20 | Visualize Your Future to Achieve Your Goals with Steve Gamlin
Season 2: Let’s Talk About Life with Harrison King
Reaching Your Potential
With Guest Steve Gamlin
Listen On:
Visualize where you want to be.
Most of us have goals, but it is extremely challenging to achieve our goals and get what we want. However, there is a simple way to reframe goals, and achievements, that will ensure your dreams come true - visualization. Visualizing your future is one of the most effective ways to achieve something you want, and it’s much easier than you may think. On today’s episode, Harrison talks with Steve Gamlin, the inventor of the Vision Board Mastery program, about vision boards, achieving your goals, and all things visualization!
About Steve Gamlin
Now in his 17th year as The Motivational Firewood™Guy, Steve Gamlin shares his back-to-basics blend of positivity and humor with corporate and conference audiences around the country. Drawing from a decade in the radio industry, 7 years of stand-up comedy, and a 30+ year personal development journey, Steve teaches his clients to ‘SEE’ their desired outcomes, understand their ‘WHY’...then build Action Plans to achieve them, utilizing his Vision Board Mastery program as well as live (and virtual) events.
Topics discussed in this episode:
What is visualization
What does it the goal look like for you
Getting out of a rut
Observe others and ask questions
Envisioning where you want to be
Has someone else done what you want to do?
Breaking goals down into steps
Tracking your goals
Consistency
Know your “why”
Self-talk and self-love
Your brain is always listening
Finding what you love about yourself
Authenticity
Ups and downs of life
Vision boards
Unique to each person
Comes from within you
Assess where you are right now
Make it visible
Put the most important thing in the center
Consistency
Being kind to yourself
Taking a day off on purpose
Give yourself what you need
Accountability partners
Links Mentioned:
Vision Board Mastery Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VBMastery/
Steve Gamlin’s Website: https://www.motivationalfirewood.com
Steve Gamlin on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegamlin
Steve Gamlin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevegamlin/
Motivational Firewood Video Channel: www.SteveGamlin.video
NaturoBlocks Blue-Light Blocking Glasses: www.naturoacademy.com/shop
LTAL Website: www.harrisonkingofficial.com/podcast
LTAL Instagram: www.instagram.com/letstalkaboutlifepod
Transcript:
Steve: [00:00:00] See it be it, do it, see where you want to be, become the person that you know, you'll need to be. That means taken on some lessons, learning some things. And then do it.
Harrison: [00:00:12] I'm Harrison. When was the last time you had a deep, meaningful conversation with somebody it's been awhile? Don't worry. You're in the right place.
[00:00:19] This podcast is designed to open your mind to new perspectives and topics in the realms of health, personal growth and well life. Welcome to the left. Let's talk about life podcast. What's up, everybody. Welcome back to the let's talk about life podcast. My name is Harrison king, and I'm so grateful for you tuning in here today and, and spending this time with me listening to these conversations, this conversation I'm having today.
[00:00:44] I mean, it's, you're in for a treat. You really are. I like to say this is one of my new friends. It was, it was so great to have this chat and be able to share with you. And I want to, I want to just say, congratulations. You understand why Harrison? It's not my birthday. You know, I didn't graduate. I didn't get married.
[00:01:01] No congratulations because you are putting your health and wellbeing and personal growth. You're putting it at, at you, making it a priority in your life. You really are beat by listening to this, to this shell. So even just by, you know, whatever you're doing, Pfeffer walk, pay. If you're sitting at home, if you drive into the car, what's up and I'm so just grateful that you're doing this because you are by doing this, just listening to this you're, you're improving your life and opening your mind up to new perspectives and ideas.
[00:01:31] And that's what we're all about. You were at the show. So congratulations. Um, and if you want to keep benefiting, benefiting or something, what am I trying to say? If you want to keep, you know, improving everything about that and your health specifically you're to want to get yourself a pair of. You guessed it, these blue light blocking glasses.
[00:01:51] And why is that? Well, since I've been wearing them, I'm not just preaching this because, because I I'm just trying to like promote these classes no way I'm telling you this, because I really believe in them. I been wearing them for the past. Well, I've had some for a while, but I used to have those cheap ones.
[00:02:08] Those cheap ones from Amazon had like 12 bucks. They didn't give you the job. They're blocking like. 12% or something of the blue light spectrum, these bad boys right here. First of all, they look great. I mean, they look off, but they're blocking like 88 to a hundred percent of the blue light, the harmful blue light spectrum.
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[00:02:42] And wait for it. Use the code Harrison 10. When you check out needing a 10% off, I'm here to help you out. Guys, I'm going to share the benefits about these things. I'm going to dang it. I'll provide you with the information and I'm going to help you a little bit. You said a little bit of money. All right.
[00:02:58] 10% off. So head on over to their natural academy.com. Use the code Harrison 10. Start improving your health? Uh, not today, I guess, whenever you get the glasses, cause it's gonna, you gotta ship, you know, they gotta ship, but that's what you want to do and start improving that. Let's talk about non-life but Steve Gamblin and that's who I sat down with today.
[00:03:21] He's in his 17th year as the motivational firewood guy, we talk about that. And why he calls himself that. And it's quite interesting. The story behind that Steve has done it all. He was in radio, he was stand up comic and now he's done 30 plus years in the personal development industry and ease, sharing things for everybody sharing stories and how to, well, his thing.
[00:03:42] Is visualization. And that's what we're talking about today. We're talking about vision boards. He's got the vision board mastery program, which is one of the best in the world. Um, but I mean, you should get it and you can see for yourself. So what an incredible chat I had with Steve Gamblin, my new buddy, then I hope he becomes your new buddy, even just in your mind by listening.
[00:04:03] Cause he is an incredible guy. So, uh, let's dive in to my chat with Steve Gamblin. Steve. Thanks so much for joining me today. I'm very excited about this conversation. And, uh, first of all, where are you? Where are you joining me from? Where are you
[00:04:15] Steve: [00:04:15] located at the moment? Uh, I live in the woods of a little town, cold wear New Hampshire, and here's how small, whereas I used to live in the town next door and my PO box, there was five.
[00:04:27] You are living in a smaller town on a dead end street, off another dead end street, but God bless technology. I know.
[00:04:34] Harrison: [00:04:34] Super cool. Um, you've got quite an interesting story. You did seven we're on seven years of standup comedy. Is that correct? I did standup comedy and then 30 plus years personal development.
[00:04:46] Love to hear it. That stuff's so amazing. And you go by the motivational firewood guy. Now, before we kind of get into something, I really want to hear about you, your story and. And what is that? What is, what is the motivational firewood guy? Just tell me all about you, Steve. I want to, I want to hear,
[00:04:59] Steve: [00:04:59] yeah.
[00:05:00] Yeah. Oh gosh. I started off, uh, let's see, in my single digits, uh, in the mid, late seventies, I saw a TV show called w K RP in Cincinnati. That was about a fictional radio station. And I saw this guy named Dr. Johnny fever. Who wore sunglasses indoors, which I thought was so cool. He had shaggy hair. He didn't shave all that.
[00:05:19] Every day. He wore jeans and t-shirts and played records. And I said, someday, I want to do that. Well, my early twenties, I got to, I was on the radio for 10 years following a dream because a friend urged me to go after that dream. And I finally did well. I worked about 15 years worth of hours in 10. And crashed and burned at age 35, walked away from my radio career.
[00:05:42] My first marriage fell apart. I was near bankrupt at age 35. And after about a year sitting in the ashes, I was out hitting golf balls one day on an August afternoon in 2003 in a thunder storm because the storm came through under power lines, barefoot in the wet grass. And I was the only person who didn't run away from the storm.
[00:06:05] So I hit my bucket of golf balls, just getting out frustrations and it, the free buckets, the golf balls that these two guys are in from the storm left behind. And when I finished an hour, I could barely lift my arms and I got to my car and the sun came out and I just started laughing. I just thought that was the funniest thing.
[00:06:22] And I just looked up, you know, well-played and I was telling that story to my then brand new life coach a couple days later. And he goes, so how was your week? And I said, put down your pen and check this out. And I just retold that afternoon, but I tried to make it so funny and interesting. And he said, look, I got two questions for you.
[00:06:40] Are you this open and honest about your life with everyone? And I said, yeah, usually in a self-deprecating way, but yeah. And he said you ever thought of being a motivational speaker or a standup comedian? I think you would love both. And I answered. Yeah, I've wanted to do both for years. Right. Will have the courage or the idea how to pursue either one.
[00:06:59] And within three weeks, I was in an intro to stand-up comedy class and attending Toastmasters. And a year after that went to my first national speakers association of new England meeting. And I had to wear the blue name, badge of shame, you know, it's my first man. So it just says Steve, on it, you know, nothing special.
[00:07:19] And a guy asked me, he goes, so what do you do? I said, I'm a motivational speaker. He goes, well, okay, what sets you apart? And I said, I want to help people. He goes, well, you're not helping yourself would that definition. And he was so gracious with his time in a couple of minutes later, I finally said, look, if somebody comes to hear me speak, they have a spark of an idea in their heart that they want their life to be better.
[00:07:41] Instead if I share a story or a lesson or an example or something, a call to action. They take their spot and they take my call to action. I said, it's kind of like I'm providing motivational firewood. And the guy says, do you know anything about trademarks? And I said, not a clue. He said, look into it. I love that concept.
[00:08:00] And I've owned the trademark of motivational firewood ever since.
[00:08:03] Harrison: [00:08:03] I love that. I love that kind of concept. Cause that's, that's totally what it is. I mean, all of our even motivation and inspiration itself comes from within. Right. And, and you as a motivational speaker, me as a podcast host, we can only provide so much information.
[00:08:17] You gotta it's, it's got to start somewhere and I love that. So you're the, uh, You're the motivational firewood guy. I love it. So I want to talk about visualization specifically, because I saw that, uh, that's something that you talk about and even right behind you there, you got the vision board or master, was it mastery?
[00:08:34] Steve: [00:08:34] I'm halfway through a new video. So that's still on the chalkboard. I can't change it. Cause some of my clients, if they see the letters change in the middle of a video or they get on me for that,
[00:08:46] Harrison: [00:08:46] I love it. Uh, so all kinds of things, but let's start. Just straight up with what is visualization to
[00:08:53] Steve: [00:08:53] you? Yeah. Visualization is when somebody says, well, this is my goal or resolution even, which is a weaker version of goals, but it's something, my first question is, all right. What does that look like for you?
[00:09:05] And where does it feel? Like, what does it sound like? What could it smell? Like? I mean, what I try to do is get people to really get a solid vision of what the goal is. Not just what some people say is, oh, this year I want to be happier, healthier, and more money. Okay. It's a start. It's something it's a bit broad brushed, but let's dial in and see what that actually looks like for you and what you're willing to do to achieve it, and a deep dive into why you want it.
[00:09:33] But it starts with having that vision first and being able to tell me in a convincing way, what it looks like for you, and if you can't do it in a convincing way, we, you know, I created a program. I'll just start asking questions while the conversation and just kick around ideas. But. I believe that you have to know two things, you have to know where you are right now and exactly where you want to go.
[00:09:55] And that's where the visualization comes in. And we start, uh, you know, creating a story around it and giving you the visual. So you're not walking in 20 different directions. Uh, you know, you've, you know where you are now and you get the X on the map, like any good pirate would do. So you know where the treasure is.
[00:10:09] So that's, that's really, what I try to do with people is get a, uh, A vision for it and make it really mean something to them that they'll really go after it.
[00:10:20] Harrison: [00:10:20] Yeah. Having it like a think of it, thinking of it as a story, I think is a, is a great way to way to do that. Cause that's, that's what it is. And it's a story that you're going to bring to life.
