Do you ever wish that you could achieve your highest and best goals when the new year comes around? This is your year! In this episode co-hosts Ashley Stieb and Jimmy share traditions, strategies, and ideas to help you begin and keep yourself on track for an outstanding year.
Episode Keys
- Why it is critical for your growth in 2022 to specify the types of days you wish to experience.
- What books you can read that will help you become more positive and inspired to reach your full potential.
- How to create a better environment to promote mental health and awareness.
- The primary goals of millennials as they approach their 30’s.
- Seven domains of life that will help you grow as a person of greatness!
Podcast Transcript
JW:
Good morning! This today, is a new start to a new year just around the corner. I have with me today the most brilliant, the outstanding Ashley Stieb as my co-host. Good morning, Ashley!
AS:
Good morning, Jimmy!
JW:
I tell you what, this lady brings dynamite to every party and sets it on fire with all the talent she possesses. So I’m expecting some really big ideas from her from the millennial perspective. You know, that perspective that I left, I don’t know, a long time ago. You know, I’ve given you the perspective of yes, the founding fathers of the country… I feel like that today. Ashley, so what did Santa do for you this year that was so outstanding?
AS:
Oh my gosh. You know, he just brought me together with my family for the first time since, you know, everything started, the world went crazy. So that was really nice.
JW:
That’s a gift, I think, Ashley, as I say, it gives year round right there. So you can always use that gift any time of year. I love that. Well, I gotta be honest with you. I’m gonna need some assistance at my home. As soon as you get a moment from the Christmas celebrations, do you happen to own maybe a coal shovel or a steam shovel, anything to get coal outta my backyard?
AS:
I don’t but good luck.
JW:
Well, I’ve got a great nephew. He’s he’s seven now. And he gave me the bad warning. He was right. He said on the 23rd, I think it was he told me, he said, “Uncle Jimmy,” said, “you’re gonna get switches this year because you just haven’t been good.” I don’t know how he knows this. I think he’s got like this direct line to St. Nick, you know.
AS:
When they’re younger. I hear that’s a thing now with cell phones and whatnot, so.
JW:
Yeah. You know, and so he’s got this special, I don’t know. I think they have like a hotline, like I was explaining last episode. I have a direct line, but he goes probably straight to the toy side of the factory. But anyway. Hey, so I understand, you know, it’s a new year. We’re gonna start in just a couple of days, something outstanding for 2022. And you know what that is to me, Ashley, what a new year, I can start all over. It’s a clean slate, whatever, you know, you want to use as some kind of metaphor. I am looking forward to it. You know, I’ll be honest with you, Ashley. Now I’m just talking from the heart here, but you know, we’re always honest on Live a Life By Design for our listeners and subscribers is, I am really tired of what’s happened the last couple years. So I’ve just got a new main mindset. I’m gonna say, forget about it and move forward. What do you think of that approach?
AS:
I agree.
JW:
You can tell,, folks she’s just a little tired of it herself. I imagine. So, I wanna ask a couple of questions today. I’m gonna quote, interview the lady that typically interviews. And so I’m gonna put her in a different position, in a hot seat, if you will, today here on Live a Life By Design, and ask Ashley the important questions of life. All right, here we go, Ashley, you ready for number one?
AS:
I’m ready.
JW:
Tell me, what would be your thoughts as to the millennial approach to a new year, new you with extraordinary outcomes?
AS:
So I think that from a millennial perspective, our generation as a whole is kind of more in touch with our mental health and, you know, like trying to make improvements so that we can live a better life. So I think going into a new year and just really tackling any mental health issues that you might have, to start working on yourself in that way is a great way to start the new year so that you can just go forward, be as positive as you can, and just always work on yourself, just keep working on yourself.
JW:
Hey, you know, I love that. So you’re gonna buy in hopefully to my new philosophy of, hey, you do you, I do me and everybody has an outcome. Yeah I picked that up and this gentleman told me, did I really need to be eating that pumpkin pie at Christmas time? And I said, hey, you know what, thank you. You do you and I’ll do me and then I’ll do pushups afterwards. But anyway… So anyway, that’s the story of my life, Ashley it’s just one of those things. So real quickly then you know, at the end of the day, mental health and awareness, man, that’s a big, you just jumped right outta the gate with that and that’s idea, you know, here we are folks early in the morning, she could have, you know, attacked anything but mental awareness. That is a good mental health. Let’s talk just a little bit about what, what do we do from the standpoint of actual or strategies to guard against mental challenges during the year, if I’m in a millennial, what, what do I do to keep myself if you will? I don’t know, vaccine against it. for lack of a better term
AS:
That’s relevant. No, I think, I think just practicing self care, whatever that may to anybody, you know, some people, it could be reading a book. For me, it’s just like kind of playing video games or cooking or spending time with family and friends doing a face mask, taking a bubble bath, whatever it is. I think that that’s the best way to kind of start tackling it. And then if you need more help, you know, reach out to somebody there’s always somebody that can help you and shouldn’t be afraid to do that. So,
JW:
So when you say a face mask, are you talking like, do you dress up like one of my favorite rock groups, like kiss? Do you like put their, their facial things on and kind of rock around the house, air guitar? Or is that something else?
