“If you are going to change the world, it will be from leveraging your strengths; if you are going to achieve healthy relationships and inner peace, it will be from managing your weaknesses.”
   - Kyle Parton

  In this episode, we want get unpack the idea of stacking the deck in your favor in order to achieve your goals. In a game of cards, perhaps stacking the deck is frowned upon; however, to get where you want in life, this is incredible advice. 

  How do pro sports teams, elite military units, or life-saving surgical teams accomplish such feats? Simple: They all stack the deck. They each know and use their strengths and surround themselves with others who add to their deck. 

  This episode aims to get you in the right mindset to lean into your strengths and find an environment where those strengths are encouraged and your weaknesses can be covered by the strengths of another. No one can do it all, and we shouldn't have to. There is a world full of people out there who WANT to help you; you need only find them and ask.

“My comfort zone is like a little bubble around me, and I've pushed it in different directions and made it bigger and bigger until these objectives that seemed totally crazy eventually fall within the realm of the possible.”  - Alex Honnold

  In this episode, we wanted to talk about our comfort zones and how they can become stumbling blocks. We learn a bit about world record-setting free climber Alex Honnold, the science behind finding your proper "zone of arousal", also know as the Yerkes-Dodson Law (which translates into how and why we leave our comfort zones), and we hear some words from Denzel Washington on taking risks and falling forward. 

  You'll hear some reasons that often keep us in our comfort zone and then some beneficial mindsets that can help you overcome the stresses locking you inside. 
  

“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” 
                                                                                                                  – Edmund Burke

In this episode, We learn about Edmund Burke and the importance of failing often, and we hear from Alibaba founder, Jack Ma who thanks his many failures for his long-term success.

 We talk about how our mistakes, and the mistakes of others, are our biggest assets in the pursuit of our goals and in a fulfilling life. Understanding that learning from these mistakes and having a growth mindset can philosophically and biologically help us grow is important in our professional endeavors and in our relationships. 

No one has time to make every mistake there is to be made, and we shouldn't waste our time even if we did. Taking ownership of our mistakes and applying what we've learned from ourselves and others is the most direct way to improve our efforts and make our lives work for us.  We cannot let our failures or the fear of embarrassment stop us from trying.

  In this episode, we talk about that sensation where overwhelming thoughts and the presence of multiple decisions to make can cause an "Analysis Paralysis" where we get caught in this never-ending cycle of overthinking that prevents us from making a decision and, more importantly, making a MOVE. 

  We learn a little bit about Mark Twain. We talk about how prioritizing your tasks (The 80/20 principle way) can help you overcome that paralysis. I give you some personal examples of times I failed to prioritize tasks or think my goals through and what the outcome of those situations were, and also a positive example. 

  We also hear a speech from Mr. Himanshu Narang on sticking to it and moving towards your goals. 

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret to getting started is breaking your overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
                                                                                                                       - Mark Twain

In this episode, we discuss why it is important to identify and define our strengths and weaknesses, and HOW to do so. We learn a bit about Ralph Waldo Emerson in the process and cover a variety of personality and strength assessments.  We learn how to apply our strengths and adapt and overcomes our weaknesses. 

Stick around until episode 7 and we'll also cover how to "Stack the Deck" and compound your strengths and pick up new ones along the way. Understanding the information and support is out there is critical in defining and refining your strengths and weaknesses. Remember, this is the 21st century and we have access to so much incredible content and support. But we must approach our strengths and weaknesses with the right mindset in order to "Think and Grow Rich" ... A little throwback to Napoleon Hill you'll also find in this episode.

In today's episode, we talk about turning our dreams and ideas into concrete goals in such a way that they become 42% more likely to be achieved (This statistic comes from a study conducted by Dr. Gail Matthews at the Dominican University in California).  We discuss the application of motivation and discipline in order to achieve your goals and we learn a bit about Pablo Picasso.
 
  We also go over the SMART Method of identifying your goals and getting really specific about what you want in life.  We cover how to avoid making excuses and not allowing the brick walls we face to stop us and end with excerpts from a lecture given from Dr. Randy Pausch entitled "The Last Lecture: How to Achieve Your Childhood Dreams", delivered after his terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis at age 46. 

  If you're having trouble setting goals for yourself and following through, this is the place for you to be.

  Thank you,

  Be Humble and Stay Hungry

In this episode, we talk about identity, self-limiting beliefs and how to break those beliefs down using small wins and their compounding effects. Understanding your unique identity, how you perceive the world and why is important and can help you overcome many self-doubts.

In these first ten episodes, I wanted to focus more on some tips and tricks to help anyone who may be having trouble starting on their goals. Whether it’s because you were never exposed to certain principles or you’re overwhelmed by your thoughts, this is the place to be. 

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”  - Dr. Seuss

BLUF: This is the introduction to the podcast, a quick overview of myself and my life, and a more in-depth explanation of the purpose and intent of the show. If you find yourself bored, please feel free to skip to 24:23 for some incredible quotes or onto the next episode!

Welcome to "Making It Work": a show centered around the principal "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."  A glimpse at people in all different walks of life "Making It Work". Bob Ross Meets Bob the Builder; from happy little accidents to fixing broken things, we reflect on times when "good enough is more than enough". Whether it's paying off debt, improving your relationships, buying your first house, picking which school to go to, or starting a multi-million dollar business; everyone starts somewhere. 

Every day we're exposed to experiences (good and bad) which equip us with more knowledge, skills and confidence. The most important step though, is to TAKE the first step. This show aims to help you let go of whatever is holding you back and help you harness the lessons you've learned through your life experiences and the experiences of others to Make things work for you.