Life Altering Events: Recent Episodes
Frank Zaccari
Everyone has those AHA moments or events that change our lives for better or worse. These life altering events occur in every aspect of our professional, personal, and in the lives of our family. Try as we may, it is impossible to completely separate the events in our personal life from our professional life. Believe me, I tried and failed miserably. Life altering events present us with opportunities to seize the moment and make difference in our own life, the lives of our loved one, friends and business associates. They also can be a fork in the road where we can fall apart or pick up the pieces and start moving forward toward better times and better people. It is never too late to have the life you want and deserve. Let’s talk about it.
Everyone wants to be appreciated. Pretty basic stuff, right? Yet why are we having so much depression and anxiety and stress? Why are nearly 84% of workers not engaged. Why is our world being divided into us vs them? There are three things that can make a major difference in someone's personal and professional life. They are I see you. I hear you. You matter. Eight words that can change our life, our organization and the world. Why is this so hard? I wish I had the answer. I don’t, however my guest Sarah McVanel, recognition expert, will share with us how we can rediscover our own greatness, and recognize the greatness in others.
Today we are going to talk about Facing and Our Fears and finding our joy. Fear is a very powerful emotion. It can motivate some to take action and it can paralyze others.
Where does your fear come from? Is it from a past trauma, be it physical, mental or emotional? Is it because you tried and failed at a task or a job or a marriage? Is it an irrational fear or phobia you just can’t get past? What ever it is, until you face your fear it will continue to suck the life and joy out of you.
My guest today is Belinda Farrell who has experienced debilitating physical, mental and emotional fear, but rather than giving up, she picked up the pieces and discovered fear is not an invincible opponent and she is showing others how to become alive with a CAPITAL A.
We all have periods in our life where we just feel stuck. No matter what we think we want to do; we just never get around to getting it done. We find ourselves in a rut spinning our wheels and going nowhere. So, we settle for being stuck waiting for “mythical someday” to come. As we have said on this show before, “That in order for people to embrace and activate change, they have to feel it is both possible AND important.” So, what do you want to change? Maybe you want to stop smoking or drinking, or become more assertive, or overcome a phobia that keeps you stuck. Maybe you want to change a dynamic in your family or personal life. It may be important enough, but is it possible? The answer is yes and Darlene Corbett will show us how!
The current state of the world has brought us to an inflection point. Some people and organizations have thrown up the hands and said why bother – I don’t see a silver lining or a light at the end of the tunnel. Fortunately, many more people believe everything happens for a reason and are grateful for the lessons they are learning and the opportunities that are being presented. If you are thinking, what lessons and what opportunities, then be grateful you tuned to hear my interview with Eileen Bild.
Eileen believes and teaches that life expresses itself through our experiences, the good and the bad. She will make you believe in yourself and your ability to shape your journey.
Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take, But By the Moments That Take Our Breath Away. It is the little things in life that reach out and grab our hearts; that make us smile; that we always remember with great joy. Very often these moments appear during some of the most difficult times in our life to remind us that no matter what obstacles life puts in our way, we can always look up, get up and never ever give up.
Connie Bramer has experienced more than her share of adversity. Death of her mother at age 26, divorce, breast cancer in her mid 30's, yet Connie is the person we look forward to seeing or simply talking too, that always makes us smile. She can find the lighter side in almost every situation. She makes us laugh and she can laugh at herself. She remind us that no matter what crisis we are facing, our attitude and outlook makes all the difference.
Have you ever noticed that good answers and good choices rarely occur when we are stressed out or in crisis mode? You cannot focus. You cannot find clarity of thought. You cannot rationally weigh the pros and cons. It is like trying to hold back the ocean during high tide. You are simply reacting to a situation you cannot change, alter or win. Our cluttered mind then tells us we have lost or we failed. At this point our lives are “CRAPPY.” So how do we go from CRAPPY back to HAPPY. My guests today are Kat O'Keefe-Kanavos, one of the primary authors of Crappy to Happy and Mike Pitocco a contributing author. The book CRAPPY to HAPPY is being released today.
We all know that misery loves company. It waits and watches for those who are hurting. It senses the storm seeds in our mind. Misery starts out as a friend. It will gain our trust. It will commiserate with us by watering and nurturing our storm seeds. It will not offer help. If we challenge misery and try to move forward, it will pull us back down. It takes advantage of us. It sucks the very life out of us. Misery’s goal is to replace our hope and faith with anger, depression and despair. My two guests today Rev. Dr. Temple Hayes and Ken Walls know this story all too well. They lived it. They did find the courage to stare down misery. They found support and rebuilt their lives. Now they both provide guidance and support for other and both are contributing authors for the book Crappy to Happy which will be release on October 6.
Today we will hear about the Power of Giving.
Given the current state of affairs in the world, it is hard to find good news or even accurate news. It is frustrating and depressing as we go through the process of re-opening, and re-closing and trying to re-open again. But there are stories that give us hope, that make us smile, that make us cheer for people who despite their own hardships and heartache go out of their way to help, to give to others and willingly serve in their communities. Today, we are going to put the gloom and doom aside and talk about something positive. I have two guests today that will make you smile. They will touch your heart and give you hope. Both will downplay all they have done, because real heroes never act for personal gain or praise. They act because in their heart it is the right thing and the only thing to do. Harold Mintz and Dean Eller, have had more than one altering event thrust upon them, yet they continue to give.
