Tony Wrighton is one of those guys who is talented in a number of areas. You may know him best from his role on Sky Sports, or perhaps from his podcast, Zestology. Tony loves to study the issue of human performance and is also a licensed NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) practitioner. This episode features Ari’s conversation with Tony about NLP, how it can be used to be more persuasive, and what you can do to apply NLP practices to your own life. It’s an intriguing conversation that is definitely worth your time.&nbsp; There’s nothing worse than a bad NLPer. ~ Tony Wrighton As Ari and his guest, Tony Wrighton chatted about NLP, Ari asked what makes NLP persuasion techniques different than flat-out manipulation. Tony responded that every form of communication, in some way, is a form of manipulation - but it’s how you go about it and the motives behind it that make all the difference. He said NLP can definitely be misused in that regard. In his words, “There’s nothing worse than a bad NLPer.” You can learn how Tony uses NLP practices to encourage others and empower his own life, in this conversation. &nbsp; A simple example of NLP persuasion in communication, on this episode. Tony Wrighton demonstrated how NLP can be applied to everyday conversations through the use of the word “might” when making a request. “Dear, I wonder if you might bring me a cup of coffee?” Tony says the insertion of “might” into the sentence softens the request so that it sounds less like a command and more of a kind-hearted request. Psychologically, that kind of request falls more gracefully on the thoughts of the hearer and raises fewer objections. It’s a simple technique that is second nature to Tony by now. You can hear more examples of how NLP can be used to increase the effectiveness of your daily communication, on this episode. Energy levels and happiness can increase by unplugging.&nbsp; At the end of every episode of Leverage Ari asks his guests for their top 3 tips for increased productivity. Today’s guest, Tony Wrighton said that he’s noticed a greater degree of happiness and energy in his own life by turning off his phone for at least 2 hours every day. Can you imagine what it might be like to have NO notifications ringing in your ear for a portion of every day? If not, you might need to try what Tony’s suggesting. Tony shares some insightful tips from his experience as an NLP coach and broadcaster, on this episode of Leverage. Tracking things tangibly is one of the best ways to know what to tweak in your life.&nbsp; We’ve all been at the point in life where we know something needs to change, but we’re not sure exactly what it is. One of the ways Tony Wrighton suggests discovering where to make the incremental tweaks in your life is to tangibly track things, using a spreadsheet. Sleep, exercise, nutrition, and many other aspects of personal life can be logged in ways that enable you to know exactly what’s going on in your life and how it correlates to increased or decreased energy levels, mental clarity, and other vital things for performance. Be sure you listen to this episode to hear Tony’s tips. Outline of This Episode  [0:03] Ari’s introduction of Tony and how he got into NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programing). [1:55] How NLP plays out practically in language and interactions. [3:20] The difference between persuasion and manipulation - and how NLP persuades. [6:14] How Tony has integrated NLP practices into his sportscasting. [7:31] The use of performance tracking/NLP to help people gain more self-awareness. [12:00] Tips for NLP-ing yourself[ [14:20] Tony’s top 3 pieces of advice for being more productive.  Resources Mentioned&nbsp;  www.TonyWrighton.com Tony’s podcast: Zestology  Sleepcycle The Oura Ring BOOK:  10% Happier Health Mapper  Find out more about what we’re doing at Get Leverage at www.getleverage.com and www.leveragepodcasts.com

Tony Wrighton: Using NLP for Better Persuasiveness and to Hack Your Life - Episode #278

