Advice from Dad | Your Weekly Dose of Wisdom: Recent Episodes
L.A. Ricketson
On this podcast, I share the audio from my YouTube Channel where I pour into young people who might not have the greatest relationship with their dad. Or, maybe they don't have a dad at all. Or, maybe they could simply use some good, sound advice in their lives. Either way, I hope these short, personal development messages inspire and challenge you as a young adult.
What's the BEST decision you've ever made? Recently, I had the honor of sharing a message in a Kenyan church with 5 tribes represented in the crowd. Here's what I shared. The next day, my email-subscribed daily devotion confirmed I shared what I was supposed to:
Deuteronomy 30:19
Don't ya love it when God sends you a little nod of approval? :)
Remember Job in the Bible? Satan made a bet with God that he could get the rich, righteous man, Job, to turn his back on God. God allowed Satan to put Job through hell and back; trials that would have broken any man. But the one thing Satan didn't touch was Job's wife. Why?
Self development, personal growth, christianity, faith, couples, marriage
There are subtle change you can make in your life to start enjoying life more fully. The people who exemplify next level living KNOW these secrets. I'm going to share five of them with you today. They are simple and almost obvious, but most people take the lazy route, and ignore them. Set yourself apart. Start working on your personal development today with these little wisdom nuggets.
Some girls who find themselves in a toxic relationship with the wrong guy KNOW they need to end it, but can't find the courage to do so. Here is some great ideas for you to consider. Take this free advice and change your life right now.
How long will freedom of religion really mean freedom of religion? Where is America's Cancel Culture headed? How far will we go, and how quickly will we get there?
Thanks Christian for this great question. Let's talk about it. Here are some practical and fair rules to play by. If you run across any strong objections, these can act as a filter to weed out the WRONG people.
Dating advice. Couples. Singles. Dating ideas. Dating Apps.
Ever meet someone who is physically beautiful? Maybe even crazy successful, super athletic, super talented? But.. they did something that turned you off immediately? Yep, me too.
Here are 7 things people can do to make themselves instantly unattractive. Sad, but true.. most people who do these things are completely clueless. They don't even realize it... Or, they are blind to how it makes them look.
Hope you enjoy this, do a self-check, and share it with friends!
God is infinitely complex, but He's also a fan of simplicity. We learn this through His written Word. You can believe what you want. It's your choice. There's a god, there's no god, this is my god, there's a heaven, there's paradise, there's reincarnation.... Believe what you want. Today, I'm sharing about the God I believe in and the offer He gives us to spend eternity with Him. If you don't believe what I'm saying, simply listen to educate yourself on one of the world's largest and oldest religions. :)
If life is all about "stuff," then being poor can suck... 'cause you ain't got nothing. But, if life's happiness is really found in things you can't buy, then you my friend are the rich kid.
Took me several years to figure that out, but I wouldn't trade my impoverished upbringing for anything.
Here's 9 character traits I built over that time. I would have never had these had I not been raised by a single mom in a trailer park.
Faith
Humility
Empathy
Frugality
Work Ethic
Patience
Gratitude
Creativity
True Happiness
I hope you find light in what I'm trying to share. And, if you're rich.. I hope you slow down and take a hard look at what makes you happy.
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Do your homework
Know the position (requirements)
Know the company (their website: history, values, size, news, etc)
Know the interviewer (Website bio / LinkedIn / Facebook) -
Prepare for your arrival
Be dressed (one step above their “code”)
Have a NICE notebook, pen, and extra resumes
If virtual, prepare:
Shower, Dress (full), lighting, eye contact, background.
If you look good, you feel good and that energy/confidence will show.
Bonus Tip: Arrive early at the location! Get there at least 20-30 minutes early. Then gather your thoughts and composure in your car before you walk in. -
Bring your A game
Be polite to EVERYONE
Solid handshake
Eye contact
Good posture
No slang (like, seriously)
Watch body language of interviewer -
Know your strengths and weaknesses
Examples:
S - I try to always do more than I’m asked if the situation allows that.
S - I'm very resourceful. If I don't know an answer, I'll figure it out, or ask the right person.
