works worldwide to help people embrace and leverage diversity to elevate personal, professional, and organizational performance. You'll hear how studying transactional competence has improved their company's focus and helped bring conscious awareness to a diverse world. In today's guru talk, Kirkland Tibbels and John Patterson address how a transactional approach helps people understand the fundamentals of coordinated action.

Joanna Burgraf is a Chicago-based Senior Lead for an award-winning Creative Services team managing ten brands at Enova International, a company using technology to develop innovative financial products. Having endured an expensive journey to consider a career change, she found that to follow your passion was the worst piece of advice she'd ever gotten. You'll hear how this fashionable, but naive empowerment slogan had shifted her focus away from working on being a valued cooperative member of a larger team - to the self-focused, navel-gazing, isolating habit of finding one’s true "Self." After the break, we'll hear a Guru Talk by co-founder Kirkland Tibbels. This talk originally aired earlier this year - and we can't study it enough. Recorded in May of 2015 this webinar introduces three different orientations to action; these are Self-Action, Inter-Action, and Trans-Action. As we are the leading business education in trans-actional competence this segment is designed to illustrate the naivety and danger of Self-Action.

Recording artists, Isaac and Thorald Koren (The Kin) got everything they asked for; record deals, international notoriety, playing big arenas (touring with Coldplay, PINK, Bon Jovi, and Rod Stewart) — but hadn't quantified what to wish for or how to transact for it. Naively assuming their talent, passion, and fame would eventuate into their personal and financial satisfaction they confronted a sea of indifference and inventoried their lessons to help others. They launched the Alchemy of Creative Expression or ACE, developing a method to help the talented musician, artist, or executive unleash their unique voice and turn their talent into gold. In our guru talk, we'll hear co-founder Kirkland Tibbels address the importance of both knowing your aims - and transacting accordingly.

Ana Athanasiu lives in the San Francisco Bay area of California and is an internet pioneer who had a vibrant career in telecommunications and software development. Best known for the work she did on teams at Sun Microsystems in the mid-eighties — they invented XML — adding speed and usability to internet browsers. Able to retire in 2002, she's spent the last 14 years raising kids and supporting business executives, local non-profit endeavors, and sole-proprietorships toward market and financial solvency. She also co-manages her family’s real estate and stock speculation engagements. She has much to say about the asset and liability of personality traits that offer both extraordinary value and harsh lessons. She is now studying Transactionalism with Influence Ecology and is working on advanced degrees in ethics and behavioral economics and data science. Our guru talk addresses the asset and liability aspect of Transactional Behavior — where our greatest assets, if not tended to, can also be our greatest liability.

Sean Gillespie is a successful artist who creates award-winning abstract sculptures from his one-man studio in Denver, Colorado. His work can be found in exclusive galleries, national juried shows, and in corporate installations across the United States. Influence Ecology's members include business and creative professionals from all over the world; we educate not only executives and entrepreneurs but also artists, designers, musicians, writers, and filmmakers -- and today perhaps we'll tackle the question: How do you make a living as an artist? It might be common to assume that artists make terrible business people, yet the same can be true in many professions. In all cases, what is required is transactional competence: knowing how to construct a recurrent business offer that meets your individual aims for work, career, and money. You'll hear Sean's journey and, how a little a study -- goes a long way. In today's guru talk, we listen in on a Membership Webinar to hear Kirkland Tibbels explain the nature of indifference and how we might navigate an indifferent marketplace.

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