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Principled and Phenomenal Self Directed Education: Podcasts by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

The ‘Why, Whom, How, When, & Where’ of Listening to Podcasts

Podcasting is a phenomenal medium for entrepreneurs in so many ways that it stood out to me as an ideal ‘sequel’ post to last month’s focus on self directed education.

Over a decade ago, as the entrepreneurial, “E” pathway in America quietly criss-crossed with the “C” pathway ( Corporate ), thereby becoming more viable & available to the masses than it had been since the latter decades in the 19th century; in parallel, many new educational options emerged to enable us to constantly learn outside of a classroom’s credentialized learning environment:

  • Webinars
  • Networking & business development combined [ e.g., H7 Network ]
  • audio books [ Audible & others ]
  • Seminars [ usually in person ]
  • Blogging
  • Podcasting
  • E-books

We’ve become more blessed than ever before, since its crucially important to be constantly feeding yourself the very best ‘brain‘ food as you pursue your dreams, turn those ideas into actionable strategies, goals, & plans, and, of course, serve your clients/customers thereby solving their problems, challenges, roadblocks, & pain points.

Mr. Chris Hewitt spoke of “‘The 4 P’s of Podcasting’ : Permission; Personality; Passion; Profit.”

[ ClicktoTweet this; it’s catchy!: https://ctt.ac/dSJUe ]

Here’s the fantastic article from the spring of 2018 which discusses these 4 P’s in far greater detail:  How to Turn your Idea into an Audio Hit – it’s well worth reading.

Why should I listen to podcasts?

Building further on the foundation of those P’s , podcasts are:

 

  • Highly portable’ via any smart device that huge majorities of us carry everywhere.
  • Their content “seeps in” easier during more ‘mindless’ activities, like many household chores.
  • They’re easier to adopt and grow a lifelong learning mindset than sitting down to read.
  • A majority of hosts & their created/curated content is NOT taught in conventional schooling courses/curricula.

 

Where & When to listen?

From my own story, I encourage everyone to listen anywhere & anytime they possibly can; you might be surprised at the opportunities in ‘cracks’ of time that you’ve not thought of!

 

  • Grocery shopping & other errands
  • While driving
  • During solo meals
  • Household chores as a positive add-on ; replace mind numbing television with a podcast episode or three.
  • Working out

 

How might I listen?   I’m so ‘busy’ !?

 

That’s one of the oldest mantras you’ll hear, and likely have used many times; let’s toss it aside, since we all have had the exact same number of seconds, minutes, & hours in our days since the beginning of time.

Trust me in this:  If you bucket your day into what we might call ‘time investments‘; ‘time expenditures‘; and ‘time wasters‘, you’ll be able to find and/or create the time to answer this to your own satisfaction.

 

Whom should I listen to?  

The number of options are mind blowing!

 

  • Over 550,000 active shows
  • 18.5+ million episodes
  • 100+ languages

Source & all credit to:   https://www.podcastinsights.com/podcast-statistics/

 

Whom?  Part 2 : Top 10(+1) List

 

With that many options, it’s beyond clear that this post is only scratching the tiniest portion of the surface of what’s available.

Yet, I’m confident that each of these are well worth your time investment; please either listen to an episode from the below sample &/or subscribe right away. I heartily welcome your feedback, both on this post and/or through my social channels, after you’ve done so.

 

 

The Rich Dad Radio Show w/ Robert Kiyosaki

  • Jan 31 (2018) : Blockchain will Change Everything in Business ; July 4 (2018) : Find out How Financial Education Sets You Free

How I Built This w/ Guy Raz

  • June 25 (2018) : Lyft: John Zimmer ; March 26 (2018) : Atari & Chuck E. Cheese’s: Nolan Bushnell

Igniting Souls w/ Kary Oberbrunner

  • July 27 (2018) : Why podcasts grow your … (Jeff Brown interview) ; August 3 (2018) : Why your freedom, finances, & fulfillment … ( David Branderhorst interview )

The Go Giver w/ Bob Burg

  • 120 : My New Favorite Story ; 086 : Business is for Kids – JJ Ramberg

Entre Leadership

  • 267: Gary Kelly – Leading Through Tragedy ; 262 : Daymond John – Rise & Grind

Isaac Moorehouse

  • 138 : Bryan Caplan on The Case Against Education ; 128 : Robert Murphy on Austrian Business Cycle Theory

