My daughter, Lily, recently came to me because she was interested in getting her 10-year accreditation for homeschooling. My initial reaction was "Why?"
She's 16 and she's currently studying beauty therapy at TAFE after graduating from hairdressing. She doesn't really need the Year 10 certificate since she already has one Cert III, and is in the process of getting another one - and these are MUCH more valuable if she ever decides to apply for tertiary education, but I get it. She's been homeschooling for 10 years and wants this certificate more as recognition - a 'right of passage'. Acknowledgement that she's done it. That's important a young person. And so, if it's important to her, then it's important to me.
As we were planning for this, I thought about the conversations that I've been having with Ortal Green, our guest on last week's podcast about Project-Based Learning (PBL), design thinking, and the PBL homeschool conference that we're organising together. We want to help parents and homeschoolers to take a more holistic approach to education and use design thinking as a framework for doing this.
But on the other hand, I'm always in the middle of trying out new, outside-the-box ideas in giving the best education for my children and what NESA requires of homeschoolers. That's why for this podcast episode, I'd like to share with you the homeschool plan that I did with Lily to help her with her interview and getting her certificate. You might find this useful for your own homeschool program.
In the process of writing my book and meeting people to make it the best it can be, book coach Kylie Zeal, our last week's guest, introduced me to Ortal Green! Ortal is the CEO and founder of Glittering Minds, a movement that aims to empower teachers and parents in creating tomorrow's innovators and great thinkers. She recently published her second book "Thinking Unique: Raising a Successful Innovative Child".
Ortal is a design thinker and creativity expert. She started her career in the tech industry in Israel where she helps advance technology for the future. When she became a mother, she was curious as to what her children were learning at school. Through volunteering at the school, she found out that there is a clear gap between what was taught in the education system today in terms of skills that children need to learn to succeed in the future with its uncertainties and unknowns. The rapid pace of technological advancement means that the jobs that we have now are evolving and new types of jobs are popping up every day. Because of this, she decided to close this gap by teaching children design thinking as a way to develop 21st-century skills such as creative thinking, innovative mindset, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
She helps home educators and teachers with project-based learning so that children can be better learners and more empowered. Through design thinking, she uses a combination of mindset approaches, tools, and methodologies to solve problems in an innovative way. Her problem-solving approach is human-centric, meaning she works WITH the people who face the problem and does not solve it for them.
Ortal shared the idea and process behind design thinking and how at a young age, we can give our children a better chance of being successful in the future. In this interview, she answered some questions like:
My interview with Ortal Green opened up all sorts of new possibilities. The overlap of design thinking and project-based learning and achieving success in life is something worth sharing. So if you want to be a better parent, a better guide for your child, one of the best ways to do that is to learn how to become a creative-based educator. Check out Ortal Green's Glittering Minds program and website where you can access the free resources that they share.
Visit Ortal Green's books and Glittering Minds Program:
Read Ortal Green's book "Thinking Unique: Raising a Successful Innovative Child"
I've been busy the past twelve months writing THRIVE BY DESIGN, and not long after the manuscript was finished, a contact of mine introduced me to an amazing book coach! (just a little late!) But even though she normally helps move people from idea to finished manuscript, as a twice published author, she's still been super helpful. An abundance of knowledge and insight, I thought I'd love to introduce you to her in case YOU are getting ready to write YOUR BOOK!
Meet Kylie Zeal.
Kylie was attracted to positive psychology, which then led her to coaching, which she's been doing for fourteen years now. She has done executive coaching and health coaching in the past but decided to focus on book coaching after publishing two books and realising her love of immersing in stories and words. She wants to help people create wonderful books to put out into the world.
In this interview, she shared about her journey in writing her own books, which hopefully can inspire you to write your own as well.
As someone who is at the end of publishing a book, I really appreciate the nuggets of wisdom that she's been able to offer and I wish I knew some of those sooner. It was really great talking to Kylie. If you are thinking about writing a book, or that maybe you might have a book in you, I urge you to connect with Kylie. She's easy to talk to, generous with her time, honest, and candid and tells you exactly what you need to know. I highly recommend her ability to help you to sort through those big questions about whether you should go on and write your book.
