Productive Flourishing Podcast

Linda Kaplan Thaler is an advertising luminary and author who is also the cofounder of the Kaplan Thaler Group and chairman of Publicis New York. She has created many iconic advertising campaigns such as Kodak Moments and the Aflac duck. She is a native New Yorker who has co-authored three bestselling books: Bang!: Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World, The Power of Nice, and The Power of Small. Her newest book is called Grit to Great, which she also co-authored with her business partner Robin Koval. The book takes readers back to the old-fashioned concept of it taking grit to make you successful, rather than relying on your talent, luck, or ability. Linda joins Charlie on the show to talk about that and much more. Key Takeaways:02:02 – How Linda met Robin Koval.03:57 – The idea of having grit and getting the idea to write a book about it.07:42 – Grit never expires and the idea of retirement.12:34 – The “lure” of retirement and how retirement should really be doing a job that you love.16:26 – The self-esteem movement.20:06 – Grit can be found in anybody no matter the age.22:58 – Learn to accept failure.25:32 – “Comfort addiction” and how we are a culture that doesn’t know how to be bored.28:50 – Which grit builder practice Linda feels is the hardest for her at this stage in her life.32:02 – The power of habit.38:50 – The most unanticipated challenge Linda is currently facing.40:12 – Everybody can get to where they want to go. Grit is the formula that gets you there.  Mentioned in This Episode:Kaplan Thaler GroupPublicis New YorkBang!: Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy WorldThe Power of NiceThe Power of SmallRobin KovalGrit to GreatMichael BloombergColin PowellSteven SpielbergMichael JordanJack Ma, AlibabaSherry Lansing, Paramount PicturesJames Henry, In a Fisherman’s LanguageJames DysonNeil Postman, We’re Amusing Ourselves to DeathTodd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-Diener, The Upside of Your Dark SidePaula RadcliffeJames PattersonStephen King  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

Jacquette Timmons is a financial behaviorist who helps her clients figure out how to connect their money to life in a real and meaningful way. She offers unbiased advice and helps people gain insight and clarity that they might not otherwise get on their own. She helps people blend the emotions of money with the math of money so they can move forward with their financial goals and take control. She is the founder of Sterling Investment Management, Inc. and also wrote a book titled Financial Intimacy, How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your Mate. Her work has been featured many places including CNN, HLN, Fox, and NPR, among others. Jacquette joins Charlie on the show today and talks about the importance of having discussions about our money as well as much more. Key Takeaways:01:43 – How Jacquette got started as a financial behaviorist.05:54 – What does a financial behaviorist do?09:09 – Understanding decision making around money is a more irrational thing and the trends and differences between the way men and women make decisions about money.14:13 – People not really having true conversations about their money and not seeing that it’s an ongoing conversation and why that is.21:15 – Having to make hard financial decisions such as putting money toward the care of a pet.26:10 – Some things to do to help make those difficult financial decisions.30:33 – Recognizing and dealing with the fact that everything about money is emotional and that our decisions we make about money are often based on emotions.34:48 – Jacquette’s book, Financial Intimacy, How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your Mate.37:56 – Surprising feedback Jacquette has gotten about her book and finding help in knowing other people’s situations.42:24 – Financial success doesn’t start in your wallet.48:44 – Being smart with money is a skill.50:28 – The most unanticipated challenge Jacquette is currently facing.54:11 – Money is never just about money.  Mentioned in This Episode:Sterling Investment Management, Inc.Financial Intimacy, How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your MateCNNHLNFoxBlack EnterpriseNPRThe Wall Street JournalDan Ariely, Predictably IrrationalCarnegie Institute of TechnologyThe Small Business Lifecycle  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

Sarah Jones is the founder of Introverted Alpha, a place to help introverted men attract women naturally. Her work has been featured in various places including Cosmo and Business Insider and many other. Along with being a dating coach, Sarah also uses Introverted Alpha to help support the cause of ending human trafficking. She joins Charlie on the show today to discuss these topics and much more. Key Takeaways:01:46 – How Sarah got started doing what she does now.04:50 – How Sarah found her niche.08:40 – The differences in coaching men and women.11:05 – The friend zone.13:32 – Sarah discusses her discomfort level of coaching and talking to men about their sexuality.16:23 – The pickup community.20:21 – The idea of men just wanting sex.23:49 – Whether or not Sarah has received any backlash against what she’s doing.27:37 – Sarah learning to be a more strategic thinker in what she was doing.34:10 – Sarah’s cause around human trafficking.37:48 – The link between men’s sexual desire and human trafficking.42:44 – The most unanticipated challenge Sarah is currently facing and why she thinks that’s a challenge.48:50 – Find the things that you love about yourself and do things that will nourish that. Mentioned in This Episode:Introverted AlphaCosmoBusiness InsiderThe Good Men ProjectYourTangoThe San Francisco ChronicleThe Game, Neil StraussRedditRamit Sethi, Zero to LaunchNot For SaleManaging for Results, Peter Drucker  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

