Podcast: Download (Duration: 32:44 — 31.1MB)
Rhyan Diller is a realtor, entrepreneur, and a blue belt in Brazilian Jujutsu. She shares her remarkable story about how BJJ changed her life and led her to pursue a healthier and more active lifestyle. She also describes how BJJ gave her the strength, courage, and confidence to leave a job which was not in alignment with her personal and professional values.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 57:58 — 55.2MB)
Shari Petersen is a counselor, author, and a survivor. On February 24, 1989, Shari was a passenger on the ill-fated United Flight 811 from Honolulu to Auckland. Traveling four miles above the Pacific Ocean, the jumbo jet’s cargo door was ripped from its hinges, creating an enormous breach in the right side of the aircraft. Facing certain death, terrified passengers and crew were now at the mercy of the deadly incoming hurricane-force wind, ear shattering noise, and bitterly cold night air.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 43:09 — 40.2MB)
Marisa Jones is a successful IT professional, author, writer, mental health advocate, and former bully. She shares her story about how an abusive alcoholic parent left her with a victim mentality and a desire to react to the world in the only way she knew how—with violence.
Predators are everywhere, and they come in a variety of different forms. But they all have one thing in common. They are looking for an easy target. That’s why it is so important to pay attention, stay alert, slow down, and proceed with caution whenever you are presented with a situation that just doesn’t feel right.
Which is really important to keep in mind at all times. I don’t mean you should be over vigilant, just stay alert, and aware. It’s especially important right now as we are recovering (hopefully), from the pandemic. There are a lot of scams out there, and the bag guys are playing to our weaknesses, and profiting from our “pain points.”
For example, just a few days ago my husband and I received a notice in the mail. It was from the government (yeah, right), and appeared very official and legitimate. So, I opened it. Inside was a prepaid debit card for the two of us to use in the amount of $1,200. Nice! All I had to do was sign the back of the card, and call a phone number to activate the card. Easy enough.
I handed it to my husband, who was sitting next to me at the kitchen table. For some reason we seem to be spending a lot of time together these past few months. He looked at it and said, “Oh, wow! Nice!” I smiled at him and said, “It’s a scam.” He replied, “How do you know?” “Because they got your name wrong.”
When we got married, I kept my maiden name. The letter and the debit card had my uncle’s name on it, who unfortunately passed away last summer. My husband didn’t even notice until I pointed it out. Slow down and proceed with caution. Stay safe!
Podcast: Download (Duration: 42:06 — 38.6MB)
Meet Brooke Chesnut, keynote speaker, business consultant, mentor and worldwide mountaineer. After spending 38 years working in corporate America, he now helps to bridge the generation gap in the workforce from the greatest to the latest. Brooke has hired, trained, mentored, and inspired four generations of professionals to create incredibly successful enterprises.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 33:17 — 30.7MB)
Reena Vokoun is an entrepreneur, speaker, writer, mom, founder and owner of Passion Fit. After experiencing her own health decline while enjoying a successful career in corporate America, she turned her lifelong passion for health and wellness to quit her job, live her dream, and help other women achieve a higher level of health, fitness, and quality of life.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 30:55 — 28.5MB)
Meet Marrielle Monte, happiness activist and positive affirmation aficionado. Marrielle is passionate about spreading happiness, especially to elementary school children to empower them to lead happy and healthy lives.
Her inspiration for teaching happiness came when March 20th was declared as the International Day of Happiness. As a dancer, actress, and comedian, she choreographed a happy dance intertwined with positive affirmations for children, which she introduced to the teacher and children in her son’s first grade class. The results were phenomenal, and over the next fer years the program grew to involve the entire school, including teachers and parents.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 35:58 — 33.0MB)
If you are a parent researching colleges for your child, or a student looking to earn a higher degree, this episode is for you! The exploding cost of a college education or post graduate degree puts a huge financial burden on the family budget. However, you have other options that you might not be aware of.
Denise Cope, president of Affordable Degrees Abroad, explains how she empowers students and families find options for much more affordable education by going abroad. After spending 20 years working in higher education and witnessing the financial strain that it puts on families, Denise knew that there had to be a better way.
Sometimes you just have to get out of your own way. Or, more specifically, out of your mind. As someone who has been out of my mind more often than I care to admit, I understand how sometimes your mind can mess with your head. And your goals. And especially your dreams.
