Episodes

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Whether we realize it or not, there are laws that exist and these laws, or principles, dictate the outcomes and results we experience in life.
You may remember my episode on the If/Then Principle, where we unpacked “If _(this)_, then _(that)_.”
Today on our program, I want to share a few of the most powerful principles I’ve discovered, and encourage you to live by them.
Special Announcement:
- Tomorrow (10/31/2015) is the LAST DAY you can enroll in the Ties That Bind Online Traning Program. At 11:59 pm, registration ends and will not be opening again until sometime next year.
- During our BETA launch, you will receive:
- Access to the course
- TTB Book
- Course Study Guide
- Course Transcripts – We took the notes for you!
- All 6 session audios
- Healing the Broken Soul – Bonus Course
- Visit BrianHolmes.com/TIES
12 Principles Guaranteed to Bring You Great Success:
- The Principle of Wholeness
- The Principle of Value
- The Principle of Integrity
- The Principle of Vision
- The Principle of Clarity
- The Principle of the Target (Goals)
- The Principle of Priorities
- The Principle of the Seed
- The Principle of Discipline
- The Principle of Hard Work
- The Principle of Personal Growth
- The Principle of Prosperity
Questions to Ask Yourself:
- How are you doing in these areas?
- Are there areas in your life you desire to take to another level?
- What principles are you currently observing in your life?
- Which principles have you not mastered yet?
- What can you implement TODAY to begin living these principles at a higher level?

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Anthony de Mello shares a story of an eaglet who’s egg was found by a farmer and placed in a chicken’s nest. The eagle spent its life thinking and believing it was a chicken, rather than ever venturing out to discover who it really was. This story captures what can happen if we don’t effectively and regularly assess the relationships we have in our lives.
We’re going to address this very issue today as we talk about Relationship Inventory: Evaluating the Health & Value of Your Relationships.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” ~ Jim Rohn
Characteristics of Healthy Relationships:
- The other person involved in your life is committed to your overall growth.
- This person is as concerned about YOUR well-being and personal health as you are.
- You should NEVER be in the position of always having to be the giver.
- A healthy relationship gives and receives with joy.
- A healthy and meaningful relationship does not ever cause you to violate your conscience, or walk against the plan and will of God for your life.
- A healthy relationship does not manipulate through anger or control, but rather, it motivates through love.
The Law of Association:
Proverbs 13:20
He that walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm (or destruction).
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived and misled! Evil companionships corrupt and deprave good manners and moral character.
The 7 Quality Characteristics of a Healthy, Life-Giving Relationship:
- Love (as thyself)
- Honor (celebration of difference)
- Truth, Honesty & Integrity
- Mutual Respect
- Trust
- Covenant (faithfulness, loyalty, commitment)
- Reciprocity (an exchange of life)

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
We’re going to continue talking about relationships, since they’re so important. How do we navigate changes in relationships? Are all relationships meant to last a lifetime? What do you do when a relationship is tested? What do you do when a relationship’s season has come to an end? How do we steward the transitions in relationships from one level to another?
Today on the program, we will be looking at these kinds of questions, and talking about how to steward the different seasons in our relationships.
There are three things that bring change (positive or negative) to a relationship.
- Testing
- Seasons
- Personal Choice
What Brings Testing?
- A traumatic event
- An offense
- Hurt feelings
- Hard words
- Betrayal
Your reaction determines how the “test” is scored.
Seasons
Not every relationship is for a season. As you move from one season in your life to another, your relationships will have to adjust, grow with you, or be left behind. As tough as it may be to reconcile, as your life moves to the next level, not every relationship you have today is meant to continue on with you.
Personal Choice
When you DECIDE to do things differently in life, this creates a demand on your present relationships that needs to be answered. Some people feel you’ve abandoned them, when simply, you’ve answered God’s calling in your life.
7 Things You Can Do When A Relationship Is Tested
- Don’t react ~ Be still.
- Pray
- Look in the mirror and take accountability
- When your heart is right, go to the person and talk
- Seek to understand
- Offer and receive forgiveness
- Reset
7 Things To Check When A Relationship Is Changing
- Know Thyself: Understand your season
- Is the relationship ending or changing?
- What is God requiring of you?
- Has your change in direction constituted a separation or an adjustment?
- Is this relationship moving from one level to another?
- Has the relationship become toxic or limiting to your moving with God in this season?
- Does this relationship add to you or take from you?

