I have written about boldness on here many times before, and one person who exudes boldness, and may not be aware of how much she has, is Justine Ezarik, who is also known as iJustine.  Justine is most known for her YouTube channel (+ 2nd YouTube channel) and regularly released videos.  She also has her own site where she posts more videos of what she is doing and getting involved with.  Her videos range from being music video parodies, ones where she answers user-submitted questions, funny videos, ones about Apple or tech gadgets, and meetings with people like Ludacris, Akon, Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher, and various YouTube celebrities.  She is very active, and recently surpassed 1 million subscribers to her YouTube channel.

This Girl Is Bold

One thing I love about Justine is that she is bold like very few others.  I don’t know if people see the boldness she presents through her videos, but she does things that I think 95% of people would be afraid to do.  She has danced and recorded it at public locations in front of people, or said loud things to a group of people, or tried numerous activities that she hasn’t tried before.  It takes someone with confidence to do all these things, and I think that is the main reason she has such a following, among other features like the consistency of her posting of videos.  I have been bold and wacky like her in public, but not to the degree that she has, and so I think I appreciate what she does more than those who do not aim to be bold when unknown people are watching.

Recently, motivational speaker and author Josh Sundquist had a book signing at a Border’s bookstore, and Justine went to support Josh and meet individuals from the public like myself, and there is where my 5-question interview took place.  This interview is different from my previous interviews, in that it happened on video, and I transcribed the questions and answers to text as you can see below the video(it is somewhat hard to hear some of our words due to the background conversations in the bookstore):

The Video Interview

The Interview In Words

Armen: Now you’ve been really bold to record video publicly like when you attached it to your head and you were walking around livecasting.  Were you always bold, and what led you to become this way?

Justine: I think it’s actually because I’m kind of a very shy quiet person that I tend to do the opposite in my videos because I mean I would much rather stay at home and not do anything, so in my videos I’m like crazy!

Armen: Are you very watchful of your subscriber growth, or do you not focus on it that much?

Justine: I definitely don’t focus on it.  I mean, I only focus on the milestones, whereas I can be like “oh that’s cool” … so I don’t really pay attention to it because it takes away from streaming content.  I know a lot of people are obsessed with stats but I stay away, don’t even look.

Armen: How often do you try out an idea for a video that you had in your mind, and how many do you toss away?  How often do you throw away ideas or use ideas?

Justine: Sometimes, well the bad part is I always have loads of ideas and I forget them, so there’s a lot of ideas that I forgot about, that I wish I would have made.  Usually when I have an idea, I make it that day and post the videos the next day.

Armen: Where or how often do you find new things to do with video and audio and integration of video elements?  Where do you find new items for to try for Twitter methods or Facebook integration?  Where do you find out your new ways or new methods?

Justine: It’s more that I just get bored, so I just start trying different things, kind of like to make each video a little different from the last, and add a little variety.  It’s sort of an ADD thing.

Armen: Do you prefer non-fiction or fiction books, and if so, what is your favorite book?

Justine: I am not a big reader.  I read Josh’s book, and it seemed really good to me, and I thought “wow, reading is kind of fun, maybe I should try this more.”  I read it in a day.  It was so good.

Concluding Notes

It was a pleasure to interview Justine.  She’s very warm in person, and is a cool person to talk to because she does so many things.  She is doing spots on the GTTV tech/gaming channel, has done commercials for Moby on TV, interviews well-known people, goes to public places and brings entertainment to others, and so on.  There are very few people like this.

When I was asking her if she had read the whole book which Josh Sundquist had written, that was not really a typical question, but since I don’t tend to read all the pages of books that I have read from, I always like to ask people about that.  I usually read a few chapters and move on to the next book.

Some take-aways from the dialogue are

• be bold because it will take you places that regular actions won’t
• don’t watch your subscriber growth or check your statistics too often, because your focus needs to be on your output/production
• put out ideas as soon as possible, while they are still fresh in your mind, or else they will be forgotten or you will lose motivation for them
• do things with people and for people as your ability allows, and good things will come to you

One great source of understanding comes from experience.  Gail Brenner, who writes at A Flourishing Life, presents very coherent concepts in her articles.  There is much accuracy in her discussion of topics like memories, habits, and anxiety.  Some of these articles are also accompanied with audio messages that extend the main topic, or explain a part of the article in detail.  I certainly recommend these audio messages for obtaining greater understanding or inner peace.

