A Life Well Designed Podcast

One year ago ALifeWellDesigned.com was registered, and since then it has expanded faster than originally planned. It's all because of you guys, the listeners, so THANK YOU for making it such a joy to work on! Here's looking to another amazing year of making connections with incredible people. In this episode we cover where we started, where we are, and where we're going in the near future. Want to have some say in how that happens? Let us know! Email us, tweet at us, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram to get involved. In conclusion, Happy Holidays to YOU, and Happy Birthday to US!

Welcome to the nerdiest episode of the show, yet! We over here at the show are mighty stoked about the upcoming Star Wars movies, so I figured I'd share some life lessons you can learn from the Jedi. Follow ALWD on: Twitter Facebook Instagram Visit the Podcast Home

In this episode We talk about how to preserve your sanity while you're home for the holidays. Definitely worth a listen! Full transcript here.  

ABOUT OUR GUEST Phil Ferguson is a certified fiduciary at Polaris Financial Planning, which means he's legally obligated to have your best financial well-being front & center. He hosts his own podcast, The Phil Ferguson Show where he talks 1 part money and 2 parts atheism. While not out on the lecture and conference circuit, he lives in Champaign IL.  IN THIS EPISODE Warning: Amazing advice & strong language Phil doesn't pull any punches when it comes to finances, and doesn't mince any words either. He explains "How to Money" for us and a whole lot more. CONNECT WITH PHIL Twitter Facebook Email The Phil Ferguson Show Podcast Home

Introduction There's one metric that accounts for more than 50% of your chances of success. In this episode, we talk about what it is, and what it means for you. Resources Monkey SphereDunbar's NumberNetwork Brokerage Attend the Live Event in Chicago! Full Show Notes

8 Techniques for getting more done Technology is supposed to help us get more done, but it seems like there's less and less time to get more and more done. In this episode I discuss how I'm able to maintain a website, podcast, a speaking/consulting career, a performing career, and a 9-5 design job with 8 techniques I've used over the years to manage my time effectively. They're simple, yet very effective tools that you can use in your life to ensure you're getting the stuff done that you absolutely must do. Full Show Notes Here

There's no shortage of people in the world trying to tell you how to be happy. Most of them are simply telling you what they did, but it's physically impossible to live the same life they lived so what's a better option? Science! Here are 4 things you can do to immediately improve your happiness, as proven through scientific research. Full show notes here.  

Seems like fewer and fewer people are living a life of integrity. In this episode we explore why this is, what you can do about it, and how to live a life free from negative cycles. Full show notes here.

ABOUT OUR GUEST Chris Fedruk Long is a former self-help devotee who spent years trying to figure out why people do what they do. Over the last 20 years as an analyst, an independent consultant, and now a manager of analysts, she has learned to focus less on the "why" and more on the "how" to get better results from her team (and herself). She works as an implementation & delivery director at a global research, technology, and consulting company in Chicago, Illinois.   IN THIS EPISODE We discuss a behavioral framework that is incredibly effective in improving communication skills, which are essential whether you’re a manager, leader, or entrepreneur. This simple tool will help you pay better attention, and respond more effectively to others based on your observations. (It also works great for non-work relationships!) Full Show Notes Here

ABOUT OUR GUEST He’s the creator of Shawnimals, NinjaTown, ReSketch and a whole lot more. His work has been covered by NY Times, Entertainment Weekly, Spin Magazine, Elle Girl Korea, MTV.com and more. He’s based in Chicago. IN THIS EPISODE It’s a long episode because we talk about a LOT! During the interview we cover designer toys, working a niche, perils of over saturation, scaleability, working with major distributors like ThinkGeek.com, Quality, the importance of community, the starving artist mythology, and a whole lot more. Full show notes here.

ABOUT THE GUEST SF Zeigler He's part magician, part musician, and 100% badass. For the past 20 years he's been training in Wing Chun Kung Fu at the exclusion of almost everything else. His dedication to the art has paid off with a deep understanding of the mysteries of combat (the secret is that there are no secrets; you just have to train). He's a skeptic, but by no means a cynic. ABOUT THE EPISODE We chat about leveraging the power of the internet to live anywhere you want and still make a living through teaching. He discusses tech solutions he's tried previously, the path that's led him to where he is now, and what's working for him currently. If you've wondered how to use the internet to free yourself up from the desk, this is the episode for you.  Full show notes here: http://www.alifewelldesigned.com/podcast/alwd-0013-inte…th-john-spence/ SUBSCRIBEiTunesStitcher GET THE WORD OUTIf you like what we're doing, subscribe on iTunes, rate it, and leave us a review. That's a huge boost. Thanks!

ABOUT THE GUESTShe's an instructor at The Barre Code, works in the book publishing industry, and her Instagram game is on point. ABOUT THE SHOWGuest Allison Roy joins us to talk about making time in a busy schedule for physical fitness, and how she's gone about turning her passion into a stable side business for herself. Her Instagram: @allisonroyHer Schedule: theBarreCode.com (filter by instructor) Full show notes here: http://www.alifewelldesigned.com/podcast/alwd-014-inter…th-allison-roy SUBSCRIBEiTunesStitcher   GET THE WORD OUTIf you like what we're doing, subscribe on iTunes, rate it, and leave us a review. That's a huge boost. Thanks!