In the past few months, we’ve all been through the agony of lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
For Ana Billian, this is not the first time she experienced what we today call “these unprecedented times.” Back in the early 1990s when a civil war in her home country changed everybody’s life forever, lockdown meant sharing a tiny shelter with as many people as could possibly fit in. As Ana says, “There were days when everybody would have appreciated a little bit of social distancing.”
In this episode, we discuss how this experience shaped Ana’s professional path, from living and working across the globe to founding her online career platform, Great Career Studios. In Ana’s words, “Life is too short not to follow your dreams. And it’s too short to be a hopeless dreamer.”
Given the events in the world, many people are opting to become a solopreneur, a term we never heard of six years ago. What is a solopreneur? How hard is it to start a business by yourself and more importantly what are the odds for success? Well, the odds aren’t good. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula. Most people don’t know what they don’t know about starting and sustaining a business. Most don’t have a solid plan or know where to go for help. No one has all the expertise needed in marketing or contact marketing, or prospect/data mining or accounting or distribution, or creating a web design that actually works or identifying their avatar. I am willing to bet, most don’t even know what an avatar is? Listen to Steve Eriksen who has faced and overcome these issues. His program fills in the gaps and allow you to focus on your business and life.
Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for ages 10-24. Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for college-age youth and ages 12-18. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, COMBINED. Jackie Simmons has faced this nightmare and has created a non-profit to teach parents how talk to our teens. If you have children you MUST hear this.
Amid the chaos we are facing, a number of people are using this time to look inwardly in the hope of finding a sense of calm and peace and meaning. These people have said me “Do I even want to return to my old normal, my old job, my old habits, with all the stress and anxiety? I want to be alive with a capital A.” There has to be a better way. Maybe this is the opportunity to change.” But how do we change? What do we change? And the real question - Do we really want to change? Listen to Gina Mazza tell her amazing story of transformation as we discuss her book, Everything Matters - Nothing Matters.
It is not what you know that will determine success or failure, it’s about what you don’t know. The University of California at Davis has created an Entrepreneurship Academy where they take brilliant researchers and guide them through the process of moving from the intellectual mindset to the innovative mindset needed to create, fund and sustain a successful business. Listen to Dr. Andrew Hargadon, the faculty director; as well as Dr. Teri Slack and Katherine Hu, whose companies won the latest Big Bang competition. These women are changing the world.
COVID-19 requires we all make major life style changes. As I talked with life style change experts, the term I hear over and over is Mindfulness Training, which is learning to live in the moment. So, what exactly is mindfulness and how can we learn to live in the moment. Listen to Dr. Dena Samuels an expert and author in Training and Consulting based on Mindfulness Principles. As we come out of this crisis, this is an episode everyone must hear.
Leading social scientists tell us that growing up we are a product of our environment. How we were treated and spoke to by our parents, siblings, teachers, classmates, etc. formed our personality and often our sense of self value or lack of self-value. Dr Laura Staley has faced those struggles for many years before discovering she could take control and live life on her terms. Listen to this intriguing story
If you are lucky, you find a job which becomes your passion. In a perfect world your passion becomes your business; your business becomes a success and you live happily ever after. Than was Lisa Brys' life until tragedy struck. Listen to her story of courage as she face personal and financial doom but never gave up hope.
Imagine you have achieved one of your life time goals at age 29. Pretty heady stuff. Life will only get better from here right? But life has plans of its own. An accident leaves you battered, broken and a wheelchair user. This is what happened to Gina Gardiner. Listen to her story in her own words. After dealing with the shock, grief, and then enduring the long and difficult rehabilitation process, she decided her new circumstances were not going to define or dictate her life. When she was told “you can’t” she responded “watch me.” One thing that cannot be tested or measured is the power and will of the human spirit. Never say Never.
What if your life altering event did not happen directly to you? What if it happened to a loved one? An illness suddenly befalls your child; your sibling is injured in an accident; or your spouse unexpectedly has a stroke. Now what? We know the impact on them, but what is the impact on you? Your life has also been dramatically altered. Whatever your life was prior to this event is either put on hold or changed forever. You must learn a whole new life. Suddenly, without any training or preparation you become a care giver. Will you be able adjust to this new role? How will you survive? Dave Nassaney has been there. He has survived and thrived and will tell us how we as caregivers must take care of ourselves.
What goes around comes around. I have recently read that a new trend is having a home funeral AKA a family directed burial, rather than using a funeral home. The more I looked into this “New Trend,” the more I discovered that this practice in not new at all. For generations all funerals took place in the family home. Today it means choosing to keep your loved one at home after they pass. Heidi Boucher is an expert in this field and explains the process and options families have.
