DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy

In this episode of the DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast, Mitch Matthews talks with Mara Zepeda, Co-founder and CEO of Switchboard HQ, an engagement platform connecting students and alumni to create success. Mara's passion project would eventually draw her away from a successful career in journalism, where she had worked for the Boston Globe and NPR, and into the world of entrepreneurship. She tells how she navigated some major life decisions and what the inspiration behind Switchboard. Listen To The Podcast: Have you ever seen a problem and thought… "There has to be a better way to do THAT!" "Why hasn't somebody created a product for THAT?" "Somebody should invent something to fix THAT?" DREAM THINK DO guest Mara Zepeda had those same questions while she was serving on the alumni board for Reed College. She was an award-winning reporter for NPR, but she saw a need. Reed was looking for better ways to connect alumni with current students. She started to dig into the problem… like a reporter would. But as she did… she started to see this issue at other schools too. So she reached out to a friend and they started to create a solution. That solution turned into a product. The product led Mara to start a company. (She's now CEO.) Mara Zepeda shares how she navigated all of this and turned her passion project into something more. Maybe your struggle isn't deciding whether to dive into entrepreneurship...but whatever it is, Mara's story will inspire you. In this episode, you will… Hear Mara's inspiring story Listen in as she started to identify a problem that turned into a passion project Hear how she used collaborators to reach her goals (and how you can too) Learn to recognize the clues that are leading us Gain insight into navigating your own life decisions Learn about one specific strategy no other DREAM THINK DO guest has ever brought up Episode Resources: Switchboard MitchMatthews.com/137 DREAM. THINK. DO.

In this episode of the DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast, Mitch Matthews talks with odds-defying adventurer Erik Weihnmayer. Diagnosed with a rare eye disease that claimed his sight as a teenager, Erik Weihnmayer has now become the first blind person to climb Mt. Everest. Plus, he's the first blind person to kayak the 277 miles of river running through the Grand Canyon. He shares how he defied the odds and now lives a life of empowerment, not disability. Listen To The Podcast: Do you ever feel trapped by the things holding you back from your dreams? Or you're going through life and a big set back happens? Erik Weihenmayer shares in this DREAM THINK DO episode how he turned a life-changing circumstance into a life-empowering foundation for a life of adventure and helping others break through their own barriers... In this episode, you will… Hear why your mind is the most important hurdle to overcome Learn how to make gradual steps toward achieving your goals Gain insight into how to stay positive when times are tough Learn about how to start breaking through your own barriers Episode Resources: MitchMatthews.com/136 DREAM. THINK. DO.

In this episode of the DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast, Mitch Matthews talks with returning guest and globe traveller Lindsay Palmer. She's travelled across the USA to 25 states and has been to 15 countries around the world. Most recently, Lindsay returned from a European adventure where she visited Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. She reveals the strategies she uses to have amazing experiences without breaking the bank. Listen To The Podcast: Are you thinking about taking a vacation this summer? Or is travelling one of your big dreams but you're not sure if you can afford it right now? Lindsay Palmer returns on this DREAM THINK DO episode to dish out the personal strategies she uses to see the world on a small budget. It's possible to have an adventure of your life while on a budget or even to have repeat adventures if you are bitten by the travel bug. You just need the right strategies and that's where Lindsay's expert advice as a globetrotter comes in. This episode is packed full of real travel stories and strategies you can use to help you see the world and check off those adventures on your bucket list while making it affordable. In this episode, you will… Hear about how to choose the best travelling companion Learn the best strategies for making your dream adventure possible Gain insight into how to make the trip affordable and stick to the budget Learn about finding safe places to stay Episode Resources: MitchMatthews.com/135 DREAM. THINK. DO.

In this episode of the DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast, Mitch Matthews talks with successful entrepreneur Matt Miller. After 9 years as an Air Force pilot, Matt transitioned to the private sector where he bounced around in the advertising and medical device industries before finally pursuing his dream of starting a business. It was only after hitting rock bottom that he finally was able to achieve this dream and learned to develop the right mindset to get him there. Listen To The Podcast: Not all of us have the dream figured out. In fact, sometimes trial and error is the only way to get there. On the next DREAM, THINK DO episode, I speak with successful entrepreneur Matt Miller who started out knowing only that he wanted to spend his time doing what he is passionate about, and spending that time with the people he is passionate about. After a series of ups and downs over 10 years, and no small amount of trial and error, Matt has been able to reach his dream of starting a successful business and now helps others achieve their own goal of financial independence. It's not enough for Matt to teach the moms and dads how to become entrepreneurs; he's also passionate about teaching kids an entrepreneurial mindset as a central focus of his vending machine franchise business. If you aren't sure how to accomplish your dream, or maybe don't even know what your dream is, you should check out this inspiring story. In this episode, you will… Hear how to develop the mindset to start your own business Learn about the importance of passive income Gain awareness of how duplication can help you Learn how to accomplish your goals by focusing on each day at a time Episode Resources: How to Live Your Dream - Matt's free ebook on getting started in the vending business MitchMatthews.com/134 DREAM. THINK. DO.

