The Slight Shift Show…Just a Little Bit More…Or Less…

This week on the Balanced Warrior Podcast, Chris shares with Coach Mike his path to recovery after double knee replacement surgery.  Just three weeks prior to his surgery, he was standing on to of the highest mountain in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and then he was relearning how to walk.  Where most people in need of knee replacement do one at a time, Chris opted to get them both done at the same tim...

This week on the Balanced Warrior Podcast, Chris and Paul share some valuable tips on how to stay strong during the summer.  A lot of professionals believe that summer is inevitably going to be slow and in turn, business is going to be slow.  While it is true that people do take more time off in the summer, successful people will come up with innovative ways to make the most out of their time; not...

This week Mike and Paul discuss Paul's upcoming physique competition. The Balanced Warriors are all about taking on new fitness challenges, and pushing themselves to grow! As Paul explains, the benefits of taking on this unique challenge have extended to more than just the shape of his body. The discipline, habits, and sense of purpose required carry over into his relationships, work, and even fai...

This week on the Balanced Warrior Podcast we have another very special guest, David Greenwood.  David is an accomplished author and podcaster, coach, and all-around great guy.  His two books, Overcoming Distractions and Overcoming Burnout are both timely and prescriptive given today's information overload that everyone is experiencing.  Dave's podcast provides tremendous value with insightful conv...

In part 2 of this presentation, Mike Mertens reveals more of the principals that allowed his businesses to thrive for several decades, and to serve as a standard for his industry. These concepts are applicable to virtually any field, and can be used as a checklist to determine where you need to put more effort into your career or business. Mike discusses 5 elements including:  Your People: Have yo...

What does it take to build a business that succeeds at the highest level decade after decade? Mike Mertens is a serial entrepreneur, with ownership in martial arts schools, consulting, and software. In this episode, Mike  explains the importance of building your business on a solid foundation, and that foundation is you! Listen in and learn as Mike discusses:  Clarity of Vision: The key to decisio...

This week on the Balanced Warrior Podcast you have all three Balanced Warrior's on-air discussing mentorship.  Not of their parents or Taekwondo mentors, but from other influences who have inspired the three of them. Chris, Mike, and Paul each chose two historical figures whom they respect, admire, and who have influenced them in one way or another.  Chris chose U.S. Grant and Rosa Parks, Mike ack...

Do you have a mentor or mentors in your life? What about a peer group that challenges and inspires you? How much of your time each week is spent developing yourself by learning new concepts and acquiring new skills that will help you to achieve your goals? And equally important, are you passing on the knowledge that you have to others who are at an earlier stage in their journey than you?   In thi...

This week on the Balanced Warrior Podcast, we have Erin Hartnett, the Director of Development for the Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation. Balanced Warrior Mike Mertens and his martial arts organization, World Class Tae Kwon Do, have supported the Children's Hospital for many years and raised a whopping 1.3 Million Dollars to help children in the Greater Buffalo area.  Balanced Warriors beli...

This week's podcast is one not to miss, although we say that to all of them; however, the conversation between Mike, Paul, and Chris will surely get you reflecting on how you are living your life and planning to live in the future.  We cover a topic that people don't want to discuss, yet, what we all spend a great deal of time training for.  What are we training for? longevity.  In this episode, M...

In this episode on the Balanced Warrior Podcast, we are wrapping up the April 2023 theme of Happiness and fun with the owner of Embark Exploration Co., Donovan Pacholl.  Donovan started Embark Exploration because he loved adventure and travel, and he combined the two to form his very successful adventure travel company.  They have facilitated countless trips worldwide and brought people to accompl...

This week, we have a most memorable episode of the Balanced Warrior Podcast as Paul and Chris had the distinct honor and opportunity to interview their Taekwondo and spiritual Grandmaster, Grandmaster Byung Min Kim.  Grandmaster Kim is one of the most influential Taekwondo Grandmasters in the world, from being a Middle and Heavy Weight Korean National Champion in his youth to owning and operating...