The only constant in life is change, yet so often we do not like or want change. COVID-19, is changing just about everything we do personally, professionally, socially and spiritually. As we make our way out of this world wide crisis, who is going to thrive and who is going to flounder. Who is willing to embrace the inevitable changes? Listen to Dr. Natasha Todorovic Cowen who will explain how she embraced the difficult changes in her life to create a multi-million dollar organization that addresses thriving through change.
Think back to a time when you wanted to speak up but didn’t. Maybe it an answer you wanted to give in school. Maybe it was an idea you had during a business meeting or a social gathering. Maybe you justified not speaking by thinking what you wanted to say wasn’t that important. But, what if it was something more serious? Maybe it was a time you saw a person being abused or bullied; or someone standing on a bridge contemplating suicide. Did you speak up? Most people don’t. Now let’s get serious here. What fear or trauma or baggage from your past stopped you or is stopping you from speaking up? Claudia B Vogas will share her journey that led her to create the Dare-to-be-Bold movement.
Lewis Carroll wrote: “IN THE END… We only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” Do you still have a dream? Maybe it has changed over the years but do you still have a dream? Will you make the decision to leave your successful but unfulfilling existence? Most of us won’t. Too much risk. Don’t have the time. Don’t have the energy to start something new. Moving out of your comfort zone is not easy and no one can blame you if you don’t try. Listen to Dr. Clare Hasler-Lewis' story. She left a very safe, secure and lucrative career to pursue her dream and faced several life altering events that could have and possibly should have derailed her. Don't miss this episode.
Relationships are hard. Simply wanting a good one will not make it so. Each person has a past, and brings their baggage into every potential relationship. Many of us believe, “Hey I am fine, the other person needs to change or check their baggage.” When the other person doesn’t or won’t change, we move on the next relationship and then the next and the next. The very thing we want the most becomes a nightmare.
Tina Konkin has spent her life coaching and holding very successful relationship workshops. However she faced a major life altering event in her own relationship. Listen to her journal. It will both shock and inspire you.
Let's look at the culturalization of men. Could this be one reason why so many men struggle with relationships? We are going to explore this today. Why? Because this is a topic that doesn’t get much press or exposure mainly because men don’t openly talk about their emotions, or fears or insecurities regarding relationships. Believe or not ladies, the vast majority of men want a deep and meaningful relationship. One major problem is we don’t know how. Much of the culturalization of males going back to the cavemen days, is hide your emotions, don’t show any vulnerability, fix things yourself. Join me as explore some of the obstacles men face and often fail in relationships.
Post COVID-19, we are all hoping for things to go back to normal. That’s not going to happen. We are going to have to find a “New Normal.” Will your organization pass this test? Strong, calm, flexible, rational, trust worthy and decisive leadership is critical during times of crisis. These traits are not taught on the job or in grad school. Where are these leaders going to come from? Where to they turn for help? Listen to Nicole Bendaly who will provide some answers.
Depression is often the elephant in the room. We all deal with depression many times throughout our life. The monster moves in for many reasons.
Some we get over quickly, some take more time and some we never get over. We are going to focus today on the most severe form of depression. The monster even has a name – Clinical Depression. This is a very pervasive illness. The Mayo Clinic report there are over 3 million cases of clinical depression a year. David Woods Barley has faced down the monster everyday since the moment he stood on top of a 700 foot bridge and planned to commit suicide. Listen to him tell his story and how he is helping others face the monster.
We all go through periods in our life when things are going well. Our health is good, things are going well at work, the relationship is positive, the kids are healthy and happy. We find a twenty-dollar bill walking through a parking lot. Things just seem to be falling into place. Then there is the flip side when things start to unravel. We are constantly feeling run down, our get up and go got up and went. One nagging illness after another that we can’t seem to get over finds us. Then things turn serious. A love one passes. A child has major surgery for a tumor near her brain. We discover that nagging illness is a life-threatening disease that will require a major organ transplant. EVERYONE has a breaking point. Robert Willis has experienced all of this and more yet he continues to inspire others. Listen to this amazing story of courage, passion and a positive mind.
What do men want from a relationship? Author Miguel Dean's book, Bring Him Home – A Twin Flame Love Story takes us into what men want. Let’s face it, this is a topic that doesn’t get much press or exposure mainly because men don’t openly talk about their emotions, or fears or insecurities regarding relationships. Believe or not ladies, the vast majority of men want a deep and meaningful relationship. They want someone to share their life, hopes, dreams and yes fears. One major problem is we don’t know how. Listen to this deep dive into Men and Relationships.
Why do we dream and what if anything can we learn from dreams? Are dreams just a random occurrence or are they a connection, a unity between mind and body giving us clues to help diagnosis our life? Are we stepping back into the future as modern medical tests show dreams can be early warning signs of cancer and other diseases? The doubters will say where is the evidence. We have two experts, in field of dreams, Dr. Larry Burk and Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos who will explain.
The health care system in the United States is broken. This is the kindest way I can describe the system. Dr. Andrew Weil stated “I don’t think we have a health care system in America. What we have is a disease management system.” The traditional model for western medicine is diagnose, treat - not cure. Treatment which is to prescribe medication and drugs or surgery. Why do so many other countries use a combination of Eastern and Western Medicine? What is Eastern Medicine? How can we implement this combination to improve the health care system in the United States? Dr. Bonnie McLean and expert in Integrative Medicine will tell us options we have to take control of our health care.
