The Growth Guide: Self-Improvement | Greatness | Impact | Creators | FI

Latest Episodes:

Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life with Nir Eyal Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Today's guest is Nir Eyal, an investor, keynote speaker, and author. He writes, gives advice, and teaches about how business, technology, and psychology all work together. He has been a lecturer in marketing at both the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford in the past. His books have resonated with readers worldwide, selling over 1 million copies in over 30 languages. He joined us today to talk about his book, ‘Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life.’

Nir delves into the psychology behind distraction, emphasizing techniques to break free from the pull of urgent and easy tasks and identify the emotions driving these distractions. He shares insights on managing email effectively, making time for family and friends, and transitioning from a to-do list mentality to a time-boxing mentality.

We also discuss mastering internal triggers, the concept of ego depletion, and the importance of mindset and self-perception. With practical advice and thought-provoking insights, this episode is a deep dive into understanding and overcoming distractions to achieve true focus and productivity.

[07.20] Writing – Starting the conversation, Nir explains how he came to write his book, ‘Indistractable.’

[13.00] Traction – Traction is any action that pulls you towards what you plan to do.

[20.20] Motivation – Motivation is all about the desire to escape discomfort.

[25.00] Quitting – We discuss the reasons why people quit the things they want to achieve.

[29.08] 10-minute rule – Nir explains the 10-minute rule and how we can use it to stay focused.

[36.05] Money and time – Money and time are how you understand the values of someone.

[43.00] Time and you – You can always make money, but not time because it’s not renewable.

[50.00] Emails – Nir talks about the time people waste on emails that they don’t need to be concerned with.

[01.00.00] Money at stake – We discuss how money at stake can motivate you to achieve things.

Resources

Connect with Nir

Website - nirandfar.com
Twitter - twitter.com/nireyal
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/nireyal
Instagram - instagram.com/neyal99

Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal
amazon.com/Indistractable-Control-Your-Attention-Choose/dp/194883653X

Save Smart Now for the Future you Want with Anne Lester Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

This episode features Anne Lester, a media commentator and speaker who’s on a mission to help Americans of all walks of life to achieve a safe and secure retirement. Hailed as a “pioneer and innovator” by the esteemed financial services company Morningstar,Anne has worked on all aspects of retirement for the past thirty years. Most recently, she spent fifteen years as head of retirement solutions for JPMorgan Asset Management, where she traveled the country and spoke to tens of thousands of investors. She is a regular contributor on an array of retirement issues for CNBC, Bloomberg TV, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and countless industry publications.

Anne joined us today to talk about her new book, ‘Your Best Financial Life: Save Smart Now for the Future You Want.’

Anne shares her experience of overcoming a significant financial setback and how it led her to understand the crucial link between personal behavior and financial decisions. The discussion delves into the changing financial landscape for different generations, as well as practical advice on managing cash flow, debt, and investing.

Anne’s insights on emergency funds, savings strategies, and the impact of social media and the internet on spending habits provide valuable guidance for listeners aiming to build wealth and make informed financial decisions.

[06.46] The change – Starting the conversation, we discuss the huge lifestyle differences between boomers and Gen Z.

[12.20] Making mistakes – Anne explains why people are afraid of making mistakes nowadays.

[18.01] Compounding – When you save money, it takes time to see the effects that it's building.

[25.20] Buy now, pay later – We discuss why the concept of ‘buy now, pay later’ is dangerous.

[30.19] Credit cards – How people spend an enormous amount of money with credit cards rather than cash.

[35.24] Subscription audit – The importance of doing a subscription audit.

[41.58] Heart attack chart – A chart full of numbers based on your salary and age describing how many times your current income you should have saved, assuming you are retiring at the age of 65.

[53.24] Doing the right thing – What people should consider doing if they are not sure they have a disciplined process of investing.

[56.07] Commitment – Anne explains what we can do to increase and maintain our money-saving process.

[01.06.23] Can it be better – Things can go from bad to worse all the time, but in the end, it’s going to be okay, and you are going to navigate through life.

