Smart and Simple Matters Podcast: Simplifying | Organizing | Personal Finance | Connecting

SASM 022 – Minimalism, Intentional Living, Competition, and Being the Best You with Joshua Becker

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:32 +0000

This is the reason I created the Smart and Simple Matters show.

So I could have meaningful conversations with amazing people that improve your life in often small – but sometimes big – ways.

And my guest for this episode truly falls into the amazing category. He has a ton to offer to everyone (including me) looking to simplify, organize, and be money wise.

It’s Joshua Becker from Becoming Minimalist, one of my go-to resources on intentional living and practical ways to be a great minimalist… without sacrificing what’s most important to you.

Joshua knows how to ask the right question at the right time like…

I bought that and I don’t need it. What was the disconnect between what I was thinking was true and what really is true in life?

…and offers insight with clarity and brevity.

Intentionality for me is just taking the time to question the assumption that we base our life upon.

(tweet this)

Those things that you can’t possibly measure are the things that we should be chasing the most.

(tweet this)

Minimalism [for me] has never been about subtraction for the sake of subtraction.

(tweet this)

What I found was that the chasing of possessions, and even in some ways the unintentional allowing of them to absorb my life and resources, was distracting me and keeping me from becoming what I most wanted to be.

If that doesn’t get you fired up and ready to make some changes, I don’t know what will!

Joshua and I talk about a lot, including his best-selling books, subtle catalysts that turn into transformational moments, and the problems with (or opportunity in) competition.

Have a listen and discover why hundreds of thousands of people care about what Joshua says through his website, newsletter, public speaking events, and social media.

What You’ll Learn

In this episode you’ll learn about:

Joshua’s flashpoint for living intentionally… and how you can too
Why you should just be the best “you” that you can be
How many Goodwill donation trips it takes before asking yourself some hard questions
Why comparison is always unfair
How to lead your kids to a lifestyle without forcing them
Realizing that struggles don’t always go away and don’t always need to be overcome
Whether Joshua wants to celebrate Thanksgiving with me… on May 27th (not a misprint)
Why pursuing passionate work comes sooner with a big dose of simplicity and minimalism
How to resolve destructive competition… even if you’re just competing with yourself
What the greatest hurdle is for starting your entrepreneurial dream (you might be surprised)
Why competition drove me into a rage and to violently swinging a hammer

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites:
Resources:
Books:
- Inside-Out Simplicity (affiliate link)
- Simplify (affiliate link)
- Living with Less (Simply for Students)
Articles:
- Stop Comparing Your Life. Start Living It
- Why Minimalism is Not my Greatest Obsession
Etc.:
- Joel’s MinneBar “Experience Curating” talk
- World Domination Summit

Topics

[08:55] Joshua’s seeds of awesomeness
[11:11] The sparks of a minimalist journey
[17:05] Joshua’s evolution as a minimalist from physical items to something bigger
[22:22] The flashpoint for starting to live an intentional life
[28:05] How to stop the constant comparisons between you and everyone else
[35:09] Whether Joshua will bite on my “how crazy is Joel?” challenge
[41:39] Why minimalism isn’t Joshua’s greatest obsession
[45:15] The goal behind Joshua’s SXSW collaboration How Minimalism Is Changing Entrepreneurship
[49:00] How competition can be healthy… or destructive
[55:08] My three challenges to you

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

The transcript will not be available until I find a new transcriptionist (if you know someone good, let me know)

I’m Grateful for Your iTunes Reviews!

If you enjoyed this specific episode or the Smart and Simple Matters show in general, I always appreciate when people go to the iTunes page and leave an honest review. Every single review is a huge help and received with gratitude!

If you want to make me incredibly thankful, like the people who have recently left an iTunes review, here are the four quick steps (assuming iTunes is already installed):

Visit the Smart and Simple Matters iTunes page here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/value-simple-podcast-joel/id545208089
Click the blue button on the left labeled “View in iTunes” below the cover art of the show
When iTunes loads, scroll down below the “Customer Reviews” section and click the link labeled “Write a Review”
Write a review with whatever title you like, whatever length you have time for, and give the show an honest rating. If you don’t think it deserves five stars, don’t rate it as a five star show.

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 022 – Minimalism, Intentional Living, Competition, and Being the Best You with Joshua Becker appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 021 – Residual Income, Minimal Experiences, and Conquering Tall Poppy Syndrome with Natalie Sisson

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:00:04 +0000

Are you familiar with suitcase entrepreneurs?

Natalie Sisson is… because she happens to be an original suitcase entrepreneur, and a super successful one at that.

I’ve seen Natalie’s name across the Interwebs for a while, but it wasn’t until her podcast with Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist that I started paying close attention.

And she’s absolutely worth paying close attention to.

I caught up with Natalie via Skype at her co-working location in Berlin for this episode of Smart and Simple Matters. She’s been globe-trotting, rocking and rolling in business, and spreading her vision to see people have freedom in all parts of life.

It was both a personal pleasure and a treat to talk to her about the things you care about. I’m not going to impress you with her credentials here as you can get that from the show and all around the web.

But Natalie can talk powerfully about just about any topic under the sun, so we covered a lot of ground. Here’s a slice of her philosophy as we started to get into what building freedom in business and adventure in life looks like:

If I really look at my path and how far I’ve come in the last few years, it’s all been when I got really clear on why I’m doing what I’m doing. Because up until then I was really [thinking], ‘Well, what the heck am I doing?’ And once I got it down to what is my purpose, what impact do I want to leave… everything just became crystal clear.

Pay full attention for this one and get ready to dig in for a lively and insightful conversation.

What You’ll Learn

Once you adjust to a little background noise – no big whoop and part of the ambiance – you’ll appreciate a ton from Natalie.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

What “Tall Poppy Syndrome” is and why Natalie is motivated by it
How the “experiences over stuff” mindset uniquely evolves in a suitcase entrepreneur
Why you should aim for residual income streams instead of passive income generation
The stats behind the similarities between you, me, and everyone else
Why competition is essential in life, business… and becoming a world-class Ultimate Frisbee player
Who Natalie’s favorite guru is and why he helps her believe in something big

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: Suitcase Entrepreneur
Resources: The Value of Simple Store, The Digital Launch Playbook
Books: Start with Why (affiliate link), Build Your Online Business
Podcasts: Natalie’s Podcast with Joshua Becker
Etc.: Natalie’s WE Mastermind Program (affiliate link)

Topics

[03:58] Natalie’s background and her seeds of awesomeness
[07:43] The spark that lit Natalie’s suitcase entrepreneur existence
[15:15] What passive residual income looks like in Natalie’s business
[22:01] The various uses of Evernote and curating
[28:05] Natalie and I split hairs about how much people have in common
[30:36] “Why”
[35:38] What it’s like to compete in sports, business, and life

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

The transcript will not be available until I find a new transcriptionist (if you know someone good, let me know)

I’m Grateful for Your iTunes Reviews!

If you want to make me incredibly thankful, like the people who have recently left an iTunes review, here are the four quick steps (assuming iTunes is already installed):

Visit the Smart and Simple Matters iTunes page here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/value-simple-podcast-joel/id545208089
Click the blue button on the left labeled “View in iTunes” below the cover art of the show
When iTunes loads, scroll down below the “Customer Reviews” section and click the link labeled “Write a Review”
Write a review with whatever title you like, whatever length you have time for, and give the show an honest rating. If you don’t think it deserves five stars, don’t rate it as a five star show.

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 021 – Residual Income, Minimal Experiences, and Conquering Tall Poppy Syndrome with Natalie Sisson appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 020 – How to Create Space, Kindness, Empowerment, and Happiness with Tammy Strobel

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:00:14 +0000

I could never see Tammy Strobel walk into a room, not get something she wants, and then proclaim, “Do you know who I am?!”

She’s way too kind and humble for that. However…

I can definitely see myself walk to the far corners of the Internet, find people who don’t know who Tammy is, and then declare, “What?! You don’t know who Tammy Strobel is or what RowdyKittens is all about?”

That’s exactly what I’m doing with this episode of Smart and Simple Matters.

Tammy is a lot of things to a lot of people, but she’s also not a lot of things that most people are. And to me and the many people who follow her journey, that’s a very good thing.

In shorter terms, her mission is all about “going small, thinking big, and being happy.” It’s something that I can get behind, and so can the people who have heard about Tammy in places like USA Today, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, and The Today Show.

In our chat, Tammy and I talk about some of the themes from her book – You Can Buy Happiness (and It’s Cheap) (non-affiliate) – but we also go beyond happiness.

We talk about creating space in your life. How kindness and empowerment work together to become something even more powerful. We talk about… well… we cover a lot.