[00:10:28] Although it may not seem like it now for people that have trouble with that. Maybe I guess the question is people that don't, you said here X marks the spot. This is where we're going. How do you, if you're lost, you're feeling like. Right now as a prime example, you know, there's a lot of unknowns in the world.
[00:10:44] We don't really know what's happening. What if you don't know, or you want to go where you can go? How can you start to figure that
[00:10:49] Steve: [00:10:49] out? It's actually a pretty common thing in, in people have asked me, well, what qualifies you to teach this? Hey, I've got a picture of me in front of the chalkboard. It just says this guy lived it and draws an arrow to my head I've been there.
[00:11:02] And what I try to do then is just kind of take a step back, not overwhelm myself with stuff. And not watch all those people who try to define what success is for you, you know, with the rented Lamborghini yacht in mantra and your videos, right? Your life preacher, motivational guru guy, right. Just see who you admire out there in the world and understand those nine ish major areas of life.
[00:11:27] There's a physical well, our physical health, emotional wellbeing, our careers, our finances, spirituality, integrity, morals, ethics, connection, relationships, all these things. Start to see who's out there in the world, or even in your community or in your family or among your friends. Who's enjoying life in a certain area at a level that you wish you could enjoy.
[00:11:46] And just start to observe them. If you can ask them questions, Hey, how do you do that? Don't ever say what's the secret behind whatever, cause there's no secrets, but just start to really. See who you admire out there and look up to and respect at the level that they're operating their lives. Even in that one specific area and ask them, how did you know I've been observing you a shoot.
[00:12:10] You go to the gym everyday. You eat while you sleep. While you take care of yourself, you drink enough water. You're in excellent physical shape. How do you do it? Or, or, you know, I would love to enjoy life the way you're enjoying it right now. Are there any helpful tips you could give me and Zack. You know, getting off your butt and in starting to take, even those little steps, we'll dial it in even a little bit.
[00:12:35] So you're not falling forward. The TV commercials of the magic powder, you know that one piece of gym equipment at your house, that's going to have 20, you know, coat hangers on it in a month. Cause I used to have a treadmill that. Good hold two loads of laundry, you know, to really start to dial it in, in a real way, in an emotionally connected way.
[00:12:54] So you're not just being sold. Some mythical results that may be is not going to be in your wheelhouse or in your passion or what you're willing to do to trade
[00:13:03] Harrison: [00:13:03] for it. Because I think everybody has something, at least one thing, hopefully more that they're, that they love, first of all, want to improve on or just something that they want to.
[00:13:14] Everybody has goals. Everybody has even a new year's resolution, but that's a whole different thing. But, um, you know, find, find, just find the people and reach out to the people. I mean, especially in the world, you know, today with the internet, I mean, you can connect with, first of all, you can connect with anybody, but the information is unlimited.
[00:13:31] I mean, finding, researching into those people that are, you know, this person is, they lost this many pounds and this money, how did they do it? You know, find more people. And it's all about the research. So I really, I really like. The way you're explaining that. I think some people I don't personally, but I've talked to people and they actually find it really hard to envision something that hasn't happened yet.
[00:13:52] You know, they like to, they don't have anything to grasp onto. Now you said talking to another person kind of grasping onto that, but how about as a mindset shift? What can we do to try to go? I'm going to get there, you know, it doesn't seem like I can get there, but I'm going to get there. How do you, you know, what do you tell people that are thinking like
[00:14:09] that?
[00:14:10] Steve: [00:14:10] Usually where I start is, has anybody else on the planet ever done what you are thinking of doing? And they always laugh and they go, yeah. All right. Find those people, but you don't have to have that conversation because sometimes people are afraid to ask because they're still the before picture. Right.
[00:14:25] And, and we look at the after picture when we feel to realize that they did all this stuff in between, and sometimes they seem a little too on the next pedestal or level. Maybe we're not comfortable doing that while some of these people have written books, they have podcasts, they have videos, they have articles written about them.
[00:14:42] Maybe, you know, they've been featured on somebody else's show. The more we can understand that the people who've already done it before us are real, regular, everyday. Cool, interesting people who have tried, who have failed probably more times than we've ever dared. And yet they're still there in the more we can humanize.
[00:15:01] That it make it accessible. I think it makes it seem a little less far off. And what I tell people also is, look, it life's like an old wooden rollercoaster. You know, we just go click, click, click, click, click. You can't skip your way to the top. You have to buckle in and put down that bar hope to tighten up the bolts because it's probably an old ride.
[00:15:21] If it's an old wooden rollercoaster, we have to go through every single step. And as we go. Through these steps in our own lives, we grow a little bit. We have a little more experience. We have a lot more confidence. We're getting closer to the top to whatever it is that we want is just over the top. But we have to do every single step.
[00:15:39] There's no magic pills, no magic formulas. And when I explain it that way, some people go, oh, okay. So what if I just do this? Well, that is awesome. Cause it's your next step. And when you can break it down into little steps, it can seem a lot less scary.
[00:15:56] Harrison: [00:15:56] Yeah, that's such a, I mean, I think that can be obviously applied to anything in life.
[00:16:00] Just not things can feel so big. Um, but you've obviously you've been doing this a long time. You're helping people do it. What are some exercises that we can start doing? Say you've found person, you know, found the thing you want to want to get to? How do you start doing it? How do you start, you know, climbing the climbing that ladder, the roller coaster roller coaster.
[00:16:18] Steve: [00:16:18] You put pen to paper every day. And you write down, like, I, I keep a gratitude journal. And one of the biggest things I use with it is to track my progress on some of my goals. Like I did this little step today and I did this and I did this because if we don't do it, it can minimize what we see as our momentum.
[00:16:36] And one of the equations I share with people is consistency. Plus momentum equals confidence. In the sooner we can recognize our progress and build the confidence the better. Now another part of that is we have to understand why we want the goal in a deep can deeply rooted, emotionally connected. Why is going to serve you so well versus, well, it's a good idea.