Resources

Connect with Anne

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/savesmartwanne/

Website - annelester.com/

Instagram - instagram.com/savesmartwanne/

Your Best Financial Life: Save Smart Now for the Future You Want

by Anne Lester

How to Live a Stress-Free Financial Life with Jared Dillian Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

Jared Dillian is a writer, author, and speaker. He is the editor of The Daily Dirtnap, a daily market newsletter for investment professionals. Jared has written for Bloomberg Opinion, Forbes, and TheStreet.com, and he now works as an investment strategist for Mauldin Economics. He has spoken at dozens of conferences and other events, proving that he is an excellent public speaker. Jared Dillian Money is Jared's personal finance venture, where he is a partner and developer of content.

He joined us today to talk about his brand new book, ‘No Worries: How to Live a Stress-Free Financial Life.’

We dive into strategies for minimizing financial stress and building wealth, with Jared emphasizing the importance of increasing income and making savvy financial decisions. From discussing the impact of college education on financial well-being to sharing effective investment strategies, this episode provides valuable insights into reducing financial stress.

Get ready for a conversation that will equip you with practical tools for improving your financial journey.

[07.13] The choice – Money is a choice. You are the one who decides how much money you are going to make.

[13.43] Debt or risk – We discuss how debt and risks cause financial stress.

[18.19] Volatility – Jared explains why humans are bad investors.

[21.25] Luck – Jared shares how he positioned himself to be exposed to luck and how it benefited him.

[26.12] The three Cs – The three Cs you must have to make investments are courage, capital, and conviction.

[30.06] Credit card debts – Jared explains why credit cards are a terrible way to borrow money.

[36.36] College education – We talk about the lack of knowledge in college students about modern world finances.

[41.00] The purpose – The purpose of a college education.

[46.00] Awesome portfolio – Jared explains the awesome portfolio.

[52.45] The balance – The importance of having a healthy relationship with money.

Resources

Connect with Jared

Website - http://jareddillianshow.com/

jareddillianmoney.com/

Twitter - twitter.com/dailydirtnap

Book by Jared Dillian
No Worries: How to live a stress-free financial life

Book by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets

Book by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
The Black Swan

Translating Book Knowledge into Action with Nick Hutchison Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

Nick Hutchison is the visionary force behind BookThinkers, a thriving 7-figure marketing agency bridging authors and readers. In just over 7 years, he has cultivated a platform reaching over 1,000,000 people monthly and hosts the top 2% global podcast, "BookThinkers: Life-Changing Books," featuring interviews with renowned authors like Grant Cardone and Lewis Howes.

He joined us today to talk about his book, ‘Rise of the Reader: Strategies for Mastering Your Reading Habits and Applying What You Learn.’

[03.00] Right book, right time – Starting the conversation, Nick explains how we can find time to read.

[08.27] Rewiring – We discuss how practicing gratitude can change your life.

[17.00] Memento mori – Nick explains why tattoos are important to him and what they represent to him.

[24.25] Books and actions – How the SMART goal framework can be applied to reading books.

[30.00] Quality and quantity – Nick explains why quantity is more important than quality for those who are going to start their reading journey.

[36.14] Repetition and retention – How repetition leads to retention.

[42.24] 25% rule – Nick explains the 25% rule and how spending time with yourself can benefit you in different ways.

[47.05] Attainable goals – We talk about the importance of developing attainable goals.

[57.50] Solving problems – How we can find answers to problems we face by reading books.

Resources

Connect with Nick

Website - nickhutch.com/

Website - http://www.bookthinkers.com/

Instagram - instagram.com/bookthinkers

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/bookthinkers/

Book by Nick Hutchison

Rise of the Reader: Strategies For Mastering Your Reading Habits and Applying What You Learn

Book by Timothy Ferriss

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

Book by Nick Velasquez

Learn, Improve, Master: How to Develop Any Skill and Excel at It

Rewire Your Brain for Calm, Clarity and Joy with Shauna Shapiro Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

Shauna Shapiro is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker, and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and self-compassion. In addition to her three highly acclaimed books that have been translated into sixteen languages, she is a professor at Santa Clara University and the author of over 150 papers. The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Oprah, NPR, and the American Psychologist have all published her work. Having discovered mindfulness during the darkest time of her life, it became the path to her healing. During her time in Thailand and Nepal, she immersed herself in the practice of mindfulness and came across ‘self-compassion.’ She joined us today to talk about her book, ‘Good Morning, I Love You: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain for Calm, Clarity, and Joy.’

