Building the Business of Your Dreams: Jason Leister Building the business of your dreams takes a certain amount of moxie, tempered with an outsized amount of patience, slathered in perseverance. It also requires a clear vision, something often not obtained until you begin moving forward without it. That last bit has been where I quagmire out the most. Due to my makeup, trainings, and all else, I easily get confused as to which way is the best way forward from all there is about me to pick from. But the vision has been getting clearer every year, with some dramatic gains in clarity taking place just in the past few months. It's funny. I actually started getting down about things back in the Fall. Yet "getting down" just isn't something I am normally concerned about. Regardless of results, I am consistently too focused on remaining proactive and trying to find the positive that has to be buried in the shit covered negative of whatever's ailing me most at any one time. But I got down a bit, nonetheless. Things weren't working out as planned. And the plan itself was not speaking to my heart as it once was. I realized I was in the beginnings of a Big Rework Well, nothing's actually changed all that much. It's been more of a refinement of ongoing processes, coupled with a fresh dedication to using a system I invested heavily in almost a year ago, yet never used. I even–accidentally–found a partner to help me implement and expand upon the use of that system, the purpose of which, I'll reveal in the coming months. I got out of that funk. And as I began pondering what to speak on next, the Jason Leister article below jumped out at me from the list. Very apropos for what I was recently experiencing. You'll experience it all too. So read what the man had to say on it all. You'll thank me one day for leading you to him. Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: Outsiders Journey and its associated podcasts and pieces are NOT the business of my dreams, although I love that my work helps the people who find it useful I'm JUST smart enough to run the entire behind the scenes machinery of getting my words to you I enjoy speaking and writing and intend to continue doing both for a long time to come, so don't fret if you're following along at home I burnt out–big time–back in the Fall I had to focus on directly earning money to live, rather than wait patiently for my online work to start paying my bills My offline job choices, necessary though they were, began crippling me and devouring the time I needed to keep building out this site (Catch-22) Trying to get paid to help people make a living online has been tough because I haven't yet pulled it off in any large way myself A new venture, based on a system I invested in, has recently turned into an opportunity My overenthusiasm has destroyed me in the past and I have to be careful of what I develop or say "yes" to My desire to build out my dreams led to the fireworks tent success/fiasco I endured over the summer The thing I just agreed to build with my new partner looks an awful lot like it IS the business of my dreams I finally was able to return to the gym, which is essential to my mental and physical wellness Craigslist has been my savior. I have now broken all contact with Craigslist. Committed to my future online and with my new partner. My latest Big Fight was whether to focus on marketing or self help as a business focus I'm going to do both! I forgot to mention in the podcast: I was an extra in a white supremacist flavored TV pilot, filmed right here in Kingston, NY! (My Jamaican-heritaged wife got a huge kick out of that!) In my twenties, I used to believe that "the big house on the hi...

Outsiders Journey Podcast

#45: Building The Business Of Your Dreams

Reinventing Yourself From the Outside In: Jason Leister Frequently, we're told to work on our Inner Selves to get the Outer World to look as we'd like. (That's a rough oversimplification of the advice but you get the point.) Jason Leister has a take on this that goes the other way around: Reinventing Yourself From The Outside In His article below clarifies what he means quite nicely. But I'll boil it down a hair for you: If you want to be something, start doing the actions of that thing. Excepting brain surgeons, and such, you're pretty much free to do some version of whatever professional title it is you'd like to own. There are plenty of jobs and careers that can get underway simply by starting from scratch, then figuring it out as you go. If nothing else, I've found that this is how most jobs go anyhow. You start with a basic understanding of the necessary skill sets and the rest...you wing! You learn as you go...BY DOING! In the job world, this is called being Thrown To The Wolves. Another approach: you learn to swim by sinking or swimming after you've been tossed in the lake. What's found inside Outsiders Journey is nothing more than example after example of this very lesson in action. This site is hogmungous! It has systems integrated left and right to do all it does, most of which you can't even see. And I've been reinventing it for years on end! It's had other systems come and go that were awesome but somehow became incongruous with my needs. It was all hard to locate, learn, and implement. But I did it. Many, many times over. And it all functioned well! But I didn't go to school to learn how to do any of it (excepting some AWAI courses I took awhile back). I just got frustrated (usually) and started reinventing the infuriating section...again and again and again. Point is, if you want to be something, start by physically acting as that thing and pick up steam as you go. A final viewpoint on all of this–and something I'm borrowing from Jason himself–is "Who Certifies The Certifiers?" For all you know, you're already the best person to do whatever it is you wish you could do. So just start doing it! Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: We're normally told to do the Inner Work to create the Outer World we desire. But the reverse can also be true. You become something by acting like it! Who certifies the certifiers? Just do it! You're free to reinvent yourself at any time. Just start. Outsiders Journey is my living, breathing version of my multiple reinventions. I share what I've learned through all these reinventions, including the current one, to help other Outsiders go pro with whatever it is that differentiates them from the herd. The more you pick at it, the closer you get to being it. Some of you are going to find the works of Steven Pressfield to be in credibly helpful in all this. Links "You Do You": My free course outlining all I've done to completely rebuild my world into something it's never been...something much better than what it used to be! The War Of Art: I've read this book about 4 or 5 times now. But I no longer remember the particulars. What I can tell you is: if you're struggling to do the thing that needs doing; the thing that gnaws at you in your dreams and nightmares. The thing that whispers to you while you're at your shitty job; the thing that makes the rest of your life impossible, but you haven't addressed yet, then get this book. Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life's Work: I've read this book about 4 or 5 times as well. And I no longer remember the particulars. What I can tell you is: once you've made the decision to start your thing a...

