Unlocking Your Potential: The SWIFT Method to Living Fully

0:00 The topics and opinions expressed in the following show are solely those of the hosts and their guests and not those of W FOURCY Radio. It's employees are affiliates. We make no recommendations or endorsements for radio show programs, services, or products mentioned on air or on our web. No liability explicit or implies shall be extended to W four CY Radio or it's employees are affiliates. Any questions or comments should be directed to those show hosts. Thank you for choosing W FOURCY Radio. What's working on Purpose? Anyway? Each week we ponder the answer to this question. People ache for meaning and purpose at work, to contribute their talents passionately and know their lives really matter. They crave being part of an organization that inspires them and helps them grow into realizing their highest potential. Business can be such a force for good in the world, elevating humanity. In our program, we provide guidance and inspiration to help usher in this world we all want working on Purpose. Now here's your host, doctor Elise Cortez.

1:05 Welcome back to the Working and Purpose Program, which is a has been brought to you with passion and price since February of twenty fifteen. Thanks for tuning in this week. Great to have you. I'm your host, Doctor Release Cortes. If we have not met before and you don't know me, I'm a workforce advisor, organizational psychologist, management consultant, logo therapist, speaker and author. My team and I at Gusto Now help companies in liven and fortify their operations by building a dynamic, high performance culture with inspirational leadership and nurturing managers activated by meaning and purpose. And did you know that inspired employees outperform their satisfied peers by a factor of two point twenty five to one. In other words, inspiration is good for the bottom line. You can learn more about about us and how we can work together at gustodashnow dot com or my personal site at Leascortes dot com. Before we get in today's program, I'm thrilled to announce that registration has been open for a fabulous new conference for women for which I'll service the MC.

1:56 It's called Thrive in twenty five and is a jam pack few days in Chicago, Land June twenty fifth through twenty eight, twenty twenty five, and is designed to develop women as whole selves, from bolstering your mindset to your financial acumen, to leadership, to incorporating nature and art into your life to raise consciousness and much more. You can visit thrive in twenty five dot com for information and when you register use my promo code. It's of course Gusto and all caps, and that will give you access to some of the free books and programs I'm gifting to registrants as well. Now getting in today's program, we have with us David Cohen, who is an author, business coach, and facilitator at Your Big Venture. He specializes in helping business owners mind their strengths, get clear on their value their markets, and then begin to develop a sales and marketing game plan that gets result. He's the co author of Live Life Swift, which we'll be talking about today.

2:48 He joins us today from Toronto, Canada. David A hearty welcome to working on purpose And as. We would say in Canada, will hearty welcome me. I forgot the apart. I'll work on that. Well. First, let's let's give a shout out to how it is we know each other, our common dear friend and mentored doctor Lance Secreton, out of out of Canada. He is why I know you, why we came together, and I know that you have credited him in the front of your book as well. So we'll start with a Lance we love you. Start. Yeah, let's throw some good energy his way. He's still at it. He's really an amazing man. He's eighty four.

3:28 I think he's going to be eighty five this year, spilling that and he's still very vibrant and vital and loves what he does. And how can you not be inspired by him and his work in leadership? I agreed, And it's actually a nice way of our conversation today about living life swift. Yes, he is to be eighty five years old, and ladies and gentlemen, Lance travels one hundred days of a year. He skis one days of the year. He kayaks one hundred days of the year. And he has many, many, many clients still all over the place. And I think he has I don't know how many books out twenty three. So here's to living life in crescendo. Your best work is always ahead of you, as Stephen Covey and Cynthia Covey, his daughter, have written in their book. So let's start with that, David exactly.

4:21 I love that. Okay, yeah, go ahead. Oh. I just love Stephen Covey too. His work is you know still and I told him in the book as well. You remember, yes, the idea, you know, the having habits of highly affective people. It's just, you know, when he wrote that, I wonder if he knew that the shelf life that that book would have. I mean, it's still very practical and needed in today's crazy world. I know, it's really wonderful to get to celebrate that. Well, let's talk about you, my friend. One of the things that I find very interesting about you is that you are focused on empowering young entrepreneurs and employees between the ages of nineteen and thirty five to have the courage, to confidence and the soft skills to succeed and to lead. So, of course, you know, I have to ask. I'm a meeting and work, and I did any researcher, among other things, why that generation, that age segment, and why that focus.

