The Focus Initiative - with Jim Larsen: Recent Episodes
Jim Larsen
Just. STUCK. That's how we all feel at some point in our lives. Stuck in a job. Stuck in a relationship. Stuck on autopilot and drifting through our one life meaninglessly getting to the end of each boringly stressful day. Not anymore!
The Focus Initiative with Jim Larsen is your ticket to finding meaning, purpose, and living with passion!
In his return from hiatus, Jim shares a personal story about how to move forward toward a goal when you're unsure you have what it takes to actually hit that goal.
In this episode we talk about how to define your win in different scenarios based on CONTEXT.
And sometimes - your win in one context would be counterintuitive in another. That's why it's important to know your win going in to every situation!
Check out Power Partners Coaching for more from Jim
In this episode of our Side Gig Success series we hear how James Bauslaugh went from Pastor to Real Estate Rockstar.
Jacob was a bartender, struggling to pay bills with a family to support. One day his wife asked him "why not us?"...
In this episode Jim chats with Jacob about how he took a side-gig in Insurance sales all the way to millionaire status.
If you're grinding in a job and hoping your side-gig is going to pay off...this episode is for you!
In this episode hear how JoDee Watkins went from working overtime as a nurse to living on a 100 acre farm with absolute time freedom because she ROCKED her side gig!
In this episode Jim digs into the heart of Identity vs Perspective and makes the argument that how you see yourself is how you assume everyone else sees you too.
But do they?
Learn why it's important to ask questions instead of making assumptions and how that can bring people TOGETHER instead of driving wedges between us.
Work with Jim: www.powerpartnerscoaching.com
In this welcome back episode Jim gives 5 steps to hit whatever goal you have:
Step 1: Position yourself where it's POSSIBLE
Step 2: Learn the "HOW TO"
Step 3: Follow the MANUAL
Step 4: Track DATA
Step 5: Be willing to GET UNCOMFORTABLE
As always you can find Jim over at Power Partners Coaching
In this episode Jim breaks down how our brain's goal is to help us individually survive and thrive - and what that means when we want to break out of the mold we've been in.
To Help Cooper: https://www.fightwithcooper.com
To Join the FREE Focus Initiative Community: https://thefocusinitiative.com
Lesson 1: Have the right philosophy
Lesson 2: Listen first
Lesson 3: Know your why
Lesson 4: Align your company's core values
Lesson 5: Trust your timing
Lesson 6: Never give up
Check out Tenpenny Construction Company here.
Follow Stan on Instagram here.
Check out our business and life coaching book clubs here.
Join the fight with Cooper here.
In this episode Jim interviews Rita Roche from Course Correcting Fertility on how changing her mind helped to change her circumstances.
You can find more from Rita at Course Correcting Fertility.
You can join the Course Correcting Facebook Support Group here.
If you love this podcast, join our FREE community here.
And don't forget to rate and review us so others can be empowered in their journey.
How did a Stay at Home Mom of 12 years switch gears to run a thriving multi-location boutique fitness franchise?
Listen in to find out!
Check out our website and free community here.
Check out our Book Clubs here.
Check out Power Partners Coaching here.
Jim's friend, Ashley North asked this question on Facebook:
"True or false: We empower our children to navigate peer pressure by teaching their identity, not teaching them right from wrong. Why or why not?"
What an awesome question - that deserves an awesome answer.
In this episode Jim's going to explain 3 concentric circles: Identity, Ability, and Productivity and how we fool ourselves into thinking that we operate OUTSIDE IN when in reality it's our central IDENTITY that informs everything we do from the inside out.
For info on the 995 Book Clubs, check out the website.
For info on the Focus Initiative Community, check out our website.
For business coaching - especially in the Network Marketing channel, check out Power Partners Coaching.
In this episode, Jim interviews Crystal Tenpenny - the co-founder and CEO of Teamotions: A Tea Company for Emotional Well Being. Crystal and her sister liked tea, but they didn't know anything about it.
Listen to hear how a single conversation between them started a business in an industry they knew nothing about!
You don't have to be an expert to start a business - you just have to be curious and willing to learn. Hear how Crystal just kept taking the next step and doing the next thing - never really knowing what the whole journey would look like.
You can find Teamotions at: https://teamotionstea.com
You can check out our Inspiring Community at: https://thefocusinitiative.com
And if you love to read - we're the founder of the 995 Book Clubs
In this How They Did It Series - Jim & Jamie interview entrepreneurs who took their passion and turned it into business. But we go further and dig into exactly HOW they did it.
We hope this series inspires YOU to take action to pursue YOUR passion.
