It’s fun to talk about success especially when it comes to entrepreneurship. We are all hoping for this grand journey where we start from the bottom but quickly make it to the top.

That happened to my good friend, Chuck Cooper. His first business was wildly successful, until it wasn’t. All of a sudden, he found himself in shame never thinking he would have failed. It all seemed too easy.

Luckily, Chuck is resourceful and found support to build himself back up and to build a new business in the making.

In this conversation, Chuck and I talk about the ups and downs of being a business owner, the fundamental skills to be successful, let it be entrepreneurship or your traditional career path, and we throw in some baseball talk both as an analogy and my predictions about my beloved St. Louis Cardinals.

Key Takeaways:

• What makes mentors want to invest in certain people
• Effective networking practices
• How to build your business by creating relationships
• What are employers looking for in their young talent?
• A key sales strategy: picking up the phone
• Rules you can set in place for better work life balance
• Why to consider a change in living
• How the game of baseball could give you comfort as a 20-something

More of Chuck:

Website: https://whitewaterconsulting.net/

Unprecedented: Building a Multi-Generational Business on Trust, Respect and the Valuing of People: https://www.amazon.com/Unprecedented-Building-Multi-Generational-Business-Respect-ebook/dp/B09YWR5Z1G

More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

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You’ve been doing a great job taking part of your paycheck and investing that money every month. You check your balance and you feel like “I’m not making as much progress as I thought I would.”

Of course, the stock market performance plays a huge role in your return but that’s out of our control. If you’re properly diversifying, you’re doing what you can and the rest is fairly unpredictable.

But you know what factor affects your portfolio’s performance that you can have a direct impact on? Fees.

And luckily, with just a little bit of education and proper blueprint, you can minimize the fees you’re paying to maintain your investment portfolio. In this episode, we are going to be discussing 3 common investing fees, how to figure out if you’re paying them, and what you can do to reduce your cost.

Key Takeaways:

• How a 2% fee can dramatically affect your investment returns
• 3 common investing fees
• How to figure out if you’re paying investments fees
• How to reduce the costs of your investment fees

More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

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I’m turning 30 next month and I’ve been unsure how I’ve felt about that. I’ve had countless conversations with guests that shared with me how silly it was to think they needed to “make something of themselves” by 30. Yet here I am, wondering if I’ve done enough to really make my 20-year-old self proud how I’ve spent the last decade.

That 20-year-old Justin had high expectations about where he was going to be at 30. I’ve learned over the last decade that you can set your sights on something but life has a whole lot of serendipity. And I don’t know, that’s kind of the fun of it right? I mean, at 20, I would have never predicted podcasting would be such a significant aspect of my life.

So here’s to me for letting go of any expectations, being proud of everything I have accomplished, and excited for what’s to come in this new decade.

I’m done with my poetic monologue but it does set up my conversation with my friend, Paul Angone.

Paul spent most of his 20s thinking he was a failure. Working at dead-end jobs to support his real dream of becoming a best-selling author, Paul grinded and hustled any moment he had - lunch breaks, late evenings, weekends - with the hope of creating something that sparked a fire.

Sure enough, it eventually happened (although much longer than expected) and Paul has gone on to author best-selling books including 101 Secrets for Your Twenties, 101 Questions You Need to Ask in Your Twenties, and 25 Lies Twentysomethings Need to Stop Believing. His newest book, Listen to Your Day: The Life Changing Practice of Paying Attention, is out today and I recommend picking it up.

Paul has spent so much time researching and understanding the unique struggles of being in your 20s. We get into a whole lot of conversation about these struggles including finding your purpose, feeling like a failure, and when to make sacrifices vs when to move on. You’re really going to like this one.

100 reviews before our 100th episode (consider it an early birthday present). If you’re a listener of the show and haven’t left us a rating and review, we’d really appreciate it if you did. And if you’re new, welcome, sit back, relax, and let’s learn something new.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with…”20-something failure” turned 5-time author…Paul Angone. 

