"Your activity needs to flow from your identity."It seems that A LOT of people struggle with the question, "What should I do with my life?"So I was really interested to have a conversation with today's guest, Jeff Goins, because that very question is at the heart of his new book, The Art of Work.Interestingly, he ended up re-writing entire book after realizing he had sanitized his own story of becoming a writer, and needed to find and share a deeper set of truths.In this conversation, we also talk about the idea of polymaths - multi-talented people - and what a "portfolio life" is.If you've ever wondered what your calling is (and if you have one), you'll find this episode with Jeff Goins very interesting.Some questions I ask:How do you define vocation?Is there just one purpose for each of us to accomplish in life?What is a "portfolio life"?Can you master multiple talents? Or just practice them?What do you think about leaving a legacy?Follow Jeff:Blog | Twitter | FacebookCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the next few months, we'll be testing a few different show and segment ideas. Not to replace our current weekly in-depth interviews, but to potentially add to them.Yes, you heard right. There just might be more GLP to engage with on a regular basis, real soon.And, today's our first experiment, with a new show format we're calling 9Things™.What is it? A three-person roundtable, where each person shows up with three topics to jam on. And, the thing is, nobody knows what the other person's topics will be until they hit the conversation.My guests for the premier episode of the 9Things format are two good friends, Gabra Zackman and Erin Moon.As you can imagine, this leads to moments that range from seriously funny to seriously soulful and, well, seriously not-safe-for-work (headphones might be advised for this one, toward the later parts).We absolutely want your feedback on this new format and episode, so please share your thoughts in the comments below or by tweeting me @jonathanfields.As I mentioned, it's not going to replace out weekly conversations, we're just playing with potential additional show formats to add into the mix.Covered in this episode:Bronies: adult men My Little Pony lovers - Freaky or soulful?Depression: is it okay to own it, and what's the opposite?Maniacal taskmasters: do you need one to become the best in the world?Negotiating with terror: where do human rights begin and end?Vision-boarding: silly myth or scientific tool?Paying for faith: will people give more if they don't have to give at all?Online dating: full frontal pics, where's the lineTrue love, twice found: is it possible to have two loves of a lifetime?Manly beards: because, c'mon, hipsters are people too!Links we mention:Rethinking Positive ThinkingMisfitBeard InstituteFollow Gabra and Erin:Gabra ZackmanErin Moon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything you've been told about building and breaking habits may well be wrong. Or, at the very least, missing a critical middle step.In this week's episode, we bust myths and share how to do it right (hint, there are 4 different approaches and if you choose wrong, you will fail).Creating good habits is one of the master keys for living a good life. But, it's hard. Really hard. And, it turns out, the reason it's so hard may not be your fault. It may, in fact, be that you've been given misinformation.According to mega NYT bestselling author of The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin, in her new book, Better Than Before, there's been a missing piece in the habit puzzle, and she's got the answer.In this fast-paced, incredibly-revealing conversation, Rubin lays bare they myth of the one-method-for-all-people approach to habits. To create or change a habit, she offers, you first need to understand which of four key personality types you are. Then, tailor your approach to your specific personality needs.We dive into each type, how to figure which you are and how that changes the way you'll need to build or change your habits. By the end of this episode, you will definitely be interested in knowing which you are, so I've linked the online personality typing tool she's created below to figure out yours.Some questions I ask:What are your thoughts on how The Happiness Project has evolved into a brand?Is the audience that loves The Happiness Project who you thought it would be?What's the difference between a behavior and a habit and why does it matter to turn one into the other?What is the role of forming habits in living a good life?Links we mention:Better Than BeforeThe Happiness ProjectTake the Habits QuizFollow Gretchen:Website | Twitter | FacebookCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As busy, productive humans living in the 21st century, one of our most common responses to the question "How are you?" is "Fine. Busy."Especially if you're a New Yorker.And it's true. We are.But have you stopped to think about what you fill your time with that makes it slip through your fingers so quickly?Today's guest, journalist and author, Laura Vanderkam, analyzed peoples' time diaries recorded over 1001 days and came up with some startling discoveries. You may not be nearly as "at the will of life's demands" as you think you are.In our conversation, we start out exploring the truths of the writer's life, then dive right into the truth about time, how to really harness it, how we lie to ourselves about sleep and so much more. In, the end, we find more hope than anything else.How we spend our time, it turns out, is not a matter of fate, it's a matter of choice.Some questions I ask:When did you decide that being a writer was your thing?Are you okay with not having much time to write for yourself anymore?Do you believe no one is a natural at writing?What surprised you from your time diary studies?Can you have it all?Links we mention:How to Make Work Feel More Like Summer CampThe Artist's Way - morning pagesFast CompanyIRSAGretchen Reynolds - HIITPareto PrincipleJoAnne WilsonI Know How She Does It - out June 9thFollow Laura:Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn"The reality is rosier than the glasses." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Someone who is stressed out needs mental health as much as someone who has bipolar disorder."There are few subjects as delicate as mental disorders and the best way to treat them.I'm guessing most of us tend to avoid the topic in general, we're pretty ignorant about what is involved.Until it affects us or someone we're close to it.That's why I was so interested in learning from today's guest.Ross Szabo is living proof that living with a mental disorder, in his case bipolar, does not have to define or isolate you.Through extreme mood swings, substance-abuse, denial, secrecy and erratic, sometimes harmful behavior and thoughts (as well as see his brother go through the same), Ross eventually found his way back to a dynamic peace with bipolar, and devoted his life to becoming a national advocate for better mental health education.His story is powerful and raw and he shares an honest look into what it's like to "feel the tentacles" of your disorder creeping up on you.We discuss his process of working through self-hatred as an adult after years of coping through alcohol abuse. He shares his viewpoint on the terminology we use around mental illness and we talk about the alarming trend in schools to cut programs like physical education and art (which are key in supporting mental health for kids).Fundamentally, Ross is about hope and education, building and sharing his curriculum with thousands of schools through his Human Power Project and speaking on the topic globally.Some questions I ask:Do you remember your first manic episode?What's the connection between anxiety and bipolar disorder?How did you get into the Peace Corps since you were exposing yourself to change, loss, and lack of sleep?What is it like to feel the tentacles of the disorder coming at you?How do you publicize a brand about mental disorders?Links we mention:The Human Power ProjectJoseph CampbellBehind Happy FacesScott HarrisonFollow Ross:Website | Twitter"I was a functional mess-up."Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2015 Immersion Final Call – Only a handful of spots left! Join Jonathan, a team of gifted mentors and an intimate group of conscious co-conspirators for a once-a-year, 7-month accelerated personal and entrepreneurial growth experience beginning March 1st! Last call to apply (if the application is down, that means all spots are now filled) +++ “Maybe we’ve got it the […]The post Location Independence, Freedom and the Good Life with Natalie Sisson appeared first on Good LifeProject. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you remember being a kid and loving to draw? But at some point early on you learned that your art wasn't good enough? So you stopped.What if you had learned a different story? That your art WAS good, that your ideas WERE valid, that your perspective WAS valued?Today's guest is a master of cultivating and allowing for creativity in the art world. Children's animated films to be exact.Ed Catmull is the founder of Pixar, the world-renowned animation studio that has transformed the film world by creating the standard for computer graphics.In his recent book, Creativity Inc., Ed discusses how creativity is cultivated, what is required, and his own journey from studying physics in college to founding Pixar (which he still heads today).Our conversation goes down many fascinating avenues, including the misconceptions we have about what art teaches us, the connection between artistic thinking and entrepreneurship, and his long-standing friendship with giants like George Lucas and Steve Jobs.He explains what it was like to be on the frontier of computer science in the 70s and how he has learned to navigate the fear of failure.At the core of Ed's genius though, is what makes a good story, and throughout the interview he shares his wisdom on this topic.Get excited for a dive into the brilliant mind of the artist and visionary Ed Catmull.Some questions I ask:What made you talk yourself out of studying animation in college?How did you evolve from working in physics to technology?How important do you think it was for you to have an end goal of what you wanted to create?Who was the Steve Jobs you knew and how was he different than the general public's viewpoint?Follow Ed:Twitter | Website"The creative act is acting and responding in the face of change."Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever made a deal with God? I’m guessing that’s a yes. It’s pretty common to get to a place in your life where you want to something so much that you’re willing to give up anything in exchange for it. But what happens in this scenario typically? In the words of today’s guest, “Essentially […]The post Romance Novels, Sultry Voices, Pacts with God and the Good Life appeared first on Good LifeProject. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"PTSD is less of a brain event than an existential event."We've all heard of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but we may not realize that we probably all know someone who suffers from it.While it is typically associated with war and soldiers coming home after combat, trauma is a big part of civilian life.Today's guest has a fascinating perspective on this as he served for four years on active Marine duty, in the most peaceful of times, but then voluntarily went into war zones as a war reporter after his service.What he learned from his own experiences with PTSD, as well as his subsequent digging into the research and experiences around it, resulted in his new book, The Evil Hours.In our conversation, we cover all facets of trauma, David's experiences, and the underlying psychology behind the behaviors we are seeing more of in this country.He explains the fantasy soldiers create in their minds about coming home (and how difficult it is to reconcile reality with that once they are back), why Americans especially struggle with PTSD, and the idea of coming home as a Joseph Campbell-esque heroic journey that many never finish.One of the most helpful points he makes, which each of us can apply, is the idea that you have to re-invent yourself after trauma, and creating community around that new identity is essential.Whether you've experienced trauma yourself or are close to someone who has, David Morris shares a powerful story to better understand what trauma can teach us about ourselves.Contact David and learn more about his workWebsite"What you arrive with in the war is as important as what happens to you."Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"People who are not listened to need those who are listened to to fight like hell for them."How many times have you heard an inspiring story of incredible service and heart and then thought, "How does that even get started?"Probably a lot.Because the truth is, most of us would love to create an impactful, service-oriented mission in our lives, but we're overwhelmed with the sheer logistics, let alone cost.Danielle Butin was no different, except that she didn't let those obstacles deter her.After decades of a highly successful career in occupational therapy and geriatric care, she found herself at a personal and professional crisis.So she took a trip to Tanzania.And what she experienced there left a mark so deep on her heart, she couldn't ignore it. Even though she tried.In this conversation, we get to hear the raw, unfiltered truth about how Danielle had to do the work of "undoing" her professional habits and mindset in order to get her non-profit, Afya Foundation, going.She opens up about the toll it took on her family, how she found funding and supplies, and how to be direct in communicating what you need to happen (even across the world with a translator).She peels back the covers on how people react to you when you park a semi-truck full of medical supplies in front of your house, when you dumpster dive in the city, and when you stand up to corrupt systems.Danielle's story is so full of vision and passion, it will have you changing your entire perspective on what's possible when your heart calls you to do something you've never done before.It's my honor and delight to introduce you to the extraordinary heart and mind of Danielle Butin.Some questions I ask:How old were you when you started to notice your love of elderly people?Why would a corporation not preserve a model that is successful both financially and functionally?How do you cover the financial needs of a growing non-profit?Links we mention:Afya Foundation Mountains Beyond Mountains Partners in Health Pencils of PromiseFollow Afya Foundation:Facebook | Twitter | YouTube"It was about creating a new reality and listening to other people and not just what I knew." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.