Get your question answered by James on the Podcast! Click here.

“None of your technical skills will amount to anything if you don’t have social skills.” - Robert Greene

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Do you understand the laws of human nature? Do you know why you do what you do? Why humans make the decisions that they make? And do you know how to leverage social skills to accomplish what you want to in life?

Today’s guest is Robert Greene, the bestselling author of such books as “The 48 Laws of Power,” “The Art of Seduction,” “Mastery” and more. He’s here to discuss his upcoming book “The Laws of Human Nature,” where he explores what makes humans tick, and what that means for the person who wants to succeed in this life.

As we discuss in the interview, a lot of social success comes down to one’s ability to develop empathy for other people. To really step inside of their body and understand what they’re thinking, why they’re thinking, what they think about themselves and the story they tell about themselves, and then to affirm these things. If you want to be likeable, that’s the formula!

But there’s  lot more to dig into with Robert Greene, and we talk about many aspects of social awkwardness and how to avoid it, how to practice and improve one’s ability to socialize effectively, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this episode of the James Swanwick Show with Robert Greene!

“The key to social skills is empathy. Can you think inside someone else's skin?” - Robert Greene

(click to tweet)

Key Takeaways

• None of your technical skills will amount to anything if you don’t have social skills
• Everyone is born with a certain amount of people skills and social intelligence, but everyone can improve
• The key to social skills is empathy. Can you think inside someone else's skin?
• We’re born with all the tools to be incredibly social animals, but some people develop the skills, and some let the, stay dormant
• Whatever state you’re in at the moment is only a starting point, and you can learn and improve greatly
• Social interaction is essential to our health and well-being. People who live alone do not live as long and do not have as happy a life
• Consider optimizing your facebook feed to make you happy and fulfilled
• It’s built into us to always think that what we don’t have is better than what we do have
• Avoid taking everything personally. That will prevent you from really listening to people and developing empathy with everyone. Take nothing personally
• Always try to understand the perception of other people to empathise with them
• We don’t really see the world how it is. We interpret it through a lens. The way you interpret the world affects the way people respond to you. You create the responses you get by the attitude you take
• Remember that we are not rational animals, but rather emotional animals. Understand that to develop real empathy with people. If you want to influence people, you have to understand them on an emotional level
• Find out what people think about themselves, and then confirm what they think if you want to make a powerful impression on people
• Until you can speak the language of the person you are trying to persuade, you won’t get anywhere

Resources

PowerSeductionAndWar.com

Twitter: @RobertGreene

My Book Notes on 3 Life-Changing Books

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/167

Get your question answered by James on the Podcast! Click here.

“None of your technical skills will amount to anything if you don’t have social skills.” - Robert Greene

(click to tweet)

Do you understand the laws of human nature? Do you know why you do what you do? Why humans make the decisions that they make? And do you know how to leverage social skills to accomplish what you want to in life?

Today’s guest is Robert Greene, the bestselling author of such books as “The 48 Laws of Power,” “The Art of Seduction,” “Mastery” and more. He’s here to discuss his upcoming book “The Laws of Human Nature,” where he explores what makes humans tick, and what that means for the person who wants to succeed in this life.

As we discuss in the interview, a lot of social success comes down to one’s ability to develop empathy for other people. To really step inside of their body and understand what they’re thinking, why they’re thinking, what they think about themselves and the story they tell about themselves, and then to affirm these things. If you want to be likeable, that’s the formula!

But there’s  lot more to dig into with Robert Greene, and we talk about many aspects of social awkwardness and how to avoid it, how to practice and improve one’s ability to socialize effectively, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this episode of the James Swanwick Show with Robert Greene!

“The key to social skills is empathy. Can you think inside someone else's skin?” - Robert Greene

(click to tweet)

Key Takeaways

• None of your technical skills will amount to anything if you don’t have social skills
• Everyone is born with a certain amount of people skills and social intelligence, but everyone can improve
• The key to social skills is empathy. Can you think inside someone else's skin?
• We’re born with all the tools to be incredibly social animals, but some people develop the skills, and some let the, stay dormant
• Whatever state you’re in at the moment is only a starting point, and you can learn and improve greatly
• Social interaction is essential to our health and well-being. People who live alone do not live as long and do not have as happy a life
• Consider optimizing your facebook feed to make you happy and fulfilled
• It’s built into us to always think that what we don’t have is better than what we do have
• Avoid taking everything personally. That will prevent you from really listening to people and developing empathy with everyone. Take nothing personally
• Always try to understand the perception of other people to empathise with them
• We don’t really see the world how it is. We interpret it through a lens. The way you interpret the world affects the way people respond to you. You create the responses you get by the attitude you take
• Remember that we are not rational animals, but rather emotional animals. Understand that to develop real empathy with people. If you want to influence people, you have to understand them on an emotional level
• Find out what people think about themselves, and then confirm what they think if you want to make a powerful impression on people
• Until you can speak the language of the person you are trying to persuade, you won’t get anywhere

Resources

PowerSeductionAndWar.com

Twitter: @RobertGreene

My Book Notes on 3 Life-Changing Books

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/167

Get your question answered by James on the Podcast! Click here.

