SPEAKER_00 0:01

Welcome to Local Interview with your host Amber Howard, your weekly post of climate, inspiration, and strategies to have your small business and whole life drive. We bring you incredible guests who share their real life experiences of being an entrepreneur so you can have your whole life work. Now, here's your host, Amber Howard.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to What Would Amber Do? I am honored this morning to be speaking with and have on the show David Perez. David is the CEO of Talking Silkworm. He's a podcast producer, educator, and host of a podcast, a co-host of a podcast himself, and a content marketing expert. David is on a mission to help coaches and entrepreneurs build other people up through their message. David is joining me from Colombia. Thank you so much, David, for being on the show this morning. It's so great to have this time with you.

SPEAKER_02 1:02

Thank you very much for having me, Amber. Really glad to be here.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

Yeah, so good. You are my first guest from this part of the world. So I'm starting to branch out a little bit more, which is exciting for me, being able to connect with people in different places. I love it. And so just, yeah, I'm just really excited to have this conversation. So talk to us a little bit. We usually start these conversations with how did you get to be where you are today, right? It's like you started out as a virtual instructor and teaching English as a second language, and now you're running this business where you help coaches and entrepreneurs get their message out through using podcasting as a vehicle. So, what was that journey like?

SPEAKER_03 1:42

Uh okay, it it my background is in education. I have a degree in education, and I was a teacher for eight and a half years before being an entrepreneur. And you might think there is no connection between teaching and podcast production and helping people uh build their audiences, but there is a very close connection. Uh I started creating podcasts as a teacher. I created them for my students, and and what I did with the podcasts is uh create an additional res an additional resource for them so they will have uh, for example, if they had common questions, common mistakes, common situations, or needed like uh additional materials, I will tackle all these issues on the different podcast episodes. I will really a week. And that's pretty much what you do as a podcaster. Like you find uh your potential listeners, uh, I don't know, common questions, common misconceptions, common challenges, and you create answers around that. So as a teacher, I got experience uh creating and editing podcasts. Uh I also did some podcasts as a hobby, but then I started uh creating them for other people. Because um, as a teacher here, I don't know, I think it's the same in a lot of different parts of the world. Uh, your contracts are not very friendly. Like teaching is a lovely experience. I love working with the students, but usually the contracts are about like four months, like I uh universities, for example, like four or five months, like very short. So uh I started producing podcasts for other people just as a side business. And at a point, my side business uh was uh giving me as much money as my main job. So there was a point where things changed, like the contract contracting rules changed, uh, and I was long no longer hired at the university. But but that time I already had a lot of clients. I had already hired an employee, and I was already making as much money as in my my old job. So that was pretty much how I got into this. Um my teaching background has helped me a lot, Amber. Uh, not only in terms of my background in podcasting, but also in how you use language to communicate things and to help people. Because my my my background is particularly in teaching languages. That's that's what what my degree is in. So a lot of that was how to use speaking and writing to convey a message and to establish communication and to build rapport with other people. And that's exactly the same thing you do with podcasting and what you do in other areas of of, for example, of business. Something very important I learned from that is that skills are transferable. A lot of stuff I learned as a teacher, I apply now as a business owner.

SPEAKER_01 4:38

I I love what you're what you're saying here. And and in a minute, like I want to get into like why podcasting, right? Why is podcasting such a powerful vehicle for entrepreneurs and business people? And so a couple of things. One, I love the innovation I hear for you as an educator. It's like, you know, how can I best meet the needs of these students? Oh, look, like I've got all of these students, they have these common, like, common challenges that they're dealing with. And like, let me create a podcast, I think, is like just that speaks to who you are as an as an educator and and someone who is like always looking to find ways to serve, right? The people that you're committed to serving. I think that's beautiful. And this whole piece about language, I've done years and years of personal development in like, you know, um, ontology and and phenomenology and beingness, and and I I believe that we are all networks of conversations. Yes. And that is actually what it it is to be a human being, is to be engaged in at all times, and we're always engaged in all of these networks of conversations. And so I think when you understand that as a you know, we're always communicating something, even when we're not saying it, you know, even when we're not necessarily saying anything, our our lack of communication is communicating something. That is correct, yes. So when you can, as a business person when and an entrepreneur, and just as a leader in whatever you're up to in life, when you can really get that and and then say, okay, well, what am I communicating out to the people around me? What am I saying? And then start to get responsible for what you're communicating, and then start using language to actually create what it is that you want to create versus what kind of gets created by default from the past. I think it's so powerful.

SPEAKER_03 6:28

Yeah. And I think that's what gives podcasts a lot of power because it's long conversations where you get to see how people unpack their their thoughts and their perspectives and and their their opinions on things and their new new perspectives on things. I think this is very valuable from podcasts that we get to see other perspectives, uh, which is something we don't commonly see anymore because social media usually feeds us what we're already consuming. So uh, if you have this point of view, the feed will uh the algorithm will feed you more of that perspective. Podcasts always will give us different perspectives on different things, and also what what you're saying, and that that's something valuable, and that's something, for example, I sometimes tell my clients is um not everything you want to convey is in the words. A pause can convey a lot, silence can convey a lot, hesitation, alms can convey a lot in terms of how the interaction is going, how your perspectives go around a particular topic. So that's why I always recommend that that if you are publishing or you're recording content, that you can edit it to make it sound better or look better, but don't over-edit because you're gonna start removing all these tiny elements of of language and conversation that are not verbal but are still meaningful.