Charlie takes a few minutes in this episode to discuss the future of the show and the direction he would like to take it. Key Takeaways:00:47 – “Bullets, cannonballs, and tripwires.”01:36 – Why Charlie wanted to get to 50 episodes.03:33 – People saying they want more of Charlie on the podcast.04:28 – Charlie not wanting the show to be another “how-to” show.05:00 – How to figure out the two tensions of people wanting more Charlie on the show and it not being a “how-to” show.07:08 – The challenges of keeping the show at 30 minutes and it still being really good.09:35 – Going forward with the show and what that looks like.10:10 – The publishing schedule of the podcast.12:14 – Going through and experimental phase with the show.13:01 – Ways to help out with the show. Mentioned in This Episode:Great by Choice, Jim CollinsDonald Rumsfeldproductiveflourishing.com/podcastcharlie@productiveflourishing.comproductiveflourishing.com/contact   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

Brigitte Lyons is a media specialist who founded B, a boutique PR agency helping organizations and individuals move their ideas. She teaches entrepreneurs how to take media outreach into their own hands. Brigitte is an advocate for emerging talent, and those she has helped have gone on to get coverage from cnn.com, The Huffington Post, Elle Décor, espn.com, and more. She encourages people to be relentlessly focused on what they’re doing in order to get their work out there to make an impact in the world. She joins Charlie on the show today to discuss her work and much more. Key Takeaways:01:28 – How Brigitte got started in the PR business.04:32 – Is PR even relevant anymore?07:58 – The value of a publicist for some people and why people come to Brigitte.14:24 – Brigitte making the switch to work with more creative types and artists and some of the challenges that came along with that.16:22 – Why Brigitte is happier getting out and working one-on-one, face-to-face with people rather than just sitting at her computer by herself.19:40 – The idea that big problems need big teams.21:55 – Why Brigitte doesn’t want to work solo by herself but also doesn’t necessarily think being a big company is for her either.26:10 – What scares Brigitte about the transition she is making.33:04 – Ryan Holiday’s methods for PR and what he does.35:18 – Why Brigitte’s work matters so much to her.41:19 – The cause, topic, or issue Brigitte feels the strongest about but isn’t using her voice for and why that is.47:25 – Be relentless focused on what you’re doing to make a bigger impact with your work. Mentioned in This Episode:Bcnn.comElle DécorThe Huffington Postespn.comMultipotentialitesForbesThe New York TimesTwitterGallupRedditTara Gentilecharity:waterIDEOAppleBasecampDuarteThe Energy Project, Tony SchwartzAction Station, Marianne ElliottRyan HolidayAll Marketers are LiarsTrust Me, I’m LyingTechCrunchGawkerAmerican ApparelAmazonCal Newport, So Good They Can’t Ignore YouBlack Lives MatterAirbnb   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

Ryan Haack is an author, blogger, and speaker who was born without a left hand. In 2011, he launched his website, livingonehanded.com, in an effort to help people embrace the things that make them different and realize that they are still valuable and important. He writes about his experiences as someone who was born with a physical difference and tries to give hope to others who may be dealing with the same kind of thing. He also speaks at schools on this subject and recently released his first children’s book titled Different is Awesome. Ryan joins Charlie on the show today to discuss his work and his perspective on what it means to be different as well as much more. Key Takeaways:01:31 – Why and how Ryan started his website back in 2011.04:06 – Ryan going most of his life not even thinking about the fact that he only had one hand and then suddenly being more aware of it after starting his website.08:43 – What Ryan’s arm looks like and why he is so comfortable talking about it.13:18 – Always thinking people want to help you because they pity you and not viewing it as them just being nice and accept it.18:32 – The dual nature of saying you’re not any different than anybody else when you have a disability but also bringing awareness to the fact that you are different.21:49 – Ryan’s Kickstarter for his book.28:20 – The message of Ryan’s book.31:45 – Seeing the value in yourself will make you see the value in other people.33:56 – Ryan hopes that people will feel encouraged and valuable because of the work he is doing. Mentioned in This Episode:livingonehanded.comDifferent Is AwesomeXangaW.E.B. Du BoisBrené BrownGlenda Watson HyattThe Art of Asking, Amanda PalmerKickstarterKyle MaynardJudith Caseley, Harry and Willy and CarrotheadWes MolebashKyle ScheeleInterVarsitySleeping at Last, Ryan O’Neal   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

