The Lion's Den For Business Men

Our farewell episode. And how you can continue to engage with us and the high achievers we’re assembling moving forward. The Huddle – a $1 commitment to your awesomeness.

If you create a positive relationship with fear, you can accomplish anything. In a capsule, that’s the message Akshay Nanavati, the speaker, author and explorer behind the book Fearvana came to share with me today. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Forbes and many more high-profile outlets. And get this: the Dalai Lama wrote the foreword to his book after a cold pitch that took four months of confronting fear. Akshay is a veteran of the Iraq war who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, survivor’s guilt and alcoholism before he learned to confront his greatest fears. By digging deep, he figured out the fears that caused his procrastination and made them an ally. Now he uses fear and guilt to drive his “worthy struggle” of helping others overcome their own fears by embracing them. “If you don’t seek out a worthy struggle, struggle will find you anyway,” Akshay tells me in this episode. And that’s a lot more scary than choosing the fear you face. Have you ever felt like you procrastinate because you have a deep-seeded fear you can’t overcome? This episode’s for you. Have you ever avoided doing something that could lead to a great reward because you were afraid? Akshay can tell you how to move forward with actionable advice. Do you ever wonder what you could become if you could quit being scared of what might or might not happen? Akshay can tell you how to change your mindset and find bliss in your brutal reality. Click play in the player above to get started. Podcast episode highlights with Fearvana author Akshay Nanavati How fear and suffereing lead to personal growth. Choosing to live in the danger zone of a war zone. Dragging a 190-pound sled for 350 miles across one of the world’s largest icecaps. How Black Hawk Down changed his life. Why the common advice of “following your passion” is a big mistake. A structure to help you get important things done faster, forever. How to use music to psychologically signal “go time” at work. Why you spend too long at your desk, and how you should structure your day. How to make fear a positive ally instead of an obstacle. What to do when fear takes control of your life. Books and resources mentioned in this episode: “Fearvana,” by Akshay Nanavati "The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.” by Daniel Coyle “Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner,” by Dean Karnazes “Man’s Search for Meaning,” by Victor Frankl Video about Corp. Jacob Neal How to contact Akshay Nanavati, author of Fearvana: Website

Do you own your mornings, or do your mornings own you? If you race to the door minutes after you get up, you carry chaos into your workday. But if you set up a “preflight morning routine” for your workday filled with clarity and calm, that’s what you’ll carry into the office. Studies show that about 8 percent of aviation disasters could have been averted by following the standard preflight routines prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration. In this episode, we talk about how you can design a morning routine that will help you cut at least 10 percent of your disaster workdays out of your life. We cover six practices we’ve discovered that get us psyched for the workday and give us the energy to go hard all day. If you find yourself rushing out the door at the last minute to get to work without giving yourself any time to go through a morning routine, this episode is for you. If you find that you make bad decisions at work because you’re fatigued or lack energy, this podcast about owning your mornings will speak to you. And if you want to better control your morning routine to better control your whole day, click play in the player above to get started. Listen in to hear how to craft your preflight morning routine and more: Getting rid of 10 percent or more of your work disasters. What the former pilot of Air Force One taught me about routines. Working smarter, not harder to stay competitive in business. Why athletes have routines and why you should, too. The “freaky new-age” practice that will pump up your morning routine. How to win a Heisman (or win in your business). How to get 5 seconds ahead instead of staying 5 seconds behind. How eating early in the morning or late at night messes with your performance. The practices that will make you look and feel a decade younger. Three things you should never do before 10 a.m. How to become a morning person if you hate mornings Getting “me time” when your mornings are devoted to kids already. Resources mentioned in this episode: Penzu on Android or iOS