SPEAKER_01 7:58

I've actually had so right now, just for time's sake, I don't do a a lot of like editing of the actual episodes. Uh sometimes, if there's something that happens during an interview, I'm like, oh, I'll make a note and I'll go back and and take a loud sound out or something. But I actually had some feedback one from one of my some of my guests that they like that because it does kind of like that natural um flow to communication that you know you can watch content sometimes online and it's like you could just see the editing, right? Like you can hear the editing. And I say to anyone who's on my show, like, we're gonna dance in conversation. That we don't have a lot of like, I don't come with a script and I'm not reading the same questions. Like it's very much like I want to know what matters to David Perez. Like, I want to know what's important to you, and I want to be able to give up people an opportunity to get to know what matters to you and why that matters to you. And I call it dancing in conversation. And so what you're pointing to in a hearing that is like those pauses, the you know, the things that we might want to edit out because they we could perceive them to be imperfections and not professional, that is also part of the dance of communication and how two people you you and I have never had a conversation before this morning. We're you know, so we're gonna learn how to dance together in conversation right now without ever having danced together in conversation before. And I think that's that's what does that look like when you and I communicate with one another? I think that's um really special about human relationships that we can do that with one another.

SPEAKER_03 9:37

Yes, totally, totally. And when it comes to podcasts, uh when it comes to podcasts, there is also the the possibility that people are going to be engaged to that conversation for a long time. Like they are going to be listening for an hour. So uh you're going to be building a deep rapport with that listener. So you're gonna be connecting not only with the person with whom you're having this dance, but also with the person who's listening. And I think you've been there, and a lot of people have told me like whenever they sit down and listen to podcasts, they feel they are right there in the same room as the other to speak. They feel like another person in the room. Uh, and that makes it really valuable because it makes them feel they are part of the conversation.

SPEAKER_01 10:25

I uh I think there is an intimacy to podcasting as a as a like the vehicle of podcasting. And it's interesting because I've had a friend of mine who who just caught on to the like she just started listening to the show and she's like been binge listening to every episode. And she's like, I feel like I've been talking to you all week. And it's so great. And then she goes, I also am like getting to know things about you. We've been friends for years. She goes, but I'm getting to know things about you that I didn't know. And it's been really wonderful to get, you know, like all you all of your amazing guests and like listening to what they have to share and what's matter matters to them. But through this process of the the people in my life are getting to know me better as well. And I just want to, which I which is great. And you said a moment ago, David, that podcasts provide people an opportunity to get new perspectives on things, which I hadn't really thought about that element of it until you said that. But you're right. Like, I mean, it seems like these days, anytime you pop online, if the minute you have a thought about something, all of a sudden, like, yeah, I hear jokes with people like Big Brother or whatever, but it's like it's just the the algorithms of how social networks work.

SPEAKER_02 11:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 11:39

But the minute you Google something and then all of a sudden on your Facebook feed, all of like that content is showing up. And it is an opportunity for us to have new conversations about things and talk about things and engage with ideas that we might not normally engage with because there's so much more possible beyond what we can see from our map of the world, right? Like I've got this map of the world that I see like and and and so unless I choose to engage with content, ideas, perspectives outside of my own. So I'm gonna take a sip of water. I've been probably doing a lot of talking already this morning. Um, unless we actively like find new sources of ideas, then we never grow our map. We don't explore outside of what we already know to be possible, which I think is um one of the uh, you know, what you were saying, a huge opportunity of listening to and being engaged with podcasts.

SPEAKER_03 12:48

Yes, uh these conversations are usually uh in in a client of mine defined it as such is free coaching sessions. Like you you're just getting to have conversations, get free coaching sessions, get your mind blown, and share that with your audience. So uh a lot of those perspectives have uh new perspectives I've gotten from from from a lot of the people I've had conversations with. For example, the idea that uh being a podcast guest is an act of service. I mean, I already had in mind uh uh what what what uh being a podcast guest will be like, that your mission was giving value to their listeners, but but I didn't I hadn't thought of that sentence like an act of service. Then I had a conversation with a business coach. His name is George Cow. He has a podcast as well. I don't remember uh the name. But um he was the one who came out with that sentence, and that really stuck on me. I said, okay, this is the core, not just of having conversations, but the whole idea of creating content online if you have a business, like there is nothing more important than providing a service, yes, servicing these people, helping them out, uh helping them get to where they are. This is key. This is very important. And and and I always insist on this, Andrew, and I always use this sentence uh from George Cow because uh sadly there is a misconception, and then we can go back to the reference to social media because social media is quick and immediate, and I quick results, and I have I want to have uh these many followers, and I have I want to have this many results, and I have want to have this and that. Um it's not transactional, like conversations are not transactional. Relationships, the relationships you build with podcasting are not transactional. Like you you shouldn't be thinking of course, I mean, money is important, selling your products or services is important, but that's not gonna be the core or the main purpose of your conversations is offering value and connecting with people.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

