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Closing The 18 Inch Gap Podcast

Closing The 18 Inch Gap Podcast

Written by: Edwin Soler
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This is a podcast based on the book titled Closing the 18-Inch Gap by Edwin Soler. This is a book that helps you discover the bloodspots in your mindset so that you can close your 18-inch gap which is the distance between your mind and your heart. Your heart desires to accomplish big dreams and lofty goals but your mind says you cannot do it for whatever reasons there may be. I help you close the gap so you can achieve your dreams and goals.2025 Careers Economics Personal Success Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • EP 126: The Messy Middle, Where Dreams Thrive or Die

    EP 126: The Messy Middle, Where Dreams Thrive or Die
    Jul 8 2026
    Every journey has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning is exciting. It's where dreams are born. Energy is high. Hope is overflowing. You can't stop talking about where you're going because you can already see it in your mind. The end is exciting too. It's where victories are celebrated, sacrifices finally make sense, and people suddenly notice all the work they never saw. But almost no one talks about the place in between. The messy middle. The place where the excitement fades, the finish line is nowhere in sight, and every step feels heavier than the last. It's the place where motivation goes silent. Where doubt gets loud. Where progress feels invisible. Where quitting starts sounding reasonable. It's the halfway point. Too far to go back... but not close enough to see the finish. This is where most dreams are abandoned—not because people weren't talented enough, smart enough, or capable enough. They simply got stuck in the middle. Every dreamer will arrive here. Every entrepreneur. Every student. Every parent. Every creator. Every person chasing something bigger than themselves. The question isn't whether you'll face the messy middle. The question is... Who will you become when you get there? Today, I want to be your dream realization partner. Not someone who simply cheers from the sidelines, but someone who reminds you why you started, helps you keep your perspective, and walks beside you through the hardest part of the journey. Because your dream deserves more than a passionate beginning. It deserves a powerful ending. Today I'm going to share fifteen ways to push through the messy middle so your dream has every opportunity to cross the finish line. After all... You've already come this far. Why would you stop now? • Quote of the week: "The middle is messy, but it's also where the magic happens. If we believe in ourselves, if we reach out together, and if we lean into a little bit of that grace... we can get through this." — Brené Brown Fifteen ways to push through the messy middle: 1. Remember Your "Why" More Than Your "How": When the road gets difficult, people obsess over how they're going to make it instead of remembering why they started. 2. Stop Measuring Distance and Start Measuring Progress: The messy middle feels exhausting because you're focused on how much is left instead of how far you've already come. 3. Fall in Love With Consistency Instead of Motivation: Motivation is emotional. Discipline is dependable. Don't wait until you feel inspired—show up because that's who you've decided to become. 4. Break the Mountain Into Pebbles: Looking at the whole journey can feel overwhelming. Instead of climbing the entire mountain today, simply take the next step. 5. Stop Comparing Your Chapter Five to Someone Else's Chapter Twenty: Comparison steals energy you'll never get back. You don't know what battles others fought to get where they are. 6. Let Failure Become Your Teacher: Every setback contains information. Instead of asking, "Why did this happen to me?" ask, "What is this trying to teach me?" 7. Protect Your Mind: Not every opinion deserves access to your dream. Guard what you watch, what you listen to, and who speaks into your life. 8. Borrow Belief Until Yours Returns: There will be days when your confidence disappears. That's why mentors, friends, books, podcasts, and faith matter. 9. Give Yourself Permission to Rest Without Quitting: Rest is not surrender. Recovery prepares you to continue the race. Don't confuse slowing down with giving up—they are completely different decisions. 10. Visualize the Finish Line: Spend a few minutes every day imagining what life will feel like when your dream becomes reality. 11. Become the Person Your Dream Requires: Sometimes the dream isn't waiting on better circumstances. It's waiting on a better version of you. 12. Expect Resistance: Every meaningful dream attracts obstacles. Resistance isn't evidence you're on the wrong path; it's often confirmation you're pursuing something worthwhile. 13. Keep Showing Up When Nobody Is Watching: The middle is lonely because applause usually comes at the end. Learn to work without recognition. 14. Remember That Feelings Are Temporary: Some mornings you'll feel unstoppable. Other mornings you'll question everything. Don't let temporary emotions make permanent decisions. 15. Refuse to Leave Your Dream Half Built: Imagine reaching the end of your life wondering, "What if I had just kept going?" That question is far heavier than today's struggle. The messy middle isn't your punishment. It's your proving ground. It's where dreams stop being exciting ideas and become lifelong realities. It's where passion matures into perseverance. Where wishing becomes working. Where potential becomes purpose. Most people will never experience the life they imagined because they stopped in the middle. Don't let that be your story. Your future is waiting on the other side...
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    34 mins
  • EP 125: Every Piece Matters- What Chess Can Teach You About Realizing Your Dreams