5:23 That's a really good question, because I've switched it. This is something new. It's a new focus and a new direction. Not entirely new in terms of it's still learning and coaching and leadership skills training. However, the way it's being delivered is very different and new, and so it was born out of two things. A passion for teaching you and in my current sort of work, iteration of my work, I do training and coaching work with nonprofit entrepreneur training programs in the g GA in the Greater Toronto area, and a lot of that is with youth entrepreneurs. I have a real passion for you and that they have that direction, they have the confidence, they have the skills in order to succeed, and I see that that that's lacking, like there is in my research. There's a real gap as far as that concerned. And the other thing too, this is a bit more of a personal why. You know, if you're to kind of look at Simon Sinox, you know what's your why. I lost my dad at ten and I had I was raised by wolves, I mean, three older sisters.

6:54 That was your out loud voice, out loud voice, David, I heard it. Yeah, yeah, don't have them. But you know, I didn't have that father sort of hitter to guide me, you know, and make it in this world. You know, women are different than men. My mom was a state of hole mom when my dad asked, So it's a bit of that too, you know, it's important during my wound. And then I loved as I said, I love teaching them that group nineteen to thirty five year olds a matter of fact, and teaching them I've group tomorrow morning on Zoom about business planning and yeah, and it's a sort of this is sort of maybe the last part of my journey as far as my teaching and coaching and consulting career growth. And I want to make an impact in a positive difference.

7:49 Here here we need more of that in the world. Well, one of the things that you and I have in common is this idea of helping people to champion too their best lives where that is. And I do that, of course, usually inside organizations, although I do, like you have now the ability to focus and help individuals as well with my online academy. But I am interested from your vantage point. Why do you think people generally, there's several reasons I'm sure don't tend to pursue their fullest life, their biggest goals. What holds them back? Man? In a way, I've lived a little bit of it. I think fear is fear of change, fear of the unknown.

8:31 And what I've been experiencing a little bit is I find leadership, especially in government and business, lacking a little bit, and so it leads one to just lose faith and hope that things can improve. So there's a bit of you know, I'm away, a little bit of yeah, it doesn't matter, you know, that kind of vibe going on, and I feel like, now's not the time to be like that, Now's the time to step up and make a difference.

9:14 Yeah. Well, So for me, what I've noticed, mostly through being out speaking in public speaking, the conferences, et cetera, is often I will ask the audience at some point fairly early into my talk, what are you passionate about? And in that one instant, David, the room stops for just a collective moment, and I realize as I look out of the faces of the people in my crowd, that they don't have an answer to the question, and in me asking that question, they just realize that for themselves. So what I have come to is that people have gotten disconnected from one their own emotions, their own ability to feel, and therefore, you know, be enlivened by something that might really turn them on or just light them up from within, so they can't feel it anymore. You're on the hamster wheel, which has actually been a little bit decreased since COVID. We've decided that we don't want to live on a frenetic pace, but people are still moving so fast and furious. And then what I've discovered is that they haven't been able to find a moment to connect with what they're really passionate about, or what they used to be passionate about. Either has gotten so far in the in the in the the kind sight or the rear view mirror that they can't feel it anymore.

10:23 And that's part of why I love doing what I'm doing is to help inspire people again to dream, to want more for themselves, and to resurrect those dreams that they left lying maybe somewhere bared in the backyard. So that's what I've kind of gotten so far. Yeah, and that's kind of a scary place to be because you know, that's the lack of hope, right, you know, the dream I'm going to quote a movie musical, You've got to have a dream if you don't have a dream, And how you're going to make your dreams come right. That's from the Pacific story about the singing. But you know, it's it's about having a dream, and you know, it's it's about having hope. And I think in this day and age of you know, crazy government and you know, just all the negative news and we hear throughout the day and this one's arguing we just had an election here in Canada federal w yesmer barking at that one, and that one's barking at that one. And it's like, well, they're both like crazy. So it's like, I think we've lost hope in a way, and and that's not that's not good. And i'd like to, you know, I guess my mission is to let's get some hope back, you know, And it starts with that. If we're counting on our leaders and politicians where we're looking in the right place

11:55 the wrong place, we got to look within and we have to start, you know, in community and build out. Well to that end. I really like, I'm going to read a quote from your book that I really appreciate that. I just think that makes so much and you so much sense. You say, the true essence of living the swift method, which we're going to talk about here later, ladies and gentlemen, and acting on it in your life is about you living a full life, a life where you are consciously creating, acting and planning or making a life that has a balance, meaningful moments and goodness in it every day. So for me, one of the key words there is consciousness being very very intentional about what it is that you allow yourself to think, which we can do anytime, doesn't matter who's in the White House, who's governing your country, or what's going on in the world.