[04.41] Mindfulness - Mindfulness isn't just about paying attention. It's about how you pay attention.

[08.19] Direction and destination – We talk about the unrealistic goals we’ve set for ourselves and why direction is more important than destination.

[15.23] Reacting and responding – Shauna explains how mindfulness can help us from a reactor to a responder.

[22.00] Attitude of kindness – The importance of being kind to ourselves.

[26.47] Self-compassion – The three pillars of self-compassion.

[30.21] Loving kindness – Loving kindness Meditation is about building our hearts’ capacity to love and learning to love other people and ourselves.

[37.06] Remorse and shame – Shauna explains the difference between healthy remorse and toxic shame.

[41.44] Emotional regulation – Emotional regulation and how it can control our reactions to something.

[47.00] Good morning, I love you – How the ‘Good morning, I love you’ practice helped Shauna when she was in a difficult phase of her life.

Resources

Connect with Shauna

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/shauna-shapiro-phd-35366273/

YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC271zr3rqJnlmJEL7BwK5dw

Website - drshaunashapiro.com/

Instagram - instagram.com/drshaunashapiro/

Book by Shauna Shapiro

Good Morning, I Love You: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain for Calm, Clarity, and Joy

Book by Shauna Shapiro

Good Morning, I Love You, Violet!

Book by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life

The Changing Game of Education with Ana Lorena Fabrega Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Ana Lorena Fábrega is an author, edupreneur, and Chief Evangelist at Synthesis. Growing up, she attended ten schools in seven different countries. She then earned her BS in Childhood Education and Special Education from New YorkUniversity and taught elementary school in New York, Boston, and Panama. Today, Ana Lorena writes online to over 250,000 readers about the promise of alternative education. Ana believes that our current education system operates under outdated ideologies, holding back children from learning what’s important.

Ana joined us today to talk about her book, ‘The Learning Game: Teaching Kids to Think for Themselves, Embrace Challenges, and Love Learning.’

As a former teacher and author, Ana brings a wealth of insight on the flaws within the traditional education system and the essential need to nurture children's inherent curiosity and passion for learning. Join us as we cover the impact of gamification, stoicism, and the pivotal role of parental involvement in shaping a more effective and fulfilling educational journey for children.

[06.06] The game of school – Starting the conversation, Ana explains the game of school and how it builds students without creativity and problem solving.

[14.10] Parenting – The best teacher children can have are their parents.

[20.32] System failing – Ana talks about how the current education system is failing students.

[30.00] Obsessions – We talk about how children are capable of doing incredible things if they are directed towards their passions and obsessions.

[37.00] Gamification – Ana explains how gamification can be applied to the education system to increase motivation to learn among children.

[44.15] Storytelling - Stories are one of the best ways to get children hooked on what they are going to be learning about.

[48.00] Questioning – Asking questions is one way of learning things. We talk about why children stop asking questions at certain ages.

[58.00] Boredom – The importance of boredom in the lives of children.

[01.01.25] Fragility of children – We dive into how overprotectiveness with the best intentions can make children fragile.

Resources

Connect with Ana

Website - afabrega.com/

Newsletter - https://afabrega.com/newsletter

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ana-lorena-fabrega-32775768/

Instagram - instagram.com/msfab_learninglab/

Twitter - twitter.com/anafabrega11

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ICCL5l_5iT8yDzSoYLUzQ

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@msfab_learninglab

Book by Ana Lorena Fábrega

The Learning Game: Teaching Kids to Think for Themselves, Embrace Challenge, and Love Learning

Book by Dr. Becky Kennedy

Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

Unpacking Work, Happiness, and Purpose with Simone Stolzoff Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

Simone Stolzoff is an author, designer, and workplace expert. A former design lead at the global innovation firm IDEO. His work has been featured in The New York Times, the Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and more. He joined us today to talk about his debut book, ‘The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work.’

