Life Is A Marathon

Latest Episodes:

LIAM 009 – Leveraging Adversity To Reach Your Potential: A Conversation with “The Iron Jen” Oct 01, 2014

Show notes

In Episode #9 of the Life Is A Marathon show, I speak with Jen McDonough, aka The Iron Jen, about the major adversities she has faced in her life and how she has leveraged those adversities to discover her potential. Jen's story is amazing, but she shares, with complete sincerity, that she sees herself a just a normal woman, wife, and mom who was not willing to settle for less than an awesome life. She shares how she and her family were able to turn the tables on health problems and financial devastation. She shares with the goal of empowering you to do the same in your life! Mentioned in this show: The Iron Jen - www.theironjen.com Get social with Jen: Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheIronJen Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheIronJen LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jenmcdonough Subscription/Social Links: Subscribe on iTunes! Subscribe on Stitcher Radio! LIAM on Twitter: @LifeIs262 LIAM on Facebook / LifeIsAMarathon Subscribe to the LIAM Mailing List www.BruceVanHorn.com Bruce Van Horn on Twitter Bruce Van Horn on Facebook Please share this episode with your friends and followers. You may even embed a copy of the show directly on your website!

LIAM 008 – Set Yourself Up for Victory; Learn from Your Successes! Sep 29, 2014

Show notes

In Episode #8 of the Life Is A Marathon show, I speak about the importance of setting yourself up for victory and of learning more from your successes than from your failures. Far too often, through the way we think and speak, we project the opposite outcome we actually want. We say and think more about what we don't want than about what we do want. I also address how the popular business "buzz" is to "fail fast" and learn from our mistakes. I disagree! It's best to "win fast" and build on our successes! Quotes from the show: All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Show outline: Comment from a reader of my blog about the "Push yourself to the point of failure" post Dan Erickson: I’m reading a book called “Rework” and the authors would disagree. The idea of failure to succeed is overrated. What if we push ourselves to the point of success? I agree - we learn much more from our successes than we do from our failures! I wrote in Sept 2013 - Focus on Your Strengths, Not Your Weakness Set yourself up for victory every day, in every situation Business coaches are fond of saying "fail fast" I say "succeed fast" It's very important have BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) - dreams for the future that you work towards More important to "chunk it down" into small, bit-sized, very doable goals Creates a "I'm winning!" attitude Creates the "snowball effect" / momentum As you win, keep raising the bar by doing more "winning" things and pushing harder All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Failure will happen Don't expect it / accept it You can learn from it, but don't focus on what you did wrong Don't project a negative outcome in your speech or thought Instead of telling a child "don't drop this", which is what you don't want Say "please, carry this very carefully" which IS what you want Celebrate the victory when it is accomplished! Try to find the things that went right, but not enough of that was done What was working that you didn't do in this situation Get back on track mentally by going back to what worked Keep a Victory Log You get what you look for/expect in life If you try to fail fast, you will! Record all the victories, big and small Review your day to recognize what went right, well, made you happy, made someone else happy Look back over the list each week / each month You'll see how many victories you have! I've also blogged about this: Set Yourself Up for Victory; Learn from Your Successes! Mentioned in this show: Bruce Van Horn - Discover your potential. Push yourself to the point of failure! Bruce Van Horn - Focus on Your Strengths, Not Your Weakness Dave Ramsey - www.DaveRamsey.com Bruce Van Horn - You CAN Go the Distance! "Rework" – Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies – Jim Collins Run For Fun Cruise Subscription/Social Links: Subscribe on iTunes! Subscribe on Stitcher Radio! LIAM on Twitter: @LifeIs262 LIAM on Facebook / LifeIsAMarathon Subscribe to the LIAM Mailing List www.BruceVanHorn.com Bruce Van Horn on Twitter Bruce Van Horn on Facebook Please share this episode with your friends and followers. You may even embed a copy of the show directly on your website!