Here’s a glimpse of Tammy’s thoughtfulness:

I didn’t realize how much the “stuff” was weighing down my mental state. With a lot of stuff, you have to keep track of it [and] that takes up a lot of space in your brain. – Tammy

This was such a good conversation that even I said something useful.

It’s fun to be consumed when you’re consumed with the right things. – Joel

Click to tweet this message

Tammy even complimented me on my curating via spreadsheets, so instantly, she gets bonus points. But don’t let my light-heartedness obscure the serious – and seriously awesome – message that Tammy has for us all.

You can read more about it below and I’d encourage you to click on some links if you normally don’t do that.

What You’ll Learn

Besides increasing mindfulness, creating space in all facets of your existence, and learning to use empowerment, you’ll get a ton from this one.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

How to use your personal story to help people find their own happiness
Why empowerment is so powerful… and can eliminate the feeling of being controlled
How to have more physical (and mental) space for the things that matter
Why “should” and “have to” should lead to you judging less
How to push people towards happiness without shoving them unwillingly
The strange, wonderful link between photography and simplicity
How a morning ritual can help you slow down and be grateful
Acting from a place of kindness and not making assumptions about people
Approaching the roadblocks on a simplicity journey with a “beginners” mindset
A double rainbow other than the YouTube guy’s one (yes, I went there)

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: RowdyKittens, Tiny House Blog, Tiny House Design, Be More with Less, Tammy on Instagram
Resources: Resources for Life: Small House Society, Scrivner (for writers), the Refuge of Simplicity
Books: You Can Buy Happiness (and It’s Cheap) (non-affiliate)
E-Courses: Make Time, Create Space, Journal Your Life
Blog Posts: Are You Shoulding All Over Yourself? (Remade by Hand)

Topics

[03:49] Tammy’s seeds of awesomeness
[06:56] Tammy’s downsizing story
[11:33] Ways to find happiness
[16:31] The link between simplicity, photography, and rituals
[19:43] The peer mindset
[23:00] Why tiny houses are awesome
[25:46] How Tammy curates her existence
[28:52] E-courses (Tammy/Courtney Carver’s and others)
[33:40] Double rainbows

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

The transcript will not be available until I find a new transcriptionist (if you know someone good, let me know)

I’m Grateful for Your iTunes Reviews!

If you want to make me incredibly thankful, like the people who have recently left an iTunes review, here are the four quick steps (assuming iTunes is already installed):

Visit the Smart and Simple Matters iTunes page here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/value-simple-podcast-joel/id545208089
Click the blue button on the left labeled “View in iTunes” below the cover art of the show
When iTunes loads, scroll down below the “Customer Reviews” section and click the link labeled “Write a Review”
Write a review with whatever title you like, whatever length you have time for, and give the show an honest rating. If you don’t think it deserves five stars, don’t rate it as a five star show.

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 020 – How to Create Space, Kindness, Empowerment, and Happiness with Tammy Strobel appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 019 – The Continuous Creation Challenge and Your Ultimate Guide to Rock It

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 07:00:53 +0000

This is a special episode of Smart and Simple Matters for many reasons.

The first reason is the topic, namely the Continuous Creation Challenge.

My baby. My brainchild.

Yet, the Continuous Creation Challenge (CCC) doesn’t belong to me. And I wouldn’t try to keep it to myself in a million years.

This is our insane (and insanely beneficial) challenge where – for a period of time – you shift all your energy from many forms of consumption into channeled creation.

There’s huge flexibility in your planning and doing of the Continuous Creation Challenge (CCC) – including how long, when, what consumption to eliminate, and what projects to create – but it’s disruptive enough to the status quo to open your eyes to what could be possible.

You’ll hear the full origin story of the CCC in this episode, but I never intended for anyone else to do one when I experimented with it in April 2012.

But now? I’m passionate about having 100,000 people create their own awesomeness during a CCC before the end of 2014.

Is this my most ambitious goal yet?

Probably. And I’ll need your help – yes, your help – to pull this off. By the time you’re done listening to this episode, I bet you’ll be interested and motivated enough to help not just me, but to help yourself achieve an experience that many people would only dream about.

What You’ll Learn

I’m giving you the full who, what, when, where, and why in this show. Make sure to listen to the end for all the quirky, funny, and thoughtful commentary on this Continuous Creation Challenge business!

In this episode you’ll learn about:

How to stretch yourself to the point of discomfort… and liberation from the status quo
What the heck a Continuous Creation Challenge is (kind of important, no?)
The best practices of planning and doing your CCC so you can rock it
Why I intentionally fast for 72 hours and have tried to go even longer
How you can (and may want to) help with my super-ambitious CCC goal
Some funky FAQs like whether sex is allowed during your CCC (yes, seriously)
How to destroy your limiting beliefs and clarify what you’re capable of
Major unexpected benefits of a CCC like enhanced self-awareness
Who knows the “right” way to do a Continuous Creation Challenge

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Topics

[02:18] Intro to the Continuous Creation Challenge
[05:33] The origin story of the CCC
[09:17] I tell you how this CCC dealio actually works
[19:08] My previous CCC plans vs. what I actually experienced
[24:54] What you can create in 72 hours or 120 hours with focused intention
[31:50] What other people have created in their CCC
[36:28] The planning process for a smooth and rewarding CCC
[42:28] Basic troubleshooting and some FAQs
[48:59] Recap and a request for help

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

The transcript will not be available until I find a new transcriptionist (if you know someone good, let me know)

I’m Grateful for Your iTunes Reviews!

If you want to make me incredibly thankful, like the people who have recently left an iTunes review, here are the four quick steps (assuming iTunes is already installed):

Visit the Smart and Simple Matters iTunes page here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/value-simple-podcast-joel/id545208089
Click the blue button on the left labeled “View in iTunes” below the cover art of the show
When iTunes loads, scroll down below the “Customer Reviews” section and click the link labeled “Write a Review”
Write a review with whatever title you like, whatever length you have time for, and give the show an honest rating. If you don’t think it deserves five stars, don’t rate it as a five star show.

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 019 – The Continuous Creation Challenge and Your Ultimate Guide to Rock It appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 018 – Productivityists and Asking the Right Questions with Mike Vardy

Joel Zaslofsky — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:00:28 +0000

Mike Vardy brings a lot to the party.

Or show. Or event. Or the Internet in general.

In this episode of the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show, I welcome Mike to join me for a chat that bounces between wise, goofy, and practical dynamite.

I’ve been impressed with Mike for a while now – even before I knew he existed (you’ll have to listen to understand how that’s possible). His new book, The Front Nine, builds on a resume that already includes being a prolific podcaster, respected public speaker, and in some circles, a pretty great dad.

So it should be no surprise when Mike comes up with memorable words during our chat like this:

Being a productivityist becomes more about the ‘why to do’ instead of the ‘how to do.’ So you become more mindful. You start to make choices that are based about the things that you really want to as opposed to the things you have to do.

You can find Mike’s writing in many places now, but don’t go searching for his 3rd grade science serial masterpiece or his 8th grade novella The Green Thang and All. He’s evolved significantly since those formative writing days and has better things to offer the world now…like this great conversation.

What You’ll Learn

Besides understanding why Mike and I reference the song Baby Got Back a few times, you’ll learn a ton of practical stuff in this one.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

How being a productivityist helps with simplifying, organizing, and being money wise
Why “Why?” is the best question to ask…and when
The meaning of a “status battle” and how that grows into something bigger
What it’s like to focus on getting the right things done
How to use productivity to go from training wheels to tricking out your bike
What’s worse than an abandoned spreadsheet (hint: probably not what you think)
How to start your new year at any point…and hit it hard and heavy
Creating a template to evaluate whether new experiences are worth it
Why journaling can be a huge step in connecting to what’s truly important

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: Productivityist, Eventualism
Resources: The Ready Retreat Series, The Digital Launch Playbook
Books: The Front Nine: How to Start the Year You Want Anytime You Want
Blog Posts: Mike: The Why Joel: Are You Helping Deprive the World of Water?
Etc.: Mike’s podcast Mike’s on Mics

Topics

[04:25] Mike’s “seeds of awesomeness”
[11:40] How being a productivityist helps with simplifying, organizing, and being money wise
[20:32] “How crazy is Joel,” Mike’s book The Front Nine, and using golf as a metaphor
[27:15] How Mike uses spreadsheets and for what
[30:49] Curating, journaling, and using a working template for evaluating new experiences
[41:18] The lighter side of life, comedy, and some chuckles

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

The transcript will not be available until I find a new transcriptionist (if you know someone good, let me know)

Tell Us How You Feel

If you appreciate this specific episode or the Smart and Simple Matters show in general, go to the iTunes page and leave an honest review. Every single review is a huge help and greatly appreciated!