I love what you're saying because to me that that when that leads, when when leaving people that impression of increase, when when when what leads is people and relationship and connection because it is one of my core values and my core beliefs that love, connection, and belonging are fundamental to well-being and success. Like and the money will follow. And we also participate in in various conversations around like putting ourselves first or or you know, starting with us. And and it's interesting because I think there is a balance there. Like we do need to fill up our own cups, we do need to take care of ourselves, and we do need to be out in life creating our vision, what we want, not sacrificing those things for other people. And at the same time, I think part of the fundamental, like what's fundamental to human beings is wanting to contribute to one another. It's like a fundamental desire of a human being. And that's when life really gets to me joyous, is when when I'm being out in the world contributing to other people. And then the money shows up, the opportunities show up, and it's not like a in order to, it's just as a natural function of me being about other human beings in my interactions.

SPEAKER_03 16:44

Yes, absolutely. That's that's why, and and maybe that's why we have such a nice connection, is because uh we have a different perspective on business. Like uh success is not measured just in terms of income or how much money you're making. That's that's one of the different ways you can measure success, but there are other areas of of that. Uh, I think I used to I used to be uh engaged a little bit to this kind of uh hustle culture thing, which is uh it seems very, very strong still in in a lot of young entrepreneurs in North America, which is put your head down and work. If you have to work 10, 12, 16, 18 hours a week, work Saturdays and Sundays, like don't take a break. Like I started out like that, and then I said, I'm burdening myself out. This is costing me my mental health, my physical health, and my time with my family, because I have children. So this is this is really ridiculous. Like, like I could be making a lot more money if I were doing that kind of thing, but at what cost? So uh absolutely money is important, and it's something you should that should be on like on your list of priorities, but it should be it shouldn't be your only thing on your list and priorities. There is something I and I I'm sure like you you've you've um as a public speaker, and because of the perspectives you you approach, maybe you are aware of the wheel of wellness. It's like uh uh it's like different aspects in your life that you should pay attention to, or that you need to pay attention to, and that you should be that should be balanced in order for you to have a healthy life. So there is emotional health, there is uh relationships, there is physical health, nutrition, uh and other aspects, including money.

SPEAKER_01 18:31

Yeah, I love that, you know. I mean, and there's a couple of them out there. I typically go with the one that has like eight different dimensions of well-being on it. And I um what I what I say to people is like every one of us is unique, which I think is like so great, right? Like, so what it looks like to have a happy, successful life isn't that like my life looks exactly like David's. Like, I get to look at that wheel of wellness and say, what does it mean for me to be satisfied in each of these areas? Like, what's my best life intellectually, emotionally, socially, physically, financially, in terms of my occupation and my career? And and for some people, there'd be a greater emphasis on physical well-being because that's something that's really it's a priority for them. Other people, it's social relationships. Uh and I think what it looks like to live our best life is that that wheel is balanced in whatever way that is important and matters to us as individuals. But um, it definitely I think it takes one of the things I train people in is how to schedule to have your whole life work. Because most people, and we we sort of go from the wheel of wellness and we look like you you develop your schedule requirements. Like how what do I need, what are all of the things I need to be paying attention to? And for a lot of people, they were never taught that. So, you know, thank you for presencing that. I I think um it's it's very important that we we take care of all of the different elements of our life.

SPEAKER_03 20:02

Yes. And another thing, uh Amber, is uh as you age, your priorities change. Like in your 20s, your priorities are I don't know, usually money and like going out and having fun. But in your 30s, in my case, for example, my priority is time, quality time is being able to spend time with my kids in family. So uh I'm sure that's that's very important for a lot of entrepreneurs. Like once you realize uh what your your own definition of success is, time I think is the only asset that you can never get back. And you can make my like if you you if you lose money, you invest, and you lose money, you can make that money back somehow. But time is the only resource you can never get back.