You can check out La Chica Loca on their website.
Or on Instagram
And as always - check out our community at TheFocusInitative.com
In this episode, Jim answers the most common question he gets from organizational leaders: "How do I motivate my team."
For more inspiration visit: www.thefocusinitiative.com
For business coaching, visit: Power Partners Coaching
In this episode, Jamie Soucy (Instagram @jsoucyrn) is interviewed by Megan Sumrell on the Work + Life Harmony Podcast.
She shares a unique way of time blocking that we guarantee you don't do yet - but you'll want to!
Check out the Work + Life Harmony Podcast
Rate & Review The Focus Initiative Podcast
Do you have a passion? A hobby? Something you just love, but you don't get to spend much time doing it.
In this episode, Jim interviews Evan Darnell, the "Secretary of Steak" for the Red Meat Lover's club about how his vision of networking, good food, great cigars, and helping others turned into a viral movement for good!
Check out their website: https://rmlclub.com
How do you get yourself out of the box you're in and design the life you want?
You can check out The Creator's Show here.
You can check out Jim's website here.
You can check out our coaching company Power Partners Coaching here.
Have you ever noticed that we're so quick to change our approach and perfect things that don't really matter?
Like if you mess up the bread, you're gonna figure out what you did wrong, and you won't make that mistake again.
If you try that puzzle piece in the wrong place, you'll put it aside and pick up a different one.
But when things REALLY matter - like our relationships, and finances, and business...we tend to stick to what's comfortable and we rarely change our approach.
In this episode, Jamie is going to break down practically HOW to take responsibility for your results and to identify when changes need to be made.
http://www.powerpartnerscoaching.com
In this episode Jamie puts Jim on the spot to share his New Year's resolution - which is oddly hard for him to do.
You'll learn:
Why saying our dreams out loud can be hard.
How to stop caring what other people think.
Why some resolutions just evade us.
How to shift our identity in order to adjust our outcome
We also talk about our upcoming Focus Initiative Course! You can apply here:
http://www.powerpartnerscoaching.com/focus-course
Merry Christmas! In this Christmas day episode, Jim dives into niche marketing and how The Focus Initiative is specifically for people who have faith.
But he defines faith as "a belief that inspires action".
What do you have faith in? What is that faith inspiring you to do?
If you've found a home hear, and want to join the free community.
This link is for you - check out the faith filled, ass kicking community here!
This episode is a REPLAY of a live training Jim did for a Network Marketing Team. He talks about:
Building faith in the company as a vehicle.
Getting clear on your goal (& your goal is NOT your company)
Selling without being salesy
Building habits that drive long term success
How to reach out and when to follow up
Setting activity based goals
And SO MUCH MORE!
Check us out at http://www.powerpartnerscoaching.com
Are you running a business, or do you have a hobby that your spouse just isn't supportive of?
In this episode Jim is a guest on the Work Life Harmony podcast with Megan Sumrell - and she asks him how to help your spouse catch your vision.
Stop doing so many things at one time
Give each individual thing your full attention
Set expectations
Realize their frustration is out of a desire for your attention
You can follow Jim on Instagram here
You can get in touch with Jim here
You can access the COMPASS course we talk about here.
Check out Megan's Website here.
In this episode Jim & Jamie are broadcasting LIVE on Facebook, and talking about how Jamie moved on when her "happily ever after" crumbled in front of her.
Hear how she pulled herself up, did the next best thing, kept moving, and ultimately found a new life that she never would have been prepared for if she hadn't walked through the 'hard'.
You can follow her on Instagram here.
You can follow her on Facebook here.
You can WATCH the livestream of this episode here.
You can learn about working with us at Power Partners Coaching.
You can register for our LIVE goal setting workshop here.
Did you know the Focus Initiative is a COURSE!?! Imagine getting the clarity of vision, the strategic planning, and growing the mindset to kick ass delivered LIVE with Jim & Jamie and customized FOR YOU. Info and application here.
In this episode, Jamie interviews Jill Shiefelbein: an award-winning business owner, author, and recovering academic. She taught business communication at Arizona State University for 10+ years, analyzed terrorist documents to provide counter-terrorism messaging strategies to the military, and was a pioneer in the online education space.
In This Episode, Hear how Jill:
*Allows SMALL FOCUS to create inspiration.
