What makes for a good life? According to the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted, the simple answer is relationships. In this episode, author and psychiatrist Dr. Robert Waldinger explains why building strong connections with other people helps us to have happier, healthier and longer lives. YOU WILL LEARN:·     Why social fitness matters.·     How to create community in the digital age.·     How the WISER model for communication works. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: “The Good Life,” by Dr. Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz Dr. Waldinger’s TED Talkitsagoodlife.com “Bowling Alone,” by Robert D. Putnam“Wherever You Go, There You Are,” by Jon Kabat-Zinn It's a Wonderful Life MasterMind Summit NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Warmer relationships really matter.” – Dr. Robert Waldinger“Taking care of your relationships should be a fitness practice, just the way you take care of your body.” – Dr. Robert Waldinger “How we use digital media affects either whether our well-being goes up or it goes down.” – Dr. Robert Waldinger “We're sold all these ideas about what's supposed to make us happy and yet what we find is that social connections make us happy.” – Dr. Robert Waldinger “Relationships are the greatest things in our life. And they're also the most difficult.” – Brian Buffini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like you're talking, but nobody is listening? In this episode, TED Talks star and bestselling author Julian Treasure reveals how to speak so that people listen - and how to listen so that people feel heard. YOU WILL LEARN:·     The different types of listening.·     The factors that diminish speaking power.·     The HAIL method of communication. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:“How to be Heard,” by Julian TreasureTED Talk “The Road Less Traveled,” by M. Scott Peck itsagoodlife.com NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “How well you listen affects all your outcomes in life: your happiness, effectiveness and well-being.” – Julian Treasure “Dogmatism is the confusion of opinions and facts.” – Julian Treasure “If you think of people as opportunities to learn, life becomes very interesting.” – Julian Treasure “If you're somebody who says things and doesn't follow them up, then your words will just evaporate like puddles in the sun.” – Julian Treasure “When you're consciously listening and powerfully speaking, the result is always connection, understanding and better relationships.” – Julian Treasure Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Because they can struggle to get organized, many small business owners suffer with a constant sense of being behind. In this episode, Brian shares the five elements that entrepreneurs and small business owners can use to create more structure, eliminate overwhelm and succeed at the highest levels. YOU WILL LEARN:·     Why business goals must be specific.·     How to track production stats.·     How a good coach can help.    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:itsagoodlife.comFree business consultation Centering Prayer S2E55, Breaking the Ice – an Interview with Wim Hof S2E107, Invest Like a Billionaire with David Rubenstein NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “It's very easy for the business to own us, instead of us owning the business.” – Brian Buffini “People with goals succeed because they know where they're going.” – Earl Nightingale “You don't get paid for the hour, you get paid for the value you bring to the hour.” – Jim Rohn “What gets measured, gets managed.” – Peter Drucker “Know your hourly worth.” – Brian Buffini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn strategies to get unstuck and make progress in every area of your life. Explore the importance of identifying areas of stagnation, making necessary changes, and understanding commitment. Hear personal stories about feeling bogged down, reaching a breaking point, and moments of realization and change.

Money is a source of pain and shame for many people. In this episode, Brian and REALStrengths expert Rachael Yeaman discuss why this topic can be so troublesome and share some simple solutions. YOU WILL LEARN:•Why money means different things to different people. •How to have a healthier relationship with money.•How a REALStrengths assessment can help. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:itsagoodlife.comREALStrengths assessment S2E106, Wake Up to Your REALStrengths “Money is an inanimate object; it's a very simple thing. The problem is that money is handled by people.” – Brian Buffini“If our financial house is not in order, it's just a matter of time before that starts bleeding out into every other aspect of our life.” – Rachael Yeaman“As you look at money, it's a balancing act in your business, it's a balancing act in your home and it's a balancing act for yourself.” – Brian Buffini“Money means different things to different people and we have to first acknowledge that or else it is going to cause destruction.” – Rachael Yeaman“Money is this magnifier of what is going on inside of us, under the surface.” – Rachael YeamanS2E110, REAL Communication with Rachel YeamanS2E115, To Sell is to Serve with Rachael YeamanS2E119, Get Out of Debt Forever S2E120, Getting Rich is Easy----------------------------“Money is an inanimate object; it's a very simple thing. The problem is that money is handled by people.” – Brian Buffini“If our financial house is not in order, it's just a matter of time before that starts bleeding out into every other aspect of our life.” – Rachael Yeaman“As you look at money, it's a balancing act in your business, it's a balancing act in your home and it's a balancing act for yourself.” – Brian Buffini“Money means different things to different people and we have to first acknowledge that or else it is going to cause destruction.” – Rachael Yeaman“Money is this magnifier of what is going on inside of us, under the surface.” – Rachael Yeaman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Money can’t buy you love, but it can certainly solve some of life’s problems. In this episode, Brian shares how he built his own personal fortune and sets out his simple step-by-step formula for generating wealth. YOU WILL LEARN:·     Why you have to control what's going out.