Think. Live. Repeat‪.‬ John Skomski

From high school dropout to multimillionaire business owner, Jeff Lerner shares his incredible journey of resilience and failure, and how he has learned to embrace failure as a part of the entrepreneurial adventure. He discusses the importance of defining success as the progressive realization of a worthy ideal and living a life of fulfillment. Jeff also emphasizes the need to disconnect from the opinions and validation of others and focus on the bigger picture. He encourages entrepreneurs to keep striving and never give up on their calling.  He explains the ABCD model, which stands for activating event, belief, consequence, and disputation. Jeff emphasizes the importance of consciously deciding what an event means before reacting to it and offers strategies for challenging and changing beliefs. He also shares his personal journey of dropping out of high school and becoming a lifelong learner. Jeff discusses the importance of allowing children to experiment and find their own path without judgment and shares insights on parenting and personal transformation. He concludes by introducing Entre, a platform that combines business skills with personal growth to empower individuals to live an entrepreneurial adventure.
Takeaways
Failure is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey and should be embraced as a learning experience.Success should be defined as the progressive realization of a worthy ideal and living a life of fulfillment.Disconnecting from the opinions and validation of others is crucial for personal growth and resilience.Entrepreneurship is not limited to owning a business; it is a choice to live life as an adventure.The greatest failure is giving up on the idea of living a life of purpose and striving for personal growth. The Ellis paradigm (ABCD model) can help individuals operate from a place that is more rhetorically defensible.Consciously deciding what an event means before reacting to it is crucial for personal growth and behavior change.Allowing children to experiment and find their own path without judgment is essential for their self-determination.Entra is a platform that combines business skills with personal growth to empower individuals to live an entrepreneurial adventure.Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Resilience
08:34
Defining Success and Failure
24:44
Introduction
32:48
Jeff's Personal Journey and Love for Learning
39:43
Empowering Children through Experimentation without Judgment
46:40
Entra: Combining Business Skills with Personal Growth

Keywords
resilience, failure, entrepreneurial adventure, success, fulfillment, opinions, validation, calling, Ellis paradigm, ABCD model, activating event, belief, consequence, disputation, personal growth, parenting, entrepreneurial adventure

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily intrapreneurial motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music:
Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)
By Your Side by Caslow, Bertie Scott & Patfromlastyear (used with written permission)

This has been over a year in the making and if you're even thinking of speaking as part (or all) of your career, you NEED this 30 minute conversation. Full stop. Phil M Jones is a renowned hall of fame speaker with over 3,500 paid speaking gigs under his belt, bestselling author and respected consultant in sales and persuasion.  He teaches people exactly what to say...literally. We unpack his unconventional journey to where he is today and I promise you'll glean all kinds of insights that you'll be able to use in your own career and life. Enjoy!
Takeaways
Success is a feeling, not an achievement. It is the progressive realization of predetermined, worthwhile, and achievable goals.Continuous improvement is key to success. Always be taking action towards your future self.Being true to your beliefs and committed to your goals is essential for success. Don't be swayed by others' opinions or seek validation from everyone.Creating an interconnected ecosystem of products and services can lead to sustained success.Concise communication is powerful. The ability to articulate information with brevity is a sign of strength, knowledge, and understanding.Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background
01:22
Phil's Journey from Retail to Speaking and Training
21:45
Creating an Interconnected Ecosystem of Products and Services
28:58
Defining Success and Future Plans

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily intrapreneurial motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music:
Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)
By Your Side by Caslow, Bertie Scott & Patfromlastyear (used with written permission)

In this episode, Wilkes discusses his musical background and how he came into music through his family. He shares his journey of pursuing a career in music and the balance between intentionality and going with the flow. Wilkes emphasizes the importance of prioritizing family and staying true to his values and goals. He also discusses the tension between market demands and personal authenticity in the music industry. In this conversation, Wilkes discusses his obsession with authenticity and his refusal to conform to industry expectations. He shares his experience on The Voice and the balance between knowing who he is and who he's not. Wilkes also talks about meeting famous musicians and the impact of his song 'Crawl.' He explains the inspiration behind the song and the vulnerability it represents. Lastly, he discusses going viral with his "Happy" and invites listeners to engage with him on various platforms.
Takeaways
Prioritize what truly matters in life, such as family and relationships, over career success.
Stay true to yourself and your values, even in the face of market demands.Success is not always defined by external achievements, but by personal fulfillment and happiness.Finding a balance between intentionality and going with the flow can lead to a more fulfilling and sustainable career.