To learn more about Kylie's Book Coaching:
So much of who we are shapes the work that we do.
That's the key message that came out of this insightful interview with one of Port Macquarie's leading Health & Wellness advocates - Julie Jamieson (aka Jules) - the Community Engagement Coordinator for Headspace Port Macquarie.
Hear the inside story of how Jules first stepped into public life as a model, featuring in high-profile publications like Marie Clare and Cosmopolitan magazine - but not enamored by her own success, she took it all in her stride, travelling the globe, and remaining continually curious and hungry to learn.
She now brings this appreciation for diversity into her role at Headspace, developing all sorts of different programs for young people that promote mental health and wellbeing.
To learn more about the Headspace programs - Follow Headspace on Facebook
To learn more about Yoga with Jules - Follow Yoga with Jules on Facebook
I am not a Buddhist, but I am very interested in the concepts explored by Eastern religion and philosophy. The concepts are more holistic, and they are very applicable to everyday living. In fact, that's what they're all about - finding the divine in the ordinary.
In this episode we are going to be looking at 'Zen' and how this can be applied to the experience of education.
'Zen' is not a religion in the traditional sense. It is not a set of principles or dogmas that you adhere to, but its focus is on what the Zen Studies Society calls 'an ultimate reality' - it is life in its fullest sense - the maximised life we seek out here on the Blueprint.
When we think of 'education' we usually think of the structures. The building, or at least the formalised social framework where learning is supposed to take place. Teachers. Students. Classrooms... But not a lot of thought is given to those divine moments of connection when all of that external structure 'disappears' and a student becomes one with the content they are studying. It's a magical experience, that unfortunately is all too rare in the traditional educational setting.
Due to the mass-production style of education we have adopted, the focus has shifted from transforming young people - to managing young people. The underlying premise is that structured learning cannot happen in a chaotic environment, therefore structures are put in place to ensure that the learning environment is as controlled as possible - unfortunately this also squeezes out individuality, which in turn reduces engagement! The very structures that we put in place to help young people to learn - stop them from owning the experience.
In this episode we are going to explore the vital importance of 'leaving spaces' for learning to happen - sure we can have structures that promote positive behaviours BUT how can we do this without 'sterilising' and destroying the natural curiosity that students inherently carry?
March has traditionally been a watershed month for me.
Lots of my big shifts have happened around this time of year.
I’m wondering is that the same for you?
When I Googled ‘why is March significant’, it all referred to the Northern Hemisphere.
Things like, ‘animals are waking up from hibernation’ (remember Punxsutawney Phil from Ground Hog Day?), and March is named after the Roman god of war, because all the military campaigns that went on hold for the winter, now swung back into full force!
But that doesn’t make sense here does it?
Here, in March, I find energy is starting to wane, and people are simultaneously looking up and asking, "OMG, what happened to the year? How is it March already?!"
All the good intentions that motivated us through January and February have now been spent, and we're left asking “Is this really it? Why am I feeling so empty? What am I missing?"
When you get to that point, you’ve got 2 options.
1) Tell yourself to shut up. Get busier until you have drowned that nagging sense of dissatisfaction with activity. Meaningless or otherwise.
2) Give yourself a minute, take a breath and sit a moment with those uncomfortable questions and to try and find an answer.
We ALL need an answer. We exist in to realms simultaneously. The natural realm (what you can see/smell/taste/touch) and the higher realm (spiritual?). We operate in both. We all need to find our bigger reason, and then a practical lifestyle plan to carry it out. Make sense?
Can you imagine what clear-minded, confident and deliberately intentional about how you choose to spend your time, looks and feels like?
Have you already achieved this? Or is there still elements missing?
This is a season for building inwardly. You can fight it, or you can flow with it.
Fighting means you keep 'spinning your wheels', faster and faster until you either A) burn out and crash, or B) somehow make it through to the twilight of life – 50 or so years later, wondering where it all got spent…
That’s would be a shame. I don’t want that for you.
Last year I put together a series of podcast episodes inspired by my upcoming book (yes, it’s nearly done!) and these were reflective exercises designed to help get you closer to answering those questions. Interestingly, they are all from the autumn months last year!
