We’re diving into two quick but powerful concepts to help you navigate this wild time.  And hey… if we do this right, we can all turn 2020 into one of our best years yet!  That’s no small order but I think we’re all up for it.  The key is our willingness to ADAPT and pivot (I’ll give you some specific examples of what we’ve done with the show) and to ASK people what they want.  This episode is short and sweet… AND we wrap up by asking what YOU want me to focus on as we look to finish 2020 strong!  So let’s get to this!     “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself.  Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” George Bernard Shaw “Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.” Bruce Lee “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” Stephen Hawking “Every success story is a tale of constant adaptation, revision, and change!” Richard Branson EPISODES MENTIONED: DTD INTERVIEW WITH MOVIE CRITIC RUSS MATTHEWS (Mitch’s brother): MitchMatthews.com/104    GRATITUDE: We’re kicking things off with some celebration and gratitude for YOU… the DREAM THINK DO-er!   We’re grateful for each and every download… because each one represents someone who’s willing to defy the odds to DREAM bigger, THINK better, and DO more of what they were put on the planet to do!   Recently, we’ve had downloads from places like China, Russia, and even Kazakhstan!  Who knew? But we also hear from so many awesome DTDers in great places like Iceland, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Canada… and of course… my home… the USA!   We’re grateful for ALL of you and how you continue to invite others to join us too!    THANK YOU! ADAPT: It’s been a crazy year so far.  Heck… I’m betting we can all agree it’s one of the wildest any of us has ever experienced.  It’s shifted so many things.  How we work, how we shop, how we eat, how we church, how we congregate and gather… heck… even how we do birthdays and weddings! Adapting and pivoting have had to become mainstream. One example is how it’s hit the podcast industry.  You may or may not know that many podcasts lost 30 to 50% of their downloads in one week.  The week things REALLY shut down and almost everyone started to work from home.  Why?  Well, as it turns out… most people listened to podcasts while they were commuting and at work.  So… if people aren’t driving to work and/or sitting at their work desks… many aren’t listening to podcasts.   Boom.  30 to 50% gone.  Overnight. We got hit by that too. But… we adapted. We started to watch the numbers to see where and when people started to listen.  Not surprisingly, more people started to listen on the weekends.  Also… not surprisingly… they started to listen for a shorter period of time. So… we shifted.  (You may have noticed.) Now, instead of releasing on Tuesdays and promoting on Wednesdays.  We’re releasing on Thursdays or Fridays and promoting on Fridays or Saturdays.  We also shorted the average episode length from 45 minutes to less than 20 minutes. We pivoted.  You guys responded. So much so that although we took that 50% hit… like the rest of the industry… we’re now hitting download numbers higher than what we were experiencing before this virus wildness came on the scene!  #suckitcovid Thanks for helping to make that happen and thanks SO much for continuing to share DREAM THINK DO with your family and friends!  We’re so grateful for you! And hey… that’s one example of some PIVOTS we’ve been experimenting with.  How about you?  What are some small (or big) changes you’ve been making to adapt and thrive in this weird wild season?  We want to hear from YOU!  (Comment below!) ASK: Also, as we adapt and pivot… we also want to ASK. That’s right.  I want to hear from YOU! Because I want us all to thrive in the midst of all the curveball...

This week we’re talking about overcoming COMPARISON!  Seriously, have you ever opened up your social media app… you scrolled… scrolled… and then WHAM!  It hits you… that wave of COMPARISON. Those feelings of: “I’m behind,” or “I’ve missed it” or “I’m too late” or “I’m not as ________ as them.”  Here’s the deal.  I think comparison kills more dreams and big ideas than just about anything else.  And THAT is why we’re going after it this week.  I’m going to get you a six-word phrase that’s helped set me and my coaching clients free from the “comparison trap!”  (Plus, I’ll give you the fun story of when and how it hit me!)  So… if you’re wanting to bust free from the weariness that comes from comparison… I’ve got your back!  Let’s do this. Listen To The Podcast:   RESOURCES: DREAM THINK DO Episode 213: “Identity Statements,” www.mitchmatthews.com/213 Mitch’s Success Coaching: www.mitchmatthews.com/success-coaching   MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 What to expect today 1:42 Comparison kills dreams 4:07 When Mitch experienced comparison 6:39 The phrase that ended comparison for Mitch 8:00 the benefits of staying in “learning mode” 9:51 Instead vs. Not 13:18 The foundation of the phrase 14:20 What to do when you are feeling intimidated 17:14 How to get coaching from Mitch   MORE ABOUT THE EPISODE: Recently, I was working with one of my coaching clients.  He’s an entrepreneur working on a new project.  It has the potential to be big… really big.  But part of it is going to involve him having more of a social media presence.  This has caused him to look at what other people are doing which sparked a conversation about feeling those pangs of “comparison.”     You know those feelings that can sometimes come when you see other people doing something or achieving something that you want to do or experience.  Those feelings of: Do I have what it takes? Did I miss it? Am I too late? I could totally relate.   I can totally relate.  In fact, I had a similar experience when I was asked to be on stage at a big conference.  I knew some of my heroes from the speaking world were going to be there too.  People like Brendon Burchard, Jack Canfield, and Les Brown. Once I was there, I got to see them in action on stage.  Plus, I was able to connect with them backstage too.  I’ll admit those inner-voices of comparison started to weasel their way into my thinking. I started to have doubts. What if I wasn’t as good as they were? What if I couldn't deliver at the same level? What if my content didn’t resonate? But then I got hit with this phrase and it was so freeing.  I think it was a gift from God because you know I was praying… BIG time!  This phrase hit me and as I let it sink it...  I got hit with a sense of calm… this sense of peace.  This phrase helped me to move into a healthier state of mind.  It helped me to start to feel confident.  It helped me to move out of fear and be more open to the awesome things that were happening around me.   It helped me to stay out of comparison and instead… it enabled me to take in the gold the speakers were sharing… as well as take in the full experience and learn from the whole situation.   I can tell you this phrase has helped me so much since too.  Any time when I’m moving into comparison mode.  You know those times when you’re: - scrolling through social media - or reading a book or a memoir by someone who’s done something YOU want to do - hearing a story of a breakthrough from a friend or a client   If I feel that comparison starts to creep in… I remind myself of the phrase and it makes all the difference.  Are you ready for it? Here’s the phrase. “Learn from instead of comparing to.” Such a simple phrase but it makes a huge difference. There are three elements to this phrase.  Let’s break it down. LEARNING FROM: 

We’re talking about what to do AFTER that difficult conversation.  Our first two episodes on the CRITICAL subject of having HARD (but RICH) conversations have been huge!  In fact, it’s led to some of our biggest download numbers of the year!  (Thanks for spreading the word!)  That means we’re hitting on a topic that people need right now.  That’s why we’re talking about what to do AFTER the conversation. I offer THREE tenets to live by in about 15 minutes.  Short and sweet. NOTE: The 2nd will help you to know what to do if you think you’ve offended someone.  (Because that’s a hard reality of our current era… right?)  BTW… the strategy might surprise you… but I think it will also help you to feel a sense of freedom too! So let’s get to it! Listen To The Podcast:   RESOURCES: www.mitchmatthews.com/273 - Preparing for a HARD conversation www.mitchmatthews.com/274 - MINDSET for hard conversations www.mitchmatthews.com/211 - Finding the Middle Ground with Congressman Ro Khanna   Marianne Williamson quote on honor and respecting each other: “A healthy, vital society is not one in which we all agree.   It is one in which those who disagree can  do so with honor and respect for other people’s opinions…  and an appreciation of our shared humanity.”   A Masterclass on Hard Conversations: Part 3 SHOW NOTES:  We’re going after 3 TENETS in about 15 minutes.  So let’s get to it! FIRST TENENT: Love first.  Love last.  Love fully. If you’ve been listening to DTD for a while… you know I’m a Jesus guy and I love the Bible.   So I do my best to follow what I’ve learned from the Bible.  I sure don’t do that perfectly… but I’ve found that if I try to understand what’s in there… and know that God loves me… a lot… as I do… things seem to work out pretty darn well.  And I have a much better life.   Now I’m going to stop right there and acknowledge the fact that I may have thrown out something we may or may not agree upon… but I wanted to give you some of my own personal foundation for the first strategy.  (How about that for navigating difficult conversations!  HA!) Here’s the deal… people were always asking Jesus about the rules… and laws. Sometimes He would offer stories and metaphors… other times He would offer different ways to look at things… sometimes He would raise the stakes and poke a little bit.  But in one particular interaction, someone was trying to set Jesus up… my hope was they were truly trying to learn… but some people think this guy was trying to get Jesus to say something that would get Him in trouble.  The question was: of ALL the commandments… of ALL the rules that we live by… which is the most important?   Can you imagine? It was a rules-based culture.  The rules were everything.  The people who memorized the rules were elevated… they were respected… they were feared.  The more rules you knew… the more power you had.  But Jesus did this wild thing in his response. He said… Okay… of ALL the rules… the TWO most important rules are: Love God with all your heart.  Love your neighbor as yourself. Love. Love. Love. Love God.  Love others.  Love yourself. Now THAT is something I can remember. Now you might be asking, “What does it have to do with difficult conversations?” Well… sometimes they’re going to go the way you want them to.  Sometimes they’re not. But I’ve found that if I focus on loving the person… which can mean truly listening… which can mean honoring… which can mean respecting them… even if we don’t agree.  If I do THAT… it almost always leads to a much higher chance for a rich relationship… before, during, AND after. Now, here’s the thing.  Loving someone doesn’t mean acquiesce.  It doesn’t mean being a doormat.  It means being humble AND confident. Humble confidence. In fact, I like what Frank Turner from Qurora.com said about humility.   “To be humble is to not make yourself more important than others. 