Gail has 16 years of psychotherapy experience as a Ph. D. psychologist, as is easily evident through her writings.  Also, this experiential knowledge comes into play in her Questions and Answers articles, where she has elaborately answered some questions others have provided for her.  One relevant example involves help with depression, where many points regarding depression are brought up, such as labeling, awareness, attention, and negative thinking.  Analysis of the many interconnected components of an issue is a key to clearing it up or being able to work through it, and that is one item that Gail brings to her material.  The following is an interview I have done with Gail, and then some commentary and a summary of the points brought up:

Armen: This one goes right to your psychological background. I think about this every so often. How much of our personality would you say is fixed in place, and how much is able to be altered, and/or what are your thoughts in relation to this?

Gail: This is a great question – a version of the the age-old nature vs. nurture debate. Any parent will tell you that we come into the world with personality tendencies, and there is a lot of research evidence supporting this observation. Some of us tend to be anxious, others appear to be comfortable and relaxed, while others are avoidant and reserved. These tendencies begin to show up within days of birth, suggesting that they originate from the structure of the brain and nervous system.

So it seems that we come into the world with a given template, but then we are powerfully affected by the experiences we encounter.

Because a lot of who we take ourselves to be is learned from these experiences, the good news is that a lot can be altered. Our minds are always trying to make sense of the world. When things happen – events, interactions – we develop thought patterns about ourselves and others that become our personalities. As we all know, some of these patterns serve us and some don’t.

Anything that is learned can potentially be unlearned, which creates tremendous possibilities for growth and transformation. If we are willing to untangle our distorted thinking, any habit or belief system that holds us back can be changed.

In addition, we can learn to work with our given physiological structures. For example, someone with an excitable nervous system can learn relaxation strategies that can be very helpful.

There is no substitute for living a conscious life. We start where we are and become aware of our thoughts and feelings. Then we can choose to engage in unproductive habits – or make a different, more life-affirming choice. We have within us the power to express our natural creativity and live fulfilling lives, no matter what tendencies we were born with or what experiences we have had.

Armen: As can be seen very easily in your audio messages, you present your words very calmly and peacefully. Was this ability improved much over time, or was it your natural way to present concepts?

Gail: I’m so happy that you find the guided audio processes useful – it is a joy for me to offer them. They come about quite naturally for me. I like recording them with lots of silence in between the words so people who are listening have time to really be present with whatever they are experiencing.

Armen: What would you say to someone who is stuck in a cycle of weakness, fear, and hesitation, most of which is all in their own head?

Gail: Every problem is a potential learning experience to help us shed habits and tendencies that keep us from living full and happy lives. I don’t have an easy fix for this cycle you describe, but I see it as brimming with opportunities for freedom and possibility.

• First, I would want to know about the history of this cycle. Most habits that prevent us from moving forward have their roots in our childhood experiences. We may look like adults, but when these habits are triggered, it is as if we are five again, with familiar feelings of fear and lack. Understanding where these feelings come from can be a part of the healing process.
• Next, I would be interested in deconstructing the problem by identifying the specific thoughts, emotions, and bodily experiences that occur when the pattern is triggered. This investigation is useful so that the cycle can be recognized in real time as it is happening.
• I would also want to uncover any payoff for keeping the cycle going. For example, the payoff for hesitation is that we don’t risk failure.
• I would encourage this person to let go of self-judgment and welcome in this pattern and all of its components in a field of love. These patterns visit us because at some level we feel we didn’t get enough love and attention, we feel a sense of lack. As adults, it is so healing to know that in any moment we can be a kind and friendly host when these old habits arise.
• Finally, I would suggest making small and gradual changes in behavior to develop a sense of strength and empowerment.

This process takes some time, but is the only way I know of to heal these long-standing habits from the inside out. I write a lot about this topic on my blog, especially the series on Freedom from the Prison of Your Habits.

Armen: Is it healthy to channel a harmful addiction into a healthier addiction, or is addiction in general more of the problem?

Gail: My interest, always, is in freedom. Certainly, healthier addictions, such as exercise, might be better for the body than smoking, for example. However, my experience is that the deepest happiness comes from being free of all addictions.

At the root of any addiction is an unwillingness to face something that is true about ourselves. Some people spend their whole lives running from unpleasant feelings or insecurities. This is a life ruled by fear, which makes deep peace and happiness unattainable.

We are terrified of the true solution – which is stopping, turning around, and taking a look at what is actually driving us. Yet, when we can embrace all parts of ourselves in love, inner turmoil is put to rest, and all addictions fall away.

I have met all my darkest emotions, and I can tell you that for me, the anticipation was much worse than the actual experience. Now, if fear comes, I happily welcome it. It is an opportunity to open my heart even wider. I highly recommend freedom over addictions of any kind.

Armen: Would an introvert or extrovert benefit most from trying to improve their standard traits, or from trying to acquire skills on the other end of the spectrum(e.g. an extrovert working more on their self-thought than their networking and communication)?

