When do you decide it’s time to do what’s next in life? In this special edition of the podcast, we talk about what’s next with us. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Vincent Van Gogh: “The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.“ Whenever we e…

How you engage what’s next in life has a lot to do with how you answer this question: How do you define success? Different people give different answers, but the most important answer, for your life, is yours! This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Ken Gire: “You are a success if, at the end of your life, the people who knew you the best are the ones…

You’ve got dreams. You’ve got ideas. Lots of things you want to do. We’re doing a little spring cleaning by asking, “What are you saving for later?” This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Henry Ford: “You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.“ Our minds get cluttered with ideas that we decide to save for later. We save them because we …

Every decision you make has assumptions behind it. Knowing how to identify and change your critical life assumptions positively affects your behavior and your decisions. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Isaac Asimov: “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won’t come in.“ As we take not…

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? If you’re an introvert, this is your survival guide to living and working with and understanding extroverts. Yes, we are talking, but we are also listening! This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Paula Poundstone: “We need a 12-step group for compulsive talkers. They could call it On Anon Anon.“ Don’t write off a…

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? If you’re an extrovert, this is your survival guide to living and working with and understanding introverts. This week, we discuss ways to have better interactions with introverts. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Soren Kierkegaard: “People understand me so poorly that they don’t even understand my complain…

It’s undeniably good, but oh-so-hard to do—or even want to do. It’s self-discipline. In this week’s episode, we will discuss what discipline is and is not as well as give some basic thoughts about how to develop discipline as a skill. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Vincent Van Gogh: “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of sm…

Your ideas deserve a great audience. And your audience is asking five things of you. You won’t get your message across unless you provide answers to these five basic questions. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Mark Twain: “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.“ The five things audiences ask of presenters …

It’s true. We are all vulnerable. But there is an art to being vulnerable with others. In this podcast episode, we talk about the art of vulnerability. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Elihu (as quoted in Job 33:6): “I am just like you before God; I too have been taken from clay.“ Authentic vulnerability connects us with one another as we share…

Do you know your StrengthFinder’s strengths? In this episode, we speak with John Warder about a new way to look at your strengths. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Steve Jobs: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is…

Whether in life or business, how you go deeper in conversation can be the difference between a satisfying relationship or one that is just tolerated. In this episode, we talk about how to move beyond small talk. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “It is not the length of life, but the depth.” Depth of conversation is importan…

When you’re confused and confounded, and unsure what to do, just do the next right thing. Start by joining us for this episode. We talk with Roger Thompson, author of the new book, Do the Next Right Thing. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from 2 Peter 1:3: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.” For 23 years, Roger…

The race to the top of the heap will never do. We talk about why being the best isn’t good enough on this edition of Reinventure Me. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from a Garmin ad: “Beat Yesterday.“ In this episode, Leary and Armin propose that trying to be the best isn’t good enough—that it’s actually detrimental. That’s because the idea of “bes…

In our last episode, we talked about having great expectations of others. Now we turn the tables on ourselves. We talk about self-expectations in this episode of Reinventure Me. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Psalm 5:3: “In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.“ In this ep…

Anything worth pursuing will involve others. And, when we do involve them, we form expectations—some of them not so great. This episode discusses how to have great expectations of others. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Leo Tolstoy: “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.“ In this episode, Leary and Armin…

Well, Father’s Day is coming up and we’ve got the busy guy’s guide to being a better dad. In this episode, we talk with best-selling author and fatherhood advocate Jay Payleitner. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Psalm 127:3–4: “Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them…

Is the best part of your life behind you? In this episode, we talk with someone who works with a lot of people who ask themselves that question: Wes Yoder. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from George MacDonald: “Where a man would make a machine, or a picture, or a book, God makes the man that makes the book, or the picture, or the machine. Would Go…

Burning out? About to? No worries. This episode is your burnout recovery plan. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Dallas Willard: “Understanding is the basis of care. What you would take care of you must first understand, whether it be a petunia or a nation.“ In this energy-packed episode, Leary and Armin talk about burnout, what it is, its sympt…