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
What is life outside of relationships? Can relationships be categorized? What about different seasons of our lives – how do relationships play in to those? What’s the best way to navigate relationships when conflict or tests arise?
Today, we’re going to be looking at the answers to these questions and talking about The Relationship Factor: How to Identify, Steward, and Benefit From the People Who Matter Most.
I am deeply concerned about the state of relationships these days. While technology is wonderful, I worry our electronic engagement is replacing real relationships and conversations.
Facebook or texting does not constitute valuable relationships or conversation.
These kinds of relationship points have become easy, comfortable, and even cop-out ways to feel as though we’re not alone. But – are we really in relationship?
God Did Not Create Us To Do Life Alone:
“It is not good for man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18)
A dear mentor and friend once told us, “We need two things in life to be successful: relationships and resources. If you need to choose between the two, always choose relationships, because Godly, intentional relationships will always lead you to the resources you need.”
While each person is uniquely different from another with their own strengths or talents, relationship is what makes life work.
We are designed by God to have meaningful connections, relationships, and to interface with other people in order to add value and receive value.
Categories of Relationships:
- Family
- Mentors, teachers, spiritual leaders
- Friends and peers
- Workplace relationships
- Casual Acquaintances
The Circle Test:
- Self: Know who you are.
- Family: Spouse, children, parent, siblings, etc.
- Close Friends: How close are they, really?
- Acquaintances: Tribe
- The Crowd
- Enemies

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Life has a way of bringing us to circumstances and situations we can’t explain. Things that leave us with more questions than answers. Sometimes, it causes us to even question God, His love for us, and why He would all us to go through this.
What can we do when we’re going through hell in our life? How can we come out the other side?
Today, I want us to talk about this, in an interview with one of my great friends and mentors, Mike Massa.
About Mike Massa
Mike and Nancy Massa formed Convergence Ministries as an extension of their work in Dallas, Texas. Mike is an author, speaker, and an adjunct professor at Christ For The Nations.
Connect With Mike:
TeamConvergence.Org

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
SLP102 - The Pursuit of Excellence : How You Can Live An Uncommon Life
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Excellence is a mindset that drives us to do better. Unfortunately, we live in a culture where mediocrity and doing things half-way have become the norm. Just getting by. Doing just enough. It’s a sorry way to live.
Today, I want to give you a framework for not only living an uncommon life, but for pursuing EXCELLENCE. Living the life God designed for you! Today, we’re going to look at The Pursuit of Excellence: How You Can Live An Uncommon Life.
Real leaders not only strive to excel, but are committed to doing MORE than what is expected of them. They’re all-in and go the extra mile.
Solomon once said, “whatever your hands find to do, do it with everything in your being, because you won’t be able to do anything from the grave.”
At the end of our lives, our legacy with either be s/he lived life to the fullest and made a mark – or – their life wasn’t anything spectacular.
What is Excellence?
Simply stated, excellence is possessing good qualities in high degree.
- Says a lot about who we are, how we’re perceived in the present, and how we’ll be remembered in the future.
- Excellence positions us for unusual opportunities.
- Excellence is to go beyond average, climb higher than the set standard, and climb higher than others’ expectations.
What is Uncommon?
- An uncommon life is the result of uncommon results.
- Uncommon results are the result of uncommon actions.
- Uncommon actions are the result of uncommon commitment.
- Uncommon commitment is the result of an uncommon belief.
- Uncommon beliefs are the result of a refusal to be average or ordinary, and a resolve to be who God says you already are.
My 3-part Challenge To You:
- Refuse to conduct your life in a mediocre fashion.
- Reject the notion that getting by and doing just enough is an acceptable mindset.
- Renew your personal commitment to excellence in everything you do.