#44: Reinventing Yourself From The Outside In

The Chop Wood Carry Water Method for Getting Clients: Jason Leister This is really all about Doing The Work. And it is something I struggle to do with any sort of consistency. In this site, I do loads of work, constantly. But the work is of a varied nature and often separate from the work that actively reaches out to the rest of the world, at least directly. I work in cycles, bursts, and unplanned segments It's how my head works. It's also a big part of what makes the rest of life harder for me. Well, harder, in that, I have trouble doing the things that keep my life running smoothly, as well as the lives of those closest to me. I'm unpredictable, even to myself And yet...the work must get done. I guess what I'm telling you is, besides making sure that you do the work, don't punish yourself too harshly as you refine your methods for getting the work done. Too much harsh self-criticism and you may find that the work sops altogether. And that would be bad. Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: Do The Work! Because there is ONLY the work! Enjoy the work! Discover how to make items 1-3 merge and become your daily life, and then you will have won! In doing the work, we demonstrate what we offer thereby clarifying why anyone would want to work with us The goal is not "success". The goal is to deepen the value we give and get from doing the work When it all comes together, your success will come in the form of getting paid to love what you do (Consistency helps) Links The War Of Art: I've read this book about 4 or 5 times now. But I no longer remember the particulars. What I can tell you is: if you're struggling to do the thing that needs doing; the thing that gnaws at you in your dreams and nightmares. The thing that whispers to you while you're at your shitty job; the thing that makes the rest of your life impossible, but you haven't addressed yet, then get this book. Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life's Work: I've read this book about 4 or 5 times as well. And I no longer remember the particulars. What I can tell you is: once you've made the decision to start your thing and have been doing at for some time, you will eventually build a body of work that lights the rest of the way forward. This book will help you start building the new you, the you who is capable of handling the new stresses this outlook will bring your way. Do the Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way: I've also read this book about 4 or 5 times. And I no longer remember the particulars. What I can tell you is: maybe you've reached the point where the ideas are flowing and a lot of projects are getting kicked off...but never completed. You keep running into The Wall. Been there so many fucking times myself that it a personal cliche at this point. Steven Pressfield will again provide you with the motivation and plan to move forward past that little voice in your head that's fucking with you. (Have I mentioned yet that Steven's a former-Marine, like myself. Hmmm.) Photographer of top image: Malte Wingen   [The following article is reprinted with permission from Jason Leister at www.IncomparableExpert.org] The Chop Wood Carry Water Method For Getting Clients By Jason Leister You’ve probably heard the saying about “before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water – after enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” That’s what I do in my business. I chop wood, I carry water. Today, I’d like to tell you the story of how that came about and why it’s become such a valuable business building tool for me. It all started back during my time as a music student in college. Year one was inspiring.

#43: Chop Wood Carry Water

The Slipper Is Dead. Long Live The Slipper!The slipper came back. I don't know where the last one went. I don't know if this one's the other half of a pair. I don't know why it is where it is. I don't know who put it there or why. I just know that it's so damn OUT of place, and so specific of a thing...that it's a thing! Somebody wants the rest of us to see that slipper! I absolutely love shit like this! It's 100% pure Outsiders-type material. And I love that I'm someone who notices and acknowledges such things. And my best friends don't need to have the reason explained to them when I share. Part of what I want this site to produce for me is more friends like that People who need no extra help to understand the wild bullshit that my mind finds wholly enjoyable. So we can play together! Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: The world right before your eyes can be completely awesome if you know where to look! I love that people do certain things that defy description, yet make life a bit more interesting for the effort. NSA chiropractic allowed me to hang tough, through crippling pain and deadening mental fatigue, until I could get to my doctor again I acted in faith on the fireworks tent thing. I was right and wrong, but ultimately right. My faith paid off. I made the money promised me. Acting in faith not only solved the problem I was aiming it at, it also produced a win in an entirely new area as well. And I made a new partner and friend the likes of which can possibly push my whole game forward by an order of magnitude. My new friend helped me on a gamble that I was someone worthy of his help and trust. He was right. Self worth growth: I've learned patience, reason, and self control–detachment even–when confronting possibly large new sources of aid for my mission. Nice to have but no biggie if it doesn't come to pass. NSA entrainments include your body "telling" the chiropractor how much or what type of work to perform. When you're part of something larger than yourself: is your role within it bringing your goals to fruition or are you simply enjoying a session of masturbatory career daydreaming? I found a way to reenter Seven21 as an official working member of the building, rather than a fanboy! I'm developing 3 new mini podcast series, which I'll record in their entirety, then install in their entirety within Outsiders Journey Pod. Links: SBDC: Get help with your new startup S.C.O.R.E.: Get help from seasoned retired businessmen familiar with your specific industry pursuits "A man's got to know his limitations." Seven21 Interview OJ POD EPI-2: The one about the thing that set the stage for so many of my future partnerships Night Of The Living Jews: One of the independent films that were in my Halloween film fest held at Seven21 somewhere around 2008. The Catskill Chainsaw Redemption: The other locally produced horror short shown at my mini festival with producer John Bongiorno (You people have no idea what I went through to find this link!) Synopsis: "The Catskill Chainsaw Redemption" is the story of a chainsaw-wielding maniac who goes on an unexpected odyssey of self-discovery. After a lifetime of cutting people open, can he learn what they're really like inside? Visioneers: the feature film we showed at that festival. I had to officially get clearance from Zach Galifianakis' people and everything! WTF Podcast with Marc Maron: If you're my people you're one of his people.   The photographer of this post's featured photo: unsplash-logoAli Morshedlou