Gail: My suggestion here would be to recognize if there is anything that is being avoided due to fear. Introversion or extroversion are tendencies that exist in our bodies and minds. Some people are naturally more outgoing than others, and neither way is right or wrong.

The trap is when we are held back by fear. As an example, if an introvert is afraid of networking, I would recommend welcoming the fear without judgment and acknowledging the story playing in the mind that causes avoidance (e.g., I will be overwhelmed, I won’t know what to say). When the pattern fueled by fear is exposed, we can make a choice that is aligned with what we truly want for ourselves.

Concluding Notes

The point about how a lot of our personality or characteristics can be altered is one to take note of for those of you who are hesitant to try to change what you have a desire to make different about yourself.  There is potential to build up social strength, or work past a fear you have, or so on, and so you have to take the process of correction/improvement into your own hands.  You have to remember to tell yourself that you have the capability.

You can find Gail on Twitter at @aflourishinglif, and can subscribe to her site feed here.  The following is a summary of the responses provided in the interview:

• We have a great deal of control over our personality, and are able to improve upon it with an amount of effort, so living a conscious life is valid and beneficial
• The audio posts at A Flourishing Life are fantastic, and the time provided between sentences in them is there to allow for internal reflection and presence
• If stuck in a cycle of fear or hesitation, there is an opportunity to exit this cycle, and the way to do so includes examining the history behind it, itemizing the various details about how the cycle functions and elicits feelings, being open to accepting the pattern as it is, and then making small changes that either self-strengthen or weaken the power of the cycle
• While healthy addictions are preferred over harmful addictions, it is best to be free of any type of habitual dependency, as they represent an unwillingness to face or accept a quality of ours
• A person who is more outgoing than another is only different, and not better or worse, than the other, and either person benefits from welcoming any weakness or fear they have without playing into a storyline they have in their mind about themselves

A small subset of people set remarkable goals.  Chris Guillebeau, who writes at The Art of Non-Conformity, is one such individual.  He has challenged authority since 1978, and also happens to have been born in 1978.  He has set a goal to travel to all the countries of the world by April 7, 2013.  He has been to 122 of the total of 192 countries, as of this writing.  This traveling, and travel-hacking that he does to keep his goal attainable, gives his writing a worldly sense, as his current ‘home’ is more like Earth than it is his home state of Oregon.

Chris has put out some greatly useful creations, like his free Ebook 279 Days to Overnight Success.  It lets the reader know that, while it requires patience and time to reach a worthwhile goal, is it certainly doable, and the Ebook is filled with his thoughts and pointers about how to make it happen, based on his experience.  He has also put out other products about travel tips or working for yourself.  I am always in support of folks who put their knowledge and ideas out there for others to absorb and build off as desired.  Here is my interview with Chris, followed by some closing commentary, and a summary:

Armen: How do you feel about the millions(or more) around the world who conform to certain expectations set on them, due to a fear of potential consequences of going against those expectations?   What would you want them to know?

Chris: I feel that it’s unfortunate. I’d want them to know they don’t have to give in.

Chris: The conventional use of social media is a broadcast platform for personal promotion; the unconventional use is to create and participate in conversations. I learn from people every day through Twitter, and I enjoy using the platform to bring awareness to other people’s good work.

Chris: That’s a good way to put it. I guess I’d say that in the beginning of my project I didn’t really understand that concept, but now after a couple of years I can see how it makes sense. And when I think about it further, I recall all the people I was inspired by who helped me to go further in my own life.

Chris: I feel that it’s increasing, overall. One thing to keep in mind is that as someone’s profile grows, they may not be able to be as transparent as they were in the beginning. It’s not that they want to hide something; rather it’s that the situation may be so different that the same level of disclosure is no longer relevant.

Also, my view is that no one has to be 100% transparent about everything, but whatever you choose to be transparent about, you should be 100% open.

Chris: I feel like I am a leader, sure.  A leader who is someone with influence and followers — that’s pretty much the basic requirement. The relationship isn’t always one-way, of course — and I’m a follower of many other people, like Seth Godin, Paul Farmer, etc. As for the other part, that’s for other people to judge.

Concluding Notes

Although he was featured on The New York Times, MSNBC, The Washington Times, and in other media outlets, I feel that Chris’s impact is most felt by the people around the world who he continues to see and communicate with.  When people meet with him, they are able to get insight from a man who has a global view, and who has seen much of the many types of societies and people that exist.  It is tough to be narrow-minded when your mind has been so expanded.  This connects with a quote by a past author and physician, Oliver Wendell Holmes, who said,

Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.