[00:17:00] Well, some motivational guy said it was what I should do. Well. They told me I needed to be rich to be successful. Well, you're going to, I mean, 2020 was a huge why killer for a lot of people for their goals. Because with the pandemic, it was like, they're hiking up this mountain in a big clump of trees fell down across the path, a big clump, a tree.
[00:17:21] Some people just stood there and went, huh? Well, maybe someday I'll get to the top of that goal. They walk back down the mountain and they're hanging out on a rickety picnic table near the Porter parties. And that's no fun because the view blows the resourceful people who know why they want, what they want.
[00:17:41] Either bust out a chain, saw cut through the trees, the climb over them, or they just start walking to the left or to the right and go around them. And then they know they're going to be an uncharted waters are unchartered areas. They may have to go in a different direction they've ever gone in before, but they might also meet some really cool people who can guide them through it.
[00:18:03] And if you know your why you're going to get to the top of that mountain, no matter what. No. I've always said to my early days as a speaker, I said, I'm going to make this work. If it kills me. That was my why, because the person who convinced me to get into radio when I was 24, I finally followed that dream.
[00:18:21] He died three weeks after I got my first radio job in after 10 years in radio, I said, you know what? I want to be for other people as a speaker. I want to be that friend who helps you to believe in yourself when you don't. And so that's been my why as a speaker for 17 years so far, and I'll never stop.
[00:18:39] Harrison: [00:18:39] Wow. That's so that's powerful story, first of all. Um, and, and that's why, obviously it's a hard thing to find, you know, it's hard to, and it just takes time. And, and like you said, time sitting with yourself, which is, you know, this is a great time to do that. Um, any, time's a great time to do that, but especially when, uh, lots of things are, you know, the forced isolation and stuff like that.
[00:19:01] Um, Other exercises? No, I already had written down writing cause I knew it was going to be talked about, um, I love that, but how about things like, you know, it's a little bit of a different territory, but it's similar affirmations and stuff like that. Like telling your self-talk what kind of, what kind of things, the things that you recommend specifically or just like, is it, it's a pretty personal experience, you know, visualization, but, uh, as far as that stuff goes, self-talk you want to speak a little bit to that?
[00:19:28] Steve: [00:19:28] Yeah. Uh, I am one of the, uh, formerly one of the most self-deprecating self abusive, make fun of yourself, people. Um, I used to be brutal because I did it under the guise of being funny. And I had some friends. Uh, I was a speaker at a three-day event back in June of 2010, I believe. And on the third day I just woke up in a really bad foul mood.
[00:19:53] And I was telling these old stories on stage and I was so self-deprecating and I thought I was being funny cause they already answers laughing. Well, my speaker friends intervened on me at the end of the day and said, if we ever hear you talking about yourself like that again will never allow you to be part of one of our events ever.
[00:20:12] And I said, well, what do you mean? They were laughing? And I said, they were laughing at you in, in always remember the words that you're saying about yourself. There's a little space in between your ears, that nice gray lump of clay. That's always listening. So I'm not saying you have to look in the mirror and say, you know, you're perfect.
[00:20:30] I love you, but just don't beat up on yourself and honor your progress throughout the day. Look at yourself in the mirror every single morning, it's going to feel weird. It's going to be awkward. People will think it's silly, but one thing in that mirror that you actually like about yourself, Like, oh, I do have cool eyes.
[00:20:47] I have a nice smile. And on the days when you can't find anything, you aren't in a good mood, just look down and say, well, hell at least your socks match. Right? Cause it might make you laugh and you'll be like, I'm kind of funny. I can find the humor in, in every day. Um, greatest lesson my grandfather ever taught me was leave at least one situation a day better than you found it.
[00:21:06] And if you can do that, you're going to have something about yourself to really respect and admire you do that on purpose.
[00:21:13] Harrison: [00:21:13] When you started to change after that event, I'm sure you probably had a little bit of a switch and went, oh, this is not, I don't mean to be doing this or whatever. How did you start to ch I mean, that's a ha you know, you've, you'd hardwired your brain to think like that.
[00:21:28] Right. And to act like that. And that was just the habits. I mean, we've talked about it on previous episodes, but, um, how do you, how did you personally start to get out of that situation and get to where you are now? Cause obviously at least. On an outside perspective, it seems like you're in a very different place.
[00:21:42] And how did you, how did you start to, you know, get there, get out of that big rut. Cause that's, I mean, that's, I mean, starting is one of the hardest parts, but getting out of that rut, you know, so what was your, your kind of experience with that? Uh,
[00:21:55] Steve: [00:21:55] a lot of the times I would hear their voices and this one in particular, he's still a mentor of mine.
[00:21:59] His name is Chris Whitehead and I hear, I always hear Chris's voice. And I just remember, I've always put this phrase in my head. I go, well, if I do this, Chris is going to come in with some boots on and kick me. And part of my body, my doctor only gets to see once a year. So I should probably give this story a happier ending.
[00:22:16] And if I look wherever I did, like, I would still talk about those low points in my life, but I wouldn't beat myself up over them. I talked about the redemption from it and what I did to get out of it so that anybody who was in an audience who might be you don't. Feeling connected to the really low point.
[00:22:33] They know there's hope. You know, I didn't just use them as punchlines as putting myself down. I used it as a place I was at, and I've, I've always said, you know, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, my Phoenix rides, a Pogo stick. So my life has gone up and down, but I never lead them down anymore. And I'll put myself down for having been there.
[00:22:52] I talk about the next step. I talk about what got me out of it and what brought me to where I am now, because it gives them hope. And it's such a joy. To speak in that different way with each presentation, because it I'm all about giving somebody hope and helping them to understand that I'm a regular everyday guy who figured out a lot of cool stuff and is now successful.
[00:23:15] They can be too, and it doesn't have to be anything special about them other than they start respecting themselves in their journey. And they do. They take little steps in a weird stuff's going to happen to you and use it all. To get to that next level. I mean, I've had some of the weirdest things in the world happened to me over the years and I see every single one now as a gift.
