The Lessons from Life Podcast

How Mindfulness Helped me through Cancer - Melissa Burt-Gracik

Host(s): Brandon Hill and Dustin Fenton Guest(s): Melissa Burt Gracik   Synopsis of the show: The art and practice of being mindful and finding, peace, joy, and gratitude in the everyday moments.   Story parts: [00:00:43] – Tools of the trade [00:01:38] – The diagnosis [00:04:13] – Clarity of legacy [00:05:10] – Clarity of purpose in Legacy [00:07:15] – Most meaningful I do [00:08:20] – How to have a good life [00:09:49] – Perfectionistic becomes egotistical [00:11:31] – Extra effort to do act of kindness [00:13:55] – How to be mindful in trials [00:15:23] – Tickets of permission [00:18:20] – A parting meditation   Quotes from the show: “Don’t Google a diagnosis without consulting a specialist” [00:02:25] “I think it will be in areas of fascination and the deeper meaning of what we all yearn for which is to have a good life and how to archive it with emotional intelligence, mindfulness, compassion, and how to make the world more joyful and alleviate suffering” [00:06:26] “Perfectionisms caused a lot of pain for me, pain that didn’t need to be there” [00:08:49] “Meditation was the first stepping stone out of that darker time in my life when I was self-critical.” [00:09:36] “The more we give to others the more joy we have” [00:11:20] “Every moment, I believe, has the potential for positive emotions of peace, joy and gratitude” [00:14:39] “Speak to yourself like a good friend” [00:17:15]   Guest Biography:  Melissa Burt-Gracik holds a B.A. in Communication, an M.A. in Higher Education Administration, and a Master of Divinity degree.  She has coached over 325 people from front line employees to the C-Suite and measures her success by the stories that exemplify growth from her clients.  When she isn’t working hard to build her business, you can find her hard at work cycling, swimming, or running in preparation for her next triathlon.    Flourish For You, LLC helps businesses increase their employee engagement by co-creating with them a work culture focused on the strengths of their greatest asset: their human capital.  Through Flourish Mel helps teams work well together by focusing on their natural talents and the workplace needs that accompany them.  Utilizing Gallup’s 12: The Elements of Great Managing, she helps supervisors learn and implement the skills top managers possess.  Behavior change is hard, which is why Mel’s coaching clients rave about the growth they’re able to achieve from the one-on-one support they receive to pursue their goals and put action toward becoming the professional they aspire to be.  In addition to StrengthsFinder, Mel holds certifications in Meyers Briggs Type Indicator and Emotional Intelligence EQ-i & EQ360 by MultiHealth Systems. Currently she works internally at HME as the Senior Training and Development Specialist.   Mel’s client work includes Hewlett Packard, General Atomics, BD Biosciences, Takeda, Sharp Healthcare, Red Cross, Make A Wish, San Diego Airport Authority, Clovis Community Hospital, University of California San Diego, Stitch Marketing + Research, NWB Environmental Services, Jewish Family Service, and Episcopal Community Services.  She has spoken to and inspired audiences at Pepsi, Illumina, and Patagonia.   Links: https://LessonsFromLife4U.com [https://LessonsFromLife4U.com]

Lessons Learned from a Failed Interview - Brett Lyle

Host(s): Brandon Hill and Dustin Fenton Guest(s): Brett Lyle   Synopsis of the show: Brett Lyle shares how her calling was confirmed through an interview where she didn't get the job.   Story parts: [00:01:02] – Power of LinkedIn [00:02:55] – Bad year to graduate, 2009 [00:03:50] – Life 2.0 [00:05:20] – Sick during interview [00:06:41] – “You are an Entrepreneur” [00:07:45] – Seeing something in someone they don’t see in themselves [00:10:14] – Somebody is reading my label [00:11:00] – How discover what lights you up [00:12:10] – Don’t ask “Why not?” Ask “Why Yes?” [00:13:38] – Brief self-coaching exercise [00:16:05] – Why a coach [00:16:54] – Challenge of speaking up   Quotes from the show: “I light up, grinning ear to ear.  No one had ever recognized that in me before” [00:06:48] “Failure is our biggest opportunity to learn” [00:07:51] “The greatest distance a person will travel in life is the 14 inches between their heart and their head. - Unknown” [00:15:15]   Guest Biography:  Brett began her coaching career in 2014, with a health and wellness focus, while concurrently serving the Emergency Medical Service industry in business development and public relations roles. Identifying a client need, she launched #BrettLyleCoaching and established personal and professional development programs in 2018. With a more recent focus on career transition and leadership coaching, Brett works alongside business professionals from all industries, coaches, and supports people in setting and executing on defined goals. Most recently, Brett is working with EMS industry consulting firms and publications to support leaders from across the country in their growth and development through her most recent endeavor- creation and production of a healthcare podcast, called #Emergentleadership.    Links: https://LessonsFromLife4U.com www.brettlyle.com [http://www.brettlyle.com/]    Brett Lyle on Social Media YouTube  [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUNIZQnZrxzi0NTXvt73Igg] II LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettalyle/] II Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/brettlylecoaching] II Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/brettlylecoaching/] II Twitter [https://twitter.com/BrettLyleCoach]