LIAM 007 – Life After the Death of a Child: A Conversation with Adam Crawford Sep 26, 2014

Show notes

In Episode #7 of the Life Is A Marathon show, I share a conversation with Adam Crawford in which we talk about the death of their daughter, Layla Chandler Crawford. Adam and his wife are still working through the pain and questions inherent in this trauma, but they are making many healthy decisions to move forward, continue to live, raise their son, and honor the brief life of their little girl. The death of a child is one of the most painful experiences a person will ever face. Please listen to the very moving conversation and share it with anyone you know who has or is going through a similar situation. Mentioned in this show: Adam Crawford's website - www.ChandlerCrawford.com on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChandlerCrawfordBlog on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chandlercraw4d Run For Fun Cruise Subscription/Social Links: Subscribe on iTunes! Subscribe on Stitcher Radio! LIAM on Twitter: @LifeIs262 LIAM on Facebook / LifeIsAMarathon Subscribe to the LIAM Mailing List www.BruceVanHorn.com Bruce Van Horn on Twitter Bruce Van Horn on Facebook Please share this episode with your friends and followers. You may even embed a copy of the show directly on your website!

LIAM 006 – Personal Branding: The Art of Being Present Sep 24, 2014

Show notes

In Episode #6 of the Life Is A Marathon show, I urge you to stop thinking that multitasking is a good thing. It's not! I talk about the benefits, personally and professionally, of practicing the art of being present--giving your undivided attention to people. This another "personal branding" episode designed to help you build a life--your brand--that people want to engage with and promote. Quotes from the show: Wherever you are, be all there! — Jim Elliot Show outline: Multitasking, as a good thing, is a myth You are not at your best when you are multitasking Relationships are weakened by distraction, lack of attention Practice the Art of Being Present Give your work single-task focus Give people your undivided attention Tip for men: Women find it very attractive when a man gives them undivided attention! All of your relationships, personally and professionally, benefit from you being present in the moment. Mentioned in this show: The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results - Gary Keller & Jay Papasan Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making Money - Rabbi Daniel Lapin Bruce Van Horn - LifeThought: When things aren’t adding up, start subtracting! Bruce Van Horn - LifeThought: Wherever you are, be all there! Bruce Van Horn - Fathers, Date Your Children Run For Fun Cruise Subscription/Social Links: Subscribe on iTunes! Subscribe on Stitcher Radio! LIAM on Twitter: @LifeIs262 LIAM on Facebook / LifeIsAMarathon Subscribe to the LIAM Mailing List www.BruceVanHorn.com Bruce Van Horn on Twitter Bruce Van Horn on Facebook Please share this episode with your friends and followers. You may even embed a copy of the show directly on your website!

LIAM 005 – Personal Branding: Everyone is Self-Employed Sep 22, 2014

Show notes

In Episode #5 of the Life Is A Marathon show, I explore a personal branding topic: Everyone is Self-Employed. It doesn't matter who signs your paycheck or what you do, you must do it with the attitude/mindset that you are self-employed, that you represent the most important brand in the world: YOU! Having the mindset of being a brand and being solely responsible for how you represent your brand, helps you show up in the world in an entirely different way than if you have the mindset of just going to a job. Quotes from the show: Work is love made visible. And if you can't work with love, but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of the people who work with joy ― Khalil Gibran Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. ― Zig Ziglar Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it ... Autograph your work with excellence. ― Vince Lombardi Show outline: Life coaching issues Personal presentation is very important Get work/Get promoted Improve relationships Must create foundational mindset for success Can't build sustainable behavior change if mindset doesn't support it Topic: Regardless of who signs your paycheck, you are self-employed The primary factor for success is connections and relationships Your ability to connect with and build relationships with people impacts every area of your life Regardless of how good you are, people do business with people/companies they like and trust "Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." - Zig Ziglar You are your own brand! You own and represent a brand named You, Inc. You are self-employed You are CEO - casting the vision and direction of the company You are head of Marketing - Creating connections/relationships so people know your name You are head of Public Relations - you must deal with people who are upset with you Most importantly, you are in Sales - you are responsible for getting new clients Embracing this idea will make you more successful in every area of your life Relationships will improve Job opportunities will appear Great companies are built around 2 foundational principles Providing the best products or services Love for their customers and a desire to keep customers for life! What they don't teach you in school Job Interviewing 101 You are NOT entitled to anything - especially a job! You are not applying for a job, you are trying to gain a customer People don't buy features, they buy benefits and feelings Do not say "here are my qualifications for this job, how much will you pay me?" Sell your benefits - how you can solve problems, increase their profit, ease their pain Make it about your customer's needs, not about you or your desire for money Ask questions Do you want your customers to be greeted with big smile and sincere "how are you"? Do you want your customers feel like they are genuinely appreciate and valued so they come back time and time again? Do you have a hard time hiring employees who love their work, show up on time, smile while they are here, and do the work as if they owned the company? If so, here's what you can expect from me.... Love the work you are doing right now! See your employer as your customer See everyone you meet in the course of your day as a potential customer or referral to a customer Do the work you are hired to do with the greatest enthusiasm and highest quality because it reflects on your brand! See the work you do as part of a much bigger picture! The box you just loaded on to the truck is very important to the person who will receive it--it may change their lives The person you are speaking to on the phone has their own set of issues, values, etc and deserves as much respect as you do--they may tell someone about how you treated them.