AS:
Well, that’s not exactly what I meant, but I’m pretty sure you probably find a sheet mask that has the patterns. So woo.
JW:
I love that. I love that. No, on a serious note, I think that’s outstanding advice. And one of the things that I always try to, to do during my day now don’t laugh. I do this every day is simply unplugged, you know, know, get away from all the, the teams notifications of the, you know, text messaging, the phone and just gotta be yourself for like a few minutes that day. What I call it’s called my power up. I do a 30 minute power up. Just be left alone. Listen, no wife, no kids, no pets. I just kind of need to get loan, get the whole armor. If you, you will, of how I’m on face the day on so I can go tackle the world. What do you think of an approach like that?
AS:
No, I think that’s really good. Especially these days where there’s just so much online. You can just doom, scroll Facebook and Twitter all day, and it’s not gonna get you anywhere. It’s not healthy for you. It’s just mostly just negative content it’s gonna at you. So unplugging and just being with yourself, just in a space. That’s great. It’s a great way to start .
JW:
Now I also do something that maybe you might think is a little weird from millennial perspective, but here we go. I actually do a steam shower. So in my master bath, we have a steam shower and I go in and shut the door and don’t laugh. You get in this quote fog. Now you’re gonna laugh. How does getting into a fog of steam help you forget about the world or what, what it looks like to me is, is I’m in my own space. It’s like outer space, Ashley, where no one can hear you scream say, so we watched, we watched some our younger daughter’s home. She’s big into sci-fi. So we had to, you know, watch us show about people getting thrown into outer space. Anyway, I digress there briefly, but my point is I do that steam shower for about 15 minutes of part of my 30 minute. If you will, self-work self-taught self talk and so forth. And I really find that that isolation is well for my being. Have you ever tried that?
AS:
Yeah. I mean, you know, I work from home, so I’m pretty much by myself all day so I can get a lot of isolation.
JW:
Well, not, not if Joey the dogs there, Joey likes to help. That’s true. Which
AS:
I’m sure he’s a great pain here. I bought him a bed for my office, so he has a place to sleep.
JW:
Oh no, that’s that’s good self care for Joey right there. Okay. Mm-Hmm <affirmative> so, so let’s talk about a couple other things. What are some of your family traditions at new year’s like, what do you do on new year’s day? Cuz my grandfather said, whatever you do that day, Ashley, you do all year long.
AS:
Yeah. so we eat black-eyed peas. That’s really about it, but I will say we don’t eat black eye peas all year long. well, some people might, but I don’t well, I’m a, I’m a one and done
JW:
You know, I gotta be honest with you. A little bit of black eye PE goes a long way. I get that, but we do the same thing, black eye PE and cornbread. And I think that aspect though, my grandfather said was for good luck. So we do it for good luck but every day. So I’ll be honest with you. One of the things I love to do is I love to walk. I love to get out in nature. So if the weather permits, I get out and walk and sometimes don’t laugh. If the weather doesn’t permit, I get out and walk and my wife says, are you crazy? I mean, it’s snowing or it’s raining or whatever, but it just feels good to get out in nature. You know, how would you say that you benefit from the space you build around you on a, a personal level?
AS:
I mean, I make it my own, so it’s kind of like my happy place. So everything around me is just, just for me and well and Kevin too, and Joey and the cat, you know, it’s our space. So ,
JW:
So you’re a nest builder. Ashley is what I call that. I love that you’re a nest builder and, and I will tell you, I do the same thing in my study now, Mrs. Williams. she won’t allow me to put some of my star Trek stuff up in the main part of our home, but Hey, you know, live long and prosper. I say to everyone on the podcast today, which to me is a great philosophy. So let’s talk a little bit about some of these domains in life. Ashley, talk to me a little bit about what would be if you had to have a goal. I mean, I’m talking a big Harry audacious goal for 20, 22. What area of life do you think that would be for Ashley? Steve on behalf of millennials? Like what area besides mental wellness would be a big area to work on for goals.