We’re doing an experiment. 3 episodes on the wildly important subject of having HARD but RICH conversations.  This is sooooooo important right now.  Right?  Difficult conversations usually involve a touchy subject but with the right mindset… they can be incredibly RICH and rewarding too.  Also, we’re experimenting with our timing.  So each episode will be about 15 minutes long.  Short… sweet and to the point!  So let’s get to it!   Listen To The Podcast:     RESOURCES: Give the gift of listening: mitchmatthews.com/249   QUOTES FROM THE SHOW:  “If you know your WHY, your HOW will come.” - Mitch Brian Tracy once said, “Think on paper. Every minute you spend in planning can save you five to ten minutes in execution.”   Adam Carroll says, “You have to know that the juice is worth the squeeze.” The Dalai Lama once said, “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know.  But if you listen, you may learn something new.”  "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” - Winston Churchill  Way back in about 100 AD, the Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”   I recorded this one from Silverthorne, Colorado.  I’m on a little trip with my family but I wanted to record the episode with as much of YOUR input as possible.  So yeah… I set up a mobile studio with just about the best view… ever.   So… here’s what my view looked like! :)   MINUTE BY MINUTE BREAKDOWN: 0:02 What to expect today 2:37 Six strategies to have hard conversations 2:52 Know you're why 4:07 Giving the gift of “not surprising 5:57 The gift of listening 8:19 W.A.I.T 9:48 Watch your but 11:10 Keep an open mind 12:44 Confident vulnerability     WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!  How about you?  What’s a strategy that stood out to you?   What’s something YOU are going to try this week? Also, I want to hear from YOU on your favorite strategies for navigating hard conversations.  Comment and let me know.  And hey, if I use your concept I’ll give you a shout out in the episode too!  Cool?  Cool.

Welcome to episode 273 of DREAM THINK DO. We’re doing an experiment over these next few weeks. 3 episodes on the important topic of having HARD conversations.   Actually, I want to reframe that as how to have RICH conversations.  Because… they really can be both right? Hard conversations usually involve a difficult subject but with the right prep… they can be incredibly RICH conversations too.  Right?  Oh… and each episode will be about 15 minutes long.  YOW… you know me so this is a stretch!  But it’s going to be gooooood.  So let’s get to it!   Listen To The Podcast:     RESOURCES: Episode 002: Punch Worry in the Face: mitchmatthews.com/punch-worry-in-the-face Episode 246: 2 Minutes to Confidence: mitchmatthews.com/246 3 Buckets Infographic:  Learn more here All right… I’m excited about this. Experiments are always fun.  And I’m feeling stretched to keep this shorter.  A little uncomfortable… and that’s good… right? This is going to be PART 1 in a series called a “Masterclass in Hard Conversations.” NOTE: This series is not geared towards ONLINE conversations.  Nope.   This is for REAL conversations.    Do you remember REAL conversations?   Face to face.  Eye-ballers.  Real deal conversations.   In our current situation of COVID-19, etc… this may look a little different but what we’re going to be talking about is one-on-one conversations.  We might be talking about using something like Zoom or the phone… but it’s all about talking to someone that’s important to you. They’re important to you… because they’re: Family member Friend Co-worker Boss Someone you’re wanting to get to know better Now… something about them may ping the shiznitz out of you… but you still need or want to have a conversation.  And yes, some of those might be “hard” conversations.  So, let’s get you ready!   QUOTES FROM THE SHOW: “You have power over your mind - not outside events.  Realize this and you will find strength.” Marcus Aurelius “LET IT GO.  LET IT GO.” Queen Elsa  “We are not all in the same boat, but we are in the same storm.” Origin of the quote   MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 What to expect the next three episodes 2:11 Now is the time to have a rich conversation 5:03 The three-bucket questions 6:57 Create an environment for ‘us’ 8:32 How fight or flight plays into conversations 10:53  Give yourself a minute 14:00 Mitch asks in a difficult conversation 14:41 Remain respectful   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! So… one of the things I needed to be reminded of this week has been the importance of “Just giving yourself a minute.”  It’s a concept I’m REALLY familiar with when it comes to my “typical” workday.  And/or when I’m preparing to take the stage in front of an audience.  But amid all of the wildness that is 2020, I’ve realized that it’s so important to just stop once and a while and take a breath.  To rest.  To be present.  That’s critical.  So I appreciated that prompt to just stop, to pause, and to breathe.   How about you?  What’s something that stood out to you?   What’s something YOU are going to try this week? Also, I want to hear from YOU on your favorite strategies for navigating hard conversations.  Comment and let me know.  And hey, if I use your concept I’ll give you a shout out in the episode too!  Cool?  Cool. Leave a comment and let me know!  I can’t wait to hear from YOU!

We’re talking with Fritzi Horstman.  She’s the Founder and Executive Director of the Compassion Prison Project.  Before that, she was a Grammy Award Winning producer of projects like HBO’s “The Defiant Ones” as well as dozens of television projects, documentaries, and several films.  In 2018, Fritzi had the experience of visiting a high-security prison and while she was there her heart broke.  She saw some things she thought needed to change, so she dove in to help.  A video that demonstrates the amazing work of the CPP has gone viral with millions of views.  In fact, that’s how I came across Fritzi’s story.  After watching the video… I dug into the story and was so impressed I wanted to have her on to share about her journey! She’s the example of someone who saw something that needed to be fixed and she came up with a tangible solution to help.  I think it will inspire you.  Let’s get to it.     Listen To The Podcast:     RESOURCES: The Compassion Prison Project’s Website: compassionprisonproject.org More info from the CDC on childhood trauma and the ACE Score: www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention Facebook: @compassionprisonproject  Instagram: @compassion.prison.project    The CPP Video we talked about: Step Inside the Circle from Fritzi Horstman on Vimeo.   MORE INFORMATION ON THE EPISODE: On February 12… 235 incarcerated men gathered in the yard of a California maximum-security prison to learn something about themselves. These men formed a huge circle… and our guest… Fritzi Horstman… stood in the middle of that circle… alone… with a microphone… guiding them through an incredible process of awareness and healing. Maybe you’ve seen the viral video that helps to tell the story… a million+ people have watched it… and it’s amazing.  (It’s featured in the resources section above.) Fritzi reads a series of statements.  Each time… if these men could say yes to the statement… about their childhood… about the environment, they grew up in… about the abuse and trauma they faced… about the incredible challenges, they’d had to deal with… then they were asked to step further into the circle. It’s a circle of compassion. It’s a circle of no shame. It’s a circle of healing. Again… if you’ve seen the video… you know it's an incredibly powerful and incredibly revealing process that we can all learn from.   And that’s just the beginning of the “Compassion Prison Project” started by Fritzi. This week, we’re going to talk with her about how she went from being a Grammy Award Winning producer to be the Founder and Executive Director of the Compassion Prison Project. I hope it inspires you to DREAM and to THINK about the places where you see a problem that needs to be fixed… and to ask… “What can I DO to help?”   MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 What to expect today 2:05 Meet Fritzi Horstman 3:59 The back story of how it got started 4:37 More about the Compassion Prison Project 7:42 How trauma-affected Fritzi 9:30 How extreme poverty affects the brain 12:43 When Fritzi decided to be the change 16:55 The peace that comes with not judging 18:39 Become a problem solver 21:59 The ACE test 25:36 How Fritzi has overcome her own childhood trauma 27:49 How to connect with Fritzi 28:39 Mitch’s biggest takeaways   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! So… I know one of my favorite parts of the conversation was when Fritzi talked about seeing the problem but she looked at it through her experience.   Yes… I loved it when she said, “I’m a producer.  I fix problems!”   She reframed this huge challenge and although she didn’t have experience with the prison systems… she gave herself permission to explore possible solutions.  She didn’t wait.  She started.  She asked, “What can I do?” and she took action.  That’s huge! How about you? What’s something that stood out to you from the conversation?   Leave a comment and let me know!

