DREAM THINK DO I Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy

Guys… I’m so excited to introduce you to my friend Joe Van Haecke.  For over 20 years, Joe has studied, performed, and coached improv.  Now… in addition to performing improv… he’s bringing what he calls the tenets of the “Yes/And” life to business people, educators, leaders… and heck… even lawyers!  His training company helps people to be better communicators… better collaborators… and stronger leaders… all through the power and simplicity of improv strategies. And a recent experience over coffee with Joe, made me say… we’ve got to talk about this on DREAM THINK DO!  So, let’s get to this!!! MORE ABOUT JOE VAN HAECKE: JOE’S WEBSITE: InspireMeMrV JOE’s INSTAGRAM: @InspireMeMrV JOE’S LINKEDIN: Click here MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 What to expect today 2:24 Get  to know Joe 4:53 The YES/AND lifestyle 8:41 A look into Comedy Sports  12:28 When Joe fell in love with improv 15:18 A real example of the YES/AND lifestyle 19:30 Where the YES/AND lifestyle needs boundaries 20:24 How to practically start to dreaming more 25:20 The rear skill of listening and engaging 32:18 How to start applying this conversation today 34:32 MItch’s Minute I want to hear from YOU!   Okay… let’s get YOUR thoughts.  What do you think?  Does the thought of IMPROV freak you out?  Or… do you find yourself wanting to hop on a stage and “Yes/And” with the best of ‘em light you up?   I’ll be honest… I can totally see the power of these strategies… but the idea of performing LIVE scares the snots out of me.  (But that probably means I need to do it sometime soon… right?) How about it?  What’s something that resonated with you?   More importantly… where’s an area where you’re going to try to inject some IMPROV technics into your daily life?  Leave a comment and let us know!!!  I can’t wait to hear from YOU! Lastly, don’t forget to share this episode!  And when you do either tag me or include the #dreamthinkdo. You can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.  Let’s connect there too!

Travis Crutcher is back as my guest… and THIS time we’re talking about how important the concept of “Personal Branding” needs to be to EVERYONE right now.  No matter what you do for work… whether you own your own business or you work for someone else… personal brand matters.  AND… let’s be real… personal brand… at least how we’re going to define it… matters in LIFE too.  Now, we’re not talking about trying to be famous or to go all Cardasian.  What we’re talking about is how do you present yourself to the world?  And we’re going to talk about heart stuff… mental stuff… business strategy and life strategy and I think you’re going to dig it!  Especially if you’re wanting to make an impact on the world in some small or big way.  With your career… your business and… or… your life!  And hey… if you’re listening to DREAM THINK DO… I know that’s true for you!   Now, I’m going to be talking with my friend Travis Crutcher for this episode.  You may remember from episode 344… but Travis is a Success Coach and Speaker who helps dynamic people get clarity, increase impact, and live a life they love!  He’s a Retired Army Ranger and he spent some time in the corporate space as an executive too. After all of that… he launched his coaching and speaking business and I’m VERY proud to say that he’s a key member of Acceleration… my mastermind for coaches and speakers.  And that’s given me a front-row seat to see him applying the concepts we’re going to be talking about in his business and more importantly… he’s also using them to make the world a better place!   Oh… and make sure you listen to the very end… because even though my bride Melissa isn’t “officially” on this episode… I tell a story about her that Travis and I agreed… allowed her to steal the show!  So yeah… stay with it!  I think you’re going to dig it… so let’s dive in! MORE ABOUT THE “PERCEPTIONS - Next Level Branding - LIVE EVENT Here’s where you can find out more about the LIVE event Travis and Mitch will be hosting in Kansas City in April: www.mitchmatthews.com/perceptions      MORE ABOUT TRAVIS: Travis’s Website: https://traviscrutcher.com Travis’s Podcast: Above Average Podcast   RELATED EPISODES: 3 Keys to Breaking Free from Your Past with Travis Crutcher: www.mitchmatthews.com/344 5 Keys to Launching Your Own Podcast: https://mitchmatthews.com/350  Busting Free from Analysis Paralysis with Amanda Zwanziger: https://mitchmatthews.com/338/    MORE ABOUT THE EPISODE: Questions we dig into: What is “PERSONAL BRAND” and why does it need to matter to everyone? What is PERSONA and how does it get in the way? Where have you screwed up when it comes to your personal brand? How do we break through to our TRUE IDENTITY? Why is it important to function from your true identity? What are some of the ways to do that in business and in life?   MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 Let’s talk about personal branding 2:45 Why you need listen to the end of this episode 4:11 The definition of a “personal brand” 7:40 Why faking it till you make it never works 11:20 The best time to grow a network 13:44 The freedom we when operating out of identity 18:45 When Mitch started to drop the persona 27:10 The longer you fake it, the faster you can lose yourself.  33:23 Sometimes your personal brand will rub others wrong 37:03 Never play yourself small again 42:10 How to better build your personal brand today 47:07 Don’t dismiss something just because it’s familiar 55:22 Being the change you want to see more of in the world 1:01:21 Mitch’s minute I want to hear from YOU!   What’s something that clicked with you?  What’s something that didn’t?  I want to hear from YOU!!! More importantly… where are you going to start to do something a little differently with YOUR personal brand?  Leave a comment and let us know!!!  I can’t wait to hear from YOU! Lastly, don’t forget to share this episode!  And when you do either tag me or include the #dreamthinkdo. You can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.  Let’s connect there too!

We’re answering a great question from a fellow DREAM THINK DO listener this week.  He asked, “As a Success Coach… what’s one of the most important questions you ask people?”  Whew.  I love that and… as you’ll hear… I get pretty fired up to answer it. In fact, the question that we dig into is one that you can use to get more clear, build your confidence and help you to stay inspired.  But it’s also a question you can use at work with your teams, your co-workers and… heck, even with leaders above you.  Plus, you can use it with your family and friends too. I don’t want to sound like I’m trying to over-hype this question… but seriously… it’s THAT powerful!  And it’s sooooooo important to ask (in multiple scenarios)!  So get excited.  Let’s dive in! RELATED DREAM THINK DO EPISODES: How to WIN more in 5 minutes or less!  (SPEED). - Success, People, Experiment, Evaluate & Determined. www.mitchmatthews.com/336  Jake Thompson: BEAT Pandemic Fatigue! [A Guide to Survive and Thrive!]: www.mitchmatthews.com/281    4 Keys to Developing a Confident Mind with Dr. Nate Zinser: www.mitchmatthews.com/349  5 Keys to Creating a Dream Date: www.mitchmatthews.com/348 Lots of questions come in... especially after episode 346 - RESET WEEK - where I said we'd be spending MOST of our upcoming episodes on: The Abundant Life Playbook The Elite Coach Playbook The Growing Business Playbook By the way… if you’d like to ask a question and/or give me a suggestion for topics for future DREAM THINK DO episodes, be sure to leave a comment! One recent question really applies to BOTH the “Abundant Life Playbook” and the “Elite Coach Playbook,” is:  "As a coach... what's one of the most important questions you ask?" THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION!  And I couldn’t help myself but dive into it!  And as you can imagine… since I’ve been a full-time coach for almost 20 years… I have a lot of favorite questions.  BUT one of my favorites and one of the most important has to be: “What does success look like” This is a powerful question if you're a coach or a mentor.  This is a powerful question if you're a leader or a manager.  This is a powerful question if you're a parent or a friend.  It even is important to ask in a romantic relationship.  So yeah… as you can see… it’s a favorite! It’s a great question to ask others… but it’s also a great question to ask yourself as you’re journaling, meditating, and praying.   I love this question because it's MACRO and it's MICRO: MACRO - Large scale... EVERYTHING... All-encompassing… BIG PICTURE. MICRO - Minute by minute... the small stuff... the little but important stuff… day-to-day! Are you sold?  I hope so.  So let’s dive in! MACRO-LEVEL EXAMPLES: Let’s talk about some examples of “MACRO” versions of this question. WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR: This year? This season of my career? My team... this year? [NOTE: You can sure talk to your team about this and ask THEM too!] You can use this question as you consider the different ROLES you have in life:  WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR: For me as a parent? For me as a spouse?  (If you’re dating… What does success look like in this relationship?) For me as a leader? For me as a volunteer? For me as a team member? It can also be a question to ask yourself… when it comes to the way you want to live life: What does success look like for how I want to LIVE? Now… let’s talk about the question at a MICRO LEVEL: As in… how can you apply it TODAY?  How can you use it to help guide you a moment to moment… today? I like to add the “Rule of 3” here to drill down to some specifics.  So I simply add “three things” to the question. For example:  What are 3 things that would make today a success? If I journal that… I might come up with things like: Engage well with others.   Stay present.   Focus and get XYZ done.   Have gas left in the tank for my family tonight To have FUN as I work today. To show people gratitude throughout the day. To bring my best work as often as possible. Then… I’d pick the 3 most important for that day. Or another example is if you’re prepping for a hard conversation, you might ask: What are 3 things that are within my control that would make this conversation a success? You might come up with things like: I will be prepared.   I will show the person I love/honor/respect them... no matter what (even in a business situation)  I'm ready to share my perceptions and I'm open to theirs. Another example is I recently hired a new VA.  So… I asked myself, "What are 3 things that would make my new team member’s onboarding a success?" Some things I came up with were: Help her to feel welcomed.   Help her to know we believe in her.   Help her to know what success looks like.  (Ironic… right? LOL!) THIS makes for a great prayer too.  Some of my favorite questions as I pray are: Lord... what do you want me to know... today? Lord.. what do you want me to do… today? Lord… what does success look like... today? NOTE: The topic of favorite questions I ask during prayer could TOTALLY be its own episode.  So, if you dig that or you’d want me to dig into that more... leave a comment or send me an email and let me know! TIME TO TAKE ACTION: Where do you want to apply this question... this week? Work? Life? Relationships? Volunteering? Leadership? Entrepreneurship? Family? Go big... and ask a MACRO QUESTION or two. Then be sure to go MICRO too… and experiment with the “Rule of 3” to bring it to something specific... today. Minute by Minute:  0:02 What to expect today 2:22 The new Dream Think Do Playbooks 6:16 The most important question we can ask 13:17 More ways to learn more about this topic 18:04 Clarifying this important question even more 23:30 Listener shout out! Did you hear your name? 25:43 How to practically apply this question today 38:00 Another example of how tangible this success hack is 42:28 Your action step today! I want to hear from YOU!   What’s something that stood out to you?  More importantly… what are you going to try as a result?  Let me know!  And hey… if you have more questions… let me know!  I can’t wait to hear from YOU! Lastly, don’t forget to share this episode!  Your friends will thank you!  And when you do either tag me or just include the #dreamthinkdo. You can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.  (Let’s connect there too!) Keep bringing your awesome,  Mitch

Have you ever thought about launching your own podcast?  You’ve got a topic you’re passionate about or a group of people you really feel called to help… and you’ve wondered, “Should I start a podcast?”  Well… if that’s you (or you just curious about some of the behind-the-scenes on the podcast industry) THIS episode is for you!  By the way… should everyone start a podcast?  The answer is NO!  An emphatic no!  BUT more people should start a podcast than you might think!  We’ll talk about WHO should think about launching a podcast and we’ll talk about HOW to get one started (it’s easier than you might think).  Plus, we’ll help you to beat out 85% of all podcasts almost immediately!  Oh, and since this is episode 350… we’ll also reminisce a bit.  We’ll dig into some of my favorites and some fun behind-the-scenes stories that have gotten us here!  So let’s get to this!   OTHER RELATED EPISODES and LINKS: Antonio Neves: 3 Keys to Beating a Mid-Career Slump! (Click Here) Jamie Kern Lima: Dump The Doubt! - Mitch Matthews (Click Here) Howard Berger | “Don’t blow up the house!” - Mitch Matthews (Click Here) Jillian Michaels: “This Might Surprise You!” (Click Here) Dr. Donny Jackson: “Bet On Yourself!” (Click Here)   Some Surprising Stats on Starting a Podcast: At this time, there are still less than 3 million podcasts worldwide, BUT there are over 37 million YouTube channels, and over 1 billion blogs.  (Yeah… that’s BILLION… with a “b.”)   According to Edison Research... about 65 to 75% of Americans have heard a podcast. 37% of the US listens on a monthly basis 28% of the US Population Listen to Podcasts on a Weekly Basis 70% of all podcasts are listened to via Apple Podcasts Get this… ONLY 15% of new podcasts make it to 11 episodes.  And only 15% of those podcasts will make it to 100 episodes!  BUT... the longer you stay in... the better the chance you have of finding your audience and thriving! 5 Tips for Starting A Podcast: Start with WHO Start small… but start! Go in with a STARTER PLAN… but commit to figure most things out as you go! Research for your INTRO and 3 questions! Honor your Guests and make them feel safe Minute by Minute: 0:02 Before you tune out, this episode could be for you! 3:17 Conversations starts 7:40 Who should and shouldn't start a podcast 13:14 The story behind Mitch’s first podcast  19:02 The fun rewards of having a podcast 31:45 Commit to learning as you go 36:26 Th practical tips you need to get started 41:30 What your first 10 episodes should be about 44:01 How often you should release new episodes 47:30 Mind mapping your episode 50:34 The importance of a good introduction 1:00:00 It’s okay to to ask for help I want to hear from YOU!   What’s something that stood out to you?  More importantly… are you more excited about launching a podcast… OR… did this episode help you learn that podcasting isn’t for you?  Let me know!  And hey… if you have more questions… let me know!  I can’t wait to hear from YOU! Lastly, don’t forget to share this episode!  And when you do either tag me or just include the #dreamthinkdo. You can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.  Let’s connect there too!

Today we’re talking about what it takes to build a confident mind… no matter what.  Our tour guide for this discussion is Dr. Nate Zinsser… who’s the Director of the Performance Psychology Program at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He uses applied performance psychology to help cadets prepare for and perform in high-stakes situations.  But he also helps world-class athletes, Olympic medalists, professional ballerinas, NHL All-Stars, college All-Americans… as well as countless business professionals and leaders!  In fact, NFL MVP Eli Manning said, “Studying confidence with Dr. Zinsser helped me win two Super Bowls!”   He teaches people how to overcome pressure and succeed.  By the way… Doc Z has applied these concepts himself… to allow him to deliver consistently… but to also become a world-class mountaineer and accomplished martial artist.. just to name a few.  His brand new book is called, “ THE CONFIDENT MIND: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance.” It’s a book designed to help us all better understand confidence… build it… protect it… and rely upon it when performance matters most!  It’s a powerful conversation I think you’re going to love so let’s get to it!   RESOURCES: Dr. Nate Zinsser’s book: “The Confident Mind - A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance” - Click here Dr. Z’s website: www.natezinsser.com/   RELATED DREAM THINK DO EPISODES: Two Minutes To Confidence (A deep dive with Mitch): mitchmatthews.com/246/  Let Me Go Do It Like It’s Never Been Done - An interview with The Orville’s J. Lee: mitchmatthews.com/j-lee/ Breaking Down Barriers & Setting New Records - An interview with McKenna Hasse. mitchmatthews.com/mckenna-haase/   EPISODE MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 Have you noticed this in people lately? 2:35 Get to know Dr. Nate 4:20 Conversation starts 8:15 The fruit of having higher confidence 11:38 How to avoid becoming overly confident 17:00 The starting point of confidence 20:03 Why Dr. Nate changed the name of his book 27:07 Being ridiculous honest about execution 29:50 How to actually believe your positive self-talk 33:42 How Mitch started to overcome worry 37:37 Keys to upgrade your confidence in the moment 44:14 How to connect with Dr. Nate 44:45 Mitch’s minute   I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Leave a comment and let me know what stood out to you from this interview with Dr. Z.   More importantly, let me know which strategy, story, or pearl of wisdom (BIG or small)… inspired you to take action.  What’s something (Big or small) you’re going to experiment with as a result?   I can’t wait to hear from you!

