The Strategic Living Podcast with Brian Holmes

SLP246 - When Victory Is The Only Option

We are creatures of comfort, craving the familiar and “normal”. We unconsciously defend – even rationalize – our positions and attitudes as a way of avoiding exposure or risk.

Most times, however, you have to leave safety and security behind and risk everything to commit your life and future to your unknown destiny.

There will be times in life when you need to cut all escape routes, and stand with victory as your only choice.

Episode Summary:

• If you’re going to succeed, you may have to sabotage your own escape mechanisms! Are you really all in?

Application:

• The Story of Cortez
• We need to identify what we regularly retreat to, and if necessary, eliminate it.
• Being comfortable can rob you of motivation, urgency, or focus necessary for living by design.
• What got you here is not going to get you there.
• We have to burn the boats!

5 Questions You Must Ask Yourself:

• What brought me here? (What is my ship?)
• How have I usually responded to resistance or fear of the unknown?
• What am I clinging to as a fallback or safety net?
• What do I need to elminate (burn) in order to have nowhere to retreat back to?
• Am I willing to commit everything to the pursuit of my next level?

Closing Thoughts:

• You are at the threshold of a new conquest, a new territory, a completely new level of performance and productivity.
• Will you go all in? Or will you cave to fear?

SLP245 - Monday Mastery Edition : The Investment Mindset

Most people consider the “cost”, and everything they encounter is a consumable. What would happen if we shifted our mindset to an investment rather than a cost, and began to reap the returns from what we’re investing in? This is a critical and crucial shift in how we view how we can improve our influence and impact. Listen in and see if you agree.

SLP244 - 7 Tough-Love Truths About Relationships

It’s been said one is lucky (and even blessed) if in their lifetime they have a handful of true friends. As you and I grow in life, and pursue the things the Father has for us, we will find not everyone is willing to go where you are going.

I want to share with you a little more about my journey the last few years, and how along the way, it has been necessary to evaluate relationships, and make adjustments in order to continue our progress. In this episode I’ll revisit 7 Tough-Love Truths About Relationships.

An interesting exercise is to go back in your life and make a list of all the “friends” you’ve had. Then, consider how many of those same people are no longer a part of your life. Ask yourself, “why?”

Everything, even relationships, has a time and a season. Some relationships last a lifetime, though those are few and far between. Most relationships are seasonal; they come into our life for a time and serve a wonderful purpose in that season, but then they are gone.

7 Tough-Love Truths About Relationships:

1. Not everyone is called to walk the same path.
2. Not everyone says “YES!” to God’s invitation to follow Him into unchartered territory.
3. Not all relationships will transition with you into a new season or place.
4. You cannot expect someone to understand if they are not on the same path as you.
5. Most people choose the status quo – – it’s just easier.
6. In order to follow the Father’s voice, we oftentimes must leave what is familiar and embrace the unknown.
7. Trust God will bring NEW and meaningful relationships in your life that will build you up, encourage you, and cheer you on to purpose.

Closing Thoughts:

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  ~ Proverbs 18:24

SLP243 - Monday Mastery Edition : Dominate Your Day (In TWO Hours!)

Most people I know rush through their mornings and spend the rest of their day trying to catch up, or find themselves having spent their whole day feeling behind. If you put this simple play into practice, however, you can change your whole WEEK (month, year…) simply by tweaking your morning. Listen in today as we talk about how to dominate your ENTIRE day, in two hours time!

SLP242 - Reading Between The Lines Of Leadership : An Interview with Jeff Brown

You’ve heard it said many times, “Readers are leaders”

This is absolutely true, however, leading is about more than just filling your head with a lot of stuff; it is about learning, and most importantly, implementing what you learn.

My guest today exemplifies what this looks like in every way! Jeff and I met earlier this year at a Ray Edwards event, and became fast friends. He is a wonderful leader, and has a beautiful heart.

Most notably, he is making a HUGE impact in our world.

I am incredibly excited to revisit his interview on the program. Let’s go right now to my exclusive interview with Jeff Brown.

About Jeff:

Jeff Brown is a podcaster, mentor and speaker who is passionate about helping others bridge the gap between intentionality and implementation.

He achieves this every day by sharing his professional insights, and the insights of successful people all over the world, on leadership, personal development, productivity, entrepreneurship and more through his blog, podcast, and through personal consulting and speaking.

Before beginning his highly-acclaimed, top-ranking Read to Lead podcast, he spent 26-years in radio.

He lives near Nashville, TN with his wife Annie, and two miniature Dachshunds, Fritz and Frank.

Jeff has interviewed a number of New York Times bestselling authors including John Maxwell, Seth Godin, Dan Miller, Daniel Pink, Simon Sinek, Chris Brogan (not once but twice), Gary Vaynerchuk and Liz Wiseman among others.

Connect with Jeff:

Jeff’s Website: Click Here

Connect on Facebook

Connect on Twitter

Connect on LinkedIn

Closing Thoughts:

• Connect with Jeff!
• Were you inspired to read and lead?