Success to Significance hosted by Rick Coplin **

  • StS035: How to be an Extraordinary, Life Centered Mentor ; StS001: Get Out Before They Carry You Out

** the podcast is on hiatus & will resume with season II

School Sucks

  • 567: Noah Tetzner – The Unschooler Podcast Star ; 550-51 : Blake Boles – What It Means to Be Educated

Our Modern Heritage

  • 023: The Importance of Soft Skills to Prepare for the Future ; 035: Kirstynn Evans – Starting a Business with Your Child

Conversations on Communications w/ Joel Kessel

  • 033: Let’s Not Lose Sight of Basic Fundamentals ; 028 : The Most Damaging Thing to a Child

Columbus Entrepreneurs

  • 026: Claire Coder of Aunt Flow ; 006: David Butcher , FlyBy Entrepreneurship

 

In short …

  • There are so many ways to be self educated; create & expand your lifelong learning culture & related habits.
  • Know of the 4 P’s to podcasting.
  • The answers to the Why, When, & Where Q’s are more valuable than How.
  • Feel welcome to start, or grow, your podcasting habit by listening in to any of the ten/10 recommended hosts & sample episodes above.

________

Thank YOU for reading!

It’s ‘Back to School’ … Self-Education never went, or goes, on Vacation by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

Why your education always should be in a ‘state of beta’

From coast to coast, and border to border, parents & students across America have been singing a familiar refrain:

What’s that, you ask?

Back to school season!

The mompreneurs amongst us, family businesses who hire their children, and businesses, online & off, which cater to this century plus old tradition are a-buzz; credit card terminals are working overtime, banks & credit unions are aflutter, & certain aisles at your favorite stores are packed with humanity!

Yet, we need to put up a BIG stop sign.

Why?!

Because, education never went, or goes, on vacation, and is ALWAYS in season. [ ClicktoTweet this : https://ctt.ac/86sc7 ]

Are education & school the same, or are they, in fact, different?   

Different.

History & etymology show us:

School’s definition

Education’s is clearly not the same:  Click here to see.

Are education & entrepreneurship inseparable?  How, if at all, does school fit in?

I put forth that they are. And, perhaps.

When you are running a business of any size, in any industry, and with any amount of experience, you should be constantly educating yourself. No one owner or founder knows anywhere close to what she needs at any given time. The world of entrepreneurship is not nearly as risky as it once was ( the internet’s ‘leveling effect’ deeply disrupted this old paradigm ), yet you’ll not prosper if you operate your business like an employee, or as a consumer.

Does education need to take place in a classroom?

No.

Again, the internet’s massive scale, & breadth is the answer to the ‘why?’ question that might be on your lips.

While discussions & rational discourse have, are, and will continue in the future on this subjective topic, this blog takes the position that these two ‘E”s are tightly intertwined, therefore, the requirement for school’s classrooms, and the credentials they offer, isn’t necessary.

What if I’ve taken a vacation from education?    

That’s not a dis qualifier; you may rest easy.

MANY citizens have, and a great deal of them didn’t know any better; they fell into their familiar zones, a metaphysical stage that led them to cling to nostalgia, conventional ‘wisdom’, and assumptions that no longer hold true.

The vacation(s), you have taken, or are presently on should now come to an end. And, you’ll want, and truly should, become a student again. This time, a lifelong one.

Pursue information that, with discernment and application over time, undergoes a metamorphosis into knowledge. Your business’ clients/customers, staff ( if any ), and your own future self will thank you.

What kind of question(s) should I ask about my self-education?  

Start with these, once you’ve returned from vacation:

  1. Do I have a ‘line item’ in my budget for investment ( it’s NOT spending, or an expense. ) ?

  2. Whether ‘yes’ , or ‘no’, to #1, how much $ should I put aside?

  3. What resources are out there?

  4. When & where can I access them?

  5. How can I measure progress?

Be the example ( *whether you have staff, or if you’re a solo-preneur )

There’s really no difference.

If you’re on your own, a case can be made that your self education is even more valuable, that is, unless you have a volunteer ‘board’ of advisors/mentors to lean on.

Yet, if you already delegate to others, wish to replicate yourself in someone else  ( ‘replacement driven’ leadership – click HERE ), and/or are in the process of systematizing your business **, you should always expect more of yourself; diving in deeply to the education(al) “pool” will inspire those whom you want to lead to follow you, voluntarily & with a spring in their step.

( ** unclear what this means?  Here’s a great starting point. )

Should I be requiring school(‘ing’)?  