ABOUT THE GUEST http://www.johnspence.com At the age of just 26, John was named CEO of an international Rockefeller foundation, overseeing projects in 20 countries and reporting directly to the Chairman of the Board, Winthrop P. Rockefeller III. Three years later Inc. Magazine’s “Zinc Online” recognized him as one of America’s up and coming young business leaders. John has twice been named as one of the Top 100 Business Thought Leaders in America and has been recognized on a global list of the top 100 Thought Leaders in the area of “Trustworthy Business Behavior.” ABOUT THE EPISODE This is an incredibly quotable episode! Our guest John Spence shares a lifetime of experience in leadership development, business, work/life balance, and a whole lot more. If you're interested in being able to have world-class mentors, John shares the secret on guaranteeing they say yes to you. Full show notes here: http://www.alifewelldesigned.com/podcast/alwd-0013-inte…th-john-spence/ SUBSCRIBEiTunesStitcher GET THE WORD OUTIf yo

In this episode I sat down with Amy Mokris from LeCoeurWatches.com and she talks about how she took an idea & made it real, figured out exactly what time of day to launch her successfully funded Kickstarter campaign, and a whole lot more. FIND HER ONLINE Website: lecoeurwatches.comInstagram: @lecoeurwatches Twitter: @lecoeurwatches FULL SHOWNOTES:  http://www.alifewelldesigned.com/podcast/alwd-012-inter…ith-amy-mokris/ GET THE WORD OUT If you like what we're doing, subscribe on iTunes, rate it, and leave us a review. That's a huge boost. Thanks!

In this episode I sit down with founder of TweakedStyle.com Jacqueline Marie. She's had a long, hard road, and still maintains a positive outlook on life. We chat about resilience & the value of using what you have. Find out more about her work at her webiste TweakedStyle.com or on Instagram. GET IN TOUCH Email: jonathan@alifewelldesigned.com Instagram: @alifewelldesigned Facebook: alifewelldesigned Twitter: @ALWDtweets

In the age of the internet, it seems like everyone has a website and it makes sense. They're a great way to legitimize yourself as an expert, and provides a platform for sharing your genius with the world.Not all websites are created equally, however. This is why we're going to be talking about what goes into a well designed website, and how you can use it to your advantage.If you don't plan on making your own website, this broadcast will give you a headstart on finding the perfect web designer for you! GET IN TOUCH Email: jonathan@alifewelldesigned.comInstagram: @alifewelldesignedFacebook: alifewelldesignedTwitter: @ALWDtweets

Relationships can be a powerful source of support & encouragement, or stress & anxiety. Each is a function of how you design the way you relate with the people in your life.Join us to find out what you need to design relationships that will enrich your life, and be a source of inspiration. We'll cover myths we're told, and why we all believe them.We'll also be talking about the predominate social paradigm, and why most of our conversations about relationships are severely limited due to an incomplete lexicon when it comes to talking about the people in our lives.This is going to be a good one you don't want to miss! GET IN TOUCHEmail: jonathan@alifewelldesigned.comInstagram: @alifewelldesignedFacebook: alifewelldesignedTwitter: @ALWDtweets

Leadership is a popular buzzword with companies and colleges right now, but what, exactly, makes a great leader?Here to answer that question is guest Ken Wrede. His background & experience as a leader is unique. He was in the military in a leadership position, started a communications company overseas, and was the head of security at an embassy in Europe. If his team messed up, their mistake would be an international incident. With stakes like that, a team needs great leadership. To help us understand what leadership is (instead of what it looks like), Ken walks us through the 4 fundamental principles of leadership which are: Drivers Critical Thinking Culture Uncertainty Stick around to hear him explain those in much more detail, as we cover a lot of ground! Ken's Website MENTIONED IN THE SHOW "Drive" by Daniel Pink "Leadership That Gets Results" by Daniel Golman GET IN TOUCHEmail: jonathan@alifewelldesigned.comInstagram: @alifewelldesignedFacebook: alifewelldesignedTwitter: @ALWDtweets

We’re taught reading, writing, and arithmetic in school, and while they are incredibly important subjects, it seems we ignore cultivating the skills that determine our success or failure down the road. In this broadcast we’re covering what can help you resolve conflict, improve your ability to negotiate, and other skills that are essential to getting ahead in business and life. If you haven’t worked on Emotional Intelligence, this broadcast is for you. If you have worked on Emotional Intelligence, now is the time for a refresher! SUBSCRIBE GET IN TOUCHEmail: hello@alifewelldesigned.comInstagram: @alifewelldesignedFacebook: alifewelldesignedTwitter: @ALWDtweets

Motivation: a term we all use, yet the meaning behind it can be so vague. People tend to equate motivation with success; a kind of magical yet elusive catalyst that stands between you and your to-do list. But really, what is motivation? And what happens when motivation,the thing that is supposed to help you achieve your goals, ends up being a crutch that excuses you from making any forward progress? In this week’s broadcast, we will outline the most useful motivation strategies before diving into a much more effective – and attainable – trait, one that you can harness as a practiced skill. SUBSCRIBE GET IN TOUCHEmail: hello@alifewelldesigned.comInstagram: @alifewelldesignedFacebook: alifewelldesignedTwitter: @ALWDtweets