It's a Good Life

“In the moment, you’ve got to keep breathing.” — Dr. David Levy Many people feel stressed and burned out from time to time. Our fast-paced, tech-driven culture makes it difficult to relax and unwind at the end of the day. And, although the holiday season is filled with joy and fun, it’s also one of the most stressful times of the year. Between tying up loose ends before the end of the year at work, planning holiday parties and traveling to visit family and friends, it can leave people feeling frazzled and on-edge. In this Takeover Tuesday episode, Dermot Buffini talks to Dr. David Levy, neurosurgeon and bestselling author of “Gray Matter: A Neurosurgeon Discovers the Power of Prayer…One Patient at a Time.” Dr. Levy discusses why he became a cerebrovascular surgeon and explains the effects of stress on the brain. You’ll learn why stress turns adults into fiery two-year-olds, the impact our phones and technology have on our brains and stress levels, and why breathing is the ultimate stress buster. Dr. Levy shares his tips for eliminating stress and finding calm in our daily lives and also offers great advice for enhancing relationships with our loved ones that we all can use during this festive season. Turn off your smartphone’s notifications, take a few deep breaths and let Dr. Levy help you tackle stress more effectively.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “I’ve always been driven to do the most difficult thing.” — Dr. David Levy “Confidence helps you know you can do it; you know you can figure it out.” — Dr. David Levy “In the moment, you’ve got to keep breathing.” — Dr. David Levy “We’re unaware of how much stress we’re under.” — Dermot Buffini “When you’re under stress, you want something but you can’t have it; you have to exert your self-control.” — Dr. David Levy “Be aware of what’s going on in your body and take a few moments to breathe.” — Dr. David Levy “Long-term living under stress shrinks parts of your brain.” — Dr. David Levy “The behavioral problems have to do with the fact that we have poor relationships. We’re not handling things as well as we think so we become overstimulated.” — Dr. David Levy “The brain needs stimulation, but it also needs the quiet.” — Dr. David Levy “Everyone wants attention and they’re looking for attention from the important people.” — Dr. David Levy “The reason you have stress, ultimately, is because whatever you’re stressed about means something to you. It’s important that your will works out in that situation.” — Dr. David Levy “People can’t give you what they don’t have.” — Dr. David Levy “When we measure grace to our parents, we don’t have to live in shame and guilt anymore.” — Dr. David Levy “Forgiveness is not saying it didn’t matter; it’s saying I’m not going to look to them to pay that debt anymore.” — Dr. David Levy “Know your motivations. If you know your motivations, it makes you wise.” — Dr. David Levy   Mentioned in the episode: Gray Matter: A Neurosurgeon Discovers the Power of Prayer…One Patient at a Time by Dr. David Levy Dr. David Levy website: http://drdlevy.com/ Wild at Heart by John Eldredge   Connect with Brian Buffini http://www.brianbuffini.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbuffini Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianbuffini Buffini Show Insiders: http://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/insiders Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/BrianBuffiniShow Click here to buy our Podcast theme music, “The Cliffs of Moher” by Brogue Wave. http://www.broguewave.com http://www.facebook.com/broguewave Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“In order to have a wonderful life, you have to persevere in the moment.” — Beverly Buffini What does it take to live a wonderful life? According to Beverly Buffini, it takes six principles, applied daily. In this episode, recorded at Buffini & Company’s Mastermind Summit™, Beverly shares the six principles that help us lead wonderful lives and offers tips and examples to inspire us to apply them. You’ll learn why it’s essential to persevere in the moment and how it prepares you for the future, the power of choice in any circumstance we face, and why consistency truly is key. Make life wonderful with these timeless lessons.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “A setback is a setup for a comeback.” — Joe Niego “In order to have a wonderful life, you have to persevere in the moment.” — Beverly Buffini “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 “We were going to be back because we knew the value of persevering in the moment.” — Beverly Buffini “When you persevere in the moment, you’re building up for the next moment.” — Beverly Buffini “Every person has the potential to persevere in the moment.” — Beverly Buffini “There is light through those dark tunnels.” — Beverly Buffini “Sometimes we need people to help us through those dark places.” — Beverly Buffini “May your choices reflect your hopes, and not your fears.” — Nelson Mandela “We have the power of choice. We can’t control what happens to us, but we still have the power of choice.” — Beverly Buffini “When we make choices that help other people, we too can live a wonderful life.” — Beverly Buffini “If consistency can build a family, then consistency can build a business.” — Beverly Buffini “All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and don’t let the valleys get too low.” — John Wooden “With consistency there’s trust.” — Beverly Buffini “If you want joy, be grateful.” — Beverly Buffini “We all have opportunities to make those choices on how we’re going to see certain situations in our life and when we try to see the best in the situation, it brings joy.” — Beverly Buffini “It makes you glad that you persevere in the moment.” — Beverly Buffini   Connect with Brian Buffini http://www.brianbuffini.