Play Your Position With Mary Lou Kayser

Participating in our own rescue may be a new concept to some of you. I had never heard the concept described until Tommy Breedlove mentioned it in episode #131. Have you ever noticed that you pick up on a phrase from a conversation or from something you read and it stays with you for awhile? I’ve learned over the years that’s usually a clue I need to be paying attention to the message it’s sending. And this time is no different. What message do you need to be hearing right now? Today's show may reveal it to you! Connect with PYP on Twitter Become a Founder Member of the PYP Patreon Community

At one point during our conversation, today’s PYP MVP Tommy Breedlove paused and said: "I am a Picasso of screwing up. The journey never ends. When the train is running on all cylinders, the demons and the noise show up even stronger." He then goes on to tell a story he's never told anyone, one that involves flashing blue lights and having a gun held to his head. He also shares a story about a time when a trusted adviser asked him the following question: “Do you want to live your life? Or do you want to live your story?” This question stopped Tommy in his tracks and caused him to make some big changes, including doubling down on serving others. What happened next was nothing short of magical. In fact, Tommy Breedlove proves that when you start living your life from a position of serving others -- everything changes.   Everything. Tommy Breedlove is the founder of Choose Goodness, a company dedicated to helping executives and entrepreneurs focus beyond the financial bottom line. By empowering leaders, To

Leadership Lift: “Our level of success rarely exceeds our level of personal development.” Jim Rohn   January is traditionally the month where millions set goals for how the next 12 months will be different than the previous 12. I bet you set at least one goal for the year -- how are you doing with it?   Don’t worry if it’s not going like you thought. Huddle up with it again for ten minutes to explore what’s working and why you could be off your game. Be sure to be crystal clear about why this one goal is important to you. Clarity often solves pesky problems.   In today's show, I share with you 5 ways to show up differently this year. Self leadership is grounded in several tenants including conscious decision making about all aspects of our life. Sometimes making changes we know we need to make can be overwhelming. That's why I subscribe to the notion of making small shifts -- little things that over time add up to big things.   Don't be shy about sharing on social media the insights you pick up from today;s

“No matter how skillful we are, we are always going to have blind spots. We just can’t know what we don’t know,” says today’s PYP MVP Pamela Gold. “And don’t even get me started on what phones are doing to us!” she laughs. “Our phones are messing with our minds!”   You will love today’s conversation with Pamela Gold. Some history: Pamela grew up on her family’s apple farm in upstate New York, graduated from Yale University, and then entered the business world in NYC where she was the point person on an IPO at the age of 24. Leaving the workforce to start a family, she co-founded West Village Parents and went on to pursue her passion for fitness and wellness. It was through this pursuit that she discovered yoga, which connected her love of philosophy, science, psychology, and wellness and eventually led her to discover her life’s work: teaching inner peace as the key to our greatest evolution and ultimately, world peace.   About a year and a half ago, she had a really big shift and wrote a book as a result of

Kicking off the new year with our annual highlight reel show featuring the voices of every PYP MVP from 2017. You will love their wisdom and insights as you continue planning your goals for the next 12 months and step up into new leadership roles at work, in your business and life. This episode is jam-packed with timeless reminders of how we can all show up and be our best at everything we do. As always, check out the shownotes page for more info on individual guests and then let our guests know how much you appreciate them with a quick 5-star rating and review on iTunes! Happy New Year!

What does it take to lead in a global marketplace? How can we become better at what we do every day in our work and our private lives? Is it possible to learn the leadership skills necessary to lead teams at a world-class level? These are some of the questions my guest asks today on the show. Claudio Toyama returns for his second appearance on PYP to talk about his new book with the curious title, The Samurai Samba Vinci Way: How to Improve Your Executive Presence, Increase Trust and Lead Your Team at a World-Class Level. It was published in the fall of 2017 and quickly became a number one international bestseller. The book reflects the incredible work Claudio has done teaching subject matter experts over the last 10 years through his coaching and consulting practice how to become excellent leaders. Are you more of a Samurai, a Samba or a Vinci? Learn about the power of these three personas and how they can help you improve your life in today’s episode of the PYP Podcast. Click here to get the book! Shownotes

Aren’t all business owners happy? today’s PYP MVP Tim Fulton asks. You would think they would be being out on their own, running their own show, chasing a dream, having the freedom you can’t get with a job. But the answer to this question is a surprising no, and in the show, Tim goes into detail about why that is so -- and how to fix it.   Tim Fulton showed up ready to play and you’re going to love his enthusiasm. The facts about him include: he is a nationally recognized small business consultant and advocate with more than 30 years experience in entrepreneurship. His purpose and passion is helping others succeed. Over the years he has worked with thousands of business start-ups and existing business entities as a catalyst for starting and growing their business enterprises.   Tim has also served as the assistant director of the Small Business Development Center at Clayton State University and the Director of the Family Business Institute at Florida International University. An author of a very popular, awar