You can follow Chris on Twitter at @chrisguillebeau, or subscribe to his article feed here.  The following is a summary of the take-away points from the interview:

• You don’t have to give in to expectations, or conform to how certain individuals want you to, as you are your own being
• Social media is commonly used for self-promotion, but it can also be used to create and take part in conversations with people for the common good
• Inspiration and boldness spread from the folks who show/present them to others around them, and the cycle continues to pass from one person to the next
• Transparency is increasing and becoming more of what we want to see people show, and the key to it is to be 100% transparent in those items chosen to be transparent in
• Leaders influence people and have followers, but they can also follow others, and people can choose what guidance or knowledge they take from a leader

A lot of people talk about “going against the grain” and “separating from the pack” and “doing things your own way”, but a very small amount of people act in a way that matches the concept of those phrases.  Jonathan Mead sets himself apart passionately, pursuing and achieving freedom on various levels, and letting his audience know how they too can obtain freedom from cubicles or other societal chains.  Through his self development articles on Illuminated Mind, and undoubtedly through his coaching, you can get a sense of the message he is sending to people.  I see his rhetoric as a powerful tool to support the newly-modern way of attention and revenue being directed towards providers of value, in opposition to those who maintain age-old systems that don’t have the provision of value as a high priority.

Jonathan once pointed out that a common theme among what he promotes is “freedom”, and I would add that another item he promotes is “boldness”.  Even if you read his material and are not as passionate about the same cause he is, his willingness to deviate from the standard path, regardless of the resistance present, will pass on to your own interest in the form of resilient passion.  As far as a self-described biography of the man, Jonathan Mead is interested in creating a social movement of liberation, based on people living on their own terms. In his spare time he studies Jeet Kune Do and other ass-kicking strategies. He’s currently researching how to get paid to exist.  The following is my interview with Jonathan:

Armen: What is the first step towards obtaining personal freedom, and what is one of the main factors keeping people from taking this step?

Jonathan: I think it really starts with a desire to move beyond your current self-limiting situation. Of course, you might not think it’s self-limiting at first. You’ll likely blame society, your parents, your church, or whatever. But ultimately it comes down to you making the choice to choose something different.

The biggest factor that keeps people from taking the step to choose something different is that they don’t accept that it’s their choice. It’s easier to blame others. It’s takes a lot of courage and inner strength to accept full responsibility for your life and where you are right now.

Jonathan's eBook

Armen: There is often a sense of heightened expectation, which is often unable to be completely satisfied, attached to the question “What do you do for a living?”  I feel that it tends to only be beneficial when both parties are nearly at the same level in their career endeavors, and have the potential to exchange services.  How do you feel about the value of the question, and do you see its use becoming less commonplace as more individuals pursue careers that don’t lend themselves to a “socially acceptable” response?

Jonathan: Yeah, I think a lot of us are really moving away from this question. The new question will be not “what do you do?” but “what are you all about?” — I think that’s a much greater personal question, so it will take others having the balls to ask people straight away. “What do you do?” is safe. “What are you all about?” requires that you actually have a real, meaningful response.

Armen: How do you respond to individuals who speak negatively the majority of the time, with lines like: “life is not going well”, “there is too much pressure on me”, or “there is no way out of my current routine”?

Jonathan: Well first of all, I don’t hang out with people like that. But when my blog readers or others come to me with a negative outlook, I try to help them change their state. Sometimes just asking the question “What is your plan for changing that?” helps people see a different possibility they were previously overlooking.

Armen: In relation to the substantial increase in the size of your audience, would you say it has caused you to speak more boldly, filter out more of what you say, or not change your writing style and expression much at all?

Jonathan: If anything, it has caused to be more centered in my voice, purpose and style. The growing readership of my blog has helped me find a community and a family of like-minded people. The more my blog grows the more I think Wow, there really are a lot of people out there just as unconventional and passionate about personal growth as me. Maybe I’m onto something here.

Armen: With the individuals you are assisting to obtain financial freedom through Project Mojave, what is one way that you help to maintain the continuity of their efforts in the face of distractions or possible burn-out?

Jonathan: I try to help them setup systems to keep them focused on the most important things in their life. There are certain high-leverage activities you can be doing that will have a dramatically positive impact on your life. These are things like continued learning, focused uninterrupted work, masterminding, mentorship, lifestyle habits, and etc. This where you want to focus the majority of your efforts, and I try to help guide them in making it a habit of doing so.

Ultimately the number one aim is helping them liberate themselves from their unwanted day jobs. So I teach people how to do stuff like create morning success rituals, change their beliefs about success and money, managing energy, and other awesome stuff. We’re having a lot of success stories (just into 6-8 weeks) so it seems to be working!