In this episode of the DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast, Mitch Matthews talks with Tim Sanders, a best-selling author, consultant to Fortune 100 companies and one of the most highly sought after speakers around the globe. He's the author of a number of books, including the New York Times best-selling book Love Is The Killer App: How to Win Business And Influence Friends. Tim talks about why developing these three intangibles - knowledge, network, and compassion - is key to winning. Listen To The Podcast: My next DREAM THINK DO guest, Tim Sanders, shares how knowledge, network, and compassion are three key tenets that can help you accomplish success by promoting the success of other people first. It may seem backward to some, that by helping other people, you are actually building up your own wins at the same time. But Tim believes in the power of strong relationships and what better way to build these kinds of connections than by helping others succeed? And Tim knows what he's talking about. He's a best-selling author, consultant to Fortune 100 companies and one of the most requested speakers in the world. He's written a number of books, including the one that he dives into during this episode, a New York Times bestseller: Love Is The Killer App: How to Win Business And Influence Friends. The smartest entrepreneurs and leaders understand the value of the relationships they're building each day. No one wins on their own. And Tim discusses how to use knowledge, network, and compassion to strengthen these relationships. Listen to this episode to learn about the power of helping other people succeed and practical strategies to put into practice in your own life to give more knowledge, network better and be more compassionate. In this episode, you will… Hear about the strategy that was the most difficult for Tim Sanders to breakthrough Learn how you can share your knowledge to help other people solve problems and why it's important Gain insight into why reading one book a month can be one of your best investments Learn the difference between being a common networker and a super connector Episode Resources: timsanders.com/dtd Love Is The Killer App: How to Win Business And Influence Friends MitchMatthews.com/133 DREAM. THINK. DO.

In this episode of the DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast, Mitch Matthews talks with Diego Corzo, a real estate entrepreneur who is well on his way to achieving financial freedom. At just 26 years old, he is pursuing his dream career as a realtor, he's a partner at Keller Williams and owns several rental properties. Diego demonstrates wisdom beyond his years. In this interview, he shares his story on making a career pivot, finding a great fit job and building wealth. Listen To The Podcast: Most people don't achieve their dream job right out of college. That was true for this week's DREAM THINK DO guest, Diego Corzo. He graduated and got a nice job. A good job. A solid job. Just not a "great fit" job. Diego knew he needed to make a change but he wasn't sure what to do. So he started to experiment. He started to network. He started to find work that he loved! That led to an entirely new career and he couldn't be more excited. Now he's in a job in real estate that helps him to thrive. Plus, he's investing in ways that are creating passive income so he can live more of the life he wants. On top of that, he's a partner of a real estate agency and owner of several rental properties. Not bad for someone who just turned 26. One thing that becomes clear in our conversation is that these early financial successes have fostered his passion for helping other millennials become financially free. This episode is full of practical financial tips that are especially helpful if you are graduating soon or early in your career, and want to set yourself up for financial success. In this episode, you will… Hear about what I call a "bridge job" is and how it can help you reach your goals Learn how you can create passive income to help live the life you dream of Gain insight into why adding more value can help you earn more Learn about the importance of patience in achieving financial freedom Episode Resources: MitchMatthews.com/132 DREAM. THINK. DO.

In this episode of the DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast, Mitch Matthews talks with the co-founder of FoCo Cafe in Fort Collins, Colorado, Kathleen Baumgardner. This Cafe is a pay-what-you-can gourmet cafe that serves delicious, healthy food to anyone who wants to eat there. The restaurant is making good food accessible to everyone while building community at the same time. Kathleen and her husband Jeff are creating a positive impact both in the lives of the people who eat and serve at the cafe, as well as in their community by coming up with creative and real solutions to the world's problems... Listen To The Podcast: Dreams can change. Sometimes the dreams that we pursue take us to places that surprise even ourselves. In this episode of DREAM THINK DO, I speak with the co-founder of the FoCo Cafe, Kathleen Baumgardner. She never dreamed that one day she would own a restaurant. She had never worked a day in a restaurant before. It started with a simple question from her husband and co-founder, Jeff Baumgardner: Shouldn't everyone have access to good food? Fast forward 5 years and literally hundreds of conversations with people and this Cafe is now an important part of the Fort Collins, Colorado community. It's a non-profit restaurant that encourages community involvement through things like the pay what you can modal and the free refrigerator that is stocked by the community to help those in need and to prevent food waste. Even the story of how this Cafe was built is full of amazing threads of different people contributing and helping to make the Baumgardners' dream a reality. If you have the seed of a dream and you're not sure if you want to step out and pursue that, this is an episode that can encourage you and help you take that first step. In this episode, you will… Hear how to build a community around your big idea Learn about how you can invite other people into your dream Gain insight into fueling your creativity to keep innovating Learn why you should never discount a conversation How to get started with your big idea Episode Resources FoCo Cafe FoCo Cafe on Facebook FoCo Cafe on Twitter FoCo Cafe on Instagram FoCo Cafe on Youtube FoCo Cafe on Pinterest MitchMatthews.com/131 DREAM. THINK. DO.