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbuffini Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianbuffini Buffini Show Insiders: http://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/insiders Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/BrianBuffiniShow Click here to buy our Podcast theme music, “The Cliffs of Moher” by Brogue Wave. http://www.broguewave.com http://www.facebook.com/broguewave Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“It takes a certain heroic characteristic to be successful in a world that has different views on how to be successful.” — Brian Buffini Although a person develops their character based on the adversities they face in life, we’re not preparing people, as a culture, to thrive in our current age of entitlement. In this episode, recorded at Buffini & Company’s The Peak Experience seminar, Brian Buffini delves further into the Oz Dynamic and shares strategies to develop three key characteristics sure to help you succeed in a world that is headed toward entitlement. You’ll learn how to develop the giant within, cultivate the heart of a champion and foster a warrior spirit. By the end of the episode, you’ll be inspired to grow your mind, heart and spirit and hone your heroic characteristics.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “People want to be entitled to success. They don’t want to pay the price for success.” — Brian Buffini “A person becomes who they are based on the adversity they face in their life.” — Brian Buffini “It takes a certain heroic characteristic to be successful in a world that has different views on how to be successful.” — Brian Buffini “Learning never exhausts the mind.” — Leonardo Da Vinci “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” — Albert Einstein “You should never try to be better than someone else, you should always be learning from others. But you should never cease trying to be the best you could be because that’s under your control and the other isn’t.” — John Wooden “Most people do no listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” — Stephen R. Covey “I want to take care of people. I want to help people. The maximum joy that I have is when I can create something that makes someone else’s life lighter, brighter, or better.” — Will Smith “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” — Muhammad Ali “Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.” —  General Douglas MacArthur “For a sacrifice to be real, it must cost, must hurt and we must empty ourselves.” — Mother Theresa “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” — Plato “My own experience about all the blessings I’ve had in my life is that the more I give away, the more that comes back. That is the way life works, and that is the way energy works.” — Ken Blanchard   Mentioned in the episode The Go-Giver by Bob Berg   Connect with Brian Buffini http://www.brianbuffini.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbuffini Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianbuffini Buffini Show Insiders: http://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/insiders Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/BrianBuffiniShow Click here to buy our Podcast theme music, “The Cliffs of Moher” by Brogue Wave. http://www.broguewave.com http://www.facebook.com/broguewave Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“You can be as rich and successful as you want to be, and be true to yourself.” — Brian Buffini Like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, we often get caught in the twister of life. Since life moves so fast, we’re only left with time to react, which leaves us wondering which way is up. Although many of us complain about it, we may secretly like the chaos of the twister. In this episode, recorded at Buffini & Company’s The Peak Experience seminar, Brian Buffini discusses life in the twister and the reasons we may crave it. He also delves into the Oz Dynamic; that is, the image we project into the world and the pressure we may feel to live up to it. You’ll learn why it’s important to break free from the twister, how to identity and project your authentic self and how to tap into the strengths of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin man and the Lion in your daily life. By the end of the episode, you’ll look at the beloved book and film, The Wizard of Oz, in a different way.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “Reaction means you live more by your emotions than your values.” — Brian Buffini “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” — Ferris Bueller “Don’t confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but doesn’t make any progress.” Alfred Monapert “Growth can be painful, change can be painful but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong. Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow it only empties today of its strengths.” — Charles H. Spurgeon “Once you start perpetuating the image, it grows.” — Brian Buffini “You can be as rich and successful as you want to be, and be true to yourself.” — Brian Buffini “Great coaching is pulling out of you what’s already in there.” — Brian Buffini “Just being yourself is good enough to be great.” — Brian Buffini “Forgiveness is the oil can for the heart.” — Brian Buffini “An open heart can do great things.” — Brian Buffini “When you hold an ax against a person, they get to rust you over. They have you stuck in place.” — Brian Buffini “Even when you’re being courageous, it doesn’t mean you don’t have a doubt or two.” — Brian Buffini “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.” — Dr. Seuss   Connect with Brian Buffini http://www.brianbuffini.