Do you think marriage is necessary to have a happy, fulfilled life? Do you think it’s necessary for effectively raising children? Do you consider it a moral responsibility? What do you think?

Today, I’m bringing Dina back on the show to talk about whether or not marriage is really necessary. We’re digging into two opposing views that people take, and trying to understand the right answer.

For some, marriage is a confining thing. It ties you down, keeps you from doing what you really want, and makes you feel trapped. But for others, it is an incredibly freeing thing, where you are now completely free to do what you want without the pressure of continually finding new people to date, with increased security, and sharing a life with someone we cares deeply about you.

Listen to this conversation to get the ins and outs of where we stand on the issue, and then please let us know your thoughts! Tweet @JamesSwanwick and start a discussion! See you over there!

Key Takeaways

• Marriage should not be a confining thing, it should be freeing. It should support you and give you freedom, not tie you down
• Marriage difficulties, or lack of any marriage with those raising children, can often contribute to psychological issues a child will have to deal with later on in life. Some would say that marriage is a solution, others would say that better relationships are the only answer and that the decision to marry or not to plays no role in it
• Most marriages that last long-term tend to have people involved who talk about things like “marrying your best friend,” not necessarily the person that you fall madly in love with
• Be careful not to make any big decisions during the first approximately 3-month “infatuation phase.”
• But also be careful about long periods of infatuation. It can be dangerous
• Pay attention to what other people are saying about your relationships. Don’t let them define you, but also listen carefully to what they say
• It’s easy to get “addicted” to the first infatuation phase of relationships, and not ever being able to get past that and into the deeper phase
• Make sure you don’t settle for a marriage, for reasons like getting older, etc. But rather because you are confident in the decision

Resources

“Project Everlasting” by Matthew Boggs

Get My Notes on 3 Life-Changing Books Free!

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/166

Get your question answered by James on the Podcast! Click here.

“No commitment means no results.” - Grant Cardone

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Do you know how to sell? The truth is that selling is for more than just salespeople. It’s for everyone who wants to see success in their life. Everyone is selling something, whether that is a product, their idea of the world, or just where they want to eat tonight. You are selling every single day.

Today I am reviewing “Sell or be Sold” by Grant Cardone. The book is focused on salespeople, but has a ton of incredible advice for anyone who wants to live the best life possible! Learn how to sell to see your success and your happiness increase.

This episode is hard hitting, fast, and we get right into the education, so make sure to have a pen and paper ready to take notes, listen up and pay attention, because this skill could change your life!

Key Takeaways

• You have to WANT it
• If you know how to sell, you’ll never be without work and people needing you
• Sales people make the world go ‘round
• You can’t earn any real stature or financial success without the ability to persuade others
• Commitment is required before results can start to happen
• The most important sale is to yourself. You cannot sell anything until you are utterly and completely convinced that what you’re selling is the best thing in the world
• Focus on winning whatever game you’re playing in life
• Price is almost never the real objection. Move past that to find out what the real objection is. The real issue is love and confidence
• When you get a price objection, try to move the customer to a more expensive product instead of a cheaper one
• Selling is 80% people and 20% product
• Become genuinely interested in finding the right product for the person rather than making the sale
• Always agree with the customer. ALWAYS. There’s no easier way to end an argument than by agreeing with the opposition

“The difference between mediocrity and greatness lies in commitment” - Grant Cardone

(click to tweet)

Resources

“Sell or be Sold” by Grant Cardone

Get My Book Notes on 3 Life-Changing Books

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/165

Get your question answered by James on the Podcast! Click here.

“No commitment means no results.” - Grant Cardone

(click to tweet)

Do you know how to sell? The truth is that selling is for more than just salespeople. It’s for everyone who wants to see success in their life. Everyone is selling something, whether that is a product, their idea of the world, or just where they want to eat tonight. You are selling every single day.

Today I am reviewing “Sell or be Sold” by Grant Cardone. The book is focused on salespeople, but has a ton of incredible advice for anyone who wants to live the best life possible! Learn how to sell to see your success and your happiness increase.

This episode is hard hitting, fast, and we get right into the education, so make sure to have a pen and paper ready to take notes, listen up and pay attention, because this skill could change your life!