·     Why you must increase what's coming in.·     Why you have to invest, then wait. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:itsagoodlife.comS1E128, Budget or Busted Mint app PocketGuard Goodbudget Free resource S2E117, Getting your Financial House in Order “Atomic Habits,” by James Clear “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” by Robert T. Kiyosaki Free Business Consultation NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:“It's easy to get rich; it's just easier not to.” – Brian Buffini “You will never be rich unless you control your expenditures.” – Brian Buffini “The greatest value you will ever possess is your own personal value.” – Brian Buffini “There's a real blessing in getting rich slowly.” – Brian Buffini “Never buy into a business you can't understand. Never buy a product you can't understand. Never buy an asset you can’t understand.” – Brian Buffini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If people really understood the crippling effects of consumer debt they’d get out of it and stay out of it forever. In this episode, Brian explains simple techniques to help you finally get rid of debt and create wealth. YOU WILL LEARN:·     Why consumer debt is so insidious.·     How a snowball plan can help.   ·     Why you must invest to grow. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: itsagoodlife.com“The Richest Man in Babylon,” by George S. Clason MasterMindNOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Ignorance isn't bliss, ignorance is poverty.” – Brian Buffini “Debt borrows from your future.” – Brian Buffini “Getting rich is easy. The problem is, getting broke is easier.” – Brian Buffini “Buying on an installment plan makes the month shorter, but it makes the years a lot longer.” – Brian Buffini “The greatest way to stay out of debt is to build wealth.” – Brian Buffini “If you discipline yourself now you can have everything you want later. Just delay that gratification.” – Brian Buffini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sales is one of the most important professions in the world. In this episode, Brian shares the many virtues of this noble occupation and outlines the three characteristics that all great salespeople share.  YOU WILL LEARN:·     Why you must have a desire to serve.·     Why you have to be able to consult.·     How you can muster the courage to ask. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:itsagoodlife.com Field of Dreams “The Richest Man in Babylon,” by George S. Clason “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” by Stephen R. Covey REALStrengths Assessment S2E106, Wake Up to Your REALStrengths Business Consultation NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Nothing happens without a sale.” – Brian Buffini “A desire to serve is where a great salesperson comes from.” – Brian Buffini “Service is an attitude of the heart.” – Brian Buffini“As a great salesperson, you get paid in more than money.” – Brian Buffini “If you have a desire to serve, the ability to consult and the courage to ask, you're going to crush it.” – Brian Buffini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Handling money is the one thing in life that no one can avoid, but that most people worry about. In this episode, Brian outlines five strategies to not only help you get your financial house in order, but also to reduce the worry, stress and anxiety about all things money. YOU WILL LEARN:·     How you can implement a working home budget.·     Why you must have reserves for both your home and business life.·     How you can enhance insurance, investments and legacy documents. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:itsagoodlife.comS2E110, Money Rules – with David Bach, Author of The Automatic Millionaire S2E107, Invest Like a Billionaire with David Rubenstein S2E94, The One Decision That Makes a Millionaire S2E47, Recession Proof Your Money Part 1 “The Emigrant Edge,” by Brian Buffini trustandwill.com NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “People leave getting their house in order until the last minute. The problem is, no one knows the date, the time and the hour of their last minute.” – Brian Buffini   “The good life is for achievers who want to pursue it.” – Brian Buffini   “You will never get ahead financially in life if you don't control your expenses.” – Brian Buffini   “You must gain control over your money, or the lack of it will forever control you.” –Dave Ramsey “Sometimes as a coach you need to deliver the tough talk so that people will take action.” – Brian Buffini   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a lot you can’t control in life but, no matter what’s going on in the world, you can always take charge of your own economy. In this episode, Brian explains how to achieve phenomenal success by focusing on your outlook, your attitude and your effort. YOU WILL LEARN:·     Why there's nothing new.·     How to control yourself.·     How to control your economy. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:itsagoodlife.com Free business consultation Free REALStrengths assessment “How to Have Your Best Year Ever,” by Jim Rohn The Chosen “Good to Great,” by Jim Collins NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Your outlook, your attitude and your effort are all things you can control and, ultimately, how you can control your own economy.” – Brian Buffini“Principles that have existed for thousands of years that have helped people become successful are still true – and will be true thousands of years from now.” – Brian Buffini   “When you consume more negativity, you are by nature more negative.” – Brian Buffini “If you're going to control your own economy, you need to control what's going into your mind and what's going into your heart.” – Brian Buffini “The vast majority of people who own a business are optimistic about their future because they're controlling their own economy.” – Brian Buffini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.