#42: The Slipper Is Dead. Long Live The Slipper!

Outsiders Journey was always intended to be a membership site, from Day One. Changing its meat from "me-based" to "we-based" has always been the plan. But making it so has been one of the toughest hills I've had to climb yet. To be sure, I've taken stabs at it in the past. And I've been able to get the thing pretty much where I needed it to be more than once. But then my needs evolved Addressing the changes using the least amount of tools, and doing so with almost no budget has been a challenge. That's the nicest way I can say it without using the many F-Bombs I choose to employ when I'm here in my office, all by my lonesome. But the membership aspect is just one part of what I share in the podcast above. I got into the "Why" behind Outsiders Journey a bit. I explain how I'd like to be seen by you guys, based on what I've experienced by following those ahead of me. And I went into the main reason I am doing any of this, which is, "to get paid just to be me." The way in which I want to achieve that is by exposing you to how I've solved, and how I'm currently solving, every major problem in my life. I am also showcasing how I think about approaching my problems before they even arrive. Above all else, I am displaying how I survive and attempt to thrive as an Outsider This goes into every area of my life. It's how I approach making money. It's how I act as a parent. It's how I do marriage. It's how I keep bipolar disorder and all my addictions from reviving. It's how I do my best to give to others, even when I sometimes have very little to give to myself. It's how I do the work I barely can, in order for you to find the work I do best. It's how I've prepped my mind and heart to be patient enough to last the Long Haul as I build. That last bit highlights how I'm able to keep on going, often long after it seems the battle's been lost. I never quit Does this mean I am always right or always pursuing the best paths? Hardly. Sometimes I should quit. Or at least re-aim. But staying aware of the fact that these things should also be considered is something I never knew how to do when I was younger. It's only recently, say, the past 5 or 6 years, that I feel I've gotten a handle on managing myself in the best way possible. Again, this does NOT mean I am doing everything right, or well. I am actually fucking up a few things I wish I wasn't. But I deal. I accept responsibility for what I've done or built. Then I keep moving forward. And I never quit. Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: I want to wake up and get paid to be me. I want the same for all of you. I want this to happen for us both, as a team! If you want to feel better, you have to act better. I used be frustrated that people wouldn't remember my name. When I stopped caring, they finally did. Funny. Building this final, major technical aspect to the site fucking aged me, but it's done. My coaching services are finally live! (Look in the menu above) My free courses are now secured behind a membership wall. I've worked too hard to not at least get a hair more attention from my visitors than I was getting by just giving the things away. The GDPR thing sucks. Thanks Europe!!! Whenever you respond to a comment, take a beat before typing or say nothing at all. Or, say something helpful even if you dislike the comment. Bill Harris of Centerpointe just passed away. He helped save my life and I'm forever grateful. I wish everyone who mattered to me most was following Jason Leister's free newsletter, at the very least. (Link below.) My prolific mind and fingers often write entire pages of material that I totally forget I ever create...

