Success By The Books: The Bev and Cliff Notes

Our mouths can get us into trouble!  No one wants to walk away from a conversation with regrets, feeling bad about what we said.  This is a wonderful book and it is a throwback episode because it's that important.  If someone close to you was asked if you were a good listener or if you talked too much...what would they say?  If they were asked if you could keep a secret...what would they say?  If...

Time is the only thing we spend without knowing how much of it we have left.  What a difference it makes in life when we don't come from the perspective that we have endless time, but live with intention.  Let's talk about "Living with Intention" and what we learned from Mark and Jody Rollins.  Cliff's "In the News" is THE METROLINK.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is HILLBILLIES CHILLIN'.  Music - "B...

John C. Maxwell has written so many incredible books, and this is definitely one of them.  "Everyone Communicates Few Connect - What the Most Effective People Do Differently" explains that the ability to connect with others is a major determining factor in reaching our full potential...John teaches us how to do this one-on-one, with groups, and with a large audience.  Cliff's "In the News" is SEE'...

Today's episode is a Reach Back so we can include part 2 of the popular "Today Matters".  Part 1 of "Today Matters" can be found last episode.  The book is about the 12 daily practices that John C. Maxwell finds guarantee success.  Cliff's "In the News" is GROUNDHOG DAY. Cliff's "Inside the Music" is DADDY'S THINGS. Music - "Guilty" (music only) by Bev & Cliff Nelson.  "Daddy's Things" (full song)...

Today we are doing a Reach Back that had a lot of listens.  In John C. Maxwell's book, "Today Matters", we learn to make a major decision in each of 12 areas of our lives.  By making these 12 decisions once, our lives are much easier and we are set-up for success. Cliff's In the News is the DOLLAR STORE. Cliff's Inside the Music is MORE COWBELL. Music - "Future" (music only) by Bev & Cliff Nelson....

There are certain habits that may sound small, but they have made a big difference in my life.  Join us today for "Small Life-Changing Habits".  Some of these habits you may do already, but others you might not.  The episode also may get you thinking of some small thing you could do to reap big benefits.  Cliff's "In the News" is GRADUATIONS.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is ANGEL OF THE ROAD.  Musi...

Cliff and I just got back from an epic trip on Historic Route 66 to celebrate it's 100th Birthday (1926 - 2026).  Join us as we tell you about the Mother Road and what we learned while driving it.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is BURNING UP MY GOODYEARS.  Music - "In" (music only) by Bev & Cliff Nelson, Mary Lyn Bates, Kevin Fisher.  "Burning Up My Goodyears" (full song) by Cliff Nelson, Joshua Rush...

Time for a retro rewind of a popular episode of Success by the Books from 2021.  We have 5x's more data now than in 1986...talk about information overload! We're expected to make more decisions and make them faster than ever before. Join us as we bring you takeaways from Daniel J. Levitin's "The Organized Mind" to learn the optimal way to stay focused. Cliff's "In the News" is on HIGHWAY 1. Music...

Here is the second part of "Ten Ways to Ignite Your Life" by Todd Durkin.  The five things last episode and the five things this episode will get you feeling energetic and strong so you can live out your dreams and goals.  Cliff's "In the News" is SONS OF AMERICAN LEGION.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is TRUCK STOP CHICKEN.  Music - "Dash Between the Years" (music only) by Bev & Cliff Nelson.  "Truc...

The calendar says April, and we're guessing that some (or all) of those January resolutions have gone the way of the dodo.  This is a two-part episode called "Ten Ways to Ignite Your Life" by Todd Durkin.  Listen and get yourself back on track and feel great physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally as you finish strong.  Cliff's "In the News" is LOS ANGELES COLISEUM.  Cliff's "Inside the...

There are a lot of lonely people in this world.  Loneliness is an epidemic.  I've heard multiple times that two weeks of being lonely is the same as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.  As people get older, it's often harder to make friends.   Friends support a healthy immune system.  Join us as we discuss what it takes to have a good friend and to be a good friend.  Cliff's "In the News" is CATAL...

This month's "Best of Success by the Books" is "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom.  It is a true story.  Morrie was Mitch's favorite Professor and mentor through college.  Chasing success, Mitch let this special relationship slip away.  He got a second chance to take one more class from his dying Professor 20 years later.  The class met every Tuesday and the subject...lessons in how to live.  ...

We are bringing you the information we learned on a Youtube station called Retirement Tranformed.  Mark and Jody Rollins spoke all about "Anti-Aging Foods".  These are foods that improve your health, make you feel, and look better.  Who wouldn't want all three of those benefits?!  Cliff's "In the News" is REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS.  Cliff's "inside the Music" is OLD JOHNNY WOULD HAVE DONE IT.  Mu...

