EP740: Ken Honda – Happy Money!!

"Happy money is money that gives you joy when you receive it and also gets you excited when you pay."  Money carries energy, whether we notice it or not. When money is received with appreciation and released with gratitude, it circulates differently through life. Instead of being a source of stress, fear, or control, it becomes a tool for joy, generosity, and forward momentum. The relationship we form with money often mirrors our relationship with trust, self-worth, and contribution. When money is treated as something positive, supportive, and purposeful, it stops feeling heavy and starts feeling alive.  Ken Honda introduces the idea that money can be "happy" or "unhappy" depending on how it is experienced emotionally. He explains that happy money flows from doing meaningful work, creating value, and making others smile. When people earn through alignment with what they love, money becomes a natural byproduct rather than a constant struggle. Ken also connects money to ikigai—one's life purpose—and shows how passion, contribution, and income can coexist without conflict.  Ken is a globally recognized author and teacher known for blending spirituality with practical financial wisdom. With millions of books sold worldwide, including Happy Money, he helps people shift their mindset around wealth, gratitude, and purpose. His work focuses on transforming money from a source of anxiety into a source of peace, joy, and service.   Expert action steps:  Practice gratitude every time money comes in and goes out—train yourself to emotionally appreciate both.  Identify your ikigai by noticing what energizes you naturally, then explore how it might serve others.  Build a small group of supporters who value your work; sustainable income grows through trust and community.  Learn more & connect:  https://kenhonda.com/  https://www.youtube.com/@kenhondaofficial  IG: @happykenhonda  FB: https://www.facebook.com/kenhondahappymoney/  Also in this episode:  Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Joyful Life  https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/2022/03/ikigai_japanese_secret_to_a_joyful_life.html  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

"When I retired, I figured I'm going into my second career and I'm going to be a filmmaker."  Big ideas don't always start with big budgets. Sometimes they start during moments of disruption, when plans fall apart and creativity has to take the lead. This episode highlights how shifting direction during uncertain times can open the door to entirely new worlds—both creatively and personally.  Doug MacDougall joins the conversation to share the story behind Twice Upon A Time, a bold sci-fi fantasy web series that blends mystery, psychology, and time travel. What began as a creative pivot during lockdown has evolved into an ambitious, multi-season project featuring remote actors, genre-bending storytelling, and a cliff-hanger designed to leave audiences wanting more. The series follows five residents in a near-future asylum whose treatment hides far darker intentions than they realize.  Doug is an independent film producer who creates cinematic web series with actors located across North America. Working entirely remotely, he combines green-screen production, post-production creativity, and a passion for storytelling to bring large-scale ideas to life—proving that even in disruptive times, imagination can still take center stage.  But this isn't just a movie for the sake of a movie. The series is dedicated to the memory of Doug's sister, Cheryl MacDougall-Oddie. Inspired by her generous spirit, each year, the production aims to raise $2000 of donations for Food Banks Canada and Feeding America. Over the last 5 years, our webseries have raised over $10,000.  We hope to again raise over $2,000 this Christmas season with the online première of Season 1 of TWICE UPON A TIME - a sci-fi/fantasy webseries, with 7 private screenings from Friday, December 12 to Saturday, December 27. Cheryl was always a great supporter of mine and an individual who gave whatever she had to those in need especially at Christmas!  Set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic future, TWICE UPON A TIME is a sci-fi/fantasy webseries about a group of residents who find themselves in a mental asylum with no memory of how they got there. We soon come to realize that they are test subjects in an unsettling experiment. They eventually escape and must engage the services of a world-renowned time traveller to embark on a journey of self-discovery to find the truth before time runs out and a diabolical plot comes to fruition.  If you would like to attend one of the 4 remaining screenings, here is the link for more information....  https://resultsentertainment.com/twice-upon-a-time/  With the economic challenges families face these days and household food insecurity on the rise, CHRISTMAS is the ideal time for GIVING to those in need in our community at large!!  So, if you cannot attend, but would still like to make a tax-deductible donation (suggested $20) for food banks during the holiday season, here are the links:  FOODBANKS CANADA  www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/twice-upon-a-time-private-film-screening-charity-f/  FEEDING AMERICA  https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/TwiceUponaTimeFilmScreening  Hope you can join us for this worthwhile Christmas charity fundraiser screening event!  Here is a link to our Season 1 official trailer  https://youtu.be/by4l-EEsHHk  Expert action steps:  Start creating with what you have instead of waiting for ideal conditions.  Use genre and format experimentation to keep audiences engaged.  Design projects that combine creative impact with social contribution.  Learn more & connect:  Check out all of Doug's YouTube content @dougmacdougall4338  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