*Minimizes her WORDS to maximize potential clients' THOUGHTS
*Limits "passion vomit"
*Focuses on the whole package of verbal AND nonverbal communication
**Organizes her social media NOT as a business building tool, but as a credibility building strategy.
Learn more about Jill: www.thedynamiccommunicator.com*
Follow Jill on Instagram: @DynamicJill
Learn more about Power Partners Coaching: www.powerpartnerscoaching.com
Our guest on this episode has rocked sales in corporate America, finance, and real estate - and now shares his secrets as a professional sales coach.
*Listen as Sean Erwin shares how sales is not about "being a salesperson" or having a certain personality type.
*Learn WHERE advertisement money is showing the best return right now.
*Learn how and when to FOLLOW UP with prospects.
You can follow Sean on Instagram @seancerwin
As always, you can learn more at www.powerpartnerscoaching.com
"I'm committed to the best version of myself, and I can't wait to meet you!"
In this episode Jamie interviews Entrepreneur and Personal Trainer Sarah Basham on how she grew an amazing business based solely on referrals.
You'll hear Sarah's philosophy on RESULTS FIRST and how to make small changes so those results last a lifetime. You'll hear how she tailors everything to her clients and "makes their goals her goals".
If you're overwhelmed by health and fitness advice, let Jamie & Sarah simplify it for you! You can't kick ass at life if you're not confident in your body.
You can email Sarah: BashamPT@gmail.com
"They say a picture can tell 1000 words, but it can also tell 1000 lies"
In this episode Jim peels back the filters of social media and gets real with author and recovery advocate: Emily Lynn Paulson
Her new book: "Highlight Real: Finding Honesty and Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life" she details her autobiographical journey of healing from addiction and the pain that came with that journey, and in this episode we go behind the scenes and hear from Emily herself about trauma, addiction, and infidelity.
We are all affected by addiction at some level, and Emily's transparency and wisdom is a beacon of light to help the healing.
You can find more from Emily here: https://www.emilylynnpaulson.com
You can buy her book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Highlight-Real-Finding-Recovery-Filtered/dp/1733853219/
You can follow us here:
www.powerpartnerscoaching.com
Ever feel like there are SO MANY things you COULD do- it’s hard to know what you SHOULD do?
We all live there, and there are 2 common reactions:
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Get overwhelmed and freeze and do nothing.
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Halfway do lots of things but never give any one of them enough resources to make actual progress.
In this episode Jim walks through how to PRACTICALLY narrow the list of COULD do down to ONE THING that should get your focus and attention.
www.powerpartnerscoaching.com
"Trust is the digital currency on the internet right now."
In this episode Jamie interviews Brand Strategist Kristin Korn on why it's important to market YOURSELF over your brand and how to practically create content to share your authentic story.
Alex Belcher has helped clients buy and sell over 1000 properties in his 9 year career as a Real Estate Agent.
He was featured on the cover of Realtor Magazine as the year's Top 30 Under 30.
In this episode Jim interviews him on HOW he went from being one agent among many to one of the best.
Alex's practical advice will help anyone who wants to build a lasting business based on establishing rapport and caring about people.
In this episode you'll get to hear time management and productivity coach Megan Sumrell talk about:
*Why she uses the word "harmony" instead of "balance"
*What her actual morning routine looks like
*How to manage ALL THE THINGS when life is busy
*How to stay organized and on task
Check her out and follow her at www.megansumrell.com
You don't achieve ANYTHING that you don't work for. So whatever goals you have for your life or your business obviously require effort.
But we still so often find ourselves not putting in the effort we know we should. We're not consistently doing the things we know we ought to do - WHY!?
This is the question that Jim & Jamie answer in this week's episode. People will do everything they believe is both worth doing AND that they'd be successful in - so if we're not taking action, chances are it betrays the fact that we either don't believe the activity is worth it - or we don't believe in our ability to do it.
Tune in as a gut check to inactivity.
When you think of what's possible for your life or your business - what data is influencing those thoughts?
What metric do you use to define and understand your potential?
In this episode Jim zooms in on a scene from the movie "Facing the Giants" and shows how we're often capable of WAY MORE than we give ourselves credit for.
The haunting thing in all this - is that we'll only put effort toward things that we think are possible, and if we sell our potential short - we won't work to achieve goals that would otherwise be within our reach!
Starting October 1, we are BUILDING BELIEF in our members' community. Check it out here.
In this episode Jamie shares her story from being a nurse with young babies, to starting a business in order to find herself, to losing a marriage, and finding the courage to rebuild.
She realizes that life is hard and it throws curve balls - but that we have what it takes to do the hard things.
And the beauty that comes on the other end can only exist because of the hard stuff we walked through.
How important is clarity in presenting your business?
How does getting laser-focused on what's important help our efficiency and productivity?