In this episode of the DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast, Mitch Matthews talks with author Craig Ballantyne, who wrote The Perfect Day Formula: How To Own The Day And Control Your Life. Craig's inspiration for the book came out of overcoming fear and crippling anxiety attacks, gaining control of his life and becoming a successful entrepreneur. He is the editor of a personal development newsletter where he provides daily writings to over 150,000 readers. He's also a respected fitness expert and one of his passions is to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Through this book he wants to help people figure out how to get more results in less time. Listen To The Podcast: By the time your day is finished, do you feel like you've run the day or do you often feel as though the day has run you? So many people would love to learn the secrets to becoming more productive and effective - that's why so many books have been written about this topic. My guest on this DREAM THINK DO episode, Craig Ballantyne, has maximizing his day down to a science. He's written a book about how to create the ideal day and his goal is to help people learn how they can get better results in less time. One of his strategies, the Good Night Formula, even went viral and he's been interviewed on Russian television. (Here's the thing: it's really that good.) This episode is for those who struggle to control their day, procrastinators, people who are stressed out, or even for people who have to-do lists that are too long and so you feel like you don't accomplish what you want. So if you want to learn more about how you can maximize your entire day, listen in on our conversation as Craig reveals the crucial things you need to do as well as what you need to stop doing. In this episode, you will… Hear how you can create the ideal day Learn about the simple Good Night Formula that went viral Gain insight into how you can beat procrastination Learn why you need to create a not-to-do list Hear about the importance of creating life rules Episode Resources The Perfect Day Formula: How To Own The Day And Control Your Life (Click here to get your FREE copy) Twitter.com/CraigBallantyne DREAM. THINK. DO.

In this episode of the DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast, Mitch Matthews talks with Ron Henry, founder of the premier brand and multi-million dollar company BlackRapid. Ron spent over 10 years as a photographer before he took the risk and invented and patented an entirely new type of camera strap. He launched BlackRapid and it has now become known for its great products and for a culture that cultivates growth, creativity, and innovation. Listen To The Podcast: There's a reasonable risk is scary… It's because there's no guarantee how things will turn out. My next guest on DREAM THINK DO, Ron Henry, is familiar with risk. After 10 years as a successful wedding photographer in the Seattle-area, he decided he wanted more out of life. So he started to pursue an idea and he invented and patented a new camera strap. Less than 10 years later, that one idea has grown into the multi-million dollar company BlackRapid, which is now known as the world's premier brand for camera straps. The risk clearly paid off. In our conversation, Ron talks about those early years of what pushed him to take that leap when he already had a successful career. Plus, we dig into the importance of starting right where you are. And… we discuss how he started small and kept pushing forward. That part of the conversation is TOTALLY worth it… but wait there's more! A bonus aspect of this interview is when we start to talk about creating a business culture that works. Ron obviously values people and he's taken specific steps to cultivate an environment that inspires innovation, loyalty and full engagement - both internally and externally. Listen to this episode for inspiration as Ron talks about the importance of timing in achieving big dreams and being able to create a life you love. In this episode, you will… Be inspired to start on your dream regardless of where you are Learn why taking the risk to pursue your dream is worth it Gain insight into how what you think either creates or limits your success Learn how to create a workplace culture that people love Episode Resources BlackRapid MitchMatthews.com/129 DREAM. THINK. DO.

In this episode of the DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast, Mitch Matthews talks with Dana Malstaff, best-selling author, podcaster and onlinepreneur. She is the creator of the Boss Mom movement and author of the book Boss Mom: The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Business & Nurturing Your Family Like a Pro. When she's not spending time with her family, most of her focus is on providing women (and men too) with the knowledge they need to grow their businesses while at the same time thriving with their families. Listen To The Podcast: Do you feel like you constantly have to choose between your family and your business? Ever feel like you're not the best parent because you sometimes prioritize business over your kids? What if you could figure out a way to prioritize your business and your family so that both thrive? On today's episode of DREAM THINK DO, my guest Dana Malstaff tackles this very topic on how she focuses on creating a better business and family life. She talks about how her personal life inspired her to start the Boss Mom movement and the importance of how doing what she loves makes her a better mom and a better entrepreneur. She understands the guilt that entrepreneurs can feel when they're pulled between work and family, and has created simple strategies that can help entrepreneurs lose the guilt and gain confidence in their life. The need to shift from spending so much time doing urgent things to spending more time on what is most important is also something we talk about. Listen in to hear Dana's thoughts on why planning is such an a key part of the strategy, and what kind of planning you can do help you have the family and business you want. In this episode, you will… Hear how you can create a better business and family Learn the secret to solving guilt Gain insight into why 10 minutes is so important Learn about three areas you need to plan to achieve your goals Episode Resources Boss Mom: The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Business & Nurturing Your Family Like a Pro Boss Mom Boss-Mom.com/Trello (Click here for a free course on how to use Trello) MitchMatthews.com/128 DREAM. THINK. DO.