My Annual Review Process & 2020

Darren returns from a year-long hiatus to interview Dr. Hugh Wilbourn, an author, and expert in psychotherapy, market research and philosophy. They explore Hugh's new book, 'The Bug in Our Thinking and How to Fix It,' which challenges conventional wisdom and encourages alternative pathways to understanding. Topics include the constraints of literacy, how storytelling shapes understanding, and other parts of Hugh's book that Darren found fascinating including: head-heart-hips, policies versus principles, and interrogating the 'shoulds' in our lives. Topics 00:00 Introduction: The Bug in Our Thinking with Hugh Willbourn 03:56 Hugh's Journey and Inspirations 06:27 The Birth of 'The Bug in Our Thinking' 20:53 The Impact of Literacy on Our Thinking 31:50 The Bernie Madoff Scandal: Ignoring the Obvious 32:52 Balanced Education: Beyond Literacy 34:55 The Multifaceted Nature of Stories 41:09 Head, Heart, and Hips: A Holistic Approach 45:27 Policies vs. Principles: Navigating Life 49:15 Questioning the 'Shoulds' in Life 53:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts About Our Guest Hugh Willbourn is an author with experience in business, market research, psychotherapy, academia and performance. His books include I Can Mend Your Broken Heart (with Paul McKenna), Agree to Win: Essential Steps to Negotiate in your Work and Life, and most recently, The Bug in our Thinking. He has led over a hundred workshops in negotiation, qualitative research, hypnosis, performance and presentation skills, practical philosophy and authentic storytelling. Hugh got his PhD in Philosophy from City University, London and co-founded Corr Willbourn Research and Development, a qualitative market research business, with clients including Virgin, Shell, Diageo and the UK Government. Show Notes Hugh Willbourn The Bug in Our Thinking (use code "hypnosis" for discount until end Oct'24) The Bug in Our Thinking (Amazon)

If you're having trouble meditating, or just being mindful during the day, use your eating times to anchor yourself to the present.  Can you taste the sunshine, water and earth in every bite? Full transcript and links: https://upstartist.tv/ase/mindful-meals I write too! Join my private email list to be notified of new content.

After 20 years helping people with therapy and coaching, Steve McCready shares his thoughts on the art of listening. Topics Introducing Steve (0:00) Coaching vs. Therapy for Solopreneurs (7:20) The Art of Listening (20:50) Boundaries (40:45) Listening to and Honoring Yourself (48:10) Steve McCready Steve has worked as a therapist for two decades. He hosts The Sensitive Rebel Podcast, and offers coaching at sensitiverebel.com. Show Notes Follow Steve on Instagram The Sensitive Rebel Blog & Podcast Leading with Questions by Michael J. Marquardt Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive by Jonathan Fields ASE #2 Wu-Wei & What Ancient Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us about Peak Performance with Edward Slingerland I write too! Join my private email list to be notified of new content.

Justin Parkes, a strength and performance coach, shares how entrepreneurs can build an effective strength training routine. He also recounts his career arc from finance to fitness, and how he has built an enthusiastic community of customers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Topics Justin's journey to performance training (2:40) Building a strength training program (11:24) Superman exercise for virtual workers (30:00) How Justin grew his business (36:10) Justin Parkes Justin is owner and founder of Parkes Performance Coaching, which he runs with his wife Joann in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Justin trains professional and youth athletes as well as the general population seeking better athletic performance, strength training and injury prevention. Justin Parkes on Instagram Superman exercise demonstration 'Strength Training for Entrepreneurs with Justin Parkes' Episode Write-Up & Show Notes I write too! Join my private email list to be notified of new content

Our performance barriers are often related to energy. Understanding the four dimensions of energy - physical (quantity), emotional (quality), mental (focus) and spiritual (force) - can help us identify and overcome what holds us back. 'The Four Dimensions of Energy' Full Writeup & Links: https://upstartist.tv/four-dimensions-of-energy I write too! Join my private email list to be notified of new content: https://upstartist.tv/subscribe/ Show Notes The 4 Dimensions of Energy: Physical, Emotional, Mental and Spiritual (Upstartist.tv) Manage Your Energy, Not Time (Harvard Business Review)