Finding One's Calling - Fenway Park

Synopsis of the show:  Our guest this week has a very unique name and a powerful story.  Fenway Park shares his process of finding a calling and choosing a major while facing the various struggles of getting a teacher's license. Story parts: [00:00:50] – Name story [00:02:00] – Choosing a major from one’s passion [00:02:58] – State Tests [00:03:50] – Philippians 4:6 [00:04:25] – “Teaching is not for you” [00:05:00] – God doesn’t want me to teach [00:06:04] – I am still teaching [00:06:52] – I am not a test taker [00:08:05] – Two weeks of transformation [00:09:18] – Barriers in life for a purpose [00:10:38] – I give hope [00:11:20] – Advice for others who are lost [00:12:00] – Questions to ask other – “What is your Journey?” [00:13:00] – Project that had huge effect on retention rate [00:13:53] – Tapping into hope   Quotes from the show: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” [00:03:55] “Leadership” [00:04:30] “It is a blessing to not be a teaching in a classroom” [00:07:33] “I was in a leadership role in High School that it made sense” - [00:08:22] “It is amazing to see how [things] intertwine” - [00:09:58] “It is amazing how many people on campus can speak into your life” [00:11:38] “First year experience is really huge on a student retention” [00:13:35]   Guest Biography:  Fenway Park is his real name, but he has never lived in Boston.  Fenway is originally from the well-known Amish Community - Shipshewana, IN. Fenway has been in Muncie, IN for the past three years where he works for Erskine Green Training Institute (EGTI), a postsecondary vocational training for adults with disabilities. During Fenway's time at EGTI he has served as a Student Support Specialist and as recruitment and marketing specialist. During Fenway's free time, he likes to spend time with his camera in hand capturing moments of life around him.  Fenway enjoys spending time with his dog, Lucky, and doing DIY projects around the house. Fenway Park | fpark@egti.org [fpark@egti.org]   Links: https://LessonsFromLife4U.com [https://LessonsFromLife4U.com]