Gaining someone’s trust can be hard. Losing it is easy. Regaining it is seemingly impossible. In this episode, we talk about how to regain trust. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from David Horsager: “The single uniqueness of the greatest leaders and organizations of all time is trust.” In this episode, Leary and Armin talk about why trust is import…

Are you threatened by challenges or invigorated by them? Your answer may determine whether you have an abundance or a poverty mindset. In this episode, we talk about how to cultivate a mindset of abundance. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Winston Churchill: “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in e…

You’ve got drive. Things to do and people to see. Yet, is it possible to possess drive and contentment at the same time? We explore that in this episode. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from the Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:12-13): “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in a…

You have the power to choose your future. Yet, there are eight ways you surrender that power without even knowing it. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Robert Fritz: “The way people choose reveals where they see the power in a situation residing and how that power is activated and used.” In this episode, Leary and Armin explore the eight ways Ro…

Clear goals prompt action. But how do we create that goal clarity? This toolbox episode highlights three simple ways. In this seven-minute toolbox episode, Leary shares how to interrogate our goals to make sure they are the best they can be. He suggests asking three key questions: So that…? So what…? So how…? Take a few minutes to listen to this ep…

Having partners in your business or to help advance your ideas is great… until it isn’t. Here’s what you need to know before you form a partnership. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Janine Ogg and Jo Foster, two moms who help other moms become entrepreneurs: “Just one great partnership with the right person can have an incredible impact on your…

Do not fear fear. Put it to work instead. In this episode, we talk about how to make fear work in your favor. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Ambrose Redmoon: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” In this episode, Leary and Armin discuss fear and how it impacts us and our…

So you’ve had a bad day. Yuck. This episode is your survival and revival guide to a bad day. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Soren Kierkegaard: “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” In this episode, Leary and Armin discuss those bad day blues and how to keep a bad day from getting worse. They suggest taking fiv…

It’s not sexy, but it’s important. If you want to effectively reach your target audience and avoid over- or under-sharing, you need to manage your LinkedIn settings. Here’s your guide. In this ten-minute toolbox episode, LinkedIn expert Viveka von Rosen shares with Leary why it’s important to manage LinkedIn settings and how to tune-up your profile…

Do you have a book in you? If so, then this podcast is for you. We’re talking to mega-author Jerry B. Jenkins about what it takes to be a writer. Jerry B. Jenkins is a 21-time New York Times best-selling author, including the mega-hit, Left Behind series. His 187 books have sold more than 70 million copies. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Jerr…

The decisions you’re about to make for your future are flawed. Relax. We’ll tell you why and what you can do about it in this episode of Reinventure Me. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Anonymous: “Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions.” In this episode, Leary and Armin discuss blind spots or biases—what t…

Are you putting off something you want to do? It happens—either when life gets busy or we let busyness become an excuse to stall. If you’re stuck stalling, this toolbox episode is for you. In this toolbox episode, Leary shares techniques from Margaret Lobenstine’s book, The Renaissance Soul, to help you overcome stalling and get started on your dre…

Are you ready for change? Feel complacent, under-challenged, or maybe like you’ve put in your time already? If so, it’s time to disrupt yourself. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Whitney Johnson—and is a flip on Winston Churchill’s famous “Never, never, never give up” quote: “Always, always, always show up.” In this episode, Whitney Johnson joi…

Are you a person of many interests? You’re told to focus, to pick a lane, but you’d rather die first. Relax. This is your episode. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Margaret Lobenstine’s book, The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One: “Now is only a part of your life.” In this episode, Leary and Armin …

Are you distractible? A lot of knowledge workers are. In this toolbox episode, Leary shares three strategies to help you manage those pesky distractions and stay productive. The three strategies Leary’s found effective in helping him become less distractible are: Measure your “Push Away Impulse.” Commit to a single task. Guard your recovery time. L…

What do you do when you don’t do what you want to do? In this episode, Leary and Armin talk about how to start anything. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Don Shula: “The start is what stops most people.” In this episode, Leary and Armin discuss how to start the ideas we resist—even if we don’t want to. They compare ideas to bumble bees, partiti…

You always pay attention to what you say to yourself. What say you about you? If your self-talk could use some help, this is your survival guide. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Søren Kierkegaard: “Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts.” In this episode, Leary and Armin discuss self-talk and how it influences our belief…