Team trust is an important aspect of every business. But do you know exactly HOW important? On this episode of Leverage, Ari and Nick discuss the issue of trust on teams with their friend, Aaron Schiff. Aaron is one of the people who inspired Ari to become an entrepreneur in the first place - you can hear that story at the beginning of the conversation. But Aaron has also become a master at building a very successful remote team and infusing it with the trust that makes it work well. Get all the details on this episode. What happens when a team trusts each other?&nbsp; The short answer is that success happens. But there’s more to it than that. Trust is what enables team members to communicate effectively, to work harmoniously, and to work toward common goals. There are so many implications of team trust that it took an entire episode to talk about it, and you can hear that conversation between Ari and Nick, and their good friend Aaron Schiff, on this episode of Leverage. OK, so it’s vital to build team trust. So, how do you do it? Trust is a commodity that isn’t easy to come by. It takes time because it requires that you demonstrate your trustworthiness to others repeatedly. But there are ways to speed up the process. On this episode, Aaron Schiff describes some of the things he’s done to infuse his team with trust for each other and for him - things like transparency in compensation, collaboration in the creation of systems and policies, and more. Aaron’s got a knack for this kind of thing so you’d be wise to hear what he’s got to say. It will undoubtedly challenge you to think outside your normal box as well as help you come up with your own ways to build trust on your team. It’s the CEO’s job to build a team culture that fosters trust. When Ari asked his guest, Aaron Schiff, what his primary role is now that his company - Matic Insurance - has gotten larger, Aaron pointed to three main parts he plays in the company’s success. One of the things he shared is that it's his responsibility to steward the company vision that provides a healthy and enabling team culture. There’s a lot to it but Aaron isn’t shy about sharing the details, so be sure you make the time to listen to this episode of Leverage. Always question what you believe to be 100% true about yourself. It’s usually not.&nbsp; As always, on this episode, Ari asked his friend and guest, Aaron Schiff for three pieces of advice to be more effective. Aaron pointed to the fact that most of us are not as self-aware as we believe we are. In his words, “Always question what you believe to be 100% true about yourself. It’s usually not.” He's pointing out that when you’re willing to see yourself in a new light you’re able to sidestep some of the issues that make for poor team communication and degrade team trust. You’ll enjoy hearing Aaron’s insights about team trust, so don’t miss this episode.&nbsp; Outline of This Episode&nbsp;  [0:08] You need to meet Aaron (and Nick’s) best friend - Aaron Schiff. [2:34] Aaron’s story - the companies he’s built, worked for, and where he is now. [6:58] Sometimes, being first makes you the winner. [8:20] How Aaron has structured his team. [9:15] The vital nature of trust in effective teamwork. [12:39] Finding the right developers to create the platform. [15:02] The unique role Aaron plays in the company now. [16:25] How Aaron gets his company together in the Ukraine. [19:07] The road ahead for Matic. [19:53] How consumers can use the Matic tools. [21:41] The tools used to run the company. [31:21] Aaron’s 3 pieces of advice to be more effective.  Resources Mentioned&nbsp;  Aaron’s company - https://maticinsurance.com/ Aaron on LInkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronschiff/ Aaron(at)getMatic(dot)com Slack Google Hangouts Wheel Decide Google Drive - Google Docs Asana Trello Zoom.us Zapier Kolbe Test Meyer’s Briggs  Find out more about what we’re doing at&nbsp;Leverage at...

Aaron Schiff, Building Team Trust for Greater Productivity and Success - Episode #280

