Vision with Pej Onile-Ere

What inspires and shapes the creation and evolution of a vision board project and podcast that focus on personal growth and self-discovery?

The vision board workshop reveals hidden desires and life goals by tapping into creative instincts rather than logical reasoning.

Having the courage to become who you’re created to be is what badass really stands for.

~ Pej Onile-Ere (8:42)

The conversation discusses the transformation of a vision board project into a workshop that helps participants uncover and act on their hidden desires and life goals. It explores the use of creative rather than analytical thinking, and the integration of deep meditation to guide individuals in aligning their priorities with their life’s current phase. The workshop focuses on crafting actionable maps from abstract aspirations, providing clarity and focus.

Another major topic is the intersection of the workshop and the creation of a podcast that emphasizes personal growth and overcoming fear. Pej shares her journey of acquiring domain names inspired by vision boards, leveraging podcasting as a platform for exploring the stories and routines of successful individuals. She reflects on how her podcast and workshop themes of courage and self-discovery align.

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Accountability

Starting on January 3rd, 2022, I’m hosting an accountability session.

https://forum.moversmindset.com/pub/accountability

It’s free. There are no tricks, no gimmicks, and there’s no “upsell” at the end. It’s simply an opportunity to synchronize with others who want to make progress toward some goal of their own choosing.

This session is for kind and generous people who want to get something, (something of their own choosing,) done. But, who feel they need some others to kindly and gently hold them accountable to doing the work. In the session, you’ll be part of a group of people working together.

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I’m still playing Myst

I always liked those weird exploration games from the 1980s and 90s, like Zork and Myst, where you wake up in a strange environment, with no idea where you are or even who you are. You have to gather the context from the inside out, by wandering around, pushing buttons, peering behind wall paintings, and reading notes left by strangers who were here before you.

~ David Cain from, Nothing Really Has a Name

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I don’t think I can really explain it. You either know what Myst is, (and it ate months of your waking hours,) and so know what he means; Or you don’t. “I like those games because that’s exactly what it’s to be a human being, if you think about it.” I hadn’t until I read it. But, zoinks, he’s right. The feeling I have in the middle of a great conversation is the same feeling I had exploring Myst, and while exploring all those other things Cain mentions learning about.

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Sometimes the problem is you

The approach is to learn to find peace with chaos.

~ Leo Babauta from, When Things Feel Scattered

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As with everything I’ve ever seen Babauta post, I agree. If you’re feeling scattered, you could do a lot worse than to read that article. It provides perspective, and some small, actionable things to start on.

Sometimes whatever-it-is is not actually a problem; The problem is our attitude about the problem. (Try Jack Sparrow’s admonishment which echos Aurelius’s reminder to himself.)

But, my Dear Reader, sometimes the problem is ourselves. We said ‘yes’ to one, or two, or twenty, things too many. And the yes’s are insidious. We are all so eager to help, that we rush in. (“The rescuer,” is one of the corners in the Karpman drama triangle. For which I refer you to M B Stanier’s, The Coaching Habit, p138.) So, if you’re feeling scattered: Check for drama.

The hard part is when you learn to start to set boundaries. Dealing with how setting boundaries feels when you’re comfortable being the rescuer is hard. Dealing with how it feels when everyone knows you as that person is hard. It takes cahones to relax and sink, to save yourself from the drowning swimmer you were trying to save. It takes chutzpah, when a friend asks you for what they think is a small favor, to pause for several seconds, to do the mental calculus, to set your boundaries for just how much effort you’re going to put into the thing… and only then answer them, ‘Yes.’ It takes brass to be kind enough to yourself to ensure you have boundaries that work for you.

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Relationships John Parsell

What are the insights and challenges involved in creating and sustaining a podcast about learning and development?

A conversation about transforming technical challenges into meaningful dialogues unfolds with clarity and humor.

What we noticed was that the conversation started to go in all these different directions, and we weren’t achieving the goal of trying to get specific questions answered.

~ John Parsell (12:53)

The conversation explores the development and challenges of creating a podcast focused on learning and development. One central theme is the evolution from an initial idea of streaming live discussions to eventually crafting a podcast, which required navigating technical, logistical, and content challenges. The podcast aims to address practical issues, like engaging stakeholders and uncovering the root causes of organizational training requests, rather than focusing solely on technical skills.

