The Cliff Ravenscraft Show

In this episode, I take you on a journey through my recent exploration of Speechify, a text-to-speech application that has caught my eye and possibly, my ear. I share insights into why this app intrigues me, how it works, and whether it could change the way I engage with books and other written content. I walk you through how I discovered Speechify, the features that excited me, and my real-world tests of its capabilities. Join me as I dissect whether Speechify is a technological gimmick or a genuine breakthrough in accessibility and efficiency. $60 Discount on Speechify Premium Plan This podcast episode was unsponsored. However, if you use this link, you'll receive a $60 discount on the premium plan: https://share.speechify.com/mE8gUeE Disclaimer: It's my understanding that if two people sign up for a full year of Speechify, I'll receive a one-year subscription. I was unaware of this when recording the episode. Free Access To Free The Dream Online Course Don't miss out on my Free the Dream Keynote, titled “All Beliefs Have Consequences,” available at no cost to you. This powerful presentation will guide you in identifying and transforming the beliefs that directly impact your actions and the results you get in life. It's designed to help you achieve the changes you desire in your life by addressing the root of your habitual actions. Get the free session now at MindsetAnswerMan.com/free. And for those who want to dive deeper, I'm offering exclusive free access to the full "Free the Dream" online course. This isn't just a course; it's a transformational journey that will equip you with the tools and insights to live out your dreams. To claim your free access, simply email me at cliff@cliffravenscraft.com with the subject line "Free Course." Take this step towards a more fulfilling life and free the dream within you.  

In this episode, I let you in on a little secret. I launched yet another podcast in January of this year. Each week, my co-host Daphne Scott and I have been creating content that blends ancient wisdom with modern science, psychology, and research. Subscribe Today at ChooseYourOwnAdventurePodcast.com Here are the insights found in this podcast episode discussing "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz: The profound impact of "The Four Agreements": The book was a catalyst for personal awakening for the hosts, particularly due to its simple yet profound teachings contrasted with more complex spiritual texts. Historical context and relevance: The book's insights were revisited, highlighting its enduring relevance and the different ways it resonates at various points in one’s life. The hosts discuss the historical and cultural significance of the book, connecting it to modern psychology and spirituality. Concept of "The Dream": The book's concept of living within a "dream" shaped by societal agreements is explored, emphasizing how these influence our perceptions and behaviors. This dream acts like a fog, obscuring true perception and keeping individuals in a state of fear and conformity. Personal reflections on spiritual journeys: Personal anecdotes from the hosts' own spiritual journeys provided, comparing their initial complex spiritual readings with the straightforward teachings of "The Four Agreements." Domestication and the Book of Law: The podcast delves into how individuals are conditioned from a young age to adopt the beliefs and behaviors of their society, which Ruiz terms 'domestication'. This leads to the internalization of a 'Book of Law' that dictates their self-limiting beliefs. Role of the Judge and the Victim: The internal dynamics of self-judgment and victimhood are discussed, exploring how these roles perpetuate personal suffering and limit personal freedom. The Four Agreements: Be impeccable with your word: Discusses the power of words to shape reality and stresses the importance of using speech responsibly. Don't take anything personally: The hosts reflect on the liberation found in realizing that other people's actions and words are dictated by their own beliefs and experiences, not yours. Don't make assumptions: The potential for misunderstandings and unnecessary suffering that comes from making assumptions about others' thoughts or actions is covered. Always do your best: Emphasizes that one's "best" varies from moment to moment, and maintaining this effort ensures less regret and self-judgment. Transformation through new agreements: The discussion also covers how adopting these new agreements can lead to profound personal change and freedom, helping individuals escape from old patterns that create suffering. These insights offer a comprehensive overview of how the teachings of "The Four Agreements" can be applied to personal growth and spiritual understanding.

