FI Minded: Bridging Pre FI Discipline and Post FI Freedom in Financial Independence

Today’s guest is Jared Schuster, Founder of Sparks of Consciousness which focuses on serving people who feel purposeless. In this conversation, Jared brings us through his last decade which included graduating through the 2008 recession, learning from yogis in India, a car accident that broke both of his legs, working with Shaman in South America, and much more. By listening to this episode, you’ll learn about following your intuition, networking practices that work, and questions to help you uncover your purpose. This episode is perfect for those wondering where their life is going to take them.   Key Takeaways: [1:21] The job of a Fire Keeper [10:30] Finding his dream job through the 2008 Financial Crisis...and quitting 9 months later. [20:39] Networking practices that work [30:01] Chasing the endless summer in southeast Asia [43:14] Overcoming his father's death as a child [45:50] Finding your purpose with self-examining questions   Favorite Quotes: [9:28] “When you speak a calling, the universe responds immediately.” [15:19] “There is such a power in putting pen to paper.” [25:40] “When you meet someone who has an impact on you, make sure you tell them.” [39:54] “When we are really ready to heal something in our life, we have to take on responsibility for every experience that we had.” [46:56] “To me, purpose is understanding who you are so much that you are able to give it back to the world.”   More of Jared: https://www.sparksofconsciousness.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredsschuster/   More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

Today’s guest is Christen Brandt, Co-Founder and Chief Programs Officer at She’s the First, an organization working to create a world where girls are safe and have equal rights. At the end of 2019, She’s the First had a presence in over 21 countries, had over 500 graduates of partner programs, and reached over 11,000 girls. 2020 has brought even more success for She’s the First, Christen, and her co-founder Tammy Tibbetts. The two of them can now call themselves authors, as their new book, Impact: A Step by Step Plan to Create the World You Want to Live In, was just released. Christen came on the podcast to discuss some core takeaways from the book including defining your North Star, band-aids versus system solutions, and overcoming the “shoulders” out there. This is an awesome episode for those who are looking to make an impact.   Key Takeaways: [2:22] How Christen found her work wife [15:11] Serving women to create more firsts [19:03] How Christen’s experience led her to fight for girls’ rights [22:22] Defining your North Star [33:13] Creating an Impact Pitch [39:27] Finding help to progress She’s the First  [47:04] Baid-aids vs system solutions [54:03] Overcoming the “shoulders” and "but what about-ism"   Favorite Quotes: [1:45] “Seeing the book on the shelf and seeing my name on the spine; that is the thing that gives me butterflies.” [11:37] “To have a good partnership, or to be a good leader, you need to be open to critique.” [25:13] “The people that can look around them and identify what is broken can often see all of it.” [45:27] “We talk a lot about not letting perfect get in the way of better.” [57:56] “If you are working on an issue area that is not personal to you, you are not going to sustain that over the course of your life.” [59:56] “No one can do everything but everyone can do something.”   More of Christen: Instagram: @cjbrandt Instagram: @TammyTibbetts www.planyourimpact.com   More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

There is no doubt that humans are causing long-term destruction to the environment because of our decisions. So what can we do to do our part in helping the planet? Today’s guest, Tippi Thole, was asking herself the same question when she heard her son talking about zero waste. That kicked off a News Year’s resolution to reduce her trash. Her efforts paid off. Today, her family’s weekly trash can fit into the palm of your hand. Tippi is here to convince us that we can do the same without it being a huge inconvenience on our lifestyle or breaking the bank on tons of eco-friendly products. In this episode, Tippi will share with you why receipts aren’t recyclable, why food scraps don’t just biodegrade in landfills, strategies for reducing waste during the holidays, and so much more. This episode is perfect for environmental lovers that have been struggling to figure out how they can make an impact.   Key Takeaways: [3:28] How a zero waste lunch box sparked a New Year’s resolution [12:21] Why you should stop putting receipts into your recycle bin [16:54] The problem with plastic [24:03] 5 R’s model: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot [28:17] Creating a zero waste survival kit [32:31] Why food scraps don’t just biodegrade in the landfill [43:16] Refusing junk mail [46:46] Waste reduction strategies during the holidays [49:45] How to get started on your own zero waste journey   Favorite Quotes: [9:43] “Trash is designed to be out of sight, out of mind. When you actually look at it, you start to better understand what you’re using.” [20:24] “I’d love to see plastic labeled as a hazardous material.” [20:54] “To date, 9% all of the plastic created has been recycled.” [25:08] “95% of our product’s environmental damage has already occurred by the time you’ve picked it off the shelf.” [47:52] “Making memories, not waste.”   Mentions: Thinx Period Underwear: https://www.shethinx.com/   More of Tippi: www.tinytrashcan.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiny.trash.can/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinytrashcan.lessismore/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinytrash_can   More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

