Beyond The Rut Podcast

Why Opposing Perspectives?We're not telling you to go pick a fight at a bar. In fact, we're not telling you to do anything violent at all. Please, do not go out and physically fight someone and blame it on this podcast episode. We're talking about the value of tapping into perspectives that are different, even opposite, of your own point of view.Yes, we have said, and will continue to say, that you should not tell a lot of people when you are first setting out on a dream or goal. Too much opposition early on can squash your confidence and courage to even get started. There is a time however when you're on your path that differing and opposing perspectives will help you along.Five Reasons Why You Should Seek Out Opposing PerspectivesIt forces you to expand your base of knowledge - look up facts, do more research, learn more about the opposing side.You will actively engage the "why" underlying your own beliefs.Anyone can lash out emotionally.  Respect and credibility comes to those who learn to express themselv

What is the Magic Ratio all about?Brandon and guest host, Jerry, talk about the magic ratio of positive to negative interactions that results in happy, healthy relationships. The Magic Ratio is based on work from Dr. John Gottman, an expert on communication in marriage.While this discussion is grounded in the context of happy, healthy relationships in marriage, the lessons and tips discussed here can be applied in business relationships, friendships, teams, with our customers, and other organizations and situations where interactions with people are involved. In fact, it was in a business leadership training where Jerry first learned about the Magic Ratio.Do you want a marriage that lasts a lifetime? Do you want employees who love working for you no matter what? Do you want customers who will not only come back again and again but also work for you as a free, never-ending, marketing campaign? This is the episode you don't want to miss.Links and ResourcesBuy Dr. John Gottman's book from Amazon, Why Marriages S

What is Guilt-Free Parenting?Pursuing a dream while also raising a family will sometimes seem to be in conflict. Guilt builds up as our work chips away at the attention we give to our families. Brandon and Shawn discuss four tips on how to have your cake and eat it, too. Guilt-free parenting is about being the best spouse and parent you can be while also pursuing that dream meant to make life better for the ones you love.Listen to this episode and share it with your family and friends.Four TipsBe present when you are presentInvolve the kids with your dream when possibleOnly make promises you can actually keepFor the ultimate tip in guilt-free parenting, consider the age of your children before you launch your dream. They are only young once. Will you miss out on those precious years?Related ArticlesWhat is Success? by Shawn Albright, 30-ish and Confused BlogFathers and Daughters: Six Things Dads with Daughters Should Know, Episode 66 of the Family Time Q&A Podcast - Brandon is a guest on FTQA with Jerry a

In this episode Brandon and Shawn discuss when and how to share your dream with others. Sometimes, we come out of the gate too soon and are met with resistance from those we expected support us. Other times we hurt our long-term credibility, or build a reputation of having a new crazy dream every six months. There comes a time when we do need to tell others about our dreams, our projects, because we will need their support to get the word out, generate hype, and even buy from us. That's what this episode is all about, getting people on board with your dream.When was a time you found the right support at the right time? When was a time you had a hard time getting people on board with your dream? Share in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you.Getting people on board with your dream is not always about quantity, but quality. You want to get the right people on at the right time to do the right thing as you grow your project, business, or organization. Start with a few trusted advisers, then go from ther

In today's information economy, your success is propelled by your ability to add value and build relationships with a niche of people.Inspired by Seth Godin's book, Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, Brandon and Shawn tackle the topic of the power in tribes and just getting started."Turn accomplices into friends and you can be two-thirds more likely to succeed," Kerry Patterson, Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success.Join our tribe, subscribe to us on iTunes or Stitcher, join our email list, and send us a message. Connect with us!Go to BeyondTheRut.com/capsho for your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Click on BeyondTheRut.com/capsho to claim your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Click on BeyondTheRut.com/capsho to claim your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Support the showMusic Hopeful Camping Folk | Camping by Alex-Productions | https://youtu.be/aUHdSwhiNVU Music promoted by https://onsound.eu/ Go to BeyondTheRut.com/capsho for your free 14-day trial and see for yourself