12:45 We have complete control over what happens between our two ears exactly, and that I would like to call out it and encourage people to step into that space and focus there. Yeah, And I'm glad you did at least, because that's that's the biggest battle is in it is the thoughts between your two years, the beliefs, the patterns, how the traumas maybe show up and affect your current life. And and I think you know where we need to take those things into account as well when we're seeing in your work, you know where you're you're you're teaching groups and speaking to groups and and and you're not seeing people passionate about something, and I think we need to heal within. And also it's a battle every day, uh in the mind, you know who's who's It's like that the story about the two wolves, the angry wolf the good wolf. Who do I Who do I feed? No? Yes? Yeah, so you know feed the good one?

13:51 Well yeah, and you know and one to that end. One of the things that I also align with you on is this notion you talk about how your your system really empowers people to live in a way that a lot that has they have the encouragement to share their passions, their their abilities, and their gifts and live in that full life that will ultimately support you. And what I what I know from my own experience of teaching, set of organizations, multitudes of research, etcetera, is that when we do give ourselves over to our passions, what happens is our energy completely rises and we become infectious. And that's why I encourage leaders to build into their culture spaces for people to talk about and pursue their passions, even if it isn't directly dad to their job, because it so increases the energy and vitality of the organization and the people around them. It becomes a positive virus, if you will, of sorts. And so when you do that, now you raise the whole energy across your whole entire life and you have more energy to pursue more things in general.

14:49 But you know, Lance, we were talking about our friend Lance and he just posted on his LinkedIn profile the Gallop study about engagement in the workplace. Yes, I saw that and it wasn't pretty, No, it was rather pretty ugly. Yeah. So that then you're also you know, you're you're you're going upstream against that too. So you've got disengagement, You've got managers that are tired. And I think, I think in the sense that's another challenge that nobody talks about her, but it's there, and it's it's there with like I check in with my you know, friends and colleagues and how you doing. I'm really tired, you know, And and and so there's this sort of fatigue of fighting up hill. And for the past five years it's been been one thing after another, you know, in the in the news cycle or in society, and it just where's where's one down? And I think when you're worn down, where are then how can we access that pashion.

16:08 Yeah, no, I understand. We're going to give our listeners and viewers a little bit of time to think about as we go on our first break, and I would encourage you listeners and viewers to think about, you know, where are things going great in your life and where do you feel that warned down piece. That means we can start to get you focused on getting out of But let's go ahead and take our first break. I'm your host, Doctor Earlis Cortez. We've were in the area with David Cohen of Your Big Venture, where he specializes in helping business owners mind their strengths, get clear on their value their markets, and then begin to develop a sales and marketing game that gets results. We've been talking so far about his focus and passion on helping empower and enable youth in work and business, as well as the importance of now intentionality. After the break, we're going to get into his swift model. We'll be right back.

17:12 Doctor Elise Cortes is a management consultant specializing in meaning and purpose. An inspirational speaker and author, she helps companies visioneer for greater purpose among stakeholders and develop purpose inspired leadership and meaning infused cultures that elevate fulfillment, performance, and commitment within the workforce. To learn more or to invite a lease to speak to your organization, please visit her at elisecortes dot com. Let's talk about how to get your employees working on purpose. This is working on Purpose with doctor Elise Cortes. To reach our program today or to open a conversation with Elise, send an email to Elise alisee at elisecortes dot com. Now back to working on Purpose. Thanks for starting with us, and welcome back to working on Purpose. I'm your host, doctor Elis Cortes, as I am dedicated to helping create a world where organizations thrived because they're people thrive. We're led by inspirational leaders that help them find and contribute their greatness, and we do business at Betters in the World. I keep researching and writing my own books, so one of my last ones came out. It's called a Great Revitalization, How activating meaning and purpose can radically in liven your business.

18:26 And I wrote it to help leaders understand the today's needs of the workforce. What do they want to need to stay engaged, to give their best and stick around, and then I offer you twenty two best practices to equip you to provide the culture and leadership that they crave. You can find my books on Amazon or my personal site at least cortes dot com if you are just now joining us. My guest is David Cohen. He's the co author of Live Life Swift. So let's talk about Swift. It's always fun. I always think it's interesting. I only got into the idea of an acronym in my last book and it was really fun. So let's get situated with our listeners and viewers about what is this akrom, what does a breakdown to and why is important? So let's start with the S, which is for social. Talk to us about social.

19:11 So it's about, you know, the whole concept is about having balance and meaning and purpose in how you live your life. And you can't just do one thing you want to. You know, there's five key pillars and that's the Swift model. So the idea of social is make sure you have a social life. Make sure you go out, you know, have coffee with a friend, or go catch a movie on a Friday afternoon, and cut out of work earlier, your business early. You know, be sure to have a social life and good people around you. So I think that really that's really about it. And so set your social goals and intentions. I'll share a funny story and I shared it in the book This Squipt Con.

20:00 I finally acted on it like two and a half three years ago, and the book came out this past January. But it's been with me for a while since, like two thousand and three. And in a lamb before time, before Facebook and linked in podcasting, there was no podcasting there anyway. I was speaking out of business for a town just outside of Toronto, and their economic development team had these breakfast meetings and they brought me out to speak and I spoke about this with method. And so when I've shared my social goals, you know, my goal was to go on a blind day.

20:41 You know this in your book. This is great. And some woman at the end comes up to me, who I kind of knew from my business set in that area. So are you really real about being fixed up? Because I have somebody for you. And actually we actually went on our date, our applying d and and unfortunately she was moving out west, like you know, it would be like you're in Texas, so it would be like in New York and she's moving to Texas. Right. It didn't go very short, but it was you got to be careful what you wish for, what you say, because it just might happen. So, you know, set those social roles, make sure you have a social life. Very important.

21:28 Yeah, and you know, I like you talk about, you know, what amazing people are. Are you wanting to connect with or reconnect with? You know, set your sights high, set your standards for where you want to where you want to go in life. I think that's such a great situation, you know, for me, you talk about other hobbies and things. You know. I lived in Spain and Brazil in my mid twenties and when I came back, I I was like, one day I am going to take tango. Well, I finally because I saw it in Argentina. I started taking tango in twenty nineteen and I love it. So I'll be going to class tonight. I take improv classes, storytelling classes, and singing classes. So I'm with you. I think I'm doing good on yes in many regards.

22:12 Yes you are, and we should talk in the form of a question. Absolutely, yeah, you know, and and yes and right, and improv is AGAs about yes and yeah build on that, and it's really wonderful. It's it's helped me in so many ways anyway. So it helps me be a better speaker, a better presenter, a better connector. And and it turns out it's pretty fun too, it is. I took it as well, so I've done three courses so far, and it allows you to be that. Little kid absolutely and co create with people, which is so fun. You have no idea what's going to turn out, what's going to be on the other side, and so really really quick. I told the story from my storytelling class, which is about my beloved grandmother and me making cookies for her and burning them and she proclaiming them to be the best cookie she'd ever had, because I think they want to do And afterwards, the improv came up to rift on our three stories, and I was delighted to know that they riffed a lot on mine. And what they did is there were four of them. At one point they created a scene where the flower and the butter that was all over the floor got into a fight. It was so fun. That's the kind of stuff that you just don't go in with a plan with it just emerges. And that's what's delightful about it.

23:26 And you see, as I'm talking ladies and gentlemen, what's happening. My energy is elevating. So when we connect with these kinds of things that we were passionate about, that light us up. That's what happened. So we want you to go do more of that. Yeah, do more social and have fun. You're ready. And what if you threw into the mix this angry crazy shot making those these. Are the worst cookies I've ever seen. Yeah, yeah, like adding a character, you know, and in flavor to that, right, absolutely, like the characters are. The Oh it's so fun. Okay, well let's go onto W who stands for work or businesses. Let's talk about that.

24:10 So again, you know, this is what we do for eight to ten hours a day, sometimes longer. Sometimes six days a week, sometimes if you're self employed, seven which I don't advise. So there's really about setting your intentions, the actions and the goals and the areas of your business or work that you want to accomplish in that month ahead. So you do this char out monthly and it's a great way to sort of Hey, you're okay last month, and then this is what I'm going to create this month. And work in your business are super important. So I'm a big believer of creating action plans or these are the core areas that I need to work on in order to move forward. So if you keep moving forward. We talked about you know, you talked about how people are lack of passionate, and I talk about this fatigue and everything. I think we can still be passionate in spite of those factors. And one way to do it is to take baby steps. So make that take baby steps in your business, in your work. You know you don't. You don't all of a sudden, No, I'm opening my door. You're going to be a millionaire by next week. Right, Well that doesn't happen too often, so if at all. So, but take those baby steps and keep working towards it. So it just gives you that sort of framework and balance and get you present to what's a priority for you to to do well