Another significant topic is how the hosts approach guest engagement and content structuring. John emphasizes the importance of clear goals, preparation, and providing value to listeners. The discussion touches on their method of using templates and curated questions to guide interviews while maintaining conversational authenticity. Building strong relationships and fostering collaboration, both with podcast guests and within the learning and development community, emerges as a recurring theme.

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There’s your problem

Read the headline, tap, scroll, tap, tap, scroll.

~ Shane Parrish from, How Filter Bubbles Distort Reality

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Well, there’s your problem. Right there in that first line of that article.

But it’s not your fault. There’s a huge asymmetry in the modern struggle.

The solution isn’t to flee, but rather to grab all the technology doo-dads by the, err… doo-dads and make them do your bidding. Notice when something annoys you, and then take the time—it might be seconds, minutes, hours or days—to solve that problem. Triple-word score if you can eliminate something entirely; delete your account from one social network that you’re ok with being without… that fixes annoying notifications. Delete an app. Find some web sites, (hey thanks for following mine,) that work the way you want them to. Subscribe to email if you like, use RSS if you like, etc.

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Words shape thoughts

Take this phrase for a test drive: Temporarily able-bodied.

That “temporarily” really packs a punch.

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Your kind of happy

I’m not sure when we started sending out holiday cards. You know, the old fashioned way, in envelops with a stamp. But, it might be 20 years that we’ve been doing it. Some parts of it are a simple process; For example, we have a digital address list and I simply print the addresses on labels.

The two hardest parts however have always been finding holiday stamps that we liked—that sounds silly, but there it is. So this year, we’re breaking with tradition and simply using the generic postage stamps that we keep on hand.

And finding cards we like. By the time we get around to starting on our holiday cards, it’s too late to really do any custom ordering. Besides, neither of us is willing to buy something we can’t see/touch. And there’s the debate about do we print a photo of ourselves to include? …and what about including a sort of “this past year…” summary letter? Or perhaps those simple photo montages with a simple holiday slogan—we’ve been getting a higher number of those in recent years and it’s nice to see everyone’s photos…

This year we decided to do something different. We spent all of the time we would have spent finding the “right” stamps and finding the “right” cards… and bought cheap-ass plain Avery card stock and spent the time making them ourselves. The card is a solid mediocre job, as far as holiday cards go. But it’s exactly the card we wanted to send out.

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Design with Hernán Braberman

How does the practice of design, particularly in cover art and podcasting, bridge functionality and storytelling?

Discover the parallels between designing podcast cover art and packaging consumer goods.

It’s like a very tiny story in a square footprint, and of course it should reflect you. And then, also, once your audience gets used to it, [it will] be like a shortcut to finding your new episode.

~ Hernán Braberman (2:18)

The conversation explores the relationship between storytelling and design, focusing on podcast cover art as a form of visual storytelling. Hernán explains how the design parallels packaging consumer goods, both requiring an ability to draw attention and convey meaning within a small space. He discusses how the elements of design—shapes, colors, and typography—can embody the emotional and functional attributes of a podcast’s narrative, making the artwork a recognizable shortcut for audiences.

Hernán shares personal anecdotes, including inspiration from Spanish designer Javier Mariscal, whose philosophy of “design without surname” influenced their perspective. He also draws an analogy between podcasting and scuba diving, emphasizing the unique medium and altered sense of time in both. The discussion reflects on how creativity in podcasting is an open-ended process, comparable to the iterative nature of design, and how sound and structure play critical roles in storytelling.

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Acknowledgment with Simon Ratcliffe

How do the dynamics of conversation and storytelling impact podcasting and personal connection?

Effective podcasting techniques rely on balancing preparation and adaptability during interviews.

A lot of people never answer those questions, until somebody asks them. And, actually, you asking them often brings them insight they didn’t necessarily have.

~ Simon Ratcliffe (17:23)

The conversation explores the nuances of podcasting and the emotional dynamics of meaningful dialogue. One focus is the emotional highs and lows experienced in podcast production, from the joy of recording to the challenges of editing and releasing episodes. Another topic is the value of acknowledging guests’ individuality, with examples of how thoughtful questioning can lead to deep, meaningful exchanges.

The discussion also examines group dynamics, especially in the context of facilitating group interviews or research discussions. Key insights include the importance of recognizing and engaging all participants and the transformative power of contextual understanding in conversations. The conversation reflects on how certain techniques, such as effective pauses and unscripted interactions, contribute to authentic connections.

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