This episode on the Balanced Warrior Podcast is all about fun and happiness.  Coaches Chris Berlow and Paul Melella have a "fun" conversation on "Happiness."  What is your definition of happiness?  Is it dependent on the success of your business?  Is it the quality of your relationships?  Is it the achievement of material things?  Or is it the freedom to do the things you love?  There is no right...

This week on the Balanced Warrior Podcast, coaches Mike Mertens and Chris Berlow share tips and strategies to achieve your goals regardless of the obstacles.  In the spirit of the spring season, we know this is a great time to initiate growth in our personal and professional lives.  There is a vibrant energy that inspires us to do and be more.  However, what happens when there is an obstacle?  In...

Donovan Rider was a national level Taekwondo competitor who made an ambitious decision at age 17. After earning the credit he needed to graduate, he  left high school to join the U.S. Army. There he was a member of the prestigious World Class Athlete Program. His military duty was to train and compete at the highest level, with the goal of representing the Army at the Olympics. After a great deal...

This week's podcast is enjoyable and will get you laughing as Coach Paul Melella interviews Chris about his latest adventure in Argentina.  Chris has been touring the world, climbing high-altitude mountains for six years and countless peaks across the country for the past ten years.  He is always looking for his next adventure, and in the spirit of growth, his altitude and challenges grow as time...

March is the beginning of Spring, bringing abundant growth in our worlds.  The dormant seeds of winter blossom and energy flow all around us.  This is the perfect time to tap into the well-known concept of "Spring Cleaning" and give your mind, body, spirit, home, and office the spring cleaning it deserves.  As Balanced Warriors, we believe what gets measured gets managed, and this is the perfect t...

As Balanced Warriors, we always talk about multi-dimensional success: success in the areas most important to you.   And the relationship with your significant other is paramount to achieving this level of success.   Why? Because to be a high performer, your home life has to be rock solid; otherwise, there is no foundation for your success.     We are incredibly excited to share this interview with...

All three Balanced Warrior coaches enjoy marriages that have lasted over 20 years. In this episode, Mike interviews Paul and Gina Melella. The Melellas explain how they met and fell in love after ten years of knowing one another.  They also share their secrets for growing even closer together while dealing with the daily challenges of running multiple businesses and parenting their two teenage chi...

Our first-ever Balanced Warrior interview was with the inspiring and genuine  Marco Barbaro. He is a multi-family real estate investor and coach to individuals looking to grow their wealth. Marco owns an incredible 3,500 rental units and has achieved financial freedom at age 48 with a passive income that will support him for the rest of his life.  However, his passion is for more than just sharing...

Habit Tracking will help you achieve more of your goals this year!  It has been said that your life is made up of your habits. Virtually all of us fall into routines regarding what we eat, when we sleep, how active we are throughout the day, and even the time that we spend with our loved ones. The question is, how many of these habits have you consciously chosen, and how well do the choices suppor...

Podcast 24 will turn the wheels in your mind as we all jump into 2023 to make this year better than the last.  If you are listening to this podcast, there's a good chance you are already working on the goals you set; why? Because that is what high achievers do.  Balanced Warrior's Chris, Paul, and Mike share what's on their calendar and how they will accomplish their goals.  What makes this conver...

This episode is sure to get the wheels turning in your mind as Mike, Chris, and Paul share their most valuable lessons of 2022.  December is an excellent time for reflection, or an evaluation, of how you performed this year.  How did you do as a leader, a spouse, a parent, a child, or whatever role you have?  How did you do with accomplishing your goals for the year? Most importantly, what did you...

In this short power podcast, Coach Paul Melella shares how to use some of our Darkside to serve in accomplishing goals. Most of us have at least two different voices in our heads. If you are like most…you have more than just two voices, right? Most have or can experience what I call a "Dark side." It's the little voice (or maybe it's a big voice) inside of us that thrives on anger, and frustration...

In this episode of the Balanced Warrior Podcast,  Balanced Warrior Chris Berlow discusses the difference between Motivation and Inspiration and how motivation is temporary, and inspiration is permanent.  In life, we need both to achieve any level of success.  Inspiration is the audacious goal that excites and scares you simultaneously.  It is a mission or purpose that keeps you going and is typica...