Show Notes:
What do you do when no matter your effort or your dreaming, life sends you a curveball that makes your dreams impossible? Would just contending for those dreams be enough for you? Or, if you’re a bit more like me, would that be a bit tortuous? The hard part about these questions is I think you don’t really know the answer until you’re in a moment like that. In the episode today I share how I think I might understand a bit what that would be like because of my wife and I's battle with infertility the past 8 years, but our guest today knows exactly what striving for impossible dreams feels like. She’s had her share of moments in her life where no matter her effort and sacrifice, life and God had other plans for her.

Our guest today is Kitty Robinson. She said "I do" to her high school sweetheart, Casey, 27 years ago. As a heart and brain surgery survivor and homeschooling mom of 8 (insert survivor status here, too!), her life path has had some unusual turns. She's currently walking that path out in Middle Georgia, where she writes, runs, and coaches. On the show today we discuss the following:

• Who is Kitty and her story (7:31)
• Did Kitty see her pride while going through her challenges? (13:04)
• How Kitty was able to set aside her pride (15:32)
• Why she considers her life more abundant after her trials (22:04)
• Submission as the path to peace (29:27)
• Why she chose a life of quiet impact (39:41)
• How her definition of Courage has changed (45:01)
• What does it mean to Kitty to be a Contender (49:03)

How to learn more about Kitty:

• Kitty's Website: http://www.kittyrobinson.com/
• Kitty's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kitty.robinson.31
• Kitty's Book: "Somtimes Courage" - https://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-Courage-runners-journey-sometimes/dp/170978802X

Additional Books, Individuals, or Items Discuss in the show:

• N/A

Contact the Host: rob@contenderswanted.com

Survey: To access the listener survey, use the following links:

• Right to the form: https://forms.gle/7WwV1LzHGrTDuQtw5
• If that doesn't work: www.ContendersWanted.com/Survey

Show Notes:
Can you think of an example of someone or something in a perceived disadvantage that then turns it into their advantage? My mind things of Ben Affleck's character in the movie, the Accountant. Or the engineers from Apollo 11 using just what was in a box to fix the spaceship. Or Edmond Dantes from the Count of Monte Cristo. Beyond the pop culture references, some might even say that their higher education left them at a bit of a disadvantage when they entered the work force. You may have quickly realized once you entered the workforce that you were faced with a whole new set of skills to develop. Things like networking, communication, leadership, negotiations, sales, management, and on and on and on. But there’s still value in higher education. So how do we make sure we get the most out of it and then turn these missing skills from a disadvantage into our advantage once we’re out in the workforce? Well our guest today attended elite level higher education, and it didn’t take long for him once he started his professional career to feel like he had missed some critically important skills in that education process. This then in turn led him on a path to find, develop, and master these missing skills and then later teach them to others so they can supercharge their professional careers.

Our guest today is Mark Herschberg. From tracking criminals and terrorists on the dark web to creating marketplaces and new authentication systems, Mark has spent his career launching and developing new ventures at startups and Fortune 500s and in academia. He helped to start the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, dubbed MIT’s “career success accelerator,” where he teaches annually. At MIT, he received a B.S. in physics, a B.S. in electrical engineering & computer science, and a M.Eng. in electrical engineering & computer science, focusing on cryptography. At Harvard Business School, Mark helped create a platform used to teach finance at prominent business schools. He also works with many non-profits, including Techie Youth and Plant A Million Corals. He was one of the top-ranked ballroom dancers in the country and now lives in New York City, where he is known for his social gatherings, including his annual Halloween party, as well as his diverse cufflink collection. On the show today we discuss the following:

• Who is Mark and what does he do (5:07)
• Mark's perspective on the value of higher education (9:04)
• How did his formal education not prepare him for his career (13:20)
• How Mark developed these missing skills in himself (16:11)
• Specific things you can do now to develop these skills (18:51)
• Was Mark's higher education worth it? (31:19)
• Mark's perspective of our current higher education system (38:16)
• What does it mean to Mark to be a Contender (46:58)

How to learn more about Mark:

• Mark's Website: https://www.thecareertoolkitbook.com/
• Mark's LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hershey

Additional Books, Individuals, or Items Discuss in the show:

• The Big Bank Theory TV Show
• Richard Feynman

Contact the Host: rob@contenderswanted.com

Survey: To access the listener survey, use the following links:

• Right to the form: https://forms.gle/7WwV1LzHGrTDuQtw5
• If that doesn't work: www.ContendersWanted.com/Survey

Show Notes:
How much do you think about your thoughts? Seems kinda like a funny question, don’t you think? Thinking about our thoughts? But in all reality, this is something people have encouraged me to do ever since I was a kid. But my early training around paying attention to my thoughts really only focused on moral cleanliness. I didn’t think about learning to observe and actively choose my own thoughts in other areas until I got more involved in personal development. Well our guest today has done the work necessary to master his thoughts and told me after the show that he feels those lessons are the most important lessons he could share with us.