    EP 125: Every Piece Matters- What Chess Can Teach You About Realizing Your Dreams
    Jun 30 2026
    There is something fascinating about a chessboard. Sixty-four squares. Thirty-two pieces. Endless possibilities. Most people only notice the king when the game is over. They celebrate the queen because she's powerful. They admire the knights because they make impossible moves. But very few people stop to appreciate the pawn. That's exactly how people treat themselves. They compare their journey to someone else's highlight reel. They believe they don't matter because they don't feel important yet. They underestimate what they bring to the board simply because they haven't reached the other side of it. As your Dream Realization Partner, I've discovered something that changes everything. Dreams don't collapse because people lack talent. Dreams collapse because people underestimate their value. Every piece on the board has a purpose. Every move matters. Every sacrifice has meaning. Every position contributes to victory. And maybe... Just maybe... You've been trying to become someone else when all along your greatest strength has been becoming exactly who you were designed to be. Let's play. • Quote of the week: "Life is like a game of chess, in which there are an infinite number of complex moves possible. The choice is open, but the move made contains within it all future moves." — Shelley Smith The pieces on the chess board and how they can speak to your journey to your dream path: The Pawn – The Power of Small Beginnings The pawn is considered the weakest piece on the board, and because of that, it is often overlooked. People see its limitations before they recognize its possibilities. Isn't that exactly what happens to so many dreamers? We convince ourselves that because our first step is small, it must not matter. Yet nearly every meaningful journey begins with one humble move. The Knight – The Courage to Think Differently The knight is fascinating because it refuses to move like everyone else. While every other piece follows predictable paths, the knight surprises everyone by moving in an entirely different pattern. It teaches us that breakthroughs often come from unconventional thinking instead of conventional behavior. Sometimes your greatest advantage is that you don't fit the mold. The Bishop – The Power of Vision The bishop travels diagonally, seeing opportunities others often miss. It reminds us that vision isn't just about seeing what's directly ahead; it's about recognizing possibilities hidden beneath the surface. Vision allows us to connect today's decisions with tomorrow's destination. The Rook – The Strength of Stability The rook is powerful because it is dependable. It doesn't rely on flashy movements or emotional decisions. It moves with confidence, direction, and purpose. It reminds us that sustainable success is built on consistency rather than excitement. The Queen – Maximizing Your Gifts The queen is the most powerful piece because she has incredible freedom. She can move in multiple directions and influence nearly every area of the board. But her power isn't random—it is purposeful. She represents fully developed potential operating with confidence. The King – Protect What Matters Most Ironically, the king is not the strongest piece on the board. He moves slowly. He possesses limited mobility. Yet the entire game revolves around protecting him because without the king, everything else becomes meaningless. Life works the same way. Maybe today you feel like a pawn. Maybe you're learning to think like a knight. Maybe you're rediscovering your vision like a bishop. Maybe you're becoming dependable like a rook. Maybe you're finally stepping into your queen-level potential. Or maybe life is reminding you to protect your king. Whatever piece best describes you today, remember this... You are not on the board by accident. Every season has purpose. Every move carries meaning. Every setback teaches strategy. Every sacrifice prepares victory. And every dream worth pursuing requires every piece working together. I'm not here to play your game for you. I'm here to walk beside you as your Dream Realization Partner, helping you close the eighteen-inch gap between your head and your heart so you can stop admiring the life you were meant to live and finally start living it. Your next move is waiting. The only question is... Will you make it? If this resonated with you then please reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat. It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough. If you want to take me up on this special offer then simply send me an email to edwin@edwinsoler.com It's that easy. I'll be in touch with you shortly afterwards. I can't wait to hear from you! This episode was sponsored by my book Closing the 18-inch Gap and is available on Amazon. To find it faster, simply go to edwinsoler.com/book. That will take you to the book page where you can click on the Amazon logo and order your ...
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    30 mins
  • EP 124: The Man That Sang To No One- A True Story

