Dare To Be Different

It was great to finally be back with my friend and frequent Dare To Be Different Podcast guest, Ed Newell. We talked about the art of good communication skills and the impact of poor communication in personal and professional settings.

Although "defensive strategies" like preparing for the worst can occasionally work for you in the business world, they almost always negatively affect your personal relationships.

Choosing trust over suspicion and giving the benefit of the doubt will go a long way in building mutually satisfying and healthy relationships. You can do this by assuming positive intent until you know the whole story, asking the right questions, and being diligent about talking things through as they happen.

Join us for some great tips for better communication, which will always lead to healthier relationships and a more extraordinary life.

It was an honor to host Brittinay Lenhart on this episode of the Dare To Be Different Podcast. Currently, Brittinay is a Work Culture Stragegist, but her life story is one of extreme adventure and gratitude. Among other things, Brittinay has been a fighter aircraft engine mechanic in the Air Force and the personal flight attendant to the Secretary of Defense. She has jumped out of planes, traveled the world, and experienced more adventure than most of us will see in a lifetime.

Brittinay also talks about a time when she was in a highly toxic work environment. The adverse effects the culture had on her mental health were striking, and she knew she had to go. The passion to help others avoid that negativity in the workplace and thrive is what led her to create Work Culture Consultant.

Join us for this inspirational talk as Brittinay shares her incredible experiences, drops some valuable wisdom, reveals her favorite place on earth (and why it’s her favorite), and stresses the importance that gratitude plays in living your best life.

"If it's important to you, why don't you put it in your schedule?"

That's just one of the many questions, thoughts, and insights that fellow Shark Tank entrepreneur and fitness and mindset coach Ashley Drummonds challenged me with during our time together in this episode of the Dare To Be Different Podcast.

Ashley shares some life-changing tips and tricks about having a healthy lifestyle, but she goes deeper than just the physical and talks about the importance of our emotional health and how it's all connected. We cover topics from "imposter syndrome" to self-sabotage, to how to define your own success, and more, and I believe you will find great value in these 30 minutes.

Be sure to check out Ashley's website - and her weekly podcast called Phoenix Rising - for a wealth of health and wholeness information that will help put you on the path to an extraordinary life.

On this week's episode of the Dare To Be Different Podcast, I sit down with my wife, Alisha, to discuss the importance of living life to the fullest. 

In 2020 I took my flexible window screen invention to Shark Tank and got a deal with the Queen of QVC, herself, Lori Greiner. I learned so much through my Shark Tank journey that I believed would be valuable to other entrepreneurs, so I started a blog about the experience. 

So out of the desire to share as much wisdom with as many people as possible, this Lessons From The Tank Podcast was born. On each episode, I share the studio with other Shark Tank entrepreneurs - some who got a deal, and some who didn't. We talk about what it took to get on the show, what has happened since, and everything in between. 

I believe the lessons we've all learned from the tank will be an incredible resource for you as you work toward fulfilling your own dreams. 

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and share this podcast.

Recently, I had the privilege of being the keynote speaker at Leadcon 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Because of all the positive feedback I received on this presentation, I decided to share it with the world. Enjoy!

On the first episode of season 3 on the Dare To Be Different Podcast, I sit down with my wife, Alisha, to talk about The Valley Of Despair

How often do you think about "future you?" The chances are good that it's not nearly enough!

Every decision you make today affects "future you" - how you eat, how you spend, how you procrastinate, how you relate to others, etc. All of it adds up, and the consequences of your current actions will be waiting for future you.

For example, you may think you're just "putting something off" when you procrastinate. But what you're really doing is punting that project to "future you," where it will most likely be a much more challenging and bigger deal when you finally have to confront it again. We don't do ourselves any favors when we make poor choices in the here and now.

In this episode, I talk with my co-host, Ed Newell, about how the discipline of being purposefully mindful of "future you" will benefit your here and now more than you realize.

Ever notice that you never need to wonder what a 2-year-old is thinking? They'll always tell you, in one way or another, what they like and dislike. They don't hide their emotions, and they openly express their needs and wants. Two-year-olds live wide-open, wonder-filled lives. And if you just thought to yourself, "must be nice," you need to check out this episode!

It was such a pleasure to have my wife, Alisha, back in the studio with me and our oldest daughter, Kailee, joining in for the first time.  Alisha and I have raised four children, and Kailee currently has a toddler and a baby, so we speak from a great deal of experience as we talk about the lessons that we adults can learn from the littlest humans in our lives.

"Find something you love and let it kill you." When I first read that quote, it seemed pretty extreme. But I think what it's getting at is purpose, and the power of knowing and living out the purpose for your life. 

In this episode, my wife, Alisha, and I explore another level of reinventing yourself - developing a purpose statement. We share our purpose statements, along with a formula for creating your own.