Our guest today is Sir Steven Wilkinson. He is an Englishman living in Ireland and the Founder & Managing Director of Good & Prosper Ltd an education, consulting and investment company. Steven has spent all of his adult life in the finance and investment world focusing primarily on Small and Medium sized enterprises as both a principal investor in or advisor to the owners and leaders of predominantly private companies. Today his company focuses on advising and coaching business owners facing growth challenges through a process they call Future Mapping or Creating a Vision of Success. They also design and deliver courses in key aspects of business leadership including Financial Fluency and Visioning. He also teaches at the University of Jamestown UJ Accelerated. He has been a member of the panel of mentors for the UCD / Ryan Academy Mentoring for Growth program in Dublin as well as being on the advisory board of the Birthing of Giants growth acceleration program in NY. He is also a founding member of the Small Giants Community. In addition he is an active supporter and mentor within the Ashoka Social Entrepreneurship network, both there in Ireland and in Germany. In 2015 he was invited to join an interfaith delegation to the Caribbean island state of Grenada. As part of that delegation representing the Anglican community, he was awarded with an honor bestowed by the Governor General into the Order of the Nation of Grenada with the rank of Knight Commander. His family, consisting of his wife Britta and their four children. They live at the south end of the beautiful County Wicklow, where they spend a great deal of time trail walking in the mountains and fells of the Wicklow National Park. On the show today we discuss the following:

• Who is Steven and what does he do (7:11)
• How finance and literature are woven together to tell great stories (13:03)
• An early career experience that changed his life (19:36)
• How Sir Wilkinson found his master (26:34)
• How Sir Wilkinson developed his thoughtfulness and the impact of a partner on that journey (39:58)
• The impact of the Enneagram on Sir Wilkinson's journey (55:59)
• What does it mean to Steven to be a Contender (1:08:14)

How to learn more about Steven:

• Steven's Website: https://www.goodandprosper.com/
• Steven's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenknwilkinson/

Additional Books, Individuals, or Items Discuss in the show:

• Neurolinguistic Programming
• Frather Richard Rhor
• Jack Stack
• Stephen R. Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

Contact the Host: rob@contenderswanted.com

Giveaway: To get access for free to our Financial Freedom Blueprint and your own copies of your personalized bonuses, the Financial Freedom Path Education Cheat Sheet and the Financial Freedom Foundation Guide, enter your email at www.contenderswanted.com/freedom

Show Notes:
Remember the scene from Alice in Wonderland where Alice meets the Cheshire Cat in the woods and asks him which direction she should go? Do you remember his response to her question? Well Cheshire Cat's response to Alice's question is deeply profound and can act as a guiding star in all of our lives if we allow it. Listen in today as Rob and our guest talk about casting a vision for your future and how taking the time to find that vision can have far reaching impacts.

Our guest today is Curt Mercadante. He helps individuals, businesses and teams deliver become more purposeful, productive, and prosperous. For 25 years, he has counseled small business, entrepreneurs, as well as some of the largest corporations and associations in the country. He’s built three profitable businesses, including a 7-figure PR and ad agency. Curt has trained, coached, and delivered keynotes and workshops to clients across the globe. He is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Trainer, a Certified Human Behavior Consultant, and author of the bestselling book, Five Pillars of the Freedom Lifestyle. On the show today we discuss the following:

• Who is Curt and what does he do (4:55)
• How Curt defines freedom and success (10:53)
• Fight versus flow in our lives (17:44)
• What is vision to Curt and how do you find it (23:34)
• How Curt found his vision (32:02)
• How Curt's path changed after finding his vision (38:47)
• Defining your vision and reverse engineering for success (50:07)
• Consistent work versus hard work (53:56)
• What does it mean to Curt to be a Contender (1:00:09)

How to learn more about Curt:

• Curt's Blog: https://www.curtsblog.com/
• Curt's Website: https://www.curtmercadante.com/
• Curt's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtmercadante/

Additional Books, Individuals, or Items Discuss in the show:

• Ghandi
• Jason Goston
• Grant Cardone
• Joe Pichi
• The 4 Disciplines of Execution by by Chris McChesney, Jim Huling, and Sean Covey
• The Compound Effect by Darrin Hardy
• Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf
• Episode 19 with Fraser Cameron

Contact the Host: rob@contenderswanted.com

Giveaway: To get access for free to our Financial Freedom Blueprint and your own copies of your personalized bonuses, the Financial Freedom Path Education Cheat Sheet and the Financial Freedom Foundation Guide, enter your email at www.contenderswanted.com/freedom.