We’re talking to Alex Matthews.  Alex’s new book is out this week.  It’s a 500+ page coming-of-age post-apocalyptic thriller called, “Waking Up: Summer.”  Alex is 19 years old… and I’m very proud to say he’s also my son.  In the interview, we talk about the book itself and the story behind it.  Plus, we dig into Alex’s creative process and some important things he’s learned along the way about going after creative dreams.     Listen To The Podcast:     Alex Matthews RESOURCES: Find Alex’s Book “Waking Up: Summer” by clicking here. Find Alex’s YouTube Channel by clicking here. Find Alex Matthews on Instagram by clicking here.   MORE ON THE BOOK:   Description of the book: Before the bio weapon was created, Timberwolf was simply known as Alex and his home was a safe place.  But when a monstrous sickness was released into the world everything changed. Nothing and no one stayed the same. He would’ve never predicted that in just one day, all that mattered to him could be shredded by the fangs of those creatures.   Follow Timberwolf as he’s forced to engage in a world controlled by leaders who blur the lines between human and monster.   Can he stay true to his values… let alone survive?   Or will all hope be lost in this new place he’s forced to call home?  Waking Up: Summer is a dark coming of an age horror novel with an imaginative twist.   If you like stories of dystopian worlds, reimagined sci-fi and plenty of surprises, then you’ll love Alex Matthews’ end of the world adventure.     MORE ON THE EPISODE: Here’s a little more about Alex as we get started. Alex is a full-time student at an acting school in Los Angeles… but he’s home for a bit during this weird and wild season.  He had to deal with some tough stuff early in life… but I think that contributed to him being pretty darn creative and incredibly adventurous.  Which led him to be very active in theater, speech, and creative writing.   Plus, he and our older son Ben have made over 30 short films in the last few years.  See their Youtube Link above. I’m excited for you to meet him… so let’s get to this.    MORE ON THE EPISODE: 0:02 Who today’s episode is for 1:08 Meet Alex 3:22 A look into “Waking Up” 7:06 When Alex decided to turn his old journals into the book 11:09 The hardest part of writing a book 16:09 How to get feedback on sample writing 19:35 How Alex paid for an editor 26:31 How it feels leading up to a book launch 28:65 Alex’s advice for future writers 30:47 Where to find Alex’s book 32:47 Wisdom of the week 35:11 Mitch’s biggest takeaways   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! So… I know one of my favorite parts of the conversation was when Alex talked about the way he “gradually” started to share the book over time.  That was such a simple way to break through the fear that could potentially shut him down.  I know I might be a little biased but that’s dang brilliant. How about you? What’s something that stood out to you from the conversation?   Leave a comment and let me know!  I can’t wait to hear from YOU! Check other Podcasts here:

We’re talking to Jennifer Fulwiler. Jen’s a standup comedian, best selling author, and the mom of six kids.  She’s also a TRUE Dream Think Do-er!  For example, after being told that NO ONE was interested in comedy done by a “minivan-driving woman from the suburbs,” she self-produced her own standup comedy tour and she sold out venues across the country!  She’s written several books and her newest one is Your Blue Flame: Drop the Guilt and Do What Makes You Come Alive.  The book has received rave reviews and has helped people to break out of ruts, uncover their personal passions as well as their unique gifts and talents, and most importantly fall in love with life again.  That’s no small order… but I think it’s a critical message for this weird, wild season we’re all in.  So let’s get to it!     Listen To The Podcast:     Jennifer Fulwiler RESOURCES:   Jen’s Website: jenniferfulwiler.com Jen’s Newest Book: Your Blue Flame Instagram: www.instagram.com/jenniferfulwiler Twitter: twitter.com/JenFulwiler     MORE ABOUT THE EPISODE:   What is YOUR Blue Flame? Heck… what IS a Blue Flame? Well… Jen defines it as “a personal passion that fills us with energy, that we’re meant to share with the world.” And as you’ll hear, Jennifer Fulwiler is on a quest to help you find your blue flame and fall in love with your life again.  Whether you want to embark on a great mission or simply add a spark to your daily routine, this interview (and Jen’s book) will inspire you to tap into that inner passion that perhaps you haven’t yet discovered—or have been too afraid to use.   More importantly, we’ll dive into some of Jen's raw and hilarious stories as well as practical strategies… so you can figure out what your BLUE FLAME is and start to walk it out more!   Oh… and just so you know… Jen lives in a three-bedroom house with her husband, their six kiddos, a huge dog, and a one-eyed cat in Austin, Texas.  So yeah… she’s had to learn to walk out her BLUE FLAME in a very full and often messy world!  (We’ll talk about that too!)   MORE ON THE EPISODE: 0:02 What we are talking about today 1:42 Get to know Jen Fulwiler 5:20 When Jen started standup comedy 11:12 How Jen is raising her kids weird 13:52 Jen’s toughest audience 15:23 What is the blue flame? 22:52 Niche-ing down your blue flame 25:14 Practical advice for finding your blue flame 30:43 Wisdom of the week 32:25 Mitch’s biggest takeaway   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! So… I know one of my favorite parts of the conversation was when Jen talked about scheduling her own tour after promoters said it couldn’t be done.  I love that.  It inspired me.  How about you? I have this feeling that we’re entering into a time when a lot of people are going to be saying, “Oh that can’t be done.”  Or… “Nobody’s done THAT before.”  And it may have been true in the past… but with all this weird and wild season… it’s a time for FIRSTS!  And I believe DREAM THINK DO-ers can lead the way to break through and innovate in ways that are needed… RIGHT NOW. Who’s with me? By the way… how about you?  I want to hear from YOU!  What’s something Jen said that clicked with you? What got you thinking? How might you apply it?  Leave a comment below and let me know! Check other Podcasts here:

Our guest is Cort Davies.  In 2017 Cort was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and he was given just three years to live. That was a scary diagnosis, but instead of shutting down and just accepting it… Cort set out on a mission to defy it. Since then he’s undergone 7 surgeries, several experimental treatments, and numerous challenges.  BUT despite all of this... Cort Davies has realized that he now considers cancer and his resulting journey a gift.  It’s taught him about life… about healing... about being intentional about his mindset and making every day count.  We talk to Cort about the specific things he’s learned about having a “healing mindset,” how to find peace in the midst of challenging times and how to THRIVE in uncertain times.  I think you’re going to love this conversation.     Listen To The Podcast:    Cort Davies RESOURCES:   Cort’s Book:  1 Habit to Beat Cancer: Secrets of the Happiest Cancer Thrivers on the Planet Click here  Cort’s 1 Habit Summit: click here Cort’s training on the Science of Meditation   Cort’s Specific Exercises on Guiding the "Outer World Stimulations and Inputs" List the 4-5 things you value most in your life, the things no one has to tell you to get out of bed for. (Mine: Health, Career/Mission, Learning, Abundance, Relationships) Write down all the inputs (mortgage, social media, medical bills, text messages, old relationships, etc.) in your life drawing your attention. This list could be sizable.   Now take a sheet of blank paper and put your name in the center followed by your 4-5 values. (see Cort's image) Create a small circle called your "inner circle"- this is the place where you put only those on the input list that meet your highest values.   Next, put "all the rest" on the list outside of the inner circle.   Now you can be aware of all the inputs that you don't value that are trying to penetrate your "inner circle." Awareness is the goal.      Here’s Cort’s own “MAP” that he references in the interview too:   MORE ABOUT THE INTERVIEW: So… Cort wants to help people to develop: a healing mindset,  to be intentional with their daily living AND… to change destructive habits that could hinder their ability to heal.   His goal is to help initiate healing for thousands of cancer patients worldwide… as well as help EVERYONE to THRIVE in the midst of uncertain times. He’s doing amazing things and so I wanted to bring him on DTD so we could hear more of his story and learn more!   MORE ON THE EPISODE: 0:02 What to expect today 2:38 Welcome Cort Davies 4:12 When Cort was diagnosed 5:41 What it is like having a rare cancer 9:31 The connection between stress and cancer 13:52 Managing your life “inputs” 20:30 How Cort has remained focused during the uncertainty 23:06 The four types of meditation 27:51 Cort’s best advice for meditation 29:52 Sneak peek at Cort’s new book 32:28 The One Habit Summit 34:09 Mitch’s biggest takeaways   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! So… I know one of my favorite parts of the conversation was on the limiting of “inputs.”  That’s always been important but I think that it’s more important now.  We have to be intentional with where information is coming from and we have to limit the bombardment of bings, dings, and pings.  Amen?  One of the key areas where I’ve been applying this since my talk with Cort has been not checking email until 9 am.  It’s such a simple thing and I know I’ve heard other people suggest it.  But I’ve been doing it for about a week and it’s been wild to see how much it impacts my day!  Powerful stuff. That was big for me.  How about you? I want to hear from YOU!  What clicked with you? What got you thinking? What might you apply from what Cort talked about?  Leave a comment below and let me know! Check other Podcasts here:

Today… we’re talking with Bob Burg.  For 30 years, Bob has been a successful author and speaker.  His books have sold millions of copies and he wows audiences… whether it’s a group of 50 or 15,000 — and he’s shared the stage with top thought leaders, celebrities, Olympic athletes, and even former US Presidents.  I consider Bob a mentor and a friend, and since I trust his perspectives in the best and the worst of times… I wanted to bring him on to talk about where we are at as a world… and where we need to focus as leaders, entrepreneurs, and globe changers as we move into this new normal.     Listen To The Podcast:     Bob Burg RESOURCES: Bob Burg’s website: burg.com Bob’s Author Page on Amazon: Click here     MORE ABOUT THE EPISODE: Bob Burg has written 10 books on sales, marketing, and influence.  Those books have sold millions of copies.  And although I can say each is incredible, it’s his book The Go-Giver that’s had the biggest impact on me.  In fact… it was a divine appointment that I had with that book… during a really low point in my career... that helped me to stay on track and get to where we are today! Specifically, the 5 Laws of Success from the Book helped me to focus on the RIGHT things and I think they’re even more applicable right now! Value: Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment. Compensation: Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them. Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first. Authenticity: The most valuable gift you have is to offer yourself. Receptivity: The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.   I consider Bob a mentor and a friend. And since I trust his perspectives in the best and the worst of times… I wanted to bring him on to talk about where we are as a world… and where we need to focus as leaders… entrepreneurs and globe changers… as we move into this “new normal.” We’ll also dig into how the “Go-Giver” Laws can help to guide us right now too.  Enjoy!   MORE ON THE EPISODE: 0:02 What to expect today 1:00 How Bob impacted Mitch 3:33 Conversation starts 5:20 The importance of thinking about what you are thinking about 7:30 The five laws of focus 9:13 Deep dive into the laws 15:59 How authenticity leads to a better life 21:21 The truth about giving and receiving 22:36 How to thrive in a free market 23:40 Embarrassing healthy thoughts around wealth 26:59 What to focus on now 27:00 Accepting the truth 33:00 Wisdom of the week 36:25 Mitch’s biggest takeaways     WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! So… I know one of my favorite parts of the conversation was on the subject of “truth.”   How leaders need to focus on the “truth” as they make their decisions.  And with all the things that are up in the air right now… that really struck me.  We may not feel like we have all the answers right now… but we still have the “truth” of our current restrictions and guidance on what’s safe.  So we have to navigate in that “truth” until those restrictions/guidance change.   That was big for me.  How about you? I want to hear from YOU!  What clicked with you? What got you thinking? What might you apply from what Bob shared?  Leave a comment below and let me know! Check other Podcasts here:

This week we’re talking to Mark Victor Hansen and Crystal Dwyer Hansen.  They’ve just written a book called, “ASK! The Bridge From Your Dreams to Your Destiny.” In our interview, we talk in-depth about what they’ve learned about the art and the science of asking better questions to transform your life.  Specifically, we talk about the 3 questions they ask every day and they walk us through how they apply them to their lives, their relationships, their writing, and their businesses.      Listen To The Podcast:     RESOURCES: Mark Victor Hansen and Crystal Dwyer Hansen New Book:  “Ask!: The Bridge from Your Dreams to Your Destiny” Mark Victor Hansen Website: markvictorhansen.com MORE ABOUT THE EPISODE: Before we get started… I want to give you a little background on both our guests. Among many things… Mark Victor Hansen is often known best as "that Chicken Soup for the Soul guy."  Along with his co-author and business partner, Jack Canfield… they launched what Time magazine called, "the publishing phenomenon of the decade," with over 500 million Chicken Soup for the Soul books sold worldwide.  By the way, these books are one of the most successful publishing franchises of all time.  Plus, he’s written a number of other best sellers as well! He’s also a successful and impactful keynote speaker who’s addressed audiences around the world.  He’s been featured by Oprah, CNN, and The Today Show… just to name a few. Okay… now let’s talk about Crystal Dwyer Hansen.  She’s also a successful entrepreneur, as well as a Certified Life Coach, and Wellness/Nutrition Expert.  Her first book “Skinny Life - The Secret to Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Fitness,” along with her speaking, and articles have helped people all over the world.  Finally… Mark and Crystal are innovative entrepreneurs and tireless philanthropists… and if I dug into all that they’re up to on these fronts… this intro would be 45 minutes long. :) So I’ll point you to all their websites (listed above) so you can dig even deeper into their endeavors. Obviously… they’re up to some great work… and I’m excited to have them on.  So let’s do this.   SHOW NOTES AND TIMES: Quick Episode Summary: 0:02 What to expect today! 1:30 Welcome Mark Victor and Crystal Hansen 4:02 How the Hansen’s are handling Covid-19 7:00 Why the Hansen’s book is important right now 8:47 When Mark lost $2 Million 13:21 How to start asking better questions 16:19 The 3 things you need to get unstuck 19:32 The difference between self-worth and net worth 24:19 What you can learn from Joseph 26:00 Why we are afraid to ask questions 28:01 The questions you should be asking others 31:37 Mitch’s biggest takeaways     WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! How about you? What clicked with you? What got you thinking? What might you apply from what Mark and Crystal talked about?  Leave a comment and let me know! Check other Podcasts here:

My guest is Paula Faris.  Paula is a Senior National Correspondent at ABC News.   She’s won multiple Emmy Awards as she’s interviewed political leaders, athletes, newsmakers, and celebrities.  (Yeah… she’s interviewed ALL of the Avengers and almost ALL of the cast from Star Wars. We will now pause for a moment of silence.)   Recently, Paula made the news herself because she chose to walk away from TWO of the biggest dream jobs in her industry. The first was being the Co-anchor of Good Morning America’s weekend edition and the second was being a co-host of ABC’s “The View.” She didn’t walk away due to some crisis, controversy or for a bad decision.  Nope… she chose to walk away to do something she felt called to do. We’re going to talk about that decision and her new book, “Called Out - Why I traded Two Dream Jobs for a Life of True Calling.”     Listen To The Podcast:   Paula Faris RESOURCES:   Insta: www.instagram.com/paulafaris Twitter:  twitter.com/paulafaris Buy The Book: “Called Out - Why I Traded Two Dream Jobs for a Life of True Calling. Paula’s past interview on Dream Think Do: www.mitchmatthews.com/226   The INTERVIEW: In our interview, we talk about how Paula Faris got clarity on her calling and how she found the courage to take a stand for it.   We talk about the difference between your “faith calling” and your “vocational calling.”  This was a huge realization and helped her to feel new levels of freedom and clarity. We talk about why… but more importantly, we talk about how you can apply this whether you consider yourself a “religious” person or not. At the heart of the interview… we talk about the 3 big questions you need to be asking yourself in order to find your true vocational calling: What am I good at? What do I love to do? What do the people I trust say that I’m good at?   I think you’ll really enjoy this conversation.  Here’s how it breaks down… minute by minute. SHOW NOTES AND TIMES: 0:02 Welcome! 0:18 What to expect today 1:15 Meet Paula 4:01 How Paula and her family are handing COVID-19 6:30 When Paula left two dream jobs and stepped into her calling 11:42 Learning how to disconnect what you do from who you are 18:20 Finding your faith calling 20:14 Finding your vocational calling 25:42 Give yourself permission to branch out 26:48 Fear should be expected 30:00 How to connect with Paula 31:40 Mitch’s biggest takeaways   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! So… I want to hear from YOU! I really appreciated those 3 questions.  Heck… I wish I’d had those MUCH earlier in my life.  Powerful stuff. How about you? What clicked with you? What got you thinking? What might you apply from what Paula said?  Leave a comment below and let me know! Check other Podcasts here:

We’re talking with Sara Haines and Max Shifrin.  Sara’s been a regular on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and The VIEW.  She also co-hosts the "Strahan, Sara and KeeKee Show" weekdays on ABC along with Michael Strahan and KeeKee Palmer.  Max Shifrin is a lawyer specializing in commercial litigation. He’s killing it and as you’ll hear… he’s an amazing guy doing some great work.  Sara and Max got married in 2014 and now have 3 beautiful kiddos… Alec, Sandra, and Caleb who are all under the age of 4. Like the rest of us... they’re navigating this new normal.  We talk about how they’re learning to live… and love… and somehow make it all work out of their apartment in Brooklyn. Let’s do this!     Listen To The Podcast:     Sara Haines and Max Shifrin RESOURCES: The Strahan, Sara and KeeKee Show's Facebook Page: Click here  Sara’s Insta Page: Click here Previous DREAM THINK DO episodes with Sara: Overcoming the Comparison Trap: www.MitchMatthews.com/032  Pushing Through Fear: www.MitchMatthews.com/010     SHOW NOTES AND TIMES: 0:16 What to expect today! 2:05 Welcome The Haines 4:40 How Sara and Max met 8:23 Sara and Max’s first date 13:00 How Sara and Max stay on the same page 21:36 Finding the best time to give feedback 25:21 The best marriage advice from Sara 29:20 How Sara and Max talk through their goals & dreams 36:09 Mitch’s biggest takeaways   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! So… what stood out to you?  I want to hear from YOU! I loved how they talked about having a shared vision but that they fully recognize they’re different in their “day to day” and how they’ve got grace for each other in that. How about you? What clicked with you? What inspired you? What got your thinking? What’s going to stick with you? Leave a comment below and let me know!

My guest is Jeffrey Morris.  He’s a writer, director, and futurist.  Jeff’s next film is a neo-classic space adventure called “Persephone.”   It’s starring “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’s” Emile Hirsch, “Deadpool’s” Brianna Hildebrand, “Weed’s” very own Mary-Louise Parker, and “A Clockwork Orange’s” Malcolm McDowell.  Since a very early age, Morris has been devoted to not only science fiction… but science itself — focusing his passion on space exploration, oceanography, and meteorology.  Jeffrey Morris channeled these passions into his creative endeavors, which were elevated over the years as he learned storytelling, illustration, and film production. In addition to making films… Morris has created a number of books, documentaries, music videos, and apps.  In this interview, we walk through his journey… but we also talk about how he’s able to always find a way. That includes that Jefferey is doing all of this… not from Hollywood or New York… but from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He’s doing amazing things… and doing them on his own terms.  You’re going to love him… so let’s do this.     Listen To The Podcast:     Jeffrey Morris RESOURCES: Morris’ Production Company: www.Futuredude.com     SHOW NOTES AND TIMES: 0:02: Intro 1:10 What every coach needs to know 3:50 Get to know Jeffrey 5:46 How Jeffrey fell involve with SiFi 9:07 How to help your kids dream 14:00 How Star Wars effected us 17:43 Spaces is our future 22:08 What it was like pitching ideas to Hollywood 24:57 Jeffrey’s new movie premise 31:32 The greater reality 38:00 Creating a pivot plan 42:42 Teaser for Jeffrey ’s upcoming projects 43:50 The blessing of unanswered prayers 46:24 Wisdom of the week 48:30 Mitch’s biggest takeaways   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! So… what stood out to you?  A story? His outlook on finding a way?  His passion for science? Or… let’s be real… his thoughts on Star Wars.  (Wow… my brain is still buzzing from that part of our convo!) I’d love to hear from YOU!   Leave a comment below and let me know!   Listen to Mitch Mattews Top Podcast here  

We’re talking to Rahaf Harfoush about how to identify the signs of burnout (because it can sneak up on you) and we dig into some powerful and unorthodox ways to beat it.  Rahaf is a Digital Anthropologist, Best Selling Author, and Executive Director of the Red Thread Institute for Digital Culture. Rahaf Harfoush 's latest book is called “Hustle and Float.” In it, she shows us that a lot of what we’ve been told about “work-life” balance is wrong… but more importantly… she shows us a better way to maximize our day… our creativity… and most importantly… our lives.  She came by this truth the hard way but getting blindsided by extreme burnout a few years ago. So we talk about how it almost killed her career and how she fought back and how she learned to “float” too. It’s a beautiful, raw, and powerful conversation with some great insights, good stories, and practical strategies you can start using today!     Listen To The Podcast:     Rahaf Harfoush RESOURCES: Book: Hustle & Float - reclaim your creativity and thrive in a world obsessed with work. Twitter: www.Twitter.com/rahafharfoush    Website: www.Rahafharfoush.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/foushy    MORE INFO ABOUT THE EPISODE:   Wow… I don’t know if there’s been a better time to talk about ways to avoid burnout.   Seriously… right now… as we’re getting bombarded with all sorts of headlines and updates on a global scale.  Many are working from home… for the first time. Because of all of this… some of those normal boundaries of a “normal” workday are out the window… and many are asked to do more with less.  So yes… the potential for burnout is a very real thing.  Maybe now more than ever. That’s why I wanted to bring on an expert… both because she’s studied the subject in depth… and because she’s lived through a brutal first-hand experience which almost ended a career she loved… and it felt like it stripped away the very thing she’d always felt called to do. As the Executive Director of the Red Thread Institute of Digital Culture, Rahaf Harfoush leads a team of researchers in exploring the implications of the world’s digital culture on our lives – from the way we date and parent, to the way we travel, work, and stay informed. She helps organizations like the Starwood Capital Group, Deutche Bank, Estée Lauder, L’Oreal, and ING Direct… to name a few.  And her writing has been featured in Wired, The Globe and Mail, Fast Company, and many more. Rahaf and her husband Jesse along with their puppy named Pixel live in France… but we got to meet for coffee in LA… when we were both there recently for speaking gigs.   I found her absolutely fascinating… and she’s a true DREAM THINK DOer. so I wanted to bring her on the show!  And since she’s all about helping us navigate the bombardment of information… AND avoid burnout in these wild times… I thought it was THE perfect time to have her on.   SHOW NOTES AND TIMES: 0:02 What to expect today! 1:35 Meet Rahaf 8:02 How Rahaf is passionate about the topic of burnout 12:07 How burnout affected Rahaf 16:45 How Rahaf overcame burn out 21:20 Tips for avoiding burnout 25:30 What does success look like to you? 27:20 Creating time to be still 32:04 You are more than what you do 36:18 How to connect with Rahaf 37:04 Wisdom of the week 38:20 Mitch's biggest takeaways   WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Let me know what stood out to you from this episode?  What’s something you’re going to try based on Rahaf’s story and strategies?  I’d love to hear from YOU! Leave a comment below and let’s keep this important conversation going.   Listen to Mitch Mattews Top Podcast here  