On April 15, 2021, I accomplished a life dream by becoming a published author. In this episode, I share the four-year, behind-the-scenes journey of how an idea to write down my own rules for success (for my eyes only) became a #1 New Release book on Amazon, and what I've learned so far. One lesson, that I'm still processing, is that life dreams are necessary, but the journey of becoming - the doing - is the real reward. There will always be the next thing to chase. We never really arrive. So, why not let ourselves be more happy while chasing the dream too? I then share a 6-minute excerpt from The Fail Safe Solopreneur: 6 Essential Practices to Manage Your Well-Being Working for Yourself. The audiobook is narrated by me. You can get the book on Amazon (in Kindle and Paperback) and the audiobook on Amazon, Audible and iTunes. 'I Wrote a Book' Full Writeup & Links: https://upstartist.tv/ase/i-wrote-a-book I write too! Join my private email list to be notified of new content: https://upstartist.tv/subscribe/

Mimi Kuo-Deemer, author of Qigong and the Tai Chi Axis, shares her 20-year journey with qigong and how it can nourish mind, body and spirit. Mimi explains the core concepts of qigong, including yin and yang, the tai chi axis and 5 elements theory. She also walks us through wuji (emptiness stance), so you can get a feel for the practice. Topics How Qigong Changed Mimi's Life (3:40) Qigong, the Tai Chi Axis and 5 Elements Theory (21:15) Wuji & Practicing Qigong (40:25) Lightning Round (1:03:10) Mimi Kuo-Deemer Mimi Kuo-Deemer is dedicated to sharing the ways in which qigong and other healing arts can help people meet the messy, complicated job of being human with greater awareness, compassion and ease. She is a teacher of both students and other teachers, having practiced and taught for over 20 years in China, the UK, Europe and the United States. Mimi graduated from Stanford University and received an MA with distinction from SOAS in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation. Mimi Kuo-Deemer 'Qigong: Cultivating Your Life Energy with Mimi Kuo-Deemer' Episode Write-Up & Show Notes I write too! Join my private email list to be notified of new content and exclusive rewards for subscribers.

Celine Yeh shares her journey from studying chemistry to becoming a YouTuber. How did she grow her company’s channel to over 500K subscribers and 35 million views? What is most important to make engaging and viral YouTube videos? Why did she start her own channel? And how is she able to support herself being a YouTuber and influencer? Celine shares what life is really like behind the scenes as well as many practical tips you can use right away to grow your YouTube channel. Topics From Chemist to YouTuber (0:00) Making Engaging YouTube Videos (8:27) Growing your YouTube Channel (23:20) Supporting Yourself as an Influencer (35:20) Lightning Round (57:33) Celine Yeh Celine Yeh co-hosts Celine & Cynthia, a YouTube channel focused on outdoor life. Celine previously worked as a marketer for Spice Taiwan, and studied Chemistry at Tamkang University. Celine & Cynthia 'Growing Your YouTube Channel with Celine Yeh' Episode Write-Up & Show Notes I write too! Join my private email list to be notified of new content and exclusive rewards for subscribers.

Trying, failing and trying again. 'Two Pockets' Full Writeup & Links: https://upstartist.tv/ase/annual-review-process/ Be a first reader and help shape the final version of my book here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/upstartist  I write too! Join my private email list to be notified of new content: https://upstartist.tv/subscribe/

How was your 2020? I share my annual review process and what I learned this year, despite not hitting my goals. Topics Mapping the Past Year (5:15) Peaks, Valleys & Incongruities (7:50) Setting Goals & the Path Forward (13:15) Looking Out the Window (18:15) 'My Annual Review' Questions & Links: https://upstartist.tv/ase/annual-review-process/ I write too! Join my private email list to be notified of new content and rewards for subscribers: https://upstartist.tv/subscribe/