S - I don't focus on my mistakes, I focus on how well I recover from the mistake.
W - I find it hard to work in critical or political environments.
W – I'm can be a perfectionist, so it takes me a little longer to digest criticism. -
Expand on your answers
No yes or no answers. Volley back if possible. Make it a conversation. Give stories whenever possible. -
Be ready with behavioral stories
A time you had to handle conflict
A time you faced challenge/struggle
How you handled the situation: Outcomes/Results
Name your Greatest accomplishment
Many more questions to practice are below -
Be familiar with industry language
Acronyms. Terms. (e.g. CRM, SEO, FB pixel, drip campaign... or whatever your industry language is) -
Don’t be afraid to say “no” or “I don’t know”
Write down the question and learn from the answer -
Be prepared with great questions
Examples:
What are you most looking for in the winning candidate for this position?
Can you tell me about the team around this position?
How would you describe your company’s culture?
Do you offer promotion pathways for people who go up and beyond what's expected?
Is there anything I did or said in this interview that might be perceived as a weakness and keep me from winning this position?
Jot the answers down on your notepad! -
Have a memorable finish
Eye contact, smile, nice handshake
“Thank you so much. I'm excited about possibly working here.”
If virtual, make sure fully disconnected!!
EMAIL anyone who was a part of the interview process.
Handwrite and mail a thank you to main person/people
Possible Interview Questions to prepare for:
Have an answer/story for ALL of these.
Tell me a time when you failed? How did you handle it?
What is your greatest accomplishment?
What are your core values and why?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Give an example of a time you struggled or failed.
What's a regret you have?
What would your previous boss say you excel or struggle in?
How would your previous boss rate you on a 1-10 scale? Why?
What could make you want to quit a task or a job?
What's your superpower?
Tell me about a time when you’ve had to work alongside someone very different than you, how did you work with that person to achieve common goals?
Tell me about a time that you were tasked with a project and had to pivot due to a conflict?
Tell me about a time when you made a strategic business or life decision.
How well do you handle change? Can you give an example?
... MANY more questions are posted on my YouTube video of this talk.
OK, let's poke a little fun at this younger generation. Specifically, about the way they talk. Here are 6 things Gen-Z and Millennials do when they talk. OK, cool, no big deal. BUT, they should strongly consider NOT talking like this when in a professional situation. It just flat out makes you seem weak, not confident, airy, not-so-bright, and not all together.
Not my typical podcast. But in all humor.. I hope this helps a few people look in the mirror.
OK, I did it. Here's probably 8 years of wisdom I poured into my three daughters. I'm giving it to you in less than 20 minutes. This is the sex talk, the warnings, the dadvice.. (ha see what I did there?) that I gave my girls as warnings of protection. This advice, these tips, these truths can and WILL prevent major heartache and pain. Just listen, and apply.
Teen sex (premarital sex) can lead to a plethora of issues. Don't listen to the lies. Know them before hand, and have a plan to respond to them. Because you will hear them ALL and life will demand a response.
It's Q/A time! Thanks for your amazing questions! I tried to get to as many as I could.
Here's what is in this podcast:
- Personal journaling (Scooter)
- College, career, employment, networking (Pixie Stix)
- Envy, doubting faith, regret (Emily Ren)
- Med school, dad relationship (Isabella Cristina)
- Miracles, the perfect day (Marketa)
- Finding the right guy (Grace Dance)
Be sure to check out the referenced vids that I mentioned. They're on my Advice from Dad YT channel.
It's no secret that successful people fill their lives with good habits. But good habits are often tough to build. Most of us are just lazy and we take the easy route. What if I told you that building good habits is actually easy IF you know how to do it? Well, here's out. Get your notepad and let's go to school.
Broken homes are more common than not. If this is your reality, here are some tips that will help you and your broken family excel. Being raised by a single mom in a trailer park helped me become who I am today. I wouldn't trade those years for anything. That's mostly because I had a strong mom who taught me these 6 tips. Now I'm sharing them with you.