Show Notes:

Growing up did you ever feel like if you don't go to college you're probably going to be a failure? Well if you did, you're not alone in that feeling. As a millennial, that belief permeated our education system growing up. Everything pointed to college. But in recent years that belief has been challenged. Examples of individuals who never went to college but were very successful include the likes of Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, and Steven Spielberg. This week's guest is another person who we could add to this list.

Our guest today is Todd Lay. He is the CEO and Founder of Simple Back Office, a company that operates as a real time cloud bookkeeping and business advisory services firm. Todd and his team provide the accurate and timely numbers required to make those often difficult financial decisions with clarity and confidence and has been featured in INC Magazine. On the show today we discuss the following:

• Who is Todd and what does he do (4:59)
• The beginning of Todd's entrepreneurial journey that led to his virtual business (9:51)
• His philosophy of employees over customers (18:52)
• Trust is consistency over time (23:39)
• Self-education over formal education (26:49)
• Your peer group matters (35:33)
• Todd's advice on overcoming limiting beliefs (42:29)
• It's who now how to be successful (45:37)
• One of Todd's secrets to success - spend money on education (51:51)
• What does it mean to Todd to be a Contender (53:27)

How to learn more about Todd:

• Todd's Website: https://www.simplebackoffice.com/
• Todd's email: todd@simplebackoffice.com
• Todd's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddlay/

Additional Books, Individuals, or Items Discuss in the show:

• Colby Assessments
• Zig Ziglar
• Jim Rohn
• Robert Kiyosaki

Contact the Host: rob@contenderswanted.com

Giveaway: To get access for free to our Financial Freedom Blueprint and your own copies of your personalized bonuses, the Financial Freedom Path Education Cheat Sheet and the Financial Freedom Foundation Guide, enter your email at www.contenderswanted.com/freedom.

Show Notes:

We've all come across the internet trolls. They leave annoy or at the least frustrating comments that we all wish we could just reach across the internet sometimes and put them in their place. But unfortunately, if we do happen to be in a moment when our frustration or even self-righteous indignation get's the best of us and we write back a pithy and scathing response, we immediately regret it. But what if we could teach ourselves to always pause just before then, take a moment to think clearly, and then respond more thoughtfully. Well that is exactly what today's guest's system is designed to do.


Our guest today is Darcy Luoma. She is the author of Thoughtfully Fit®, is a Master Certified Coach, a dynamic facilitator, and an inspiring motivational speaker. She has worked as director for a U.S. Senator, deputy transition director for a governor, and on the national advance team for two U.S. presidential campaigns. As the owner and CEO of Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting, she’s worked in forty-eight industries with more than five hundred organizations to create high-performing people and teams. The media has named Darcy the region’s favorite executive-and-life coach four times. Darcy balances her thriving business with raising her two energetic teenage daughters, adventure travel, and competing in triathlons. On the show today we discuss the following:

• Who is Darcy and what does she do (4:12)
• Darcy's Husband's Arrest (9:26)
• How she helped her daughters and handled her own lonely fight (13:15)
• The core of Thoughtfully Fit (20:12)
• The key to Thoughtfully Fit is the pause, but how? (26:51)
• Self-Awareness and Self-Mastery for Success (31:35)
• How slowing down actually speeds up your success (34:22)
• Why coaching is so valuable (36:43)
• The difference between coaching and mentoring (38:44)
• What does it mean to Darcy to be a Contender (41:50)

How to learn more about Liz:

• Darcy's Website: https://darcyluoma.com/
• Darcy's Thoughtfully Fit Quiz: https://darcyluoma.com/thoughtfully-fit-quiz/

Additional Books, Individuals, or Items Discuss in the show:

• N/A

Contact the Host: rob@contenderswanted.com

Giveaway: To get access for free to our Financial Freedom Path Finder Quiz and your own copies of your personalized bonuses, the Financial Freedom Path Education Cheat Sheet and the Financial Freedom Foundation Guide, enter your email at www.contenderswanted.com/freedom.

Show Notes:

What is it that you think is holding you back from your dreams? Maybe you think you don’t make enough money, or you don't have the right connections, or maybe if you didn’t have your health challenges, or didn’t come from a broken home, or you hadn’t messed up when you were younger, or...fill in the blank. You know what’s funny about all of those things though? They’re all just in our heads. Chances are you could change your life right now if you were ready and willing to really change. It could happen in a single moment and our guest today is living proof that that can happen to anyone because that’s exactly what happened to him.



