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Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/208

“The way you make your money will affect how happy it makes you.” - James Swanwick

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The old saying, “money can’t buy happiness” is ingrained in our society on a deep level. The idea of the rich businessman who pursues money at the cost of all else including relationships and family, and ends up old with lots of money and no fulfillment in life is a common story, frequently passed on.

Today I’m tackling the questions, “Can money buy happiness?” And I think my answer may surprise you.

Yes! But the important differentiator between if more money makes you happier or not is how you earned it. If you have created a product or service that you really believe in, and you know is helping people, more money means more sales, which means that more of your product/service is getting into the hands of those who need it, which means your happiness levels increase as you do more good.

So the age-old saying, “money can’t buy happiness,” is actually false! Provided your increase in money comes in a way that you feel good about and really believe in, more money can indeed equal more happiness. In this episode I am talking about all of that, as well as how it relates to my current business situation as Swannies have started to sell very well, so listen up to get a deeper look at all of that!

“When you believe in your product or service, the more you sell, the better you feel about yourself.” - James Swanwick

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Key Takeaways

• The way you make your money will affect how happy it makes you
• Financial goals help you keep track of where you are and where you want to go, and reaching those goals is very satisfying as a way to show where you are and where you’ve come from
• When you believe in your product or service, the more you sell, the better you feel about yourself
• The more good your product or service does in the world, the better you feel as you level up and sell more and more, creating more income as well as happiness in you life
• The difference between making money with a product you believe in and one you don’t is huge
• Having the ability to make money and knowing that you have that ability will give you additional confidence
• Finances are one very tangible way of measuring progress, and good progress brings a lot of happiness
• But always be careful to avoid the “hedonic treadmill” of spending more as you earn more

Resources

SwanwickSleep.com (Swannies Glasses)

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/208

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

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/207

As one of the most successful businessmen of the modern age, Jeff Bezos has built an incredible brand and business empire through Amazon. He has proven an adaptability to different circumstances, focus and stamina to whether difficult times, and a keen eye for where the market is going.

Today I’m reviewing the book “The Everything Store” by Brad Stone, and digging into exactly what about Jeff Bezos has allowed him to become so successful. Something you will notice about him as well as many other highly successful businessmen is that he has seemingly boundless energy to work and get things done.

Starting and running a business is difficult and requires hard work and perseverance, so this kind of energy will go far. Learn what else about Jeff Bezos has helped him in business, so that you can take those same concepts and apply them to your own life to become more successful in your own endeavors, today, on the James Swanwick Show!

Key Takeaways

• When you really focus on what you want, and spend time thinking about it, it’s as if it appears everywhere around you
• In business, the customer always comes first
• Don’t be too concerned with what other people are thinking
• Study people who have done what you want to do, and copy them
• Don’t take defeat personally. Learn, and move on
• Continually ask and try to find out what the customer really wants
• Rely on statistics and numbers to make decisions, but also listen to personal stories
• Don’t be afraid to fail

Resources

“The Everything Store” by Brad Stone

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/207

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

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/206

“In selling, understand that you are almost always selling a transformation, not a product.” - Jim Miller

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When it comes to sales, there’s a definite right and wrong way to do things, and a surprisingly large number of salespeople and people trying to convince anyone of anything take the completely wrong approach.

Today I am talking with Jim Miller about the sales strategy and process that he taught me, which helped me sell millions of dollars in product sales for Tai Lopez. We’re going through the exact steps that you need to following, in order for the prospect to fully understand the value of what you are selling, and to be empowered to take action to really change their life.

And that is a core principle of what Jim Miller is teaching in this episode: You are not trying to push your product or service on them, you are trying to help them take the action that they need to take in order to become the person that they want to be!