SPEAKER_01 20:46

Yeah, it's uh to go back to what you said a few minutes ago about this whole idea of hustle culture. You know, we really like that's part of that again, back to the networks of conversations that we participated in. I did for a long time in my life, uh, this idea that, like, you know, if you want to get anywhere in life, you must work hard. And and that, like what it looks like to be successful, and and the relationship between being successful, earning a lot of money, having abundance, whatever that looks like for you, again, it's a unique thing. That in order to have that, it must look like this, right? It looks like working 12, 16 hours a day, grinding it out seven days a week. And if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, that's what's required. And I'm learning more and more. The more I I take care of all of my well-being, the more I like the more I learn to listen to my body. And when my body's saying, like, you need some rest, you know, and I do, like I'm up to a lot in life, and I and I like my life that way. I design my life that way. Some people look at my life and they're like, wow, you've got so much going on. I enjoy that. It like actually is joyful for me to have a lot of different things that I'm engaged with.

unknown 21:59

And

SPEAKER_01 22:00

And this week in particular was a really great exercise and like really discovering at a deeper level when I just relax into it and trust that everything is gonna get taken care of. All of the things, the commitments that I have will be fulfilled upon. And I don't have to be in that grinding energy of working hard. And it's I love the book. I don't know if you've ever read it, You Squared by Price Pritchard. And it's like a, it's he, he, it's a very short book, but it's so powerful and it talks about how to cause quantum leaps in our performance. And big part of that conversation is giving up this idea of working hard, that actually working hard uh gets in the way of our success at some point in time because it's just it's not sustainable over time. And we're one of the I I'm a philosopher at heart, David. So one of my new inquiries is like, how could I facilitate my vision for humanity, for life, for people through others? What would that actually look like to facilitate other people fulfilling on my vision for the world? Uh and and so that would look like doing a lot less. And but being a but clearing, creating a clearing, creating a space, working with other people so that they can go on and fulfill on the things that are important to them. Um and and I'm I'm definitely uh recovering, like someone who who's just in that doing energy to achieve something. Like it's a you've got to create new brain patterns around not doing all the time.

SPEAKER_03 23:44

Yes, yes, yes, absolutely. Now that you mentioned the the the part of uh fulfilling or feeling fulfilled, uh like it it can work both outside of what you do uh in your profession as well as inside. Uh and for instance, like I particularly work, uh I have clients in different areas, but a lot of them are healthy wellness coaches or business coaches. And I love that I help them help other people make their dreams true. Either it's in terms of building their own business, I think that's your your area, like be build your business, be your mindset in the right way, so you can balance out like uh uh work and life and that that that those areas, and also like in terms of nutrition, in terms of uh mindfulness, meditation, parenting, that that's very important, also. Uh so I really I really appreciate it and I enjoy and I feel really really rewarded, even though the listeners will never get to know. I I like my hands were part of the creation of that show. Uh, that message is still getting through, get through and transforming lives. So I love, for example, uh that I I have a couple of clients who create podcasts on parenting, and it's great because like as a parent, you do need a lot of help and you did need a lot of advice. Uh before like before my son was born, I had an idea of parenting that was uh like molded by by media, you know, like super romanticized, like everything is laughter and like butterflies and everything is beautiful. And no, like when you when the kid is born, like, oh my god, I I barely had two hours of sleep, uh, and and I have bags in my ass, and I need to go to work, but I don't have energy, and the baby's crying. But that that actually those elements are very important when it comes to building the connection with your baby. So that's something you get to learn through through a lot of podcasts, uh, not only in health and weather, but also in business and in other areas. You get to transform people's lives.

SPEAKER_01 25:52

I what I hear on what you're saying is like the ripple effects, right? Like we'll never know. And this is like regardless of whether you're a podcaster or a business person, like we will just never know all of the lives that our life has touched. Like that, and that's part of like the legacy that we lead as human beings. Um, and something that we have an opportunity to maybe be responsible for in a way that we haven't been in the past. Like, what what what are the ripple effects that I leave in life? How do I leave other people? What's the experience that people have of being with me? Um and I kind of love the the image that I just got of you, David, like with all of these different shows that you and audience coach of are creating and working on and supporting is like all of like these like stones, like you just throw out a stone, and then you know, the ripple effects of that out into the world and all of the people's lives who get touch. And like, and then the people that you you know you touch one person's lives and that creates like another ripple, like it's another stone, and they hear something on the show that they then go take into their communities. And I I remember because I get uh updates on you know different places where the where my show is um having an impact. And I remember getting a notification that you know we were like, I don't know, 113th on the in Malaysia, and it was like, what people in Malaysia are listening to my show? Like I couldn't even have imagined. And like, how great is that that we like that that's available? Like, you know, it wasn't that long ago in human history that to get a communication, you know, like a war would end in France and they were still fighting it out in the colonies for months afterwards because it would take months to get a communication from you know Europe to the New World so that people would know, oh, by the way, the war's done, you could stop killing each other, right? Like I know that's an extreme example, but just the power of our ability to communicate in today's world and and and contribute to one another uh is just like it's kind of mind-blowing when you think about how much is transformed in communication in such a short period of time.

SPEAKER_03 28:09

Yes, and also there is a thing that being able to create that effect nowadays is super easy and super cheap. Like maybe 25, 30 years ago, you would have needed like a lot of money and equipment, very expensive, I don't know, broadcasting antennas and machines and cameras and microphones, blah, blah, blah. Like a lot of things. But now you just buy a microphone which is like a hundred dollars or even less than that, and you can have people listening to you on the other side of the world. Yeah, like the investment and the in the work you need nowadays is like technology is so cheap and so accessible to us that you can create it easily, that you can be creating this impact today, today if you wish. That's why I always insist to to to to business owners and coaches, uh, like why why are you why are you spending your time? Of course, of course you can't spend time like uh on Instagram and TikTok and following social media, like you, why not? But why are you spending so much of your time consuming that content when you yourself, as a coach, as an entrepreneur, have a love to share and a lot to teach. Why are you not creating content to transform other people's lives as well?