To leave a review on iTunes (iTunes needs to be installed first), just do these four quick steps:

Visit the Smart and Simple Matters iTunes page here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/value-simple-podcast-joel/id545208089
Click the blue button on the left labeled “View in iTunes” below the cover art of the show
When iTunes loads, scroll down below the “Customer Reviews” section and click the link labeled “Write a Review”
Write a review with whatever title you like, whatever length you have time for, and give the show an honest rating. If you don’t think it deserves five stars, don’t rate it as a five star show.

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 018 – Productivityists and Asking the Right Questions with Mike Vardy appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 017 – Growing the Seeds of Health, Relationships, and Abundance with James Clear

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 07:00:38 +0000

James Clear is all about helping people be healthy.

And after digging into JamesClear.com and listening to him speak, I have no doubt that his movement is on solid ground. Not only that, but he’s successful in helping people achieve and maintain their own version of optimal health.

This shouldn’t be a surprise. The communities exploding around fitness and health – online and offline – have a number of stellar people rocking their niche within this massive movement.

But as you’ll find, his concept of health is very different from the traditional mindset. After listening to James talk, you might be convinced that not getting your butt in gear (my words, not his) is a sure way to limit your happiness, health, curiosity, and ability to connect with others.

Now, some of you may already know James or have seen his words and photos online. His creations have been featured on US News & World Report, Travel & Leisure, Yahoo, Lifehacker, and the Flickr homepage.

But he offers us a slice of his philosophy and resources you won’t find anywhere else. Just from our chat, here are some words I’m reflecting on:

When you push yourself physically, it reveals what you’re made of mentally…and you solidify your sense of self-worth because you understand exactly what you can do.

***

The people you surround yourself with is not a business decision. It’s a life decision.

To see James’ abundance mindset even better, he is the first guest on Smart and Simple Matters that offered to package up the resources we spoke about (meaning I didn’t have to). Ummm…awesome! Thanks for doing that, James! Everyone can find those resources you’ve packaged up just for the SASM community at JamesClear.com/VoS.

One more thing before we get into what you’ll learn from our chat. Check out what this impressive fella has to say about the beauty of spreadsheets:

That spreadsheet’s always there for me to look at and say, ‘You know what? You’re still making progress every week. So there’s no reason to stop now…The numbers don’t lie.’

Are you stoked yet? I know I am!

What You’ll Learn

In this episode you’ll learn about:

When to watch out for “getting so healthy that you’re unhealthy”
How to be your family’s first entrepreneur…and rock it right out of the gate
Where you could find the seeds of curiosity, exploration, and experimentation
What James would have happily turned down a million dollars to continue doing
Why James practices intermittent fasting…and how
The link between spreadsheets and doing 100 push-ups in a row (seriously)
The abundance mindset and not being afraid to give
What James was born and bred to be
Why relationships are the ultimate form of capital (even more than money and time)

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: JamesClear.com, PasivePanda.com, HappierHuman.com
Resources: James special package for Smart and Simple Matters listeners, The Value of Simple Declaration, The Refuge of Simplicity
Other Articles Discussed: 24 Networking Tips That Actually Work

Topics

[02:59] The seeds of awesomeness (a.k.a. stories from James’ youth)
[05:54] The mission and cause that’s bigger than any one person
[15:41] Why James practices intermittent fasting and how
[18:43] Measuring your progress in physical training and overall health
[22:32] What an “abundance mindset” looks like to James
[30:28] Being a practitioner of happiness and gratitude

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

The transcript will not be available until I find a new transcriptionist (if you know someone good, let me know)

Tell Us How You Feel

To leave a review on iTunes (iTunes needs to be installed first), just do these four quick steps:

Visit the Smart and Simple Matters iTunes page here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/value-simple-podcast-joel/id545208089
Click the blue button on the left labeled “View in iTunes” below the cover art of the show
When iTunes loads, scroll down below the “Customer Reviews” section and click the link labeled “Write a Review”
Write a review with whatever title you like, whatever length you have time for, and give the show an honest rating. If you don’t think it deserves five stars, don’t rate it as a five star show.

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 017 – Growing the Seeds of Health, Relationships, and Abundance with James Clear appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 016 – Relationship Mindsets to Cultivate Lifetime Friends and Allies

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 08:00:08 +0000

In this episode of the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show, I unleash myself!

The topic is relationships and this one is both deep and wide. Maybe you can tell the difference in tone, clarity, and impact between this episode and other solo episodes I’ve done?

SASM 005 about curating and SASM 009 about investing were written up and read line-for-line. But I’m taking a new approach to my solo shows and just rolling with an outline. I’d love to know if you dig the new approach and what kind of impact it had on you (positive or negative)!

At one point, I was afraid this episode was going to turn into an R.E.M. song. That I was going to talk for an hour and not have anything to show for it. You know…

Oh no, I’ve said too much. I haven’t said enough.

But by the time I got to the end, I was singing a new tune.

I knew somewhere amid all this distraction, was a little less talk and a lot more action.

Yes, that was an R.E.M. and Toby Keith reference in the same breath. That’s how I do things.

I hope you weren’t playing a drinking game for this episode where you chug every time you hear the word “relationship,” “genuine,” “intentional,” “instrumental,” or “deeply.” You’d be awfully hammered.

But I do want you to take my words that resonated and take action as a result.

This episode was requested and inspired by Erin, Sally, Tohami, and those of you who have noticed the vibrant relationships I’ve developed. I’m extremely grateful for them and wanted to explain why I approach relationships the way I do and how you might be more intentional with creating and cultivating yours.

Here’s a sample of some words about peer development (among the other topics related to relationships):

Don’t wait for someone to wave a white flag, surrender to the world and say ‘please help me.’ Go out and try and help the people who may not even say they need it, but do it anyway because that’s part of who you are.

If that speaks to you, then other segments of this episode will speak to you too.

What You’ll Learn

From why we don’t tell the people we love “I love you” to who my relationship gurus are, you’re in for a treat.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

The simplest, most direct path to self-awareness
How to weave your own rich tapestry of friends and allies
Why I intentionally limit my influence to spend time lifting other people up
What being a “multipotentialite” can do when combined with a snowball effect
Why I want to start some conversations with “I love you”
How many of my eighty-one recurring business tasks are relationship related
Why peer development can get you father than self-development
The many ways to put out your “I want to be your friend” sign
Why the time I schedule for relationships is sacred
The surprising way I got invited to contribute to The Huffington Post
What my mom, Keith Ferrazzi, Scott Dinsmore, and my friend Erika have in common

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: Midway Simplicity, A Broader Life, {re}made by hand, Live Your Legend, JamesClear.com, Happier Human, Advanced Riskology, Puttylike, Nurturing Creativity
Articles: Invaluable 2nd Year Blogging Lessons, How You Get the Puttylike Snowball Effect, Practicing Dying to Simplify Living, Why You Can’t Steal My Thunder and How to Create an Unlimited Supply
Resources: The Refuge of Simplicity, Joel’s Personal User Guide
Communities: A-List Blogging Bootcamps (affiliate), The Puttytribe, The Bootstrapper Guild (affiliate), How to Connect with Anyone
Books: Who’s Got Your Back (affiliate), Never Eat Alone (affiliate)
Previous Podcasts: SASM 005 (Curating), SASM 008 (Colin Wright), SASM 009 (Investing), SASM 012 (Scott Dinsmore)

Topics

[02:24] Why I’m talking about relationships
[10:16] The results of some of my spontaneous and intentional relationships
[22:07] The how and why of peer development
[27:14] Scheduling time to create and grow relationships
[36:16] How to put out your “I want to be your friend” sign
[44:44] Reader and listener questions about relationships
[51:01] My relationship gurus
[57:16] Special thanks and final notes

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Transcript

The transcript will not be available until I find a new transcriptionist (if you know someone good, let me know)

Tell Us How You Feel

To leave a review on iTunes (iTunes needs to be installed first), just do these four quick steps:

Visit the Smart and Simple Matters iTunes page here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/value-simple-podcast-joel/id545208089
Click the blue button on the left labeled “View in iTunes” below the cover art of the show
When iTunes loads, scroll down below the “Customer Reviews” section and click the link labeled “Write a Review”
Write a review with whatever title you like, whatever length you have time for, and give the show an honest rating. If you don’t think it deserves five stars, don’t rate it as a five star show.

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 016 – Relationship Mindsets to Cultivate Lifetime Friends and Allies appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 015 – The Forces of Order and Simplifying with Dan and Vanessa Hayes

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:00:40 +0000

Let me just get this out of the way.

Dan and Vanessa Hayes of Simple Life Together are my kind of people.

They come at life in an authentic, vulnerable, candid, and generous way. And if Keith Ferrazzi writes a third book (fingers crossed), they would be a perfect case study in the philosophy Keith shares in Never Eat Alone and Who’s Got Your Back.