Where do you want to be in five years? Will you be making the change you wish to see in the world at that time? How do you find significance in the work you do now? These are just some of the questions Brandon and Shawn tackle in this episode of Beyond the Rut as they discuss significance versus status.We chase status symbols when we really want significance in our lives. Listen to this episode and discover how you can find real satisfaction in the work you do, or will do.Other tips and topics discussed:Remove "just a ____" from your vocabularyStay-at-home moms are so much more than "just a stay-at-home mom"How to tap into resources you may not realize you already haveGo to BeyondTheRut.com/capsho for your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Click on BeyondTheRut.com/capsho to claim your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Support the showMusic Hopeful Camping Folk | Camping by Alex-Productions | https://youtu.be/aUHdSwhiNVU Music promoted by https://onsound.eu/ Go to BeyondTheRut.com/capsho for y

Your children are never too young to start learning about money. In this episode, Brandon and Shawn discuss the following:Allowances vs WagesIf you don't teach them, who will? AMEX?Savings, Spending, and GenerosityAppropriate advice for your children as they grow into adulthoodJust as it is never too early to teach your children about money, it is also never too late either. Brandon shares money advice he's recently given one of his sons regarding a business venture.What key advice have you shared with your children about money? Comment below.Go to BeyondTheRut.com/capsho for your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Click on BeyondTheRut.com/capsho to claim your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Click on BeyondTheRut.com/capsho to claim your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Support the showMusic Hopeful Camping Folk | Camping by Alex-Productions | https://youtu.be/aUHdSwhiNVU Music promoted by https://onsound.eu/ Go to BeyondTheRut.com/capsho for your free 14-day trial and see for yourse

One day you're going to be ready to take the first step toward your dream, but are you ready?Rather than dealing with these issues after you've began your journey, wouldn't it be wise to get things in order ahead of time?  We aren't suggesting that you procrastinate your dream until everything is "perfect" but we are saying that you can start these things today as you plan your dream.There are four areas in your life you must be prepared for when you get ready to pursue your dream. Shawn and Brandon discuss the following in this episode: (2:46) Getting your finances in order, debt, savings, etc. (12:30) Marriage and relationships (15:44) Physical health (22:17) Putting your habits in checkResources and LinksUse Your Smartphone to Lose Weight by Jerry DuganMyFitnessPalVirtuagymWater Your Body app (iTunes, Google Play)Total Money Makeover by Dave RamseyFitBit Charge HR (count steps and track your heart rate, sleep patterns, challenge friends, and more)Go to BeyondTheRut.com/capsho for your free 14-day trial and

Striking up conversations with strangers and initiating conversations that end relationships are two of the most difficult and and awkward interactions that many people avoid. However, both of these are necessary and beneficial to anyone trying to pursue a goal.To most people, networking is about as exciting as getting a root canal.  They think of networking as going to "social mixers" and handing out their business cards to a bunch of people that are also walking around handing out business cards.  No thanks! LinkedIn, Twitter, and other forms of social media has made meeting like-minded individuals so much easier.Unfortunately, social media has also made severing bad relationships that much harder as well.Listen in as we discuss some tips and perspective to make having these difficult conversations just a little easier.Go to BeyondTheRut.com/capsho for your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Click on BeyondTheRut.com/capsho to claim your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Click on BeyondTheRut.c

Tired of being tired?  So are we.  Your family and career will both benefit from you getting healthy.  Most of us have tried and failed a million times.  We fail, get depressed, eat terrible to comfort ourselves, get inspired, re-commit, try for a few days/weeks, then fail again.If you listen to everything the "experts" say about health, you're likely in a constant state of confusion as to what is and is not healthy. Take a step back from all of that and consider some of the most basic, time tested practices that could have almost immediate benefits.Your plan to getting healthy should be simple.  You don't need to be a nutritional or fitness expert.  You just need to use a little common sense and take a small step...today!  A little habit leads to a little health, and a little health will eventually lead to bigger habits and greater health.This isn't about losing weight; it's about having energy for life!Go to BeyondTheRut.com/capsho for your free 14-day trial and see for yourself. Click on BeyondTheRut.com/

We plan for weddings, vacations, and hobbies, yet rarely plan to make our closest relationships better. We tend to think they will just work themselves out.  Is this a great approach for something so important?When it comes to marriage, we have to continue dating our spouse. This is not something that happens easily.  Life keeps on going and the next thing you know it has been 6 months since you spent time alone with your spouse.“The main way to resist the forces that pull us apart —the natural drift of marriage over time and the pull of the consumer culture —is to be a couple who carefully cultivates commitment and ways to connect over the years” - William DohertyIntentionality applies to your kids as well.  You have to get passed the closed door of a teenager and be purposeful in how you relate.We will give you some ideas on how to have an inexpensive and consistent date night. As you start to implement date night, you will be demonstrating to your kids that your marriage is the highest priority.  In doing