“Today is the only day to get started. Assume nothing less.” - Jim Miller

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Key Takeaways:

• Move out of a product/transactional focus to a relational/conversational focus
• Ask to understand the prospect in-depth. You have to get to know them at a core level
• Understand that you are almost always selling a transformation, not a product
• Ask if the client can envision the life they would have with your product. What does it look like?
• Your goal is to show the prospect the future, ideal you. The “fantasy state.” The prospect needs to feel like they really are that person in the fantasy state.
• Move to “What is it that has kept you from the fantasy state?” This moves to the “despair state.”
• Future pace: Ask what will happen if they continue the way they have been going?
• Create a story in their head of the despair state if they do not make the change
• Then, future pace of how they would feel and what their life would look like if they purchased
• Create a cognitive dissonance by the fact that they have a desire to be some way, but are not taking the actions that they should to get there
• Reveal through generalization and minimization. “The program is very simple, all my clients were like you, and here is what has happened to all my clients.” Three main points of the program. And the economics of the program are this.
• Today is the only day to get started. Assume nothing less
• There are no objections, only resistance.
• Always align with the resistance. “Yes, it is a lot of money.” And that’s it. Align with the prospect
• “All of my clients in your position today have said the same thing in one way or another. Here’s the questions I asked them that I will ask you as well. I was talking to my client, and I asked when was a time when you wanted to wait but took action.” And hold them to thinking of that time

Resources:

themillersystem.com

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/206

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

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/205

"Meditation is not easy for many people, and only rewards those who really commit to it in the long run." - James Swanwick

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What you can do that will only take 10-minutes out of every day, but will lead to your being calmer, thinking things through more thoroughly, and not reacting in the heat of the moment? The answer, of course, is meditation!

I have just recently gotten back into the habit of doing a daily meditation, and I have found that a mere 10 minutes in the morning can drastically affect the rest of the day, as far as how productive and focused I am.

Think about it: 10 minutes a day to change your life is nothing! Give it a try! I am, and am so far loving it. On this episode, I am going to answer all of your questions regarding meditation, how I practice it, and what it has done for me. Enjoy!

"10 minutes a day is enough to see real results in meditation." - James Swanwick

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Key Takeaways:

• When you meditate, for the rest of the day you will find yourself more able to handle momentary difficulties throughout the day without freaking out
• Meditation is not easy for many people, and only rewards those who really commit to it in the long run
• 10 minutes a day is enough to see real results in meditation
• The mind is often far too overactive, and meditation will calm it for the rest of the day
• Meditation will increase your awareness of when you’re going crazy, and help you to know to stop it before it takes off
• When you’re calmer, you act smarter because you really think things through

Resources:

Headspace

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/205

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

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/205

"Meditation is not easy for many people, and only rewards those who really commit to it in the long run." - James Swanwick

(click to tweet)

What you can do that will only take 10-minutes out of every day, but will lead to your being calmer, thinking things through more thoroughly, and not reacting in the heat of the moment? The answer, of course, is meditation!

I have just recently gotten back into the habit of doing a daily meditation, and I have found that a mere 10 minutes in the morning can drastically affect the rest of the day, as far as how productive and focused I am.

Think about it: 10 minutes a day to change your life is nothing! Give it a try! I am, and am so far loving it. On this episode, I am going to answer all of your questions regarding meditation, how I practice it, and what it has done for me. Enjoy!

"10 minutes a day is enough to see real results in meditation." - James Swanwick

(click to tweet)

Key Takeaways:

• When you meditate, for the rest of the day you will find yourself more able to handle momentary difficulties throughout the day without freaking out
• Meditation is not easy for many people, and only rewards those who really commit to it in the long run
• 10 minutes a day is enough to see real results in meditation
• The mind is often far too overactive, and meditation will calm it for the rest of the day
• Meditation will increase your awareness of when you’re going crazy, and help you to know to stop it before it takes off
• When you’re calmer, you act smarter because you really think things through

Resources:

Headspace

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/205

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

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/204

The term “diet” has become very commonplace in modern language. The idea that people will go on a diet for a set period of time, to try to whip their body into the shape they want, before plunging directly back into the habits and lifestyle that brought them to the point of needing a diet in the first place, is a vicious cycle.

So the solution for how to stick to a diet is simple: Don’t diet! Instead, focus on living a healthy but sustainable lifestyle. For me, this means eating about 80% healthy foods, and 20% junk food or cheat meals. This way I am not torturing myself and my body to eat healthily, to the point where it is no longer sustainable, but rather sticking to a percentage that is sustainable.