I’ve put these all together below and created a free downloadable guide – The First 3 Questions I’d Ask You if I was your Coach - to help get your reflections started. I’m sure these will be helpful as the days get shorter and we’re reminded that days are finite. On that guide there’s also a link you can use to book a free coaching call with me if you’d like to take those 3 questions a little deeper.
Hope to talk to you soon,
EPISODE 49 – Travelling through Time!
EPISODE 50 – The Wheel of Life
EPISODE 57 – Overcome the ONE thing that is stopping you…
PS: you don’t need to listen to all the episodes, just one will be enough to get you thinking deeply!
I honestly thought that I would be kicking off 2022 with a different episode.
There is so much going on behind the scenes here, getting ready for a new year of transforming lives. Blueprint Life Coaching's Youth programs have finally branched off and become their own entity - Blueprint Education Solutions - if you're a parent, educator or youth coach, I highly recommend that you check that out.
But TODAY we're catching up with SJ (Sean) Stark from Contrast Media who has been working tirelessly to tell the many untold stories of the pandemic crisis that are still reverberating through our community.
I WISH, so badly, that we could just leave 2020/2021 behind, but the impacts are still so real. Lives and livelihoods have been devasted - and most of the victims are suffering in silence. Mainstream media is unwilling to risk telling these stories because,
1) They are making money from covid. They don't want to risk killing the golden goose! Newsmedia is part of an industry built on fear, and a pandemic is a gift not to be wasted! The newsmedia knows all too well the role they must play in perpetuating the cycle. Research shows that we all have a negativity bias in our brains - we believe and expect 'bad news' about 5 times as much as we believe and expect 'good news'. You'll see about the same ratio of negative to positive news stories every evening on your television at 6 o'clock - a carefully curated selection designed to echo the perception of reality that is hardwired into our biology. This is not an accident. Nor is it reality.
2) And Secondly, in this sort of climate, asking simple questions can easily be misconstrued as disention, rebellion, and even treason! A barage of confusing oxy-moronic slogans have begun to flow freely. Phrases like, "we need to stay apart to stay together". Dismayingly these are being swallowed en-mass by the general public.
But there are others who continue to raise questions.
SJ is one of those. A brave individual, willing stand up, tell the untold stories, and ask the question - "At What Cost?"
This conversation with SJ is based on the premise that governments ARE doing the best they can with the resources that they have available. It does NOT suppose that there is some maligned agenda driving the idiocy behind some of the inherent contradictions embeded in the restrictions and mandates - however it DOES ask the question - at what cost? What sort of society do we want to be, and, are the measures that are being put in place promoting that sort of society? Or are they pulling it apart?
Today we are back again with the amazing sister duo behind the Posify group.
Marianne and Jenna.
Both of these women have effervescent energy and are on a mission to help young people flourish! We've worked together on a number of projects and we’ve had the privilege of having them in episodes 19, 20, and 28.
Marianne is a Clinical Psychology registrar (I made a little error in her intro that she asked me to note.😊 ) She holds a Master's degree from the University of Newcastle, a Graduate Diploma in counseling and psychotherapy, and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in performance.
Jenna—who describes herself as a prod 'multipotentialite', is a teacher and careers advisor, with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama & Performance), Bachelor of Education (K-12), and Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (Careers & Transitions).
In this episode, they’re back with some exciting updates and not one, but THREE brand new resources to share with us! It's a brilliant conversation packed with countless nuggets of wisdom and awesome resources to help turn your homeschool program or your classroom into a highly engaging space.
Time to share...
Today, we are speaking with Bruce Thompson who has been on an epic health journey finding health for his son, Ori, learning all about the brain and gut connection and why it is vitally important that individuals be allowed to make the personal health choices that are right for them.
Ori's story is one of redemption. From severely autistic, constantly ill, immunocompromised, and always distressed, Ori has slowly but surely made consistent positive progress and is now a healthy, happy child with no sickness at all. He is still diagnosed on the autism spectrum, but has come ahead leaps and bounds since the Thompson family began to rethink their approach to health.
It was an uphill battle. They were repeatedly told by mainstream medical professionals to just learn to live with it. There is no hope. But thankfully there were other wise voices in their world and through them, Bruce and his wife Nurit discovered a new way of looking at health.