Valentine’s day is right around the corner… so today’s subject is CRITICAL!  And hey… it’s always good to find ways to inject some extra romance into a date.  The good news is… it’s a lot easier than you might think!  And whether it’s early in your relationship… or you’ve been together for a while (my bride and I have been married for 29 years!!!)... you can use these strategies to bust out of the norm, and take a ho-hum date to “dream date” status!  We’re going to get you real-world strategies that won’t break the bank and won’t involve a two-week trip to Fiji!  You’ll be able to apply these concepts and have more romance, connection, AND fun!  So let’s get to this! RELATED DREAM THINK DO EPISODES: Melissa and I talked about the 5 Love Languages in www.mitchmatthews.com/214  3 Keys to Breaking Free from the Past with Travis Crutcher: www.mitchmatthews.com/344  "Surprised By Prayer" - Another interview with my bride Melissa: www.mitchmatthews.com/207   RESOURCES: 5 Love Languages: You can find out more at: Discover Your Love Language - The 5 Love Languages®: (www.5lovelanguages.com) The FIVE Love Languages are: Quality Time Words of affirmation Physical Touch Acts of Service Receiving Gifts       Grab Mitch’s game: “Q Dates” at www.mitchmatthews.com/store   STEPS: Know YOUR Primary Love Languages Know your SIGNIFICANT OTHER'S Primary Love Languages Plan THIS date... around your SIGNIFICANT OTHER’S LOVE LANGUAGES   BONUS TIP 1: Create a Mixtape! Playlist - Mixtape!!! Put a playlist together of songs that mean something to you as a couple! Use Apple... Spotify… or put a literal mixtape together! Examples from “Our History” Playlist: “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel “I will always love you” by Whitney Houston “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison “I can't help falling in love with you” by UB40 “My One and Only” by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman Other romantic examples (you’re welcome): “At Last” by Etta James “I want you back” by Colbie Caillat “I'd love you all over again” by Alan Jackson “I won't give up” Jason Mraz   BONUS TIP 2: Ask and then REALLY LISTEN!!! Grab Mitch’s game: “Q Dates” at www.mitchmatthews.com/store    Conversation Starter Questions: Complete the following sentences: My favorite class in high school was _________? (Why?) A perfect Saturday morning is when I get to ______________________. One of my favorite things about my week is when I ________________. One of my favorite TV shows from my childhood was ______________. (Why?) My favorite season of the year is ____________. (Why?) Other questions: If you could meet any celebrity, who would you want to meet and why? If you could have a personal assistant do one thing for you, what would you have them do? If you could instantly learn how to play an instrument, which instrument would you want to be able to play?  Where would you want to perform? If you could take a trip anywhere in the world (cost is not an issue), where would you want to go and why?   BONUS TIP 3: Be a Tourist: My friend and coaching client, Lisa Even (www.EvenConnection.com) suggests giving yourself permission to be a “Tourist” in your own town.  Try things you haven't tried.  Go somewhere you haven't gone.  Be willing to risk looking like a “tourist” to see something for the first time.  And/or to see something you’ve seen a hundred times… through new eyes!   BIG SHOUT OUT TO SOME NEW REVIEWERS ON APPLE: Thanks to Aree and Mandy who left reviews on Apple Podcasts!  We couldn’t do this without you guys!  If you haven’t already, please leave a review wherever you listen to the podcast.  You can get to the show on Apple here: www.dreamthinkdo.com.   MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 A new topic for Dream Think Do 2:58 Let’s start planning your next dream date 7:50 Focus on romance even if you’re busy 13:24 One resource every couple needs  19:10 Date night example from Mitch and Mel 26:32 Having fun with acts of service  28:21 Mitch’s romance playlist 34:30 Shout-outs! Did you hear your name? 37:53 Ways to love your significant others 43:11 Little things can make every day better 46:00 What’s coming up next on Dream Think Do   I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Leave a comment and let me know what stood out to you from this episode.  More importantly, let us know a favorite way to take a date to the next level?  BIG or small… what’s some of YOUR special sauce?  I can’t wait to hear from you! Lastly, don’t forget to share this episode!  And when you do either tag me or just include the #dreamthinkdo and we’ll send 5 lucky sharers a copy of “Q Dates!”  You can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.  Let’s connect!