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbuffini Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianbuffini Buffini Show Insiders: http://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/insiders Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/BrianBuffiniShow Click here to buy our Podcast theme music, “The Cliffs of Moher” by Brogue Wave. http://www.broguewave.com http://www.facebook.com/broguewave Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Life is a process of ailing and transformation.” —Mike Foster According to best-selling author, speaker and entrepreneur Mike Foster, he’s in the emotional fitness business. Although he has a positive disposition, he has experienced pain, shame and guilt in his past. By working through his pain, he discovered a deeper level of understanding and compassion for others, which helped him help other leaders. In this Takeover Tuesday episode, Mike Foster shares his story, including the experiences that changed his life. He shares how to use negative experiences to heal, why it’s vital to integrate the positive and the negative into our lives in order to achieve transparency, the importance of self-care and why it’s vital to accept our emotions. He also offers his tips to help you start the day with a positive perspective and outlines strategies to help others work through their challenges.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “I get to lean in with people and help them with their not-so-perfect stories.” — Mike Foster “We learn how life works and how to respond to life when we’re young.” — Mike Foster “Many parts of our stories land like a big thud; what do you do with that?” — Mike Foster “Life is a process of ailing and transformation.” — Mike Foster “I don’t believe in closure. I believe in openings. These are openings to new levels of understanding, compassion and empathy and we’re constantly doing the work within us.” — Mike Foster “When I can integrate the light and the dark in my life, I live a life of integrity.” — Mike Foster “Pain and our past create a fog and mystery and it’s hard for us to deal with deeper things because they’re scrambled. When you write things down, your clarity increases.” — Mike Foster “In leadership, we’re the ones processing and helping others work through their problems. We’re not in a position where we can talk to people about our stuff.” — Mike Foster “Self-care is not selfish, self-care is strategic.” — Mike Foster “Be who you are; how you were created and designed to be.” — Mike Foster “One of the worst things to die with is unused possibility and potential.” — Mike Foster   Mentioned in the episode: People of the Second Chance by Mike Foster Fun Therapy — Mike Foster’s podcast Immortal Diamond: The Search for Our True Self by Richard Rohr Ragamuffin Gospel by Brannan Manning   Connect with Brian Buffini http://www.brianbuffini.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbuffini Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianbuffini Buffini Show Insiders: http://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/insiders Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/BrianBuffiniShow Click here to buy our Podcast theme music, “The Cliffs of Moher” by Brogue Wave. http://www.broguewave.com http://www.facebook.com/broguewave Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“If you wish to be great at all, you must begin where you are and with what you are.” — Russell Conwell Although it was published in 1890, the book “Acres of Diamonds,” by Russell Conwell, outlines timeless principles that help people see and appreciate the opportunities below their own feet. In this episode, Brian Buffini shares excerpts from this work that have had a profound influence on his life, as well as his most important takeaways. What do the stories of a farmer in the Middle East, a rancher in California, a man in Pennsylvania, and a college professor in Massachusetts have in common? They all sold their homes in search of riches elsewhere, only to find the riches they sought were right there all along. If you learn to see and seize the opportunities in front of you and adopt these enduring lessons, you’ll be well on your way to finding your acres of diamonds.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “Ultimately, these timeless principles are just as true today as when Mr. Conwell first presented them.” — Brian Buffini “A diamond is a congealed drop of sunlight.” — Russell Conwell “A diamond is the last and highest of God’s creations.” — Russell Conwell “There is nothing more foolish than a man who leaves one job before he has obtained another.” — Russell Conwell “There are some things more valuable than money…the man of common sense also knows there is not any one of these things that is not greatly enhanced by the use of money.” — Russell Conwell “Money is power; money has powers.” — Russell Conwell “We ought to get rich if we can by honorable and Christian methods.” — Russell Conwell “The love of money is the root of all evil. It is the worship of the means instead of the end, though you cannot reach the end without the means.” — Russell Conwell “When a person makes an idol of the money instead of the purposes for which it may be used; when he squeezes the dollar until the eagle squeals, then it is the root of all evil.” — Russell Conwell “We must know what the world needs first, then invest ourselves to supply that need, and success is almost certain.” — Russell Conwell “Find out what the people need and then apply yourself to that need and this leads to invention on the part of people who would not dream of before.” — Russell Conwell “Greatness consists not in the holding of some future office, but really consists of doing great deeds with little means, and the accomplishment of vast purposes from the private ranks of life.” — Russell Conwell “To be great at all, one must be great right here, right now.” — Russell Conwell “If you wish to be great at all, you must begin where you are and with what you are.” — Russell Conwell   Mentioned in the episode: Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell   Connect with Brian Buffini http://www.brianbuffini.