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
SLP101 - The Ties That Bind Online Course
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
It is fitting that we begin the second 100 episodes talking about The Ties That Bind. For several weeks, we have visited this subject, and even given you a backdrop for how this story unfolded. The book and the training has literally gone around the world, and changed the lives of thousands of people, but the truth is, we’ve barely scratched the surface.
Today on the program, it is my privilege to announce we have officially launched The Ties That Bind online training program, making it possible for ANYONE who has an internet connection, ANYWHERE in the world, to now access this training and experience for themselves.
In this episode, I want to share with you How You Can Benefit from This Powerful New Tool!
The Course and What We Cover
Let’s begin with this. Everything we do here at Strategic Living is based on what we call the 4 Cornerstones.
- Personal Healing
- Personal Discovery
- Personal Development
- Personal Deployment
This powerful process must begin with Personal Healing! It is difficult, if not impossible to see yourself as God sees you if there are areas in your life that are un-reconciled, unresolved, or un-healed. Wherever there is the condition of perpetual brokenness, a person is less likely to realize their full potential, or experience the fullness of life God intended.
As the SOUL goes, so goes every area of our lives.
This is where the Ties That Bind comes in.
The Ties That Bind is a very important and strategic part of the Personal Healing cornerstone. It addresses unhealthy and debilitating connections we have with people, places, memories, etc. These connections may be emotional, spiritual, business related, or even religious in nature. Whatever they are, if proven unhealthy, they must be addressed and resolved.
In the TTB training program, we walk a person through a very specific process of personal assessment, relationship inventorying, and fruit-to-root evaluation. Ultimately, this training helps you to IDENTIFY the “Ties” that are present in your life that are detrimental, or maybe even destructive as it relates to the realization of your God-given potential and purpose.
Visit BrianHolmes.com/ties to find out more about how YOU can enroll in this life-changing course Download my FREE Personal Transformation Profile!

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
SLP100 - Celebrating 100 Episodes! With Special Guest : Sabrina Holmes
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
This is such an exciting day, as we’re celebrating 100 episodes! It’s quite a feeling to know we’ve reached out to spread the message of healing, success, and purpose, consistently.
We’ve got some special guests and messages as we look back to the beginning of the Strategic Living Podcast, and also as we look ahead and forecast the vision of its future. Tune in as we are Celebrating 100 Episodes!
It’s party time! We’re celebrating in style today as we officially cap 100 original podcast episodes. We’ve put in a lot of work to make this happen, and have tangibly seen the fruit of our labor since.
In 2012, we went to a retreat and so much changed for us with regard to our vision for strategic living. We wanted to spread the right message to the right people, affecting them in the right ways.
In 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia, I attended a speaking conference solely with the intention of learning more about public speaking. What really happened, was I met people in the lane I didn’t yet know I needed to get into. I met Dan Miller, and heard about (then later met) Cliff Ravenscraft and Michael Hyatt.
We launched our podcast in July 2013, and the rest – as they say – is history!
Special Thanks:
I want to take some time to share some special thanks to some of my heroes, mentors, and dear friends:
- Kevin Williams
- Michael Hyatt
- Cliff Ravenscraft
- Richard Heard
- Dan Miller
- Shuronda Scott
- Mike Massa
- Mark Chironna
- Ray Edwards
- My Regency Mastermind Group
- Matthew Casteel
- Val Kleppen, my assistant
- and so many others!
Special thanks to YOU! My audience!
Without you tuning in, sharing our message and helping us grow our reach, none of this would be possible. Your feedback, loyalty, and friendship has been incredible, and I could not do any of this without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Of course, I would be bereft if I didn’t thank the most special person on earth to me and who has supported me through everything I’ve had to do to get to this point. My wife, Sabrina. I want to shout it from the mountaintops how much I love, appreciate and value her, and how much her support has meant to me. Thank you, Sabrina.
What’s Next? Looking Ahead:
Content
- More content, focused especially on building people up.
More interviews with powerful influencers
- We’ve been so fortunate to have some incredible guests, and this is something that will continue.
Brian Holmes and Strategic Living Institute hosted conferences and seminars
- Stay tuned for our first seminar series beginning in October of this year!
Online courses and personal development programs
- See the announcements section below for more information on our realized-dream of sharing The Ties That Bind in the form of an online course, launching soon!
Group Coaching
- 2016 will start off this phenomenal method of coaching. Stay tuned for more details.
Our commitment is to continue pursuing our mission and purpose with earnest … Transforming minds, developing leaders, and changing nations.