#41: Membership Thingies

Where have I been? Well, this absence took me to the same place any other does: straight to the bowels of Internet Hell. OK. It's not that tragic. But it does have a similar stink to it, once you're in it. You're not dying. But you are fighting tooth and nail to escape, all the same. I was doing battle with The Technical Amazingly (or not) I see from reading my last episode's material, I never really went anywhere new. I stayed right where I was except that everything got harder. I was fighting my own back end systems, while doing all I could to help the one man who does the same for me. My chiropractor had some major meltdowns with his office equipment, plus I started a new push to get his clients to leave Google Reviews for us. It's a bitch trying to get people to leave reviews. It's also ironic, because I am someone who rarely gives a review for anything either. So I'm managing that fracas, while trying to demystify the lack of communication between his printer and laptops. Hours of tedious bullshit spread over two separate days, but I got it in the end. I also did some major overhauling of his website. Made the colors brighter. Simplified the info so people would understand quicker what it was he offers. Found 3rd party videos to put into his site to help people understand what he does there. My absence involved a fair amount of overhaul on Outsiders Journey too! You'll now see there are dropdown menu items in the menu bar. Getting the code right to make this happen has been a 2+-year long dream of mine. I finally unraveled it just last week! You gotta remember; I'm self taught on all of this. I almost know what I'm doing half the time! But I got it. I was so happy! I also chopped up the material on my About page and made it into 3 individual pages. Now it makes more sense to me and is easier to digest for visitors. And, God willin', I'll have made a cleaner sounding piece of intro music for this podcast by the time you hear it. Some of the older episodes have a nice sounding intro. Then I flubbed something in Audition and wounded said intro. I never did figure out how to repair it. And since the key is to keep moving as best I can, I just kept reusing that faulty intro. But it sounds terrible. Hopefully, I'll have wrangled that problem to the floor and stomped its guts out too. (But whether I get it now or not, I'll get it. I always get it.) And in the midst of it all, I finally completed my membership offering! Well, it's not 100% complete but the remaining shit ain't but a thing to solve. Update AUG 2018: System got finished and worked great but I found a faster way for you to get what you need from me and save myself a bunch of time too. Just click on the Blue Lady or the Green Field in the sidebar. The Journey starts there now. If you look up at my menu bar, you'll see the new Members Only area. That's where the Big Work now happens. My two (so far) free systems are now secured inside the member's area. So become one and you get them. I've had them openly available for a long time. Decided the least people could do for all the years and effort it took me to develop them was give me their email address. Fair, yes? So investigate. Partake. Communicate. Contemplate. And let's get to be friends on a whole other deeper level! Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: (As always) (AGAIN!) Dream realization is hard, possibly THE hardest thing you'll ever take on. Don't ever give up! I became a Carny! Just for 3 weekends. But what a trip! The technical shit is going to be a major drag for some of you, like it is for me. Learn it anyway.

#40: My Absence

Hope that doesn't look like a nipple. Because it's a mole. A growth. On this guy's face. OK! Nipple disclaimers aside, let's get back to the issue of my growth! Just a lot of really cool events happening lately. None of them earth shattering, yet all have a positive flair to them I was up against the wall trying to get my "It Takes Guts To Live Well" system turned from an ebook into an online course. (Still 100% free though!) The technical aspects of the deal were killing me. But got it all wrapped up the other night. Prior to that, I wanted to build a mini library of Human Design material, showcasing what my Report said and what I thought about it when compared to my actual life. Incredible stuff. Lots of work, yet again, to get that beastie installed on the site. But done! (I'll have a whole bunch more to say abut Human Design as I go!) In the midst of all that, I'm still piecing together ways to expand my NSA section of Outsiders Journey, as well as meld those efforts with the marketing work I'm producing for my NSA chiropractor. Within all that, I am having an interesting time with my entrainments; what they're bringing to light, how they're making me feel, and what my doctor and I feel is happening to me at this point because of them. Mom has still been up and down with her health but got some good news recently that has finally helped bring some peace into her life, which brings happiness into mine. And my kid has taken his life to the next level, in regards to work, and we couldn't be prouder of how he's handling it all and how he's seeing his future in response to what he's learning. Problem free? Nnnnooooooooo. Basically winning? Seem to be. My faith been tested? Unfortunately, many times these past few weeks. Will I ever stop attempting to build Outsiders Journey into something awesome for us all? "Hell to the No!", as this crazy kid Rui, with whom I was in tech school 20+ years ago, used to say! Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: (As always) Dream realization is hard, possibly THE hardest thing you'll ever take on. Don't ever give up! I fell behind on routine content creation again, but I produced some snazzy serials in its absence I'm also stepping up my game when it comes to building my audience (you wonderful people) by requiring some minor commitments from you to prove we match. This keeps those of you who dig me happy and it keeps those who don't away. Feels liberating to me! I got back into some very powerful tools for spreading one's story while helping others. Hard work but worth it! Links: Teachable Online Course Builder: Share your knowledge with the world and earn passive income while doing it Professional Grade Lavalier Lapel Microphone ­Omnidirectional Mic with Easy Clip On System on Amazon Human Design Series here inside Outsiders Journey Unsplash Free images to use as you wish "It Takes Guts To Live Well" on the Teachable Platform The photographer of this post's featured photo: unsplash-logoJake Davies