[00:23:36] And anytime I have made a mistake, it just means I don't have to go fake a story on stage. I've got, I can be on stage for days talking about the lessons. Life has taught me and when real regular, everyday people hear them, I have more people coming up to me when I turned that switch and it was awkward and clunky at first.
[00:23:57] Come on up and say, Hey Steve, I had that same thing happen to me. How did you get rise up from that while I did this, this and this? Okay. It's the realness of it. And the authenticity. I think that not enough speakers out there are willing to show all their cards and I'll, I'll flip the whole deck all over the stage.
[00:24:17] I don't care. Yeah.
[00:24:18] Harrison: [00:24:18] That's, that's something that I've found. I think just the world is found specifically with social media and the rise of social media and. And I just media in general, I guess, but, um, we've also, I had a really good conversation with somebody about this recently, and it's hard to be authentic online.
[00:24:38] And that's right now where a lot of us specifically people, you know, my age that's, he spent a lot of time there and in that space and it actually, I think it can go the other way. You're talking about, you know, stuff, self deprecating and all this people have such high standards for themselves even. How are you supposed to, you know, they're not being authentic and it's something I try to do.
[00:24:55] And it's still hard. Sometimes I'll be like, I want to share this. But I was like, I know that it's not going to perform as well on, you know, with likes and views and whatever. Um, staying authentic is so hard is all I'm trying to say. And, but it, it really can make a world of a difference. And I do think people, like you said, I mean, people just would much rather hear.
[00:25:16] Be relatable. It's it's getting rid of that disconnect, you know, the disconnect. Um, yeah.
[00:25:22] Steve: [00:25:22] So never have to worry about what I said somewhere. And I, I try to be the same person on stage off stage backstage. Which is in the speaking world, you'd be surprised at how some personalities are different onstage and backstage.
[00:25:37] Um, so onstage offstage backstage standing on the street corner or walking down the captain Crunchyroll, I am exactly the same human being. And the day I decided to really intentionally be the same everywhere was the best decision I ever made for myself as a human being and as a speaker and a writer.
[00:25:57] And a video creator and radio guest, because somebody could hear someone, their show run into me somewhere. We're going to have this exact same conversation.
[00:26:07] Harrison: [00:26:07] Yeah. And that's something too. I'm glad you said that just even the way you worded that really hits home for me because it's something to remember.
[00:26:15] And I want people to hear that because. Oh, it's so easy to not be yourself and kind of be two-sided and whatever. And, and, you know, even celebrities I've been talking about celebrities actually a lot recently, it's the same thing and trying to make that it's hard because they live such a different life, but it's like, they're a human.
[00:26:32] They've done the same things and trying to relate to people. And you can't do that. If you're not being the same person, you're only you. So why are you trying to be multiple, right?
[00:26:41] Steve: [00:26:41] Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, authenticity and vulnerability also being able to be real. And if you make a mistake, I mean, heck I use my mistakes from material.
[00:26:51] Come on. And in also being authentic. It tempers who I am everywhere I go. Like, I've gotta be very careful of what I say and do everywhere to make sure it's an honest representation of me. And I was hanging with some friends a few years ago. We were hanging out at a restaurant with a bar and we, you know, we all had a drink and one of my friends said something and I just gave the finger over the table, you know?
[00:27:14] Ha just give the finger. She took my picture. She goes, oh, I can't wait to post that on Facebook. I said, no, you won't. I said, what we do here. Is different than our, you know, and now even, even now in public with friends, I will not do that because there's always the chance, you know, it's appropriate there.
[00:27:33] It's not appropriate everywhere else. So we have to be very careful of what people see and hear us saying and doing so I'm, I'm very aware of that everywhere I go. And now of course, with friends, still the same person, but we understand that's different.
[00:27:48] Harrison: [00:27:48] Yeah, I think, uh, to kind of go back to what we were originally talking about, and this is great that we talked about this, I think starting with being authentic to yourself can help you try to find that purpose that Y that you're talking about, because if you don't know who you are, I mean, how are you supposed to know what you want?
[00:28:02] Right. And, and, and starting there is such a great, a great way. Can you talk. I want to really get into vision boards specifically because you've got a whole program based around it. Um, I love him, so, so many great things about it, but you're the, uh, you're the guy. So let's talk about vision boards, Steve sure.
[00:28:22] Thing
[00:28:22] Steve: [00:28:22] far away.
[00:28:23] Harrison: [00:28:23] Um, I guess the place to start is what I want to go with, because if nobody's done it, there's people out there. A lot of people, I think kind of know what they are, but it's essentially. You're just putting all that stuff. That's in your brain, that, that map, that roadmap you talked about up on your wall or wherever it is in your house, but how do you start?
[00:28:41] What kind of things should we be putting on our vision boards? What is it? Is it different for each person? What if you found what works
[00:28:48] Steve: [00:28:48] best? Very different for each person in, in somebody a couple of years ago said, oh, Steve, you should put out a vision board starter kit. I saw one on Amazon. I'm like, what?
[00:28:58] Is it more vision board starter kit. You can buy pictures of a nice house in a nice car. Oh my gosh. That is the worst thing you can do because you're right. It definitely has to come from within you. It's your goals, hopes and dreams. It's what you are connected to. It's it's knowing why you want what you want.
[00:29:15] Not just because somebody who you know was up on a stage with lasers and fog and thundering music told you that that day you can get 40% off their exclusive program. Of what they think success is the first steps in, in I've got 10 modules in my program. We don't gather pictures to module seven. The first step is understanding where you are right now, and then start to think of where you want to be into.
[00:29:41] Keep it, especially if you're brand new at this, say a year from now, don't, don't do the 20 years and I'm going to start today and crush these goals. You just scare the crap out of yourself and you're going to bail in about three days. So start where you are right now and put pen to paper and just talk about these different parts of your life, your physical health.