“The time you can take to care for aging parents is 10-20 years according to a survey done by MetLife,” says today’s PYP MVP Ruth Ullman. There are plenty of other sobering statistics about the wave that’s coming -- and most people are either ignoring it or denying it even exists. Our conversation goes pretty deep into what’s happening around the world today, and the trend of aging parents shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. “No one wants to think about their parents getting old,” Ruth continues. “But to pretend that’s not going to happen can cost you a lot of money, not to mention time.” Ruth began caring for her aging parents when she was in her 40s. She had to navigate a labyrinth of financial, legal and health mazes to get answers and figure out next steps. “It wasn’t easy,” she says, reflecting on that time of her life. “And my business didn’t survive because I hadn’t set it up to work without me fully present every day.” Because of these experiences, Ruth founded her latest business called myeld

“Why are sports growing in popularity?” today’s guest Teresa McCloy asks rhetorically. “It’s because people are longing for that connection we get when we come together for an event.” She’s right. I see it every time I go to watch a game in person. In that stadium, for a few hours at least, those of us who have chosen to spend our time watching athletes run, tackle, hit, jump, leap, throw, pound, and slide share in something very special -- and very human. Teresa gets this, which is why she has redesigned her life around helping clients discover the habits that aren’t serving them and building new ones that do. It’s a fast-paced world out there and any professional knows the battle isn’t with information, but rather with execution on selected information relevant to us personally. As a REALIFE Speaker & Coach, Teresa McCloy partners with her clients to stop being productive and do what matters. There’s a difference, she argues, between going, going, going just because everyone else is doing that and delib

Nancy Martin loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. A Pennsylvania girl through and through, she gets football and what it can mean for a town, city and region. When she’s not cheering for the black and gold, she is a renowned speaker, facilitator, and best-selling author of Dance Your Way to an Empowered Self, and the creator of “Back Off” - a proprietary method of teaching women and girls how to embody confidence so they can repel potential abusers and claim their own authentic voice.   Her mission is to reach as many women and girls as possible before they become victims of abuse so they can build a light, happy future. We met through a mutual friend and PYP MVP, Claudio Toyama. Nancy has a lot of energy and loves to laugh while cooking delicious meals from scratch. She is vibrant, dynamic and dedicated to raising her son to be thoughtful, kind and driven by his own sense of self. In her work, she uses a specialized combination of dance, movement, and intensive coaching to show her clients how to use their bodies

Debbie Johnston’s motto is, “If I have touched one life, it was worth the journey.” And let me tell you -- she has touched many. November is National Adoption Month and among the many pursuits Debbie has engaged in over the years, advocating for children of all ages to find permanent homes is at the top of her list. Over the span of her successful careers, she has been recognized as the Entrepreneur of Richmond, Virginia, Philanthropist of the Year, and Woman on the Move. As founder and President of Care Advantage, Nurse Advantage, and All About Care, she has created a dynamic compassionate care company that is devoted to giving back to the community. Her former companies employ approximately 3,000 health care professionals in central Virginia and surrounding areas. Debbie's journey to the top did not start off all glitz and glam though. In fact, she had a very humble start. Debbie grew up in a small town with her biological mother's sister and her husband who adopted Debbie at a young age. She was raised on

Love is missing from the workplace. That’s what today’s PYP MVP believes. “If you can satisfy people’s emotional needs, you can produce business results you never thought possible,” says Cort Dial. He would know. Cort has been working as an executive coach for several decades and has seen every facet of human behavior you could imagine. His work has taken him to some of the toughest places on earth, from oil rigs off the coast of Texas to the deserts of the Middle East and everything in between. In fact, over the last 30 years in a variety of environments ranging from corporate skyscrapers to South American jungles, he has honed his signature method of leadership development called All-In Performance Transformation. With it, he trains and certifies business executives and rising leaders at his Heretics to Heroes Leadership Mastery Summits held throughout the year in Austin, Texas. Despite all the advances in technology we’ve experienced over the last ten years, Cort is adamant that we human beings are still t

Thanks to PYP MVP Will Cuddy from Show #106, I had the honor of talking to Noah Schultz this week. Noah is currently on tour across the United States promoting the documentary about his life called Perception: From Prison to Purpose. We had a fantastic conversation and I was moved by his story. Noah Schultz is a poet and a writer who was incarcerated at the age of 17 under Oregon’s Measure 11. During his time in custody, he was introduced to creative writing, and has since transformed his worldview. While in prison, he earned an Associate’s Degree and two Bachelor’s Degrees, and even created and taught a poetry curriculum to other inmates. He is an aspiring entrepreneur interested in poverty, human trafficking and environmental issues and is currently in the process of launching his own fashion line, Forgotten Culture Clothing, with his best friend. Noah’s favorite team is the Portland Timbers and he brings a lot of positive energy to every audience he serves, and Team PYP, we are no different. Assisting othe