#39: I Have A Growth

It Takes Guts To Be Me 2 Been an interesting few weeks since we last met! The stuff that has made up the gap between podcasts is varied and spread wide. The fight to deal with it all has been as much internal as it's been external. The message that's been forcing its way to the surface seems clear: The me that I am now is not able to get me where I want to go next. Hence, the tile of this week's post. I barely survived the process of overcoming bipolar disorder. Prior to that, I barely survived the things I was doing that allowed bipolar to show up in my life in the first place. The madness of staying sober was a trial by fire too. Employment: the job searches, getting hired to do shit I couldn't stand, the learning of new skills, never making enough money to cover my needs, the stress of quitting, and having to repeat the whole process dozens of times was killing me as well. In order to survive it all, I had to evolve with no help from the traditional sources Now, the mission is no less important but a bit lighter in tone: to be the best version of myself to meet my needs and those of the community that depends on me, in a way that brings me peace and fulfillment. Not as dramatic but almost as frustrating to achieve. But this awareness gives me hope. The last time I realized I was all on my own, it ended quite well! It's how I lived to be with you here today. So, operating on the faith of past successes, I am working on the plan to turn me into the New Me. I know I'll pull this off. But just like the other time, I wish it was happening sooner than it is. Patience is a hard thing to nurture and grow. But now, like before, I have no choice other than to do just that, with the faith that my gut tells me I'm on the right path. Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: Effort only gets you so far before you realize the "fix" is going to take total change instead I'm doing every bit of this on faith - I don't even know if anyone's listening to or reading any of this right now To do anything worthwhile is going to require pushing yourself to a limit that might not always be easy to define Links: The Hero's Journey: Many Outsiders are meant to walk a lonely road The photographer of this post's featured photo: unsplash-logoDaniel Jensen

#38: It Takes Guts To Be Me: PT II

The One Thing Just keeps getting more far out as I clarify my One Thing to the world and myself! My mind gets too busy for its own good many times. It's an offshoot of whatever it is within me that let bipolar disorder come to be in the first place. I'll build too much shit to show my awesome and too complex of a beast to try and share as well as pay for it all. It's always been a struggle for me to keep things simple I run into problems and get frustrated, same as anyone. But unlike others, I have so much info at my disposal, not to mention an insatiable desire to learn, that I'll create these unbelievably complex systems for overcoming that problem that are too large for me to run once built. It all looks pretty interesting from the outside. And I'm very proud of most of it, once it's finished. And most of it would kick major fucking ass if I had a team to implement it all. But ultimately, these things turn out to be more Rube Goldberg than elegantly simplistic, effective devices for growth. I know this about myself, going back years. It's humbling to realize such a thing. But it's strength to address it head on, keeping its existence in the forefront of my thinking at all times. I built Outsiders Journey, in part, to give me a way to sort it all As stated elsewhere, this site is my head. It's a living, organic, evolving view into my inner workings. It's how I'm making the best use of the often frustratingly large wealth of knowledge and experiences I've gathered that seemingly have no good use. I got good with understanding that my shit TOTALLY has value But if I don't present it well, or properly get it out to the world, it will remain simply interesting shit, good for bar room conversations (useless to me) but nothing much else. I refuse to let that be my legacy. Therefore: Outsiders Journey. What's your best use of You going to look like? Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: Outsiders Journey is my attempt to define my "one thing" Your one thing can have many parts Like me, your job is to both dig deep and travel wide to see what all your one thing encompasses Then your job becomes one of defining the purpose that understanding what your one thing brings Then figure out what the platform is that will help you fulfill the purpose of knowing your one thing Then fall in love with the process of feeding the platform Simultaneously, decide how you'll bring people to your platform, to get feedback for further growth Regardless of any of this, do some sort of personal growth work to assist you in achieving it all Links: After Bipolar Podcast: The newest part of my One Thing EpiEnergetics: A (r)evolution of how people, businesses, communities and the spaces connecting us interact, collaborate, evolve, and express their authentic signature in the world. Jason Leister and Platform Building: Fall in love with the process The photographer of this post's featured photo: unsplash-logoVeronica Benavides