Haven't we ALL asked this at one time or another about our prayers to God? Here's some thoughts I shared on my YouTube channel. I want you to consider them if you've ever asked how to pray better, how to hear from God, how to strengthen my faith.
Most of us don't "do" new years resolutions because we never stick to them. Know why? Because we try to ADD new stuff to our already busy, habit-filled lives. Here's a technique you can try ANY time of the year to name and claim those resolutions.
OK, you might not wanna hear this, but if you can't find the right guy, stop looking. Instead, spend time working on yourself. Here is a self-check of 5 things you need to make sure of about yourself BEFORE you start looking for the right guy.
Dating in your teens, twenties, and early thirties can be tough. Make sure you are in the right place with YOU.
We ALL have times where we just feel things are out of alignment. It's nothing new. But, it's what we do during those times that matter? Do we ignore it? Learn to live with it? Or, do we take steps to make things right?
This personal development video will help you know exactly how to get things into balance again. In the comments below, please share your personal experience. What do YOU do when things just aren't right?
Links as promised:
Reckless
https://youtu.be/6xx0d3R2LoU
As You Find Me
https://youtu.be/V0eXYR65Z2w
Passion of the Christ
https://vimeo.com/413740746
What do you think of when you hear the word, success? What pictures come to mind? What does a successful lifestyle look like? Did you know being successful is 100% up to you and within your reach? Check out this podcast and see what it looks like and how to achieve it.
Are there more than three? Of course, but I singled out 3 things that let other people know all about you. And the cool thing.. YOU control each of the 3. So, if you need a little improvement, it's in your hands. Check out this self-evaluation wisdom nugget that will help you become a better you.
- How you talk to other people.
- How you manage time.
- Personal Development
Sometimes hustle and drive and taking the lead are NOT the best answers to a happier more fulfilled life. Sometimes you need to be where your shoes are and work on the REAL relationships in your life; These are ones that will last you a lifetime and will fill your cup all your days. Weekly wisdom for your soul. Personal development.
We are NOT promised a trouble-free life. We ALL face trials. How we handle those is completely up to us. Our actions, our thoughts, our words, and our attitude can make or break us when we are in the midst of storms.
In this video, I share a thought that I came up with during one of our family's toughest seasons. It helped me then, and it continues to help me today. I trust it'll encourage you as well.
I know, I know.. there are no "ugly" people. We are all God's beautiful creations. But, sometimes we all FEEL ugly.
Here are 9 things you can start implementing in your life to be super attractive no matter what culture you live in. I read some of these recently in a blog post and thought I'd share them with you!
- Embrace your quirkiness
- Let your actions advertise your greatness.
- Be willing to do your own thing.
- Be comfortable being alone.
- Don't get caught up in gossip.
- Defend the unpopular.
- Remember details about people.
- Celebrate others.
- Be funny.
And here's a BONUS #10 for the people who take time to read this:
- Take care of your crap.
By that I mean, own your stuff. Be responsible with your personal things... like your attitude, your hygiene, your clothes, your living space, your appearance. Take care of your crap. If you don't respect yourself, who else will? Start loving yourself and others will love ya back.
Not all can do all, but all can do some. Let's all go be attractive!
Sometimes we need someone else to point it out to us. Critical spirits are hard to see in the mirror. If you are brave enough, listen to this episode. Do YOU have a critical spirit? Do you think it's attractive? Do you justify it?
Check this episode out and help yourself or someone you love.
Sometimes we need to step away from mindless entertainment and depressing world news and just bask in prayer. Here's my prayer meant just for YOU! Be blessed. #PrayforMe
Sometimes it's disguised as super affection and girls LOVE it! Especially if they're bouncing from a sucky boyfriend. BUT, if you see any of these 5 clues.. start considering your exit.
1. Love bombing too soon
2. Overly jealous or worried
3. Having trust issues
4. You are HIS whole world
5. Comparing himself to other guys.
If you like this, watch this video about guys who are TOO secure (aka cocky/controlling). https://youtu.be/B6wn9Nqs4Ss
Jacky Chen, you nailed it. Too good not to share. :)
Uh oh... I done did it now. Let's talk about protests, national (confederate) monuments, police brutality, BLM, racism, and freedom of speech!