00:00
Introduction and Musical Background
01:27
Early Interest in Music and Career Choice
08:43
Prioritizing Family and Career Goals
16:07
Commitment to Family and Staying True to Priorities
29:00
The Desire for Success and the Value of Family
34:49
Staying True to Yourself in the Music Industry
35:29
Dealing with the Tension Between Market Demands and Personal Authenticity
36:21
Authenticity and Stubbornness
42:08
The Voice Experience
47:35
Meeting Famous Musicians
51:52
The Inspiration Behind 'Crawl'
59:12
Going Viral with 'Happy' Song
01:03:34
Engaging with Wilkes

You're either going to be really happy or really disappointed, depending on your outlook! A mic failure (my fault) left the full version of this without any audio, so you get the quick version this week.  Hope you still find it valuable!

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily intrapreneurial motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music:
Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)
By Your Side by Caslow, Bertie Scott & Patfromlastyear (used with written permission)

[NOTE: Since releasing this episode, JJ has expanded his live gigs to the US and continued to blow up online. My collabs with JJ on Instagram have been some of the most liked content I've put out there and it's just another confirmation this conversation has been a fan favorite. Enjoy! ]

There's no elegant way to put this: today you're going to hear from one of the best freaking guitar players out there! JJ Tejlgaard is a Danish guitar phenom and he's only just beginning. You may have heard one of his incredible covers of well-known  pop and rock tunes and he's been shared by artists including Alan Walker, Avenged Sevenfold & The Jonas Brothers. Apologies in advance for being a fanboy!

You'll get to hear about how JJ started with guitar and the evolution of how he became the stud that he is today! We dive into his creative process, the business side of the music industry and the importance of collaboration. And we of course talk about his debut concert, brand new EP and what's coming next. (HINT: MORE concerts, stay tuned!!)

Become a true fan and support JJ on his Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/jensjulius

A great place to start learning more about JJ: http://jensjulius.com/

Follow & interact with JJ on TikTok, Instagram & YouTube
https://www.tiktok.com/@jensjulius_tejlgaardhttps://www.instagram.com/jensjulius_tejlgaard/https://www.youtube.com/@JensJulius/videosFollow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily intrapreneurial motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music:
Intro & Outro Segments played by JJ Tejlgaard (used with written permission)

In this episode, John Skomski interviews Kristen Butler, a three-time bestselling author and the founder of the Power of Positivity community. Kristen shares her journey from failure to success, discussing how she overcame rock bottom and transformed her life. She emphasizes the importance of embracing the comfort zone and expanding it to foster personal growth. 

Kristen also highlights the significance of reframing failure and adopting a positive mindset. She provides practical strategies for dealing with panic and anxiety, such as nutrition, spending time outdoors, and cultivating a positive mindset. Listeners are encouraged to engage with Kristen on Instagram and explore the Power of Positivity website for more resources on living a positive lifestyle.
Order Kristen's book The Comfort Zone today! https://www.amazon.com/The-Comfort-Zone/dp/1788179102/

Check out Kristen's website & follow her on Instagram:
https://www.powerofpositivity.com/https://www.instagram.com/positivekristen/Takeaways
Embrace the comfort zone and expand it to foster personal growth.Reframe failure as part of the journey and a learning experience.Cultivate a positive mindset and practice gratitude and affirmations.Implement practical strategies for dealing with panic and anxiety, such as nutrition, spending time outdoors, and adopting a positive mindset.Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily intrapreneurial motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music:
Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)
By Your Side by Caslow, Bertie Scott & Patfromlastyear (used with written permission)