Everybody’s body will be different, and react differently to different health choices.. But the broad concept here is true and broadly applicable to everyone. Don’t diet! Focus on a healthy lifestyle and eating habits that you will be able to keep up in the long run, leading to a far healthier you!

Key Takeaways:

• You shouldn’t be on a diet in the first place! Instead, you should be on a consistently healthy lifestyle
• When people try to do a diet instead of a healthy lifestyle, they lose weight, but then put it back on down the road
• Don't’ starve yourself or be too strict because it’s not sustainable
• Have a 80/20 lifestyle: 80% very healthy, and 20% ‘cheat’ meals
• Know yourself, your body and your limits, then stick to them!

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/204

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

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/204

The term “diet” has become very commonplace in modern language. The idea that people will go on a diet for a set period of time, to try to whip their body into the shape they want, before plunging directly back into the habits and lifestyle that brought them to the point of needing a diet in the first place, is a vicious cycle.

So the solution for how to stick to a diet is simple: Don’t diet! Instead, focus on living a healthy but sustainable lifestyle. For me, this means eating about 80% healthy foods, and 20% junk food or cheat meals. This way I am not torturing myself and my body to eat healthily, to the point where it is no longer sustainable, but rather sticking to a percentage that is sustainable.

Everybody’s body will be different, and react differently to different health choices.. But the broad concept here is true and broadly applicable to everyone. Don’t diet! Focus on a healthy lifestyle and eating habits that you will be able to keep up in the long run, leading to a far healthier you!

Key Takeaways:

• You shouldn’t be on a diet in the first place! Instead, you should be on a consistently healthy lifestyle
• When people try to do a diet instead of a healthy lifestyle, they lose weight, but then put it back on down the road
• Don't’ starve yourself or be too strict because it’s not sustainable
• Have a 80/20 lifestyle: 80% very healthy, and 20% ‘cheat’ meals
• Know yourself, your body and your limits, then stick to them!

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/204

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

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/203

“For the sake of survival, nature intended for us to be healthy.” - Darryl Edwards

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The old health advice was simply “go to the gym and make sure to eat your fruits and veggies.” But we’ve moved far beyond that in our understanding of what makes for a healthy lifestyle, one that promotes a long, healthy life, and Darryl Edwards is talking about what exactly that means on today’s episode.

The closer that we can get in fitness to the behaviors and movements to what our ancestors would do, as a very general rule, the healthier we will be, and this is the foundation of the paleo diet. Instead of going to the gym and doing the exact same movement with the exact same weight many times over (which would never happen in nature), find new, more creative and constantly changing ways to challenge yourself physically.

In nutrition, shoot to eat mainly the things that a caveman would eat, such as meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, while avoiding dairy, wheat and other grains, and legumes, as well as processed foods, or even foods that contain those (such as wheat-fed meats, etc). This may seem simple, but you will find that it is far removed from the common diet of today, and will provide you with far more energy, mental clarity, and fitness benefits than some of the more common approaches to diet today.

So if you want to learn how to become a better you in many ways, this episode is for you! Listen up, take notes, and refer to the bullet points below, and most importantly implement it in some way TODAY to start taking your life to the next level!

“If the animals you eat are healthier, you will be healthier as a consequence.” - Darryl Edwards

(click to tweet)

Key Takeaways

• For the sake of survival, nature intended for us to be healthy
• In the past, in order to obtain foods, we needed to utilize a very wide range of different movements
• In the modern age, we can avoid movement for the most part, but it is very detrimental to our health
• With modern advances in medicine and treatment, we’re living for longer, but we’re living less healthy
• If the animals you eat are healthier, you will be healthier as a consequence
• A lot of physical fitness focuses on one type of fitness, such as only cardio, or only strength, when the best lifestyle fitness is one that combines a very wide variety of types of fitness and movement
• Practical movements that have or used to have everyday use are the ones that usually provide the most health benefits
• The downside of lifting at the gym is that people tend to do the exact same movement and weight over and over again, often leading to injuries or strains
• Take the stairs, not the escalator
• Stand more than you sit

What you should eat

• Meat
• Fish
• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Nuts
• Seeds

Avoid

• Dairy
• Wheat and other grains
• Legumes

Resources

TheFitnessExplorer.com

“Paleo Fitness: A Primal Training and Nutrition Program to Get Lean, Strong and Healthy” by Darryl Edwards (book)

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/203

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

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/203

“For the sake of survival, nature intended for us to be healthy.” - Darryl Edwards

(click to tweet)

The old health advice was simply “go to the gym and make sure to eat your fruits and veggies.” But we’ve moved far beyond that in our understanding of what makes for a healthy lifestyle, one that promotes a long, healthy life, and Darryl Edwards is talking about what exactly that means on today’s episode.