"We were delivering five-star service to clients who couldn't afford it."  Most businesses don't struggle because they lack talent or work ethic. They struggle because they're solving real problems for customers who can't afford meaningful solutions. When clients are under-resourced, even great work becomes exhausting, unpredictable, and hard to scale. The same effort, applied to better-capitalized customers, creates stability, clarity, and room to think long term instead of constantly chasing the next invoice.  Emad Rizkalla shares how his company worked with world-class brands yet still found itself financially strained. The issue wasn't capability—it was deal size. By moving upstream into government, defense, and large-scale workforce development, everything changed. Larger contracts meant fewer distractions, longer runways, and the ability to plan years ahead instead of months. The work didn't get easier, but the business finally made sense.  Emad is the founder of Bluedrop, a Canadian technology company focused on workforce development, training systems, and simulation for government and aerospace clients. Over more than 30 years, he's built and evolved organizations by pairing strong culture with the discipline to pursue opportunities that actually support long-term growth.  Expert action steps:  Build a strong, non-toxic company culture before trying to scale revenue.  Stop tying your self-worth solely to outcomes you cannot fully control.  Hire for values and character first, and train skills second.  Learn more & connect:  https://bluedrop.com/  Also in this episode:  https://dreambuilder.org/  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

"Most of our stress in life comes from all of the incompletions in our lives."  Becoming a better version of yourself starts with understanding the mechanics behind personal transformation. At its core, growth comes from developing integrity, building systems that eliminate overwhelm, and learning the discipline required to follow through on the commitments that shape your identity. When you treat your life as a designed creation—not an accidental series of reactions—you give yourself the structure needed to operate with clarity and confidence.  Bruce Muzik shares powerful insight into how his years immersed in transformational work—particularly the discipline he learned under Werner Erhard—revealed that excellence begins with completion, honesty, and the willingness to confront what isn't working. Bruce explains how procedures, integrity, and emotional responsibility become tools that not only elevate performance but also strengthen a person's sense of aliveness.  Bruce is a transformational educator and relationship expert who has helped tens of thousands of people strengthen their marriages and redesign how they live. Through his company, Love at First Fight, Bruce brings a systems-based and emotionally intelligent approach to helping people create lasting connection.  Expert action steps:  Connect before you communicate.  No connection, no conversation.  Be honest, not armoured.  Vulnerability is simply telling the truth about what's happening inside you.  Practice healthy interdependence.  Stay strong on your own while knowing when to lean on others.  Learn more & connect:  Bruce is known as the 'Relationship Repair Expert'. Learn more at  https://www.brucemuzik.com/.  Also in this episode:  loveatfirstfight.com  Sex, Power, and Transformation by Marsha Martin https://marciamartintransform.com/thebook  Landmark Worldwide https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/the-landmark-forum  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

"I just want to focus on what I love doing, what lights me up, what brings me joy."  Buying back your time begins with understanding the true value of your hours. When you separate high-value strategic work from low-value administrative tasks, it becomes clear how much freedom can be reclaimed by eliminating, automating, or delegating what weighs you down. The core principle is simple: focus on the activities that move the needle, and build systems for everything else so time becomes an asset—not a burden.  George Rivera & Michael Santonato explore how real transformation happens when you stop being the hero of your business and start becoming its architect. George shows how documenting tasks, creating SOPs, and hiring smartly allows founders to spend more time in their genius. Michael shares how clearing administrative clutter elevates his ability to educate clients and close high-value opportunities. Together, they show that buying back your time is a mindset long before it becomes a system.  George is an entrepreneur with over $400M in career sales who now teaches founders how to reclaim their hours and reconnect with what matters most. Michael is a financial advisor and thought leader who helps people become financially indestructible. Both bring decades of mastery into a practical conversation for entrepreneurs ready to level up their time, income, and lifestyle.   Expert action steps:  Eliminate  Remove tasks that don't genuinely matter. If a task doesn't move the business forward or support your highest-value work, cut it completely.  Automate  Create systems or use tools that handle repetitive work for you. Anything predictable, rule-based, or formula-driven should run on autopilot instead of consuming your mental bandwidth.  Delegate  Hand off everything that someone else can do at a fraction of your value. Document the process, give clear instructions, and assign ownership so you never have to touch that task again.  Learn more & connect:  You can find more info about Geroge's book Buy Back Time Formula at https://buybacktimeformula.com/.  Learn more about Michael as a financial coach and educator at https://michaelsantonato.com/.  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

"Take some action, make a commitment to yourself."  Every meaningful business breakthrough starts with a simple truth: your time is your most valuable asset. When you choose to treat each moment like it matters, you naturally prioritize clarity, courage, and decisive action. That mindset—rooted in focus rather than fear—creates the space for stronger ideas, smarter systems, and the confidence to grow forward.  Becky Amble brings that principle to life. After realizing how quickly everything can change, Becky committed to helping entrepreneurs direct their energy toward what matters, including learning tools that multiply their impact. Through education, storytelling, and hands-on strategy, Becky shows how AI becomes less intimidating and more empowering when approached with curiosity and consistency.  Becky is an author, educator, and AI strategist who has invested more than 3,000 hours mastering ChatGPT and practical business applications of AI. She writes multiple books, teaches entrepreneurs globally, and shares weekly AI tips to help business owners leverage technology one simple step at a time.  Expert action steps:  Identify your growth priorities – Use her "four revenue streams" framework to clarify where your biggest opportunity is.  Get foundational AI education – Learn the basics so fear and overwhelm disappear, and you can use AI with confidence.  Start immediately – Pick one tool or one strategy and take action this week.  Learn more & connect:  Becky's latest book: Grow or Die: Mastering the Four Pillars of Profit  Mastering ChatGPT for Women  Check out Becky's LinkedIn newsletter & weekly AI tips  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