When you know your "why" and give your all to advance that cause in your life, the benefits abound; clarity, passion, resilience, integrity, to name a few. A locked-in purpose statement will act as your "true North" to carry you through some of the most challenging times, and make the good times even better.

You can't get where you want to go if you don't know where that is. Sounds pretty obvious, I know. But so many people live reactionary lives with no real direction simply because they have no plan.

If you want to live a truly extraordinary and meaningful life, it has to start with honest self-evaluation and goals. Where do you want to be in 1, 3, 5, 10 years? Where will you be at that time if you continue on your current path? These are essential questions that we need to ask ourselves continually.

In this episode, my friend and frequent guest host, Ed Newell, joins me to discuss the art of reinventing yourself.

2020 has been the year of change, and not necessarily because anybody wanted it. In this unique time where disruption is literally being thrust upon us, maybe it's time to do some selective pivoting in your life - the kind you actually get to choose.

In this episode, my wife, Alisha, and I talk about doing a brutally honest self-evaluation and taking some personal inventory. If you could change anything about your life right now, what would it be, and do your current circumstances align with that change or prevent it?

Life is short. Maybe it's time to reinvent yourself.

What makes you happy? Have you ever really thought about it, or do you find yourself just going through the motions of life and making excuses for being unhappy? 

In his book, "The 4-Hour Work Week," author Tim Ferriss talks about the discipline of defining daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly goals that will lead to greater personal fulfillment. In this episode, I sit down with my favorite co-host and life partner, Alisha, to discuss the importance of evaluating your life, deciding what truly makes you happy, and positioning your circumstances to feed those things. 

Studies have shown that the #1 thing that causes us discontent is when we feel like we have no control over a situation. But you can control your happiness - because it's a choice. Like everything else in life, though, you have to work at it.

Got goals? We all should. But why do we find ourselves falling short and giving up so often? Maybe it's because we're making it harder than it needs to be.

I saw a Woody Allen quote that struck me years ago. It said, "80% of success in life is just showing up." So what does it look like to just show up? Instead of "I want to lose 30 pounds," try saying, "I'm going to walk today." Instead of "I want to have a better marriage," try, "I'm going to go home after work instead of (fill in the blank)." You can't fix or improve something if you're not present for it. 

Just showing up creates opportunities, and small decisions can lead to big change. In this episode of the Dare To Be Different Podcase, Ed Newell and I talk about practical ways to chip away at big goals.

People have low standards because they have limiting beliefs. How often have you heard someone say something like, "I've just always been bad with money," or "I'm very good at making bad decisions"? That kind of thinking will always keep your health, relationships, and finances at shallow satisfaction levels. If you want to live an extraordinary, fulfilling life, it's time to re-evaluate and raise your standards. Decide what the bare minimum is that you're willing to accept in all areas of your life, and make every effort to exceed that expectation - with the goal being to raise the bar on your bare minimum continually. Want healthier relationships? Start by "setting the bar" to refusing to be pulled into unnecessary drama. Better finances? Decide that you're going to purchase only what you can afford without making payments from this day forward. (Houses and vehicles excepted.) In this episode of the Dare To Be Different Podcast, my wife, Alisha, joins me for a candid conversation about how this principle helps keep us grounded and thriving, and how it can do the same for you.

How often do you evaluate your roles and your goals? The chances are that if you don't do this, you will live a reactive, ordinary, and possibly miserable life. Self-evaluation is a small commitment that reaps big rewards. Five minutes a day is all it takes to acknowledge what is working in your life and what isn't. Once you identify what's not working, make a plan to change it, and then show up for it every day. It's that simple - and that hard. On this episode of the Dare to Be Different Podcast, my good friend and regular co-host, Ed Newell, and I talk about the necessity of regular, honest self-evaluation.

Change takes courage. And, chances are, you need some courage AND some change. In this special Dare to Be Different podcast episode, my wife, Alisha (one of the bravest people I know), and I talk about a very difficult but necessary family decision that we recently had to make. We asked some critical "life review" questions that helped us have the courage to move forward, including "How are we actually doing?" and "What do we really want?" and gave everyone permission to express their real thoughts without judgment. When was the last time you did a life review and put everything on the table? It's not easy, but comfort leads to complacency, and fear of the unknown holds us back. Courage is required to overcome these obstacles and live the extraordinary life ahead of us.

You've probably heard it said that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather doing whatever it is that you need to do even though you're scared. Life requires a certain measure of courage, no matter what season you're in and the more you use it, the stronger and more prepared you become for the next challenge. But how do we overcome our fears in order to be courageous? First, by understanding that fear exists to keep us safe and is actually a healthy response, unless it tends to overtake us. In this episode of the Dare To Be Different Podcast, my good friend and regular co-host, Ed Newell, and I put things into perspective and talk about six proactive steps you can take to ensure that fear doesn't control your life.