Vanessa and I started interacting after she left a comment on my Professional Organizers article and offered to help get me featured on Lifehacker (like she has been). Well, it turns out that both she and Dan listen to Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) and this set the stage for one of my coolest experiences at New Media Expo (NMX).

I was chatting with some folks at NMX when I heard a voice from behind me ask, “Joel?” I turned around to see a guy who I didn’t recognize, but he had a warm smile on his face.

“Hey, I’m Dan Hayes”, he said and still it didn’t click. “You know, Vanessa Hayes’ husband”, he continued. Click. The light bulb went off and the connection was made. Dan didn’t recognize my bald head from behind and think, “I bet that’s Joel.” He recognized my voice from listening to SASM. I gotta say, that was pretty cool!

I knew I wanted to have Dan and Vanessa on the show after chatting with him for about fifteen minutes. Their story was so good, their mission was so persuasive, and their attitudes were so cheery that it seemed impossible to not have a good time and generate a ton of value on SASM.

The podcasting set up they have for their show made it really easy to record my first episode of SASM with two guests. When it comes to a dynamic duo that knows a ton about simplifying and organizing, you’ll want to turn to them for help.

So it’s time for you to discover more about and from this cool couple. If you like creating order and simplifying – not to mention laughing and great storytelling – then this is the one for you.

What You’ll Learn

Spreadsheets are no joke, but joking about spreadsheets is fun. You’ll learn much more than original spreadsheet jokes in this show.

I wasn’t sure what they [spreadsheets] were. I took the linen out of the closet and laid it around the bed. I called that spreadsheets. – Dan Hayes

In this episode you’ll learn about:

How many hundreds of thousands of items the average American household has…
…And what this says about our relationship with “stuff”
Ways other than 162 items on your fridge to honor what’s important
Why most people need to organize and simplify their physical space before they tackle their digital landscape
How getting into “listen mode” leads to less resistance and better results (in Professional Organizing and life)
How the OODA loop helps with your clutter and chaos issues
Why digital file organization should be taught in school
The problems of being overly-orderly and simple ways to combat it
How to be the catalyst for starting your own community and movement
Who’s the “Director of Common Sense” and why you need one
Why I got reprimanded for not talking about spreadsheets and curating (that’s a first!)

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: Get Simplifized, National Association of Professional Organizers, Becoming Minimalist
Resources: Edit & Forget It, 2013 Fewer Things in 2013, The Refuge of Simplicity, UCLA’s Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century Study
Podcasts: Simple Life Together
Partner Charities: Charity:Water, Kiva
Etc.: Joel’s Professional Organizers Hand Guide, How Simple Heroes Ditch Clutter and Master Chaos, World Domination Summit

Topics

[03:43] How growing up in a military family and moving all the time shapes you
[10:26] The origins and impact of the Edit & Forget It Challenge
[19:05] How Vanessa tackles digital and physical clutter
[26:03] How crazy is Joel about the words “clutter” and “chaos”
[33:26] Dan’s digital tagging system with keyword rich titles
[40:31] Dan and Vanessa talk about their partner charities: Kiva and Charity:Water

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

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Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

To leave a review on iTunes (iTunes needs to be installed first), just do these four quick steps:

Visit the Smart and Simple Matters iTunes page here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/value-simple-podcast-joel/id545208089
Click the blue button on the left labeled “View in iTunes” below the cover art of the show
When iTunes loads, scroll down below the “Customer Reviews” section and click the link labeled “Write a Review”
Write a review with whatever title you like, whatever length you have time for, and give the show an honest rating. If you don’t think it deserves five stars, don’t rate it as a five star show.

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 015 – The Forces of Order and Simplifying with Dan and Vanessa Hayes appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 014 – Curating Part 2: Cultivating the Promise and Storytelling’s Evolution with Steve Rosenbaum

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:00:45 +0000

I’ve been waiting for part 2 of our Smart and Simple Matters curating series for a while.

I hope you have too.

Of course, I was the one directly responsible for not having this happen sooner. Problem solved!

I brought Steve Rosenbaum on with me for this episode of the show and…man! This was is scha-weet! I’m not sure why I sound tired near the end, but it’s probably because Steve overwhelmed my intellect with his awesomeness and original thinking.

To give you some context (like any good curator would), here are some of Steve’s bonafides (not that he needs them to be and sound like an authority):

Author of a popular book called Curation Nation
Had a TEDxTalk about curating
Has been granted the title “Entrepreneur At Large” for New York City’s Economic Development Corporation.
Is the CEO of Magnify.net
Contributor for Forbes, The Huffington Post, Mashable, and other prominent places
Winner of an Emmy for his documentary film 7 Days In September about the attacks of 9/11
Creator of the MTV show UNfiltered

Without all that to his name, he’s still an impressive fellow. If you’re even remotely interested in curating, storytelling, entrepreneurship, or dealing with the fire hose of the Internet, this will be like brain candy to you.

Where else are you going to get original thoughts like this one?

Robots don’t curate. Robots don’t write music, they don’t write poetry, they don’t write plays, they don’t paint pictures, they’re not artists, and they don’t choose sophisticated, interesting collections of ideas.

There will be more groovy curators on Smart and Simple Matters in the future, but I’m super stoked that Steve was the first. Let me know in the comments if you have other insightful curators that you think I should bring on the show.

What You’ll Learn

Besides knowing whether there will ever be an algorithm that can replace me (*gulp*), you’ll get all this out of our chat.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

How 800 people begged Steve to tell their story…and the simple mind shift that sparked it
The primary reason that curation came to be (it’s not what you think)
Whether you should be a curator or find curators you can trust to filter the Internet fire hose
How to look spiffy in your physical clothing and digital clothing
The big change on the horizon of how content gets into our brains
If people truly want more information or generally believe that less is more
How many hours a day I curate (and what I spend it on)
A shocking stat about employees checking email in the middle of the night…
…And the crazy relationship between sleep, email, and the curating mindset
The current and future balance of power between content creators, distribution platforms, and curators
The responsibility that curators have to their craft and to their terminology

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: Magnify.net, Jason Hirschhorn’s Media ReDEFined, Brain Pickings
Resources: Steve’s TEDxTalk in Grand Rapids
Books: Curation Nation
Movies: 7 Days In September
Where to find Steve: @magnify
Etc.: The Clinical Advisor videos (case study), Joel’s initial episode in the curating series, Steve’s curating article for Mashable, Entrepreneur At Large

Topics

[02:13] The two consistent themes of Steve’s work over the years
[05:00] Steve’s family history and how he got into curating
[08:26] Crowdsourcing some amazing stories
[11:09] The general philosophy of curating (according to Steve)
[15:12] A more narrow scope of the curating landscape
[20:03] The relationship between email, sleep, and curating
[21:14] How businesses – large or small – can tell better stories through video
[26:38] The current and future balance of power between content creators, distribution platforms, and curators
[33:55] The backlash against the word “curating”

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

To leave a review on iTunes (iTunes needs to be installed first), just do these four quick steps:

Visit the Smart and Simple Matters iTunes page here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/value-simple-podcast-joel/id545208089
Click the blue button on the left labeled “View in iTunes” below the cover art of the show
When iTunes loads, scroll down below the “Customer Reviews” section and click the link labeled “Write a Review”
Write a review with whatever title you like, whatever length you have time for, and give the show an honest rating. If you don’t think it deserves five stars, don’t rate it as a five star show.

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 014 – Curating Part 2: Cultivating the Promise and Storytelling’s Evolution with Steve Rosenbaum appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 013 – Better Financial Decisions and Building Mindfulness with Todd Tresidder

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:00:08 +0000

I brought a bit of Nevada home with me after returning from New Media Expo in Las Vegas.

My guest for this Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) edition is Todd Tresidder of FinancialMentor.com. Todd lives up the road from Vegas in Reno, NV and we met at New Media Expo.

I gotta tell you, his personality is magnetic. You know how, once in a while, you meet a person and can immediate cut past the small talk into meaningful conversation? Todd’s like that.

He’s deep, well-spoken, a wealth of experience (pun intended), and has lots of great stuff to share.

What kind of stuff?

You’ll have to listen to this episode to really get it. But one thing he said that instantly made its way into my “Sayings” spreadsheet was this:

If I associate my self-worth with my stuff, that’s just a dangerous road to take my brain down.

Some of what Todd deals with on Financial Mentor is advanced wealth building strategies. Yet, he has something for you, regardless of philosophy or level of personal finance knowledge.

Like, have you seen his eighty free financial calculators for pretty much everything under the sun? That’s just the start. He and I love quotes and you’ll find the man is a living quote playground. From his website to his computer monitor, there are powerful quotes and power words emanating from Todd.

Join us in this (dare I say?) profound and action-packed chat about…well, a bit of everything.