Willie Jackson is the founder and publisher of Abernathy, a magazine for black men. He is also a tech consultant and a member of Seth Godin’s Domino Project. He is an advisor and has worked with several bestselling authors and entrepreneurs as well as speaking regularly at conferences. Previously, he served as the director of Web optimization for W3 EDGE, an interactive Web development and marketing agency. Abernathy is his latest project that was started partly because of the events in Ferguson and the Black Lives Matter movement. Willie joins Charlie on the show to discuss the weighty issues of race and police brutality as well as much more about his career. Key Takeaways:02:24 – Willie leaving working in consultancy and getting in to doing his own thing.06:38 – Why Willie didn’t like the corporate business world.12:10 – Starting W3 EDGE and how the idea formed.16:08 – Some of the challenges with W3 EDGE.21:15 – The importance of taking the time to connect with other people and acknowledge how hard things can be.24:01 – Why and how Willie formed Abernathy and his feelings on the Michael Brown story.33:27 – Abernathy being a magazine specifically for black men and issues of race that aren’t talked about enough.42:06 – The case about Sandra Bland.47:09 – What Willie has learned from launching and growing Abernathy.51:43 – Willie wanting people to know that he cares about people being touched by what Abernathy is about and benefitting from it. Mentioned In This Episode:AbernathySeth Godin’s Domino ProjectBlack Lives MatterLift Off RetreatINROADSW3 EDGEAccentureMichael BrownMark ZuckerbergYoyodyneYahooWorse Than SlaveryNate SilverHillary ClintonSandra BlandBasecampMailChimpThe YECabernathymagazine.com/launch  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

Many of us don’t know exactly what we want to be. We wander through life dissecting our likes and our wants without realizing this is a process which gives our calling time to present itself. Life’s dopamine shots of getting it now can interfere with your ability to share your gift. If you write call yourself a writer, if you paint a painter, etc. If you believe it others will too. Jeff’s work  embodies his past experiences and it shares how he overcame his previous assumptions about what path he should be on. He believes we should ask ourselves “If I am in the same place as I am today 10 years will I regret it?” Key Takeaways:[1:20] I always thought I would be an artist[3:17] Building an online community for a non-profit[4:59] I had a freelance writing website but no personal brand[7:02] Who exactly got pregnant and being in a dangerous place[10:05] Coaching, teaching and leading[13:45] The 7 steps you need to achieve your dreams[18:10] Expand the use of “finding your calling”[19:34] Are we too busy to listen to our lives[23:22] Assumptions about paths you find in life[27:21] Everybody quit their job, which was not my intention[28:12] I wrote this book to touch people and it’s working[30:09] Organizational challenges and acquiring discipline[33:20] The responsibility of sharing your gift with the world Mentions:TheArtofWorkGoinswriter.comTheSmallBusinessLifecycle This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

The impression that you make while connecting on social media can help you land the perfect job or it can haunt you. Your online personal brand is what the world sees so, make certain it is authentically you. It may be difficult in the future to cover up any regrets. In this 24 hour socially engaged world realize, it is ok to say no and ok to step offline for Its important to reasses the image you want to promote, as well as the path you want to take towards your future. Key Takeaways:[1:34] Stephanie took note of powerhouse women in social media[4:14] The passion for video weaves through Stephanie’s life[6:08] Tips and Tricks in video got me noticed[8:24] Ahead of the curve using YouTube annotations but not on mobile[10:30] The book that helped developed my personal brand[11:28] Take a step back and it’s ok to say no[13:28] Talking about the toll it takes to be successful[15:17] Working for someone else was the next step[17:04] There were no notifications on Twitter or Facebook at the time[20:00] Get used to the stats and then measure your success in reactions[24:06] You are connected but you are really not connected[25:41] The impression of connecting[28:00] What you put on social media should be who you are, it matters[31:43] Your digital footprint [33:52] Can you have an after 5 profile and a business profile[35:20] A day job that carries over into managing a digital lifestyle[37:52] Finding the time for everything is a challenge[39:43] Take into consideration the digital footprint you are leaving Mentions:Trust AgentsChris BroganMoto 360 Alone Together - Sherry TurkleMy Savvy Life  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

Charlie talks briefly on the show today about an old Native American parable about an evil wolf and a good wolf and which wolf we feed. It’s about the battle that goes on inside of us. Do we choose to feed the good or the bad in us? He addresses that in this week’s show. Key Takeaways:00:50 – Native American parable.01:58 – It’s not just one choice of which wolf we are feeding. It’s a long history of making that choice.04:21 – Whatever energy we put into the world, we get back. 05:05 – Choose to feed the good wolf, even in those moments when it seems easier to feed the bad wolf. Mentioned In This Episode:David Gray, “Flame Turns Blue”Amos Lee  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe