At times there’s a sad tendency in most of us to underestimate just how powerful we are, and how capable we actually are of accomplishing that which we choose to pursue. The reality is if you knew just how special you were – and how much greatness went into making you the unique you that you are I’m convinced you would immediately know that nothing can truly keep you from achieving that which you want in your life.

The journey is not always an easy one – very little of lasting or true value is first paved with an easy road. In fact, we often find it is during those very times we believed to be insurmountable that are often most responsible for our gaining the skills it took to reach our eventual success. What I’m suggesting is that the skills it takes to become that which we desire to be are learned most often through times of hardship or unrest. Certainly the good times and study in self-improvement plays a part, but don’t discount the importance of life’s challenges either. In the end, all parts of our life can be valuable teachers.

We need only accept that each event, positive or negative, can hold in it an opportunity to make us better in some way for having had experienced it. Now, that’s certainly not to say that we will find any sort of joy in each and every one of life’s events – certainly not the negative ones anyway. However, I believe it is worthwhile to look for the lessons that can be extracted from both the good and bad experiences in our lives. Being careful not to dwell on the negative. Remember, there is a huge difference between dwelling on – and simply learning from and moving past something.

It’s Your Life, LIVE BIG!

For the third year in a row Sound Wisdom staff and their families were preparing, plating and passing pastas, pallet cleansers, pastries, and many other fine foods all in the spirit of charity. This years gala included fine food, beverages, music, and 100’s of auction items all organized by a loyal group of volunteers. Sound Wisdom publisher David Wildasin who is also a Board Of Director and treasurer for the Non-Profit organization volunteers to cater the event each year. “I love this children’s charity, I love the volunteers, and I love to cook so I consider it a win-win. This year we catered for over 250 people and could not have done it without the support of our fellow Sound Wisdom team members and wonderful volunteers.”

Earlier this year Sound Wisdom along with Authors Danny Badder “Back From Heaven’s Front Porch” and Shawn Doyle “Jump Start Your Motivation” partnered with Camp Koala for an event called Sophie’s Six. The Sophie’s Six event is dedicated in memory of Sophie Grace Martin who passed away just before her 6th birthday. All proceeds from the event benefit various children’s causes like Camp Koala.

Sound Wisdom donated hundreds of books that were personally signed by the authors for everyone at the event. “These two incredible motivational speakers, trainers, and authors took the entire day to speak individually with each person as they were signing their book. The conversations were truly amazing. Total strangers would just open up to these guys and tell their life stories. I truly believe many people were helped that day. The event was a huge success and we look forward to bringing back even more Sound Wisdom Authors next year” quote By Nathan Martin president Nori Media Group.

The entire Sound Wisdom Staff and their families were involved in the event and had a great time competing in the run/ walk. The event was a huge success and raised almost $6,000 for Camp Koala’s children and family workshops. To find out more about next year’s event go to www.sophiessix.com.

Camp Koalas mission is to provide grieving children, teens, and their families with the tools to help them manage their grief in a healthy way, and to offer companionship in a supportive environment. To learn more about Camp Koala check out their website at www.CampKoala.org

• A dependable, repeatable process for eliminating barriers
• Authentic life-expanding tools while demolishing clichés
• How to recognize the symptoms, causes, and types of brick walls
• How to pursue a life where “nothing is impossible
• Ways to refuse the bricks life offers and reclaim their power

Just Blow It Up gives a step-by-step process for challenging those barriers, weakening those walls, and finally applying the “real dynamite” and powering right on through.

If that’s true, you don’t need to read this. But let’s get real.

You’ve been afraid, haven’t you?

It’s okay, you can admit it. Contrary to what sports enthusiasts and drill sergeants would have you believe, fear is nothing to be ashamed of.

But you don’t have to let it limit your life. In fact, moving through fear to make the choices that best serve your life is a prerequisite for living an unlimited life.

“Whatever you believe you fear owns your life.”

That’s from one of my journals, and anytime I believe I am afraid of something, I make it a point to take my life back by challenging that belief. But there is one fear, or belief in fear, that’s been kicking me in the teeth – or more accurately in the mind – for most of my life.

Last weekend, I got out my toolbox and did some major demolition. Because that belief in fear was in the way of something I wanted to do.

My toolbox is full of fear-blasting techniques and processes. But my demolition project last weekend took all of them; I even ended up creating some new ones. Taking you through all of it would require more space than I’m going to give it here. But I’ll walk you through the first three steps.

Step One – Balance fear against desire

Most people are afraid of lions, tigers, and bears. At least they would be if they encountered them in the wild. We accept this fear as reasonable since lions, tigers and bears all have a track record of doing significant damage to humans. Then there are those people who have dedicated much of their lives to encountering these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. They probably experience fear from time to time, but they don’t let it limit their options.

The difference? Desire.

The naturalist, photographer, or even big game hunter (yes, I just shuddered) has a desire that can only be satisfied by overcoming fear to pursue a dream. If your fear isn’t keeping you from something you desire then it isn’t limiting your life. Is it?