Key Takeaways

• You have to WANT it
• If you know how to sell, you’ll never be without work and people needing you
• Sales people make the world go ‘round
• You can’t earn any real stature or financial success without the ability to persuade others
• Commitment is required before results can start to happen
• The most important sale is to yourself. You cannot sell anything until you are utterly and completely convinced that what you’re selling is the best thing in the world
• Focus on winning whatever game you’re playing in life
• Price is almost never the real objection. Move past that to find out what the real objection is. The real issue is love and confidence
• When you get a price objection, try to move the customer to a more expensive product instead of a cheaper one
• Selling is 80% people and 20% product
• Become genuinely interested in finding the right product for the person rather than making the sale
• Always agree with the customer. ALWAYS. There’s no easier way to end an argument than by agreeing with the opposition

“The difference between mediocrity and greatness lies in commitment” - Grant Cardone

(click to tweet)

Resources

“Sell or be Sold” by Grant Cardone

Get My Book Notes on 3 Life-Changing Books

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/165

Get your question answered by James on the Podcast! Click here.

“Rather than live in a narrow, flatlined life, why not climb the peaks and fall in the troughs of extraordinary life.” - Peter Sage

(click to tweet)

Are you focused enough on leveling up yourself? Most business owners, or people who want to do more in life, think that they need to acquire new skill sets, when in reality they need to acquire new mindsets. New skills will only allow entrepreneurs to make the same amount of money different ways, but a new mindset will allow the an entrepreneur to make more money, and do more good in the world.

Peter Sage is my guest today. As a serial entrepreneur (he’s started approximately 23 companies)  he understand what leads to success in business, as well as what leads to failure, and he has experienced both. Today, he’s sharing 7 ways to reinvent yourself to really level-up in business and life in a big way!

If you’ve ever wanted to get more out of your life, to increase both your income and the level of happiness and fulfillment in your life, this episode is for you! Listen up, take notes, and implement these mindset changes today on the James Swanwick Show!

“You cannot reinvent a business without reinventing the person who is leading that business.” - Peter Sage

(click to tweet)

Key Takeaways

• A business is an expression of the business owner. Most business owners are looking for ways to up their technical skills, when they really need to up their mindset
• Outer world ALWAYS follows inner world. If you think your life is too hectic, take a look at your mind, and your inner world
• Understand the difference between advice and opinion. If someone is giving you advice on a skill set, that’s important to heed. But if you’re too concerned about other people’s opinion, it’s a waste of energy
• Understand that everyone is the star of their own movie. That’s why it’s such a waste to modify your behavior based on what other people think. You’re only supporting cast at most, and often just extras. So modifying your behavior for them is a waste of time
• If you feel depressed, go help other people
• Write down what you’re grateful for to help make it less about you
• Don’t be distracted by news that doesn’t affect you. Focus  on your life. Try giving up news for 30 days, and see if you’re any worse off. You’ll probably be better off
• Practice over-delivering in whatever you’re doing.  The best job security is to do more than you get paid for
• The brain doesn’t process negation. Don’t focus on the negative, focus on the positive

The 7 steps

1. Stop swimming in GOOP: Good Opinion of Other People
2. Stop making it about you. Create something that brings other people massive amounts of value to be successful
3. Upgrade your environment. You will conform to those that are around you, so surround yourself with people who are what you want to be
4. Raise your level of consciousness. Understand that life happens by you, not to you. You are responsible for everything that happens in your life
5. Understand what money is. Your financial bank account should not lead your emotional bank account. The emotional bank account actually leads the financial bank account. Money is nothing more than perception of abundance, triggered by gratitude. Money in the bank account is nothing more than a by-product of the value you can add
6. Check your identity. Identity governs over 90% of what you do. Ask, who am I? Your labels limit you, so carefully define and understand your identity. Decide who you are consciously, and live that life
7. Give your gift. Everyone has a unique gift to give, so focus on yours and give it

Resources

Get My Book Notes on 3 Life-Changing Books

PeterSage.com

Peter Sage on Youtube

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/164

Get your question answered by James on the Podcast! Click here.

“Rather than live in a narrow, flatlined life, why not climb the peaks and fall in the troughs of extraordinary life.” - Peter Sage

(click to tweet)

Are you focused enough on leveling up yourself? Most business owners, or people who want to do more in life, think that they need to acquire new skill sets, when in reality they need to acquire new mindsets. New skills will only allow entrepreneurs to make the same amount of money different ways, but a new mindset will allow the an entrepreneur to make more money, and do more good in the world.