My guest is Dan Grec.  He’s a Yukon-based adventurer, snowboarder, and photographer.  A few years ago… Dan wanted a more vibrant life… so he quit his day job as an engineer and drove his 2 door Jeep Wrangler 40,000 miles through 16 countries starting in Alaska and ending up in Argentina. That expedition turned into two of the best years of his life. The journey itself… along with the colorful people he met along the way… permanently changed the way he looked at himself… AND the way he looked at life.  He didn’t realize it at the time but that adventure also changed his trajectory… and he’s continued to explore ever since. In fact, just last year he completed a 54,000 mile... 35 country circumnavigation of the African continent in his 4 doors… Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Most importantly, Dan’s found a sense of joy and happiness that he can maintain in the wildest and toughest circumstances and we’re going to talk about that too!     Listen To The Podcast:     Dan Grec RESOURCES:   BOOK: The Road Chose Me (Click here.) YOUTUBE: youtube.com/theroadchoseme INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/theroadchoseme   MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 What to expect today 1:20 Meet Dan 4:06 When Dan said he was going to drive from Alaska to Argentina 7:30 How Dan pays for his adventures 11:50 Dan’s time in Africa 16:44 How Dan is navigating COVID-19 18:37 Find a way to be happy 21:20 The best things you can do to prepare for adventure 24:44 Take the pressure off yourself 28:08 How to find what makes you happy 29:56 Wisdom of the week 31:05 Mitch’s biggest takeaways What stood out to you?  A story? His outlook on living a happy life?  His pragmatic approach to paying for his dream?  I’d love to hear from YOU! Leave a comment below and let me know!   Listen to Mitch Mattews Top Podcast here  

A “Deep Dive” going after WHY and HOW to dream (and pursue your goals) in tough times!  I hate to be “Captain Obvious” but it’s tough to think about our dreams and goals when we’re getting hit with words like “Pandemic” and “Quarantine” on a somewhat normal basis.  At the same time… it’s wildly important to continue to look forward, to believe in something bigger, and to continue to take small but significant steps forward on the things that are important to us.  Now… this isn’t some “rainbows, butterflies and little ponies” session on how to bury your head in the sand. Nope. In this episode, we dig into the psychology, the science and the specific strategies that will help you to look at this season in a way that will help you to keep your head, to stay safe AND to continue to march towards your dreams and goals!  I think you’re going to dig it. So let’s dive in.       Listen To The Podcast:   RESOURCES: Other DREAM THINK DO episodes on related topics: TIME MANAGEMENT: mitchmatthews.com/257 OVERCOMING WORRY: www.mitchmatthews.com/002  DREAMING WITH YOUR FAMILY: www.mitchmatthews.com/222 and www.mitchmatthews.com/086  FACEBOOK POST I Mention The Book of Life video on Maslow’s Pyramid of Needs.   EPISODE INFO:   QUESTION: Why is it harder to dream when things are tough?   ANSWER:  You’re not broken.  You’re normal. One reason it’s harder to think about our dreams and goals when things are feeling “uncertain” can be explained by a simple triangle divided into 5 parts.     You may have heard about it in a high school or college psychology class… but this triangle of brilliance has become better known as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. There’s a fantastic video on this concept by the people over at “The Book of Life.”  The link is above. The quick history on the concept was that in 1943, a thirty-five year old Jewish psychologist… who was born in Russia... but was now living in the United States… was in the midst of an epic journey.  In short… he was searching for the meaning of life.   His name was Abraham Maslow. He had left the close-knit orthodox family of his childhood… and was now navigating life in the U.S.  He had a passion for figuring out how to live a purposeful life in modern-day America. It was something he wanted to understand… but it was also something he could see as a longing for many others too.   With the lense of psychology, he started to identify five different kinds of basic human needs.  Some were more linked to material… and others might be considered more spiritual.   As he dug through the research… as well as thought-through his own experiences… he started to uncover a sequence.  A ranking.   It’s almost like these different needs built on each other.   First… we start with what most would consider the “non-negotiables” and core basic needs.  These would be things like food... water… shelter... and rest.     Next we have what would be considered “safety needs.”  These are a sense of bodily security and protection from attack.    But then we enter into the areas that many would consider more spiritual and/or psychological needs.  So third… we’d have a sense of belonging and a sense of being loved.   Then forth… we move into what some refer to as the “Esteem Needs.”  These needs are met when we feel a level of accomplishment or even prestige.    But the fifth… and that’s the big enchilada… is what Maslow called: “self-actualization.”   This one is a bit more nebulous… and according to some… more elusive.     Because it involves what Maslow described as ‘living according to one’s full potential’ and ‘becoming who we really are.’   Whew… that’s some core Phycology 101 there in 3 minutes or less.   BUT I think it’s relevant when we’re thinking about dreaming BIG when things are potentially tough, scary and/or completely new.

This week we’re doing a deep dive into “The Art of Powerful Introductions.”  Seriously… you’ve worked hard at growing your network of awesome people… but one of the fastest ways to hurt that network is to violate trust and to T-up an unsolicited introduction.  It’s like we talk about in the episode, an unsolicited introduction is like giving someone a gift of a surprise puppy. LOL. That’s right… who doesn’t love a puppy? BUT… if you give it to someone who isn’t expecting it… a cute lil’ puppy can be a problem… right?  If we hand a busy person an unsolicited and/or poorly set up introduction… we can create problems and hurt our relationship with them. So in this episode, we talk through the 4 C’s of Permission-Based Introductions. These “C’s” will help you to set up introductions that lead to more success for everyone involved!  AND… they help to build trust and connection with your network too! So listen in to learn the 4 C’s and stop giving surprise puppies!!!     Listen To The Podcast:     RESOURCES: Check out Episode 255 - How to Meet 50 Interesting People in a Year!   All right. Dream Think Do-ers - this episode is a deep dive.  So we’re talking about the “4 C’s of Permission-Based Introductions.” The 4 C’s are:   CONSENT: Be a blessing, not a curse.  As for permission from BOTH parties before you make an introduction.  In other words… don’t give a “surprise puppy” as a gift!   COMPLIMENT: As you make the introduction (with permission) be sure to honor each person with a few heartfelt and authentic compliments that help to showcase the person’s talents.   CONTEXT: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS give some context to why you think the introduction is important and why you think the two people should meet.  Don’t make them guess. This helps to give them a starting place to work from and saves them time.   CUT THEM LOOSE: Free them of any expectations from you.  Let them know you’re rooting for them but you’re bowing out and you’re setting them free to do what they want with the connection!     QUOTE:  “When you surprise someone with an introduction,  it’s a little bit like giving a puppy as an unexpected gift!”   What do you think?   Do you agree or disagree?   What’s something you’re going to try/tweak based on this episode?   Leave a comment and let me know!   MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 What to expect today 3:12 Protecting your network 6:14 Why you don’t want to give a puppy 10:29 Busy people get stuff done 13:03 Be a blessing, not a curse 17:07 The power of honor 22:13 Cut them loose from expectation 25:49 One of Mitch’s most powerful connections   Listen to Mitch Matthews Top Podcast here

David C. Baker is an author, speaker, and advisor, working with independently-owned marketing firms around the world.  In fact… he’s worked with over 800 firms and has helped them with everything from positioning to lead generation... staffing to systems… and client acquisition as well as retention.  He’s been called the “Expert’s Expert” by the New York Times and he’s been featured in the WSJ, Fast Company, USA Today, and Forbes.  His newest book, “The Secret Tradecraft of $1M Advisors” is designed to be a handbook for the top 1% of consultants. We’re going to be talking with David about how to set yourself… and your expertise apart to make more impact, have more influence, and bring in more income!       Listen To The Podcast:   David C. Baker RESOURCES: David C. Baker Site: www.expertise.is David C. Baker on Twitter: twitter.com/davidcbaker   Before we get to the interview, I have to include a few other fascinating and intriguing elements of David’s history.   He was born in Michigan… but grew up with a tribe of Mayan Indians in a remote village in the highlands of Guatemala… and then came back to the United States when he was 18.   He’s a fan of fine woodworking.   He teaches racing to already expert motorcycle racers.   He flies 25 different types of airplanes and helicopters.    He loves photography.   He speaks 10 languages.   In short… my boy is wicked smart.   Most importantly… he lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his beautiful wife Julie and they have two grown sons who are married… and who have provided David and Julie with some beautiful grandbabies!   Now that we’ve gotten the important stuff covered… let’s get to this!     SHOW Minute-By-Minute:   0.02: What to expect today! 1:36 Meet David 5:47 What it was like growing up in Guatemala 6:07 The importance of global travel 10:36 The biggest pitfalls for those trying to stand out 13:00 Why David’s book forward is unique 17:31 How to identify your expertise 20:28 How to position yourself 23:54 Done is better than perfect 26:21 A deeper dive into positioning yourself 31:46 The questions to ask yourself as you productize your business 38:49 Wisdom of the week 42:37 Mitch’s biggest takeaways   Listen to Mitch Mattews Top Podcast here