Concluding Notes

I can understand the kind of resistance that Jonathan has encountered up to this point.  It is no small feat to obtain the position he is currently in, as all along the way, individuals certainly tried to get him to quit and go through the regular course of activities.  You could say that he has taken years of potential future anguish, bundled it up into a small package, and blown right through it in a short period of time.  This method reduces the likelihood of regret, and provides much knowledge in less time, as seen here.  The following is a summary of the points discussed in the interview:

• The first step to obtaining personal freedom is to have a desire to move past your current situation, and to implement it, you have to accept that it is your own choice and the responsibility becomes all yours
• It is becoming more relevant to ask people what they are about, instead of what they do, as people leave repetitive employments on their path to a specific venture they can provide much more value with
• Don’t even bother with routinely negative individuals, and if you do want to help, try to lead them to results through their pro-activity
• As you find your audience, you find individuals that are looking for and can benefit from what you have to say, and this helps direct and center your voice
• You can help maintain the continued stability of your efforts by working on highly effective tasks related to them that provide a positive foundation, which makes it easy to continue

If you are looking to get more in tune with the person you are, as opposed to the person you try to present to others, you will want to take a look at what Glen Allsopp provides in article format on his site PluginID.  The site is about plugging into your identity, with a focus on the identity you have, and how you can and should express it.  He exemplifies this by presenting points about his personal experiences all through his articles and site-related components.  When he points out how he actually felt during a past event, or how he got through an experience, with description about the experience, we as readers benefit more than if details and practicality aren’t present.

Another trait of Glen’s that I highly support is that he follows up any information about his own positive results with how the reader can create similar results of their own.  If you read his personal development or site-building material, and don’t improve from it, that is only because you chose not to take the steps he provided.  Even in the comments to his articles and those on other sites he guest posts on, he stays humble, and leads the reader/listener through the path of action.  This is the kind of influence that doesn’t leave out some “secret” step, because, as Glen would and has pointed out, the “secret” step would be to put in consistent effort and follow guidance if desired.  Here is my interview with Glen, followed by some concluding commentary and summary:

Armen: With your recent article titled “Expression Not Impression”, you explained how you have basically switched over to the side of expression, and it is based on being more truthful with the world, and doing more for yourself. What kind of changes would someone want to start making if they wanted be more representative of this quality of expression?

Glen: First of all, you have to be willing to do this. I know it sounds all happiness and roses on my blog, but this is actually quite a difficult decision. It is a shame it’s difficult, as I believe most people would agree it’s the right path to take. We’re so stuck in the mode of living up to the standards of others and keep people happy that it’s hard to change that.

It’s certainly possible though. I would say the first step is just to decide what you want in life. Not what your parents want for you and not what career path your friends expect you to go down. Work out what it is you want to do and follow that path as best as possible. If you find yourself swaying from that path for reasons other than your own, then you’re back in the mode of impressor, not expressor.

Glen: Thanks, I appreciate the kind words. Similar to the last question, I would say that you should make sure you are following your own path. If you do what you feel is right and more specifically, right for you, then you can’t really go wrong.

Regarding careers, people feel like they need to have some perfect goal before they take action. Instead, just open yourself up to whatever you feel interested in now, and see where that takes you. When I was 17 I had this insane passion for Search Engine Optimisation and honestly thought that was the career I would end up doing for the rest of my life.

After a while I started to lose interest in it and instead of clinging to it because I thought it was the right path I just continued down the next route that seemed right to take. Now I run a very popular personal development blog and run a number of successful websites. If I had stuck to my original goal, despite lack of interest, I certainly wouldn’t be in the great position I find myself in.

Look at whatever it is you’re interested in right now, and follow it. Don’t worry if it doesn’t seem like some perfect path. If it feels right, go for it. Then, keep using your gut instinct as a compass. This has worked well for me and I’ll continue to use it. I might be doing something completely different in one or two years time.

Glen: It can be very difficult, especially if you’re working a full-time job like I did for a long time. There are a couple of ways to do this though. The first is to identify time wasters in your life like TV, hanging out with friends, online gaming, browsing the internet and so on. Of course, some of them will not be seen as time wasting my others, but this is abotu what you view as time wasters.

You have to be honest with yourself and not lenient. And, if it seems too difficult to identify and eliminate certain time wasters in your life to fit in a new activity, you obviously don’t want to fit the new task in that badly.

I really wanted to create Cloud Living, I had a massive desire to start and finish it. I didn’t want it to be some dream in my head, I quit Facebook, Instant Messenger and other things to get it done on time.