None of us want to waste our lives on trivial things. That’s why we care about productivity and working effectively. Geoff Woods says it’s therefore vital that we discover the most important thing we need to accomplish at any given time. It’s the singular focus that has enabled him and the organization he works with to become a world-class leader in their industry. Geoff is on the show to chat about his life-changing experience over the last year as CEO of the new “One Thing” company alongside Jay Papasan and Gary Keller. What he shares on this episode is simple but powerful. You won’t want to miss it. The most important thing is the most important thing.&nbsp; There are many things that crowd into our lives, seeking our attention and energy. But the most important things are simply that - the most important things. And Geoff Woods would argue that we don’t have the capacity to effectively focus on more than one thing at a time. That’s why we must simplify our “to dos” - boiling them down to one main thing that deserves our focus. It’s not easy to explain in a short paragraph, but you're in luck - because Geoff explains it in detail, in this conversation, so don’t miss it.&nbsp; You don’t have the right to think of tasks down the line until you complete the first task. I huge mindset shift included in “The One Thing” approach to productivity that Geoff Woods describes on this episode, is that even though you may have decided upon steps you need to accomplish to move you toward a certain goal, you haven’t earned the right to work on or consider the things that are later on your list until you’ve completed those listed first. This concept is at the heart of doing the most important things first so that you are more productive and eventually successful at accomplishing your greater goals. Find out how it works, on this episode. How can you identify your “one thing?”&nbsp; One of the hardest aspects of productivity is the process of discovering what things are actually the most important to accomplish. Geoff Woods has learned from his mentor, Gary Keller that a singular focus on one thing until it is accomplished, makes him productive at an accelerated rate and moves the needle to a greater degree. How do you discover what is most important for you to do? And is it always a major task, or can it sometimes be a simple, small one that simply must come first? Geoff explains the powerful “One Thing” approach in detail, on this episode. When you say “yes” to other people, you’re saying “no” to yourself.&nbsp; When Ari asked Geoff for 3 pieces of advice to those who want to be more effective, Geoff's first piece of advice was that most people need to learn how to say “no” to more things. He made the point that when you say “yes” to other people, you’re saying “no” to yourself - and more specifically, to the things you’ve determined are most important for you to accomplish. Geoff has a great way of explaining the nuances surrounding these kinds of decisions, so be sure you give yourself the opportunity to learn from him by listening to this episode.&nbsp; Outline of This Episode  [0:03] Ari’s introduction to Geoff Woods and his history. [1:41] What is “The 1 Thing” concept Gary Keller has written about? [2:05] The life-changing year Geoff has lived alongside Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. [4:37] The framework for identifying your “one thing” in each area of life, and how to choose which one to start with. [6:03] How big or small should your “one thing” be? [8:22] The vital nature of systems to recruit amazing, talented people. [11:07] How the KW team uses their “411” tool to identify the big tasks to do each week. [13:30] Using the “one thing” approach to work effectively as a team. [14:48] Geoff’s top 3 pieces of advice in order to be more effective.&nbsp;  Resources Mentioned  The Mentee Podcast  The One Thing Podcast BOOK:  The One Thing ...

How to Identify, Prioritize, and Do the Most Important Thing in Your Life with Geoff Woods - Episode #281

You’ve likely seen a J.P. Sears video on Facebook or Youtube - he’s the guy with the long red hair who does the tongue-in-cheek comedy videos about spirituality, politics, relationships, and so much more. J.P. has become somewhat of a Youtube sensation these days and is on the show with Ari and Nick to tell the story of how he went from emotional healer to emotional healing Youtube sensation. You’ll find his insight about how to be your authentic self and be productive at the same time quite helpful, and you’ll have a few laughs along the way. Join Ari and Nick on this episode as they chat (and laugh) with J.P. Sears. How things exploded for J.P. (in a good way) when he quit believing lies. On this episode of Leverage, J.P. Sears tells the story of how he was not gaining much traction in his emotional healing practice because he was telling himself lies What were the lies? That he’d ruin his credibility if he allowed his natural sense of humor to come out. But when he decided that was a part of himself he could no longer keep hidden, he decided to let it out by recording his first comedy video. He not only found a new avenue of personal fulfillment but also discovered that others were drawn to his sense of humor. That's when his career began to skyrocket. You can hear the rest of his story in detail, on this episode of Leverage. What does it mean to bet on your authentic self? You hear the term “authentic self” a lot these days. J.P. Sears says that everyone needs to learn how to be who they really are, not who they think people expect them to be or want them to be. That’s the only way you can truly know who you are and what you bring to the world that is unique and beneficial. His advice for anyone who wants to be more effective: Always bet on your authentic self. Find out what he means by that, on this episode. Avoiding the people-pleasing trap is essential for anyone who wants to make a difference. One of the things that held J.P. Sears back from excelling in his career as an emotional healing coach was that he was trying to please others. He wanted to be respected in his field so he was careful to do the things he believed others in the field would expect of him. But he found that important aspects of who he was were being stifled, and in time he couldn’t continue with the dissonance that was going on in his own soul. Once he let out the parts of him he was keeping tucked away, his career began to take off. J.P.’s story is an example of how being true to your authentic self is the best thing you can do to be effective.&nbsp; How J.P. uses outsourcing to highlight his unique abilities.&nbsp; It’s obvious from watching any of J.P. Sears’ videos that he’s a witty, creative person. In order to be most effective in his creativity, he’s had to outsource some of the tasks that need to happen for the sake of his business success so he doesn’t become bogged down in them. That allows him to continue to use his creative gifts effectively. On this episode J.P. describes a bit of the process he’s gone through to outsource for the sake of effectiveness, so be sure you listen. Outline of This Episode&nbsp;  [0:03] Why J.P. is glad they guys are irresponsible enough to ask him on the show. [1:45] J.P.’s specific background as an emotional healing coach and how he got started. [5:13] How J.P. transitioned from wholistic healer to Youtube sensation. [11:09] How comedy videos have helped J.P. accomplish his goals. [14:37] The places and people J.P. derives inspiration from. [19:11] J.P.’s morning routine. [23:42] What J.P. hopes readers get from his new book. [26:52] Ari’s idea for a business retreat: J.P.’s response. [33:42] A Facebook question: Are Vegans better people? Yes, but they are hypocritical. [34:20] What is J.P.’s unique ability and how does he use outsourcing to protect it? [37:52] What’s next for J.P.? [40:04] J.P.’s top three pieces of advice to be more effective.  Resources...