SPEAKER_01 29:23

It's I I think that's really great. And I and I think part of it's interesting because I think part of what gets in people's way sometimes is like, you know, fear of public speaking. I think it's up there, like it's pretty closely tied to for a lot of people, it might be more um fearful than dying. Um, you know, so there is this like there is this thing about being seen. I think they're part of that, and you and you talk about this, this idea of like, don't wait until you're ready. And I'm there's this great quote from Hugh Laurie that I've shared before that I just love, and he's an American actor. Um, for those listening who may not know him, he's been on quite a few different shows, but most one of the more famous ones was House. And he says, it's a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you're ready. I have this feeling that now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now, and you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any. And uh, I just love that because I think people die. Dreams die. Like they say that the the the most the richest place is a graveyard with all of the dreams that are that died there, the ideas that never got fulfilled on. People literally die waiting to be ready to pursue what their heart really wants. Yeah. And um, and if we just give that up, like what if you're never actually ready?

SPEAKER_03 30:54

Yes, yeah, absolutely. I think it's the same example with people. Sorry, go ahead. Oh no, please, go ahead. Uh is it's a similar example. People who save like uh particular outfits for special occasions and they never get to wear them because then a special occasion never occurs. So uh I like to dress up sometimes, like I put on blazers and I look very, very, very elegant just because, just because I feel like it. And I like it might look like out of place. I don't care. I I like how I feel. And for me, just like going out and and enjoying another day is is uh something to celebrate. Uh going back to the public speaking thing, yeah, it's it's funny to see how it's is such a strong fear, even more uh or even bigger than the fear of dying. Uh, I'm an introvert. I I am gonna set myself as an example. I'm an introvert. Uh and I happen to study to be a teacher, which forces you to be in front of groups of people all of the time. So I had shock therapy, like nobody prepared me for it. Like I was uh in the teacher training, then I had to go face my first group. My my hands were shaking and sweaty, like it was like this, and my voice was was trembling. But it went like after five minutes, everything passed, and it was completely okay. So, usually that fear is something we create in our heads, but when we leave the actual experience, we see oh this is not such a big deal, not at all. In particular, in my case, like uh I I had to do that, I have to speak in front of a public as an introvert. Now I'm used to it, like I can go in front of like five different classrooms in front of an auditorium, and I'm cool with it. And and I have to do it in a language that is not my native language, like that that will add another layer of complexity to it, and I'm I'm still able to do it. So um you're never gonna be ready. There is always uh uh a point or or a stage where you're gonna be afraid, and it's okay, it's normal. Uh, because you're getting out of your comfort zone. There is no way you're gonna be out of your comfort zone being comfortable. Like it has to generate something, uh, anxiety or or like it has to generate something, but it was is gonna pass. And then you're gonna be on the other side of things, and you're gonna say was not a big deal, and the results are gonna be a lot, a lot greater than you thought they will be. Like you being in front of a public, getting their interaction, getting that feedback, getting that connection is awesome.

SPEAKER_01 33:34

I I can't, I can't, I love everything you're saying, and I can't agree more. And and for me, one of the things that I find is like when when I stop having it be about me, right? When it's like, okay, why am I even doing this? Like, why did I want? And I remember when I started launching my podcast, I'm like, is anyone gonna listen? Like, I don't know, right? Like, because you're always like an expert within your group of friends, right? Like people, you know, if you're someone who's like inspirational, is but it's like, well, is is what I have to say gonna resonate with people beyond my immediate social network, right? Is what I have to say gonna like, are people actually gonna want to listen to what it is that I want to say and and the kind of people that I attract to me and then the messages, like it, because I think inherently we want it to be of value, and there's always that, and it's like, okay, you just gotta, you just gotta jump in, and it everything in life really starts with a decision first. And and I love this whole idea that actually in the body, fear and excitement are the same experience in the body. So it's like, okay, well, I could just choose. I was having I do a live every morning right now in my Facebook group, uh, Leaders for Life, and we were talking about like reframing. So that part of the the power of our conscious mind is that we can reframe any experience. And and and it's not just like positive thinking, and not that there's anything wrong with positive thinking, it does provide something. But what I'm actually talking about is like you could, no matter what the circumstances of life are, you could create you in your own mind, you can frame how you want to experience that. So whether jumping out of the plane is fearful or exciting, well, that's a choice that you get to make. And in in the in the book that we're going through, there's this great quote by Victor Frankl, who wrote the book Man's Search for Meaning, about his experiences being in a concentration camp. And he says everything can be taken from a man but one thing, the last of the human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.