Do you stick to the status quo too much in your business? Or are you willing to try something new that has the potential to win big or fail big? My guest today is Dr. Peter Kan, a board-certified chiropractic neurologist with training in both integrative medicine and functional medicine. He’s also the co-founder of the Hope Integrative Wellness Center in Gilbert, Arizona. Peter’s career has been on a growth curve ever since he decided to cut insurance out of his practice and work only on a direct-pay model. And in an industry dominated by insurance claims, that was a big risk he had to be willing to try. The risk paid off. His business has grown each of the last eight years since he made the leap. In 2016, it grew by 33 percent. But that’s not the only area he’s done things differently. By propping a camcorder up on a stack of textbooks, Peter also decided he was willing to try becoming a YouTuber. Even though he’s not a trained speaker. Even though he had no tripod. His Facebook Live videos every Monday attract about 22,000 views. “It’s better to have your message out there than not,” he tells me in this episode. “I have a saying in my business: I’m not doing the same thing now that I was doing 6 months ago and I probably won’t be doing the same thing six months from now.” If you feel like your business isn’t evolving fast enough, this episode has some great pointers for you. If your business is stuck in a rut or operating on the status quo, you ought to hear what Peter has to say. And if you would rather win big than fail big, click play in the player above to get started. Listen in to hear Dr. Peter Kan talk about being willing to try and unafraid to fail and more: The best way to improve your health. (Hint: It’s not exercise.) Why chronic conditions need less medicine and surgery and more lifestyle changes. One positive leadership characteristic you can’t afford to bring home. Peter’s crazy true story of his “Darth Vader moment.” Learning how to live without regrets. Why you don’t have to eat “essence of tofu fart” to stay healthy. The insane life experience that taught Peter to not keep secrets from his loved ones. How to make a Big Mac more healthy (sort of). A “crisis” management tool for toddlers and young children who want more of a bad thing. One great reason to get more sex from your wife (as if you need another). How to connect with Dr. Peter Kan: Website Facebook YouTube

If you don’t know where to begin, your to-do list will never end. But this is a place so many high-achievers find themselves in because they have so many high priorities. When priorities wrestle and never come out on top, that leaves you on the bottom of a fire-breathing dragon of a to-do list that keeps getting bigger. In this episode we want to share where to begin fighting your “to-do list dragon.” This is the proven process that recently guided one client out of one of the worst funks in his life due to to-do list overload. It’s also what helped Bill reset when he was overloaded while I stepped out on vacation. Too many men get behind on their to-do list even though they’re constantly checking things off it. These men have programmed themselves to think they just need to work harder or smarter and never do the right things to fight against a growing to-do list. You don’t have to bottle up your anger or frustration at having a never-ending to-do list. You might just need to tackle it differently. If you want to overcome overwhelmed, this episode is for you. If you feel stressed and tired just thinking about all you have to get done, we’ve got some great pointers for you in this episode. And if you want to know a system that will turn you in a “to-do list dragon slayer,” click play in the player above to get started.   Listen in to learn how to shorten your never-ending to-do list, get more productive and more: What to do when everything seems like a high priority. The practice that gives you clarity and control when you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list. The quote that helped one client (and Bill) hit “reset” when he had too much to do. Why you should never schedule all of your day. Building a support tree that works when you’re buried in work. Copy-pasting your way out of a to-do list nightmare. Why you should keep a “to-done list.” How to make your “daily problem” a nonissue. Books and resources mentioned in this episode: “The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself,” by Michael A. Singer