Another way is to simply map out your current schedule and see where you could save time. Could you get out of bed an hour earlier or even go to sleep an hour later? Could you pack your work gear the night before so you don’t have to fuss in the mornings? Could you not see your friends for one weekend so that you can work on your own projects?

When you really write down what you do each day it makes it easier to see where you can get ‘time back’ to fit in other things that you wish to do.

Glen: I think the biggest thing I learned was to realise all of the social conditioning there is out there and that you don’t have to let it affect you. In the UK, it’s definitely the norm do go to school, get good grades, go to college and then go to University. I’m sure it’s like that in most countries. I honestly thought that this was the route I had to go down.

When I was offered the job in South Africa, I realised I didn’t have to live like that and decided to follow my dreams of working in the Internet marketing industry. I quit college, quit my job and then moved over there within two weeks of being offered the opportunity. Life over there is so different to the UK and far more laid back than what I’m used too.

Never forget, the rules and influences of your current environment are only unique to that place. If you go to a different city or especially a new country, it’s very likely that most of that will change. Don’t get trapped into thinking your current reality includes everything there is to witness or experience.

Moving to a new country is not for everyone although it will massively broaden your perspectives on the world. If you want to try it, be willing to put yourself on the line. I mean be willing to talk to strangers to make friends, try new foods and just generally experience a different lifestyle. If you go to a new place and act in the exact way you do back ‘home’ you really won’t make the most of it.

A good time to leave is just whenever you feel like your current environment has given you all it can and you’re ready to try something new.

Glen: At first, a lot of the feedback took me by surprise. For instance, one of my favourite bloggers is Steve Pavlina and I received comments like “Wow, your writing is way better than Steve’s, I only read your site now” and others along the same lines. Initially I felt really great to read things like this but I made sure I wouldn’t let them get to me. Just like people can easily stop following Steve, they can easily stop following me instead.

This interview has actually helped me realise my philosophy is very much based around doing what is right for you. So, back to the question, I don’t really let my increasing audience size or clear influence affect me in any way. My marker is just to make sure I write content that I want to read and let people filter themselves as to whether they want to continue to read it or not.

I do have some responsibility in terms of not promoting things that are unethical or that discriminate others but, luckily, I wouldn’t do that anyway so it still fits in with doing what is right for me.

Thanks for the interview and the awesome questions!

Concluding Notes

Each of Glen’s articles has a distinct message.  I thought it was interesting that I had not heard or seen the title of his article “Expression Not Impression” anywhere else before.  It was creative and got the point right across.  In this modern period of time, Glen’s method of practical example-based writing is the only way to go, as the old way of keeping secrets from your audience continues to get more outdated as transparency increases in relevancy.  I appreciate that Glen took part in this interview.  As an added note, on Glen’s site is an auto-updating ranked list of personal development sites.  The following is a summary of points from the interview:

• To switch to expressing your true self, first check if you are willing to do so, and then decide what you want from your life
• If you want to be able to bring high energy to what you are doing, make sure it is in the right category, then refrain from setting some perfect goal, and then put in work where your interest is
• To place a new activity or creation into your current schedule, you first need a strong desire, and then have to look to cut time away from other current activities that take up your time, which can be done more easily through writing down what takes up your time
• To make a big personal decision like relocating to a new country, you want to assess whether you are willing to immerse yourself completely, and if so, such as for this moving example, head there ready to gain new perspective that was likely not available at your previous area of residence
• As you gain influence with people you work with in what you do, don’t let your increasing influence affect your efforts, and people will filter themselves out if they have any issues with you

Not many individuals appear to reach a state of stable and continuous growth.  Mike King is such an individual, and his balanced actions and communications provide a solid foundation for others to latch onto.  Mike is the author and creator of the articles at Learn This, self described as “A productivity site for self learning career, leadership and life improvement tips.”

Through his site Learn This, Mike presents the reader with countless(actually well over 200) articles about career information, relationships, success, and other topics.  Some key articles to take note of are his book reviews on many well-known books that have been published in these categories of discussion, including The Future Of Management, Better Than Good, and The Greatest Minds And Ideas Of All Time.  His regular habit of reading intellectually stimulating books is one of the best habits to pass onto the readers of his site.  What follows here is an interview of Mike containing some choice questions and follow-up commentary:

Armen: Would you say productivity is more about methods to optimize and create efficiency in a person’s routine, or that it is more about unleashing untapped motivation?

Mike: I think productivity involves both of them at different points to be effective.  Most people start and gain the most from examining productivity by using methods to optimize and gain efficiencies in what they do.  This can quickly generate a short term payoff and is why it is likely always utilized first.  However, unleashing untapped motivation is required to take this to higher levels and to continue using and advancing the methods and optimized work after initial gains are realized.  The 80/20 rule here applies and I think that 80% of the gains can come from methods and efficiency but are difficult to maintain or master unless that motivation is activated to keep the momentum and consistency in using them.  That motivation will lead to mastering the remaining 20% as well.