[00:30:00] Are you feeling consistently the emotions you want to feel? How are your relationships doing? How's your connection with the world, especially in a pandemic situation. Do you feel so isolated or are you still making phone calls and at least still connecting with people in a, in a real way. Um, your career, your finances, um, your spirituality, if your faith is important to you, how are you dealing with that in the midst of a pandemic?
[00:30:25] Are you still staying connected to your higher power? Even if you go on a scale of one to 10 where you think each one is, or a couple of words really assess where you are right now, and then say a year from now, how could I make each one better? Or what would be the next level for me at the end of this year that I would like to enjoy in each of these.
[00:30:44] And then talk about why, you know, why is it really important that I do this? What's the emotional connection to it. Not just bitter or more, but understanding and being able to quantify it. And then I just, I have an exercise where I tell people what go nuts. It's called the brainstorm blueprint, and you get pen and paper, turn off all things electronic and just think of all these different areas of life.
[00:31:07] If you could write a letter to Santa Claus, And just design everything. Just go crazy even just for a half hour. It just write like mad and then look back at the list and pick your favorite for each category of your life and start there and then find a picture that can represent it or a word or a hashtag.
[00:31:29] And some of the people I work with they have is that right? I really connect them emotionally. Like when they say that, when they share it with other people, people cheer them on. And then start to assemble in such a way take whatever's most important to you. This is just my recommendation. Put it in the center and then how everything else relates to it.
[00:31:48] You're crafting this story outward and then don't hide the board, keep it where you can see it every single day. Take a picture of it and make it the wallpaper on your phone, your tablet, your laptop, print out a picture, put it in the visor of your car. If you're on the road a lot. And every time you go into a meeting, Or to close a deal or to do whatever, take it out, look at it and say, okay, what one picture can I take one step toward today in your intentionally doing that little click every single day, you're going to get closer than somebody who just wrote.
[00:32:25] I want to be happy. I want to be healthy and want more money on a little slip of paper and tucked it into the lamp in their living room to keep it from rocking because they're going to find that note somewhere between Christmas and new year's. With like salsa stains on it and the pizza guide number. I wonder what this is.
[00:32:39] Oh, crap. My resolution. So that, you know, and then a big thing too, in what I close out the program with is you've got all these things you want to do have be et cetera. You know why you want them, you know, where they are. Start to think of the people you're going to have to meet what you might have to learn a skill.
[00:32:59] You may have to pick up some research. You might have to do who you need to become to be able to achieve. Those things is radical because everything I know, you know, I didn't know when I started and I still have so much more to learn that I'm always meeting these next level people or guiding me to that next, really nice view somewhere on the mountain.
[00:33:22] Yeah.
[00:33:23] Harrison: [00:33:23] Wow. I really liked that. That you're, uh, you really explain it like, and even when we started off the bat, um, it's like, uh, it's the story that you're looking at your story, it's a visual representation of that path you're going to take. So including, you know, people you're going to need to meet people.
[00:33:39] You need to need to work with things you're gonna need to research all kinds of stuff. Um, are there any, as far as you said, having it out in the open, obviously any specific places in your house. That you would recommend it be? Or is it again kind of personal preference? Because a lot of people, I think probably do their bedroom or whatever, but is there anything you found is best overall
[00:33:58] Steve: [00:33:58] wherever you can see it every single day in a meaningful time?
[00:34:03] Uh, you know, some people get up first thing in the morning, they have it either on their nightstand or on the wall somewhere. And they'll spend a little time looking at it. Like I said, some people are in their cars so much that they have a picture of it in their car, or they have it on their phone or their tablet.
[00:34:18] Uh, my favorite one so far is my dear friend, Lisa, who has been to several of my events. And she also has the program. She shared one time at a live event. I said, Hey, Lisa, where do you keep your vision board? She goes, oh my bathroom. And people started to laugh and I said, Lisa, why do you keep it in your bathroom?
[00:34:33] She goes, Hey, I'm there every day. What she does is she puts it next to her mirror. And when she's doing her hair and her makeup, she's looking at the vision board and figuring out for that day. What one action am I going to take for this? And also to be looking at it and say, Hey, I've already done some of this, you know, to understand that it's a work in progress.
[00:34:53] It's not just this destination. It's a journey in it's who you become along the way, not just what you get. You know, you're not just pulling a, a slot machine hoping for a payoff. You're, you're actually crafting yourself and developing yourself throughout the story. And you're going to be a totally different person, even if you don't hit every goal.
[00:35:15] If you make the effort every single day, if you write down the gratitude for what you're achieving along the way, even the tiniest increments every day. At the end of that year, you're going to look back at your very first entries and think, wow. You know, I look back at my earliest things and, and so many of us do we look back at the first version of something and go, oh my God, that's horrible.
[00:35:38] I've got to delete that. I do not want the world. I've kind of adopted a different approach now where I look back at my early vision boards or my early goals or my first recordings or my first radio shows or my first speaking events now, instead of bashing myself for it, I'd just look at it and I go, oh my gosh, that's adorable.
[00:35:53] Look at that. I wouldn't be here without it. So even if you start simple and do one or two goals even, or just pick one, if you've got a picture frame on your desk, but what's most important to you in your life for this year in it. And just keep focusing on that, what you can do every single day. My wife and I, our relationship is so important to, to me and to both of us, we cook dinner together three or four nights a week, no matter what, if I've got calls or shows or whatever, we make dinner together, three, four nights a week.
[00:36:23] And that's so critical to me for the relationship part of my
[00:36:28] Harrison: [00:36:28] goals. Yeah. I mean, that's so great. I think. The personal part of it is such an important thing to remember, because like you said, somebody said here on Amazon, here's the, the package. I mean, things are, it's not, they don't know what you want.
[00:36:41] They don't, they don't, you know, you need to figure out what you want. Um, as far as things that it doesn't, I don't know what your experiences with this, but do you know what things happen in the brain? When we start to do actions like this, you know, what are we, what are we training our mind to do?