LIAM 004 – We do not Decide our Futures, We Decide our Habits Sep 19, 2014

Show notes

In Episode #4 of the Life Is A Marathon show, I explore the idea that we really do not decide our futures. Rather, we decide our habits, and our habits determine our futures. If we want to change who and what we are, we must change our habits. If we want excellence, we must develop habits that move us towards excellence. People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures. — F. Matthias Alexander We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. – Aristotle Show outline: Foundational questions: What do you want to be? Who do you want to be? What do you want your future life to look, feel, taste and smell like? What did your childhood smell like? - Michael O'Neal - Soloprenuer Hour Today's topic: People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures. Who we are,right now is the sum of all of our thoughts and actions We think about 50,000 thoughts per day 90% of which are repetitive 70% of which are negative "How I wound up where I was" No plan, just living day-to-day doing the same things, thinking the same thoughts as yesterday Our habits control us more than we think Watching TV Same weekend routines Eating the same meals Always going to the same restaurants Seeking the comfortable, familiar things Unless we change our behaviors/thoughts, we will never change Live intentionally Get out of your comfort zone by doing something different, challenging Have goals and plans for your life Evaluate every thought/action on whether it moves you closer to or farther away from your goal Will you join me on this journey of change, creativity, transformation? I want people to see you a year from now and say "Wow, you've really changed! I like it! What did you do?" We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. – Aristotle Let's build into our lives the habits that will make us successful! Mentioned in this show: Michael O'Neal - The Solopreneur Hour Bruce Van Horn - LifeThought: People don’t decide their futures, they decide their habits Run For Fun Cruise You CAN Go the Distance! - Bruce Van Horn Subscription/Social Links: Subscribe on iTunes! Subscribe on Stitcher Radio! LIAM on Twitter: @LifeIs262 LIAM on Facebook / LifeIsAMarathon Subscribe to the LIAM Mailing List www.BruceVanHorn.com Bruce Van Horn on Twitter Bruce Van Horn on Facebook Please share this episode with your friends and followers. You may even embed a copy of the show directly on your website!

LIAM 003 – Man’s Search for Meaning – What do we do when life doesn’t go as expected? Sep 18, 2014

Show notes

In Episode #3 of the Life Is A Marathon show, I review the book "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl, taking the main points and applying them to our current lives. We explore the hard question many of us face at times in our lives: "What do we do when life doesn't go as expected?" When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. – Viktor Frankl He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how. – Friedrich Nietzsche Show outline: Correction/Clarification of "Read, Fire, Aim" illustration This is an example of making a mistake, being able to realign and fire again! "When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." – Viktor Frankl Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl This book needs to be on everyone's "must read" list! Overview of the book Horrible treatment of the prisoners No longer called by names, just their numbers What does one do when you have nothing left to lose but your ridiculously naked body? What happens when life does not turn out or give you what you expected it to? What do you do when you cannot control other people or circumstances? How do you face significant loss or setbacks in life? You must ask different questions What does life expect from me? What must I do to survive today? It's easier to be the "victim," to point fingers and blame than it is to take responsibility for your attitude You are 100% responsible for your thoughts and attitude E + R = O Peace comes when we let go how we think the world should be and find the truth of what is. Acceptance of your life as it is now is the key to peace Doesn't mean you don't work to change it Survivors are more "other" focused than they are "me" focused Focusing on helping and encouraging others strengthens yourself Believe that you are part of something bigger than you and your own desires Those who survived were not the strongest, meanest. They were the ones with a big WHY! "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." – Friedrich Nietzsche Mentioned in this show: Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl Bruce's reading list: www.brucevanhorn.com/reading-list Kent Julian - Speaking Coach Run For Fun Cruise You CAN Go the Distance! - Bruce Van Horn Subscription/Social Links: Subscribe on iTunes! Subscribe on Stitcher Radio! LIAM on Twitter: @LifeIs262 LIAM on Facebook / LifeIsAMarathon Subscribe to the LIAM Mailing List www.BruceVanHorn.com Bruce Van Horn on Twitter Bruce Van Horn on Facebook Please share this episode with your friends and followers. You may even embed a copy of the show directly on your website!