Unlock the Secrets to a Productive Work Week In this episode, we'll dig deep into the art of designing your ideal work week. In today’s fast-paced world, it's easy to become a slave to our schedules, reacting rather than acting. We challenge this norm by exploring how to strategically plan your commitments to align with your personal and professional goals. Discover the power of recognizing and breaking the patterns that derail your effectiveness. Plus, you’ll learn the invaluable role of consistent journaling, not just as a reflective practice but as a tool to uncover hidden patterns that could be holding you back. If you are seeking to regain control of your time, this episode provides practical insights and actionable tips that will help you craft a week that works for you, not against you. Tune in to start transforming the way you approach each week and empower yourself with the skills to thrive. Email Me I would love to hear from you. Please take a moment to send me an email and let me know what insight(s) you gained from this episode. My email is Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com.  Next Level Mastermind As a self-employed business owner, applying for the Next Level Mastermind could be the transformative decision that propels your business and personal growth to unprecedented heights. This mastermind group is designed specifically for driven entrepreneurs like you who seek not only to excel in their business ventures but also to live a life marked by fulfillment, peace, and continuous learning. By joining, you will connect with like-minded professionals in a supportive, collaborative environment that challenges you to surpass your current boundaries. Whether it's overcoming obstacles, strategizing for growth, or simply finding your path to personal satisfaction, the Next Level Mastermind provides the community, resources, and expert guidance necessary to make each step forward impactful. Don't miss this chance to elevate your business and yourself. Apply today at NextLevelMastermind.info.

Explore the power of managing energy levels through an energy audit, focusing on identifying sources that fill you with energy and those that drain you. Learn how to optimize your environment for productivity and personal growth. Discover the benefits of personalized auditing to enhance clarity, enjoyment, and overall well-being.

Exploring our cyclical desire for new technology, the podcast touches on the fleeting joy of the latest gadgets and the need for gratitude towards modern marvels. Reflecting on evolving social media platforms and the importance of perception, it dives into the intertwined nature of technology in our lives.

In this episode, I share a deeply personal and transformative journey - one that challenges the very way I interact with the wisdom that crosses my path. It's a reflection of my own almost insatiable need to capture every insightful word, every profound idea, and then put it in a single repository so that I can instantly retrieve it at a later date. This compulsion to document, store, and then have the ability to retrieve every nugget of wisdom has, in many ways, cluttered my mind and spirit. It stemmed from a scarcity mindset, a fear that the insight and/or wisdom would not be available to me at some point in the future when needed. But what if I could shift that perspective? What if I could see wisdom as a flowing river, abundant and continually accessible? Here’s what you will discover: The Trap of Shortage Consciousness: I open up about how the urge to highlight nearly every sentence of every book and transcribe countless insights, with the intention of being able to search and find them instantly in the future, has paradoxically led to overwhelm and diluted the joy of learning itself. Mindful Consumption: I share my intention to practice mindfulness before engaging with new knowledge. I know that I can transform my experience, allowing me to be fully present and deeply connect with the material on a more profound level. Trust in Recollection and Reconnection: I explore the power of trust in my ability to recall information exactly when I need it. A Ritual for Release: I talk about establishing a ritual that allows me to release the need to transfer every documented insight into a single notes repository. I find freedom in trusting that truly significant insights will remain with me, subtly influencing my journey. Selective Documentation and Reflection: I affirm my commitment to becoming more selective in what I choose to document and store in my knowledge base. I will focus on insights that genuinely move me, understanding that some of my documentation exists simply as a method of reflection to deepen my understanding and integration of these ideas. Here are the four suggestions that I shared: Practice Mindful Consumption: Engage with content consciously, focusing on the present experience rather than the future utility of the information. Before beginning a new book or listening to a lecture, take a moment to center yourself with the intention of being fully present. Cultivate Trust in Your Ability to Recall and Reconnect: Develop confidence in your innate capacity to remember and revisit ideas that truly resonate with you. Understand that the most impactful insights will emerge in your thoughts when needed. Trust that your mind and soul are capable of holding onto the essential, allowing you to let go of the compulsion to document everything for the purpose of later retrieval. Create a Ritual for Letting Go: Introduce a practice of intentionally releasing the urge to store every insight in a central repository. For me, it has been more along the lines of capturing my thoughts in whatever documented form, but letting go of the need to make sure that it’s all in the right database within whatever software tool(s) that I am using at the time. Embrace Selective Documentation: Shift towards a more selective approach to what you choose to document for later retrieval. This reduces the volume of material you need to manage. I hope that sharing this personal journey leads you to some insights of your own. Are there any areas where what I shared resonated with you and your own journey of discovery? I'd love to hear from you. Send me an email at Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com.