[00:36:56] Obviously our mind is a powerful thing. Um, You have any knowledge of that and kind of what what's happening up here when we're looking at stuff, when we're talking about what we want, um, you know, law of attraction, stuff like that, I'm sure you, you, you know, something, but yeah.
[00:37:10] Steve: [00:37:10] Um, what I usually express is, is actually what I learned from Jack Canfield, who Jack has been my hero in the personal development world for the past 20 years, I had the joy of meeting him and having an amazing conversation about six years ago, Jack's concept was always acting as if.
[00:37:25] Because he, he would do these things called a come as you'll be party, where he would have people think of what their vision was going to be, what they wanted to say, five years, 10 years in advance, he would have an event and he would say, okay, I want you to show up as that person making it real, because what you're doing is you're actually training the brain to see you at that level.
[00:37:45] And also you're acting in reinforcing it. With your words, your actions, your physical movements, and also the belief in yourself that you're taking on that role. Now, if people have said, oh, Steve, you talk about law of attraction. Are you certified in quantum mechanics, quantum physics? No. I know, I know enough to know that it's always working behind the scenes and if we put the right things into it, It's kind of like, I can't rebuild the engine in my car, but I trust the mechanics who built it.
[00:38:18] And the engineers that when I turn that key, it's going to work. And that's the approach I take with the law of attraction visualization as well. I'm a storyteller, but I know the fabric and I know everything under the hood is built to run. If we put the right fuel into it, the right intention, take care of it and design the roadmap of where we want to go.
[00:38:37] All of these other things are working. We become magnetic. And as I shared with somebody yesterday, when you've got your mind in the right place, you ever thoughts moving on direction, you know where that X is, you just got to be the right magnet to attract the right opportunities, not luck opportunities.
[00:38:56] And when you stop staring at your shoes long enough to look around and keep your head on a swivel, you're going to see them in here. And then you're going to start to take them. And then your confidence goes up and then you start, you go from there.
[00:39:08] Harrison: [00:39:08] And I think even if you don't know a lot about, you know, from physics and all that realm of stuff, it's just the stories.
[00:39:15] You've seen success, stories of people doing it. I mean, the, you know, that classic story of Jim Carey with his, uh, whatever it was 10 million, $1 million check, we kept in a million
[00:39:25] Steve: [00:39:25] dollar check for acting services.
[00:39:27] Harrison: [00:39:27] It came right, right around that time. Um, that's not, you know, stuff like that when you hear so many stories of it, It's not, you know, we're not making it up.
[00:39:36] It's not fake. Now you mentioned something about consistency, right? Doing things regularly. Some I want to touch on because I'm very much, that's important to me doing things regularly. However, it can become a challenge when you're like, if I don't hit it every single day, I miss a day. I miss two days in a row.
[00:39:54] I'm I'm falling off track. You know, the roller is going down. Dealing with that is something that I've always struggled with. And I continue to struggle with and try to find that, um, does something that you struggle with first of all, and you see others, what's the best way to get around that because it's hard when we're like, well, telling us, you need to be doing this.
[00:40:14] You need to be doing this everyday, specifically, lots of these kinds of, you know, gurus and stuff. It's like, I'm getting up at 4:00 AM every day. Like don't miss a day out, whatever. And it's like, but if you do we're humans. Yeah. How do, how do we deal with that?
[00:40:26] Steve: [00:40:26] The first thing we have to do is give ourselves a break and to understand why did we miss it this one day?
[00:40:33] Because sometimes if we get on ourselves so badly about it, we start beating ourselves, oh my gosh, I missed a deck. Can't believe I missed a day and eat your whole day is wrecked because you didn't do one thing in the morning in, then you skip another day, but then you have to be careful of saying, well, if I missed one day, I can miss two.
[00:40:49] Well, if I miss two, I can miss three. You know what? I'll start next Monday. We know the first of the month. Well, You know, fourth quarter, we'll the holidays. January 1st, what we have to do is realize, all right, I missed the day or I took a day off on purpose because I just needed that day. Then you need to remember why you're doing it in the first place.
[00:41:10] And if it's still a compelling enough reason, you probably won't miss too many more days. But a lot of it comes down to, we berate ourselves and we beat ourselves up and there's just too many speakers out there saying. You've got to get up at four 30 in the morning now. And all of a sudden, you know, all these things you have to do to be successful.
[00:41:27] Oh my gosh. Just do something a little bit better than yesterday. My buddy, Chris Whitehead, one of my, one of my biggest mentors and my brother, he just says, Steve, all you gotta do is be 1% better. Every day. He said, you'd be amazed at the end of the year. What can happen if you do 1% better? And he knows how, how tough I am on myself sometimes.
[00:41:48] He goes, brother, if anybody gave me as much crap as you give yourself, I punch them right in the face goes, Hey man, I'm not in the military. I don't need it. Instructor. He goes, uh, he goes, be your own really good supportive friend. You're going to screw up if you do acknowledge it and then just get back up and start climbing again.
[00:42:09] You know, consistency is important for me. Uh, I've got a weekly group coaching program happens every Monday night at seven 30. We've done 85, Monday nights in a row. And last week I screwed up and I went into the wrong room and I'm just in there talking like the room was full and I'm thinking, well, nobody came on the call tonight.
[00:42:28] And then afterward I see all these instant messages. Hey, we, dude, we try to get in the room. But, and I looked and I went, I was in the wrong room. I said, wait, the replay will be available. So technically I still have 85 in a row. That I was there when I started to beat myself up over, I go, wait, hold on a second.
[00:42:44] What, what am I going to beat myself up for? I can still deliberate. She's going to be an hour later before they can see it. That's all in the name. The other night, I made a joke about it. Like, Hey look, we're all in the same room y'all showed up this week. Cause I was in the right room and you just made a joke out of it and you just get right back.
[00:43:01] And sometimes we get embarrassed when we screw up, you don't want to we're human. Everybody on earth is human. We're going to make mistakes. And of course, there's the old message that the old thing that says, you know, turn your mess into your message. There's a lot of truth to that. Just be real. If you screw up, you screw up.