In this episode, Simone discusses the evolving nature of work, the pursuit of fulfillment, and the delicate balance between career and personal life. We talk about challenging the traditional narrative of the dream job to exploring the impact of excessive work hours and the centralization of work as a source of identity. Join us as we navigate the complex dynamics of work, success, and personal growth in today's ever-changing landscape.

[06.23] Calvinism – Starting the conversation, Simone defines Calvinism and how it conspired with the trend of non-religious people around 30 years ago in the United States.

[12.21] Economic vs. humanist – We dive into the two arguments, economic and humanist, based on working hours.

[20.00] Work as meaning – We talk about the work as meaning movement back in the 1970s.

[28.43] The cycle – Simone talks about the work-life balance awareness of modern society and the importance of it.

[34.34] The Good Enough Job – When you are at work, do great work. When you are not working, leave it where it is.

[41.30] The values – You can easily lose who you are due to a sense of overachievement. Balance is important.

[50.51] Reclaiming life – Wrapping up today’s conversation, Simone shares who can use his book as a guide to have a healthy relationship with their work.

Resources

Connect with Simone

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/simone-stolzoff-5a16b648/

Twitter - twitter.com/SimoneStolzoff

Website - simonestolzoff.com/

The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work by Simone Stolzoff
amazon.com/Good-Enough-Job-Reclaiming-Life/dp/059353896X

Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing by Pete Davis
amazon.com/Dedicated-Case-Commitment-Infinite-Browsing/dp/1982140909

You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir by Maggie Smith
amazon.com/Could-Make-This-Place-Beautiful/dp/1982185856

The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel
amazon.com/Psychology-Money-Timeless-lessons-happiness/dp/0857197681

Understanding How to be Comfortable In Your Own Body with Brent Stevenson Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

Brent Stevenson is a physiotherapist in Vancouver, Canada, the co-owner of two multidisciplinary health clinics, the author of two books, and the father of three teenage children. Brent has a Bachelor of Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia, a Masters of Physiotherapy from McMaster University, and a long list of post-graduate training.

His first book titled ‘Why Things Hurt: Life Lessons From An Injury-prone Physical Therapist’ is a collection of meaningful stories and explanations about how our bodies actually work.

Brent joined us today to discuss his current book ‘Why We Hurt: Understanding How to Be Comfortable in Your Own Body’ which takes a deeper look at the physical manifestations of stress and anxiety in people’s bodies, and how your interpretation of your story when you reach out for help.

[07.17] Physiotherapy – Starting the conversation, Brent explains how physiotherapy helps your body habituate to hypersensitivity after an acute injury.

[13.22] Hypermobility – Pros and cons of hypermobility.

[21.00] Why physiotherapy? – We discuss the reasons why people are driving toward physiotherapy often.

[30.30] Migraines – Brent shares how he got his migraine under control by making lifestyle changes.

[40.06] The groundwork – How empathy, kindness, and meaningful explanations can help people understand physical discomforts.

[53.57] The injury - Brent shares the story of a painful injury involving his eye and how he dealt with the difficulties that came after the incident.

[01.08.09] The inner dialogue – How inner dialogues can help you achieve a comfortable life.

[01.16.18] Personal responsibility – Brent shares actions that people should be taking on their physical and mental health journeys to achieve their best lives.

[01.31.30] Be nice – You never know what other people are going through. Being kind and empathetic toward people is important.

Resources

Connect with Brent

Website - whythingshurt.com/

Website - www.EnvisionPhysio.com

Twitter - twitter.com/whythingshurt

Instagram - instagram.com/whythingshurt/

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/brentstevenson/

YouTube - youtube.com/envisionphysio

Facebook - facebook.com/whythingshurt

Book by Brent Stevenson
Why We Hurt: Understanding How To Be Comfortable In Your Own Body

Book by Daniel J. Siegel
Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation

Book by Daniel Kahneman
Thinking, Fast and Slow

Navigating the Challenges of Technology and Change with Edward D Hess Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Edward D. Hess is a Professor Emeritus of Business Administration at the University of Virginia and the author of 15 books, including “Hyper-Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change.” Professor Hess had 20 years of experience as a business executive before joining academia. His research has mostly concentrated on achieving exceptional organizational and individual performance, specifically in the areas of leadership enhancement, fostering high-performance cultures, and designing learning and innovation platforms that facilitate superior human behavioral performance.