Today’s guest is James Aiken, Founder and President of Legacy Search, an independent recruiting agency in South Carolina. Over the last 8 months, COVID has wreaked havoc on many industries causing massive layoffs. I’ve had friends that have worked for airlines, restaurants, hotels, oil and gas, entertainment all lose their job. I’ve also heard from those that are gearing up to make a change. One gift of COVID has been that it has given us plenty of time to think, figure out what is important to us, and chart out our future. That’s why I thought it was important to bring James on the podcast to help set you up for success in your next job search. By listening to this episode, you are going to gain tons of job search prep advice including building a candidate packet to help you stand out from the crowd, how to maximize output while minimizing time on job boards, and overcoming the hurdle of having no relevant experience. This is the perfect episode for those searching for a new career opportunity.   Key Takeaways: [5:01] Good reasons to be looking for a new job [12:38] Building a candidate packet to stand out [24:14] How to spend less time yet get more responses from job boards [29:29] Developing a networking plan by building two top 10 lists [36:03] Using persistence to meet your dream mentor [40:19] Optimizing your LinkedIn for a job search [45:40] The slingshot theory: Overcoming no relevant experience   Favorite Quotes: [9:21] “It’s legal human trafficking.” [18:47] “The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is a little extra.” [21:27] “You have to make yourself hard to ignore.” [31:07] “If you can get in front of the people that recognize and need your talents most, you are going to get the best results.” [38:23] “You can get in contact with anybody, it just matters how bad you want to get in contact with them.” [43:36] “The digital presence is there to get you to the personal presence.”   Mentions: https://www.seamless.ai/ https://hunter.io/   More of James: Twitter: @LegacyGVL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpaiken/   More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

Today’s guest is Dr. Benjamin Ritter, Founder of Live for Yourself Consulting. Ben’s current chapter of life began when he got a wake up call walking into work one day. He was on his way to a Chicago medical center where he worked as an Executive in healthcare administration. As he glanced at fellow commuters that passed him on the sidewalk, he realized they all carried the same feelings on their face: unhappiness, resentfulness, defeat. Taking in the energy of that morning commute made him have a sudden realization...he didn’t really like his job either. Sure, it seemed like the perfect job on paper: fancy title, great pay and benefits, and he could even walk to work! But he knew deep down, he was called to serve elsewhere and he knew that other people had this same problem. That’s when LFY Consulting was created. Ben now helps business professionals who feel stuck or unfulfilled at work just like he did. In this episode, we get into topics such as creating novelty in your life, taking control of your job satisfaction, and the importance of self-leadership. If you are doubting your current path, this is the perfect episode for you.   Key Takeaways: [4:29] How Ben creates novelty in his life amongst his daily structure [9:12] The story of Ben launching his coaching practice [13:42] How to enjoy your job more with job crafting [20:30] What managers are missing that lead to turnover [26:43] The most important leader you’ll ever meet: yourself [34:30] ABCs of change   Favorite Quotes: [3:16] “I try to live a life that has routine and structure within it but also novelty. Always trying to find ways to be comfortable.” [18:51] “What I was doing was allowing myself to sit more in my resentment instead of actually finding space to find more enjoyment.” [23:21] “The leader in a way is not responsible for providing meaning or motivation to their employees but they’re responsible for the environment the employee is working in.” [24:26] “Employees like autonomy but don’t like ambiguity."   More of Benjamin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritterbenj/ Website: https://www.liveforyourselfconsulting.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/benjaminritter   More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

Today’s guest is Dany Dao, the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Renaissance Group. Dany is a wildly interesting skill builder whose list of competencies include photographer, videographer, tailor, barber, magician, break dancer, and linguist. Dany was a computer science major turned college dropout with the intention of pursuing photography full-time. Quite an uneasy decision for someone with Asian immigrant parents but as you can guess, things worked out. He created Renaissance Group where he helps corporations with creative strategy and brand imaging. In this episode, you’ll hear Dany and I discuss how to turn boredom into curiosity, overcoming the fear of other people’s opinion, and why you should be asking for what you’re worth. This episode is perfect for those that like taking the unconventional route.   Key Takeaways: [2:35] Why Dany loves to learn new things [12:11] Overcoming the fear of other people’s opinion [24:23] What does it mean to be a creative [29:10] Asking for what you’re worth [48:14] How to look dapper on a budget   Favorite Quotes: [13:02] “We are conditioned as humans to want the approval of people. The people who say they don’t care what people think about me, they’re putting on a front.” [18:11] “Food doesn’t talk back to you like models.” [24:07] “Having conversation is the way to grow as people.” [32:40] “If people respect what you do, then they will pay the money.”   Mentions: Chris Do - The Futur (https://www.youtube.com/c/thefuturishere/about)   More of Dany: Instagram: @dapper_cards   More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