Armen: What is one influential book you would recommend to others?  Has this book had an impact on your daily actions?

Mike: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith has been one of my favorite books that has influenced me and it has definitely affected my daily actions.  It was one of those books that for me, seemed like Goldsmith was writing sections of it directly to me and so I was able to deeply connect with some of the behaviors listed that were holding me back.  Goldsmith does a great job of demonstrating the impact those can cause and puts a lot of attention towards how to break away from those habits and develop new ones that are not limiting.

I have so many other books I could recommend as well, many for specific topics or areas for learning, though I can’t say any have affected as much of my daily actions as What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.

Armen: I recently talked to someone who wants to become a comedian, but hasn’t started the process.  What would you say to him and anyone else who has yet to make their attempt toward their potential career of interest?

Mike: I have two trains of thought on this subject, which I will have to explain.

One: Get started now and dive into it full on.
Two: Take some time to think about it before making any major change or commitment.

The first train of thought to get started right away comes from my strong self starter core.  There is much value in starting early and doing things in the moment instead of putting it off.  So many people live a complacent life and never start the things they desire and end up unhappy or regretful.  From this perspective, the best advice I can give is to get involved in this, start learning about it and explorer it further.  I think the biggest point here is that you cannot wait for an opportunity to surface before going after something.  Choose to go after it, and make the opportunity!

The second train of thought is to take some time to think about this.  A career choice is not to be taken lightly and I find many people getting into a career that just doesn’t suit them or make them happy because they enter that career for all the wrong reasons.  Sometimes this is for fame, for money or for power or they simply thought it would appeal to them.  These things are not sustainable and so you can easily end up dissatisfied in a career where you were chasing those elements.  It’s better to find a closer match of your career and your life’s mission or purpose, or at the very least, an area you truly enjoy the work in, regardless of the fame, money or power it can provide in the short term.  So, if you stop, think and do some real planning around your career choices and understand your reasoning, I am confident that you can make a better decision.

Whichever path you do follow, putting in more effort to excel in that career will pay off and if you have the motivation to do well, put in the effort needed to achieve, you will get more out of the career, whatever it is.  Waiting and hoping for opportunities in a career is a quick path to being dissatisfied, you must go after your dreams and make your career a part of that process!

Armen: What do you think about the idea that the same strategies are successful in multiple scenarios, from setting up a business, to winning a chess match, to speaking to an audience?

Mike: Oh I definitely belief and have personally experienced that the same strategies do contribute to success in different scenarios.  One of the most successful strategies I’ve developed is an attitude of excellence and determination.  Those are strategies that contribute to every area of my life.  They allow me to approach any situation with a strong desire to do my best at it and no matter what it is, I can be confident from my past experiences that that attitude help get me through it and that the results will be worth it. I think a person’s strategies if based on one’s core values can always be relied on to help achieve success, in whatever situation they face.

Armen: Does a leader create their position in a social or business hierarchy, or does the acquisition of a higher position bring about and generate leadership qualities, or are they connected in some way?

Mike: I think a leader definitely creates their position.  At least true leadership because leadership is not about filling a void or need, it’s about taking a plunge to go beyond the visible and lead people into an area of uncharted, unknown and unexpected outcomes.  A leader that takes on such adventures will then also bring about new qualities in themselves and those around them but I believe the leadership has to happen first.  I’ve seen this often as a manager as well.  Just because a role or need or opportunity for leadership exists, doesn’t mean it enables or generates that ability in others.  Leaders have to be doing just that, leading, its completely independent of position or opportunity in front of them.

Concluding Notes

Mike’s site is one of the first sites I started reading in the category of self-improvement, and  I continue to read his articles for various reasons, including the professional tone, compilation of book reviews, and follow-up comments.  I appreciate his taking the time to take part in this interview.  I recommend looking at some of the series of articles he has packaged as handy and easy-to-print PDF files at his Free Resources page.  Also, you can directly subscribe to the RSS feed for his site Learn This here.  Here is a list of take-away points from this interview:

• Productivity involves both optimization and discovery of motivation, and tends to start with optimization methods that have to be used to move to the higher level where motivation is the key factor
• What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith is a valuable book about how your current actions need to be developed further if you want to get to a higher stage
• If you want to pursue a career of your interest, you should either fully immerse yourself in it and the activities involved with it, or do some slow planning of the steps involved in the career process, so that you can check if it is fitting for the long-term
• Success in one field translates quite well to success in other fields, as excellence and determination apply to a multitude of skills
• A leader creates their place in a business, or in society, as they take the risks necessary to create such a position

It takes an individual full of strength and passion to pursue their desire.  Celestine Chua from Personal Excellence is a person who has made the decision to follow her goal of spreading her message of being your best self and living your best life, through articles, public speaking, life coaching, and setting an example for others to aspire to.  A running theme that is present in the articles on her site is that you as an individual can adjust your life situation so that you are more excited about what you end up doing, and can more smoothly attain a position you are satisfied with.