25:44 in your business in your work and or work. Yeah, and you know we're both business owners. It takes something to build a business. And one of the things I appreciate about you there's a reason that not everybody is an entrepreneur. But I like that you also advise to you know, make list of what you need to do, but then make it fun. Maybe maybe make it, make a challenge fun, or even into some kind of a game or a project, so that you can find some joy in that and it doesn't become something you have to do, but something that you're you get to do that light you up. And I like that. I also really really like the idea that you advise of sharing your goals, your vision, and your ideas. Mindfully share with people so they can hear what you're up to and help hold you accountable and also encourage you. I like, I think those are really powerful pieces of advice.

26:30 Yeah, you know, or get an accountability partner, ask my team to help you move forward. And you're not familiar with that in your work. Yeah, absolutely. And I also like, you know, and this is really important and when I'm when I'm working with organizations and that I'm coaching the leaders inside those organizations often part of what I'm doing with them as we work together over time. It's just what you alluded to earlier, where I help hold up the mirror and say, hang on to David, let's celebrate what you just did and said there two months ago you would not have done on that. You're right, So now they get to claim and own that growth and then they get to help it helps fold it into their person. But that celebration of like you do by looking at these things monthly, really helps you recognize you are making progress. And I really like that part of your system.

27:16 Yeah, and you could take this into a company, to the Swift method and as a team, what are you going to work on over the next month? What what are the high priorities and must do? Yes? Yes, okay. So the next letter in the acronym of swift Swift is I for inner talk about inner. Yeah, that's really about nurturing your inner world, your inner self. So we talked about it already about managing the thoughts and some so glad you brought that up. But it's also about taking time out to nurture your internet world, which is you know, you do that with prayer reading, you know, if it's you know, reading a passage in the Bible, if that's for you, you know, then do it right. And I'm meditating. I meditate, I do journaling, and I do a gratitude journal every morning before I get going and got I've got to be able to do those in order to have a positive day. And I also set my intentions for that day. So that's what in it is about learning, reading, meditating, journaling, studying.

28:33 You know, so you've got to work on your inner game and then you know, I am even talked about doctor Stephen Kevey and that would be my version of sharpening the sun. Yes, I do several of them. I have several of some of the similar practices that you have. And it's so important to cultivate your presence, your mindfulness, and your awareness. That's part of what those things tend to do as well, which is wonderful. Okay, let's talk about f which is financial with the dollar apart the money part. Yeah, when we did our research for this, we had data testers and this is one section that none of them liked. It's like, yeah, but you've got to think about the money. You know, you've got to have a game plan. You can't just you know, have a goal in mine and have a game plan and get proper help around you to accomplish it. Plus, in this day and age, it's not just dollars and cents, or stocks and bonds, or real estate or minerals like gold and silver.

29:35 Now you've got you know, cryptocurrency, and you know all kinds of other ways to make money. And you know also the financial ties into your work or business. I mean, if we're going to leave in some cases it's it's it's directly related to the amount of money that we're making or not making. So it's important. It's a section where you can write down the the actions and the goals and your intentions and work on it. Yeah, and I think we both agree. It doesn't matter how old or how young you are. It just start, you know, it's just now is a good time. If you haven't started anything on this front before, today's good.

30:15 Yeah, exactly. I love that you said that. Yeah, Okay. The last one, which is really quite delightful and surprising. The T stands for take care of Yeah, and Matt is. Taking care of your health, your family, and also doing work in the community, taking care of others in the community to make the community stronger. How this relates or aligns with me or speaks to my heart. You might remember that I'm a logo therapist, which is Victor Frankel's logo existential philosophy for psychology, and a lot of what he's talking about is, you know, when you employ the idea of self transcendence and you're focused not on yourself but on other people, that lends to a sense of vitality. We are better as humans when we were helping and serving others. We're not absorbed in our own problems, our own issues, but rather helping someone else. So this one really speaks to me for those reasons.

31:13 Yeah, and I agree with you, and I'm glad that it dops. I feel too that if we take the we get out of our own way and let go of what's in our way when we're helping others. Oh my god, the gift in that is incredible. And we share stories in the book about helping others in the community, and I think you get a lot more from it than what you give, and it's really incredible. So I feel like we all need to have some element of give back.