Have you ever felt STUCK? If so… you’re not alone!!  Maybe it was when you wanted to try something new.  Write a book. Launch a company. Volunteer for an organization you were passionate about.  Or maybe it was when you were experiencing a plateau with your career.  Deep down… you wanted something… but you felt stuck.  You could see your goal on the horizon… but it felt like you were running in mud!  If you’ve ever been there… this episode is for you.  In it… I walk you through 4 surprising strategies to help you get UNSTUCK!  Oh… and the REALLY good news is that each strategy is something you can start to use immediately!  So let’s get to it! Minute by Minute: 0:02 What’s inside this episode 2:12 A look into Mitch’s life this week 5:00 Why Mitch loves the DO-ers ion the world 8:45 The side effects of fear (and how to overcome) 12:00 The four keys you may need to get unstuck 12:30 Keys to get unstuck #1  20:45 Keys to get unstuck #2 (listen in to hear #3 and #4!) 34:00 A stat from a post-pandemic world that will break your heart 44:22 How to get connected with a great coach 48:50 The daily “small things” that create big results 52:28 Why Mitch is glad he didn’t say NO to this event 1:00:35 Coming up next on Dream Think Do I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Leave a comment and let me know what stood out to you (big or small) from this episode.  Then include something you’re going to do the next time you feel STUCK!  And hey… be sure to share some of your favorite hacks for getting yourself unstuck too!  I can’t wait to hear from you! Lastly, don’t forget to invite a friend to join you!  Share the episode with them and come up with your ways to get UNSTUCK and make this year a great year… no matter what!

We’re declaring this week (the 3rd week of January) as our first annual: “RESET WEEK!”  Why?  Well… I think we can all agree that it’s a solid idea to establish a specific time each year to set some new goals and start some new habits.  That’s a good and healthy thing.  Right?  But who’s the jackhole who suggested we try doing that during the holidays???  Seriously?  That timing is nuts!  Heck… I think it’s the biggest reason why most New Year's resolutions fail so quickly!!!  Think about it… is the best time to start a new diet really the same week you’re just coming off a glutinous multi-day tour of Christmas meals with four different sets of family?  Is the best time to establish a new exercise plan really the same week you haven’t gotten out of your PJ’s for 3 out of 7 days?  Is the best time to experiment with better spending habits the same week the employees at Target started to greet you by your first name when you walked in for that one last “quick” gift?  The answer is no.  A very solid no.  On all counts. That’s why we’re calling THIS week our first… official… “RESET WEEK!” In this podcast, I walk you through three powerful and deceptively simple (and fun) strategies to help you set some new goals, get clear on what you want and truly thrive this WEEK and this YEAR!  Let’s give ourselves some grace and some space to “reset” and to set ourselves up for a MUCH better year!  Who’s with me?  #letsdothis RELATED EPISODES: Manage Time & Live more Intentionally: Click here A Calendar-Driven To-Do List: Click here You’ve Got a Dream… Now How Do You Ask for Help?: Click here Dream BIG. Start Small: Click here MORE ABOUT THE EPISODE: We’re digging into 3 questions to help guide you through your “RESET WEEK!” Question 1: What’s something you want to give yourself PERMISSION to be a NOVICE at? Question 2: What’s something you want to BE more this year? SPECIFIC STRATEGY for QUESTION 2: It’s always good to ask yourself “What do I want to DO today?”  Right?  That’s a solid question.  But it can also be powerful to first ask yourself, “What do I want to BE more today?” I’ll talk you through this more on the episode but here are some sample “BE” words to get you started: CLICK HERE TO SEE THEM! STEPS: Come up with some of your “BE” words this year Create a list and keep them so you can refer to them weekly / daily As you’re planning for your week and/or day… decide on a few “BE” words to focus on Then tie some specific items on your “To-Do” list to those words to keep them top of mind Listener Spotlight: Click here to see if we gave you a shout out! If the Dream Think Do podcast has helped you in some small or big way… please leave a review on Apple’s platform.  You can find the show here: www.dreamthinkdo.com.  And… we always love to hear from YOU and get your thoughts on each episode.  So please leave a comment below and let us know what you think of THIS episode! EVEN MORE ABOUT THE EPISODE: Here’s the 3rd question to help guide you through your “RESET WEEK!” Question 3: What’s something you want to change or tweak this year? It can be big or small… but here’s a simple process to help you get clear on a few specific things. STEP 1: Create a list of “possible” areas for tweaks and changes.  