One of the things I learned as a brand new martial arts student was how to get out of the way of an attack. And I was really, really good at it. My technique of choice was to cover my head with my gi top and run off the mat screaming, “Don’t touch me!” Ah, yes. Those were the good old days.
Eventually I was able to get out of my head and into my body to stay engaged with my attacker and gracefully step out of the way. Soon after that, I was able to step back into my attacker and take him down. It was a slow and tedious process for me, but once I let go of my preconceived conviction that I was going to get beaten to a pulp, magic slowly began to unfold.
Not only did I learn to get out of an attacker’s line of fire, I learned how to get out of my own way as well. Because it’s that negative self-talk, the fear that we are either going to fail, look stupid, be ridiculed, or fall on our face. Huh, been there, done that. All of the above. And yet I survived.
I have to be honest, and I have to confess that I still struggle with getting out of my own way, especially when a remarkable opportunity presents itself. And it recently did, but I’m not quite ready to talk about it quite yet. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it and wonder what I had gotten myself into.
But if we don’t keep reaching for new heights, think of all the incredible experiences we might miss out on. And that would just be sad, don’t you think?
Last week I was honored to deliver my information packed, educational, motivational and interactive signature speech “Be Aware, or Beware” to the members of Rising Tide Business Network. I have decided to share a brief synopsis of the presentation as well as one key life lesson or take home point which was emphasized under each topic that was covered. Keep in mind, this is simply a sneak preview.
My personal story, as well as first martial arts class and how my journey into the strange new world of men and martial arts began.
Life lesson and key point: I was stronger than I thought I was, and so are you. I firmly believe that there is an incredible amount of strength and power in each and every one of us, just waiting to be discovered.
The first thing a brand new martial arts student learns is how to get out of the way of an attack….evade. It’s the secret of the ninja disappearing act. All of the negative angst and energy goes right past you and back into your attacker. It’s beautiful to witness.
Life lesson and key point: Life is full of hits, and in a variety of different forms including physical, verbal, emotional, and psychological. How we respond to them is imperative to our ability to survive, and thrive.
Evasion is just the first part of the secret. The entire secret is to evade, deflect, and redirect. This ninja secret is a valuable life skill and tool to keep you from getting drawn into pointless conflicts with family, colleagues, strangers, spouses, “friends,” etc.
*However, the second and third part of the secret does NOT apply to physical threats! Your number one goal is to get out of the way and run to safety.
A distracted person is an easy target. And an easy target is exactly what perpetrators are looking for. The good news is that we can train our awareness and attention by making simple changes to our routine.
Life lesson and key point: It’s easy to develop new neural pathways which will develop a keen sense of awareness by making simple changes in our routine. When you continue to practice awareness, all of your senses will become more sensitive, which leads us to the next topic.
Intention is a course of action that a person intends to complete. Perpetrators have an agenda, and they are committed to completing their chosen course of action. It’s actually possible to be able to read someone’s intention, which is another reason why practicing your awareness is so important. Conversely, it is possible for someone to read your intention as well. If you are committed to keeping yourself safe and do not present yourself as an easy target, a perpetrator can sense that as well, making you less attractive as a target.
Intuition is an immediate understanding of a situation without conscious thought. It is a sense of “knowing.” Intuition is rarely (if ever), wrong.
Life lesson and key point: The ability to read someone’s intention is not that difficult when you practice it, and you can train your intuition just as you train your awareness.
Our body language speaks volumes, and communicates to the world what kind of day we’re having, what kind of person we are, how we feel about ourselves, and even whether or not we are an easy target. It’s important to present ourselves with strength, confidence, and composure while we remain grounded, balanced, and flexible.
Life lesson and key point: When you learn how to stand, walk, and move like a ninja you will be grounded, balanced, confident and less attractive as a potential target.
Self-defense products can give you a false sense of security. They can also malfunction, or be totally ineffective if you are not thoroughly trained in how to use them. More important, any weapon you carry can be taken from you and used against you.
Life lesson and key point: A high-powered military or police grade flashlight is the best self-defense tool to have, along with taking frequent self-defense classes is the best way to keep yourself safe.
As I said, this is just a brief synopsis and example of my presentation. For more information or to book my services, please feel free to contact me. Stay safe, stay strong, and stay aware!