What You’ll Learn

We covered a ton of ground in this one and there are many highlights.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

What Todd’s “next step” is in personal finance and money independence
How to motivate people to see money as boring, rational, and unsexy (I love this part!)
Why being a college kid with very little wealth can be super rewarding
The meaning behind Todd’s words, “When you can have anything you want…is the point you cease to want anything”
What steps you can take to generate extraordinary value at attractive price points
How getting kicked in the butt builds mindfulness
Why giving away value can be a great business model…and how to smartly do it
What the ultimate insult is to people who create for a living
How the human mind is tremendously feeble at decision-making
The insightful quotes at the bottom of Todd’s computer monitor (yes, seriously)
How to create plans that don’t require unpredictable assumptions

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: FinancialMentor.com
Resources: Todd’s Awesome Financial Calculators, Seven Steps to Seven Figures, FinancialMentor.com Newsletter
Books: How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?, The 4% Rule and Safe Withdrawal Rates In Retirement
Etc.: Todd’s interview with Jaime Tardy of Eventual Millionaire, Andy Puddicombe’s TEDTalk about Mindfulness, Cashflow 101

Topics

[07:04] Thoughts about financial restraint and its origins
[15:00] The sparks for moving from hedge fund manager to meaningful, targeted work
[19:44] How one-on-one coaching isn’t necessarily a business model unto itself
[25:38] Preparing and experiencing “leveling up” your personal finance skills
[29:41] The motivation of kicking butt at managing your money
[36:05] How the human mind is tremendously feeble at decision-making

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

To leave a review on iTunes (iTunes needs to be installed first), just do these four quick steps:

Visit the Smart and Simple Matters iTunes page here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/value-simple-podcast-joel/id545208089
Click the blue button on the left labeled “View in iTunes” below the cover art of the show
When iTunes loads, scroll down below the “Customer Reviews” section and click the link labeled “Write a Review”
Write a review with whatever title you like, whatever length you have time for, and give the show an honest rating. If you don’t think it deserves five stars, don’t rate it as a five star show.

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 013 – Better Financial Decisions and Building Mindfulness with Todd Tresidder appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 012 – Remarkable Relationships and Doing the Impossible with Scott Dinsmore

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 09:00:40 +0000

My timing was awesome for a change.

After months of coordinating details for a Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) episode with one of our Simple Sages – Scott Dinsmore – we got to chat shortly after Scott starts blowing up the Internet.

It’s not just his recent How to Connect with Anyone course/community launch or his powerful TEDx Talk on How to Find and Do Work You Love. He’s on Zen Habits, Smart Passive Income, and just about everywhere else I look.

I’ve been following Scott’s journey at Live Your Legend for three years and I see why he’s taking off like a rocket. The clarity and impact behind his message resonates because of statements from our SASM episode like these:

Doing work you love, doing work that is you…is a right. – Scott Dinsmore

and

I believe the purpose of most of us trying to help people is to inspire possibility. – Scott Dinsmore

I’ve been fortunate to have other Simple Sages like Pat Flynn, Courtney Carver, and Colin Wright on the show. Adding Scott to the lineup fills me with gratitude and his words are going to help a ton of folks.

Scott and I have much in common like our shared passion for the power of “why,” building amazing relationships, and doing the impossible. But we have different approaches to a number of things.

For example, Scott has investors outsource responsibility to him for growing their money while I empower others to insource their investments through Start Investing with $100. Both are principled positions with the same goal, yet we help people meet a need in very different ways.

With that said, I can’t wait for you to listen to these 45 minutes of awesomeness. Like the other Simple Sages on SASM so far, there was much more I wanted to cover. But I’m super proud of the value we generated in the time we had.

Just make sure you check out the resources from this episode I link to below. There’s a ton of great stuff waiting to be discovered, so please click a link or two after listening. If you want my curated list of Scott’s greatest Internet hits as well, let me know in the comments.

As I say in the intro to the show, get ready for some serious fireworks baby!

What You’ll Learn

What will you learn in this one? Geez, where do I start? I’ll give it a shot though.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

Scott’s definition of success and how it leads to remarkable relationships
Why you want to “brainwash the impossible” (and how you do it)
What event in Scott’s life was the ultimate 80/20 return on investment
How much bigger your “why” can be than your “how” and “what”
What Warren Buffett knows a ton about besides investing
The formative event that sent Scott down the path to success
What relationship step out of twenty being connected via social media is
How to build a habit of “controlling what you can control”
What’s in the Passionate Work Framework (and why you want it)
Reciprocal inspiration and how it starts
Why field learning is more powerful than classroom learning

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: Live Your Legend, How to Connect with Anyone, Western States 100
Resources: Live Your Legend Passionate Work Toolkit, Start Investing with $100, Value of Simple Personal User Guide
Books: What Color is Your Parachute?, Start With Why
Videos: Scotts TEDx Talk How to Find and Do Work You Love, Simon Sinek’s TEDx Talk How Great Leaders Inspire Action, Unbreakable: Western States 100 Trailer
Partner Charities: Scott’s (impossible2Possible), Joel’s (Second Harvest Heartland)
Live Your Legend Blog Posts: Does What You’re Doing Actually Matter?, The 3 Rare Requirements that Make Passionate Work Possible, 2012 Goal Setting and Action Workbook, Product Launch Checklist, How to Get Invited to Speak at TEDx

Topics

[04:52] What’s shaped Scott since his college days
[11:49] What success with relationships means
[16:34] Insightful investing commentary and Scott’s role at Cumbre Capital Partners
[21:11] Weighting the role of “why,” “how,” and “what” at Live Your Legend
[27:50] Scott’s partner charity impossible2Possible
[34:40] A vivid verbal recap of Scott’s TEDx experience
[37:49] The Mt. Everest of physical challenges

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

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Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 012 – Remarkable Relationships and Doing the Impossible with Scott Dinsmore appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 011 – Becoming an Accidental Daily Money Manager with Jen Koontz

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:00:04 +0000

I was both terrified and thrilled to hear her story.

At first I just heard it second-hand from my mom. I remember thinking:

“Wait. They horded how many years of paperwork?! Hold on. They had how many credit cards with unpaid balances?! Get out of here. The Fire Marshall condemned the house with zero notice?!”

Then I thought that this was a story that needed to be told. My mom knew I was all about Daily Money Management, so she encouraged me to contact her friend and former co-worker that the story was about.

Jen Koontz and I exchanged emails for a month until we first spoke in early August. She had every reason to be wary of me because we had never spoken and I was asking some rather probing questions about her family.

After an hour on the phone, I asked Jen if she would be willing to be a guest on the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show and she was game. It took three months to coordinate the episode and involved my first field report with new equipment. The podcasting gods smiled upon us because it worked out better than either of us hoped.

In this episode of SASM you’ll hear about some things that, frankly, are shocking. Jen’s an open, honest, and very good person, so I won’t be ruining the surprise when I mention that her mom and stepdad were:

Years behind on tax filing and payment
Happy to have debt collectors call Jen at 6:00 am instead of them
Prime candidates to be featured on the TV show Hoarders
Not having anything to do with being “fixed”
Refusing to take responsibility for any part of the situation they created

This is a horror story without ghosts or physical harm, but the emotional, mental, and spiritual anguish is probably worse. Heroes show up on the scene and the situation does partially improve with some valiant efforts. I can’t promise a happy ending because the story is ongoing.

But there’s a lot to learn from Jen and a number of actions to take after listening to the tale of “Becoming an Accidental Daily Money Manager.”

She deserves a special thanks for her courage and desire to help people avoid or deal with unpleasant family madness. Let Jen know how much her story means to you in the comments and how you plan to help her spread the word about her ordeal.

What You’ll Learn

This one is all Jen. I don’t teach you anything other than how to facilitate an interview and ask good questions, but Jen makes up for it.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

How many layers of debt someone can withstand (especially on a fixed income)
What it’s like having your house condemned by the Fire Marshall with no notice
Why compassion is essential to surviving tough times
How to play the parent role to your parents
First steps to take when you uncover a financial or organizational time bomb
Why uniting with your support team is critical
How to dive into the “need vs. wants” and “them vs. me” discussions
Why simplifying and automating is so valuable when you have major debt
Having stress-free money conversations with family to prepare for the stressful ones

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Resources: Lutheran Social Services of MN, Value of Simple Daily Money Manager Hand Guide
Podcast: SASM 002 with Carole Evenchik, professional Daily Money Manager

Topics

[03:19] Just how bad Jen’s parents financial and organizational situation was
[11:40] Jen’s team that helped relieve her of some financial responsibility
[20:07] Sound first steps to take when you uncover a financial or organizational time bomb
[24:00] Holding your ground and staying consistent in your message
[34:00] Self-compassion and feeling it’s OK to lose your mind periodically
[41:46] Recap of lessons learned

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

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Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 011 – Becoming an Accidental Daily Money Manager with Jen Koontz appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 010 – Freelancing Traps, Clever Productivity, and the Croatian Bear with Bernard Vukas

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 09:00:51 +0000

In this episode of the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show, you’ll get geeked up about spreadsheets.