Theirs an incredible story, but I know it's not a one-off case. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of children and adults who have faced similar challenges. I want to share this with you today because right now, I have friends and colleagues who are being bullied by their employer, the NSW government. They are teachers and nurses being threatened with termination if they choose not to participate in Australia's biggest clinical drug trial. They want to reserve their right to refuse this medical treatment without threat of repercussion, and I firmly believe they should do what they can to preserve this right. This blog is simply doing what I can to help them be heard.
If you find yourself feeling unheard, oppressed, and you want to break free from a system that has lost its way - I can help you. 6 years ago I embarked on my own journey of personal development and lifestyle design, and now I help others to do the same!
For the next few weeks I'm opening up my calendar and taking calls for people who want to turn catastrophe into opportunity. I can show you how. There IS hope for your future and there's a lot that we can do together!
Let's listen to Ori's story...
Today, we are talking with a leading authority on calm parenting. She’s the author of two business self-help books, The Power of Conscious Choice, and Switch Off: How to Find Calm in a Noisy World. She’s an occupational therapist who has been working in schools for about 20 years now and has one key mission: to help young people live a little better and to support the adults doing the same - teachers, mentors and, of course, parents.
Angela and I were booked to deliver a parenting seminar together, but to be honest, coming into this interview I was hungry to learn from her. I felt a needed a 'calm guru' in my corner this week - and I wasn't disappointed. Angela knows her stuff. She's been featured Channel 9 Today EXTRA, The Australian Financial Review, Good Health magazine, Huffington Post,
Mamamia, Radio 2UE and numerous other parenting and lifestyle publications. Her regular segment on The Luke and Susie Show is syndicated across Australia.
Witnessing a lot of the anxieties that children are facing have in an overwhelming life, she got inspired to host A Kids' Life podcast. It’s about helping us to better understand the complexities of life as kids. She’s also been featured in numerous media publications and shows.
We covered a lot of ground in this interview.
Angela is such is brimming with quality information and I know if you're a parent or educator wondering how to have a bigger, more positive impact in your home or school, then you're going to love this episode with Angela. excited to bring her on today—here’s Angela Lockwood.
To make the most out go this really insightful episode with Angela, I’m recommending that you to do two things:
Today, we’re chatting with a very talented and impact-driven friend of mine.
Meet Josh Moses, marketing manager for Häuslein Tiny House Co in Port Macquarie. They are an amazing business doing great things but Josh's journey has been so much bigger than that.
His migrant roots exemplify the values of hard-work, dedication and building something from nothing. His parents instilled in Josh a love of learning and always giving your best, but also an altruistic nature of always finding a way to give back to others who have less than you.
With his parents and brother high-achievers in business, medicine and the military, Josh considers himself the black sheep of the family. He is a creative. He has found his niche in marketing and story-telling through media, but also has an insatiable love of learning, moving from industry to industry, always changing, always growing.
I first met Josh at the Luminosity Youth Summit. Back then, I didn’t realize how much we had in common and I've been glad to get to know him a little more over the years. Both he and his wife Tammy are genuinely inspirational people.
Let's catch up with Josh now...
Have you taken the Lifestyle Design Quiz yet?
If you have, you would have received your free report by now, and seen that ONE of the Lifestyle Design Domains is - Business and Finance!
It makes sense, right?
We cannot live the abundant lifestyle of our dreams unless we have adequate resources at our disposal to make those dreams a reality.
That's why I thought it would be really great to bring on an expert in the Financial sector to find out what he's doing to help his clients reach their goals AND how he's using education to scale that success for others.
Meet Sarry Ibrahim, a Bank On Yourself® professional, founder and CEO of Financial Asset Protection, and the creator and host of the Think Like a Bank podcast, where he teaches ordinary people to think like a bank and achieve more financial freedom in their life.
Sarry didn't always know he would end up in Finance. He attended an MBA program in Chicago, originally focussed on project management. He took on a side job doing sales and marketing at an insurance company. This is how he discovered his gift for helping people with their financial issues. Sarry enjoys talking to people and help them solve their problems. He also discovered how as people trusted him more and more with their financial issues, he became confident and comfortable asking people about money and decided to make it his career. Sarry is now a well-trusted financial consultant, planner, and advisor among business owners and real estate investors.