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbuffini Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianbuffini Buffini Show Insiders: http://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/insiders Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/BrianBuffiniShow Click here to buy our Podcast theme music, “The Cliffs of Moher” by Brogue Wave. http://www.broguewave.com http://www.facebook.com/broguewave Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“You can be the champion of your life.” — Joetta Clark Diggs Joetta Clark Diggs is more than a four-time Olympian, competing in 800 and 1500 meter distance runs; she’s also the daughter of Dr. Joe Clark, the hard-as-nails New Jersey principal portrayed by Morgan Freeman in the 1989 film, Lean on Me. In this episode, Joetta shares her story, from the lessons in discipline learned from her father to handling setbacks on her quest to becoming an Olympian. She shares how the acronyms F.O.C.U.S and A.C.E. have helped her on her path to success, why the first step will always take you around the bend and why showing up is only half of the equation. Over the course of the episode, you’ll be inspired and motivated to tackle the challenges of the day with enthusiasm, determination and grace.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “Discipline is the ability to do something and reach beyond what you are to grow.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “The better I am, the better I am for someone else.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “Your discipline is your schedule for success.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “Frustration is a sign on investment. If you don’t get frustrated, there’s no investment in what you’re trying to do.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “If you don’t stay true to your vision, your frustration never comes to fruition.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “The first step—that first burst of energy—will take you around the bend.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “Don’t let your emotions pull you away from your destiny.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “Once you are accountable, your greatness takes control.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “We can’t waste our time thinking like ordinary people.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “Storms come to test the foundation. If you’re not credible, your foundation will crack.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “When your ‘gotta do’ is greater than your ‘need to do’, that’s enthusiasm.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “You have to be willing to run toward your blessings.” — Joetta Clark Diggs “If you can look up, you will get up.” — Joetta Clark Diggs   Mentioned in the episode: Joetta’s “P” Principles for Success by Joetta Clark Diggs 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey   Connect with Brian Buffini http://www.brianbuffini.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbuffini Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianbuffini Buffini Show Insiders: http://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/insiders Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/BrianBuffiniShow Click here to buy our Podcast theme music, “The Cliffs of Moher” by Brogue Wave. http://www.broguewave.com http://www.facebook.com/broguewave Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Servant leadership is a mindset of putting your customers and others first.” — Dermot Buffini Dermot Buffini, CEO of Buffini & Company and host of The Brian Buffini Show’s “Takeover Tuesday,” is in the hot seat, sharing his journey from star athlete growing up in Ireland to leading the largest real estate coaching and training company in North America. Dermot shares the lessons he’s learned from his parents, the reason he turned down a soccer scholarship to work in sales and how his path in retail, financial services and logistics has helped him in his role as CEO today. He also delves into the daily routines he uses to connect his head, heart and soul, explains why self-care is important to success and outlines the strategies he uses to help him tackle challenges and solve problems that arise.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “Sales is service and service is helping someone.” — Dermot Buffini “If you serve where you are, it’s amazing what opens up.” — Dermot Buffini “Servant leadership is a mindset of putting your customers and others first.” — Dermot Buffini “When you’re designed to take care of others, the last thing you do is self-care.” — Dermot Buffini “I’m interested in growth because we have potential and I love getting after it and seeing what’s possible.” — Dermot Buffini “Learn to talk to yourself; don’t listen to yourself.” — Dermot Buffini “Having grace for yourself will allow you to have grace for other people so you can encourage them.” — Dermot Buffini   Connect with Brian Buffini http://www.brianbuffini.