You’ve arrived! Your profits are growing, your cash flow is strong; expansion of your physical space is afoot; more product is shipping than ever before; And, you need more staff to keep up: Yesterday. Now.

Let’s be clear:  Putting a ‘credentialized collar’ on this process, in the modern (circa 2006) ‘Conceptual Age’ is a big step backwards in time to a past era.

Listen & watch for signs of those whom are self educated & have come home from their vacation(s).

You’ll recognize them:   When you interview, review their application , or ask questions at an event, they’ll excitedly talk about …

 

… Books that they love & have, or are, read(ing).

….. Networking events that they’ve attended, or are a part of.

……. Podcasts that they listen to, or about their Audible subscription.

………. The speaker whom they heard live, on a webinar, or via YouTube/Vimeo.

 

Seek out these people: They are your difference makers!

In short …

Education & school are unique concepts.

A great many of us in business were, or are still  are, on vacation from education.

Entrepreneurship & education are inter-linked.

Self leadership & self education are very similar.

Bring on those who are educating themselves & don’t require credentials as you grow & prosper in your business ventures.

________

Thank YOU for reading!

5 Ways to Make 2015 Your Best Year Yet! by @SandraDawes

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Charles Kettering quote for SOI

by Sandra Dawes | Featured Contributor 

Tis the season to wrap up the year coming to an end and get ready for a brand new one! I love the New Year because I always feel like it’s a fresh start, a clean slate to do things differently, better, than the year before. Please feel free to share your tips for a fabulous New Year in the comments below. Here are my 5 suggestions to make 2015 the best year yet.

1. Celebrate your accomplishments

This is something that I started to do several years ago. On New Year’s Eve, before any festivities begin, I grab my journal and list all of the things that I accomplished during the current year. They don’t all have to be monumental goals, but you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by all that you’ve done, even if you think you didn’t have such a stellar year.

2. Review what worked and what didn’t

We’ve all heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results. If we don’t take the time to look at the systems and strategies that worked and evaluate the ones that didn’t we might end up making the same mistakes again next year. Don’t beat yourself up about the failures, but do learn from them. What can you do differently next time?

3. Identify at least 3 things you intend to accomplish in the New Year

What would an article about the New Year be without talking about setting goals? They don’t all have to be about your business. Throw some personal goals in the mix too. When we’re at our best, we do our best. Achieving personal goals can help you be more effective in your business as well so don’t forget to take care of yourself when setting your intentions for 2015.

4. Choose at least one skill to upgrade or learn

If we’re not learning, we’re not growing. I’m a firm believer and strong supporter of continuing education. We can never possibly know all there is to know, even in areas that we’ve mastered. Whether it has to do with your business or not, learning a new skill or learning how to do something you already know in a different way, expands our minds and opens us up to new opportunities that we might not have known existed otherwise. My 9 year-old lab/border collie mix is a constant reminder that you’re never too old to learn and you actually can teach an old dog new tricks!  😉

5. Create a 90-day action plan

If you work out regularly, I’m sure you’ve witnessed the popularity of your local work out spot in January and the decline in attendance as we head into February. It’s why I no longer believe in New Year’s Resolutions. We can’t just say we’re going to start doing, or stop doing something; we have to figure out how we’re going to do it. In addition to that, we have to make sure we’re committed to our goals and make sure that it’s a goal that is important to us, and not something someone else wants us to do. The action plan doesn’t have to be perfect, but it definitely helps to have one. If you want to increase the effectiveness of the plan, share it with someone you know will hold you accountable.

The end of the year can be a bittersweet time for many of us. It’s easy to focus on the things that didn’t go the way we hoped or expected rather than on the things that worked out, sometimes even better than we had planned. Whether this year was phenomenal or lackluster, celebrate the fact that you survived another year and know that the coming year can always be better.

May 2015 be a year filled with great health, peace and prosperity! ♥

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Sandra Dawes, Founder, Life Coach, Embrace Your DestinySandra Dawes is a recovering control freak and excuse maker, as well as founder of Embrace Your Destiny, her life coaching practice. Her work involves teaching women how to stop making arguing for their limitations so that they can create the life that they want. Sandra’s inspiration to help others in this area comes from her own journey and experiences in dealing with the heartbreak of losing her father. She published her first book Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve, a story that outlines her personal journey, in November 2013.

In her down time, Sandra loves to read, do yoga and spend time with her partner Satnam and their dog Lulu. For more information on what she does, visit www.embraceyourdestiny.ca.