AS:
So, so just like I’m speaking on behalf of all millennials here. Okay. So not just me. I would say money working, working
JW:
On that was in the there somewhere.
AS:
…working on building savings, starting to plan for retirement. I mean, we’re all almost in our thirties now, so that, you know, that only leaves us with a little bit of time before we retire
JW:
And take it from someone like me. That’s 31. I mean, it goes fast. It
AS:
Goes so fast. So I think really like tackling finance and getting that stuff under your belt because that’s one really big area of stress for a lot of millennials, I think. And if you can just take care of that and get it to a good place, I feel like that’d be such a huge weight off of our shoulders.
JW:
Oh, I think that’s a very appropriate area. And one thing about this is is, you know, one, one item you cannot control when it comes to finance. And I always talk to people about this is the time component. It, you cannot create more time, no matter how hard you try, you know, I’ve read, I don’t know, 15, 20 books on time management does not work. You either, you know, you got the same 1,440, you know, seconds as everybody else and every day. And so I would say to you that you’re absolutely right. That’s an important goal, but the way you face that to me is, is chip a little away every day, right? Or every pay period. And it’s gotta be something that you can get in a habit of doing that can be automated. You know, there’s a big word. I like, I like it when you can automate things because if I do it as a reflex and not as something I’ve got to prepare, get the information together, write a check, send it to my, you know, retirement account or whatever that just really runs friction against the movement of making this an efficient process.
JW:
Yeah. So let’s talk about a couple other things in life. Let’s talk about what can we do? You’ve kind of tackled the self care of, of mental awareness. I’m gonna put that in the emotional column if you will. I think that helps. But what about your, give me one of your professional goals for 2022 as an individual, you, Ashley Stieb.
AS:
I am gonna take over the company.
JW:
I love it. Hostile takeover. You wouldn’t have to get hostile with me. Ashley can you send my checks to Maui Hawaii? It’s just
AS:
Right. Sure can. Sure can no, I think professional wise, I just really want to continue learning and growing in my position so that I can, you know, get our name out there cuz you know, I do the marketing. So ,
JW:
You’re already off to a great star. So we are coming out folks, be excited to see some branding on our, our new logo and so forth that we got a couple years ago and adopted, but she has done some things to make things a lot more consider on the marketplace. You’ll see it in emails. You’ll see it everywhere. We’re gonna be more consistent this year. She’s doing a great job. She’s very modest by the way folks. She does a great job. Great talented so let’s talk a little bit about then what are some family goals? Do you and, and your wonderful spouse have family goals.
AS:
We definitely want to start a that’s probably our biggest, that’s a big goal right there. That’s our biggest goal this year.
JW:
That qualifies folks as a BHAG. When you add to the family, I was kind of hoping you might say, you know, we’re thinking about a new car wanting to do something with the yard, but Ashley jumps –
AS:
– We’ll probably get a new car too.
JW:
Ashley jumps right to the golden ring and says, Hey, this is what we want. Yeah. I love it. I love of it. So were you like inspired so much by working, say with the founder of our company that you probably would name the child after him or something?
AS:
Well, you know, , we’ve got some names in, in, in line already, but we’ll add it to the list.
JW:
Well, folks, you heard it here now if she does not name it Jimmy with an I E if it’s a girl wi with a boy we’re in trouble here no, I think that’s outstanding. You know, one of our family goes this year is to take adventures and create memories. You know, we, we, during Christmas it really came to light for me and we’ve all been so blessed. We get clothes, we get whatever we want. And, and I tell people, I was meeting some people during the holiday season and they would say stuff well how’s it going for you at Christmas? And I said, well, I, I really say this. You folks know me that listen to this podcast. I say, it’s been terrible. And they’ll look at me and I’ll kind of wink. And I’ll say, yeah, I said, this is the one holiday a year that I get what I deserve and not what I want.
JW:
So hence the cold. My nephew talked about the switches, those kinds of things. But you know, I think I, the important thing for family for me is to draw closer, to find those binds, that can’t be broken and to really create memories that will surpass my lifetime. For example, you know, I’d love for my kids go, your grandfather took us to Europe and that’s what we’re gonna try to do. You know, if we can ever get past some of these issues of the environmental problems we’re having across the globe, we really want to take our kids back to Europe and experience some of those things that, that I think will be better than anything we could ever buy them. You know what I mean? Yeah.
AS:
Oh, absolutely. I mean, you know, I grew up in Europe, I grew up in German and those are some of the best memories of my life. Just going all over the place. Cause you just take a car and drive to like five different countries. So yeah.