Gustavo Serbia is the Corporate Director of Human Resources for Crescent Hotels & Resorts and refers to himself as an HR non-HR guy. He is also the founder of Stretch the String, a personal development movement dedicated to helping fine tune the most important instrument of your career: YOU! Gustavo has worked in hospitality, entertainment, with airlines and universities. His work has taken him around the world including places like Mexico, Hong Kong, and Europe. Fully bilingual, Gustavo speaks both English and Spanish and on a personal note, he loves baseball, has a collection of M&M branded items and considers himself a tech nerd. Connect with PYP on Twitter Shownotes

Jake Carlson is a business leader, an inspirational speaker, and a 9-5 dropout. After 11 years as a tax attorney, he chose “different”. Taking his three kids out of school for the adventure of a lifetime, the family spent a year living in 12 countries from Bagan, Myanmar to Paris, France, overcoming robbery, red-eye flights and Haggis while learning to love the rich cultures of the world. All of which he expected. What he didn’t expect was the journey of Leadership this decision would create. From the high-rises of London to the nipa huts of Malaysia, the need for strong leadership is everywhere. But where are the leaders? Jake is on a mission to help Elite Achievers become leaders by mastering the CIA of Influence: Conviction, Irresistibility & Accountability. Join us today for a lively conversation full of exciting adventure stories and insights on how to become a better leader! Shownotes Twitter

Jeff McManus grows things. As the Director of Landscape Services at the University of Mississippi, he grows plants...he grows people...he grows ideas. Jeff is a problem-solver, understanding that doing more with less is a 21st century mandate. He developed his GROW-theory into an impactful management and professional development leadership program for his staff and has been recognized nationally for it by the Princeton Review, PGMS, Newsweek and every faculty, staff, student and visitor who has walked onto the Ole Miss Campus. His message rings true for any industry leader or manager looking to grow a high-performance and dedicated workforce. Follow PYP on Twitter Check out the shownotes page for this episode here!

Like millions of people across the United States, I watched the solar eclipse. But I have a confession. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t interested in the solar eclipse. Like, at all. It wasn’t until my dad started talking about it when I was on vacation with him in Maine earlier this month that I realized my non-interest was stemming more from not liking all the hype surrounding the eclipse rather than the actual eclipse itself. Today's Bonus Audible is all about my experience getting ready for this once-in-a-lifetime event, along with some actual raw audio footage minutes before the moon nearly obscured the sun in my little part of the world in Oregon. It's a piece of living history, and the whole experience turned out far cooler than I initially imagined. Some interesting and unexpected things happened during it, so pop in those head phones and take a listen to today's episode of PYP! Connect with PYP on Twitter Learn more about the show here

Chances are good if you’ve been on Facebook lately you have seen a chatbot. A chatbot is an automated communication sequence inside FB Messenger, on your website, or an on ecommerce site that allows the user to drive the experience while interacting with your chatbot to get questions answered, get content, make orders, etc. --  instantly and 24/7. Today’s guest knows a few things about chatbots and unpacks their potential for Team PYP. His name is Peter Lisoskie and he spends his time helping early adopters in business capitalize on new trends in tools, technologies, and marketing strategies. He’s discovered that many early adopter companies want chatbots developed for leads, inside sales, content delivery, information gathering, ecommerce, customer service and more. With Peter’s extensive background in product development he can help your company develop and deploy a chatbot strategy to support your brand and deliver a winning customer experience. Peter is a proud geek: He runs a business incubator, hangs ou

Mark J. Podolsky (AKA The Land Geek) is widely considered the country’s most trusted and foremost authority on buying and selling raw, undeveloped land within the United States. He has been actively investing in real estate and raw land since 2001 and has completed over 5,000 unique transactions. Mark’s company, Frontier Equity Properties, LLC, is an A+ rated BBB real estate company. Mark has achieved this level of success largely due to his core business philosophy – “Happy Customers Guaranteed.” I would add his success also comes from the fact that he chooses to use a treadmill desk. “Sitting is the new smoking!” he reminds us all. Mark is also the host of one of the top rated podcasts in the Investing Category on iTunes aptly titled “The Best Passive Income Model and The Art of Passive Income.” As if he wasn’t already busy enough, Mark hosts “The Land Geek Podcast- Work Smart. Earn More. Learn How.” You can check those out on iTunes and wherever else great listening is enjoyed. Shownotes Follow PYP on Twit

This week's audible title is inspired by the latest book I listened to called "The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work and Confidence with Everyday Courage" by Mel Robbins. It's a fantastic listen and I share my review of this book along with six others I recommend for your Summer 2017 reading/listening pleasure. While summer is typically a time to slow down and take some time off, we can continue feeding our minds with great stories and inspirational content so that when things ramp up again in the fall, we are empowered and powerful. Enjoy! Follow PYP on Twitter!