What does freedom look like to you? If your answer includes financial independence, then you’ll particularly enjoy this week’s conversation with FIRE (financial independence, retire early) legend, Bryce Leung, as part of our deep dive exploration into Fulfillment Concept #3: Finding Freedom. Bryce and I dig into the fundamental strategies of achieving and sustaining financial independence, such as the 4% rule, yield shield, cash cushion and geographic arbitrage. We also cover the softer, yet equally critical, side of things like the mental shift that has to take place when you transition from external structure and being told how to spend your time to internally-driving your purpose and daily activities. We talk about the tenuous balance involved in sacrificing present fulfillment for future fulfillment and we check in on life 10 years after retiring. As Bryce passionately describes, “Freedom never gets old, just like oxygen never gets old”. Plus, Bryce answers some questions from listeners!

And, of course, we build Bryce's equation: 15wr + 10a + 7LMS + 0(→7)s

This month we’re kicking off our deep dive exploration into Fulfillment Concept #3: Finding Freedom. As my first guest for this topic, I’m thrilled to welcome entrepreneur and star of the TV series “Trailer Travels”, Alicia Simms! Together we talk about freedom in work, location freedom and adjusting to less (working less, having less, spending less). And of course we talk about RV living and travel.

We also touch on how time is our most precious asset and how the changes you make don’t need to be dramatic. “Small ripples can lead to big waves”, as Alicia says. You don’t have to disrupt everything you know; just make little changes that move the needle towards the direction you want to be heading.

Plus, we build Alicia's equation: 14pp + 6e + 5W + 7f + 3(→7)r + 14s + 7tv + T + ss

Are your beliefs limiting your opportunities for fulfillment? In this episode, we take a deep dive into challenging our unconscious beliefs, aligning our behaviors to our authentic values, adopting a growth mindset, inviting more gratitude and generally reshaping any thought patterns and social constructs that may be holding us back. It’s time to question everything!

Our month-long deep dive into Fulfillment Concept #2: Rewiring Your Brain continues with this inspiring guest episode featuring the incredible Dionne Nicholls-Germain. Dionne refers to herself as a "Chief Forgiveness Officer" and teaches us about the life-changing empowerment that can come from making forgiveness a lifestyle. Her personal story of forgiveness is fascinating and strongly illustrates how choosing forgiveness can be a key that unlocks all sorts of remarkable opportunities for us. Together, we discuss how forgiveness is one of the highest forms of personal transformation. Dionne also explains to me the three different forms of forgiveness and how "reconciliation takes two people, but forgiveness only takes one".

Our conversation also touches on trading in perfectionism for a spirit of excellence, and why it's important to ensure our motivation is driven from our values and belief system rather than from a place of fear. Plus, it wouldn't be a rewiring your brain chat without digging into the topics of growth mindset and gratitude.

Finally, we build Dionne's equation: 28g + 7n + 7s + 7d + 7j + 7m + 3e + 5gr + 4f + 5P

It's worth noting that one piece of Dionne's equation is so unique to her that it might just have become my favourite equation element of all time. Listen to find out what it is!

This week I’m thrilled to welcome Brandon Epstein to the podcast to kick off our month-long deep dive into Fulfillment Concept #2: Rewiring Your Brain! Brandon is a world class mental performance coach who’s worked with numerous professional athletes, CEOs, and other high-achieving individuals, helping them reach their peak potential. In this episode, Brandon helps us walk through the process of rewiring our brain and reclaiming our energy through the specific steps of awareness, acceptance, surrender and transmutation.

I love how spiritual Brandon's work is and how it focuses on transforming negative energy into positive energy. This is much deeper than just positive self-talk. It’s about unearthing your self-limiting code, unpacking layers of subconscious beliefs and ultimately reclaiming your energy. It’s powerful stuff and I really appreciated the sense of calm, curiousness and acceptance that Brandon brings to our conversation.

Plus, we build Brandon's equation: 6C + 2fr + 6s + (F + 5f) + (1→7)n + 8c + 1sp + (0→1)a + T

As we wrap up our deep dive on Fulfillment Concept #1: Happiness vs. Fulfillment, I’m thrilled to welcome water woman, adventurer and ultra-endurance swimmer Catherine Breed to the podcast. Our conversation covers a breadth of topics from how the ocean is her safe space, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who support and inspire you, and breaking free from norms and limitations. As she says, “Whatever your pool, whatever your black line is that you’ve been following and not feeling fulfilled following it, maybe it’s time to go beyond that”.

Catherine reminds us that we get to do things. Not want to or have to, but get to. It’s a privilege. My favourite part of our conversation was after we’d built her equation and she realized she was fully living it. She describes how it’s not by chance and reminds us that fulfillment takes some effort, but it’s worth the work.

Of course, Catherine is an expert in the difference between happiness and fulfillment as it’s impossible to be happy every moment of a long-distance swim when you’re battling strong currents, white caps, frigid water, jellyfish and sharks. Yet as Catherine says, “my swims aren’t always fun or joyful, but they give me fulfillment”.

Together, we build Catherine's equation: 12ff + 7S + 4n + 5W + g + 7SL

How is fulfillment different from happiness? Why does that difference matter? In this episode, I take a deep dive into the research to help us better understand the distinction between happiness and fulfillment. As it turns out, there are 6 key differences! When it comes to building your best life, understanding the relationship between happiness and fulfillment is crucial because it encourages an important mind shift. Listen to learn more!

We're kicking off our deep dive for the month on Fulfillment Foundation Concept #1: Happiness vs. Fulfillment and I'm thrilled to have David Mead as our featured guest for this topic. David describes his purpose as "propelling people in their pursuit of a more meaningful human experience". What a perfect fit for our exploration into fulfillment!

David is the best-selling co-author of Find Your Why, along with Simon Sinek and Peter Docker. The book contains a thoughtfully written description of the difference between happiness and fulfillment, which we dig into together. David and I also discuss how to "make a life, not a living", tips for creating fulfillment in the present, and how spirituality and faith is connected to fulfillment. It's an insightful conversation!

Finally, we build David's equation: 7P + 5e + 10(→21)f + 6mr + 28p