Our guest today is Erik Allen. Erik is truly a man of integrity, work ethic and an overcomer. Growing up with a complicated childhood and broken home, to raising himself from the age of 14. Unfortunately finding trouble along the way while desperately trying to fill the gaping voids in his life. As a young man Erik found himself empty and tired of settling for less. After the feverish pursuit of the Holy Spirit, Erik decided to surrender and trust the one that would never let him down. Once Erik gave his life to Christ, his life completely turned around. He met a beautiful woman and a new chapter was written. Now, Erik and his wife of 16+ years and their two children live in Northern Idaho and live a humble and blessed life. Together they are breaking the cycles handed down to them of addictions, depression, abuse, and lies. They are leaving a new legacy for their next generation built on a biblical foundation. Along with being the sole provider for his family, Erik is an entrepreneur and avid MMA fan. Which he has created the best MMA podcast of the northwest. He believes in giving back and honoring those that have served our country. With his companies Top Rated MMA and The Erik Allen Show he is able to do just that. Erik might have been dealt a rough hand, but with the help of his Heavenly Father and a humble heart, Erik is taking each day as it comes and making it count. On the show today we discuss the following:

• Who is Erik and what does he do (3:26)
• Erik's childhood trauma and his turning point (4:26)
• The tools Eriks has found most helpful to work past his traumatic past (12:14)
• Erik's response to those who feel their past or current circumstances hold them back (17:01)
• Erik's morning routine - Gratitude and vision casting (27:00)
• Erik and his wife's legacy (37:30)
• What does it mean to Erik to be a Contender (43:39)

How to learn more about Liz:

• Erik's Website: https://erikallenmedia.com/
• Erik's Full Story on Youtube: https://youtu.be/VQDrzVqm0IA
• Erik's Social Media:
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikgallen/?hl=en
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikgallen/

Additional Books, Individuals, or Items Discuss in the show:

• Jessie Setzler
• Sean Wayland
• 3 Feet from Gold by Dr. Greg Reed
• Prosperity Camp
• The Perfect day Formula
• Ed Mylett

Contact the Host: rob@contenderswanted.com

Giveaway: To get access for free to our Financial Freedom Path Finder Quiz and your own copies of your personalized bonuses, the Financial Freedom Path Education Cheat Sheet and the Financial Freedom Foundation Guide, enter your email at www.contenderswanted.com/freedom.

Show Notes:

"To thy own self be true." Have you ever pondered on what this oft quoted saying from Shakesphere’s Hamlet means? Better yet, how have you come to better know yourself? For me I’ve done at least half a dozen different personality quizzes, strength finder tests, and purpose discovery worksheets. Each one has been helpful, but, for me personally, it’s been the culmination of all of these together coupled with journaling and frequent reflection that’s allowed me to better come to see myself, and as I have done this work I’ve come to believe that this process of coming to see ourselves more clearly is a vital part of our own individual journey through life. Our guest today has gone through the work to know herself and that work that has completely changed the course of her life.


Our guest today is Liz Pessaran. Liz is a Licensed Therapist, Life Coach and Speaker who helps people around the world let go of what they “should” do and embrace what they feel “connected to”. Ultimately thriving in their purpose. She helps folks walk away from their unfilled jobs and lifestyles and step into their dreams and cultivate the life they always desired. With nearly a decade of counseling experience, Liz utilizes her unique skill set to guide women to tap into their deep soul so they can shatter the box of limited belief and embrace their inner magic. Liz has a Masters in Counseling Psychology and is trained as a Life Coach with the Beautiful You Life Coaching Academy. She currently resides in beautiful Tennessee with her husband and dog, and loves to travel often. On the show today we discuss the following:

• Who is Liz and what does she do (4:10)
• Everything is written in crayon (6:06)
• Liz's backstory leading her to where she is today (9:47)
• The mental barriers she had to overcome (18:43)
• What is your "magic"? (24:17)
• Liz's family's reaction to her journey (31:34)
• The impact of her spouse on her journey (40:52)
• Liz's advice to parents and spouses - Listen to listen (44:53)
• What does it mean to Liz to be a Contender (54:50)

How to learn more about Liz:

• Liz's Website: www.lizpessaran.com
• Liz's Instagram: @lizpessaran
• Liz's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizpessaranlifecoaching/

Additional Books, Individuals, or Items Discuss in the show:

• Jimmy Fast
• Value List
• Enneagram

Contact the Host: rob@contenderswanted.com

Giveaway: If you’d like a copy of our free e-book "How to Find Your Path to Your Success”, click this link (www.contenderswanted.com/yourpath) or email me at rob@contenderswanted.com with the subject like “Success” and I’ll send you a free copy.