Wait. Spreadsheets aren’t your thing?

Then you’ll get geeked up about freelancing, productivity tips, how to live like a digital nomad, and laughing at me for making a fool of myself in part of the show.

I landed Bernard Vukas – also known as Mr. Spreadsheet – for episode ten. But Bernard is so much more than a fancy spreadsheet creator.

Who else do you know that has increased their freelancing hourly rate 1,400% over four years and will tell you how they did it? Who else do you know that’s been featured in Chris Guillebeau’s sweet book, The $100 Startup? And who else do you know that’s been personally thanked by the CEO of ODesk and nominated as “Best Contractor” in an uber competitive field like software development?

Bernard was gracious enough to speak with me recently from paradise in Boracay Island, Philippines. Although Internet connections aren’t exactly blazing fast out there, the scenery more than makes up for it.

Join us as we talk about some pretty awesome things that everyone can get into. And did I mention we explore the myth of The Croatian Bear? Yep, this one got a little wild at the end.

What You’ll Learn

Bernard has a history of teaching entrepreneurs, creating business plans, and showing people how project management is done. But today, you’re getting a look into the future of where freelancing and location independence is heading.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

Which productivity techniques are best for working from home (they’re not what you think)
The biggest freelancing trap Bernard fell into…and how he got out
How many books you need to read to become an efficient digital nomad
Clever ways to curate that you’ve never thought about
Rocking exercise routines for freelancing pros
Why Ethan Waldman is going to laugh at me and how I made a fool of myself
Whether the myth of The Croatian Bear is actually true

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: Start Investing with $100, ODesk (affiliate link), HireMrSpreadsheet
Resources: Couchsurfing, If This Then That
Books: The $100 Startup, The 4-Hour Workweek (affiliate link), The Art of Non-Conformity, Getting Things Done
Miscellaneous: The Croatian Bear, SASM Episode 003

Topics

[03:04] The impact starting young with computers can have
[06:28] Books that provided the spark for Bernard’s entrepreneurial spirit
[09:09] Which productivity technique works best for Bernard
[13:15] How curating can be delicious
[16:12] Freelancing traps and how to avoid them

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

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Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 010 – Freelancing Traps, Clever Productivity, and the Croatian Bear with Bernard Vukas appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 009 – How to Find and USE the Investing Start (or Restart) Button

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 08:00:26 +0000

I normally start the show notes by giving you some context about the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) episode.

However, most of that has already been provided in the Start Investing with $100 announcement article.

I spent a ton of time turning this investing specific episode into what actually is a free crash course to Start Investing with $100.

And although 54 minutes of audio might seem like a lot at first, once you listen, you’ll understand how much is packed into every last crevice of this episode. I’m actually amazed this didn’t turn out to be two hours!

Odds are your brain, pen, and fingers will be trying to take notes so fast that you’ll wish I didn’t try to do so much in one show. If you’re struggling to keep pace, check out the special edition of the transcript where I have a ton of links to resources, definitions, and more.

I’m proud of this episode and confident enough of its value to say that, if you spend only an hour this year getting educated about investing, make it this hour of Smart and Simple Matters.

What You’ll Learn

Gosh, where to begin. This is just a partial list to whet your appetite.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

The considerations you must make before investing your first dime
The simple – sometimes comically easy – five-step process to select an investment company
Why investing increases more than just your financial health
How to approach investing with fresh eyes and shed bad habits
Why I’m a heretic and disliked by most of the investment industry
My surprising answers to the question, “what do I invest in?”
How the value of your investments can skyrocket…but you still lose money
The online course Start Investing with $100 and how it can help

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: Start Investing with $100
Resources: Investopedia
Investment Screeners and Tools: Morningstar, TD Ameritrade, Yahoo Finance, Financial Visualizations

Topics

[03:06] Why I’m doing an investing specific episode
[08:40] The sequence and considerations to getting started
[16:28] Overview of picking an investment account structure
[20:29] Hey Joel! What should I invest in? A.K.A. investing principles.
[40:14] Socially and environmentally conscious investing
[42:11] How to select an investment company
[49:34] Key details about Start Investing with $100

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

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Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

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The post SASM 009 – How to Find and USE the Investing Start (or Restart) Button appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 008 – Personal Brands and Blowing Up Your Box with Colin Wright

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 07:00:37 +0000

In this episode of the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show, I have the privilege of hosting Colin Wright of Exile Lifestyle for a chat.

This conversation with Colin proves once again that we can’t control all the events in our lives and that we shouldn’t even try. For example, when the doorbell rings while you’re in the middle of recording an episode of Smart and Simple Matters and your two dogs start freaking out – running around and barking – make the best of it by pausing the recording and hoping your editing skills are up to the task. Now you know why there’s a strange edit about five minutes in.

If you like fountains, wisdom, or fountains of wisdom, you’ll love my chat with Colin. Whether it’s personal branding, why you should live like a sphere instead of a box, or how the “team” you’re on can cloud your view of the world, there’s something for everyone.

And besides, nobody else I know can seamlessly drop a Final Fantasy IV reference to Palom and Porom in a relevant way and make me almost have to stop the conversation to laugh hysterically.

Listening to this is fun but, more importantly, it reveals some insight that’s sorely lacking in our lives. There are a number of reasons I think we all should be more like Colin, but here’s one of my favorites from our talk straight from his mouth:

Anybody can replace a writer, or replace a designer with somebody cheaper, somebody outsourced, or a robot sometimes. But nobody can replace Colin Wright because I have this unique collection of skills and experiences.

He says this humbly and he’s damn right. And now I’m off to try a diet of cake icing. You’ll understand what I mean after listening to the show.

What You’ll Learn

Besides why you should shoot Colin an email to say hello, you’re getting a ton of stuff in this one.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

The smartest way to build your personal brand
The “grandma” test for an ethical business
How telling people what you’re not is putting you into a box
Why the majority of people everywhere are almost identical to you…
And how the small differences are as delicious as icing on a cake
Why religion, sports, and politics give people a “team” to be on
Why it’s dangerous to look at business as something separate from yourself
Colin’s view on the importance of curating (and it’s not what you think)
What kind of accomplishment it takes for Colin to stop being so damn modest
The majesty of road tripping across New Zealand (and an awesome travel hack)

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: Exile Lifestyle, Asymmetrical, Exiles
Colin’s Books: Iceland India Interstate, Real Powers, How to Travel Full Time, Start a Freedom Business, How to Be Remarkable

Topics

[03:50] What got Colin started as a globetrotting entrepreneur
[08:14] Building your personal brand
[12:16] Why differences in religion are dwelled upon so heavily
[21:15] The organic evolution of life and business ethics
[29:14] The muse for Colin’s books
[32:19] Old school videos games like Tetris and Final Fantasy IV

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 008 – Personal Brands and Blowing Up Your Box with Colin Wright appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 007 – The Future of Education and Brilliant Teaching Movements with Pam Peterson

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 07:00:15 +0000

In this episode of the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show, I talk with one of the smartest, funniest, and well-spoken people I know.

Pam Peterson, one of the newest teachers in Minnesota, takes us on an insightful journey about education today and in the future. And if you have school age kids/grandkids or maybe just plan to have them at some point, you gotta listen to this.

After all, where else are you going to get a pearl of wisdom like this?

When push comes to shove, there are no test subjects in the classroom. They’re real kids spending real time in their real grade needing to acquire real responsibilities and real skill sets to move along. – Pam Peterson

Or how about this?

Ultimately what we want is for people to have courage. Courage to explore. Courage to ask better questions. Courage to put themselves out there. Courage to express themselves. – Pam Peterson

What You’ll Learn

Pam has been on an amazing journey to fulfill her almost decade-long passion to become one of the best darn teachers around. And she’s finally passed the crossroads to teaching full-time.

