The Quest4Life Podcast

From an early age, we learn about cause-and-effect relationships and, to keep things simple in our minds, we like to point to singular causes and singular effects. More often than not, however, there are multiple causes that have multiple effects. Imagine what life would be like if you made a decision right now to shift the causes that can bring about new and different effects, such as shifting ha...

You've probably heard the adage: There are two constants in life: death and taxes. While death and taxes are, in fact, constants, time is another one because time is fixed. We all get the same 86,400 seconds, 1,440 minutes, and 24 hours each day. What isn't fixed, however, is how much energy we have from minute-to-minute, day-to-day, which is why an alternative way of being able to achieve peak pe...

Have you heard of the "Both/And" approach to thinking, making decisions, and solving problems? Until recently, I hadn't and learning about this way of thinking has help me level-up my mindset and perform better in life and in business. You see, in Western cultures, we are socialized into rational, dualistic thinking patterns, which is about comparison and differentiation. Essentially, it's "either...

One of the surprising things about being a podcaster is the growing community of podcasters willing to share their stories and my guest this week, Jerry Dugan, is no different. Jerry is a combat veteran in Operation Iraqi Freedom, a leadership development consultant, a husband, father of two, and the host of the Beyond the Rut podcast. Through his personal story, he helps people define success and...

Have you ever wondered why some people are champions and others aren't? Have you ever wondered why some people excel in business and others don't? Have you ever wondered why some people are able to level-up their mindset every day and others struggle? The differences are fractional, which is to say that they are very small or slight. Those that achieve peak performance are fractionally better ever...

How much time per day do you spend on your smartphone? What types of food are in your refrigerator or pantry? Do you have toxic people in your life? These are a few examples of the "environmental threats" that either serve to distract or inhibit our ability to achieve peak performance. And while there are many others, these three serve as common, everyday threats that, when not dealt with appropri...

When we think of peak performers, it's not a stretch to assert that Yoda isn't the first person or character that comes to mind. It turns out, however, that not only was Yoda wise, but he was also the epitome of a peak performer as a Jedi Master. He not only possessed the ability to perform at a high level, but he also had the ability to translate his knowledge and wisdom to others in his teaching...

Happy New Year! Each new year brings with it so many possibilities and potentialities, so many things to look forward to. The time has come to set aside your excuses, to put down the baggage from your past, and to commit to becoming the best possible version of yourself every day. Leveling up your mindset requires a commitment to breaking the chains of complacency and stagnation, to shift the way...

If you're the type of person that is passionate about leveling up your mindset so you can achieve peak performance, you've come to the right place. Season #3 of The Quest4Life Podcast builds on the previous two seasons by focusing on ways in which you can go about realizing game-changing breakthroughs that allow you to chase down your goals in life and in business. Not only will the content get yo...

What is the meaning OF life? I have no idea, but what I do know is that there are ways to create greater meaning IN life. The key tenets to finding more significant meaning in life relates to coherence, purpose, and significance. Coherence allows us to make sense of our lives either in the moment or after the fact. Purpose relates to having goals or aims that ground us in our "reason for being." S...

People fear what they don't know, and they hate what they are afraid of. This relates to (most) people's dislike or intolerance to uncertainty. When people feel uncertain, they experience anxiety. Uncertainty + anxiety = fear. And all of us know that fear is a powerful emotion (some may argue that it's even more powerful than love) because fear keeps us safe from real or imagine threats. When we f...

Each of us likes to believe we think for ourselves, but do we? As children, the adults in our life, such as our parents, teachers, and coaches, download their worldview and beliefs and we, generally, accept that as truth. These truths form our beliefs. While this isn't necessarily a good or bad thing, at some point when we become adults, we realize that we've been living by other people's beliefs....