#37: The One Thing

There's a metaphor and a literalization embedded in today's title! Across the last 4 days, I've been locked inside a whirlwind of technical chaos. Most of this has turned out well, so far. Some is still settling out. All of it created a workload of immense proportions In the process, I attempted to start something new to help fund the creation of the rest. That thing is still moving forward but not in the way I'd envisioned a few weeks ago when I kicked it off. A plan blew up in my face That's par for my course. I get locked into a struggle with some thing or many things, and I figure a way to bust out and move forward again. My success rate with these bust-outs is never 100% Not even sure if it's 50%. And the ones that fail cause me untold amounts of grief in the forms of fatigue and stress. But I never hesitate to try busting out again And again. And again. Regardless of cost. Regardless of sacrifice. With my eyes always on the prize. Does any of this need to be as dramatic as I'm making it sound? Well, for you? Maybe not. For me? Seems unavoidable. And I'm aware that this is attributable, at least in part, to a story I tell myself. A story I'm free to walk away from at any moment. But some of it is simply the required amount of effort needed to birth my baby Hard to say which part is which at any given time. But I do my best to live in both those worlds, while seeking ways to switch out the one and improve the second. I can change my story. I can do better with what I have. And in the midst of all this, one of my oldest friends and Marine Brother even mailed me an ancient copy of a classic. That's where the picture above came from! (Thanks Brother Sam! And Semper Fi!) Regardless, it's up to me to never quit, no matter how painful the walk becomes. Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: I didn't mean to name my friend but I got caught up in the emotion. Plus, it's just his first name. His security'll be fine. Had to switch podcast hosts to save money and give a nicer face to it all. In the middle of a shit storm - a nice thing happened! I LOVE BOOKS!!! You don't have to have a "living library" site like mine is. But if you do, prepare for the constant evolution of all its parts Just did a marathon, 2-day, 154 picture addition to posts that had none Images give cognizant and emotional context to your written words. No images on a page = a dead page Many years ago, I grabbed a pic from Google images and used it without permission on my chiropractor's site. The owners of the image fined me $1000 for copyright infringement, reduced down to $500 after a nice phone call. Don't use images you have no permission to use! Karma: give credit where it's due. It'll come back to you I am the Big Picture, the Emergency Solve, the Plan Outline. I suck at selling whatever all that is in the first place I work best IN RESPONSE to others! I had a partner all lined up but they evaporated. No evil thing. They're Good People. But I was really looking forward to working with them, just as a friend and fellow entrepreneur I've made it back from being clinically dead multiple times and I've survived two comas, one an hour long, the next lasted two weeks. So, I've got problems still but it's all relative Links: Free Wellness System: A little bent? get straight with this Human Design For Us All: Discover The Person You Were Born To Be Castos: Beautifully Simple Podcast Hosting (My new guys. So awesome!) Fotolia: Royalty Free, Paid Image Database Unsplash: Beautiful, free photos: Gifted by the world’s most generous community of photographer...

#36: Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland

Took my youngest stepson to the airport today. He's just launched Phase Two of his young adult life by moving to a new town, and we think he's off to a great start! And in Outsiders Journey news, I've just launched my Phase Two, as well. I've welcomed a new kid into my online town. And it too, is off to a great start. The After Bipolar Podcast is now live! There have been a lot...a WHOLE lot...of hurdles in the way of this material ever seeing the light of day. Again. Because this isn't the first time I've tried to do some good with the hard earned info and wisdom I accumulated on my journey into wellness and out of the pit of bipolar. I didn't want to actively share this stuff a second time Too much bullshit and not enough goodness, for me, came out of it the first time around. But I did learn a lot. And I have improved my perspectives on what that part of my journey actually meant and how I plan on making it useful to us both, again. And for you burgeoning Outsiders: You'll hear how I had an equipment failure halfway through this episode. And you'll hear how I clearly forgot to plug my mixing board wire back into my recorder. This resulted in a sub par quality of voice modulation and such. But (and here's the lesson) fuck it! These things happen. And I didn't feel like re-recording that second half, as I felt the info was more important than its perfect delivery. Plus I wouldn't have said it the same way twice and I like how the first draft came out. So don't stress over too much as you build your baby Let it go for a walk missing some clothes here and there. Let it trip and fall, take a few lumps. It will still grow into a healthy adult production. And its overall effect will be better for having shown your imperfect side! Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: If a thing is important to you but fails to work its first time out, pause, regroup, take another whack at it from another angle when the time feels right My first time trying to share all I'd learned from overcoming bipolar disorder without meds sort of fell flat on its face I also brought a lot of grief and frustration my way in this Phase One era My ignorance about many facets of what I was doing then was large and only made clear to me by the ensuing trials as I tried to share it I value what I offer, as should you, but I did end up giving this one incredible product away for free Giving away my system was a work around for those who need the info most but have the least ability to pay for it: it's there for them when they're capable of using it Some form of personal coaching with me will result from this, once I've received more feedback from the world What I've endured and built from this part of my life is a perfect example of what you, as an Outsider, may have to do when it's your turn to go public with your goods If you pull the right nuggets from this pat of my story, you stand a great chance of avoiding any need for a second go around Links: After Bipolar Podcast: I've re-released The Kraken! It Takes Guts To Live Well: This is how I beat bipolar disorder without using meds Jason Leister and the Incomparable Expert: I really can't offer a better source of wisdom and tips for personal growth in the way Jason does. We say similar things but he has a completely different and deeper way of saying them that help me every day on my journey through Outsider Land The photographer of this post's featured photo: Mantas Hesthaven

#35: New Kid In Town!