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Most people never experience the life that is theirs by design. They lose their way, become disillusioned, confused, or have simply given up.
Today, I want to give you a framework for reclaiming your life. The one God designed for you! Today, we’re going to look at How You Can Reconcile the Past, Re-Engage Your Dreams, and Realize Your Full Potential.
We’re inching up on the launch of our The Ties That Bind online course! This is a significant time, not only in my life, but in our company, in getting this message out to take personal healing and development to the world.
I’ve often talked about The Four Cornerstones For Strategic Living (Personal Healing, Personal Discovery, Personal Development, and Personal Deployment), and today I want to dive a little deeper into the Personal Healing part.
Three Major Areas:
There are three major areas that cause us to miss out on living life to the fullest:
- Past Issues that go unaddressed or remain unresolved
- Dismissal of – or – Disconnect from the dreams and desires of our heart
- Limiting Beliefs that cause us to see life through a skewed set of lenses.
So how do we do we approach these areas, and how do we tap into a fuller, more rewarding life?
Reconcile the Past:
- Take a close, honest look
- Acknowledge the hurts, disappointments, and failures
- Forgive those who wronged you
- Untie yourself from unhealthy and paralyzing connections (unhealthy soul ties)
- Refuse to allow anyone or anything to keep taking you backwards
- Walk away from relationships that are holding you back
- Close the books on the previous chapters, and begin writing a new chapter..
Analyze and Address Limiting Beliefs:
- Examine the truth as you now see it
- Identify beliefs and ideas that are restrictive and not serving your overall potential
- Isolate these beliefs, and systematically erase them
- Replace them with new truth
Re-Engage Your Dreams:
- What have you given up on?
- What dreams or plans did you dismiss or walk away from because life got in the way?
- Who do you want to meet?
- Where do you want to travel?
- Believe again
- Take steps to re-engage ~ Go For It!
Commit to Personal Growth and Development:
- Hire a coach/Find a mentor
- Read/Study
- Online courses
- Address incompetency through learning
- Be willing to start small
- Develop a strategic plan for your life
Do Something!:
- Take action
- Baby steps
- Walk it out
- Be accountable
- Join a mastermind
You CAN reconcile the past, re-engage your dreams, and realize your full potential!

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Today is going to be a reflective episode. You’ve heard us talk about The Ties That Bind over the years, and now we’re about to enter a new chapter in the life of this incredible work.
I thought it might be interesting for you to hear the back story, how my understanding of these principles came about, and the evolution of my perspective on them. Also, I really want you to hear the WHY behind this powerful truth. This is an exciting time for us in taking this message to the world!
My Story:
View at this link.
- My Childhood
- Abuse
- Struggles
- Marriage
- Crisis
- Pathways (2000)
The Unfolding:
- We began to learn about the soul of man; how that compartment is made up of the memories, the wounds, the disappointments, the hurts, and the beliefs that are formed out of our experiences in life.
- We began to understand how the condition of our soul determined the health and power in every area of life.
- We were challenged to learn there are forces at work in our lives that govern the outcomes in our lives.
- These forces are soul connections, or as we often refer to them, soul ties.
The Training Was Born:
- 2004 – taught series at church.
- Produced CDs
- Recorded DVD series
- 2007 – published the book.
- Sold over 10,000 copies in 12 nations
- Have been conducting live intensives all over the world since 2006
The Best Part:
- We’re now about to take this training to another level!
- Not only do I feel we’re just getting started, but I feel it is a big part of my mission to expand the reach of this message around the world.
- More live encounter seminars.
- Training teams to administer The Ties That Bind training in a facilitation environment through the DVD curriculum