When are you going to tackle your bucket list? My guest today is Alan Worden, a serial entrepreneur focused on leisure-seeking Baby Boomers who founded Scout Real Estate Capital. For Alan, there came a time when he realized it may be now or never if he wanted to chase his dreams. In 1999, Alan asked 10 trusted friends and advisors for advice. He asked each if it was a good idea to drop prosperous careers and go sailing from the U.S. to New Zealand with his wife. Independently, each of them said “If you can do it, do it now. It’s never going to get any easier.” That was in 1999. Soon after that, Worden spent exactly 365 days sailing to New Zealand in an Everest-sized adventure you’ll love to hear about. (Including a brush with death I won’t spoil for you.) He spent all that time and most of his money to make it happen. For him, it was as much about conquering fear as it was about a bucket list item to cross off. See, Alan’s biggest fear is the ocean. And he crossed 18,000 miles of it in his “do it now” year. The lessons he learned on that sailboat have carried him to new heights in life and in this episode you’ll learn just what they are. If you think you could make your dreams happen and something is holding you back, this episode is for you. If you have trouble facing your fears but want to get better at it, listen to this conversation with Alan. And if you just want to hear about a real-life adventure that changed one life for the better, click play in the player above to get started. In this episode, hear from Alan Worden how to ‘do it now’ and more: Why the most influential family members aren’t who you think. The critical difference between research and “need-search” A stunning piece of advice that came from an unlikely source. What will make the world care about your business. The paradigm shift that put Alan’s life in high gear. Why you should be OK with sucking at some things. Meditation for cynics. The thing you might think that constitutes “the height of arrogance.” How to make your “worry quotient” go down—and fast. Why 95 percent of what you fear shouldn’t scare you. Giving yourself a superpower. Books and resources mentioned in this episode: “The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business,” by Charles Duhigg “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,” by Greg McKeown “10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story,” by Dan Harris (And the app.) “The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level,” by Gay Hendricks “The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness,” by Jeff Olson and John David Mann How to contact Alan Worden: Email

Is not closing that one deal your biggest regret as a businessman? Or do your regrets tend to be a little more…personal? Well, if you’re a driven businessman and a father, it’s a pretty sure thing I know what your top regret is likely to be. And it’s not going to be about what you did or didn’t do at work. It’s going to be about what you didn’t do at home. One study found that 63 percent of parents regretted not doing more activities with their children, and 7 of 10 felt they took their children’s childhood for granted.   That is what will haunt you from your work life right now. You worked too much and didn’t make enough time for the most important relationships in your life. In this episode, we confront the regret of not spending enough time with your kids when they’re young because you’re so busy at work. This is one of the biggest regrets that businessmen face in life, and we don’t want you to be one of those men. If you find yourself telling your kids you’re too busy to spend time with them, even after work, listen to this episode. If you already regret not spending more time with your kids, it’s not too late to change that regret into something you’re proud of. And if you want to hear seven effective strategies for spending more time with your kids, hit play in the bar above to get started. Listen in to start freeing yourself from a top life regret and more: Why it’s so easy to say “no” to your kids to spend time with them. How to make “maybe later” into “yes.” Seven tools for more one-on-one time with your kids. Why your agenda isn’t good enough to play with kids. Why Robert was playing like a 4-year-old last weekend. How “stacking” can improve your relationships with kids. A habit you should form at bedtime to create cherished memories with kids. Why Bill’s servers knew he always wanted clown pancakes at IHOP. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Huddle Bill’s family meeting agenda: Call to order, everyone present? Family prayer. How did your week go? Gripes, complaints, suggestions for improvement or change and any other less-than-positive things to say? (1 per person permitted, $5 penalty for multiple mentions to same person!!) Apologies, thank yous, praise, acknowledgements, “bear-hugs” and any other very-positive things to say? (No limit/unlimited mentions allowed to same person!!) What does your next week’s schedule look like including work, school, trips, activities etc.? Assign and confirm next week’s chores. Determine if any chores warrant special payment or privileges. Receive family game sheets (weekly) and pay chore allowance (first of month only). Open discussion. Prayer requests. OPTIONAL: Review Family Vision, Code of Conduct and Annual Goals (first of month only). Closing prayer.

Are you giving it your all in business or are you holding back to stay on the safe road? It may be time to quit playing it safe. My guest today is Bubba Albrecht, the founder of Give’r. His company is an outdoor-lifestyle clothing and gear company from outdoor paradise Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Bubba’s gear has appeared in the pages of Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine and more. But not before Bubba made a decision to quit playing it safe. At one point, Bubba was working two jobs besides running Give’r to pay the bills. In Bubba’s own lingo, he wasn’t “given’r” at Give’r. In case you’re not familiar with Canadian slang, “give’r” means “to give it your all or go for it.” But it wasn’t until he quit his bill-paying job that Give’r really picked up momentum. He launched a Kickstarter project that earned almost 10 times more than his goal and found more success than he imagined possible. If you dilute your success by not taking chances, this episode is for you. If you can’t quit playing it safe to do what you really want to do, Bubba has a message for you. And if you feel like you need to listen more to your gut, click play in the player above to get started. Listen in to learn how to quit playing it safe and more: Removing barriers you place on yourself. How to 10X a Kickstarter goal. Why you need to commit to your special sauce. How you’re diluting your success. What you should know if you’re starting a business with friends. How to get two hours of work done in 45 minutes. A meeting strategy that will get your employees fired up. Books mentioned in this episode: “The Big Leap,” by Gaye Hendricks How to contact Bubba Albrecht, founder of Give’r Website Facebook Instagram