    EP 124: The Man That Sang To No One- A True Story
    Jun 23 2026
    Last week I sent an email out about a memory that resurfaced after many years. After I sent the email, the message still stuck with me and will not leave me so I decided to expand on this in this podcast episode and dive deeper into this message. A memory I have carried a long time resurfaced again this week. I thought about this man many times before but this time it was different. When I met my wife, and before we became engaged, I was invited to go with her and her family to her birthplace in Ciudad Juárez in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. It was a beautiful place at that time. This was long before the notorious cartel wars broke out. This place is literally just a stone's throw away from El Paso, Texas in the US. There are parts of a highway that you drive down where the country of Mexico is separated by simply a very tall fence. You're so close you could have a conversation with someone on their side if you wanted to, or at least if you were allowed. Back then the city was very vibrant, beautiful and active. There were many restaurants because what better thing to bring people together than food. One night we had dinner at a very famous restaurant not knowing that three years later we would be at the same restaurant where we would celebrate our rehearsal dinner, the day before our wedding. What struck me on this particular night as I was having dinner with my future wife and all of her family was a man on a stage. There were a few musicians and him singing his heart out. What struck me was what he would say at the end of every single song: "thank you, thank you everyone for all your applauses". But here's the thing, absolutely no one was applauding! Not. One. Single. Person. The only reason I even paid attention to him was because of what he kept saying about people applauding. I thought he was crazy. But what he was doing was teaching me a lesson that would take a long time to understand. That was over 25 years ago! Yet that memory stayed with me and then it clicked this weekend. Let me explain, because there's a lesson in this. That man kept singing and singing no matter whether anyone was applauding or not. He still showed up even if no one listened, he didn't care that he was rejected, or anything else. He still took the stage and sang. What about you? What stage are you avoiding? What is keeping you from making your dreams come true? Are you waiting for applause, approval, permission? Will you be willing to sing on stage even when no one applauds you? The truth of the matter is that: • No one will applaud you • No one will notice you • No one will listen to you • No one will care I know that sounds harsh but it's the truth. It's the reality. But here's the one thing you have to remember. If you stay on the stage long enough and keep singing or doing what it is that you dream so much about and push through, then it's just a matter of time before: • People will start applauding you • They will start noticing you • They will listen to you, and they will care But you have to be willing to get on stage and do it first! You have to be willing to pay the price of persistence, isolation, frustration, and much more. That's all part of the growth process. Too often people seek stages for approval and give up way, way too early. I'm talking about months or something just even weeks of trying. But let me tell you today that anyone you see succeed has been at it for years, perhaps even decades. There is no such thing as an overnight success. Any overnight success you're seeing is the fruit of someone working hard for years and years suddenly reached the top and became notice. But behind that success is tremendous amount of work, paying, overcoming many beliefs and so much more. What's your stage? Who are you trying to reach? What are your dreams, where are they? While I cannot answer this question for you, the stage is waiting for you. What stage is that? Whatever you decide that to be! It could be speaking, podcasting, writing a book, creating music, standing up for a worthy cause you believe in and so many more things. But the stage is yours. Jump on it and sing your heart out! It doesn't matter that no one notices, cares, or even applauds you. Because at the end of the day, no one ever will if you don't get on the stage to begin with. I'm Edwin Soler, your dream realization partner and this is the closing the 18-inch gap podcast. "I help professionals uncover the beliefs keeping them trapped in unfulfilling lives, so they can finally take courageous action toward the dreams they've put on hold and finally live a life of their choosing." So, let's dive into The Man That Sang To No One- A True Story More on the other side. • Quote of the week: "A person of vision sees 'something' in the nothing that everyone else ignored because they were convinced of its nothingness." ― Craig D. Lounsbrough...
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    31 mins
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