We all want success in our business and work life, It's usually what fuels our other dreams.
Let's learn some of Sarry's secrets for scaling success in the financial sector.
Once you've listened to the podcast, you might be motivated to get clear on your personal goals, but be unsure where to start.
I highly recommend you take the Lifestyle Design Quiz. It only takes about five minutes and it'll generate for you a free customised report with your strength profile, your focus for growth, and some specific coaching questions to help you get clearer on what that personal goal for you is.
And if you want to explore those insights in more depth, then book a free coaching call with me to help you get more clarity on the next step on your journey.
Oh boy, I'm excited for this episode today. Dave is the GURU of systems here in Australia and his book was described by Michael Gerber (yes, THE Michael Gerber - author of the E-Myth) as the "implementation guide for the E-Myth".
Do I really need to say more?
Dave tells an incredible story about how he met Michael and how the systems he had already set up in his own business allowed him to take advantage of an amazing opportunity that came his way, and how it continues to free him to spend time with his family, build his business and pursue the things that matter most in his world. Sound like something you could do with some more of?
Time is our most precious resource. If someone told you how you could create more of it in your life by freeing yourself up from the day to day activities that take up a lot but achieve very little in terms of big-impact - then I think you should listen up!
That's what I did.
Listening to Dave was a lot of fun. His journey and story were really incredible. He’s one of those perfect examples of having to have the awareness and perspective to be able to see the opportunities around us and creating the space and freedom to grab it.
If you want to get a better perspective on your own life, I highly encourage you to go and take the Lifestyle Design Quiz and get a free, customised report outlining your strength profile and focus for growth. It will also give you some coaching questions to help you get clear on what it is that you want and how to take smart actions to get there.
Want to create more time to do what matters most to you AND create greater impact in your daily work? Time to hear from the systems master…
Today, we are talking with Jennifer Powers - a accomplished trainer and master life coach from the United States. Jennifer has a master's in sociology, she is a master certified coach, speaker, best-selling author. In the last 15 years, she’s mentored and trained more than 2000 coaches and addressed 250,000 people around the world - and today we're chatting with her specifically about the life (or personal) coaching modality.
How is it different to teaching, consulting, advising, etc?
And how can it be used in a powerful way to reshape futures?
It’s real honour to have Jennifer here with us as she shares her wisdom and insight on the coaching space. Jennifer is making an impact in the coaching space not only in the USA but around the world. Australian business and education is still catching up to benefits of personal coaching but we're definitely getting there and I hope that this interview will make a positive contribution o that conversation.
Now as restrictions ease in New South Wales, life is about to change. Things are about to get back to normal, but maybe you don't want them to go back to the old normal. Maybe you want to set yourself up for a new future? If that’s you, then why not book a call with me and let's talk about what your goals are for 2022 and how we can design a 'circumstance-proof' plan to get you there.
If booking a call seems like a big step - then I encourage you to do the next best thing.
Take the Lifestyle Design Quiz and get a free, customised report outlining your strength profile, and focus for growth. It will also give you some coaching questions to help you get clear on what it is that you want and how to take smart actions to get there.
Let’s get into the podcast…
Today, we are talking with Nas Parsian.
Dr. Nas is a holistic health professional, academic nurse, and emotional health consultant. She has 25 years experience in a wide range of health and wellness modalities, evidence-based practice in healthcare, youth wellbeing, and chronic illnesses management, but her highest passion is health through spirituality and personal-transformation.
She holds a Ph.D. from Deakin University in Melbourne on spirituality and self-transformation in people with chronic health conditions (focusing on diabetes-type 1 management). She has a strong background in higher education and research, Neuro-Linguistics Programming (NLP) practice, transformational coaching, and hypnotherapy. She is also a member of the American Board of Hypnotherapists and a board member of the Global Youth Mental Health Awareness (GYMHA).
At the time this episode goes live, the doors to her heart-centered conscious leadership certificate have just opened!. It's an intense, accredited training workshop with new evidence-based, heart-centered modalities to optimize your inner wellness and improve your productivity.
And I’m so excited to share with you all this rich conversation with a very intelligent woman who has so many great insights to offer.