Here are some areas to consider. Internal: Mindset Outlook Spiritual-Life Beliefs Habits External:  Career Business Relationships Network Team STEP 2: Pick one to three and ask yourself, “Why would this be important to change this year?” “If you get clear on your WHY, your HOW will always come!” STEP 3: Ask yourself, “What’s one small but significant step I could take this week?” PERSONAL EXAMPLE: I love doing this DREAM THINK DO podcast, but as it grows… it’s possible to fall out of love with it.  It can get overwhelming.  Example: We get 50+ pitches a week to be on the show! But I prayed about it and took this 3-step process.  As a result, I realized for 2022, I’m going to simplify and only teach from 3 different playbooks I’m excited about!   The Abundant Life Playbook The Elite Coach Playbook The Growing Business Playbook Then… as another small but significant step, I put a schedule together for the Q1… listing out all the things we could dig into based on those 3 playbooks… and I started to get more and more excited! So strap in folks… 2022 is going to be an AWESOME year and we’re going to get a LOT done!!! I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Leave a comment and let me know what stood out to you (big or small) from this episode.  Then include something (big or small) you’re going to do to RESET!  Oh… and if you think giving yourself some intentional time and space to RESET is important… let me know you agree!   Lastly, don’t forget to invite a friend to RESET with you!  Share the episode with them and come up with your ways to RESET and make 2022 a great year… no matter what!

We’re doing a DEEP DIVE this week on 3 surprise gifts from the Manger story.  That’s right!  You and me.  We’re talking about a story that may feel “familiar,” BUT there’s a danger when something feels familiar… right?  The danger is that we might tune out or we may miss some of the surprise gifts that can still be tucked inside.  I was reminded of this recently, when I was asked to teach on the shepherds from the Nativity story and the birth of Jesus.  Specifically, I was asked to dig into Luke 2:8-18.  As I did… and I went deep… I uncovered some elements I’d never seen or thought about before… even though it was a very familiar story.  And wow… they were good surprises.  Whether you’re a big fan of reading the Bible or not… this episode has something for you.  At the VERY least… you’ll hear some things you can use to impress your friends at Christmas parties!  But… if you listen in and stay open… I think you might really appreciate unwrapping these surprise gifts as much as I did!  So let’s get to this! RELATED POSTS & DREAM THINK DO EPISODES: This post helps to explain some of why I believe what I do: mitchmatthews.com/our-6-miracle-story/  Melissa (my bride) joins me and we talk about some fun prayer stories: www.mitchmatthews.com/207  I talk about 3 Keys to Having Your Best Holiday Season Yet: www.mitchmatthews.com/105 MORE ABOUT THE EPISODE: We’re diving into a familiar (awesome) story from Luke 2:8-18.  Yup.  We’re talking about the Shepherds from the Nativity story and the birth of Jesus.  Here are the specific verses we’re referring to from the New Living Translation (emphasis added): The Shepherds and Angels That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished… ___________________ In the episode, I also refer to one of my other favorite stories from the Bible. It’s the story of David and Goliath.  Now, THAT is also a “familiar” story… so it might be easy to dismiss.  But trust me… it’s stories like this that kept those Shepherds (and us) inspired and OPEN to the crazy cool stuff God was going to invite them into.   And since I’m referring to elements of it in the episode, I’ll include the full story here too.   1 Samuel 17-12-51 - New Living Translation… emphasis added. Jesse Sends David to Saul’s Camp Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons. Jesse’s three oldest sons—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shime—had already joined Saul’s army to fight the Philistines. David was the youngest son. David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army, but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem. For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army. One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers. And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.” David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines. So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries. Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army. David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers. As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel. As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright. “Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!” David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”  And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.” But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!” “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!” He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer. Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him. David Kills Goliath “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”  “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.” But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,  I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.  I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!” Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. Goliath walked out toward David with his shield-bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled. David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. ___________________ We’re going to talk about 3 surprise gifts.  And as you’ll hear… I needed them, and you might too!   NOTE: If history is your jam… and you’d like to dig into more of the historical dialogue around the manger that I mention, you can click here and here and here to start THAT journey.  If you go down this trail… enjoy!  Heck… nerd out!  My encouragement is that as you dive deeper into the information… it builds your sense of awe and wonder around the humble beginnings of Jesus’ entry into this world as well as the very tangible historical aspects of this amazing story. MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 - What to expect today 1:57 - Conversation begins  2:48 - How Mitch found these 3 surprise gifts 4:08 - This is a safe place 7:10 - What Mitch learned in his Jeep classroom 8:14 - What Luke tells us about that time 16:35 - The beauty of story  28:25 - A clue you don’t want to look over 36:19 - Miracles can happen even at your day job 40:03 - An introverts prayer 48:02 - The third and most important question 58:49 - The power in a prophetic act 1:02 - Merry Christmas! See you in 2022. I want to hear from YOU! What do YOU think?  What resonated with you?  Which gift (question) did you need?  Where could you apply one of those questions… this week?  Let me know because I’d LOVE to hear from YOU! And hey… if it clicked with you… please share this episode with a friend!

Travis Crutcher is my guest.  Travis is a Success Coach and Speaker who helps dynamic people get clarity, increase impact, and live a life they love!  He’s a Retired Army Ranger - with some amazing stories of heroism and leadership thanks to multiple tours in the Middle East!  After retiring and spending some time in the corporate space as an executive… he launched his coaching and speaking business.  I’m VERY proud to say that he’s a member of Acceleration… my mastermind for coaches and speakers.  And that’s given me a front row seat to see him killing it with his business and more importantly… he’s making the world a better place!  His podcast “The Above Average Podcast with Travis and Jess” is now in the top 1% of all podcasts!  (By the way… his bride Jess is pure awesome!)  Travis has a true passion for helping people live their best lives… and as you’ll hear… he’s had to make some decisions to let go of some things in order to live HIS best life.  So we’re going to talk about 3 KEYS TO BREAKING FREE FROM THE PAST!  Because… let’s be honest… we ALL have things we need to let go of and move past… in order to live our best life!  And this DREAM THINK DO episode is going to help you do it! RELATED DTD EPISODES: GUEST: Jilian Michaels “This Might Surprise You” https://mitchmatthews.com/323 A Deep Dive with Mitch: “Dealing with the B.S. of your Blessings” https://mitchmatthews.com/339 GUEST: Amanda Zwanziger* “Busting Free From Paralysis”  https://mitchmatthews.com/338 NOTE: I’m honored to say both Amanda (Episode 338) and Travis are amazing members of ACCELERATION - my Mastermind for Coaches and Speakers.   If you’re interested in finding out more about ACCELERATION send us a note here. MORE ABOUT TRAVIS CRUTCHER: Travis’ Website: www.TravisCruther.com  The Above Average Podcast with Travis and Jess: www.traviscrutcher.com/aap  Travis on the Instas: https://www.instagram.com/travis__crutcher PHOTOS OF STRYKER BRIGADE: Travis mentioned that BEAST of a vehicle the Army Rangers were tasked with learning and maximizing!  Well, here it is!  BOOM! (Literally!)  CLICK HERE! SPOILER ALERT:   The 3 Keys To Breaking Free are: “Question everything”  Be sure to listen to the interview to find CRITICAL ingredients you have to add to the “Question Everything” strategy to make it work! (It might surprise you!) “Decide”  This might sound TOO simple… but listen to the episode to find out how to walk it out... no matter what! “Rewrite the script” Travis and Mitch both had to apply this KEY and it made all the difference, but be sure to listen to the episode to hear about a potential pitfall to avoid! I want to hear from YOU! What do YOU think?  What’s something that stood out to you from what Travis shared?  Heck, what’s something that has helped YOU to let go of the past?  Let me know what YOU think!  Drop a comment below.  I can’t wait to hear from YOU.