The closer that we can get in fitness to the behaviors and movements to what our ancestors would do, as a very general rule, the healthier we will be, and this is the foundation of the paleo diet. Instead of going to the gym and doing the exact same movement with the exact same weight many times over (which would never happen in nature), find new, more creative and constantly changing ways to challenge yourself physically.

In nutrition, shoot to eat mainly the things that a caveman would eat, such as meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, while avoiding dairy, wheat and other grains, and legumes, as well as processed foods, or even foods that contain those (such as wheat-fed meats, etc). This may seem simple, but you will find that it is far removed from the common diet of today, and will provide you with far more energy, mental clarity, and fitness benefits than some of the more common approaches to diet today.

So if you want to learn how to become a better you in many ways, this episode is for you! Listen up, take notes, and refer to the bullet points below, and most importantly implement it in some way TODAY to start taking your life to the next level!

“If the animals you eat are healthier, you will be healthier as a consequence.” - Darryl Edwards

(click to tweet)

Key Takeaways

• For the sake of survival, nature intended for us to be healthy
• In the past, in order to obtain foods, we needed to utilize a very wide range of different movements
• In the modern age, we can avoid movement for the most part, but it is very detrimental to our health
• With modern advances in medicine and treatment, we’re living for longer, but we’re living less healthy
• If the animals you eat are healthier, you will be healthier as a consequence
• A lot of physical fitness focuses on one type of fitness, such as only cardio, or only strength, when the best lifestyle fitness is one that combines a very wide variety of types of fitness and movement
• Practical movements that have or used to have everyday use are the ones that usually provide the most health benefits
• The downside of lifting at the gym is that people tend to do the exact same movement and weight over and over again, often leading to injuries or strains
• Take the stairs, not the escalator
• Stand more than you sit

What you should eat

• Meat
• Fish
• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Nuts
• Seeds

Avoid

• Dairy
• Wheat and other grains
• Legumes

Resources

TheFitnessExplorer.com

“Paleo Fitness: A Primal Training and Nutrition Program to Get Lean, Strong and Healthy” by Darryl Edwards (book)

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/203

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

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/202

“When you get into a new environment and culture, out of whatever comfort zone you have, it forces you to think differently.” – James Swanwick

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Lots of people would like to be the life of the party. But the truth is that, in order for that to happen, not only do you need to be outgoing and charismatic, you have to be interesting!

Don’t skip that most important step! Lots of people think they just need to be loud, but you need something to talk about! This is the reason that I so strongly recommend that everyone travel while they’re young! Simply making this decision does so much for you! You get out of your comfort zone, start to look at life from a different perspective, you can educate yourself at the same time through audiobooks and podcasts, and you become a more interesting person!

Travelling while you’re young kills lots of birds with one stone. Even if you’re not as young as you once were, you’re the youngest you’ll ever be, so travel if you can! If finances are an issue, go to a country where your currency will go further, but find a way to have these experiences! You will not regret it!

“The best time to travel is now if you possibly can.” – James Swanwick

(click to tweet)

Key Takeaways:

• Emphatically: YES! Travel while you’re young!
• When you get into a new environment and culture, out of whatever comfort zone you have, it forces you to think differently
• It will help you see things in your life from a different perspective
• Use travel time to educate yourself at the same time, through audiobooks, podcasts, etc. You will have lots of opportunities for this during travelling
• The best time to travel is now, if you possibly can
• If finances are a difficulty, go to countries where your money will go further
• Find ways to force yourself out of your comfort zone
• Travelling simply makes you more interesting! The experiences give you more to talk about
• Document your travels, through youtube, or whatever medium makes sense for you

Show Notes: JamesSwanwick.com/202