It's a Good Life

“If you manage yourself, you’ll see the greatest results.” — Brian Buffini Regardless of what we do, the most difficult person to manage is often ourselves. While we’re eager to achieve success, we often lean on excuses and passivity instead of putting in the work and making the right choices to reach our goals. In this episode, Brian Buffini shares his tips for managing the world’s most difficult person. You’ll learn why success boils down to the choices we make, how to identify and leverage your strengths and why reverse scheduling might just help you get more done each day. Plus, he lists three books that are sure to help you put his tips into action.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview:  “Success is a choice.” — Brian Buffini “People are looking to change their circumstances, but not themselves.” — Brian Buffini “All permanent and lasting change starts on the inside and works its way outside.” — Lou Tice “Habits and routines are the secret elixir of the most successful people in the world.” — Brian Buffini “If success is a choice, any area where we’re not having success is also a choice.” — Brian Buffini “I chose to be overweight because I never ate anything by accident.” — Zig Ziglar “If you do what is easy, your life will be hard; but if you do what is hard, your life will be easy.” — Les Brown “I need to manage myself.” — Brian Buffini “If you want to have the good life, manage yourself.” — Brian Buffini “The most honorable thing to do is face up to the strength potential inherent in your talents and then go find ways to realize it.” — Donald Clifton Play to your strengths. “In this world, you get compensated very well when you do what you do real well.” — Brian Buffini “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say I used everything you gave me.” — Erma Bombeck “Identify and acknowledge your weaknesses.” — Brian Buffini “The idea that there are well-rounded people, people who have only strengths and no weaknesses, is a prescription for mediocrity if not for incompetence… Strong people always have strong weaknesses, too…where there are peaks there are valleys” — Peter Drucker “The best leader is the one who has the sense enough to pick good people to do what needs to be done and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” — Theodore Roosevelt “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.” — Jim Rohn “If you make the fewest amount of decisions, you make it automatic.” — Brian Buffini “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” — Jim Rohn “Put difficult things at the top of your list because doing difficult things is kind of like eating a frog. The longer you look at it, it ain’t gonna get any prettier.” — Zig Ziglar “The more successful you become, the less you’ll get done each day.” — Brian Buffini   Books mentioned in the episode: Now Discover Your Strengths by Donald Clifton and Marcus Buckingham The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg   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.

“Nils knew all about me and knew what would motivate me. He knew his craft, but he knew me and that’s a recipe for success.” — Brian Buffini Like many successful people, Brian takes time away from his business to rest, recover and recharge. In this episode, he shares a story of taking a trip to the Comox Valley in British Columbia with his then-15-year old son to rest, think, bond and hike. At the urging of his son, they hired a guide named Nils to lead them up one of the tallest mountains in the Canadian Rockies. With Nils’ coaching and advice, Brian learned a valuable lesson that reconnected him with why he enjoys coaching in the first place. You’ll learn why mountain climbing is a lot like life, the importance of having experts on your side and what motivates Brian to coach people to succeed.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview “Today you’re going to climb a mountain. You know how you’re gonna do it? One foot at a time.” — Nils “You’re a coach, and you’re getting coached.” — Nils “That is one of the best days I’ve ever had…inspiring. To be able to coach and help you over fears and limitations, and help you do something that many years from now you’ll be extremely proud you did, that’s why I do what I do.” — Nils “What inspires me is people who trust – who jump across the ravine, even if it doesn’t feel good.” — Brian Buffini “We’ve helped a lot of people get to the top of the mountain. That’s what makes me feel alive.” — Brian Buffini “Nils knew all about me and knew what would motivate me. He knew his craft, but he knew me and that’s a recipe for success.” — Brian Buffini “It’s like life. When you fight getting up the hill, the other side is cakewalk. A lot of times, you have momentum on your side…walking down that mountain was like a walk in the park.” — Brian Buffini “You gotta do the hard stuff first and then the good stuff comes.” — Brian Buffini “I seek out people who are experts at what they do. I’m not going to go over the crevasse with a handyman who does it once in a while.” — Brian 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.