"They get so excited about investing in the U.S. that they don't get the proper consultation before they do so."  Many Canadians lose money in U.S. real estate not because the deals are bad, but because the rules are different. Success comes from understanding taxes, choosing the right markets, and keeping structures simple. When emotions stay out of the way and the math leads, cross-border investing becomes far more predictable and profitable.  Michael Matthew shows how Canadians can avoid expensive mistakes by focusing on landlord-friendly states, population growth, and proper financing; why U.S. markets often offer better entry prices, how inspections can save you from disasters, and why due diligence matters more than excitement when evaluating a property.  Michael is a 35-year professional accountant who specializes in U.S.–Canada real-estate taxation. For over 15 years he has helped Canadians structure deals, avoid tax traps, and make smarter investing decisions on both sides of the border.  Expert action steps:  Choose landlord-friendly states where eviction timelines and legal processes won't destroy your cash flow.  Invest where population growth aligns with your asset type—match product to real demand.  Get specialized cross-border tax and structural advice before purchasing anything to avoid costly mistakes.   Learn more & connect: [email protected]  Go to http://ehtozen.ca to learn where you can buy Michael's book, Eh to Zen Real Estate: Peace of Mind Strategies™ for the Canadian Investor.  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

"The whole point of life is people, is other people, is the love that you have for other people. That love is what makes you strong. It's what makes your life worth living."  Real wealth in business and entrepreneurship doesn't come from possessions or revenue; it comes from people. When you build a company around love, gratitude, and relationships, everything else becomes a tool rather than the goal. "Love people, use things" becomes a strategy: clients are human beings, your team is family, and money is simply fuel to serve more lives.  Sitting in a house full of laughter, food, and hugs on Thanksgiving, I'm reminded that every real win in my life has people at the center of it. I feel deep gratitude for my partner, my kids, my clients, my team, and every entrepreneur who's trusted me to help grow their business and impact. Relationships are the real ROI.  If this lands for you, turn it into action. Stop stressing over stuff that breaks and start protecting the love in the room. Call someone you haven't spoken to and tell them what they mean to you. Build your business around serving people, not worshiping things.  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.

"Leadership is not something you do it's something that happens through who you are."   True strength in leadership begins at home. Families built on trust, communication, and that face the emotions beneath the surface, create a foundation far more powerful than any set of numbers on a spreadsheet. Stability, purpose, and resilience come from the invisible yet tangible forces of love, compassion, and loyalty. These shape how people show up in life and business.  René Sonneveld explains how these principles guided him through extraordinary chapters: global career pivots, deep personal loss, and the rediscovery of love. René shows why family governance fails without emotional governance, why "invisible capital" determines longevity, and why the most important asset a leader brings into any room is who they are. His insights tie into the message that family alignment wins over financial success. That's the true measure of legacy.  René is a father of five and a trusted coach to enterprise families worldwide. From corporate boardrooms to deeply human crossroads, René helps families protect unity, purpose, and generational strength.  Expert action steps:  Prioritize emotional health and invisible capital—not just financial metrics.  Lead from identity and character rather than roles or authority.  Protect your reputation intentionally—every decision compounds across generations.  Learn more & connect:  www.renesonneveld.com  Book: The Elephant in the Family Room: Managing the Complexities of Legacy Businesses https://a.co/d/fXOp3jc  Look for René's upcoming book: Invisible Capital  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level. 

"When they see your face, look into your eyes, you're real and you're human and you're authentic, that's when trust happens."  Strong relationships form the backbone of every successful business. Growth becomes easier when you intentionally invest in the connections that matter, release the ones that drain your energy, and stay open to forming new relationships that bring purpose and momentum. Trust, consistency, and genuine human connection—not tactics—create the stability and opportunity that leaders rely on.    Alan McLaren, a veteran executive and relationship strategist, shares powerful insights on why intentional connection shapes long-term success. He explains how clarity, visibility, and authenticity help leaders expand their influence, strengthen their network, and build trust quickly and naturally. His approach to service-driven leadership reveals how meaningful conversations can spark new partnerships, deepen existing ones, and create opportunities that last. Everything culminates in the upcoming December 3 event, where Alan will help leaders use strategic connection to accelerate trust, authority, and growth.  Learn more & connect:  Register for the free Podcast Guesting for Leaders event here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/podcast-guesting-for-leaders-the-fast-track-to-trust-authority-growth-tickets-1969995450423  Alan McLaren is co-founder of STRATA Originals, working with CEOs and executives to build and refine authentic and impactful leadership brands.  https://strataoriginals.com/  Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.