31:54 I completely agree. And now you've summoned a story for me, which I'll share when we come back from the break. I'm your host, doctor Release Cortez. We rre on the area with David Cohen of Your Big Venture, where he specializes in helping business owners mind their strengths, get clear on their value their markets, and then begin to develop a sales and marketing game plan that gets results. We've been talking about his swift model to live your best life. After the break, We're going to get into some various ways you can apply some of the ideas in the ways that he thinks about things and helps his clients. We'll be right back.

32:40 Doctor Elise Cortez is a management consultant specializing in meaning and purpose. An inspirational speaker and author, she helps companies visioneer for a greater purpose among stakeholders and develop purpose inspired leadership and meaning infused cultures that elevate fulfillment, performance, and commitment within the workforce. To learn more, or to invite at least to speak to you your organization, please visit her at elisecortes dot com. Let's talk about how to get your employees working on purpose. This is working on purpose with doctor Elise Cortes. To reach our program today or to open a conversation with Elise, send an email to Elise A. L i Se at eliscortes dot com.

33:24 Now back to Working on Purpose. Thanks for staying with us and welcome back to Working on Purpose. I'm your host, Doctor Release Cortes. As you know by now, this program is dedicated to empowering and inspiring you along your journeys to realize more of your potential. So if you want to learn more about how we can work together and learn about the Gusto Academy, which is an online feature, you can make your way to our main website gustodeshnow dot com and then go to the training tap and you can find the Academy if you are just now joining us. My guest is David Cohen. He's the co author of Live Life's Swift. So the story I mentioned before we went on break about giving back.

34:06 So in two thousand and five, after Hurricane Katrina had hit living here in Dallas. I was married at the time and we had a two and a half year old daughter, and my husband had gone to high school in at the Jesuit High School in New Orleans, and so when the hurricane hit, he's like, these people are gonna need some help. So he called the local Dallas Jesuit school and said, hey, can we help? Is there something you need? You need canned goods, Do you need diapers? Do you need rooms? And a house? What do you need? They said, rooms in a house? How many do you How many can you give? And we said four, we have four at the time. She said, I'll take them all. So we ended up like early September two thousand and five, taking in three high school senior boys and then one set of their parents for a while, and they lived with us, and so my young daughter got three big brothers right over night. And it was amazing. The experience was amazing. And I remember writing in the Christmas letter that year saying that just what you said, you know, we extended a hand to take in these boys, thinking that we would make a difference in their lives, when in fact what had happened is they made a profound difference in our lives and we're still in touch, they're still connected to us. It was such a profound experience, Yeah, I.

35:15 Bet, and such oh man, such pain and devastation in that. I remember watching and there's on you know, CNN or whatever. Here we get CNN here in drama, and after three days I just had stop. It's like this is too much to bear. Yeah, it was amazing to be with them as they went through that. You know, so they saved us for the four months while their school was rebuilt, and then they went back to New Orleans to finish the rest of school year. Anyway, So yeah, so that speaks again to the power of the human spirit to persevere. And part of that is I want to get to one of your your pieces of advice that we can use to apply to make our lives the best and their fullest, and that is to believe even ourselves.

36:03 Yeah, if you don't, nobody else is. I don't. I don't mean to be flipping about that, but you really do have to have some sort of belief or even self love and self nurturing because it's as an entrepreneur this these past few years, I've found it the toughest, most challenging two years in my business life than I've ever experienced. And so we need to adapt and adopt really smart habits, and you know, the Slip method is definitely going to help you do that. And yeah, just you need that kind of support.

36:49 You do. You need to be reminded of, you know, believing yourself. And so I love to show this example. It's from the movie Cinderellaman. Russell Crowe is you know, is a is a boxer and his his his coach, I forget his name, but I love him as an actor. Every time that Russell was going in to go in for a fight, you know, they'd be in the prep room and his coaches put his tape and his gloves on him, and he's and so the coach is standing, Russell Crowe is on the lane, on the on the table, and his coach says, who was that that knocked out so and so in the third you know round, and Russell I believe that was me? And then the coach goes on, Hey, who was that that? You know, he goes on with a few other things where he's surfacing and remembering some of his fights and one of the best times that he does that, so he's Russell goes, that was me? And then what the last time he says that. He goes, but I'm beginning to believe it might have been you. He did all that stuff. But the point is his coach was helping him believe in himself.