You’ll get to hear her riveting story about why teaching is the emotionally and spiritually lucrative option that allows Pam to leave corporate America with no regrets. Pam is an expert storyteller, but you’ll hear more than just magnetic tales here.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

The “power of the yes” and when you should use it
The dirty little secret about why students like competition in learning
What can be achieved when you’re perspiration-smart instead of inspiration-smart
Keys to becoming fully engaged with your work
Which learning muscles you need to work the most
How to avoid wasting kids’ time in the classroom
New forms of teaching accountability…and what they say about the status quo
Analyzing whether school material is relevant to the real world

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Books: Passages by Gail Sheehy (Affiliate link)
Teaching Movements: Curriculum Integration, Accountable Talk, Student-Centered Learning, Khan Academy

Topics

[02:49] Pam’s values, history, fashion sense, and what makes her tick
[06:26] What’s prepared Pam for teaching and the “power of the yes”
[12:45] Doing simple things right like asking better questions and leading a conversation well
[16:50] A primary paradigm for teaching any subject in school
[20:56] Where the future of teaching is and should be going
[24:44] The challenge for parents to determine if online learning is right for their kids
[26:43] A crucial goal of teaching from K-12
[29:05] The universal skill sets that all children should have
[30:57] The myth about diversity and teaching that needs to be dispelled
[33:53] Educational movements you should be aware of
[36:44] Making school service projects more than just about service
[39:34] Enforcing key concepts across subjects

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

Click Here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 007 – The Future of Education and Brilliant Teaching Movements with Pam Peterson appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 006 – Habit Stacking, Simplifying, and Your Wakeup Call with Courtney Carver

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 07:00:26 +0000

In this episode of the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show, I speak with Courtney Carver about so many great ways to simplify life.

Courtney is known for a number of inspirational things in a variety of places. Whether it’s her collaboration with Tammy Stroebel on Your Lovely Life, teaming up with Leo of Zen Habits on the ClutterFree book and course, The Goodblog Project, or entrepreneur business planning assistance (just to name a few), she’s helping people all over the place.

And if you like bite-sized improvements that you can act upon immediately, this is for you. Wisdom like this is only the beginning.

What you call it isn’t nearly as important as what you do with it. – Courtney Carver in SASM 006

Her home base is Be More with Less and this is where I first learned about her. Courtney’s ability to concisely and powerfully explain what most people can’t put into words separates her from almost everyone else. And she’s as genuine, warm, and supportive as they come.

Basically, she’s a perfect fit for SASM. Chalk up yet another place that Courtney’s providing tremendous help (right here).

So grab your coffee, tie your running shoes, or settle into a comfy spot for this chat. I learned a ton from Courtney and you can too.

What You’ll Learn

I think some minor spoilers from this episode are in order. Don’t worry, there are plenty of surprises left in our bag of tricks.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

What habit stacking is and why it has amazing benefits
How to pay yourself first and have plenty left over for everyone else
Using your own wakeup call to help other people avoid theirs
Whether the differences between simplicity and minimalism are real
The deal we made about Mexico and Buenos Aires
The biggest benefit when simplicity is added to life
The story behind the quote, “I ask for a moment instead of putting on this super woman façade”
Making doing work you love accessible through minimalism

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: Becoming Minimalist, The Minimalists
Resources: How Minimalism is Changing Entrepreneurship, mini-missions
Books: The Power of Full Engagement (affiliate link)
Challenges: The 100 Thing Challenge, Continuous Creation Challenge

Topics

[03:24] Courtney tells us her origin story and some past challenges
[07:21] The beauty of the blogosphere
[16:31] Are there differences between simplicity and minimalism?
[22:11] How Courtney uses her blog to curate the best stuff
[25:30] Habit stacking
[31:04] How far away Courtney is from living on the beach in Mexico
[35:29] Courtney’s message to everyone about the power of story

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 006 – Habit Stacking, Simplifying, and Your Wakeup Call with Courtney Carver appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 005 – Curating Part 1: The Awesome Importance and Startling Benefits

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:00:56 +0000

In this episode of the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show, I talk about a topic that’s no longer flying under the radar.

And that’s a very good thing, because it’s of increasing importance in a world exploding with technology and information.

I’m talking about curating.

This is part 1 of a multi-part series about curation, a topic I’m endlessly fascinated by and always trying to help people with. There’s a reason why I made my first Ask the Community article related to curating and it’s because I’m super passionate about the topic. If I get a little carried away or animated during this episode, you now have some context for it. And a good curator always makes sure they’re providing valuable context.

Here’s the Value of Simple definition if you’re not familiar:

Curating is the act of intentionally sifting through your experiences and what you consume, archiving and categorizing the best stuff, and making it accessible and sharable for your future benefit and the use of others

So who’s this for? Well, everyone really. But there are some people who are great candidates for becoming dynamite curators and making an easy transition into a curating mindset.

People like:

Tech savvy folks with a lot of digital possessions
Anyone with a strong drive to organize
Freelancers that require a stash of inspirational material or proven resources for new projects
Passionate travel or recipe researchers
Self-improvement types who don’t like to choose between convenience and quality
Those that do small amounts of work up front to eliminate huge amounts later
People with a desire to help others and be a resource master on certain topics
Someone who has a poor memory (like me) and resembles Forgetful Jones (yes, that’s a link to one of my favorite Muppets)
The kid who always got excited the day new encyclopedias were delivered

Don’t worry if you don’t see yourself in these descriptions. You’ll still appreciate this and enjoy digging into a little understood world that’s making our collective lives richer and more meaningful.

And this is a must listen (or read) show if you or someone you care about has one of these problems:

Information overwhelm
Poorly or non-existent organization of key files, data, and resources
Being an information junkie but not benefiting from it
Unintentional hording of great resources that other people could benefit from
Not being able to get the information you want from a Google search
Having the same information in multiple places, each set being different from the rest
Not being able to attract people to participate and collaborate on the shared topics you all love

What You’ll Learn

I cover why curating is so essential now, some great examples of curating tools, case studies of curating experts, the primary way I curate, and more.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

Just what the heck curating is and why it can make you look amazing
The types of struggles a curator can be a master problem solver for
What we all spend three-fourths of our day doing without realizing it
What kind of simple system I use to curate
The best three minute video about curating ever made
What high quality and low class curating systems look and feel like
The truth behind the 100,000+ words a day we’re exposed to

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: BrainPickings.org, Curation Nation, Master New Media, Michiel Gaasterland, NextDraft, Rhizome, Big Think
Example Curating Tools: Evernote, Bit.ly, Pinterest, Instapaper, Springpad, Etsy, Goodreads, Library Thing, Scoop.it, Bundlr
Videos: Three minutes of curating awesomeness
Value of Simple Articles: Ask the Community: Struggle Creating Value from Information

Topics

[01:11] Joel explains the concept and context of personal curating
[01:57] Problems solved by curating and some unexpected benefits
[05:29] Mind boggling research about information overload and what it means for you
[08:18] What high quality and low class curating systems look and feel like
[12:33] The solutions curating provides and how it makes you look good
[15:40] The bottom line about the increasing importance of curating

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 005 – Curating Part 1: The Awesome Importance and Startling Benefits appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 004 – Passive Income Mastery and How to Be Everywhere with Pat Flynn

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 07:00:15 +0000

In this episode of the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show, I talk with a guy who radiates inspiration and moves people to take action.

And it’s none other than Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income fame.

Pat has directly helped tens of thousands of people (me included) with the principles of creating and maintaining passive income streams. Whether it’s through your own products and services, affiliate marketing, apps, advertising, membership communities, eBooks, and more, Pat knows about it all.

And he’s wildly successful in just about any way you can define it. I’m talking things like:

The love his community expresses for him (read an iTunes review of his podcast and you’ll understand)
The traditional “how much I make” kind of way (check out his income reports)
His ability to empower other people’s success
His influence via the 50,000+ subscribers to his website, over 1.5 million YouTube views, and other staggering numbers that keep going up
Creating some of the finest “how to” content about online and offline business anywhere on the web

But it’s striking how humble, genuine, and transparent Pat is about his personal and business life. As much as you’ll benefit from hearing about Pat’s success and the insightful actions he recommends in this episode, he’s just as likely to be seen discussing how he’s failed over the years.

My grandpa would call him a mensch. My aunt would call him a sweetheart. And I would call him one of the biggest influencers around in online business, ethics, and personal growth. Even if you don’t have a business or care much about what’s happening online, I’m confident you’ll get a ton from this chat.

It was a thrill to speak with Pat and even more awesome to listen to his wisdom on a range of topics. And now you get to be thrilled and enlightened too!