We are in the midst of the COVID-19 Crisis. I read a great quote from Daniel Coyle’s book, the Culture Code. “Every organization and culture face times of crisis. The difference with high performing cultures seems to be that they use the crisis to crystallize their purpose.” The best leaders in the best organizations prepare for a crisis in advance. They may not know what the crisis may be, but they have contingency plans in place. This allows the best leaders to Press the Reset Button at the first sign of a pending crisis. What traits do the best crisis leaders have that others do not possess? Sam Altawil, an expert in leadership and organizational development will explain which type of leaders thrive during times of crisis.
What is a traumatic brain injury also known as TBI? It is something that has been around forever, but we are hearing more about it recently particularly as it relates to the military and veterans. The Center for Disease control and prevention defines it as: a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury. Everyone is at risk for a TBI.
Some people have been blessed with skills, drive and opportunities to have a positive impact in many different ways. My next guest, Olivia Russo-Hood is one of those people. She is an accomplished photographer; one of the youngest certified John Maxwell Team Speakers; an accomplished musician. Among her many honors include the Prudential Spirit of the Community Award, a letter from President Obama thanking her for her dedicated community service, being an honoree for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, and too many others to list. In her spare time she is the founder of the award winning non-profit organization Save The Earth Projects (S.T.E.P). She has personally won over 20 awards including international leveled honors. Olivia is on a mission to save the planet and make positive change throughout the world. Most of us could not do what Olivia has achieved in two life times. Get ready for this she is just 18 years old.
We all knew one person growing up who was very sensitive or very emotional, who felt things more deeply and more passionately than most. Maybe that person was you. They were great listeners. Your pain or joy became theirs. They were willing to share the experience be it good or bad. Since anyone different tends to get mocked, shunned or ridiculed very often these sensitive, emotional people withdrew or tried to to to hide their gift of empathy, perception and sensitivity. This is a shame, because these are the people who make the best and most loyal friends. They are the ones who show up to help without being asked. They are the ones who will sit and comfort and encourage you. They are the ones who will stand by you when your life is unraveling. Given the division and hostility we see in the world and in our country today, we need more of these sensitive souls now more than ever. Tune in as Stephanie Red Feather defines and explains the value of an empath.
There are people that make things happen; people that watch things happen; and people that wonder what the hell happened. Astor West makes things happen.She sees an opportunity, researches why there is an issue with the current method, determines if and how a different approach will improve the situation and then most importantly, she takes action and makes it happen. Hear how Astor is changing the world.
Have you ever needed to locate a government or a social service agency? Of course you have. Like most people you started with a google search which narrowed your list to about 500. Then you did a more detailed google search which may have gotten the list down to 100. After you click through enough links to make you blind, you start to call. You listen to voice mail messages with 14 options and wait on hold forever. You finally speak to a human who tells you, “I’m sorry that is not our department” and hangs up. Fortunately, the State of Arizona, which is home to 600,000 plus veterans, took a very proactive, hands on approach. Arizona started the Coalition for Military Families. They designed and developed Be Connected which is one of the most complete and comprehensive programs in the country. I attended one of their training and for someone who is not easily impressed, I was completely “blown away.” Listen as Kelly Anne Wilde explains this amazing program.
Think back to when you were in school. More times than not the person who inspired you, believed in you and encouraged you, other than your parents, was a teacher. It could have been a teacher as early as 2nd or 3rd grade who made you feel that you mattered, that you had the ability to learn and thrive and you were special. For some of us it might have been in high school or college, but somewhere along your journey a teacher played a major role in your life. Education has long been the ticket to success. As one teacher told me years ago, an education is like having the ticket the dance. It doesn’t guarantee someone is going to dance with you, but it gets you in the door and increases your opportunity. In the U.S., our teachers are not well paid. The position is not held in high esteem, school budgets are constantly being cut while classroom size is constantly getting larger. The burn out rate for teachers is very high. Tune in and discover how we can change this dynamic.
One of the major challenges facing returning veterans is reintegrated into civilian life. One of the most important roles in this reintegration is securing a job. Far too often the skills, training, the vernacular and leadership gained during active duty does not translate to nonmilitary jobs. They discover the skill they have to lead people, to find a way to get the job done, to stay on task and to complete the mission are simply not taken into consideration. As the frustration grows it turns to depression. Many times a veteran will say, “I’ll start my own business,” but they are not prepared to design, create, or sustain a business. So the downward spiral continues. But there is hope. The Veteran Chamber of Commerce has been created to assist veterans to learn the skills of business ownership; how to register and complete for contracts; how to scale and sustain a successful business and most important it provides that community and support system they had while on active duty.