SPEAKER_02 35:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 35:58

Uh, and I think to the point that we're talking about here about you could just choose to be ready, even if you don't think you are or feel you are. You could just consciously say, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna decide to to to take the action, whatever it is. And I think that's one of the things that defines entrepreneurs, actually, is that they constantly choose to be ready even if they're not.

SPEAKER_03 36:23

Yes, yes, yes, absolutely. Uh, I always recommend uh mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice of observing your own thoughts and your own behaviors in a non-judge-judging way. Because we usually observe what we think and how we act, but we we then uh tell ourselves, oh well, you do this, you're so dumb, or you saw this and you saw that. No, being able to observe all those things without judging and that will help you a lot in terms of like accepting that those things are there and it's completely natural and it's normal, and it's gonna make a lot make it a lot easier for you to then change and transform those things in your favor. And a lot of times, as you say, it is not how things are, it's not how the external things are, it is how you perceive them. Because I mean, your perception is not gonna change how they are, it's gonna have no impact whatsoever. What's gonna change is your perception, and that's gonna impact directly how you feel about things. There is a book I'm reading that I I I um I had to borrow it because every time I went to the bookstore, it was sold out. It is uh breaking the habit of being yourself by Joe Dispenza. I totally recommend it. It helps you a lot in terms of understanding your behavioral and your thought patterns and uh learning to observe them and to modify them.

SPEAKER_01 37:57

So great. And uh everything that I've been learning about and developing myself in over the last five years is just like exactly in line with this, right? We we are always creating our lives, we're always creating our experience of life, and oftentimes like it's like are we a choice about it? Like, are we are we consciously creating it, or is it what being what's being created by default from the past, right? And um really powerful what you were saying about like mindfulness, this idea of being the observer, right? Like stepping outside of yourself and because the thoughts will never stop. We're always thoughting. It's kind of like, you know, and often like we don't necessarily what what we're kind of what's coming up for us, you know, that constant like monologue in our own minds that we're dialogue that we're having with ourselves about life, um is all coming from our past experiences. So nothing new, there's no new conversations that get to get created there. And and mindfulness and being mindful, like it requires being present. Like I act like in order to like I have to actually be present in the now in this moment, in order to um to be observing and step outside of my my immediate experience. Uh, because the the mind is constantly like it's like 94 to 96 percent of the time we are on autopilot being driven by our subconscious mind.

SPEAKER_02 39:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:39

So being mindful, like that is a real access. David, like that's a real access to being able to say, okay, I'm gonna stop the, I'm turning off the autopilot, and I'm actually gonna get into the driver's seat of my own mind, right? Like, and and consciously choose to create whatever it is that I want and my experience of day-to-day life.

SPEAKER_03 40:04

Absolutely, absolutely, yes. It's scary at the beginning, but once you once you are there, like you have the the wheel in your hands and you have full control of the car, uh it's it's a very enjoyable experience. And and you get to love how much control you can take over situations you thought you were a victim of, or you had to cope with. So that's a really great thing, and it happens in business as well. Like um, there are things that you don't need to do, uh, or there are things that you don't need to think, because usually uh we we get a lot of of ideas about like how a business should be run or what the outcome should be, because of the way we learned from others like what success should be like or what a business should be like. Yes, uh and I think that that's uh one example of that uh can be um well, I I think in North America it it's not that that new that people are uh telecommuting or working from home, but here it's a very new thing, and it's not a reality because it or it hadn't been a reality earlier, because the idea was that companies needed to be like physical, they needed to be in a building, people had to go to offices and work there, and and and as an employee, it happened to me sometimes that we had nothing to do, like there was no work to do. So, out of the eight hours of work, we ended up just working two hours, and then after that, there was nothing for us to do. So those patterns are not only like individual, but also impact how we we conceive businesses, how we behave within our businesses.

SPEAKER_01 41:50

Yeah, it's so great. Uh it's changing here. I mean, I think there's probably been there was more remote work before COVID, but definitely the pandemic has has the one of the impacts of that is I don't I don't think business will ever be the same again. I don't know what it's like in other parts of the world, but definitely here in North America, companies are really looking at do I need a do I need a brick and mortar office? Do I need that physical location? Um, a lot of the question marks about whether people could be trusted to perform or, you know, are kind of like, well, they, you know, they had to. So now as companies are looking forward to the future, it's like, well, how do we, you know, what does that model look like? And what is what is best going to serve our customers and our clients as well as our employees, like kind of all of it. And I think it's an exciting time because it's so much more becomes available when people have like that freedom of mobility, they, you know, um, they get to kind of you get to create your life at a whole new level when there's choice around do I have to be in this office nine to five Monday to Friday, right? Even if I choose to work for a company versus being, you know, an entrepreneur and having my own business. But all of those relationships, what what does that look like now? And as someone who instructs in this space, um, you know, helping companies elevate the level at which they do virtual work and and really make sure that we're bringing connection and belonging and then helping people feel connected to one another and maintaining the social aspects. Because I think that's an one of the big things I hear a lot of people say about missing being in the office is being social with their colleagues. Yeah. So how do you replicate that or create something newly? Maybe not the exact same thing, but how do you create something newly uh in in all you know when you when people aren't going into the same physical office together? It's very it's I I don't know. I'm crazy. I like change. I think it's a very exciting time for for people.