LIAM 002 – The Starting Line Sep 15, 2014

Show notes

In Episode #2 of the Life Is A Marathon show, I discuss the metaphor of being at the starting line of something new--it could be a race, a life change, starting a new business, taking classes to improve yourself--whatever it is, starting lines are exciting, but scary places. I talk about some of the reasons many people never approach the starting lines in their lives and I give you some ways to move passed those self-imposed road-blocks. The primary reason for underachievement is that people don't decide to be successful. - Brian Tracy Do one thing every day that scares you. - Eleanor Roosevelt Show outline: The Starting Line No matter how old you are or what you've experienced, your life is just beginning People don't become successful because they don't decide to be - Brian Tracy The hardest part of starting something is deciding to do it and taking the first step If you want to achieve what you've never achieved before, you need to do things you've never done before. You have more time in your day than you think you do How much time do you waste watching TV, surfing the net or social media? Brian Tracy's E-to-E ratio says: Unsuccessful people spend most of their free time on entertainment, while successful people spend most of their free time on education Work 8 hours, sleep 8 hours, still leaves another 8 Fastest climb of Mt. Everest: Pem Dorjee (2004) 8:10 - leaving 15:50 left to enjoy the view Devoting even 30 minutes, or 1 hour per day to personal development can change your life! I know you're scared, do it scared Eleanor Roosevelt said you must do at least one thing a day that scares you Most fear is a fear of criticism, not failure - Napoleon Hill family and friends can be discouragers instead of encouragers Limiting beliefs are usually introduced by family and peer group bucket of crabs syndrome Surround yourself with people who are supportive Spend some time every single day listening to motivational content Know that you are going to make mistakes, have failures Let yourself off the hook right up front Mistakes and failures are all part of learning If you know this going into it, they won't be as upsetting to you and you can move on I'm nervous and know I'm going to make mistakes with this podcast I know I'll get better and build confidence with each episode I record Ready, fire, aim, fire again Love your life NOW Love, appreciate, and express gratitude for everything in your life right now Don't say "when I am, or when I have.. my life will be better" That is operating from lack, rather than abundance You are spending negative energy thinking about what you don't have You have everything you NEED right now! Your life will not BE great until you believe that your life IS great! Keep a victory log and success journal Look for those $.11 moments, the small victories Testimonial from Adam Crawford Mentioned in this show: Brian Tracy - www.briantracy.com Napoleon Hill - Think And Grow Rich Javier Sotomayor - World Record High Jump - YouTube Video BruceVanHorn.com - Discover your potential. Push yourself to the point of failure! Run For Fun Cruise - www.runforfuncruise.com Adam Chandler Crawford - www.chandlercrawford.com Adam Crawford's Facebook Message to Bruce Van Horn Subscription/Social Links: Subscribe on iTunes! Subscribe on Stitcher Radio! LIAM on Twitter: @LifeIs262 LIAM on Facebook / LifeIsAMarathon Subscribe to the LIAM Mailing List www.BruceVanHorn.com Bruce Van Horn on Twitter Bruce Van Horn on Facebook Please share this episode with your friends and followers. You may even embed a copy of the show directly on your website!

LIAM 001 – Introductions, Explanations, and Expectations Sep 14, 2014

Show notes

In Episode #1 of the Life Is A Marathon show, I introduce myself, give a bit of my background and talk about why I'm doing a podcast and what you can expect from it. I am so excited about starting the Life is a Marathon podcast. I've spent the last several months thinking, planning, and preparing for this show and I'm very excited about where this show is going to. Please listen as I explain what the show will be all about and what my long-range plans are for LifeIsAMarathon.com! The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. - Pablo Picasso What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family. - Mother Teresa Mentioned in this show: Dave Ramsey - www.daveramsey.com Darren Hardy - www.darrenhardy.com Chris LoCurto - www.chrislocurto.com JB Glossinger - www.morningcoach.com Subscription/Social Links: Subscribe on iTunes! Subscribe on Stitcher Radio! LIAM on Twitter: @LifeIs262 LIAM on Facebook / LifeIsAMarathon Subscribe to the LIAM Mailing List www.BruceVanHorn.com Bruce Van Horn on Twitter Bruce Van Horn on Facebook Please share this episode with your friends and followers. You may even embed a copy of the show directly on your website!

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