Key Takeaways:

• Why to consider sacrificing spending for time
• When to keep going and when to give up a dream
• How to find your “signature sauce”
• Defining yourself in multiple ways
• A lesson learned from the Mayor of Starbucks
• How to find your significance by embracing failure
• The possibility of greatness and embarrassment in the same space
• Why you can’t label something a failure or success too early
• How to listen to the small details of your day to find the answers you’re looking for

Mentions:

Searching for Sugar Man: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125608/

More of Paul:

Website: www.AllGroanUp.com

Listen to Your Day: https://allgroanup.com/books-2/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulangone/

Signature Sauce course: https://signaturesauce.com/

More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

So you messed up and need to apologize to someone? It was an honest mistake, you feel terrible, and you want to say sorry. How do you do that in a heartfelt, genuine way?

A proper apology can quickly repair a relationship and lift a weight off of the givers shoulders but a bad apology…that can be disastrous and lead to even more hurt.

Between politicians, CEOs, and celebrities, we have seen our fair share of examples of those bad apologies where blame was shifted and responsibility wasn’t taken.

Luckily we have Jonathan Miller, a communication coach, to share with us a framework and give us an example of a good apology. This is a replay from an episode way back in the vault, episode 15, so I’m guessing you haven’t heard this one before and it was too good not to resurface.

Jonathan shares a ton of great insight on how to have mindful communication like how to resolve conflict or how to compassionately deny an invite to a party. This episode is a great reminder that our words have impact and if you’re mindful about them, communication can be your superpower.

If you’re a listener of the show and haven’t left us a rating and review, we’d really appreciate it if you did. And if you’re new, nothing for you to do, sit back, relax, and let’s learn something new.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with…the rock climbing, mediating, nomadic traveler…Jonathan Miller.

Key Takeaways:

• The same words can be interpreted multiple ways
• How to minimize conflict from miscommunication
• Instead of good or bad, consider what works or doesn’t work
• Denying responsibility through our language
• Impact of our words
• Why conflict isn’t inherently bad
• How to give a heartfelt apology

More of Jonathan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millerdjonathan/

Website: https://www.level7.is/

More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

In today's conversation, I went down this incredible, unplanned rabbit hole with my friend Megan Miller.

We both have a mutual love for journaling and I spent the first half of this conversation asking a lot of questions around her specific practice. It really made me realize how much of an impact my simple journaling practice has left on me.

I’m hoping this gives you some inspiration on how you could get started journaling and what benefits you can expect by doing so.

Aside from being a journaling enthusiast, Megan is a coach centered around helping high achievers detox off the drug of achievement. We discuss the potentially negative impact of relying on our career for validation. I don’t think getting validation from my career is inherently bad but whenever I find that is the only area I’m relying on, this creates a major imbalance with my life.

And surprise, surprise I kind of feel like I’m itching towards that right now and I’m curious for solutions so ask Megan questions about this subject too.

Key Takeaways:

• How to make sure you start your day off the right way
• Create a journal practice that works for you
• How journaling can remind you of all the progress you’ve made
• Detoxing off the drug of achievement
• The Gap and The Gain: high achievers guide to success
• Finding validation in other drawers of life

Mentions:

The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy: https://www.amazon.com/Gap-Gain-Achievers-Happiness-Confidence/dp/1401964362

More of Megan:

Website: miller.com/">https://www.megan-miller.com/

Megan’s microstep journal: miller.com/microstep-journal">https://www.megan-miller.com/microstep-journal

https://www.amazon.com/Voices-21st-Century-Women-Transforming-ebook

More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

Have you felt like you’ve been burning the candle at both ends? Are you trying to do too many things and feeling burnout?

Maybe you need a Selfish Sunday.

Cara Hays initially introduced me to this concept of Selfish Sundays. It’s pretty simple - she spends Sunday doing things for herself and she doesn’t judge herself for it. She might meal prep, do laundry, or just binge watch a TV show. Whatever she needs from herself on Sundays is what she does.

I loved the idea so much that I stole it for myself, and it has really helped me with burnout. I was recently on my friend Anastasia Barbuzzi’s podcast, $HMoney Radio, talking about my Selfish Sundays. I wanted to share this with you in case you were looking for some inspiration and ideas on how you could overcome burnout.

Key Takeaway:

• How Selfish Sunday’s might help you avoid burnout

More of Anastasia Barbuzzi:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shmoneyradio/

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/shmoneyradio

Website: https://www.shmoney.club/

More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

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We all dread it but that day eventually comes. It might be a cough that won’t go away, a potential sprained ankle, or you’re questioning a weird bump on your arm. We have no other option. We have to go see a doctor.

How do I book an appointment again? Where’s my insurance card? How much is this going to cost me?