“I don’t think 50% of businesses need to fail. There are principles and processes you can employ to build an unstoppable business.” — Brian Buffini More than half of small businesses fail within five years of starting. Small business owners sacrifice a lot to build a business—time with family, exercise and their personal finances. Why do they do it? It’s simple: They love what they do. In this episode, Brian shares seven timeless tips for building an unstoppable business that apply to all industries. You’ll learn how to define what’s unique about your product or service, the importance of belief and why it’s vital to create a community of advocates for your business. Whether you lead a small business or are thinking about starting one, this episode will give you the tools you need build a lasting business.   Statistics from Today’s Show 50% of small businesses fail within 5 years Source: Gallup, October 23, 2014   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “Find something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” — Brian Buffini “I feel like I haven’t worked in a long time because I love what I do. Our mission at our company is to impact and improve the lives of people. That’s what I get to do every day—improve people’s lives.” — Brian Buffini “I don’t love everything about what I do. Do something you love, but don’t expect to love every part of it.” — Brian Buffini “At the end of the day, does the essence of what you do for a living float your boat?” — Brian Buffini “Match your uniqueness with the needs of your customer.” — Brian Buffini “Ancora Imparo—I am still learning.” — Michelangelo “Without promotion something terrible happens—nothing.” — PT Barnum “People follow the path of the strongest conviction.” — Brian Buffini “Facts tell; stories sell. Tell the facts with stories.” — Brian Buffini “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson “To be a champ you have to believe in yourself when no one else will.” — Sugar Ray Robinson “I’ve never worked a day in my life without selling. When I believe in something, I sell it and I sell it hard.” — Estée Lauder “You have to believe that if you do such a great job for your customers, they’ll tell their friends.” — Brian Buffini “You’ll never build a phenomenal business unless your customers become your advocates and raving fans.” — Brian Buffini “Do what you do so well they’ll want to see it again and bring their friends.” — Walt Disney “Can you put your name to that?” — Harry Buffini “When a man is out of sight, it is not too long before he is out of mind.” — Victor Hugo “Strive not to be a success but to be of value.” — Albert Einstein “When people are consistent, you trust them.” — Brian Buffini “Call it a client, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” — Jane Howard   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.

Sally Hogshead, branding expert, discusses the importance of embracing unique qualities and how it sets individuals apart in the marketplace. She explores the concept of motivation and highlights the two types that affect performance. Sally also shares her favorite movie, 'Princess Bride', and talks about personal branding and achieving success. The podcast provides a valuable assessment for listeners to discover their own brand.

“We’re all emigrants, and if you embrace that emigrant edge, you can have a ‘rags to riches’ story in whatever area of your life you wish to focus on.” — Brian Buffini According to Forbes Magazine, forty percent of the largest companies in the U.S. were founded by immigrants or their children, including Google, Technichron and even our own Buffini & Company. Brian Buffini has studied the “rags to riches” stories of other emigrants and found there are seven traits among people who have arrived in America with nothing and went on to achieve success. In this episode, Brian outlines each of the seven traits that all successful emigrants share and offers examples of business leaders who embody the characteristic. You’ll learn about the natural advantages and disadvantages of being an emigrant, why they view opportunity differently than others, and how to incorporate the seven traits into your life and business. This is an episode you’ll want to listen to again and again.   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “For 150 years, Ireland’s greatest export has been its people.” — Brian Buffini “If you want to change your life, you have to move from one place to another. In order to grow at all, you have to make a decision as if you’re leaving one place to go to another.” — Brian Buffini “As soon as you start to pursue a dream, everything wakes up and everything has meaning.” — Barbara Sher in I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It “There’s a divine beauty in learning. Others have been here before me and I walk in their footsteps.” — Elie Wiesel “When you’re an emigrant, everything is an opportunity, and you see opportunity everywhere.” — Brian Buffini “Eat the meat and then go after the marrow and the bones.” — Brian Buffini. “A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with—a man is what he makes of himself.” — Alexander Graham Bell “All growth depends on activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work.”— Calvin Coolidge “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” — Cicero “When you start the day with the spirit of gratitude, everything else in your day works.” — Brian Buffini “We pinch ourselves every day that this is what we get to do for a living.” — Jay Wright, Head Coach at Villanova “The brave may not live forever, but the cautious don’t live at all.” — Sir Richard Branson “The ability to discipline yourself and delay gratification in the short term, in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term, is the indispensable prerequisite for success.” — Brian Tracy “If you do what is easy, your life will be hard; but if you do what is hard, your life will be easy.” — Les Brown “Keep perspective of how far they’ve come. In order to appreciate a mountaintop you have to remember what the valley looks like.” — Brian Buffini “Somebody in your life came before you and fought so you could live your life. Someone in your lineage, that you don’t even know, somebody in your life paid a price to give you a better opportunity—what would they do with your opportunity?” — Brian Buffini “At the end of the day we’re all emigrants, and if you embrace that emigrant edge, you can have a “rags to riches” story in whatever area of your life you wish to focus on.” — Brian Buffini   Emigrant stories, people and other things mentioned in the episode: Vivek Ranadivé, owner of the Sacramento Kings NBA team Madeleine Albright, 64thS. Secretary of State Sergey Brin, founder of Google Peter Petrasek, who along with his wife left all their money to the U.S. Department of Treasury Jay Wright, head coach for Villanova University’s men’s basketball team The painting “An Emigrant Ship, Dublin Bay at Sunset” by the artist Edwin Hayes Lou Holtz Tommy Hopkins Zig Ziglar Lou Tice Stephen Covey Og Mandino Jim Rohn Alexander Graham Bell Calvin Coolidge Cicero Sir Richard Branson Brian Tracy Les Brown   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.