In this episode Jim & Jamie were LIVE with their private members' community talking about "Treating Your Business Like a Business". They discuss time blocking, social media marketing, morning routines, planners, dressing the part, etc...
And as always - check them out at Power Partners Coaching.
I watch so many people put off doing what they really want to do because they don't feel ready or they don't feel like it's the right time...
But they haven't defined what the "right time" even looks like - so even if they stepped on it, they wouldn't recognize it.
In today's episode Jim is solo talking about how to choose to move forward even though you might not feel ready.
You can catch Jim & Jamie at Power Partners Coaching where aspiring businesses achieve focused results.
There are a lot of things we COULD do, but what SHOULD we do?
People freeze at this question all the time, waiting for confirmation, affirmation, even a neon sign from heaven to let them know what they should do.
In this episode I share my story - and what it looks like to move forward with ZERO guarantees. What it looks like to do it scared, and without certainty.
What would you do if you weren't afraid?
In this episode Jim catches up with an old friend that he worked with in the ICU, and now Corey has left his day job to pursue a dream as an entrepreneur.
What is the journey like to take the risk and leave what's secure for what's unknown?
How hard is it to redefine yourself and pivot?
What are the obstacles you face when turning your dream into a reality?
These are just some of the topics we cover in this weeks episode!
Catch Corey at Cre-Tek
What if the story you told of your life wasn't the only story that could be told? What if you had the power to change your situation? Would you want that power? Would you want that power even if it meant you'd be held responsible for what you did with your freedom?
In this Episode I talk about competing world views of Chaos and Control and illustrate how they've been around since the beginning of time and how they impact our lives today in everything from menial tasks like finding a babysitter to hugely important things like whether we're going to take a risk or play it safe.
Have you seen those Social profiles that just look SO put together, and wished you could get yours to look awesome, too?
Jenny Taylor is a former corporate marketing rockstar who has now fully embraced entrepreneurialism - and we chat ALL ABOUT:
How to create an attractive personal brand on social media with nothing more than some planning and a smart phone!
You can follow Jenny here: http://www.jennydoesgrace.com
Often when we ask the question of PURPOSE, we're looking for an action to take, or something to do.
But that's backwards.
What you DO doesn't define who you are, what you do simply reflects who you are.
In this episode I talk about BEING purpose, and using that as a launch point to find that intersection between your passion and your talent.
In this episode I welcome my very reluctant and shy wife Sonya to the show to chat about Date Night ideas. Here's the summary:
- Date nights need to be out of the ordinary
- Date nights need to require effort
- Date nights need to be regular
We also chat about some of the reasons it's been a struggle for us as a couple to make them a priority.
Sonya and I have been married for 13 years, and I've learned some things along the way. In this episode (part 3 of 4 on intentional relationships) I share 5 important things I've learned:
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- Be Each Others Biggest Fans
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- Protect Your Mutual Trust
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- Spend Time Together Intentionally
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- What You Focus on You Magnify
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- Commitment is the Only Way to Overcome Obstacles
Check it out, and make sure to add your thoughts at www.meetjimlarsen.com/podcast
Emily Anne Buck is a powerhouse speaker on the domestic abuse circuit - rising above her own story to inspire others to rise above their's!
In this episode she details her story and I ask her about the signs your relationship might be abusive and how to ask for help so you can heal!
www.emilyannebuck.com
SEX.
This is PART 1 of 4 in a series on INTENTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS and I talk about some important issues that our culture has created:
#MeToo is an important movement brought about because of the systematic devaluation of women.
But we created that.
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We have been raising women to believe that being a wife and a mother is her only top priority and so she needs to do anything she can to attract a man.
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We've simultaneously been raising men to pursue meaningless physical sex with zero commitment so they're not tied down and distracted from pursuing their bigger purpose.
This recipe is not designed to go well.
Last week we talked about how to MAKE money, and that inevitably drew questions about how to MANAGE the money we're making!
In order to bring value to that topic, I brought in Dave Ramsey Certified Master Financial Coach (and great personal friend) Gabe Cooper out of Phoenix, AZ.
We talk about:
*budgeting and how to start a budget, what to expect when starting.
*getting on the same financial page as your partner
*the peace and relief that comes from feeling control over your income
*practical steps you can take RIGHT NOW to start getting control over your money
Check it out! Your wallet will thank you!
Often the only advice we get on how to make money is to "go to college so we can get a job"
That's it.
There's a TON of info on how to MANAGE money - but very little on how to make it. In this episode I talk about how money simply follows VALUE - and if you want to make more money, you need to be solving a bigger problem so you can be adding more value.