Here are the things you may want to say, or are thinking, but the dreaded cancel culture will blot you out of existence if you do.
What is the world coming to?
Covid-19? Racism? National monuments? Antifa? BLM? Politics? Russia? China? WHO? Riots? Police brutality? Wow! We have our share of crises, right? As Christians, what are we to do? Watch? Intervene?
Skip to 6:30 for the answers.
Churches are pumping out weekly online sermons yet it's almost impossible to find any preacher talking about what to do. So.. in this video, I give three very practical and Bible-based actions you can take, right now. Enjoy.
Be sure to subscribe. Thankya!
Wow! You guys have the BEST questions. In this video, I respond to several of your questions. And, you guys went DEEP! Hahah. Good stuff! I hope you enjoy this. Maybe I can plan to do this every couple of months. I tried to answer as many as I could.
Be blessed!
We need more open communication. We need to listen TO EACH OTHER. We are ALL God's children. Any efforts to segment, divide, oppress, .. are of the enemy. Let's listen to one another, love one another, offer grace to one another, serve one another. Resist buying into narratives, broad brush accusations and assumptions, ... instead, think, listen, love, pray, forgive. In the family of Christ, we are all brothers and sisters. Outside of that will ALWAYS be strife and division. And, sometimes strife and division can be found within the family of Christ, if we let our guards down and let sin enter our hearts.
Did ya ever think maybe you were going to marry someone but something just wasn't right? Maybe over time you saw a side that just wasn't the marrying kind? Well, that's what I share in this episode. I remember exactly what it was that drew the line to let me know "she" wasn't the one. How do YOU know when someone's right for marrying? That's kinda up to you. But I can tell ya when they're NO right. Check this out.
The Christian walk is hard. Jesus warns us it's gonna be hard. It's a daily challenge not to fall in line with culture and not to conform to the pattern of the world. We WANT to be loved. Accepted. Appreciated. But by whom? The world? Or God?
Part of staying in your walk is having accountability. In this video, I share a question I was asked by a treasured friend. I've never felt “iron sharpening iron” in a more real way than when I was hit with this question.
I pray this question can help YOU, and those whom you are sharpening. :)
Do you have sucky boyfriend? Do you KNOW that, or are you lying to yourself that he's gonna change? Many girls fall prey to crap relationships by not recognizing or responding to the early signs. In this episode, I share:
1. what to look for so you can avoid a sucky guy
2. how to know if your guy sucks
3. what absolutely, positively you should NOT do
Then, I share practical steps for getting out and moving on. Great advice for young women. Enjoy.
In this episode I give my 2 cents on whether or not opposites attract. AND, if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Whether you are in a relationship, or looking for a relationship, this will give you some cool stuff to chew on.
1 Peter 5:8 tells us.. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." What does that mean to you? Does it haunt you? Are you in danger of being taken down? What can you do to protect yourself?
Check out this episode to find out a new way to look at this powerful verse and how to be ready to avoid and out-maneuver any stalking lions.
OK, why is a white guy sharing the Top 10 Success Tips for Young Black Men? What the heck does he know about it? What life experiences does he have to pull from? Great questions. Please know my heart. Please see past color and focus on the content, not the messenger.
- You matter
- Guard your mind
- Know the power of your decisions
- Find your purpose (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrMqzeHavFA&t=118s)
- Chose your friends wisely
- Find a mentor
- Understand money (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sExTRK___vE&t=1s)
- Assume the best in people
- You will have to work harder (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCGiInFZ5dA&t=171s)
- Know God
Bonus Tips:
1. You WILL fail in life. When you do, fail forward. Learn from mistakes and use them to make you stronger and smarter.
2. Pay attention to details. If you are meticulous with details, the big stuff takes care of itself. Focus on your character, making the right decisions, striving for excellence, and hard work.
3. In life, you will win and lose. Know in your inner most being that the most important thing to win is your salvation. The rest is temporary and will fade away.