In this episode, I sit down with my indispensable and very young Project Manager, Nicolas DeSarno, to talk about a characteristic that I believe he exhibits daily - courage. At only 21 years old, Nicolas has taken on enormous tasks, gone toe-to-toe with some industry giants, and managed to keep my business life as sane and organized as possible. We talk about what it takes to overcome the fear of failure and mistakes, "practice courage," and welcome risk. Life grows and shrinks in direct relation to your courage. You will have more meaningful and exciting experiences when you're willing to risk failure, learn from it either way and move on as a smarter and stronger person.

An article published by Harvard Health states; “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” In this episode, I talk with guest host, Ed Newell, about the life-changing, life-giving value of gratitude.

Guest host, Ed Newell, and I focus on something that has the power to make the world a better place - for you, individually, and for all of us collectively: choosing to add value to every person that we meet. You are here to make a difference, and when you actively seek to build others up, you’re investing in a better future for everyone.

“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also harder to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden. It is easier to say, ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say, ‘My heart is broken.’” – C.S. Lewis. “Healthy” is one of the 5 values that I’ve built my life and my business around, and I believe that mental health needs to be elevated to the importance of physical health. In this episode, Licensed Professional Counselor and Life Coach, Michelle Croyle, joins the podcast to share some wisdom and revealing medical and physiological insights about how our brains react to times of isolation and uncertainty and practical ways to stay mentally healthy.

Adventurous people are willing to be different, take risks, and exchange comfort for the bigger picture. Jason Tost, who is one of the most adventurous people I know, joins me for this episode, and his perspective is refreshing and inspiring! If you think of your life like a book that you're writing, make sure that you inject a little adventure into every chapter, or you're likely to have a pretty bland story filled with a lot of missed opportunities and regrets.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Ed talk about ways you can lead your organization during  quarantine.

Ever heard the saying, "Everyone lights up a room - some when they enter, and some when they leave"? Ever thought about which one you are? The effects of positivity can't be overstated. I believe that if you change your attitude, you'll change your life. It sounds too simplistic, but it's true. Scientific studies and quantifiable evidence prove that the benefits of "seeing the bright side" range from being happier and having better relationships, to actually earning more money. My wife Alisha joins me for this week's episode to discuss how (and why) we should actively choose positivity every day of our lives.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Alisha discuss steps to help your kids through quarantine.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Alisha discuss how your life doesn't have to stop during quarantine.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Ed talk about how to identify if you're stuck in a rut.

On this episode of the Dare To Be Different podcast, Joe talks with Licensed Professional Counselor and Life Coach, Michelle Croyle, about how to isolate negative self-talk and reframe your mindset to set yourself up for a more positive, successful, and happy life.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Ed talk about the importance about setting goals.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Ed talk about why it is important to forgive.

In this special edition of the Dare To Be Different Podcast, Joe chats with Michael Henson, host of The Constructivist Podcast, about Joe's Shark Tank experience and the passion behind an idea.

In this special edition of the Dare To Be Different Podcast, Joe chats with Jim Lesko, host of the Lesko Talks Windows Podcast, about Joe's Shark Tank experience.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and his wife, Alisha, discuss what it means to live an extraordinary life!

In this special edition of the Dare To Be Different Podcast, Joe chats with Zach Garner, host of the Reaching World Podcast about Joe's Shark Tank experience.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Ed discuss why it is important to take a vacation.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Alisha read a comment from a listener and discuss what it's like to have a healthy year. 

To risk failure and embarrassment, even on a very small scale, is enough to scare some people away from pursuing their passions and their dreams. So, what's it like to put yourself and your product out there in front of millions of people on national television? Specifically, on ABC's hit show, Shark Tank?

On this episode of the Dare To Be Different Podcast, FlexScreen Inventor and CEO, Joe Altieri, will tell you exactly what it was like when he appeared before the Sharks and landed a deal with the Queen of QVC, Lori Greiner. It takes a lot of vulnerability to open yourself up to the scrutiny of a national television audience. Still, vulnerability, failure, and success all play a part in the making of something great.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Larry Richert from KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh, talk with Joe about his experience with Shark Tank. 

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Ed talk about the benefits of friendship. 

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Alisha talk about their 2019, and their new words for 2020.

In this special holiday episode, Joe and Ed talk about generosity and the value of gifts that you can’t buy. Merry Christmas!

In this special edition of the Dare To Be Different Podcast, Joe chats with Jim Lesko about Joe's Shark Tank experience. 

In this special episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and Ed discuss the major announcement regarding FlexScreen.

In this week's episode of Dare To Be Different, Joe and his special guest, Ed Kalaher, talk about living your best life!