Ok, so you WANT to do something, or even think you SHOULD do something, but your circumstances make it hard or even impossible...and so you're left feeling powerless and out of control to affect change in your life.
In this episode I talk about Concern, Control, and Influence and how we can use these concepts to make progress even in the midst of seemingly impossible circumstances.
STOP BEING A VICTIM TO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES!
Since we were young, we've been asking one haunting question: WHO AM I?
And the answer we get to that question, the one we accept and internalize, determines how we go about living our lives.
Did you accept an identity of courage, beauty, strength, and value? Or when you asked that question were you told that you'd never amount to anything? Or that you were 'weird' or 'different'?
In this episode I recount the bullying I experienced as a kid and WHY it didn't affect me.
We're ALL salespeople - the difference is that some of us recognize that fact and so we practice and use it to our advantage, while others of us pretend that "we're just not salespeople"...
The ironic thing to realize, is that sales happens in ALL OF LIFE - not just business, so the people who learn the skill - tend to get what they want...
In this episode, I bring on my business partner Jamie Soucy as a special guest and we talk through 3 tricks to win the MINDSET of sales.
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You have to be SOLD yourself.
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You have to be COMMITTED to hitting goals.
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You have to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for the outcome
Learn how those 3 tricks will help you overcome all the obstacles so you can begin to implement the SKILLSET of sales.
"Finding your purpose is beautiful, but pursuing your purpose is messy"
In this episode I have the pleasure of interviewing millionaire businesswoman and brand new author Jess Dennis on the eve of launching her book: The Balanced Entrepreneur.
Hear Jess talk about why BALANCE is so important and how to become OBSESSED with creating the life you're truly after.
We often feel stretched so thin - and so overcommitted that we can look at every single area of our lives and just feel like we're failing...that we're not enough.
It doesn't have to be that way.
Success is NOT SIMULTANEOUS, it's SEQUENTIAL.
In this episode, I talk about WHY we feel as though we don't have time, and how when we learn to FOCUS, we can create time and make progress on multiple fronts.
If you've ever felt like you don't have time for important things - this episode is for you!
I talk often about how success requires two things: COURAGE to get started and FAITH to persevere through obstacles.
In this episode, I break down how we often have the wrong view of FAITH, because we limit the subject of Faith to conversations about God and Religion. Faith encompasses so much more than just those topics, and when we're not aware of that, we can't use it intentionally:
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Faith is a CHOICE- we choose to believe or not, and often that choice is based on our feelings and not any actual evidence.
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Faith is a MUSCLE- it requires exercise or it will atrophy.
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Faith is UNNERVING- for those people who haven't chosen to place faith in the things that you have.
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Faith is NECESSARY- we use it EVERYDAY! The question is whether we're using it intentionally for our benefit or not.
Once you understand this - then you're positioned to persevere through any obstacle, which is required if you're going to be successful.
Most people would trade their average life FOR success, but they wouldn't trade their average life to PURSUE success.
In this episode, I talk about the secret to success being an obsession with one singular goal that you're passionate about, and how the pursuit of that will likely make you look weird to people - especially people who recognize that your obsession comes at the cost of BALANCE.
Are you forcing yourself to be content? Does wanting more seem like you're not thankful for what you have? Chances are, you've bought the same lie I did.
In this episode, I talk about the lie that I was sold growing up that forced me to choose between having gratitude or being content:
See, if I wasn't content - then it was as if I wasn't thankful for what I had, which is a common lie in the middle class! If I forced myself to be content, I was denying the haunting for more deep inside me, and that didn't feel right either.
Listen to the episode to learn that GRATITUDE and CONTENTMENT are not at odds with each other! You can be thankful for what you have and still want more! In fact, it's often the gifts and abilities you were born with, but haven't tapped into that are haunting you with the idea that there's more out there!
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Often the reason we either don't hit goals - or find ourselves still unsatisfied after achieving what we thought would fulfill us comes down to whether those goals align with our CORE VALUES.
In this episode we look at core values and how passion for life is found when we're doing what we were wired and designed to do.
In fact, BALANCE is only something we pursue in the absence of passion. Pursuing "balance" is a code word that should raise a red flag and alert you to the fact that your life is likely not aligned with your values.
When you find PURPOSE and PASSION, you're not looking for BALANCE, you're not looking for rest, you're not looking for a vacation. You're living LIFE!
In our first ever podcast episode, Jim talks about how we often settle for less in life simply because we haven't been burned by conventional wisdom. WAKE UP! And start claiming the life you're REALLY after!