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbuffini Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianbuffini Buffini Show Insiders: http://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/insiders Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/BrianBuffiniShow Click here to buy our Podcast theme music, “The Cliffs of Moher” by Brogue Wave. http://www.broguewave.com http://www.facebook.com/broguewave Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Nutritional excellence, therapeutically, is more effective than drugs for treating almost any disease.” — Joel Fuhrman, M.D. Millions of Americans take medications to control preventable diseases such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Best-selling author and nutrition expert, Joel Fuhrman, M.D., that nutrient-dense foods not only reverse the effects of these conditions, but people can avoid being diagnosed with them altogether if they eschew fast foods in favor of a diet rich in healthy foods. In this episode, Dr. Fuhrman uses striking facts to connect processed foods with preventable diseases and explains the wide-ranging benefits of a nutritarian diet. You’ll learn why nutritarianism is so effective at reversing disease and improving the health and well-being of those who’ve adopted it, how GBOMB salads can reduce the risk of cancer and how to wean yourself off of bad, processes foods and learn to crave good, nutrient-dense foods. He also discusses his new book, “Fast Food Genocide” and shares why Americans, especially those living in urban areas, aren’t eating well and offers tips to incorporate more produce and healthy foods in one’s diet.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “The diseases that afflict Americans don’t have to happen.” — Joel Fuhrman, M.D. “Nutritional excellence, therapeutically, is more effective than drugs for treating almost any disease.” — Joel Fuhrman, M.D. “It’s not about calories; it’s about nutrients.” — Joel Fuhrman, M.D. “Your own personal satisfaction in life has a lot to do with your ability to influence others in a positive way.” — Joel Fuhrman, M.D. “The secret to eating the right amount of calories is giving your body the right amount of nutrients.” — Joel Fuhrman, M.D. “Good will and sacrificing to help others keeps you mentally sane and satisfied with yourself as a person.” — Joel Fuhrman, M.D   Mentioned in the episode: https://www.drfuhrman.com/ Fast Food Genocide by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. The End of Diabetes by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. The End of Heart Disease by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.   Connect with Brian Buffini http://www.brianbuffini.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbuffini Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianbuffini Buffini Show Insiders: http://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/insiders Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/BrianBuffiniShow Click here to buy our Podcast theme music, “The Cliffs of Moher” by Brogue Wave. http://www.broguewave.com http://www.facebook.com/broguewave Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The greatest strength is a lack of weakness.” — Scott Hamilton  Although Olympic gold medalist, Scott Hamilton may make figure skating look easy, his journey to becoming the best was anything but. Adopted at 6-weeks old, Scott spent much of his childhood in and out of hospitals and felt different from the other kids. With ice skating, he not only found common ground; he discovered he had talent. In this episode, Scott shares his story, from finishing last in early national skating competitions to competing on the world stage to being diagnosed with cancer. Scott delves into the effect mindset has on success, why it’s important to continue to chip away at weaknesses and the ultimate lesson he learned from figure skating. He also discusses why he started his organization, the Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation, and his work fundraising for cancer research as a cancer survivor.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “It’s not whatever challenge is in front of you, it’s how you face it.” — Scott Hamilton “The greatest thing about winning is the 10 minutes after you win, then it’s time to get back to work.” — Scott Hamilton “The only disability is a bad attitude.” — Scott Hamilton “Self-esteem is the most powerful agent. If you can look kindly upon yourself, if you can recognize good things in yourself, it’ll help you avoid a lot of really bad things.” — Scott Hamilton “The greatest strength is a lack of weakness.” — Scott Hamilton “Skating was an important foundation for the rest of my life because it’s filled with failure after failure and then you figure it out.” — Scott Hamilton “A big part of learning anything is falling down.” — Scott Hamilton “Pain is a terrific teacher.” — Scott Hamilton “When you build your excellence on a mountain of failure, you don’t fear things the same way.” — Scott Hamilton   Mentioned in the episode: Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation   Connect with Brian Buffini http://www.brianbuffini.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianbuffini Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianbuffini Buffini Show Insiders: http://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/insiders Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/BrianBuffiniShow Click here to buy our Podcast theme music, “The Cliffs of Moher” by Brogue Wave. http://www.broguewave.com http://www.facebook.com/broguewave Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.