We have all been there many times where we are starting a new life altering chapter. It could be starting Kindergarten, or high school or college. It could be starting our first “grown-up” job, getting married or divorced, becoming a parent. Each new life altering chapter fills us with excitement, anxiety and many times fear. Will I fit in? Will the kids at school like me? We I be able to make friends? Will I find a mentor to show me the ropes? It is terrifying at first and what we all hope for is to find a safe place where we can unwind, relax, talk to someone or just sit in silence. What we all want is to be included and feel like part of a group. It is basic human nature and all of us have experienced what I just described. But there is one new life altering chapter that the vast majority of Americans and people around the world have never and will never experience, that is re-entry from the military to civilian life. Now there is hope for a veterans at Cal. State U. at San Marcos.
Think about where you would be if someone had not given you a second chance! Every person has faults and flaws. No matter how hard we try at some point we are going to fail. If we are lucky, the failure is not life altering, a mistake at work, or losing a job, losing your temper to a loved one or friend, or being stopped for speeding. Often receiving a second chance can be as simple as a sincere apology, some additional training or showing remorse and respect the police officer or judge. We find another job. Our loved one forgives us and we can continue to drive. Think of a time where your mistakes could have had a more serious consequence. The time you drove drunk. The time when you had to defend yourself or a friend at party that got out of hand, or simply the time you were at the wrong place at the wrong time. I am willing to bet we have all been there. What if someone had gotten hurt or worse? What if this mistake found us arrested or put in jail. Everyone desires a second chance.
Have you ever noticed that good answers and good choices rarely occur when we are stressed out or in crisis mode? Think about it. When you are overwhelmed at work or in your marriage or dealing with your children are you in the best frame of mind to make a good decision? Of course you’re not. You have too many thoughts, or better yet too many of conflicting thoughts racing through your brain. You cannot focus. You cannot find clarity of thought. You cannot rationally weigh the pros and cons. It is like trying to hold back the ocean during high tide. As we continue to dwell on the negative aspect of loss and failure our stress and crisis move to frustration and depression. We have to break or change this pattern, but how? Today we are have two experts in addressing moving from Chaos to Clarity. My guests today are Rev. Patricia Cagganello, Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos, the authors of Chaos to Clarity Sacred Stories of Transformational Change
We all learned at an early age that the two things in life are certain: death and taxes. Yet we are apprehensive and often fear both. Why? We know both are going to happen. We even know the day that our taxes returns are due. Everyone hates paying taxes, yet intelligent people understand why they are necessary so we prepare for tax season throughout the year. Death however is full of unknowns. We don’t know when or how or where. What we do know is that it is going to occur, yet far too many people procrastinate preparing for death. As much as we may know – at an intellectual level – that dying is part of this life, the thought of our own death or the death of someone near or dear fills many of us with strong emotions, the biggest being FEAR. It is not a pleasant topic to discuss but my guest Myra Bennett, the author of Dying Made Easy(er) - Creating Your Happy Ending, will share ways to reduce or eliminate the fear and properly prepare for the inevitable.
In 1994, an effort to help one man launched a global change in the way athletes with physical challenges are perceived and perceive themselves. Jim MacLaren was an exceptional athlete, first as an amputee and then as a quadriplegic. After losing his leg in a motorcycle accident, Jim became a pioneer, achieving feats that others never thought possible for amputees. Jim may no longer be with us, but his legacy lives on through Team CAF.
Challenged Athletes Foundation vision is to be a recognized leader in a movement through which physically challenged athletes are accepted and respected at the same level as able-bodied athletes, to have a great and significant impact on each physically challenged athlete served, and to reach out to the physically challenged community by providing inspiration, awareness and mentoring.
CAF is proud to have played a pivotal role in changing the world's perception and acceptance of those with physical challenges.
This is an amazing organization!
I raised two daughters as a single father. It was both the most challenging yet the most rewarding experience of my life. It helped me to become acutely aware of the obstacles women face in many areas, be it health care or career choices or job advancement or starting and funding a business. I learned that the deck is often stacked against women. I want my daughters to have every opportunity to succeed and to be able to follow and achieve their goals and dreams. What I learned was basic things that one would believe are a given are not a given for women. Nothing has come easy. Women decided they must take their issues into their own hands in order to receive the rights and respect they have earned and deserve. But How? Then I met Susan Golden, the founder of Golden Leadership LLC and discovered she is the type of woman with the skills and tenacity to help elevate the professional life for women. Listen to how she is helping women to overcome barriers and follow their dreams.
As we all know life isn’t fair. For some people things just seem to fail into place. They win the DNA lottery. Born into a good situation. This is nice if you can get it, but for the vast majority of us, life is a struggle. It is particularly more difficult when you are considered different. Different race, color, creed, religion, culture, physical, mental or emotional disability – now on top of any of those differences add the fact that you are a woman from a culture that doesn’t place education of women as a priority. In many cases the odds are not in your favor. Now this is not always the case, but when you are raised in an environment where the expectation is life isn’t going to get much better than this, it is extremely difficult to find the courage and the encouragement to break away. My guest today is Remy Meraz who has faced those struggles and is willing to do what it takes to overcome every obstacle. This is a story everyone must hear.
The most heart breaking life altering event is discovering your child has been diagnosed for an incurable disease or disability. As a parent your world falls apart. How did this happen? What did I do wrong? What can I do now? Who do I go to for help? Will my child need a full time care taker? I will not put my child in a home! Will he/she be able to attend school? What kind of school? Will he/she be able to live an independent life? How will my child survive after I die? Some disabilities are obvious. People can see a child in a wheel chair, spinal bifida or cerebral palsy and maybe even understand what a family is going through. But what able the invisible disabilities. But what about Neurodevelopment disorders like autism or ADHC. The outward signs are not obvious. We have all seen people react as if a child with these disorders is simply unruly, or the parents cannot control their child. These reactions add to the already overwhelming stress for these families.
MY FAMILIES life altering event was the call that everyone dreads there has been an accident any your 24 year old son is paralyzed. That was the call my parents and sister received on August 11, 1985.
See how my brother Steve and the rest of our family addressed this devastating life altering event. Steve will take you through his life prior to the accident, what he remembers about the accident, his surgery, the long and very difficult rehabilitation process as he picked up the pieces of his life.
He also describes the trauma or his relationship ending and the ongoing battles with the insurance companies and finally his amazing accomplishments since the accident.
As we approach Christmas, we often reminisce about our loved one who are no longer with us. One of the most heart wrenching life altering events is the loss of a loved one. Today we have 2 guests. One will discuss the impact of the loss of a mother for adult children. One will discuss every parent’s worst nightmare the death of her child. Death and taxes are things we cannot avoid. The majority of us will eventually go through the ordeal of burying a parent. However unless you have experienced it yourself, no one, can comprehend the loss of their child. Either case can tear a family apart or bring you closer together. The choice is up to you. The key message of this episode to everyone facing the loss of a loved one is to cherish your family. Cherish your background, culture and traditions; because when all is said and done, the only thing you have is your family. Friends, jobs and acquaintances come and go, but family is forever. This episode with touch your heart.
Think about a time you were about to start a new job. You were both excited and nervous. You were told about the company’s training program and how it would prepare you for your new role. Then you arrived. No one seemed to know you were coming. Someone finally came up to welcome you. This person gave you the W9 to complete, some forms for payroll, emergency contact, and a link to how to select your benefits.You are told “here is your desk.” There are no supplies waiting for you. A few minutes later a set of books arrives. “Here is your training manual. Everything you need to know and do is in the manuals” Sound familiar!! I can feel some of you laughing. Admit it! You had this experience at least once. I have worked with organizations where 7 out of 10 new employees leave within 6 months, yet they continue to follow this horrible procedure.
Fortunately there are people like my guest Sam Altawil who brings people together and develops high performing organizations.
My friend, best-selling author, speaker, TV show host and guest on Life Altering Events Mel Robbins, often says excuses will always be there for you. Opportunity won’t. I want you to be honest here - Have you ever said “Someday I going to do whatever” or “In a perfect world I would be X.” Of course you have but most of us stay stuck. Opportunity presents itself to everyone. But not everyone sees or acts upon the opportunity. Why? Too much effort, too expensive, no time, too busy, I grew up in a small town that didn’t have many opportunities, the list goes on and on. My guest today is Tony Vitrano who saw an opportunity to improve the experience of attending major events. He coordinates events like the Olympic Games, Super Bowls, The Daytona 500, Think about all the moving parts that are required to coordinate these events. I can’t even imagine the complexity, can you? Well we are about to find out. Tony is here today to share his experience with us.
Servant leadership is a term that is getting a great deal of press the past few years. Is it the latest trendy fad that will fizzle out quickly? Is it just a term for someone to sell more books? We have all seen the signs posted around offices whose intent is to inspire, but do they actual inspire? The catchy phrases mean nothing if the words are not practiced, taught and constantly re-enforced. Effective teamwork requires a deep understanding of human behaviors and a disciplined approach to execution. Without the execution these phrases become a punch line at the water cooler and after work gatherings. Let’s look at the data: In 1998, 21 years ago, the Center for Creative Leadership concluded that 40 percent of new management hires fail within the first 18 months; 82% of the time, the reason was a failure to build good relationships. As recently as 2016, they continued to reach the same conclusions. So YES there is a need for a more effective and efficient model.
Today we have two families whose life altering event was the call that everyone dreads; there has been an accident any your son is paralyzed. It is a nightmare that never ends. Now what? What does the family do? Who do they contact? When will they know something? How badly is he/she hurt? How do they cope with the shock, grief, and the major overhaul of their life? Worse yet, is the impact on the injured loved one. Am I going to die? Is the paralysis permanent? Will I be confined to a wheelchair? What will I be able to do? Will I be able to hold a job? How will I support myself? Will I have to live in a nursing home? What is going to happen to my relationship with my significant other? What horrors will rehabilitation bring? Will I be able to do it? Will I even want to try? The fears move to panic and ultimately to deep depression. I don’t want to live like this. I don’t want to be a burden on my family. If I survive how long will I live? What will the quality of my life be?