“What would your life look like if you took away some of the excuses?” — Brian Buffini Even the best coaches need little a bit of coaching themselves from time to time. In this case, Brian received priceless advice from top college football coach, Lou Holtz while playing golf at the world-renowned Augusta National Golf Club. While the trip was intended to lift Brian’s spirits after he lost his home and belongings, including his golf clubs, in the wildfires that tore through San Diego in 2007, things didn’t go according to plan. You’ll hear how tough words can bring out your best, the importance of perspective and why excuses never make up for a lack of practice. Most importantly, it’ll encourage you to ask yourself: What would your life look like if you took away some of the excuses?   Inspirational quotes from today’s interview: “Can I trust you? Are you good at what you do? Do you care about me? I took those three principles and applied them in my business life and it really solidified my success in business.” — Brian Buffini “A coach can pull more out of you than you can pull out of yourself.” — Brian Buffini “A rich man is not the man who has the most but the one who needs the least.” — Lou Holtz “We lost so much valuable memorabilia that can’t be replaced, but we didn’t lose anything we cannot take to heaven.” — Lou Holtz “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “When we don’t recognize our gifts we don’t understand our own value.” — Brian 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.

“You don’t need a motivational talk at half time if you’re way ahead.” — Lou Holtz Brian Buffini goes into the archives for this interview with one of his mentors, college football coach Lou Holtz. Over his nearly four decade career, Lou earned a reputation for turning losing teams into winning ones. Here, Lou shares his best tips to help you achieve goals, reach success and W.I.N. You’ll learn his three rules for life, the three questions everyone asks and the one thing he says makes life worthwhile. Turn your goals into reality, stay on track and get motivated to succeed with these wise words from Lou Holtz. Inspirational soundbites from today’s interview: “A leader is somebody who has a vision and a plan.” “Anytime you want to accomplish something, it starts with having dreams.” “Don’t go through life and be a spectator—be a participant.” “Goals make things happen.” “If you want great advice, listen to your spouse.” “Decide what you want to do and remember the word, ‘WIN’—What’s Important Now.” “I went back to coaching because of the challenge.” “You have to have a purpose, a reason.” “Our obligation is to make people better.” “If you have to have something to do, someone to love, something to hope for and something to believe in—what’s more important in life?” “Embrace change as long as it’s taking you where you want to go.” “When you’re significant, you help other people be successful.” “There are only two types of people: those who lift up and those who hold down.” “Happiness is nothing more than having a poor memory.” “If you want to achieve something, you have to be willing to sacrifice.” “As long as you have an excuse, you’ll look for reasons why you can’t succeed.”   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.

“Our future will be shaped by our personal philosophy.” — Jim Rohn Brian Buffini digs into the archives of Buffini & Company’s MasterMind Summit® for this interview with his late, great mentors Jim Rohn and Zig Ziglar. Jim and Zig spent their lives philosophizing, training and inspiring business leaders to realize and achieve their full potential. In this interview, they share their wisdom, personal philosophies and advice for success. You’ll learn how philosophy influences everything around us, the main reason why everyone needs a wall of gratitude, the lasting impact of small continuous steps and why celebrating your achievements can motivate you to achieve more. Let Jim and Zig infuse your spirit with this motivational pick-me-up! Inspirational soundbites from today’s interview: “Your income is determined by your philosophy, not by the economy.” — Jim Rohn “You can have anything you want if you help enough people get what they want.” — Zig Ziglar “When you celebrate achievements, it’ll inspire you to make a longer list of goals.” — Jim Rohn “Real leaders develop other leaders.” — Zig Ziglar “If standard of living is your major objective, quality of live almost never improves. But if that quality of live is your major objective, standard of living generally improves.” — Zig Ziglar “You don’t drown if you fall into water; you only drown if you stay there.” — Zig Ziglar Learn more about Brian’s guests: Jim Rohn: http://jimrohn.com/ Zig Ziglar: https://www.ziglar.com/   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.

