"I go to bed feeling grateful and I wake up grateful." 

Mike Mattingly is living life in reverse, and he couldn't be happier about it. Though he has always had a passion for music, it's never been his full-time gig. He plans to change that, though. Like the message in his song Growth, Peace & Gratitude, Mike continues to develop and change, experience life's ups and downs and with acceptance, find peace.

Music has been a form of therapy for him. He was a self-described nervous child who battled anxiety. His mother introduced him to drums and through percussion, he found a sense of balance and peace.

Mike and I are great friends. He has played at my Christmas party for the last 5 years. Last year, I hosted an event at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis and asked Mike to play there as well. In short, I like Mike a lot.

Today, Mike joins us to share his experiences with anxiety, play some of his music for us, and offer advice on reinventing yourself at any age. 

SHOW NOTES: 

• Mike started playing the drums in the 5th grade. His parents placed his and his brother's drum sets in the living room of their house and never once asked them not to play. 
• Unlike most musicians, it never really dawned on Mike to be "Johnny Rockstar." He just loved the songwriting process and sharing his songs with people. 
• He was a tennis pro and playing music 4 to 5 times a week. So, playing until 2 in the morning and up at 8 to teach people how to play tennis. It was not great for his health and anxiety. 
• His song: Growth, Peace, & Gratitude is about growing and changing, even when it isn't always fun. Mike's message is once you accept the challenges you find yourself at peace. 
• The same year his mother passed away, Mike's father was diagnosed with cancer. Towards the end of his father's life, Mike became his caregiver. Mike shared that his father was always in a great mood and was "the greatest guy I ever met."
• He met his wife in the 3rd grade. He describes her as "really smart, an artist, with cat-like eyes." He asked her out at 15. 
• You can listen to Mike's music for free on his website: mikemattinglymusic.com or iTunes. 

MIKE MATTINGLY'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Besides ON FIRE by John O'Leary? The Power of Now & A New Earth both are by Eckhart Tolle.

2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do with it? Pay off all debt, pay off my house, and take care of my family and friends. 

3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? All our DVDs and pictures. Perhaps my guitar "Marty" as well.

4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? My mom and dad. As far as a famous person, Prince. 

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? My dad would always say, "right is right."

6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20? Everything is sound.

7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?  Growth, Peace & Gratitude.

*** 

If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe (automatically get new episodes), rate & review (help spread the word!) this podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

I can’t wait to see you here next Thursday! Today is your day. Live Inspired.

Live Inspired with John every day on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and get his Monday Motivation email: www.JohnOLearyInspires.com/Monday-Morning

"Gratitude is a muscle we have to continue to build."

Mike Robbins is the author of three books with a fourth out later this year. He has been featured in Forbes, the Wallstreet Journal, the Washington Post, Oprah radio network, ABC News and is a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post. Mike also has a successful podcast and speaks to clients which include: Google, the NBA, State Farm, Chevron, the San Fransico Giants, Harvard University, and many more. He teaches emotional intelligence, teamwork and leadership.

At the age of 17, Mike was drafted by the New York Yankees and turned them down in order to go to Stanford University. There he focused on playing baseball and getting a quality education. Once out of university, he was picked up by the Kansas City Royals, only to suffer a career-ending injury a few years later. He has lost his mother, father, and a sister to cancer.

Yet, Mike is grateful every day. He is an inspiration and champion of conquering adversity. His positive attitude, motivation to keep moving forward, and ability to escape the "trap of comparison" is a lesson for all of us.

Today, Mike Robbins joins us to talk about his family, hardships, successes and how he maintains gratitude throughout it all. This is a podcast you won't want to miss. 

SHOW NOTES: 

• Mike is the author of three books: Focus on the Good Stuff, Be Yourself Everyone Else Is Taken, and Nothing Changes Until You Do. He has a fourth book coming out in May 2018 titled Bring Your Whole Self to Work.
• He lives in California with his wife Michelle, and their two daughters Samantha and Annarose.
• "Give people permission to be who they are right now."
• Last year he lost his sister Laurie to cancer. She was only 45 and a single mom of an 11-year-old. His entire nuclear family is now gone. He describes it as "a hard time with lots of growth."
• He warns against what he calls, "the trap of comparison" where "we compare our insides to other's outside."
• When he went through a deep depression, he felt a void, and began asking, how do I heal? how do I change? He discovered healing is multi-layered. "Is there a connection between my body, mind, and heart? Yes, there is." 
• Raised by his mother, he credits her with teaching him determination and grit, also instilling him with passion and enthusiasm.
• "When we really care about each other, it makes a difference."