PTSD is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is usually associated with people who served in the military. Until recently, very few people ever heard of PTSD. We may have a grandfather or family member who served in WWII or VietNam who “wasn’t quite the same when they returned.” Family would whisper, he has battle fatigue or shell shock. Fortunately both the medical and psychological fields now recognize PTSD is a serious issue which if left untreated can lead to grave consequences.PTSD is no longer just considered a military related issue. Trauma, addiction and PTSD can happen to everyone at any time. Given the current state of civil unrest and division in our country many PTSD suffers are Veterans, 1st responders, police, business people, ministers, professional athletes, the guy next door and more recently, teachers, and students at every level– these are children who are terrified to go outside or even go to school. This is serious stuff folks.
On August 20, our show was about picking up the pieces after your Life and Plans become derailed. We had many comments and requests to continue this conversation, so my good friend Latachia Morrissette Harper has agreed to spend more time with us.Today’s show is to address listener questions, comments and emails aobut their struggle to pick up the pieces during and after divorce. The story is too familiar. You are involved in a long term relationship or marriage. It usually starts out wonderful, full of joy and excitement as you pursue your hopes and dreams. You are ready to take on the world together. Then life happens. Stress at work; money issues; children’s needs; losing a job; and issues with in-laws.
Aging, like death and taxes are things we cannot avoid. Father time waits for no one. As we, our parents and love ones age, we all face a series of new challenges. Decreases in energy, memory, eye sight and hearing are common. Eventually we may reach a point where we can no longer drive and we face the problem of isolation. There is nothing sadder than to see our parents and loved ones failing health be compounded by isolation, depression and severe loneliness. Now if that is not bad enough, diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson are often associated with people 60 and older. There is no cure and these diseases are among the most devastating life altering event. Unless some action is taken, these issues will get worse. The population in the United States is getting older. According to a 2018 U.S. Census Bureau report, in 2035 “there will be 78.0 million people 65 years and older compared to 76.4 million under the age of 18.”
Nonprofit organizations serve an important purpose. Most provide hope or a safe haven for those in need. Most are staffed by people who have dedicated their lives to service. Yet most Nonprofits must change. Business as usual is failing. Most staff is underpaid and turnover in the rank and file causes lack of continuity and consistency within the organization. The “best practices” of yesterday are no longer effective. There are too many worthwhile organizations struggling. There is too much duplication of infrastructure that drains resources and prevents organizations from focusing on their mission. There are too many gaps between services for young people and families, caught in the continuum of trauma to navigate. Dr. Sara McCellan will explain the challenge facing small non profits and new methods for their survival.
Trauma and Addiction! Rarely do you find one without the other. Addiction is not just a sign of weakness. More times than not, addiction is both a physical and neurological illness or disorder. Substance abuse in the United States has reached a point of crisis and the chronic cycle of treatment followed by relapse does little to alleviate the problem. Trauma and addiction can happen to any one at any time. It’s not just the stereotype people living under bridges, many are Veterans, 1st responders, police, teachers, businesspeople, ministers, professional athletes and the guy next door.
But there is hope. Awakening Wholeness is a charitable organization that has started right here in Arizona. It's goal is to enable people to become physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually ready to continue with their life, after tremendous trauma (including post-traumatic stress disorder), equipped with all the tools they need to live a productive, fulfilling and sustainable life.
Can civility become a competitive edge? What happened to civility? When did we lose it? Did we ever have it? How can we find it and successfully implement civility for the common good? There is no denying we live in a divided world. Strong opinions, harsh words, misrepresentation of facts and outright lies have become common place. Civil discourse, discussion and debate has been replaced with name calling, hostile rhetoric and at times acts of violence. The lack of civility is not limited to the political area. We see it every day in business. People are disengaged at work. Every organization states the #1 asset is their employees – yet positive employee engagement is less than 15%. Far too many organizations have an unproductive TOXIC culture. This unhappiness has a price. • $550 billion annually is lost in productivity loss due to employee burnout • $330 billion annually is lost due to workplace stress
Tune in and hear how Nicole Bendaly and Mark Balzer address these issues.
The University of California system (10 major research universities) has 19,224 patents, licenses or pending patents and licenses. Yet 60% of the revenue comes from five patents. These are the most brilliant minds in the world – but they have extremely poor results moving from the lab to the business world. These brilliant minds at not adequately prepared to move from research to business ownership. One of the 10 universities saw these results and is taking action. The University of California at Davis has created an Entrepreneurship Academy where they take these brilliant researchers and guide them through the process of moving from the intellectual mindset to the innovative mindset needed to create, fund and sustain a successful business.
Can you move your organization from good to great or elite? As hard as it is to become great, it is even harder to remain elite. Do you want your organization to be world class? Do you have the tenacity and the passion to become great and sustain that greatness over many years? Most people talk about it but aren’t willing to do what it takes. Very few achieve greatness. There are people who talk about how to achieve greatness or write books, or do academic studies and then there are people who actually build and sustain greatness repeatedly. Jim McLaughlin knows exactly what it takes to build and sustain elite championship organizations. He is the only person to ever win the NCAA National Championship in volleyball with a men’s program at USC and a women’s program at the University of Washington. Jim doesn't just build teams, he builds organizations and surrounds himself with trusted advisors who are responsible for running their area and tell Jim what he needs to know.