SPEAKER_03 43:49

You you need that that like those times of crisis and those times of change to to realize like to change your mental patterns. It's not comfortable, it's not nice, but. It's always an opportunity.

SPEAKER_01 44:02

Yeah, so much. Yeah, I hadn't actually so funny given what it is that you do. It's the guys I'm preparing for my these conversations sometimes. But there are a number of people that I talk to on an ongoing basis, David, who who have come to me and said, I'm thinking about starting a podcast. You know, what do I do? I don't know where to start. Can you, you know, and it's like I am by no means an expert. I literally just started my own bat last October. Uh, and so I can definitely tell people what I did and and how I got started. But what would you say to people either who know that they want to start a podcast and um don't know like the, you know, how do you start where to where to start, or for people who are entrepreneurs, coaches, um, who aren't who are just kind of toying with the idea they're not sure they want to have a podcast, but you know, um what the value of of creating a podcast. Because people might be thinking, well, there's so many. Why should I start a? There's like people already talking about this. Why should I start a why should I start a podcast?

SPEAKER_03 45:09

Okay. So okay, let me tackle the second questions first. What you need or why you need or what's the value of starting a podcast. Uh, as I mentioned earlier in the conversation, as a as an entrepreneur as a or as a coach, you need to be creating content because you are offering value to people, and you need to be uh building these connections with people. Uh, and that's what a podcast offers. I mean, there are other ways you can do it, but right now the advantage of podcasts over the other over the other formats is one, you can have conversations, you can have long conversations, uh, and these conversations are going to reflect not only the information that is conveyed to them, but also the personalities of the people, the points of view, uh, the the authenticity of each person, which is something you cannot get, for example, on a blog because like it's written written language, or like you often don't get on a video because the the time people connect to video is usually like three to five minutes. But people are gonna be connected to a podcast episode for about an hour. Uh so that that's in terms of connection. In terms of networking, you're gonna be connecting with a lot of other people in your industry and related industries. So you're gonna be part of a network, and that means uh you're gonna have a lot more opportunities in terms of uh, I don't know, participating in events, doing works or projects together, getting new clients, or connecting with people that you were looking uh to connect uh in and but you thought they were unreachable, and also in terms of authority building, like you are part of that network, that means you are an expert, like you are a peer, a peer, so you're a peer there. So uh that gives you um authority both in front of your peers and also in front of your audience. So you you have to you have to create uh content online, uh podcasts, particularly, particularly if you're looking to build connections with your audience and connections with your network is gonna be very important. Now, in terms of what you need, there are two sides the mindset side, Amber, and the technical side. On the on the uh mindset side is learn how to, and this is maybe the hardest how to get out of your own way and get yourself out of the formula. Uh, as you were mentioning, uh creating content for your business, it it has nothing to do with you. You are being a channel, you are being a tool to providing this service to people. So uh it's okay if you're scared of maybe people are not gonna listen to you. It's normal because your stats, your personality is not going to connect with everybody, but it's going to connect with a group of people for sure. So that's great because if they resonate with you, that means it's gonna be easier to work with them. You have a good you're gonna have a lot of points in common. Um so oh sorry, lost my train of thought. So it was the the mindset and the technical, yes. Sorry, the mindset. And the other thing is bear in mind that a podcast is uh not for you. A podcast is not for you, it's for the people who listen to you. So always you need to be creating content and generating content ideas that will help this, the the the the audience you have. So it's very important that you are constantly listening, not just assume what you think they will find valuable, not just guess what you think they will find valuable, go have conversations, uh go on interviews, uh, maybe I don't know, run a survey, send some emails, and ask people what their challenges, what their uh pain points are, and then create content around that. So that's in terms of the mindset. In terms of the technical side, I always recommend, and I love that you have a microphone, get a microphone. You need to have a microphone. You are not podcasting as a hobby, you are podcasting for your business, and as such, you need to look and sound professional. Uh, and and and that is a common complaint in a lot of podcast shows, sound quality. I'm not saying that myself, I got that from from um Josh Nielsen, who is the CEO of Zencaster, which is a podcast recording tool. He created it because there were a lot of people complaining about audio quality in podcasts, and a great part of audio quality is having a good microphone. So make sure it doesn't have to be like the the top-notch, super expensive one. No, there is uh there are some there is an Audio Technica microphone, it's like a hundred dollars, and it will last you for over 10 years. Oh, that's the Audio Technica, it will last you for a long time, and it will serve you for your webinars, for your live streams, for your online courses. So that's gonna be very important. Uh, and also there are other aspects, for example, um a content calendar, you will need to plan out your content and be consistent with it. I love that you started out in October last year and you have consistently been publishing episodes week after week. That is key. So, yes, going back, mindset is get out of your own way and focus on your audience and on the technical side, get a microphone and be consistent. I think those are the two key areas for starting a show.