What a slipshod affair, lately. This title should have been directed at myself, as I attempt to keep up with what I've recently built. I keep running out of time to do these episodes and the newsletter in a timely fashion. It's even harder to do on NSA Entrainment Days I'm stumbling through my labors in a deep fog. Yeah, yeah, I know: "Excuses, Ken. Fucking nothing but excuses from you these days." I throw myself at your feet begging forgiveness, gentle reader. The real struggle has been from overexposure Too much of my ass is being spread out across too many projects, or, I should say, too many types of thinking. To build the third leg of Outsiders Journey, I've had to become a full time student. I don't leave my house to attend school. Courses are taking place right here at my computer. But it is every bit like college in workload. So, I'm failing a little but in a forward falling way I am fighting hard to stay on schedule with content production, while trying to learn this new material and implement it within the larger show. It's just going to take me a minute to get settled back out and find my rhythm again. You guys should win, either way. But I've wandered and want to get back on track. "Walk my talk" and such. Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: Only you can save yourself For those of you on a mission: you cannot save anyone else either I'm fucking overwhelmed by full time study and system creation In searching for tools to build out the NSA part of Outsiders Journey, I discovered an entire world that's enabled me to start something separate from OJ, while using this entire new system inside OJ as well Appearances aren't everything: We can be the same as others but not exactly the same, to where their info may not be all that useful to us I'm a Warrior Hippy, more Hippy than Warrior, although my warrior is there if I need him I used to fall into other's web of energy but it never led me where I needed it to long term Outsiders Journey is a "What The Fuck" public service! I have access to high energy but I don't live in a high energy constant I can overwhelm people with my energy and I try not to let that happen We have to build our own template I show people how to make use of what they already have and I highlight their hidden strengths I used to try to help everyone I met everywhere I went. That was bad. Frequently, people don't want help or advice, they just want to feel heard My need to help people the way I do is entirely selfish and to be used only when asked for No one is all right or all wrong. There are useful pieces within everybody's stuff You can climb someone elses's ladder or you can climb your own Stand for something but remain flexible in how you help people by standing for that thing Everything in your life is your fault, meaning: take responsibility for how your life plays out and it will start to play out well Links: Free Wellness System: A little bent? Get straight with this The photographer of this post's featured photo: Naassom Azevedo

#34: Save Me, Please!

We are not "here". Not really. We are puttering about in the Past and living dreamily in the Future. But there is only Now Went a little Eckhart Tolle on you there. But it's true. And if we remain ignorant of this fact, nothing ever works right. Accept this total truth as your truth and you'll eventually straighten out the rest of your roads, forever after. I'm trying to avoid the title of Hypocrite here I work on this endlessly; forgetting it, getting somewhat upset, then swerving back to live it once more. It's frustrating. "Why so harsh on yourself, Ken?", you may be asking. Well, gentle reader, I'm not. I'm being honest. And I'm trying to help you do the same. I spoke on this same stuff in the last show EPI-32: Turtle Leaves Shell: Responsibly Facing One's Fears For The Good Of All. This inward pointing finger stuff is a continuing effort to live my walk, while being an example to those of you struggling to do the same. We're all flawed beasts until we wake up By waking up to the existence of the right here and now, we live a more fulfilling life. By not ignoring the Present, in order to decipher the Past and divine the Future, we better appreciate all we currently have. One of the easiest ways to enjoy life more is to find what's good about it right this second Impossible at times, I know. But the act of trying will make that better life you seek become a self fulfilling prophecy. The better life doesn't one day appear. It's already here. You just have to will yourself to see it. As you do this, what you eventually see will be better than what you would have seen had you never attempted in the first place And yes, as a former Marine war vet, former alcoholic, former drug addict, and former bipolar patient I fully understand how fucked my advice might seem to you right now. But if you don't begin to try you will, by default, never see what you wish to see. Start by believing what I say is possible. Then try. Will you reach "here" and never suffer again? No. The shit-sicle experiences will return. (That was the point of this episode. I'm eating a big one right now.) But you'll be better able to handle them when they do. And you'll eventually handle bigger versions of them with more grace. You'll also turn them into profoundly useful tools for enjoying "right now", more than you can imagine...right now. Trippy. I know. Just have faith. And begin. The journey never ends, we just become better travelers as we go. Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: I am struggling to finance all I do to bring this show to you That is no one's fault but mine I'm in a pickle with how I can earn while on disability, without jeopardizing my entire wellbeing But I've survived far worse problems than this and I have faith that I'll sort this out quick enough By remaining aware of how great my life is right now, I give my life meaning instead of searching for the meaning of life I can't hold a job well or for long, and yet, I may have to try again shortly I live on faith but I proactively respond to what's right before me The ultimate example of people living right here and now, while simultaneously blaming all around them for their ignorance, is "The Trailer Park Boys". Enjoy. And learn. Links: Mr. Lahey from The Trailer Park Boys: YouTube clips. You're welcome! Eckhart Tolle on Amazon: I didn't mention him in episode but his awareness info played a part in my fight to beat bipolar The Presence Process: A Journey Into Present Moment Awareness by Michael Brown: Learn a simple 15 minute, twice a day breathing exercise that will bring you into The Now Emotional And Psychological Wellbeing: NSA Chi...