JW:
That’s the thing about Europe that I like you can actually, well, I could rent a car, but I don’t know if people over there would enjoy me to rent a car. Cause some of ’em drive. ’em The wrong side of the road, according to us, us people. But I experienced that when I went to the Virgin islands, this guy’s taking off, I’m going, Hey, Hey, whoa. Excuse me, sir. You’re he said, oh no, you let em,
AS:
Yeah, you let em do their job, Jimmy. I,
JW:
I found if you’ll look at the scenery. Yeah, let go of it. Right. Hey, you know, I’m a control guy. I’m a type a, you know how that is. So, so to, to be honest with you, I am ready for COVID. I’m just gonna be honest. I’m not gonna belabor the point. Ashley. I’m just ready for it to be like that, that irritating guest that came without an invitation and has stayed way too long and eaten all the food, you know, that kind of person. Yep. That’s how COVID feels to me.
AS:
Yeah. That’s
JW:
Not that any of my friends or my team have eaten all the food that they, Hey recently, you know, professionally, let’s talk a little bit about this. I wanna do something big for our team. You’re always great at creating wonderful adventures. And Hey, this last, our Christmas party, outstanding ideas, she came up with some superlatives or as one of our team actually referred to as the super natives. But anyway, I love that. She said, what are these super natives she asked me to send in Hey, we all have a way of enunciating and this is one of mm-hmm <affirmative>. So you know, one of the things you did that I love to about our team is, is the comradery, but also the team building and fun activities. So let’s talk a little bit about one of our team that won an award for believe you called it the loudest of our team or something like
AS:
That. The mega the megaphone award,
JW:
The megaphone award. Yes. Thank you. Mm-Hmm <affirmative> would you please tell the audience who actually won that and it wasn’t me folks, believe it or not. Who won that award first name only
AS:
Please. It wasn’t. It was, it was Amy Amy. Yes. I was just shocked as you are
JW:
yes, I, my mouth was GAed open. I could not believe she got voted as a superlative of megaphone award. That is funny. No. So let’s talk a little bit about going into January. So I’m certain that you’re a planner because you work with some outstanding people that are big time on planning and what are you doing to get ready for that planner for January? Like, I mean you got goals that are written down. I’m certain you do, but let’s talk about how do you get prepped in your planner for the new year?
AS:
So typically, which I’m gonna be honest. I don’t have a planner for 20, 22 yet.
JW:
The best has
AS:
It’s been a weird year oh man. But typically with my planners. I go through and there are dates that are always there, birthdays and holidays, things like that anniversaries. So I go through and I mark all of those out and then I go back basically each month and then add things that have popped up, unless I know about it, like way far in advance. So like us going to the conference that would already be in there, I would block it out. And that’s basically how
JW:
I plan. So like, you know, March 11th, for example, on your calendar, is that like have a big, big celebratory may like a phone sticker or birthday cake or something, you know, like they put on there
AS:
Mm-Hmm <affirmative> yeah, it says two days before Ashley and Kevin’s anniversary.
JW:
Oh, that’s what it is. Yes.
JW:
I thought it had something to do with the anniversary. That’s why I was going with that. But so, you know, I gotta tell you, my secret sauce is I’ve. Our already started my planner for 2022. Yes. Type a personality. I I, I do the same thing. You know, Ashley subscribes to the same theory I do. We have free focus in buffer days. And I go through and I’ve already given Shelby my assistant at the time now she’s been promoted, but I gave her her this year, what my, my days were that I expect in 2022. Now, one thing I like to give as guidance to people is you will get the day and the year that you get, if you don’t purposefully, try to make it what you want. And so, so one of the things I do is I always give her those free days, those focus days and buffer of days for the whole year of 20, 22, I know exactly what I want to do that day.
JW:
The type of work I’ll do or not work. And she keeps me on task with those particular days, with my calendar notated with a certain color. Now you’re gonna laugh. Ashley, you know, these simple things like stop lights you have those in your area of their LG, right? Yeah. Yeah. We have one one. Well, Hey, that, that counts the town I was in had one stop sign so I grew up, it said stop and go. It didn’t say, you know, just stop, it’s a stop and you can go. But anyway, my point there is, is I have worked with her and she’s given me some color. So if it’s a free day, that is red, I don’t do anything. If it’s a buffer day, which I just work on things administratively, that’s blue. But if I work on a focus day, that’s revenue generating that is a green and you see why it’s green, right? Ashley, it’s the color of money. That’s exactly right. so, and it looks like I’ve had Ashley frozen. So the most important thing is, is that you get the days of the week that you wish to experience the best you. And now actually I know you’ve been around me an awful lot the last couple years, but I gotta tell you, I have this philosophy in life that I have never experienced a bad day. Have you ever heard of that philosophy?