What Celestine also brings to each activity she performs is a palpable energy and positive attitude that lights up what would have otherwise been a routine day, and these transfer onto those lucky individuals who are in her presence.  One of her most viewed articles, about the concept of sleepwalking, or living a very passive and subdued life, hits on an important point that a large portion of society would do well to analyze.  There is no reason to leave room for future regret when individuals like Celestine are providing ways out of a passive daily structure.  The following is an interview I have done with Celestine regarding some specific questions I had for her about her message and efforts:

Armen: What do you feel is the difference in impact you have on your audience when you are giving a speech, as opposed to with written words in an article?

Celestine: Hey Armen! Thanks a lot for giving me the honor to do the interview. I think this is a very interesting question – I always feel that with each of the mediums I reach out to people (be it writing, 1-1 coaching or giving speeches), there is always a difference in the impact that is received. In a speech, my audience gets to see me in action, hear my voice, and experience face-to-face contact. In my blog articles, the audience only gets exposed to me in writing – they don’t hear my voice or see me. I believe the additional contact that speaking gives allows a higher level of emotional connection, allows the message to be conveyed more strongly, and as a result, brings the impact to a higher level. Not only that, if the audience were to have any questions mid-way, they can always get it clarified on the spot. However, many readers have told me that my articles have life-changing effects on them which is really great, so there’s always a way to deliver that impact even through words alone.

Armen: You have an article about 17 tips for being on time.  How large of an effect would you say it has when you show up to someones event late?

Armen: Do you feel that anyone can succeed in their initial desire or passion, or that some would need to alter the presentation or medium of release of their passion before it would be a viable path to pursue?

Armen: How do you feel about the media coverage you have received thus far, in relation to how you have been presented to the public, and the results of said media coverage?

Celestine: This is a very interesting question Armen. I’m really thankful to all the media coverage I have received, as well as the new ones that are coming in at the moment. Overall, the journalists have really written about my story in a great light. Most of the coverages so far have been about my passion towards pursuing my passion which is personal development, and my advocation towards helping others live to their fullest potential. I would say the media has portrayed me quite true to who I am. The public response has been overwhelming! I get a lot of feedback from readers on how my story inspired them – some even went on to quit their passionless jobs afterwards! On another note, being featured in press definitely adds credibility and credentials to what I’m doing, so it definitely facilitates me in achieving my vision. Not only that, it has exposed what I’m doing to a new group of people, so I’ve gained numerous new readers and coaching clients from the features, which is really excellent.

Armen: How do you remind yourself of goals you want to maintain, and what types of foundation are set in place to keep those goals in your focal range?

Celestine: I believe a lot in environmental reinforcement to support us in our goal pursuits, so I have my goals constantly in visual focus in my room (http://personalexcellence.co/blog/does-your-room-inspire-you/). I have a big noticeboard in front of my work desk which has all my long-term goals (to set up a personal development school, achieve 100,000 visitors/day on PersonalExcellence.co, earn $10,000/month, etc) and affirmations. I have a whiteboard on another site of my room which has a checklist for my progress on daily goals, such as exercising, meditation, article writing, etc. I have a vision board which is a visual representation of the goals I want to achieve. Not only that, I also have a life handbook (http://personalexcellence.co/blog/create-your-life-handbook/) which has my full list of long-term and short-term goals. I’m constantly in contact with my life handbook every day as I write and update new things. So in that regard, you can say my goals are pretty much integrated into my life!

Concluding Notes

I want to thank Celestine for doing the interview, as I gain understanding from her responses just like you do.  As she pointed out, her eBook “Pursuing Your Passions” is planned to be launched in July.  Also, she regularly updates on her Twitter account @celestinechua.  Here I have made a list of some of the key points to take away from this interview:

• You may be able to make a larger impact through a different medium
• Discussing a problem and opening it up to your thoughts can get it resolved
• Focus on the message of your efforts, as it is more of a long-term entity than a short-term way to communicate the point
• Others often support you when you provide them with something to support
• Presenting your own goals to yourself in a physically visible way is more effective than just having them in your thoughts