[00:43:19] If you take a day off. Okay. Understand why you took it off and then understand why you can't take off 10 in a row. Yeah. And then just get back on the horse.
[00:43:26] Harrison: [00:43:26] Yeah. It's just acknowledging what you need. Sometimes I had somebody coach recently say that to me. I mean, you get up and talking about waking up.
[00:43:35] Cause it's an important thing to me. So, you know, say you sleep in. Acknowledge, what are you, why did that happen? First of all, and what does your body need? Maybe you need a day off, you know, and it doesn't mean that you're falling off track. Like I said, you know the rollercoaster, but you just, you need to give yourself what you need and being gentle with yourself.
[00:43:53] And I think more and more, I talked to people. I realized that it's a very common thing that people are just not, we're so harsh on ourselves. Like you said, you know, if you said those things you're saying to yourself, to somebody else, they would be like not having it. So why do we. Why do we let ourselves do that to ourselves?
[00:44:10] Right. It's it's so strange. Um, and recognizing that an interesting thing I'd like to just share that somebody recently said is that, you know, when you feel like you're falling off track and you can't get up, like why, if you forget your why, why do I want to working out? For example, you know, um, write down when you feel like a beast, you know, you just came back from a great workout.
[00:44:29] You're feeling on top of the world, write down what you're feeling like. And then next time you're like, I don't want to work out. Like, oh, I really don't want to remember that. Cause you, you like that feeling you want to be there. It may not make you do it right then, but you'll get back to doing it. So keeping track of that stuff, I just think that's something interesting.
[00:44:48] We're getting towards the end here. You've got a lot of information, you know, a lot of stuff. Is there anything in specific that you'd like to really share or, you know, take us home with, for the audience,
[00:44:58] Steve: [00:44:58] biggest things in the simplest way. I can explain it all. And I've got a coffee mug around here. It's over on my desk here in the studio.
[00:45:05] It's a, see it be it, do it, see where you want to be, become the person that, you know, you'll need to be. That means taken on some lessons, learning some things, and then do it, just take action every single day, even if it's just the tiniest thing. And like you just mentioned, uh, and I said it earlier, put pen to paper when you're at peak, when you're really digging it.
[00:45:26] When you're cruising, when it's effort less, write down how it feels. It in write down at least one moment of gratitude. I do this in the morning. I write down my three favorite moments from the previous day. Now, even in 2020 in the midst of a pandemic, when one of my two companies got absolutely annihilated just disappeared.
[00:45:46] I still wrote down close to a thousand good moments last year. So that's worth focus on that's what keeps me going, because there's there's great moments tomorrow morning. I'm going to write about this conversation. Because this is something that was a highlight of my day and it had me in a peak state and of enjoyment.
[00:46:04] So see it be it, do it and check my mug. I'd hold it up because that was really symbolic, but it's way over there. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but yeah, just, just think those, those three quick things, see it, be it, do it and just. Keep yourself going every single day, you would be amazed at where it can take you in a short amount of time.
[00:46:23] Harrison: [00:46:23] I love that so much. I do have one more thing. I want to inquire with you to kind of wrap all of this up. Do you preach to people or do you have your own accountability partners? Because it's hard. Like I said, and we're hard on ourselves, hard doing things by ourselves, doing it with somebody else. Um, is that something that we should be doing, especially with the visualization and our goals and stuff like that.
[00:46:47] Steve: [00:46:47] I highly recommend it in. And you've got to have partners that understand who you are and how you are. You know, my, my, my friends know they can't come at me yelling like a drill instructor because I'm just going to shut down. But if they can use humor, you know, the old put me in a headlock and you'd be, Nuki going off.
[00:47:04] Come on, do you a big dummy? You didn't do this for three days. You got to get back on track. I'll respond to that. So if you are going to have an accountability partner and make sure it's somebody whose energy and style resonates in that the energy can go both ways. Because it's, it's an exchange of energy and that way you get to support each other.
[00:47:20] Um, I've tried over the years to have different people as accountability partners. They weren't good for me. I was not good for them and it ultimately fell apart. So you've got to have somebody who, you know, I can trust and respect and the respect has to go both ways. But when you do have one, it is so much better to hit the top of a mountain and be able to share a view than have to do all the work yourself.
[00:47:42] And feel alone and have it be a hollow success. So I definitely recommend having a, you know, I'm part of a very tight tribe of people. We keep each other accountable, we kick each other in the butt and we pick each other back up. So it's a, it's a good combination of, of effort in and just love and respect among,
[00:48:00] Harrison: [00:48:00] and, uh, everything we kind of talked about all comes back to treating ourselves with love and respect and, and finding what we need.
[00:48:06] And, uh, What does he said, think be do, right? Uh, so you do it. See it, there you go. See it. Be it. Do it. I love that so much. Oh, well, thank you so much for coming on here, Steve. I was a pleasure talking with you.
[00:48:18] Steve: [00:48:18] My pleasure. This was a blast. Thank you so much.
[00:48:20] Harrison: [00:48:20] Hey everybody, thanks so much for tuning into this episode and for listening, making it to the end.
[00:48:25] I hope you really enjoyed this one. I, uh, I had such a great time talking to Steve and learning so much about him. If you want to hear more from Steve or check them out, social media and stuff, his name is AFT is Steve Gamblin, G a M L I N. Cyberspace lot spell his last name and a you headed over to his main site, which is motivational firewood.com.
[00:48:46] That's right. Motivational firewood.com and check out all Steve's stuff. I hope you have a great rest of the day. Great rest of the week. Great rest of your life guys. Keep loving life and which we later information about this episode or the show itself, head on over to Harrison king official.com. There you'll be able to find the show notes, transcriptions, and videos for every episode.
[00:49:09] Be sure to follow us on Instagram at let's talk about life pod. No, get out there and have a deep, meaningful conversation in your own life. We'll chat with you next time.
Previous Episode
S2 E19: Forgiveness
With Host Harrison King