Today’s guest is Ryan Bennett, who developed a method called The Intentional Growth Model to help people reach their full potential.  Ryan’s profile includes being an ESPN Academic All-American, founding member of a tech start-up, high-performance coach, speaker, and author of The Intentional Day. But these titles didn’t come easy. With the competitive fire leftover from collegiate baseball and a freshly printed degree in hand, Ryan set out to Silicon Valley to start building his business empire. But after a few years of iterations and modest growth, Ryan had to close his startup and label it a failure. This was the start of his rebuilding journey. He eventually traded the remote for a book, late night drinking for early morning coffees, and a storyline of failure for a life of personal growth. There are a lot of goodies in this conversation, including the 4 major elements of The Intentional Growth model, why he believes SMART goals don’t work, how to build your coalition of growth partners, and much more. This episode is perfect for people who find themselves setting New Year’s resolutions with nothing to show by February 1st. I hope this episode gives you the framework to change that narrative.   Key Takeaways: [9:40] An introduction to the Intentional Growth Model [13:09] Why SMART goals don’t work [22:20] A simple tactic on how to be a better listener [26:34] The important difference between a task and a discipline [35:05] How to find the right growth partner [47:22] Ryan’s birthday ritual   Favorite Quotes: [13:58] “Goal setting by itself just focuses on the outcome. But the problem is the outcome is just the scoreboard. We can just be in the game and wish we will win.” [19:58] “Am I good enough for the wife I want to marry?” [40:29] “When we share that win with someone, we get to live it all over again.” [45:52] “I probably won’t hire anyone unless they have a failure on their resume.”   Mentions: Wooden on Leadership by John Wooden OUR MOMENTS Couples: 100 Thought Provoking Conversation Starters for Great Relationships The Intentional Day E-Book   More of Ryan: Website: www.theintentionalday.com   More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

Today’s guest is Angela Marie, Founder of Find Your Purpose and Shine. During a thriving 19-year career in network marketing, Angela often found herself giving advice and coaching other professionals on how to succeed in the industry. That experience, and going through a live transformation of her own, lead her to creating her coaching business and writing a book titled “Get Overself Yourself and Find Your Purpose and Shine.” In this episode, Angela and I discuss topics such as moving on from a toxic relationship, dealing with failure, reprogramming unhealthy habits, and what she learned from her mentor, the Bikini Business Coach. This episode is perfect for your friend who’s been struggling to move on. I hope this episode gives you the confidence to do so.   Key Takeaways: [11:53] Managing a toxic relationship [22:49] How you parent motivation [33:01] Dealing with failure and heartbreak [37:45] How to create a gratitude practice [40:22] What Angela learned from the bikini business coach   Favorite Quotes: [6:40] “No one can take a skill from you.” [13:13] “When you aren’t healthy yourself, you’re going to continue to attach that toxic and abuse into your life.” [28:54] “It’s okay to fail because if you don’t have failure, you can’t have success.” [40:05] “Your subconscious doesn’t know the difference between reality and what you want to happen.”   More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

Today, I go solo and speak on the importance of skill acquisition. I believe learning new things will not only lead to professional advancements but a more meaningful, personal life as well. In this episode, I give a framework for how you can start learning something new. I will also caution you on obstacles to look out for and how to overcome them. This episode is perfect for someone who feels they’re living a mundane life and looking to change that today.   Key Takeaways: [3:02] Why you should pursue acquiring new skills for both professional and personal reason [9:07] Staying in the beginner’s mindset [14:14] Simple framework for learning something new [19:46] Obstacles to look out for when learning a new skill and how to overcome them.   Favorite Quotes: [2:07] I’m not sure you can live a meaningful life if you’re not actively pursuing learning new skills. [9:46] When was the last time I tried something that I felt completely out of my comfort zone? [20:27] You’re keystrokes away from learning anything. [27:15] If you have some kind of fear, then manage the fear.   Mentions: Ideas on Things to Learn (Google Document): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q-G2cf5hhmtQxG9laj7QlxLhzVLcHfxkIr7mIeZpA8g/edit?usp=sharing   More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

Today’s guest is Brenden Kumarasamy, a speaking coach and Founder of MasterTalk. Growing up poor in Montreal, Brenden started seeking a better life for himself and his mom. He competed in case competitions in college which landed him a consulting job at IBM. After speaking over 400 times, he has now turned his attention to helping others find their public speaking talents. He founded MasterTalk with the goal of being the top YouTube channel focused on public speaking. In this episode, you’ll hear Brenden’s thoughts on passion, advice on how to pitch a CEO, and how to grow your following. Of course, Brendan also shares a ton of insight on how to become a better public speaker. This episode is perfect for someone who thinks they’re too young to accomplish something big.   Key Takeaways: [13:28] Why passion is bogus and what you can do to find your calling [19:02] How to pitch a C-level executive by showing not telling [26:49] How Brenden gained MasterTalk’s first 1,000 subscribers [31:09] Structuring your speech with a key idea [36:50] Where the fear of public speaking comes from   Favorite Quotes: [11:40] “The reason had nothing to do with being a motivational speaker or being a YouTuber. I just wanted to be the best in the program.” [13:48] “What does the world need you to do the most now and why?” [16:59] “If you don’t have a vision for the world, steal someone else’s.” [26:13] “What would you do if you met him tomorrow?” [35:07] “There is no such thing as boring topics, just boring people.” [51:18] “Be insane or be the same.”   Mentions: The Last Dance (Michael Jordan documentary) https://www.charitywater.org/ The Third Door: The Wild Quest to Uncover How the World's Most Successful People Launched Their Careers by Alex Banayan   More of Brenden Instagram: @masteryourtalk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBYFP4mZLQovr7W6Si6sueA   More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/