My guest is Brendan Synnott. Brendan co-founded the organic food brand Bear Naked Granola. He wound up selling the brand to Kellogg for $80 Million. Although it was a big win… there was a LOT of ups and downs and Brendan is very open about the fact that he battled depression after the sale.  But he got help and started to live life in a new way. In the years since the sale, he’s launched 5 other brands… oh… and he was also on Survivor! Now he’s taking on the $3 trillion apparel industry (the world’s second-largest polluter) as CEO of the organic, fair-trade cotton apparel company called Pact Organic.  During our interview, we talk about what it takes to get clear and go after a goal, what happens when the goal changes things (BIG TIME) and how to create a new mindset and set new goals too! I think you’re going to love this real and raw conversation!     Listen To The Podcast:     Brendan Synnott RESOURCES:   To find out more about Pact visit: www.WearPact.com. While you’re there… enter promo code:  DREAMTHINKDO Brendan is giving the DTD family 40% off for a limited time!!!   DETAILS: My guest this week is Brendan Synnott … who is a true renaissance man.   He was raised by a single mom and grew up in Connecticut.  Brendan went to college in Nashville and graduated from Vanderbilt. One of his first jobs out of school was as a production assistant on Saturday Night Live!  So his day job was to be a handler of celebrities as they’d come to do the show. While he was home for the summer (since SNL takes the summers off), he ran into a friend who was making organic granola cereal and selling it at farmer's markets.  Since he’d always been entrepreneurial, he asked if he could help. So they launched Bear Naked - organic granola.   They started to get their product on local grocery store shelves and it started to grow from there.  They had to fight through a number of peaks and valleys but they eventually sold to Kelloggs for $80 million.  That’s right… $80 million. During our conversation, you’ll hear that although it was a huge win… Brendan got hit by significant depression after the sale.  He attributes that to a number of factors. The wild ride. The fact that many of his friends worked for the company, so it was tough to let it go.  Plus, a lot of his identity was wrapped up in the brand, so it was tough when it was no longer part of his life. But afterward, he spent time figuring out life.     He went on Survivor.   He also met his wife… and they started their family.   Oh… and he also got clear on the type of companies he liked to start and be involved with.  For example, he realized he LOVES to disrupt industries by bringing products that allow for more transparency, more connection to the customer, and products that are better for the environment. For example, he launched PACT ORGANIC which is an organic, fair-trade cotton apparel company where he’s also the CEO. Obviously, this dude has packed a lot in and made life an amazing journey… and we’re going to talk about how he’s pushed through fear to do just that! Here’s are the specifics and time break down of the interview:   MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 What to expect today! 1:02 Meet Brendan 3:47 All of Brendan's business ventures 5:65 When Brendan worked at Saturday Day Night Live 7:51 Why Brendan got into the granola business 10:05 Brendan's advice to anyone facing an opportunity 12:32 How Brendan handled investors 17:49 How Brendan survived his 20's 20:59 What Brendan learned from Survivor 23:31 The only thing worse than fast food 27:38 Mitch's biggest takeaways   Listen to Mitch Mattews Top Podcast here

Let’s talk: TIME BLOCKING.  As you probably know… “time blocking” is a type of scheduling that helps you manage your time more effectively.  The key is scheduling specific blocks of time for certain tasks on a routine basis. These blocks enable you to focus on finishing big and small tasks… one at a time. This helps limit distractions, get things done faster, and leaves you feeling less overwhelmed. This is especially powerful if you’re working on something new or a side hustle, and you need to make/find time to get things done.  In this episode, we do a DEEP DIVE on the 5 keys to effective time blocking. Plus, we throw in a case study with one of my coaching clients who’s been experimenting with TB for a few months. We’re going to talk with him about what he’s learned and what he wishes he’d known earlier!     Listen To The Podcast:     RESOURCES: DOWNLOAD the FREE DTD PDF GUIDE for this episode. To find out more about Mitch’s concept of “Calendar-Driven To-Do Lists,” check out: DREAM THINK DO: episode 237 Find out more about Justin Aldridge at  www.JustinAldridge.me   MORE ABOUT EPISODE:   As we’ve said, “time blocking” is an approach to scheduling that enables you to prioritize your time more efficiently.  The core concept is scheduling specific blocks on your calendar for specific types of tasks on a routine basis.     These rhythms help you to focus and it helps limit distractions.  That way you can get things done faster, and have more clarity as you do!      This is incredibly powerful if you’re wanting to focus on a big project, launching something new or working a side hustle.  It will help you to make/find time to get things done. I’m going to walk you through the 5 Keys to effective time blocking plus, we’re going to hear from one of my coaching clients who’s been killing it with these strategies for the last few months.  We’re going to talk about what’s worked and what he wished he’d known earlier.   Here are the KEYS to EFFECTIVE Time Blocking:   KEY 1: Decide on HOW MANY hours you want/can work on your project/hobby/business MOST weeks.       When we dig into this KEY, we’ll discuss the importance of involving other key players in your life in this decision.  Plus, we talk about why this is so important early on. (And… why that number may be smaller than you’d like… but it’s still CRITICAL!!!)   KEY 2: Decide on WHEN you want to SPEND those hours MOST weeks.       The key here is sustainability and consistency.  It’s sooooo easy to try to force 5 lbs of almonds into a 2 lbs bag… but you’ll get more done in less time… if you block out appointments with yourself to get key work done in advance.     We talk about one strategy to help with those especially wild weeks and how to bring those back into check too.   KEY 3: Then SCHEDULE protected “meetings” with yourself to protect your TIME BLOCKS.        This is imperative and takes some time to get used to, but it will make all the difference.  It’s as simple as going to your calendar and making appointments with yourself for specific tasks.  You’ll need to check things against your day-to-day schedule… and then establish strategies for protecting your time blocks as the “wildness of life” comes.  (Because… as we all know… it will come!)     KEY 4: DECIDE on some “rules” to guide you on when you would cancel a time block and when you’d protect it!         This “key” is included because we’re using TIME BLOCKING in the real world.  As we said, “wildness of life” will come, but now’s your chance to prep for it.  You’ll want to involve other key players and stakeholders… so everyone can be on the same page when you’re making decisions to switch or stick with a time block.  Plus, you’ll want to decide on some “nice” ways to say NO.   KEY 5: DECIDE on what you want to ACCOMPLISH during a specific time block BEFORE it starts.

We’re talking with Chris Patterson.  Chris is the Founder and CEO of Interchanges, a strategic digital marketing agency, that has generated over a Billion dollars of revenue for their clients over the past 19 years.  Interchanges have worked with a wide range of companies ranging from Lamborghini to Palace Resorts to Hard Rock hotels. Chris's true passion is helping people get from where they are in life to where they want to be.  That passion came from making a lot of mistakes as a kid but then he met Zig Ziglar. Their life-changing relationship helped Chris shift his perspective so he could achieve incredible success and help others to do it too!     Listen To The Podcast:     Chris Patterson RESOURCES: Chris’s strategic digital marketing agency: Interchanges  Chris’s coaching site: Live Large Coaching.      Chris began life from very humble beginnings in Windsor, Ontario Canada.   He grew up poor and was forced to figure out how to survive at a very young age.  As a result, Chris will be the first to tell you that he made lots of mistakes. He experienced severe depression after getting mixed up with the wrong crowd and being fired from multiple jobs.  Things weren’t looking good.   Patterson's life took an incredible shift in 1995 when he reluctantly attended a success seminar with his dad.  Zig Ziglar was the featured speaker and he blew Chris away with his message of hope, success, and positivity.   That interaction with Ziglar started a sequence of events that would change Chris forever.  He started to listen to his “tapes,” yes… tapes. And more importantly… started to apply Zig’s strategies for living a full and successful life.   Fast forward 3 years and Chris was managing a fitness club.  Low and behold, his hero… Zig Ziglar walked in the door. Through some quick thinking, Chris made Zig an offer that he couldn't refuse.  "I will work on your physical health for free 3 hours per week  as your personal trainer if you agree to work  on my mental health for free just one hour per week."   Zig accepted the offer and changed Chris’s life forever.    Fast forward to today, Chris has become a very successful entrepreneur who runs two successful businesses. Chris is grateful to say he’s become a multi-millionaire from the wisdom he learned from Zig and many of the other mentors in his life. Now, he’s passionate about sharing stories and strategies to help others break through setbacks and tough histories… to live a life they love.      In our conversation we talk about: 0:02 What to expect today! 1:30 Get to know Chris Patterson 2:20 Chris’s hidden superpower 5:07 How Zig Ziglar impacted Chris 9:01 How Chris landed Zig as a client 12:30 The biggest nuggets Chris took away from Zig 19:01 The power of authenticity 21:27 The art of knowing when to stop 22:24 How to connect with Chris 23:36 Wisdom of the week 25:08 Mitch’s biggest takeaway’s   What stood out to YOU?  Leave a comment with your favorite tip, story, or strategy from the episode.  I can’t wait to hear from YOU!   Listen to Mitch Mattews Top Podcast here