You finally find the courage to do something out of the ordinary and pursue your dreams, the out of nowhere, obstacles seem to be everywhere. At first, they seem paralyzing. What if we told you that the vast majority of obstacles are only perceived, not real?Fear and doubt have robbed you of your future for long enough! In this episode, we walk through the five most common obstacles and provide some practical steps to help you overcome them and get back on the path."I've found that a substantial fraction of many people's days is spent worrying about what other people think of them.  If nobody ever worried about what was in other people's head, we would all be 33% more effective in our lives and in our jobs." - Randy Pausch from The Last LectureResources, Links and Quotes1. Perry Noble blog post "7 Differences Between a Coach and a Critic"  https://perrynoble.com/blog/7-differences-between-a-coach-and-a-critic-part-one?search=critic#search-modal2. "Don't share your dreams with people that don't dream." - John

Do you have that nagging feeling that there has to be more to life than what you are currently experiencing? When you hear a story of someone putting it on the line, do you secretly envy them? If so, you're not weak or alone.  In fact, you are right where most people live their lives...in the Comfort Zone.The goal of getting out of the comfort zone is rarely about money.  Rather, it is typically about living a life of significance and pursuing a passion.Fear keeps most of us from every stepping foot into the unknown.  Is this fear even real?In this episode we dive into the "dangers" of never taking a risk. When you finally make a move, you may make mistakes, but of us that is far better than living a life of regrets.What's your bigger concern - fear of failure, or fear of success?If you have a story about how you stepped outside your comfort zone and started to pursue something meaningful, we would love to hear about it.Send us an email with your story to beyondtherut@gmail.com"Life begins at the end of your

A reading habit can help you in your career, marriage, and more. Here are seven simple tips to start reading today! Start a Reading Habit A reading habit can be one of the most rewarding things you can do for yourself. Not only can it provide enjoyment and knowledge, but developing a reading habit can also have a positive impact on your career, marriage, and more. If you’re looking to start a reading habit, here are seven simple tips to help you get started: Start small. Don’t try to tackle War and Peace on your first day. Instead, start with a shorter book or even just a few pages of reading each day. Set aside time each day for reading. Whether it’s 20 minutes before bed or on your lunch break, find a time that works for you and stick to it. Starting with just five minutes a day is better than nothing. Find a comfortable place to read. Make sure you have a comfortable chair, good lighting, and minimal distractions so you can focus on your reading. Try audiobooks. Whether you think you don’t like to read, o

When you venture out to make your own path, your self-talk plays a critical role in either your failure or success. Let's talk about how to use self-talk to your advantage. How Self-Talk Has Power “Whether you believe you can, or can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford A friend of Beyond the Rut’s once shared that he was putting together a business plan. He has the financial backers he needed for the initial capital. Those backers felt he had the skills, experience, and plan to be successful, and they spoke with their wallets. They were ready, but was he? The conversation continued and his personal doubts surfaced. He wasn’t good enough. The plan wasn’t good enough. This may all be a mistake. I’m going to fail again. I can’t pay these people back if that happens. He was ready to throw in the towel and continue with his 9-to-5 job that he hated because it was the safer thing to do. That is when Brandon chimed in and reminded him that the biggest critic we will face will always be within ourselves. The friend snapped

Introducing Beyond the Rut PodcastWelcome to Beyond the Rut Podcast, a show about inspiring you to live the life you've always dreamed of. You may feel that you have shackled yourself to an average existence for way too long. If you have a desire and dream inside you that you’ve never acted upon, then listening to our show is for you.Shawn Albright and Brandon Cunningham introduce what you can expect from listening to our weekly episodes. This show is for you. Let us know in the comment below, Tweet us, comment on our Facebook Page, or send us an email. We will the opportunity to answer your questions, and especially honored to share your success stories on the Beyond the Rut Podcast.Join us every week on Beyond the Rut Podcast.Brandon CunninghamBrandon is the leader behind Beyond the Rut Podcast who approached Jerry Dugan from Family Time Q&A Podcast in early 2015 with the idea of helping people realize their dreams. Now, here we are. Welcome to the show, and thank you in advance for subsribing whether v