Peter Sage is my guest today. As a serial entrepreneur (he’s started approximately 23 companies)  he understand what leads to success in business, as well as what leads to failure, and he has experienced both. Today, he’s sharing 7 ways to reinvent yourself to really level-up in business and life in a big way!

If you’ve ever wanted to get more out of your life, to increase both your income and the level of happiness and fulfillment in your life, this episode is for you! Listen up, take notes, and implement these mindset changes today on the James Swanwick Show!

“You cannot reinvent a business without reinventing the person who is leading that business.” - Peter Sage

(click to tweet)

Key Takeaways

• A business is an expression of the business owner. Most business owners are looking for ways to up their technical skills, when they really need to up their mindset
• Outer world ALWAYS follows inner world. If you think your life is too hectic, take a look at your mind, and your inner world
• Understand the difference between advice and opinion. If someone is giving you advice on a skill set, that’s important to heed. But if you’re too concerned about other people’s opinion, it’s a waste of energy
• Understand that everyone is the star of their own movie. That’s why it’s such a waste to modify your behavior based on what other people think. You’re only supporting cast at most, and often just extras. So modifying your behavior for them is a waste of time
• If you feel depressed, go help other people
• Write down what you’re grateful for to help make it less about you
• Don’t be distracted by news that doesn’t affect you. Focus  on your life. Try giving up news for 30 days, and see if you’re any worse off. You’ll probably be better off
• Practice over-delivering in whatever you’re doing.  The best job security is to do more than you get paid for
• The brain doesn’t process negation. Don’t focus on the negative, focus on the positive

The 7 steps

1. Stop swimming in GOOP: Good Opinion of Other People
2. Stop making it about you. Create something that brings other people massive amounts of value to be successful
3. Upgrade your environment. You will conform to those that are around you, so surround yourself with people who are what you want to be
4. Raise your level of consciousness. Understand that life happens by you, not to you. You are responsible for everything that happens in your life
5. Understand what money is. Your financial bank account should not lead your emotional bank account. The emotional bank account actually leads the financial bank account. Money is nothing more than perception of abundance, triggered by gratitude. Money in the bank account is nothing more than a by-product of the value you can add
6. Check your identity. Identity governs over 90% of what you do. Ask, who am I? Your labels limit you, so carefully define and understand your identity. Decide who you are consciously, and live that life
7. Give your gift. Everyone has a unique gift to give, so focus on yours and give it

Resources

Get My Book Notes on 3 Life-Changing Books

PeterSage.com

Peter Sage on Youtube

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/164

Get your question answered by James on the Podcast! Click here.

How are you going to propose? What makes for a good proposal? And what larger advice for relationships can we learn from the way proposals are handled can we learn?

Today I’m talking with Dina Mary Zaky who, as it turns out, has been proposed to 3 times! (?!?) Find out how guys get it right, how they get it wrong, and where we disagree about all of this. Everyone has different opinions about the way relationships, and defining moments in relationships, should be handled, and that’s what this episode is all about.

So if you want some insight into what Dina and I think are the right and wrong ways to go about it, listen on, and learn, on this episode of the James Swanwick Show!

Key Takeaways:

• Girlfriends/wives will judge your actions based on the thought they can tell you put into it
• The more specific your actions towards the individual, the more meaningful they are
• Grand gestures can work… but can also backfire in a BIG way
• Be completely honest about where you are in any relationship to avoid hurting people worse than you have to

Resources:

Get My Book Notes on 3 Life-Changing Books Free!

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/163

Get your question answered by James on the Podcast! Click here.

A lot of us find ourselves in frustrating situations, with people who routinely frustrate us, much of the time. Often, we imagine that it is completely out of our control to feel frustrated, as it is somebody else who is frustrating us, right? Maybe not…

As it turns out, there is a simple exercise, outlined in the book “Loving What Is” by Byron Katie, and I’m reviewing that book on this episode of The James Swanwick Show.

When you put negative and frustrating aspects of your life through the 4 question test, and really devote and give yourself over entirely to the process, you will find that you have a lot more control over how you feel about your situation than you think! Learn how, on this episode of The James Swanwick Show!

Key Takeaways

• Whenever you’re frustrated about anything, put it through those 4 questions
• Whenever you think something, turn it around, and find 3 different examples of where that turnaround is true
• Question anything that you think or feel
• Whenever you have a negative thought, imagine yourself completely without the thought, and imagine what that reality is like
• Apply all of these questions and exercises to anything negative in your life

There are 4 questions that we can ask ourselves to completely change our life

1. Is it true?
2. Can you absolutely know that it is true?
3. How do you react when you think that thought?
4. Who would you be without that thought?

Resources:

“Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life” by Byron Katie

Get My Book Notes on 3 Life-Changing Books!

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/162