37:55 And we do need that sometimes if we can't summit for ourselves being association choosing who just uke choosing who to socialize with and be in communion with can help remind us of those things when we forget how great we really are. Yeah. I just saw Lisa Nichols on Tony Robbins and Dean Gratziosi event this last week on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and she spoke on Saturday about she was a swimmer, competitive swimmer as a team, but she was like the worst. She never won. She came it loss, you know. Anyway, she was bumped up to compete with older girls and she said, no, I'm going to make a difference this time.

38:41 I'm not going to finish last. I'm not going to be a loser. And she spoke to her grandmother right before the swim meet, and her grandmother instilled this winners never quit, quarters, never win, and so dove into the pool in the race. She that was her mantra. She's swimming, you know, winners quit, quitters never win, winners never quit. And you know what, she came in first. Yeah, mindset is so powerful. I just remembered the coach's name is Paul Giamanti. I want to make sure why he's such a such a beautiful soul, I know, and. I think that movie was fund here in Toronto actually because I really had a find of mine that had a big part.

39:27 Amazing. Okay, So another piece of advice that you that you offer is to act on our goals and our dreams. Well enough, but. That's important, you know, happy have big dreams and you never know you might you might get And that's where Lance really he actually wrote, or you know, I quoted him in his work and yeah, I have those big dreams were we forget like life's magical and yet you know, been bogged down by you know, all this nonsense over the past five probably longer, but it just seems there is more of an intensity lately. And so don't forget to dream, you know, and I have that big goal.

40:17 Just share a really quick story around that. So one of my dreams is to go to Africa to teach. I'm a little I know that, yes, yeah, right, and I'm. A little nervous about that. So I'm also you know, moving into a new direction with the business with with working with youth in nineteen to thirty five and two capacities, right, so I apply. There's a site here in Toronto called ripen RI I P. E. N. Dot ca A and you can put up proposal in to get help from students to help you with maybe market research or you know, maybe strategy or whatever. So I did that and it was around in January and I think I'm not getting anywhere with this, right, all of a sudden, the next day I get a request from Cabindish University, going Cavumbish University.

41:09 Where is this? So we meet and they're in Zambia and they want to work with me. And matter of fact, I have a meeting yesterday and then we have one last meeting on Friday and we'll complete the work. But now I've got a relationship with somebody that entrepreneurs So these are students that are in entrepreneurship or business and I'm going to definitely pursue that and talk to them down the road about maybe if I don't teach online maybe for now, but within the next year to come in person and meet the students and speak to the class. So that isn't that funny? It just showed up.

41:52 Well, there's something about speaking it into the universe, right, There is definitely then just putting it out there. But why do you want to go to f what is it about Africa's car. I don't know, it's it's in a way, it's a bit scary to go there because like there is like such poverty, and you know that that kind of scares me. But and then it's so far away, uh from from my little place here. Uh yeah, it's that and and going somewhere where I've never been, and I'm so out of my element and my you know, normal routine. And it's like if you're not going to grow, if you don't stretch yourself. So you know, I'm all that, I'm going to go true debt.

42:39 Well, listeners and viewers, you know that I'm a huge fan of world travel, and my anthology has stories from women who live in Africa, and I am coming to see them at some point in person as well. So who knows, maybe we're on the same bus, David, but yeah, maybe that'll be great right right well together, Well, that speaks to like one of the other things that you'd like to talk about, you talk about life balance is vital, So speak to that, and then I'll add my two cents to that. You know, you burn out, especially now, you know you burn out after a while. But if you're just a one trick, pony, you burn out and so you live a full life. We're only here for a short time.

43:25 Live a full life and your doss at everything you know, and and not not that it has to all work out, you know, in some case it doesn't. Not that everybody is going to be your favorite person. But you know, if you're socializing, but socialize the people that lift your spirits and that bring you joy and that you can learn from them, you know. Yeah, just how soak it all up. We're only here for a short term or a short time, so soak it all up and and live that full life. Okay, So that that's that's interesting. So to me, what you you just said is different from life balance that I would call the full ingredient, you know, soup is what you just talked about. I thought you were saying, you know, like for example, we hear work life balance all the time, and and just last week we were having a conversation of that it's better to go for work life harmony or work life integration and balance because balance implies, you know, a scarcity. It's either this or that.