If YOU would like to start your own journey of self-improvement - whatever your goal - I recommend you start with the Lifestyle Design Quiz. It'll generate you a free personalised report about your strength profile, your focus for growth, and also give you some smart specific action steps to help you move forward in the next positive step in your life.
Now let’s get into the podcast...
Today you're in for a special treat!
We're chatting with two adult literacy teachers who have just come off the back of filming 'Lost for Words' - a life-changing journey for eight brave Australians seeking to transform their lives by taking part in an intensive nine-week-long adult literacy program. It shines a spotlight on Australia's staggeringly low adult literacy rate and is also a beautiful example of the coaching process - analysing what success means to each person, then developing a personalised strategy to achieve it - the essence of what we're all about here on The Blueprint.
Meet Jo Medlin and Adam Nobilia.
Jo is an adult literacy and numeracy advocate who has been teaching literacy for over 30 years. She's done volunteer work and currently serves as president of the Australian Council for Adult Literacy. She's passionate about helping people develop confidence as learners so they can feel empowered to go on and achieve their goals.
Adam has worked in corrective services as a teacher of special education for over 13 years. He teaches literacy, numeracy, and vocational skills, as well as a psychoeducation program designed to reduce offending behaviours. He has counselling qualifications that inform his work as an adult educator. In his personal life, Adam writes and performs music under the moniker “Adam Blacksmith” and is about to release his third studio album, “Blind to the Sea”.
These two amazing educators feature in the uplifting SBS documentary ‘Lost for Words’, airing soon - Wednesday, the 22nd of September at 8:30 PM on SBS.
In this episode, we’re gonna be taking some inspiration from Jo and Adam as they champion the cause of adult literacy, creating confident learners, learners willing to take risks and become the best version of themselves along the way.
If YOU would like to start your own journey of self-improvement - whatever your goal - I recommend you start with the Lifestyle Design Quiz. It'll generate you a free personalised report about your strength profile, your focus for growth, and also give you some smart specific action steps to help you move forward in the next positive step in your life.
Let’s hear from Jo and Adam...
In every crisis - there is also an opportunity!
If there has ever been a season for 'building inwardly' - then this is it.
In many parts of NSW, people are still in lockdown and economic and mental stress is prolific - but TWO things have not changed:
1) You are called to greatness. You were born for a purpose. Sure, the 'how to' may need to pivot - but the why is as real as ever. You have a mission to fulfill.
2) Achieving your mission requires that you embark on a path of self-discovery and personal growth. To achieve your big dreams will require becoming the best version of you.
Today on The Blueprint, we're talking with a man who has done just that.
Dave Florence is sharing with us all about The Flowcode. [GET YOUR FLOWCODE VOUCHERS HERE]
Dave has been on an inspiring journey—documented on his Youtube channel - the Evolution of Dave. His story is an amazing source of strength and motivation - especially in stressful times like these.
His wake-up moment and quest for new habits started in 2017 with a knock on the head. He decided he wanted to become a better version of himself. He wanted to be a better father, a better husband, a better human being. Dave did a lot of research and discovered the positive benefits of cold therapy and breathwork. He is now midway through his master's certification as a clinical hypnotherapist. He practices NLP, is also a qualified SOMA breath instructor, and helps his clients as a flow coach and ambassador.
In this episode, we're about to learn about his story, the FlowCode, and some simple practices recommended by Dave that you can put in place to get more of this peak state in your life.
Let's get into the podcast...
Today, we've reached a special milestone - episode 70!
And to celebrate I've invited an old friend in for a chat - someone whose acheivements you caould only describe as 'amazing' and a man I've wanted to get on the podcast since it first began - my dear friend, a brilliant teacher, life-adventurer and education innovator—Lloyd Godson.
This guy is an inspiration to me and I'm proud to know him.
He has worked and studied all over the world and has a string of recognitions and awards including the Guinness World of Records for generating the most human power by human underwater. He created the first-ever self-sustaining underwater habitat, he has been nominated the Australian Geographic Adventurer of the year and he is the winner of the Australian Geographic $50,000 Live Your Dream Wildest Adventure competition.