4. Here is a great life quote from Nick Saban: “If you can handle the pain of discipline, you won’t have to handle the pain of disappointment.” Discipline yourself to incorporate these 10 tips into your life.
What does your Christian walk have to do with sports? Or music? Or fitness? I'll tell ya.
Just like athletes, musicians, and fitness junkies, we have to practice off the field. As Christians, we too have to be ready for game day. Our practice is different and our games are different, but their is a HUGE parallel between the two that I share in this message. Enjoy.
Man, if I could rewind the clock! .. Here are 6 AMAZING Tips about finances that I sure wish I had known at 20. Applying this advice can change the course of your financial life!
- Get a Credit Card (pay it off each month)
- Buy over Leasing
- Own over Renting
- Start a 401K (or ROTH IRA)
- Listen for big ones
- Apply the rule of 10-10-80
I am NOT a licensed financial advisor. I just know common sense guidelines for being smart with money. Seek professional advice before doing anything crazy!
Please take this advice to heart and start TODAY!
How are you using your COVID-19 quarantine downtime? Or, ANY downtime? Hopefully not getting fat and binging on NetFlix. Check out these 6 things you can do to be productive. These are 6 things you probably know about, but are not thinking about doing. Take on this challenge and let me know your results!
Ever have one of those moments when you WISHED you would have done something but didn’t?! Maybe it was fear? Maybe it was lack of faith? Well check this out. Here's a cool lesson on faith in prayer while being aligned with God’s will. And a little, but powerful, phrase in the Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego story that I bet you’ve never heard.
Have you ever received a lame apology; one that actually started the argument all over again? We all have. The real question is have you ever delivered a lame apology. Well, watch this video to learn exactly how to apologize... authentically.
There are five steps to an authentic apology. Each of the five has its individual, strong, and unique purpose.
- Say what you did.
- Say the real reason why you did it.
- Empathize with the victim.
- Describe what you should have done.
- Apologize and ask forgiveness.
That's it. Now.. to whom do you need to apologize? Go get'em!
Consider it pure joy when you face trials of any kind.. WHAT? How can anyone consider a trial "pure joy?" Well, with the right frame of mind, it's possible. Whether it be the Corona Crisis or any other trial that you face in life, here are three amazingly simple, but incredibly powerful things you can do to help you through. In this video I share a crap season I went through and the things I learned that have helped me in every trial since. I pray you can apply these into your life. One thing "COVID19" has reminded us of... and that's the fact that God is God, and we are not.
Are you easy to talk with? Do people enjoy talking with you? Here are some fantastic tips that can help ANYONE become a wonderful conversationalist. If you implement these tips, you will quickly find that your conversations with other people are far more interesting and fulfilling. And, as a result, your friendships will deepen and your bond with others will be more authentic.
How can you find the right guy? It's simple. Become what he is looking for. Do you know what he is looking for? I can help. Check out this episode to learn exactly the things the right guys are looking for in a girl and maybe you can discover some things about yourself that MAY be preventing you from finding "him."
Where are the responsible, caring, giving, serving, loving, strong, hard-working, respectful young men these days? They are few and far between for sure. This is mostly due to our self-serving, attention-hungry culture. These basic tips can help any young man become a success in life, his career, his future marriage, and in his relationships. I wish I'd had a father to instill these life tips into me as I was growing up. Instead, I had to learn them the hard way.
Not everybody has a great dad. My dad was absent and I was raised by a strong, single mom. That challenge made me who I am today. Wouldn't it be great, though, if we did all have hands-on, loving, encouraging dads in our lives? The reality is we do not. And that's ok. Here are some of my thoughts on this subject; a subject that crosses all nations and nationalities. Use these words to challenge yourself and whatever role your father plays, or doesn't play, in your life.
Young girls NEED to hear this. All too often, our young girls are being raised and shaped by culture and peer pressure rather than by strong parents/guardians. Culture and peer pressure do NOT have a young girl's best interest at heart. The quest for popularity, likes, followers, .. can often lead to heartache and depression. Girls can quickly feel defeated and have low self value over meaningless things. These four truths can empower young women and keep them grounded in the things that really matter.