Edward joined us today to talk about his new book, ‘OWN YOUR WORK JOURNEY!: The Path to Meaningful Work and Happiness in the Age of Smart Technology and Radical Change.’
Our discussion dives into the power of mindfulness and personal growth as we navigate an ever-changing world. From Edward’s personal experiences with meditation gurus to their inspiring journey of embracing ownership and continuous learning, this episode is filled with wisdom and practical strategies for personal transformation.

We also explore the challenges and potential solutions in the education system, the impact of technology on jobs, and the importance of embracing empathy and humility in our lives.

[07.07] Ownership – Starting the conversation, Professor Hess explains what we have to do to have a happy and meaningful life in an age full of smart technology.

[14.04] The business world – We talk about why we need to bring our best selves to the business world in the next 10 to 15 years.

[22.00] Accountability partner – The importance of having an accountability partner.

[30.10] Critical thinking - A critical thinker emerges when one actively engages in stress testing and actively seeks alternative answers, consciously striving to uncover knowledge that challenges their own beliefs.

[38.09] Meditation practice – Meditation practices to be successful in the modern world.

[44.35] Humility – Edward explains some practices for increasing humility.

[52.19] Emotional fragility – We discuss the possible reasons for not paying severe attention to critical thinking in the modern world.

[01.00.00] Education system – Emotional well-being and the education system of the USA.

[01.05.00] Technological development – We talk about why we need to have an open mind about technology and where it takes us.

Resources

Connect with Edward D. Hess

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/edward-hess-41638b16/

YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UCL_nwfCsETj_tEwGVjuxbJg

Website - edhess.org/

Twitter - twitter.com/HessEdward

OWN YOUR WORK JOURNEY!: The Path to Meaningful Work and Happiness in the Age of Smart Technology and Radical Change

By Edward D. Hess

amazon.com/OWN-YOUR-WORK-JOURNEY-Meaningful/dp/B0BW2SL7Q3

Finding Balance and Authenticity in Work and Family with Yael Schonbrun Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Today’s guest is Yael Schonbrun, a clinical psychologist, assistant professor at Brown University, co-host of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast, author and a parent of three.. In her research, private practice, writing, and podcasting, Yael uses science and Eastern philosophy to explore practices proven to foster healthier relationships between partners, parents and children, and between our most important life roles. Yael’s writing on work, parenting, and relationships has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Greater Good Science Center, Behavioral Scientist, Tricycle, among others.

She joined us today to talk about her book, ‘Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection.’

Yael shares insights on how to navigate the challenges of being a working parent and finding balance in multiple roles. We dive into the concept of benign neglect, the power of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and the benefits of having multiple roles in life.

Yael offers practical strategies for managing emotions, clarifying values, and making choices that align with our true priorities. Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical tools for personal and professional growth in this thought-provoking conversation.

[06.39] Diverse roles – Starting the conversation, we dive into how various roles in your life can help one another in certain situations of life.

[21.00] CBT vs. ACT – Yael explains one of the main differences between CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).

[30.00] Making the right choice - We will consistently strive for improvement in life. If we redirect our focus towards the process and adopt a less rigid attitude towards the outcomes, acknowledging that we lack control over them.

[35.06] Values – We talk about the importance of prioritizing your values, which are dedicated to different roles in your life.

[45.00] Workability of labels – How we can attach labels that can help us to serve and push us in ways that matter.

[51.51] Doing right & hard things – Yael talks about the Aristotelian idea of doing the right and hard things at the right time with the right people in the right way.

[01.03.01] Childcare – We dive into the importance of high-quality childcare, especially with our family members like grandparents.

[01.14.03] Pleasure – Pleasure and life roles.

Resources

Connect with Yeal
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/yael-schonbrun-a26a5229/

Twitter - twitter.com/DrYaelSchonbrun

Instagram - instagram.com/yaelschonbrun/

Website - https://relationalriffs.substack.com/

Book By Yael Schonbrun:

Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like Too Much)

Book by Viktor E. Frankl

Man's Search for Meaning

Book by Christy Lefteri