WalkAbout Part 2 - Jeff Burt-Gracik and Matt Wright

Synopsis of the show: Friends continue to reminisce about an epic backpacking trip, a favorite professor, and an encounter with bears. Story parts: [00:01:00] – Remembering a favorite faculty member - Dr Guy Chase [00:01:25] - Unique painting subject matter [00:01:54] - Jeff shares the influence that Dr Chase had on his life [00:04:20] - Matt shares the about the quiet wisdom that Dr Chase was willing to share with others. [00:06:10] - Dr Chase trips and falls down the trail [00:07:38] - An adventure with some bears   Quotes from the show: "I wanted to reconnect with him, and that's when I found out that he had passed away, and it was devastating to find that out." [00:03:47]   "Guy honestly was one of the most boring lecturers, [but on WalkAbout], he rarely spoke unless he actually had something to say, ...and when he did we would all turn around..[to listen].." [00:04:39]   "I don't remember what he said..it was this idea that what he said was poetic" [00:05:28]   "I learned from him in the way that he lived his life." [00:05:48]   “The scariest moment for me was when the bear walked between the tiny space between our tents.”  [00.11:52]   Guest Biographies:    Jeff Burt-Gracik:  Jeff Burt-Gracik is an entrepreneur and artisan behind J. Alan Pipes and Alan Brothers Supply Co. His flagship brand was founded in 2004, and with innovative design, uncompromising quality, and global partnerships has led it to become one of the world leaders in its industry.  Jeff is an alumnus of Greenville College (B.A., 2001) and Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div, 2006) and holds an honorary Master of Pipes (2018) award for his contributions to his industry.  He lives with his wife and two children in San Diego, California where he enjoys photography, cycling, cooking, and travel with his family in his free time.     Links: http://www.jalanpipes.com [http://www.jalanpipes.com] http://instagram.com/jalanpipes [http://instagram.com/jalanpipes] http://YouTube.com/jalanpipes [http://YouTube.com/jalanpipes] http://instagram.com/jeffreyalanphoto [http://instagram.com/jeffreyalanphoto]   Matt Wright:  Matt was born and raised in a small southern Illinois town named Olney, Illinois. He has been married since 2002 to Nikki and has two teenage boys, Mason and Landon. He graduated from Greenville University in 2003 with a degree in Fine Arts. He works as the Head Tennis Professional at the Oak Brook Tennis Center near Chicago. He also works as an artist and teaches calligraphy courses at College of Dupage. Examples of his artwork can be seen on his Instagram @donavonmatthews.   Additional Links: https://www.lessonsfromlife4u.com/ [https://www.lessonsfromlife4u.com/] http://www.Greenville.edu

WalkAbout Part 1 - Jeff Burt-Gracik and Matt Wright

Synopsis of the show: Friends reminisce about an epic backpacking trip Story parts: [00:01:40] – What is WalkAbout? [00:02:50] – Introductions of Matt and Jeff [00:04:18] – Story 1 – How to interact with strangers [00:05:54] – Story 2 – Butterfly [00:07:07] – Story 3 – Houses with old papers [00:07:48] – Going back in time [00:08:05] – Story 4 – Solo [00:09:44] – Anticipation of time and ideals [00:10:42] – The first day is the longest [00:11:15] – Fear of the night…and all the bumps in the dark [00:12:58] – Reflection of Solo [00:13:32] – Solo Part 2 reflection   Quotes from the show: “I somehow miss judged or [failed to] realize how long a day actually is when you have to sit in one place and be with yourself” [00:09:21] “48 hours is a long time” [00:10:04] “What is the right thing to do, what am I supposed to be doing?  I know what they told me to do (practice the discipline of solitude), but I don’t  really know how to do that. I think what I discovered is that there isn’t a how; there is a how you do it.” [00:10:47] “The fear was…that was a battle in itself, especially at night” [00:12:28] “You should find time to try to be by yourself, force yourself to sit and listen to what you think.” [00:13:12]   Guest Biographies:  Jeff Burt-Gracik:  Jeff Burt-Gracik is an entrepreneur and artisan behind J. Alan Pipes and Alan Brothers Supply Co. His flagship brand was founded in 2004, and with innovative design, uncompromising quality, and global partnerships has led it to become one of the world leaders in its industry.  Jeff is an alumnus of Greenville College (B.A., 2001) and Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div, 2006) and holds an honorary Master of Pipes (2018) award for his contributions to his industry.  He lives with his wife and two children in San Diego, California where he enjoys photography, cycling, cooking, and travel with his family in his free time.     Links: http://www.jalanpipes.com [http://www.jalanpipes.com/] http://instagram.com/jalanpipes [http://instagram.com/jalanpipes] http://YouTube.com/jalanpipes [http://YouTube.com/jalanpipes] http:// instagram.com/jeffreyalanphoto [http://instagram.com/jeffreyalanphoto]   Matt Wright: Matt was born and raised in a small southern Illinois town named Olney, Illinois. He has been married since 2002 to Nikki and has two teenage boys, Mason and Landon. He graduated from Greenville University in 2003 with a degree in Fine Arts. He works as the Head Tennis Professional at the Oak Brook Tennis Center near Chicago. He also works as an artist and teaches calligraphy courses at College of Dupage. Examples of his artwork can be seen on his Instagram @donavonmatthews.   Additional Links: https://www.lessonsfromlife4u.com/ [https://www.lessonsfromlife4u.com/] http://www.Greenville.edu