We’re doing a deep dive into a strategy I used to meet 50 interesting people in a year.  It came at a REALLY important time. I had just moved to a new area. I was trying to launch my business but I didn’t know anyone and no one knew me!  I HATED (and still do) typical “networking” style meetings, so I needed to find a different way. I uncovered a strategy along with 5 specific questions that made all the difference.  It helped me to connect with some incredible people and grow some rich relationships. Plus, this “people-meeting” strategy was sustainable for me… even though I’m a PROUD introvert! In this episode, I will walk you through the story, the strategy, and the questions that I still use every week!  We all know that if we want to make an impact in the world… we can’t do it alone. This strategy will help you to build your tribe, make some new friends, and have a positive impact on the world in the process!     Listen To The Podcast:     RESOURCES: PREVIOUS DTD EPISODES DEALING WITH THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME: “3 Questions to Breakthrough Fear” with Amy E. Smith - www.MitchMatthews.com/231    “Getting out of Your Own Way!” with Susan Baroncini-Moe - www.MitchMatthews.com/176  “Beating the Fear of Public Speaking” with Felicia Slattery - www.MitchMatthews.com/174    THE FIVE QUESTIONS TO GET YOU STARTED:   “Tell me something I should know about you.”  “What’s something you’re working on right now? “What’s something you’re excited about?” “Who are you needing to meet?” “Who else should I meet?”   TRANSCRIPT OF EPISODE:   All right. I'm excited about this. It's been a while since we've done a deep dive where it's just you and me talking, so I'm excited about this.  I'll tell you what, the topic for this particular episode came from one of my coaching clients. He's a newer entrepreneur doing some really cool stuff, really trying to grow his business in different ways. He's got something that he's growing that I believe is going to be global, but he is new to his area, really kind of trying to establish himself. He's trying to establish his brand. He came to me, and one of the things we were talking about was how do you do that? How do you grow your network? How do you grow your connections? It really led to an interesting conversation and a memory, maybe an insight, that I've realized is at the core of my business, but sometimes don't you need to just have conversations that help to draw out some of that stuff out? It's like those core beliefs that are always around you. You're living by them, but maybe you don't always recognize that, right, until you have a conversation or somebody asks you a question. Well, that was definitely the case, and one of the things we started to dig into is this strategy that has really been foundational for me as an entrepreneur, but it's also been really important over the last almost two decades, it's crazy to think about, for growing my business, but also more so, maybe more so, growing rich relationships in my life. Because I believe it's important to have a good, solid network. It's good to know people. It's good to be connected, all of those things. If you're just doing that for networking's sake, that's pretty gross. Do you know what I mean?  I'm an introvert, so there's going to be a lot of biases that I share with you that might just totally be biased towards the introvert, but I can tell you, it's one of those having a bunch of relationships where I kind of know one or a few things about a lot of people, but not have any rich relationships. It doesn't sound all that satisfying to me. Plus, I look back on how my business got started and kind of where it is now, and I've realized, one of the ways that I've grown what I'm wildly blessed to say is a business that I love is really trying to provide value. Meeting people, connecting with people,

My guest is Ryan Hawk.  Even though it sounds like the name of a superhero’s alter ego… Ryan is actually known as an advisor to Fortune 500 companies, a keynote speaker, and the host of The Learning Leader Show… which is a top-rated podcast with millions of listeners.  He’s interviewed people like ‘Good to Great’ author, Jim Collins, Mythbusters’ Adam Savage and storytelling master and DREAM THINK DO friend… Kindra Hall.  Ryan is also the author of the new book, ‘Welcome To Management: How To Grow From Top Performer To Excellent Leader.’     Listen To The Podcast:     Ryan Hawk RESOURCES: Ryan’s new book, Welcome To Management: How To Grow From Top Performer To Excellent Leader. Ryan’s website: www.LearningLeader.com   MORE OF THE STORY: Ryan Hawk is a lifelong student of leadership, and he’s been able to experiment with that knowledge as a professional quarterback, and VP of Sales at a multibillion-dollar company. Now he works with teams from Fortune 500 companies… teams and players in the NFL, NBA, and NCAA, as well as he, facilitates “Leadership Circles” that offer structured guidance and collaborative feedback to new and experienced leaders around the country. Okay… so on DREAM THINK DO, we talk about concepts that help people to dream bigger, think better, and do more of what they were put on the planet to do. That means we have incredible people who are moving and shaking and making a difference.  What that also means is that we’ve got a lot of rock stars who aspire to move up within their organizations, take on leadership roles, and have even more impact. BUT…  often when top performers are promoted to management-level positions―they find the tactics and strategies that got them promoted are not the tactics and strategies that will make them effective in their new role.  So in this episode, we talk about the 3 keys to moving from a top performer to an Indispensable Leader.    We’d love to hear from you!  Leave a comment and let us know which strategy, story or concept stood out to you!    Quick Episode Summary: 0:02 What to expect today! 2:22 Meet Ryan Hawk 4:55 Why Ryan started his podcast 8:00 Why you should pursue curiosity 8:55 Why you need Ryan’s new book 12:33 Why you need to be exceptional 18:29 The role of a manager 22:47 Creating your own personal advisors 26:12 Become a leader you want to follow 27:49 How to connect with Ryan 28:11 Wisdom of the week 30:55 Mitch's biggest takeaways   Listen to Mitch Mattews Top Podcast here

My guest is Erin Rollenhagen.  Erin is the CEO of Entrepreneurial Technologies and author of the new book, “Soul Uprising.” Erin made a name for herself at 14 when she gained national media attention as she led a protest at her middle school.  And she’s been living by a different set of rules ever since! She carried that rebel spirit into her career, founding her company on the premise that tech doesn’t have to be cold and heartless.  Plus, in her new book, Erin encourages her fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders to trust their purpose and embrace impact as the true measure of success. We talk about what it means to be STRONG and AUTHENTIC in a world that is pushing back on both!     Listen To The Podcast:     RESOURCES: ERIN’S BOOK: “Soul Uprising” ERIN’S WEBSITE: erinrollenhagen.com   MORE OF THE STORY: Founding and building a successful tech business isn’t easy. It’s especially difficult when you launch in the late 2000s on the cusp of one of the most destructive recessions in U.S. history!  Not to mention, also getting diagnosed with an incurable degenerative disease! Plus, you can also throw in not looking like how a tech entrepreneur is ‘supposed’ to look.  But Erin Rollenhagen has always defied the odds and established her own set of rules.  In fact, she went against the grain and at age 14, led a protest against misogynistic behavior at her middle school and drew national media attention (and almost got kicked out of middle school too!)  Erin carried that “fist in the air” stand up for what you believe in spirit into her career as a tech entrepreneur, by founding a company on the belief that technology doesn’t have to be heartless and cold.    Recently, she released her book, “Soul Uprising: It’s Never Just Business,” which encourages business leaders and entrepreneurs to trust their purpose and embrace impact as the true measure of success. We talk about what it means to be STRONG and AUTHENTIC!   Leave a comment and let us know what stood out to you from the interview!   Quick Episode Summary: 0:02 What to expect today! 1:30 Meet Erin 2:41 Why Erin held a protest in middle school 5:59 When Erin started her business 10:43 Strategies for being strong and authentic 16:47 Avoiding emotional pricing 20:57 Do you have faith in your purpose? 21:30 Purpose vs. plans 22:30 How to find what you love doing 26:10 How to connect with Erin 26:37 Wisdom of the week 27:16 Mitch’s biggest takeaways   Listen to Mitch Mattews Top Podcast here