What You’ll Learn

We have a ton of valuable stuff to share with you so you’ll want to listen to the whole show.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

Which passive income stream Pat would keep if he had to give up all the rest
How being laid off can be the greatest thing to happen to someone
How he launched his first product and made almost $8,000.00 the first month
The skinny behind “just in time” marketing and why you might need it
A powerful example why single tasking can be critical for success
Which one of us has stayed awake for 72 hours straight…and why

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Websites: GreenAcamedyExam.com, BlueHost (Affiliate link)
Resources: The Personal User Guide, LEED Study Guides, Evernote
Books: The 4-Hour Workweek (Affiliate link), Getting Things Done. Pat’s Upcoming Amazon Kindle Book
Podcasts: Internet Business Mastery
Challenges: The Continuous Creation Challenge
Pat’s Social Media Presence: PatOnFacebook.com, Twitter, YouTube, and iTunes
Joel’s Social Media Presence: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and iTunes

Topics

[04:48] Pat shares his background and the motivational origin story of his business
[09:44] Exploring how to create eye popping income numbers in your first year as an entrepreneurship
[13:49] Using Evernote and other tools to curate
[19:13] Scenarios, boxes, and the value of single tasking
[22:03] Which passive income stream Pat would keep if he had to give up all the rest
[25:33] The personal challenges/experiments we’ve done and are doing
[31:47] Why Pat’s a family man before anything else

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications of a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

Click here to download the transcript for podcast 004

Tell Us How You Feel

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 004 – Passive Income Mastery and How to Be Everywhere with Pat Flynn appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 003 – Healing Your Technology Illness with Ethan Waldman

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 07:00:39 +0000

In this episode of the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show, I explore the freedom-giving and fear-inducing world of technology.

As a former corporate technology strategist and current user of various technology platforms, this is something near and dear to me.

Why?

Because even the youngest and oldest among us are now immersed in technology. It can be uniquely empowering or mercilessly paralyzing depending on your knowledge and skill with it. So I’m thrilled to have a true tech pro – Ethan Waldman – joining me on the SASM show to talk about his experiences and advice.

Ethan’s a Cloud Coach, email guru, and has been featured in many prominent places like ProBlogger, Be More with Less, Productive Flourishing…the hits go on and on.

We’ll break down how technology is best used by small businesses, ways to harness it for simplifying and organizing, and how to thrive with the least amount of technology possible.

What You’ll Learn

I thought past editions of SASM were great, but this takes it to a new level.

In this podcast episode you’ll learn about:

What mixing passion, patience, and confidence can do for you
A huge warning sign your email inbox is sick
How to value your time…and when to respect it enough to allow people to help you
Success with using the least amount of technology possible
The first question business owners normally ask Ethan…and why it’s the wrong question to ask
What kind of self-sufficiency is most important for small businesses
The story behind the quote, “Tiny man in tiny house seeks tiny piece of land”

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Website: Cloud-Coach.net
Website: Inbox Zero
Resource: The Personal User Guide
Website: Workflowy
Blogs: Paid to Exist, Live Your Legend, Rowdy Kittens
Software: Evernote
Software (Online Storage and Synching): Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft Skydrive
Book: Clutter Busting by Brooks Palmer

Topics

[02:17] How Ethan became the Cloud Coach and his intriguing story
[07:28] Controlling your email instead of having it control you
[16:11] Flourishing with using the least amount of technology possible
[17:56] The critical importance of technology self-sufficiency
[20:50] Tools and resources Ethan uses to simplify his life
[28:02] Talking about tiny houses and “drinking water and air for dinner”

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications to a new show, please do so with one of the links below.

Transcript

Click here to download the transcript for podcast 003

Tell Us How You Feel

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 003 – Healing Your Technology Illness with Ethan Waldman appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 002 – Super Skills for Rocking Daily Money Management with Carole Evenchik

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:20:24 +0000

In this episode of the Smart and Simple Matters (SASM) show, I tap into the amazing resources of a professional Daily Money Manager.

I’m consumed with getting the unglamorous nuances of day-to-day money matters right. And in pursuit of this, I’m happy to welcome Carole Evenchik – my go-to resource for all things Daily Money Management – to the SASM show.

In Carole’s 30+ years in the financial industry, she’s seen it all and has a wealth of experience to masterfully help her clients.

Through her business, EvenChecks & Balances, Carole helps seniors, busy professionals, non-traditional households, and everyone else under the sun. It’s a gift to interview someone who can talk about the philosophy of a financially sound life and explain the practical steps for achieving one.

What You’ll Learn

There’s a ton of wisdom to absorb and take action on in this edition of SASM.

In this podcast episode you’ll learn about:

Why money works for some people and against others
A story of joy and loss behind a $185,000.00 life insurance check
Confidently managing debt when you’re first starting out…and allowing yourself to still have fun
How to move towards auto-pilot in your day-to-day finances
Having a healthy relationship with money without understanding where your feelings about it came from
Being empowered up to your capacity…and beyond
The one question you need to ask to stick with a budget

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Website: Mint.com
Website: Manilla.com (affiliate link)
Website: Society of Financial Service Professionals
Website: American Association of Daily Money Managers
Personal Finance Product: Quicken
Author: Ruth Hayden (recommended by Carole but not discussed)
Newsletter: Value of Simple
Social Media: Value of Simple Facebook and Twitter communities
Carole’s Website: EvenChecks & Balances
Resource: Joel’s Daily Money Management Hand Guide

Topics

[02:33] Topics covered
[03:25] Carole’s background and “the insurance bug”
[06:40] Her financial moment of truth at age 28
[08:25] A professional’s definition of Daily Money Management and its principles
[13:45] Emotions and our relationship with money
[16:26] Empowering clients up to their capacity…and beyond
[19:59] Free resources for dynamite budgeting and personal finance
[25:42] Getting your money matters right when you’re young and (maybe) foolish

Awesome Ways to Subscribe to the Show

If you’re not already subscribed for automatic notifications to a new show, please do so with one of the links below

Transcript

Click here to download the transcript

Tell Us How You Feel

And if you have someone or something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show, tell us in the comments below.

The post SASM 002 – Super Skills for Rocking Daily Money Management with Carole Evenchik appeared first on Value of Simple.

SASM 001 – Lighting the Fuse

Joel Zaslofsky — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:40:33 +0000

I don’t normally tell you what to feel.

But right now, you should feel excited!

Why?

Because the first podcast of Value of Simple – the Smart and Simple Matters show – is ready!

I promised you audio in the About page, the intro to this refuge of simplicity, and the YouTube welcome video.

I’m making good on that promise today with the first of many podcasts.

Why Smart and Simple Matters?

You’ll want to listen to the podcast for the full rundown on what to expect for the current and future shows.

But here’s a brief explanation of the significance for the name Smart and Simple Matters.

“Smart” refers to you. The smart people in our community who love being inspired, educated, and entertained by the spoken word. It’s also a promise. A promise that only smart topics and smart people will be featured on the podcast. I humbly include myself in the smart category…although I got there just barely.
“Simple” refers to what this place is all about. It was essential to highlight this as the podcast is an extension of Value of Simple.
“Matters” refers to two things. The first is the important matters of life that are always on your mind and the essential, unglamorous matters that are ignored at our peril. The second is to stress that simple matters. The podcast and the people on it are here to remind, convince, illustrate, and activate the message that the value of simple just plain matters. The forces of chaos and needlessly complex have no place here.

Now, let’s jump right into what you’ll learn in the first podcast.

What You’ll Learn

I couldn’t have done 27 Simple Sages and the 9 Personal Renaissance Principles without many people’s help. But like Vanilla Ice in “Ice Ice Baby,” I’m on a roll and it’s time to go solo.

There’s a lot to like and learn as I light the fuse for bigger podcast booms.

So stop, collaborate and listen. Joel is back with my brand new invention.

In this podcast episode you’ll learn about:

Why I’m really doing the podcast (hint: it’s not for me)
The answer to the question, “Who is this guy?!”
My secret for consuming podcasts and videos in half the time
My definition of simple, what it means, and how I use it
A sneak peek of my “put it in a spreadsheet” benefits
How serious a slang using, laid-back dude can be
The dream job I wish I had (besides my current one)
The kinds of topics we’ll cover in the future

Right click here to download the MP3

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Newsletter: Value of Simple
Video: All About the Value of Simple on YouTube
Pages: My Story and About
Social Media: Facebook and Twitter communities
Software: VLC Media Player
Free Products: The Personal User Guide

Topics

[02:51] The run down on me, the podcasts, and the website
[06:44] My definition of simple, what it means, and how I use it
[10:42] How things work and the structure of the podcast
[17:04] The driving force behind this podcast
[21:23] My simple secret for ultra-efficient podcast and video consumption

Subscribing to the Podcast

I’ll be cranking out podcasts regularly so I want to give you an easy way of knowing when a new one is available. If you’re subscribed to this websites RSS feed (and if you’re not, don’t wait any longer) you’ll normally see an article with the details of a new podcast.

However, the podcast specific RSS feeds are the best way to instantly know when a new one is ready.

Click here to subscribe via iTunes
Click here to subscribe via non-iTunes

Transcript

Click here to download the transcript for podcast 001

Tell Me How You Feel

I’d love your feedback on what worked or didn’t work for you in this episode.

Did the audio quality or length make you stop listening before the end? Do you have a person or topic you’d like me to cover in a future episode?

You help guide me in creating better and more valuable stuff when you leave a comment. So please comment!

Thanks for listening everyone!

The post SASM 001 – Lighting the Fuse appeared first on Value of Simple.