He's been featured on television multiple times and won numerous teaching awards,but most of all, Lloyd is a warm, kind, and big-thinking dreamer with a passion to live life to the full and to expand his impact through education. He's the perfect fit to join us here on the Blueprint!
On this episode, Lloyd and I dig deeper into what's possible with design thinking - speaking of which, RIGHT NOW the doors to Project Space are now open!
If you'd like to best position your child to succeed in the dynamic world of the 21st century through a holistic innovative project based learning program - then NOW is the time to jump on board! This week I'm doing one last webinar—5 Ways to Engage Your Kids and Prime them to Learn and Succeed, no matter the circumstances. - not only will this give you some great insights for enaging your child, but we also give away a whole bunch of free material (over $1000 worth) for those who decide to come on this Project Based adventure with us. Be sure to check it out.
But for now, let’s talk with Lloyd...
Today, we're catching up with award-winning international youth speaker and resilience specialist, Kate Gladdin!
If you're yet to have the privilege of hearing from Kate, then head back to episode 34 where we learned about how to get back up when life knocks you down. Kate has faced some tough challenges but has turned her heartbreak into purpose and now is changing lives through her passion to help teens both in Australia and the USA.
In this episode, we’re catch up on her exciting journey as she breaks into the life coaching space in the US and the story behind her very successful book, Mini Habits for Teens: Small Changes to Help You Navigate Life's Challenges.
If you're an author, or even considering starting up any creative way to share you r message - a blog, a podcast, a newsletter, or an online course - then you're going to get a lot of value out of the insights Kates shares in this episode.
Some of Kate’s most practical tips are:
1 - There's no right way to go about this—what matters is the mini habits. Give yourself a structure to work by, and make sure you hit your mini-milestones.
2 - Don't edit yourself. Coaching yourself to a process and getting creative in the process are two very different things. Make sure you are able to take off the different hats at different times.
And 3 - tips on building an audience and handling criticism. Being consistent, being in it for the long game, and being vulnerable, and honest
And while we're talking about creative projects and helping young people to reach their full potential - this week, I have a special lockdown learning webinar called 5 Ways to Engage Your Kids and Prime them to Learn and Succeed, no matter the circumstances
Save your spot now and learn how to create an amazing learning experience for your child.
Let’s catch up with Kate now...
This is going to be controversial.
I'm hoping that this podcast is going to provoke a respectful, positive, and constructive conversation about the situation we are facing.
The Blueprint is about success. It's about how to live an abundant life and how do we use education effectively to scale that for many - essentially how do we help more people live life to the full? For months now, I've been sharing resources, stories, coaching, interviews with amazing people and whatever else I can to help this cause - and for the most part, I've avoided the 'elephant in the room'.
I've avoided speaking directly to the Covid crisis because 1) there are actually positive outcomes that we can find in the midst of this debacle. There are relationships that we wouldn't have otherwise made and opportunities that would not otherwise exist - and so I wanted to bring those to the surface. And 2) because what we focus on, we magnify - and I don't want to be a part of the problem. There is so much fear mongering going on in the media and in the government already. I want to avoid that space.
I have successfully avoided it for quite some time - but I can't do that anymore.
Today we're talking about the Elephant in the room.
I had no idea, when I recorded this podcast that the state was about to go into an unannouced full lockdown. We have ZERO cases right now, here on the Mid-North Coast, but because there are other cases popping up in a few areas of regional NSW - Gladys Berejiklian has hit the panic button.
Many would argue that this is no surprise. This is right on queue. I'm not going there. Hidden agendas are a rabit-hole I don't want to get pulled into right now. I want this conversation to be about the simple (but profoundly important) issue of what we are doing to ourselves as a society by accepting the mandates to wear masks and not address the real enemy that we are facing - FEAR.
I am a frontline worker. Not of the Covid crisis, but of the mental health crisis. I take calls often from people doing life very tough.
In 2020, there were more than 3000 deaths by suicide in Australia - many of these young people - and it rarely made the news. Meanwhile Covid case numbers were counted in 10s and sometimes 100s and we heard it every single day.
Watch out for the resources that I'll be sharing throughout the podcast (you can find these over on the blog) and the actions that we can all take today—hopefully, towards a more enlightened, positive, and forward-looking community working together for a healthier and happier future.
Let's start this conversation...