Healthcare is confusing, frustrating, and overly complex. I do my best to avoid having to see a doctor but sometimes it is just unavoidable. I have to put on my big boy pants and figure it all out.

This is the unglamorous part of being an adult. But with a little help, we can do this.

And our help today is Dr. Judson Brandeis who is here to give us some insight on how the healthcare industry works.

My favorite takeaway was how to better prepare for your next doctor’s visit. Apparently the average doctor’s visit is 16 minutes 14 seconds so if you come prepared with the right notes and documentation, not only will you be able to make the most of your time but these busy professionals will take you seriously too.

Dr. Brandeis has an extensive list of credentials including being named Top Urologist in San Francisco, a national leader in technology and innovations in sexual medicine, the author of The 21st Century Man. Aside from some healthcare 101, we spend the second half of this conversation discussing how to be healthier than 90% of people and what your 20-something self can do to help out future you.

Key Takeaways:

• How to better prepare for your doctor's visit 
• How to find a primary care physician
• How to be healthier than 90% of people
• Using the ABC method to build your body for life
• Why you should consider limiting your alcohol intake
• How drinking leads to being overweight
• The single most important factor to your longevity
• What you can do in your 20s to prevent erectile dysfunction 
• Performance enhancing drugs and penis health

More of Dr. Judson Brandeis:

The 21st Century Man (book): https://thetwentyfirstcenturyman.com/

Judson’s E-Books: https://brandeismd.com/ebooks/

More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

LeBron James recently broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record. It was an amazing moment to watch and an impressive feat.

But reading about this achievement, I uncovered an even more impressive LeBron record.

What was the record and what did I learn from it? Tune in to find out.

More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

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When I started my first “big boy” job, I signed up for our 401K program. HR handed me this packet of papers and essentially said good luck.

I remember sitting at my kitchen table that night trying to make sense of fund names, historical yields, and asset allocation charts.

Nothing will make you realize school did not prepare you for the real world like that kind of moment. I remember thinking, wow I’m never going to understand this. When I have money, I need to hire someone to make these decisions for me.

But I didn’t need a pricey advisor or even fancy software. I needed financial education so I could feel comfortable and confident in my choices.

I thought it was going to take decades of experience or even having to go back to college to get a degree in finance but once I got serious, it only took me about a year of learning and practicing before I felt like I could handle the money choices that life threw at me.

Today’s guest would argue that with her guidance, you’d only need 90 days to master your money and after getting to know her, I believe it.

In her early 20s, Mills Bender was lost when it came to money. So lost that she woke up one day with $1.50 in her bank account. Mills started to demystify and understand the different facets of money. Now she helps others do the same through her financial coaching business, Mills Knows Bills.

In this conversation, we cover a lot of money concepts including the cost of delaying investing, the 4 money mindsets, and creating a budget that reflects your priorities. We also discuss how to turn your passion into a business - something Mills has a little experience with.

Key Takeaways:

• The cost of delaying investing
• How to set up your 401K at work
• Hiring employees based on skill set and value alignment
• How to turn your passion into a business
• Land a mentor to accelerate your learning
• The 4 money mindsets and how to identify which bucket you are in
• Creating a budget that is a reflection of your priorities

Mentions:

I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi: https://www.amazon.com/Will-Teach-You-Rich-Second-dp-1523505745/dp/1523505745/ref=dp_ob_image_bk

Fearless Money Mindset by Arian Simone: https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Money-Mindset-Broke-Doesnt/dp/173483000X

More of Mills:

Website: www.millsknowsmills.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/millsknowsbills/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCK5C-sp5RaFeFg-LuczmMoA

Debt Payoff Webinar: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63ecee3e8e06d4dae9494316

More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/

You meet someone amazing and you have the best intention to stay in touch with them only to find years have gone by and you totally dropped the ball.

You want to reach out now but it feels awkward and you overthink it. You never reach out and this potential friend, business partner, or employer just drifts out of your life.

Staying connected with your network doesn’t need to be a challenge.

In this episode, I want to share a tool I use to stay top of mind with my network and walk you through the step-by-step process on how to create, manage, and execute a “hot 100 list.”

Key Takeaways:

• Why a process for remembering to reach out is important
• How to create a hot 100 list
• A script for what to say when you reach out

More of The Struggle is Real:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/