Recent studies have shown the vast majority of workers are not engaged at their jobs.
A Gallup measuring workplace happiness stated 66% of workers are not happy and 15% truly hate what they do. That is 81% of employees are not engaged.
These are frightening numbers, but they just touch the surface. The cost in lost production $550M a year. Add to that the time lost preparing and defending an employee law suit. Plus the loss of good will inside and outside of your company. The loss of trust. The impact on your reputation with customer, suppliers, advertisers, employees and worst of all potential employees.
Far too many managers/executives ask the wrong questions which misplaces their focus. They become fixated with constantly changing the process or procedures. This is too often a knee jerk reactions which is similar to a farmer constantly replowing the same field every day. Rather than focusing on changing the techniques again, let start changing the dialogue.
Most veterans are strengthened by their military service, but the combat experience has unfortunately left a growing number of veterans with issue such as PTSD and traumatic brain injury. • One in five veterans has symptoms of a mental health disorder or cognitive impairment. • One in six veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom suffer from a substance use issue. Research continues to draw a link between substance use and combat-related mental illness. • Left untreated, mental health disorders common among veterans can directly lead to involvement in the criminal justice system.
Treatment not punitive action is by far the best course of action. Fortunately Judge Robert Russell from my home town of Buffalo NY launched the first of the nation’s roughly 260 veterans treatments courts in 2008.
The veterans’ treatment court is able to ensure they meet their obligations to themselves, the court, and their community.
The most heart breaking life altering event is discovering your child has been diagnosed for an incurable disease or disability. As a parent your world falls apart. How did this happen? What did I do wrong? What can I do now? Who do I go to for help? Will my child need a full time care taker? I will not put my child in a home! Will he/she be able to attend school? What kind of school? Will he/she be able to live an independent life? How will my child survive after I die? Some disabilities are obvious. People can see a child in a wheel chair, spinal bifida or cerebral palsy and maybe even understand what a family is going through. But what able the invisible disabilities. But what about Neurodevelopment disorders like autism or ADHC. The outward signs are not obvious. We have all seen people react as if a child with these disorders is simply unruly, or the parents cannot control their child. These reactions add to the already overwhelming stress for these families.
MY FAMILIES life altering event was the call that everyone dreads there has been an accident any your 24 year old son is paralyzed. That was the call my parents and sister received on August 11, 1985.
See how my brother Steve and the rest of our family addressed this devastating life altering event. Steve will take you through his life prior to the accident, what he remembers about the accident, his surgery, the long and very difficult rehabilitation process as he picked up the pieces of his life.
He also describes the trauma or his relationship ending and the ongoing battles with the insurance companies and finally his amazing accomplishments since the accident.
Today’s show is about dealing with Life Derailed. I am guessing that at least ½ of you listening have dealt with two major derailments: 1. Divorce. 2. Recovering from financial challenges are the last 2 major recessions. We are going to touch on both of these today. The story is too familiar. You are involved in a long term relationship or marriage. It usually starts out wonderful, full of joy and excitement as you pursue your hopes and dreams. You are ready to take on the world together. Then life happens. Stress at work; money issues; children’s needs; losing a job; issues with in-laws; health concerns. The list goes on and on. The feelings of joy starts to fade. One of you finds a kindred spirit, a friend, an associate, someone with whom you can share your frustrations. You tell yourself, it is nothing serious we’re just talking. The more you talk and share with your kindred spirit, the less you share with your partner. Sooner or later someone crosses the line.
Interview with Best selling author, No 1 female speaker and TV show host Mel Robbins.Mel is all about having to courage to take action and move forward. She has raised herself to “rock star” status by spent the past decade inspiring, motivating, coaching, and elevating people around the world. Her practical, no-nonsense advice has changed the lives of millions with a blueprint on how to take charge of your life and conquer everyday challenges.
How many times have you said, someday I am going to do that – and then you never seem to get around to it. I have checked the calendar – I checked all 12 months and you know what, nowhere is a day named someday. Someday never comes unless you make it happen. So what are you really waiting for?
Business owners can improve their chances of success by connecting with mentors/advisors who can guide them through the swamp of entrepreneurship.
50% to 60% of small business fail within the 1st year. 80% fail within five. 70% of SBA loan applications are rejected.
Clearly something is seriously wrong the process of preparing entrepreneurs. Kimberly Hobscheid and I are doing something to improve these odds.
The intelligent mindset that is required to research, design, create, prototype, develop and test is very different than the innovative mindset that is required to establish, fund and sustain a business. Few if any people can do both. Even Steve Job failed miserably initially at Apple.
Life altering events are things we choose or are thrust upon us. They will alter the trajectory of our life positively or negatively. Every life altering event is a fork in the road. We have a choice to pick up the pieces and move forward toward better times or fall apart and settle.
Fear is a powerful emotion that prevents so many people from seizing an opportunity. Everything you want is on the other side of fear.
The key to overcoming fear is exposure to potential opportuniies. Vida de Oro is an organization that help young people discover opportunities and overcome their fears.