“I never once looked back. I just wanted to pretend like I was ordinary, that I was normal. That was the great goal of my life, to be normal.” — John O’Leary John O’Leary was a normal nine-year-old boy when he was burned on 100% his body in a house fire and given no chance of survival. Five months in the hospital and thirty surgeries later, which included the amputation of his fingers, John strived to live an ordinary life until his parents shared his story with the world and changed his life. Brian Buffini interviews John O’Leary and finds out why the most important job in the hospital is the janitor, the most important trait all humans should cultivate and how a troop of Girl Scouts prompted John to change careers and share his story with the world. Listen to John’s message of hope and get ready to be inspired! Inspirational soundbites from today’s interview: “I think everybody’s got a story; just generally not the one we’re telling the world.” “We are called daily to become a better version of ourselves.” “I looked up at my mom and said, ‘Mom, am I gonna die?’ I assumed she would say no…and Mom gave me truth. She holds my hand a little bit more firmly, she looks me in the eyes and she says ‘Baby, look at me. Do you want to die? It’s your choice, it’s not mine.’” “On that morning, it was January 17, 1987, a child of 9, flanked by his father and his mother, made the covenant to fight on, having no clue what the 18th of January might look like or the 19th, or the first surgery or the thirtieth. All we knew on day one was the fight was on.” “Significance is allowing the ripple effects of our talents and time and treasure to ripple out into the marketplace.” “Ultimately what our prayers should be is not that our prayers are answered; it’s that we live into His will for our lives.” “Embrace the gift of the moment.”   Learn more about John’s story: Overwhelming Odds by Susan O’Leary and Denny O’Leary http://johnolearyinspires.com/shop/overwhelming-odds-book/ On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life by John O’Leary. http://johnolearyinspires.com/shop/fire-7-choices-ignite-radically-inspired-life/ John O’Leary-Motivational Speaker, Reunion with Nurse Roy https://youtu.be/aeVmrWRFOPk Connect with John O’Leary John O’Leary Live Inspired http://johnolearyinspires.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JohnOLearyRisingAbove Twitter https://twitter.com/jolearyinspires   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.

“Mindset gives you direction, motivation provides the driving force and the methodologies sustain you.” — Brian Buffini If you want to be successful, you have to have the right mindset, motivation and methodologies in place to do it. Business leader, real estate expert and motivational speaker Brian Buffini shares his experiences and insights to help listeners achieve success. Although Brian’s story is one of rags to riches, at its core, it’s a story of what happens when a person is committed to success and has a voracious desire to grow. You’ll learn why you are what you think and believe, what’s the purest form of motivation and how routines and systems help you stay on track and boost your productivity. We’re looking for people who are students of success. If you’re a searcher who’s eager to learn, you don’t want to miss this podcast! Inspirational soundbites from today’s interview: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul” — Matthew 16:26 “Ancora Imparo—I am still learning.” — Michelangelo “Everyone wants to get to heaven, but no one wants to die to get there.” — Brian Buffini “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. You’ll go from making a living to making a fortune.” — Jim Rohn “Changing how you think will change how you live.” — Brian Buffini “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” — Mark Twain “Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and push in the right direction.” — John C. Crosby “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing—that why we recommend it daily.” — Zig Ziglar “A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it’ll annoy enough people to make it worth your while.” —Herm Albright “Motivation alone is not enough. If you have an idiot and you motivate hi, now you have a motivated idiot.” — Jim Rohn   Learn more about Mindset, Motivation and Methodologies As a Man Thinketh by James Allen http://www.amazon.com/As-Man-Thinketh-James-Allen/dp/1503055361/ref=sr_1_1/190-5764921-3958109?ie=UTF8&qid=1458076966&sr=8-1&keywords=the+man+thinketh The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley http://www.thomasjstanley.com/publication/the-millionaire-next-door/ The Millionaire Mind by Thomas J. Stanley http://www.amazon.com/The-Millionaire-Mind-Thomas-Stanley/dp/0740718584 The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Habit-What-Business/dp/081298160X   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.