Step Two – Create or examine your “safety net”

Most people are afraid of being propelled through the air, or falling from extreme heights. We accept this fear as reasonable since we’ve seen news stories about the impact the law of gravity has on a human body that got too far up to get down gently. Yet, there are people who jump out of airplanes and dive off of cliffs. And most of us have willingly subjected ourselves to the occasional rollercoaster ride.  We’ve learned to enjoy, even crave, the thrill of a jolt of adrenaline from time to time.

The difference? Belief in the “net.”

The skydiver, paraglider, cliff diver, and theme park thrill-seeker all “take the leap” because they believe in their skill, in their equipment, or in the roller coaster designer and operator. Because of this “safely net,” they can give themselves over to the sensation of flying, of free falling, of being suspended in breath-stopping motion, without really believing they are risking life or limb.

But what about people who are afraid of dogs, cats, or even mice? Or who freeze in panic when asked to climb a step ladder, cross a foot bridge, or jump the two feet from the stage to the dance floor?

What about the person who freezes, whose heart rate accelerates, who even has to fight the urge to inflict physical harm on another person – just because someone is pointing a camera at her?

Not a gun. A camera.

Yes, that was the big, bad, brick wall I ran into this weekend. A camera.

Ironically, I was talking about fear at the time. I had made a particularly impassioned statement about a course I’m teaching on Fear and Choices, and what I want people to understand about fear, My companion suggested that I share that passion in a video. And it just so happened he had a suitable recording device on hand.

My teeth clenched, my eyes narrowed, and I fought the usual desire to scream and run away.

I got through it – with no damage to people or property. In fact, the video came out pretty well in spite of sitting outside at a sidewalk cafe.

But that isn’t the reason I dread the moment when someone whips out a camera. It has nothing to do with the pictures that result. In fact, until this weekend, I wasn’t at all sure what it did have to do with.

But that brings us to step three – which is how I spent my weekend.

Step Three – Understand the source of the threat

You see, I had the desire. I really wanted to share what I’ve learned about living a powerful, unlimited life without succumbing to the fear cycles that paralyze so many people into a life of compromise and complacency. And it wasn’t just a desire to make that one video. In today’s culture, I know that videos and images are a key component of effective, evocative communication. So succumbing to my fear of being in front of a camera (no, the threat wasn’t really the camera, but that’s another story) was limiting my ability to communicate with all of you.

And I had a safety net. I was with a friend I trusted, in a place I love. I was in complete control of what I did or didn’t say, and where the video was or wasn’t shared.

Which left step three – to dissect and really understand source of the threat. Because, although in the video I refer to my fear as “unreasonable and irrational,” the truth is that a fear response is never without reason. It’s prompted by something. And that something is real so long as we believe in it. And to dissolve our belief, we have to know what it is.

I can’t say I will never have a fear response to a camera, or to people who don’t respect my person enough to ASK before they stick a camera in my face. But I now know what belief that fear is rooted in. And I’m at work uprooting it.

I’ll keep you posted.

Author, life coach, and radio personality, Joel Boggess, has a heart wrenching, yet incredibly encouraging story that takes place far before his success began, one that he’ll be sharing in his upcoming book, “Finding Your Voice,” due out in early November, 2013, from Sound Wisdom Publishing.

Joel’s first book, “One Woman’s Journey to the Work She Loves,” landed him on 20-plus television shows and news programs. On Joel’s radio show, he has interviewed a number of influential people, including Darren Hardy, Michael Hyatt, Dan Miller, Larry Winget, Mark Sanborn, Tom Ziglar, Jon Acuff, and Bob Burg. He has also served as host for Ziglar’s Success 2.0 calls.

In Joel’s upcoming book, “Finding Your Voice,” launching in early November, 2013 from Sound Wisdom Publishing, he uses his own incredible story and the real-life accounts of the people he’s coached to demonstrate that although your past plays into your present, it doesn’t have to determine your destiny.

Growing up as an at-risk kid, Joel was forced to deal with adult issues at a very young age. Two years after his parents separated and divorced, Joel, then five, suffered a life-threatening fall from a 30-foot railroad bridge; an accident which left him comatose for weeks. The injuries and medical complications stemming from the accident meant that his doctors were pessimistic about his future, as they assumed life for him would be anything but normal. Despite this prognosis, Joel was able to overcome life’s obstacles and launch himself into the successful career he has now. This story is detailed in the upcoming book.

“We’re thrilled to be working with authors like Joel Boggess and powerful life-changing messages like “Finding Your Voice,”” said Dave Wildasin, Publisher, “Sound Wisdom is really a community of like-minded, contributing professionals with expertise in various fields of personal development, personal growth, business growth, leadership, health, fitness, and finance. These great thinkers and their life-altering messages are at the heart of everything that we do, and we are very excited to welcome Joel to our family.”

Throughout “Finding Your Voice,” readers will discover:

•     Who they really are, what excites them, and what they stand for.
•     How to use past hurts to help and encourage others.
•     Where to look for their passion when life seems passion-less.
•     How to identify and rid themselves of beliefs that may be stifling their voice and success.
•     Why having a vision for their future is essential – and how to create one and make it a reality.