In this podcast episode, I interview my dear friend Jessica Rhodes about her podcast guesting service business, Interview Connections, which she started in 2013. Over the past decade, her business has become a powerful entity that helps individuals reach their ideal clients and expand their audience. Listen in to learn valuable tips on how to make a strong impact when given the opportunity to be a guest on other people's podcasts. Hear are just a few of the key insights from this episode Appearing as a guest on other podcasts has proven to be the most effective method for reaching your ideal clients and exposing your message to a large audience. Over the past decade, I have referred numerous clients to Interview Connections and have received entirely positive feedback. The importance of thorough preparation for podcast interviews cannot be overstated. This includes researching the host and having a clear call to action. Having a clear call to action is important, but possessing unwavering confidence in the value of your course of action is the key to eliciting responses. There is a need to be fully present and engaged during interviews to establish a connection with the listeners and hosts. Using a clear, compelling "one sheet" to make it easy for hosts to say yes and ask questions that help you achieve your goals. Audience size numbers from directories are not accurate or transparent, and the right audience is more important than a large size. Thorough onboarding, training, and pitching over multiple months is important for services like Interview Connections to deliver top-notch results. Authenticity and vulnerability build strong business relationships, and local employees provide personalized service better than outsourcing. Referral partnerships can help promote services when there is trust, integrity, and a track record of success. Ongoing coaching can help overcome mindset blocks keeping clients from achieving their goals. Jessica Rhodes has been running her "Interview Connections" podcast guesting service for over a decade. Our conversation in this podcast episode has convinced me to be a long-term advocate for her company. I fully endorse Jessica Rhodes and her podcast booking services. Book a call with Jessica today at InterviewConnections.com. Let her know that Cliff sent you.  

In this episode, I had the pleasure of coaching Freya Casey, a successful singing coach and single mother of twins based in Germany. Freya has built her coaching business to over six figures but desires to scale even bigger to reach $1 million in annual revenue. We dove deep into Freya's dreams and goals, uncovering her treasure of becoming the business owner who scales rapidly with a great team behind her. Through our discussion, Freya gained clarity on specific actions she can take to help grow her profits. If you're a single mom entrepreneur looking for inspiration and community, be sure to connect with Freya through her new podcast "The Single Mom CEO" launching next week. You can also download her free guide at TheSingleMomCEO.com. It has been a pleasure to coaching Freya over the past several years and I look forward to seeing her continued success! If you are a full-time self-employed business owner and would like to experience a coaching session with me, email me right now at Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com.

In the timeless words of Maya Angelou, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Drawing inspiration from this profound insight, today's episode shares the most significant lesson I learned from my friend and mentor, Dan Miller.It is my sincere hope that the essence of this message touches you profoundly.

  In this episode, I express who improving your public speaking skills can unlock new opportunities for business growth. More significantly, I highlight how powerful and effective communication can be pivotal, sometimes even a matter of life and death. At a key moment, about an hour and four minutes in, I recount a powerful story. During the pandemic, a woman entered a Clubhouse room, expressing she was contemplating suicide and sought a reason to keep living. This incident underscores the vital importance of clarity, focus, and memorability in our communication. Whether we're speaking, teaching, or training, it's crucial to convey our messages in a way that resonates and sticks with the audience, guiding them to grasp and remember our intended message. Here's what I promised would be in the show notes: Scorre Speaker Training: https://www.scorretraining.com Next Level Mastermind: https://nextlevelmastermind.info Next Level Coaching Program: CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS Email Me About Coaching: Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com