Speaker 3:
Just from you that’s thank
JW:
You. I I’m the creator of that. And people go, what do you mean? You never have a bad day? And I go, well, I always have great days, except some are just greater than others. So I have that mentality. So let’s talk a little bit about how do you keep yourself motivated, pumped up? Cause you always come up with great ideas and great strategies, doing things to the office, for our marketing and branding and so forth. How, how do you keep coming up with all these great ideas? What’s your secret?
Speaker 3:
The internet
JW:
True. Millennial fashion folks right there. so you’re saying that plagiarism is flattery is what you’re saying.
Speaker 3:
no there’s content inspiration out there.
JW:
There you go there, you know, well, I wanna ask one last thing as we get ready to wind this up. So you can begin a great year by taking some of these ideas that Ashley and I have spoken, or even just some thoughts that we’ve mentioned and make your year bigger than ever. I’d like to know what is one book Ashley that you would recommend our listeners read in 2022 that inspires you?
Speaker 3:
I would say to read Tuesdays with ma it’s by Mitch Al. And it’s his story about his relationship with his college professor? That sounds really bad. His friendship with a college professor, and it’s just really inspiring, you know, he sits down and he listens to the stories and it kind of almost humbles you a bit. So I would definitely say read that one. It’s it’s a good one. It’s a tear
JW:
Tricker oh, no, not one of those, but Hey, you gotta have all kinds of books. I say, if you look at my library you know, if good news about that is folks, you can find that book in our show notes and the author’s name and everything will be provided there for you. And you know, I’ll be honest with you. I read about three books every year, Ashley and I don’t laugh. I read the same three books every year, because I think they’re that powerful for me. I just really connect with ’em and one of them is, and this is not meaning you have to grow rich in terms of financial wealth, but it does, does lean toward that is think and rich by Napoleon hill. Think about what your real wealth is. Your real wealth is your health, your family, the things we’ve talked about today, your mental awareness and health as well. These are all actually wealth items. It means if you’ve got those, you’ve got far more than most people on the planet. If you continue to grow that area of life and seek out the best you you know, which is, I think very hard for Ashley, cuz she’s already the best Ashley, but anyway, oh, thank
Speaker 3:
You.
JW:
You know, another book I love is leading an inspired life by my mentor, Jim, Ron you can find these in our Jimmy’s top reads as well on our live, a life by.design website. And that book to me has got a lot of just meat and good nutrition for you. If you want to grow as a person, you wanna grow as a professional. It’s all in this one book and it’s outstanding. One of my best friends Randy Thurman, who has been on this podcast on the very first episodes, he gave me a book and signed his name inside and gave me some words of encouragement. And that that’s my sacred copy. I love to read that every year and then lastly, Hey, we can grow spiritually as well. I, I read the Bible every year. I enjoy growing in all facets. You there’s more to one domain to each of us and Ashley’s pointed out a very, very good side of that. The emotional side. We, we also have, you know, our spiritual professional, financial and charitable goals. And Hey Ashley, I didn’t ask you, but if you had to pick one charity for 2022, that you believe would be worthy of your wonderful support, what charity would you recommend?
Speaker 3:
I would think something to either do with animals like the humane society or like a food bank of some sort, because I hate to think that there are people out there that are hungry and animals that aren’t loved. So
JW:
Hey, you know what? That, that folks is a great way to end this. That is one of my favorite causes. I, I specifically like children, for example, I really believe we need to support children that don’t have opportunities given to them. Maybe their families have had a rough time during this COVID period or even beyond. But you know, one of the things too is it’s not their fault. I mean their kids, right? So we like to do things we can to help support them. Our company does the same. We sponsor angel tree recipients and things of that nature every year, not to brag on us, but just to help the kids get a little bit better Christmas than they otherwise would have. So with that said our challenge this week, Ashley, and I want you to take the few moments you need to really plan a great 2022. You have within you all, you need to grow and be the person you wish to be and not allow the day to run. You. You’ve heard me say it many times. You need to run the day. And at that, I want to challenge each of you along with Ashley to have the happiest of new years and enjoy life to its fullest and listen to live a life by I design for your Monday morning moments of motivation to help keep that great energy going all year round Ashley closing comments for today’s episode.
Speaker 3:
Yeah. Just just make two, make 2022 a great year. I love it. I think that’s what we all need I think.
JW:
Matter of fact, don’t mention a C word either, if you can help it. All right. No, none of that folks, thank you for listening this week. Have a happy new year and we’ll see you next year.