Have you heard of LinkedIn’s Publisher feature? This nifty tool is often under-utilized. In this toolbox episode, Leary catches up with LinkedIn expert Viveka von Rosen for some quick tips on how to use Publisher to set ourselves apart from others. In this 11-minute episode, Viveka shares the benefits of using LinkedIn’s Publisher feature. Publishe…

Everyone suffers loss, whether it’s through the death of a loved one or the loss of an identity. And losses need to be grieved. In this episode, grief expert Dr. H. Norman Wright joins us to talk about what you need to know about grieving. This week’s Inspire Me quote is a prayer from one of Dr. H. Norman Wright’s clients: “Lord, You know my needs.…

You’ve thought about it. But it’s now the time to start your own business. In this episode, we talk about venturing out: what you need to know before you go. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Maxwell Maltz: “Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one has better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to be…

The new year is a time for cultivating new habits—how are yours shaping up so far? Today, Leary talks about a tool he’s found particularly helpful in reinforcing new habits in his own life: the Strides habit tracker app. In this toolbox episode, Leary talks about the things that are most helpful in habit tracker apps, and what he likes especially a…

Few of us make it through life without some kind of deep wound. Handled right, though, that wound can be the gift the world needs. Join us as we talk about turning wounds into scars of strength and healing. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Henri Nouwen: “The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someo…

You’re part of a powerful story. How you tell it can make a huge difference in your next ventures. In this episode, we talk about the importance of understanding and sharing your own story. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Dan Allender: “Too many people are missing their story because they’re watching the stories of others.” Why is it important…

Ever wonder if you’re getting the most out of LinkedIn’s communication tools? Today, we talk about some cool tools you can use to build your brand presence on LinkedIn. Think you know them all? Some of the tools might surprise you. In this episode, LinkedIn expert Viveka von Rosen talks with Leary Gates about the fastest, most effective ways you ca…

Feeling down? That’s not unusual, especially in the new year. In this episode, we talk about how to rebound from discouragement. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Neal A. Maxwell: “Discouragement is not the absence of adequacy but the absence of courage.” The start of a new year can prompt discouragement. Whether the discouragement is inspired b…

Happy New Year! In this 2015 wrap-up edition of the Reinventure Me podcast, we ask the question: “What’s your 2016 game plan?” Our favorite Inspire Me quote from 2015 is from Steven Pressfield, author of The Legend of Baggar Vance & The War of Art, as quoted in Episode 18: “Four things you need to know about resistance“: “Most of us have two lives.…

It’s a new year—a season of new beginnings and resolutions. Unfortunately, only one out of four people who make resolutions succeeds in achieving them. What’s the secret? How do we stick to our resolutions? More importantly, how do we create habits that stick? In this episode, Leary talks about the three key elements to creating habits that stick, …

It’s Christmas. What can we learn from that first Christmas about our next great beginning? This is a special Christmas edition of the Reinventure Me podcast. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Luke 2:14, when the angels proclaimed to the shepherds: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” This podcast is a…

It’s everywhere around you… and likely within you. If you’re a leader, you’re even more susceptible to it. The “it”? Shame. In this episode, we’ll be talking about how shame affects leadership. Yours and theirs. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what l…

So, you’ve gotten in the door and pitched your idea or venture to a few people, but they aren’t interested. How do you handle their objections? Your response makes a world of difference—for them, for you, and for your venture. In this episode, prospecting expert Steve Kloyda talks about how to handle others’ objections to our ideas. His tips: Liste…

Busy. Busy. Busy. We can get so busy and so pressed by activity that, when we finally relax, we feel guilty. What’s up with that? We talk about this unhelpful phenomenon in today’s Reinventure Me podcast. This week’s Inspire Me quote is from Albert Einstein: “The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.” Guilt is often a g…

Are you feeling unqualified to do what God’s calling you to do? That may be a good thing. Dr. Michelle Watson shares why it was a good thing in her life in today’s episode. In June 2009, Dr. Michelle Watson felt prompted by God to give up several activities near and dear to her heart: writing a book, publishing research on eating disorders, speakin…