When the possibilities are endless, it’s hard for a hungry man to say “no.” That’s why men who go to an all-you-can-eat buffet often walk out in major physical discomfort. It’s also the reason high-achieving men end up working ridiculous hours and have no idea how to say no at work. Hungry men in particular—achievers—don’t know how to say no at work when it matters. So many kinds of work seem interesting and fulfilling to a high achiever, so you say “yes” to project after project. Soon, you’ve piled your tiny buffet plate high with all sorts of crap you should never eat. And you still go back for seconds. And maybe thirds and fourths. You want all the work you can get your hands on because you want everything you see that comes with it. Respect, knowledge, money, clients, revenue and cool stuff in your garage. In this episode we guide you through bad reasons you say “yes,” tell you when you should say no and give you an awesome framework for how to say no at work that will help people respect you more for it. If you’ve piled your work plate too high and don’t know how to restore your life to a manageable level, this episode’s for you. If you’ve ever said “yes” to a project that made you cringe, you need to hear what we have to say. And if you simply have a hard time saying no to a work project, click play in the bar above to start improving your mindset. Click play to find out how to say no at work nicely and more: Why you’re always overloaded at work. How hunger drives you to say yes when you should be learning how to say no at work. Why Bill said “no” to running a growing international non-profit he found interesting. A simple practice to cut down your to-do list. The one guy you’re a jerk to when you don’t know how to say no at work. (Hint: Look in the mirror.) How to get past nice-guy syndrome to say “no” when it matters. How to overcome FOMO or “fear of missing out” by redirecting the fear. Six reasons you should always say “no.” A nice, gentle way to say “no” that others will respect you more for using. Books mentioned in this episode: “The 4-Hour Workweek,” by Tim Ferriss “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,” by Greg McKeown “The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results,” by Gary Keller

If business success is your personal Mt. Everest, how do you make that climb? After all, Everest is 29,029 feet tall, and climbing isn’t easy at that altitude. My guest today has an answer, and it just so happens he’s summited Mt. Everest multiple times. Jim Williams is the owner of exploration travel company Exploradus. Jim was the first person to successfully guide expeditions to the “Seven Summits,” the tallest mountains on each continent, in less than a year. That included, of course, Mt. Everest. He was also one of the leaders who made the first overland crossing to the South Pole from the South American side. (He tells in this episode about how his group disappeared on him, leaving him lost in Antarctica!) Despite conquering the world’s biggest mountains, Jim doesn’t recommend starting with a Mt. Everest-sized goal. “Set smaller goals and enlarge them as you move forward,” he tells me in this episode. In other words, you might need to manage your expectations at a realistic level. If you want to hear some crazy survival stories, including how Jim walked in on his own funeral after people thought he had died, you need to listen to this episode. If you want to know how to harness fear to drive results, this episode’s for you. And if you want to know how to remove obstacles on your personal Mt. Everest climb, click play in the bar above to get started. Episode highlights; climb your personal Mt. Everest and more: Why a businessman counseled Jim NOT to buy his climbing business. How to separate fear from results. Leading an expedition to an unclimbed peak in China. The creative key to opening any door and building relationships of trust in business. How Jim walked in on his own funeral. Getting lost in Antarctica. Why the journey matters more than the destination. The surprising reason you might not want to climb your personal Mt. Everest. Books and resources mentioned in this episode: “Everest, the West Ridge,”by Thomas Hornbein “Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage,” by Alfred Lansing How to contact Jim Williams: Website Email