Author, Karen Ehman, says that there are two secrets to having a productive week.  Join us as we discuss the two "R's" rest and routine in this episode called "Sunday Secrets for a Productive Week".  Set yourself up for success.  Cliff's "In the News" is DOLPHIN SUPER PODS.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is MY RIDE OR DIE (alternative version).  Music - "The Pursuit of Happy Hour" (music only) by Bev...

Best of Success by the Books:  "The Energy Bus" by Jon Gordon is a Wall Street Journal Best Seller.  The author takes us on an inspiring ride, in the form of a story, that reveals ten secrets to approaching life and work with positive, forward thinking that leads to a happier, more successful life - at work and at home. Music Tracks and Full Song - "Rise" by Dee Briggs, Bev & Cliff Nelson.

Energy is "fuel" for our lives.  You may see some people running around full of energy and vitality, and living their lives with exuberance...but you haven't felt that way in a long time.  Today's episode "Increased Energy" will help you take a look at your current habits, and give you some energy-packed ones to add to your life.  Cliff's "In the News" is MICKY DOLENZ.  Cliff's "Inside the Music"...

This week and next week we will be discussing ways to save energy.  Today it's about decision fatigue.  The average adult makes 35,000 decisions a day!  Let's bring back some energy to your day.  Join us for "Energy Savers - Decision Fatigue".  Cliff's "In the News" is THE MISSION INN.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is YOU LIED TO ME TODAY, YOU'LL LIE ALONE TONIGHT.  Music - "How the Future Used to L...

In today's episode we learn about the Enneagram in the popular book "The Road Back to You" by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile.  I read this as a recommendation from my friend, Karyn Williams.  Listen and find out more about yourself and others you know.  Why do we do what we do?  Very interesting stuff!  Cliff's "In the News" is THE HERITAGE HOUSE, RIVERSIDE, CA.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is THE PU...

A new feature for 2026 is a once a month throwback of our highest downloaded shows.  This month's episode is #14 which originally aired 7/3/19.  Here is "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller.   Every life is a story, and whether we live a life worth telling and talking about is up to us.  This life-changing book is the subject of this podcast. Featured Songs: "I'd Be A Cowboy" by...

We can get older without getting old.  What we do today can greatly impact who we are at eighty-five years old.  Join us in this episode as we discuss what you can do now to keep your independence into your 80's.  This information comes from a keynote speech by Lisa Arendale at a conference Bev attended in Mississippi last March.  Cliff's "In the News" is BASKIN ROBBINS ICE CREAM.  Cliff's "Inside...

Did you know that 85% of people, who make goals for the year, quit them by the 2nd Friday in January?  You have made goals that mean a lot to you.  You want to follow through this year.  Join us as we discuss "Sticking To It".  Learn why people quit and how to avoid that happening to you.  Cliff's "In the News" is PAPER TOWELS.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is HILLBILLY FUNK.  Music - "Lunch on Tues...

This week we discover how to "Create an Epic 2026" through Todd Durkin's life-changing questions in his Annual Strategic Plan.  I've done this for the last few years and it gives me so much clarity for the months ahead.  The Annual Strategic Plan is part of Todd's God-Sized Dreams Planner.  Cliff's "In the News" is ARMENIAN CHRISTMAS.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is IF YOU'RE GONNA CATCH ME.  Music...

One of my favorite authors and podcasters is Todd Durkin.  Every year, Todd offers an Annual Strategic Plan, a Journal, and a God-Sized Dream Planner.  I have purchased this system every year since it was first offered.  Today, I will ask you some of Todd's questions to help you catch the takeaways from 2025, and put you in a place of gratitude before you move into 2026.  Cliff's "In the News" is...

Tips for the Holidays by Brittney Tollinchi gives us great advice on how to do more of the things we would love to do during the season, not just what we feel obligated to do.  Cliff's "In the News" is ELECTRIC EGG COOKERS.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is SUPPLY & DEMAND.  Music - "Mama's Got Her Dancing Shoes On" (music only) by Bev & Cliff Nelson, Mary Lyn Bates.  "Supply & Demand" (full song) by...

Many of our friends have been actively decluttering recently.  Do any of us want to fill that empty space, we've created, with more things we don't need?  Join us as we discuss "Clutter-free Gifts".  These are gifts that are personalized to the recipient and will not be more clutter.  Cliff's "In the News" is LEGAL PADS.  Cliff's "Inside the Music" is MAD COWBOY DISEASE.  Music - "We Got This" (mu...