#33: Ignorance, Thy Name Is Ken

(David Attenborough speaking.) "The grizzled male turtle slowly peaks his scarred head out of his weathered shell. He knows danger may await, yet his need to do right by others compels him to take this time honored risk. It's a risk others like him have braved since the dawn of personal development pioneers, in order to reach great heights of achievement, while helping millions transform their lives for the better. For the sake of us all, we wish him much success." And I feel Sir David really nailed it there Holy shit. How egotistical was all that? But it really helps sell a concept hearing it told in his voice. I'm just trying to make a point. The world needs all of us to overcome our shit as quickly as possible Timeframes to successful conclusions will vary. Just know you need to start trying, looking, seeking. To not start is to court death. There is no middle ground in life. Holding still is an illusion, masking the lack of growth (death) that it really is. And in this case, what's dying is the embryonic fully formed version of you. The you that can bring you the life of your dreams. You must start questioning why you do (or don't do) anything the way you've currently chosen. Listen quietly for your answers. Pay attention to any responses that seem truly outside your norms. Then carefully, yet boldly, start down those new paths and see where they take you This is how you not only end up doing life better, you'll start feeling better. As you feel better, you'll begin to want to share what you've learned with others. This will create new problems, causing you to restart the whole "WTF am I doing?" process all over again but at a higher level! And your light, the one that helps not only you find your way but also the ones who end up following you, just gets brighter and brighter. The added light will illuminate worlds that were always right in front of you but up til now remained invisible. Prepare yourself for all that and be excited about it. It eventually becomes its own fun. I promise! Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: When you start sharing your message, the process might go a little off the rails If it does, know that this is normal and part of the learning process You might not be wrong, just not ready or not addressing the thing in the proper context Always remember: how this goes is entirely your responsibility - both how it looks and how you respond I was afraid to fully return to discussing my former bipolar life, due to what that brought me in the past: pain in too many unforeseen versions I changed my perspective on what all that meant, as well as how I can once again move forward with the telling People need people like us to grow into what we really are; to take responsibility and give even more of ourselves than we already have Those same people need us to do this in a way that does not kill or martyr ourselves, so that we may continue to help them from a place of strength Don't offer advice unless it's asked for Often, most people just want to feel as if they're being heard...not helped, just heard Thing to look out for after that is to make sure these people don't turn into psychic leaches This is an odd fucking dance to clarify and live Links: It's important that you meet my friend Noelle Pollet right away. She's an advocate, survivor and Outsider Extraordinaire! She's also inspired and taught me in more ways than she probably realizes! Peace Work Tool Kit: Noelle Pollet of Heart Circle Consulting openly shares her Alternative To Violence Project personal growth system Heart Circle Consulting: Contact and Learn More about Noelle Pollet

#32: Turtle Leaves Shell

Success comes only to those who are willing to fight all those who stand in its way of becoming a reality. What "those" things are and how you actually "fight" them represents an amorphous and variegated stack of potential life circumstances and responses. In simpler English: there's no telling what shit will hit or how you'll act in the face of said shitstorm. Just know your only chance at success is to constructively bear the onslaught OK. So I've been up many hours, solving many complex problems, and the Muse is heaving a weightier than normal vocabulary set into my fingertips as I go. That's where this long day's onslaught has deposited my mind. Long 2 weeks, really The building, polishing, and strategic planning mixed with the effort of integrating it all into something usable for my visitors can take its toll on my ability to govern my creativity. I believe that that sentence above just proved that. And that's what my Mess of Success looks like sometimes. I get spun But unlike back in the bipolar days it's an acceptable spinning. The point of all this end of day rambling is this: be willing to push, bend, reach, fail, and hurt all it takes to get your "thing" off the ground because that what it takes to succeed. The cool thing is, if you're tough enough in mind, body and spirit you'll find it takes very little to get yourself to the head of your particular herd. Then they'll all be following you. From there, sky's the limit. Now go make something bleed. Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: Sometimes the race requires you to do sprints inside of marathons. I'm in a whirlwind of that sort right now. This episode has a lot of behind the scenes web design and marketing info. Topical point: I have no idea how fucked we all may be due to Net Neutrality taking a hit to the dick, but I'm doing what I can to hopefully make that a non-issue for my marketing. If you're not in a life setting that allows for this level or complexity of work to take place, then simply follow along and bide your time. Your day will come as a result. I didn't mention this in the podcast but that above point? I started doing that by reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, probably ten years before I began any bit of what you see here today. But those books were the spark. Links: You Sit With Your Answer Every Day: Another article written in 2015 as I was just closing in on all I stated above: Notice how I've progressed! Jenny H Design: My podcast cover artwork creator Life Below Zero: Where I plagiarized today's title from John Leguizamo: I sort of met him once. I love his work! "Spun" w/ John Leguizamo: A delightful flick about speed freaks: clarifies my current mental status from 2 weeks of non-stop work Robert Kiyosaki: Author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad": The first business Outsider to help me understand why my dissatisfaction with being an employee was a healthy outlook. Buy everything he writes. NOW! Outsiders Journey on Facebook Your Platform - Plant the Seeds: The context for this entire episode Net Neutrality Repealed: Will We Little Guys Still Get Heard? The photographer of this post's featured photo: unsplash-logoJoel Filipe

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