J. P. Sears: Always Bet on Your Authentic Self - #282

Functional Diagnostic Nutrition is not something most people have heard of. Nick and Ari’s guest on this episode, Toréa Rodriquez is just the person to help us understand. She’s a certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® practitioner who offers lifestyle coaching to help her clients get to the root cause of what ails them - and she's a member of the Leverage community. &nbsp;FDN is based on functional medicine combined with modern diagnostic labs to build a customized health plan, unique to each individual. With Toréa’s help, her clients explore food, rest, movement, stress reduction and supplementation programs to rebuild their health and restore their quality of life. Hear how Toréa came to her current business and practice as an FDN provider from walking through a health crisis of her own, on this episode of Leverage. Lifestyle issues are always at the heart of physical conditions. Toréa Rodriguez says that at the heart of every physical illness or condition is some kind of lifestyle issue - whether it’s diet and nutrition, lack of sufficient rest, stress, or inadequate physical or mental activity. In her work as a functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner Toréa has seen many people turn around their health problems and restore themselves to a more satisfying and fulfilling life through addressing the lifestyle habits that have put them in a bad place, to begin with. You can hear how Toréa helps her clients, on this episode. Most people don’t have a clue about how they are REALLY doing from a health perspective. In modern society, we’ve relied on traditional, medicine-based approaches to health for so long that we’ve lost our ability to wisely consider other ways of assessing and addressing health issues. Toréa Rodriguez says that even the most basic blood work is not a part of how the average family practice or medical doctor approaches understanding and treatment… at least not until a situation is in dire need of a solution. On this episode, Toréa walks Ari and Nick through a handful of blood tests and evaluations she feels are crucial for most people and explains the kind of results you can expect and the path toward addressing each one. How important is family history for diagnosing risk of certain conditions? On this episode, Nick mentioned to his guest, Toréa Rodriguez that his doctor is concerned about his risks for certain conditions because of family history in those areas. Toréa replied that though family history is a factor to consider, it’s not always as telling a sign as doctors imply, simply because your lifestyle and diet choices may be far different than those in your family who have come before you. On this episode, Toréa walks through some of Nick’s test numbers and gives him advice on what additional tests he should do to get a clearer picture of his health. Time is time, whether personal or work related. Optimizing your ability to use it is vital. When asked about her 3 biggest pieces of advice for people who want to be more effective, Toréa Rodriguez said that people need to do whatever they can to automate their lives so they can do what is truly important. She says that no matter what you need to use your time for - personal or work-related - it’s all the same thing: time. That means you need to maximize it by automating everything you can in order to spend your time doing the things that are most important. You can hear her singing Ari and Nick’s song, can’t you? Get more of Toréa’s insights on this episode of Leverage. Outline of This Episode  [0:11] How Toréa went from being a commercial pilot to a functional medicine practitioner. [3:47] What does it entail to work with Toréa? [5:00] Toréa’s advice about essential bloodwork most people should have done. [13:19] Why you need to do prior health work before doing heavy metal testing. [14:57] Approaching issues in a phased approach to get the best, biggest gains sooner. [15:51] Supplements Toréa...

Toréa Rodriguez: Using Functional Diagnostic Nutrition to Maximize Your Health and Life - Episode #283

Welcome to Optimize, Automate, Outsource. A podcast hosted by Ari Meisel and Nick Sonnenberg.

Each week Ari & Nick discuss Less Doing Productivity Hacks which can range from articles to technologies to help you optimize, automate and outsource everything in your life.