SPEAKER_01 50:43

I I I love all of that, and and I think that that has been the get out of your own way. If we could all just do that in life, right? Yeah, no, that is. It's not, it's so funny. I say to people, it's like a lot of the things that I coach people around. I'm like, it's simple, it's that easy, right? Like I can say it's simple. Like it really is thoughts become things. Like it doesn't get much more simple than that, but it's like in the actual living of it day to day and not having it just be some concept, right? Um, can you imagine a world where everyone just got out of their own way and was was focused on other people? Like, holy, what would become possible for humanity if we were all just living accord according to those wise words? Uh, you know, one of the things I thought like we we could like one of your posts, you had this great, it was around content and this idea of like blessing it and then letting it go. And I think that's such a powerful thought. And maybe we'll just like, you know, I'd love to get your thoughts on that, but but and then we'll end here this idea that if it doesn't belong to me, then like the constantly checking how many likes do I have, how much engagement, just like create the content that you think is what I heard in that, and I'd love to hear what you thought, but like what your intention was behind creating that. But it's like create the content that you believe is gonna be of value to people, and then just like whatever impact it has is the impact it has, and and not be so caught up and worried about um you know that that the let it go part. I just love that. I thought it was brilliant.

SPEAKER_03 52:24

Yes, absolutely. We are obsessed with numbers. Usually the metrics is like how many likes you have, how many plays you have, how many downloads you have, and and we usually get this reference from the content we consume online, and a lot of that content is uh influencers. Okay, either it's a podcaster or a YouTuber or an Instagrammer or somebody on TikTok, it's influencers. And and that makes us forget that, first of all, uh there are a lot of other people creating content who are not influencers, like or who are like influencers at a smaller scale, but still are offering a lot of value that could include you potentially. So when you create content, you should not be aiming at getting a great number of downloads, but at creating an impact for that person who is getting the content. Because, particularly as a business owner, you are not gonna be creating like cat videos or pranks or jokes or entertainment stuff, which is very general. You're gonna be creating niche content. That means your audience is gonna be narrowed down by a lot. Your audience is gonna be much smaller than the general audience for cat videos. So uh it's possible that the number of likes and downloads and interactions is not gonna be as high, but I'm sure the impact is gonna be much stronger than that. And let me give you an example just outside of the industry. Uh, I'm a fan, uh, I'm a fan of science fiction, I like reading science fiction a lot. And there is there is this guy on YouTube who has a channel dedicated only only to uh Frank's Frank Herbert's Dune saga. It's a series of books, and he only focuses on that series of books, not all, not like not even on other books by the author, just on that segment. Yes, Dune. Yes, yes, it's like it's like super niche, it's super super niche, and people love it, and I love it because the information he provides is on point, like he's an expert on that, and it gave it gives the audience a lot of value.

SPEAKER_01 54:31

And if you want, if you if you if that's something that matters to you, then you're gonna go find it, right? Because that's we go look for the things in life that matter to us. So great. Um yeah, we are consumed by numbers, and and I and I I love what you're saying. I think it really is about the impact that we're having, the lives that are being touched. And that's what I mean. I don't know, that's why I get out of bed every morning. I can't speak for other people, but I I think that's when life becomes really fulfilling. Um David, thank you so much. Thank you for, you know, I just want to acknowledge and honor you for being someone who who's out there, not necessarily with an intention to be like at the front of the stage yourself, but really creating platforms and stages for other people and you know, facilitating other people being able to get their message out in the world. And and that's important and and and um the the amount of lives that you impact day in and day out because of the work that you and your you know your company do. Just uh just thank you for for being having that commitment, choosing that commitment and living your life in alignment with that commitment. Thank you for being on the show uh and sharing yourself with me and with my audience.

SPEAKER_03 55:47

Thank you, Amber. It's been lovely to have this conversation. I've enjoyed it a lot. Uh, it's been my pleasure to be on the show. And and I love also like connecting with people who have this idea of doing business but in a in a healthy way, keeping that balance because your mental health matters, your physical health matters, your time, your family matters more than other uh like traditionally valuable aspects in business such as money or wealth or like I don't know, flashy stuff. So I really appreciate that. Like we that we you you're bringing, you're helping with this change in culture that is a lot healthier to what we've been seeing for like the last probably 20 years online. And that's very important because that brings a new generation of of uh create of creators and and business owners that are gonna have a lot uh healthier businesses and healthier lives.

SPEAKER_01 56:40

I love it. Thank you again for those of you listening. You'll be able to find out how to connect with David and and talking Silkworm company and his podcast in the show notes for the show. Thank you for joining us for this conversation and have an amazing weekend.

SPEAKER_03 56:59

You too, Amber. Goodbye. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 57:02

Thank you so much for joining us for this week's episode. For show info, visit what would Amber Do.com. And for information about Amber Howard and Associates' offerings and services, visit amberhowarinc.com.