The use of Joel’s reliable and applicable information and experiences leaves readers encouraged and empowered to live a more authentic and meaningful life, with the ultimate goal of finding their own voice.

To celebrate his partnership with Sound Wisdom, Joel has made a complimentary copy of his latest eBook, Passion – re-connect with what lights your fire, available at http://www.findingyourvoiceradio.com.

To start the much-needed revolution, it’s time for The Leadership Manifesto. Follow it and see the difference. Ignore it, and bask in the ineptitude of your leaders, until your company goes down in flames buried in the ashes of leadership incompetence.

There are six principles to follow in The Leadership Manifesto.

1. Stop promoting people to leadership roles just because they are technically competent. 

Fred is a brilliant programmer who got promoted. His new position requires that he manage a team of sixteen people. However, he has no interest in leading people, and probably isn’t a very gifted leader, anyway. All Fred ever wanted to do was do his job well, but now he has to manage a team, which is killing him slowly.

Solution: Promote people in the organization that have the technical knowledge and the potential to lead.

2. Stop promoting someone and then assuming they know how to lead.

Alexis gets promoted to a leadership role. She is excited and optimistic about the future, but scared to death. Why? She has never led a team before, and she doesn’t know how. She won’t admit it or ask for help. She figures that since she was promoted, she’ll just have to figure out how to be a leader. Alexis goes from the frying pan straight into the fire. Her only option is to model what her managers have always done in the past. Many of whom, by the way, were completely incompetent.

Solution: Have a comprehensive leadership development training program to get new managers up to speed.

3. Stop assuming existing managers don’t need development. 

I once met with a CEO of a small company, and asked him about his current training and development initiatives. He raised an eyebrow questioningly and said, “Who would I train? Most of my managers have been here a long time.” When I mentioned the concept of ongoing development, he smiled and replied, “I hired them because they know what they are doing. Why would I have to train them? If I have to train them, I hired the wrong person.” From the expression on his face and the tone of his voice I could tell that the discussion wasn’t going to go anywhere. He clearly did not understand and was never going to. Just because you hire a manager doesn’t mean that he or she is already a great manager. Even if they are, training always helps the people in leadership roles to grow their skills.

Solution: Every leader in the organization should have an individual development plan and should receive training annually. If they don’t, they will leave and go somewhere where they can get training and development.

4. Stop allowing mean leaders to lead teams. 

I have been in many organizations where I meet and observe managers who are mean, surly, demanding, rude, offensive, and specialize in striking fear into the hearts of the team members. Why is this allowed? The answer is always either “they get results”, or “they have been there a long time”. Neither of these answers is acceptable or a legitimate excuse for that kind of objectionable behavior. The days of mean bosses are over. This is 2006, and leaders have to lead with influence, negotiation, expectation and motivation. What companies don’t understand is that allowing abominable managers to keep being mean is sending employees a confusing message: “We allow our managers to treat you like dirt, but we value you still.” Yeah, right.

Solution: Mean leaders need to be put on notice that they have to change or they have to go. There’s sure to be a celebration in the employee lunch room if the tyrannical manager gets fired, and they’ll certainly breathe easier if the manager is forced to change.

5. Stop allowing executives to think that they don’t need development.

In many companies, I hear: “Well, we can have training, but our Vice Presidents won’t attend.” Why not? “They don’t feel that they need training and if they did, it would be an admission that they have skills they need to work on.” In many organizations, attending training is viewed as a sign of weakness. What’s going on here? Just because someone attends training, they’re weak? Shouldn’t commitment to development be viewed as a strong point? Apparently not. In the leadership ranks in many organizations, this is a liability. Sad, but true. Arrogance and ego are robbing executives of development that they need.

Solution: The CEO has to model a dedication to development and insist that every executive get training and development annually, based on specific and identified areas for improvement. When the rest of the organization sees that executives are committed to development, then they will be more inclined to do so.

6. Stop waiting until you have a vacant leadership role to identify talent.

Here is how I see it happening in many organizations. Someone in a leadership role resigns or gets fired. Panic ensues. The executives meet to see who can fill that role. Is there someone internally they can promote? Do they need to do an outside executive search? Although they seem organized, they will never admit that there is no strategy – It’s called flying by the seat of your pants.

Solution: Every organization should have a talent management initiative. This would include recruitment, succession planning, leadership development for future leaders, leadership development for current leaders, and ongoing individual development plans. This helps to build the talent pool for future needs.

I want to see a brighter day when companies and organizations are led by leaders who are inspired, dedicated, and skillful in the way they lead their teams. Let’s tear down the old bronze monuments to arrogance, incompetence, and management by intimidation.

Let the revolution begin.

Shawn Doyle is the President of New Light Learning and Development, a company specializing in Leadership Development. He has also authored five books on leadership sales and motivation. His latest book The Manager’s Pocket Guide to Training will be published by HRD Press this fall.