SLP241 - Monday Mastery Edition : The Double Minded Dilemma

When we see what we want or even need to do, sometimes our head says yes but it is disconnected from our heart and we’re not sure we can do what we really want or need. Doubt leads to hesitation. Hesitation leads to failure. Failure creates shame and condemnation. Simply said, double mindedness leads to failure and shame! Let’s switch this around to thinking clearly and propelling us to success.

SLP240 - Breaking Free From The Addiction Of Approval

Hi. My name is Brian Holmes, and I am a recovering people pleaser. Before you get your feathers ruffled, I’m willing to bet you’re one, too!

Why do so many of us struggle with pleasing others and gaining their approval? What motivates us to say yes when we know we shouldn’t? Is it possible to break free from people-pleasing and performance-based approval?

In this episode, we’ll revisit an issue that seemed to resonate with so many of you and answer these questions and more as we talk about  Breaking Free From The Addiction of Approval.

You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
~ John Lydgate

What is the ROOT of our approval addiction?

Most often, this tendency can be tracked back to a relationship or an event where one’s value was inherently linked to their performance.

What is the RESULT of our approval addiction?

• We say yes when we know we should say no.
• We accept jobs that do not bring us satisfaction or benefit us financially.
• We make promises we can’t keep.
• We create an unsustainable life!

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you have a hard time saying “no”?

2. Do you find yourself striving to meet what you perceive to be other people’s expectations?

3. Do you lose self-esteem when people criticize or question you?

4. Do you often find yourself trying to help people understand why you are doing what you are doing?

5. Do you feel as though you never measure up?

6. Are you consumed with seeking approval or recognition?

7. Are you a people pleaser?

7 Truths You Must Embrace:

1. You are loved, accepted, and approved of by God.

2. You have tremendous value.

3. Your value is not based on what you do, but who you are.

4. The people in your life will always have their expectations of you, but only you can determine what you expect from yourself.

5. People pleasing is a plague. It will only bring you misery, frustration, and less than success.

6. You cannot expect people to understand where you are or where you are going. They simply cannot.

7. “If you live for people’s acceptance, you will die from their rejection.” ~ LeCrae

Tips For Breaking Free:

• Unplug for a moment.
• Decompress and take the pressure off yourself.
• Evaluate by listing your gifts, talents, abilities, and qualities.
• Get Clarity. Who am I, and why am I here?
• Identify the areas you feel you need to please others.
• Ask. Why? What is the root of this need in me?
• Decide. I will resolve this root issue and I will no longer be driven by fear.
• Create boundaries. Make decisions ahead of time.
• Be Accountable.
• Practice “no”.

Closing Thoughts:

• We teach people how to treat us.
• Most people love you as long as you fit in the box they’ve created for you.
• Don’t be afraid to disappoint. Do what is right and let the chips fall where they may.

SLP239 - Monday Mastery Edition : Deflection = Defeat

Have you ever known anyone who, no matter what seems to happen, they always blame someone else? The art of deflection is quite destructive. Take ownership, accountability, and responsibility rather than deflecting those as excuses. When you own it, you can really go places.

SLP238 - Rest : Is It Risk Or Reward

Tired eyes rarely see a good future, and a tired mind rarely makes good decisions.” ~ Mike Murdock

One of the most damning traits of the western culture is an obsession with being busy. There is a false supposition many have bought into: if you are not busy doing something, you are not valuable.

In the US, a staggering percentage of people experience depression, hypertension, disease, and so many other challenges, and so much of this is tied to stress, anxiety, and lack of REST.

This episode, I want to talk to you about real rest: living from a place of stillness and quiet, even in the midst of chaos. I want to talk to you about being intentional with your life (living strategically), and re-centering in the rest that God has provided us. Today, let’s discuss Practicing the Principle of Rest.

The Value of Being Still:

He says “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. ~ Psalm 46:10-11 [NASB]

There is incredible value in being still. Being still (and quiet) allows us to:

• Regroup; re-center; re-connect with the One who holds our world in His hands
• De-clutter and de-compress
• Hear HIS VOICE and know HIS PLANS
• Position ourselves for change and transition
• Find peace, confidence, and the courage to go forward

Practicing Sabbath:

Hebrews 4:9-16

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Practicing Sabbath (rest) positions us to receive mercy and grace!

12 Benefits to Practicing the Principle of Rest:

1. It allows you to repair
2. It allows you to reboot
3. It allows you to be renewed
4. It allows you to receive (or be filled up)
5. It allows you to rebuild
6. It allows you to see more clearly
7. It allows you to hear God’s voice more clearly
8. It gives us confidence to draw close to Him
9. It provides you with peace that is not comprehensible
10. It provides you freedom from expectations of others
11. It allows you to release more of your creativity and potential
12. It shifts our focus from what we can do to what God can do when we walk with Him

Closing Thoughts:

• Are you tired, burned out, frustrated?
• Do you feel like you are living your life to please others?
• Are you stressed and anxious about your future?
• Do you feel as if you have to perform in order to feel accepted, loved, and approved of?

SLP237 - Monday Mastery Edition : What Is Your Financial Philosophy?

What you believe about money governs what you believe and act out in so many other areas of your life. If you believe you should lack, you will. If you believe you can bless others, you will. But it’s hard to bless with what you don’t have, right? Tune in to today’s Monday Mastery for a discussion on financial philosophies.