44:26 So I like the way you described that and totally alignment with that. Yeah, let's that's why you know, we're all about going for the Gusto here at Gusto now right. That's yeah, that's that's our thing. Yeah, and that's so important, you know, live with gusto fire and all the cylinders, you know. Yeah, and have a balanced approach. Not that it's work life balance. It's like, have a balanced approach. Don't just be all work, don't play you all have nothing in the end. Enjoy the buffet of life. Yes, yeah, I always tell people, you know, when it comes to running, for example, to keep myself going, I've got a formula for how I keep running, and that is I follow the best looking man in the field and then I have somebody release the wild animal behind me and it works every time to keep running.

45:21 I love I love your philosophy too. There's so much, you know. I had you as a guest on the book event back in February and for your you know, viewers and listeners. You know, doctor Lisa is the real deal. You said yes immediately you came on, you did a talk. You're so gracious and professional, and now tonight I find it that you do im problems. So you're just you're just the real deal. Well, thank you, David. I'm trying to, you know, eat the whole buffet of life too, So I happen to be a pretty good eater, so you know it helps. Okay, So to finish this conversation, we have just a couple of minutes here, I want to talk about, you know, this idea of the big challenges, big dreams. You know, they it's hard, like writing a book, for example, is hard, those bigger, longer term projects. So give us your perspective, your advice, and how do we how do we keep ourselves focused on those big challenges to make them come true?

46:22 Two words, there are three words. Chunk it down. Just do it in bite sizes because it took over like three years to get that or two and a half to get that book going, and and there's phases. So you know, enjoy the journey because you know you'll you'll end up it'll be on Amazon and eventually, just keep enjoying the journey, keep working through it, take take it in. You know, it's not it doesn't have to be overnight, you know, take your time with it, and and chunk it down, do it and bite sized pieces. It's it's a lot nicer I like writing Saturday mornings, for example, the first thing morning and I have a coffee and I have nice jazz music on and I'm in a nice place to write, you know. Yeah.

47:07 Yeah. And the other thing that you talk about in the book that I really align with too is just get to it. Just start. And the worst thing that you can do is say I'll get to it one day, because you don't know if you get that one day. So today is a good day to start and just do some one small step and that will also make you feel better, help stoke your enthusiasm and your energy if you just do something every day. Yeah, an hour every day I teach. I'm teaching business planning tomorrow and people get bigd oun Oh I hate since plans for so long and gedious blah blah blah. It's a just two and a half hour a day. By a month you'll have yeah. Yeah. Well, it's been beautiful to get to know you better, David, all these times that we've been on our mentorship calls where LANs is pouring into us and so getting connected there.

47:54 But now I feel like I know you on a whole different level. Thank you so much for coming on working and talking about your life, your business US and Live Life Swift. Beautiful. Thanks for allowing me to be your guests. And what a joy. I remember booking this back in January and I'm thinking, may, oh my god, it's so long, and then here we are, and what a joy you are to be on your show. And I love the work you're doing, so you know, keep up the amazing things you're doing. Amazing work. Well, thank you, David. Would you like to give thoseeners and viewers say thirty seconds of a perspective, pearls of wisdom encouragement?

48:36 Get the book. It's on Amazon, Live Life Swift. Just just live your life, you know, to the best of your Just do your best. You can go to bed every day and say I didn't make best, whether it's socializing or your business or you know, your money. I'm doing my best. That's all I can do. Beautiful. Thank you listeners and viewers. If you want to learn more about David Cohen, the work he does at Your Big Venture, or his new Big book, Live Life Swift, start by visiting his website. It's your Big Venture dot com. Your Big Venture dot Com. Last week. If you missed the live show, you can catch up your recorded podcast or wherever you get yours. We were on air with doctor Tracy bowen Brauer, who is a PhD sociologist studying happiness, work, life fulfillment, and the future of work. We talked about these seemingly elusive concepts and how we can put them into action into your culture. Next week will be on the air with the dynamic duel of Fuke Niniaya Michaels and her co author at Nibea Abusa to talk about their new beautiful book called Modern Leadership inspired by Mother Nature.

49:45 I can't wait for this and by the way, one of them is from Africa. See you then, and remember that work is one of the best adventures and means of realizing our potential and making the impact we crave and can give us the opportunity to do business in a way that betters the world. So let's work on Purpose. We hope you've enjoyed this week's program. Be sure to tune into Working on Purpose featuring your host, doctor Elise Cortes each week on W four CY. Together we'll create a world where business operates conscientiously, leadership inspires and passion performance and employees are fulfilled in work that provides the meaning and purpose. They crave see you there. Let's work on purpose.