Throughout history, psychologists, neuroscientists, and philosophers have tried to understand humor, which is to say: Why we laugh. Interestingly, humor was once framed negatively, and it was viewed as a way for people to be demeaning or disparaging of others as a way to demonstrate superiority or vulgarity. In effect, humor was considered undesirable behavior and something to be avoided. Fortunat...

It's no accident high performers consistently achieve exemplary results. Fundamentally, all high performers possess a similar understanding about what is needed to consistently excel. They know that being emotionally committed to engaging in meaningful work, having the ability to leveraging their strengths, possessing a strong work ethic, building strong relationships with others, and having advan...

Is the current story about yourself serving you? And is this the story you want to tell? The answer to the first question is "yes," if for no other reason that if it wasn't, you'd tell a different story. The answer to the second question is less obvious. If you're achieving a measure of satisfaction or attention, it's obvious that's the story you want to tell, but you will lack fulfillment because...

Our inner voice (aka "The voice inside our head") is caused by certain brain mechanisms that cause us to talk to ourselves without speaking or hearing words. It's a form of intrapersonal communication ("within") where a person acts as both the sender and receiver of messages to engage in "self-talk." Such self-talk can be both positive and negative. On one hand, it can be uplifting and supportive....

Jerry Macnamara is no stranger to success in business. Through a fearlessly positive approach to leadership, Jerry has led 5 companies in 5 industries and how been recognized on the Franchise 500, Inc. 500, and Best Places to Work lists. He's also been recognized as a 40 Under 40 and an Ultimate CEO. Jerry's ability to create compelling companies is unrivaled and his approach to leadership is grou...

When most people want to lose weight or eat healthier, they turn to any one of the 30k fad diets listed with the Food and Drug Administration. While each of them works, principally because they are calorically restrictive, there is a lot of confusion around diets. This episode seeks to demystify six (6) of the most popular diet protocols to allow you to make smarter, more informed decisions should...

We don't like to believe for ourselves that we behave in hypocritical ways. We like to believe for ourselves that we can and do live by a set or moral principles or standards and that we never violate them. Unfortunately, such a belief is misguided, as we all engage in behavior that is inconsistent with what we claim. Let's face it, living by an absolute set of moral standards is next to impossibl...

Think back to a time when someone you cared about hurt you. Think back to a time when you hurt someone you cared about. It goes without saying that both scenarios have happened to all of us. Were you able to forgive them and let go? Were they able to forgive you and let go? Forgiveness is more complicated than people think for a variety of reasons because when we get hurt or feel wronged, we likel...

Most people like to think that they make sound decisions. Not so fast! Our judgment and decision making are clouded by many factors, such as emotions, motivation, and/or limitations in our ability to process information. Because of this, we often engage in cognitive biases, which are errors in thinking when we process information in the world around us in the brain's pursuit of simplifying informa...

My journey with starting a podcast started a few years ago...although I didn't know it at the time. Seeds were planted and, eventually, I received a final spark of inspiration and haven't look back. Some may think, as I did for a long time, that starting a podcast is cost prohibitive or you need professional recording equipment or it is extraordinarily time consuming. None of the above are true. I...

Psychological and emotional triggers play a significant role in each of our lives. Triggers are memories, experiences, or events that evoke negative emotions and include things like betrayal, rejection, helplessness, loss of control, being excluded or ignored, feeling unwanted...the list goes on and on. Each of us can go from being in a good mood to being triggered at the snap of a finger. Being a...

We all know someone who spends way too much time bragging about their successes or their physical appearance, provoking a reaction in another person by making calculated comments that are inappropriate, and/or catastrophizing the details of their own lives or the lives of others. People that engage in this type of attention seeking behavior have their behavior reinforced whenever they are given at...

Author of the bestselling book, Conversations with God, Neale Donald Walsch was once quoted as saying, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." No truer words have been spoken. Human beings perpetually seek comfort, which is not necessarily a bad thing until it becomes a bad thing. Achieving comforts in life, while nice and convenient, can lead to a type of self-reinforcing behavior that kee...