MIKE ROBBINS'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Don't Sweat the Small Stuff and It's All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson. Richard was one of the kindest and most authentic people I've ever met. 

2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do with it? It's amazing I was just thinking about this the other day. There is a part that wants to take care of everyone close to me. I thought about this for many years. I don't think I would do anything different. I would think "how can I best serve?"

3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? My computer. It has access to all the photos and videos. 

4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? There are a whole bunch of people that come to mind. The one that pops into my mind is Alexander Hamilton. I'd love his perspective on what is going on in our country right now.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Chris Anderson said to me once, "the most important job you have is to teach your daughter how to love herself. Love yourself, let her see that you do, and that is how she will learn." 

6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20? Just relax. Enjoy this as much as you possibly can. 

7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?  Be the change you wish to see in the world.

*** 

If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe (automatically get new episodes), rate & review (help spread the word!) this podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

I can’t wait to see you here next Thursday! Today is your day. Live Inspired.

Live Inspired with John every day on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and get his Monday Motivation email: www.JohnOLearyInspires.com/Monday-Morning

"Don't wait for others to join you. Because you might wait forever."

Gretchen Rubin has sold nearly 3 million books worldwide and perhaps is best known for her books The Happiness Project & The Four Tendencies. She is a thought-provoking observer of human nature and happiness, or as her sister likes to describe her "a happiness bully."

She has an incredibly interesting story to tell; a graduate of Yale Law School who clerked for the nation's first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor; the host of the Happier Podcast with Gretchen Rubin; interviewed by Oprah; walked with the Dalai Lama; and an answer to a Jeopardy question.

She is a prolific researcher and note taker who is "subject to epiphany" and writes about issues simply because she finds them interesting. Her topics range from JFK & Winston Churchill to fame & money. 

Today, Gretchen joins us to share her insights into happiness and how we too can capture more of it in our lives. 

SHOW NOTES: 

• Gretchen is the author of 8 books: The Happiness Project, The Four Tendencies, Better Than Before, Happier At Home, Forty Ways to Look at JFK, Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchhill, Power Money Fame Sex,& Profane Waste.
• She grew up in Kansas City, MO and now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
• Gretchen says about her time clerking for the Supreme Court, "all of the justices are extremely earnest and sincere in trying to hold up the ideals of the United States of America. Everyone was trying to do their best work, every day."
• "All someone can do in this world is to try and do the right thing."
• "I never think of where I want to be in the future. I think what do I want to do now!"
• "I think the most important thing that I've learned is that: we can build a happy life only on the foundation of our own nature, our own values, our own interest and that there is no magic one size fits all solution."
• Her first commandment is "Be Gretchen"
• "The only person we can change is ourselves, often we can change a situation because we changed ourselves."

GRETCHEN RUBIN'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? I never answer that question. I love books too much. (John finally gets her to offer one book: The Essays of George Orwell.) 

2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do with it? Probably nothing. 

3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? My cell phone.

4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? St. Therese of Lisieux, author of The Story of the Soul known as "the little flower." She is my spiritual master. 

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? The best advice I ever received is from me, "Be Gretchen." I also like, "a strong voice repels as well as attracts." 

6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20? Be Gretchen. 

7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?  She did what she set out to do. 

*** 

If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe (automatically get new episodes), rate & review (help spread the word!) this podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

I can’t wait to see you here next Thursday! Today is your day. Live Inspired.

Live Inspired with John every day on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and get his Monday Motivation email: www.JohnOLearyInspires.com/Monday-Morning

"Giving up is NEVER an option & it NEVER should be."

Amberley Snyder lived in southern California with her five siblings during her father's career in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Her passion for riding horses manifested early in life when at the age of 3 she began riding lessons. When her father retired from baseball the family moved to Utah where her love for horses continued to inspire her. 

In 2010, Amberley was driving to a rodeo in Denver, when she looked down at her map, lost control of her vehicle, rolled it and was ejected from her truck, slamming her into a metal post. She broke her back and immediately lost feeling in her legs.

She refused to allow anything to get in the way of her one day getting back into the saddle. Her strength, faith, and love for horses is an inspiration to us all. 

Today, Amberley joins us to share her struggles during recovering from her accident, her strong family bond, and turning tragedy into triumph. 

SHOW NOTES: 

• She was ejected from her truck at 70 miles per hour. The doctors told Amberley that had she been wearing a seat belt, she would still have the use of her legs.
• In 2009, during her senior year, she made it to the National High School Finals & at the National Little Britches finals, she took home the World All-Around Title.
• She got back onto a horse four months after the accident. Only 18 months after her accident she entered her first race.
• Amberley credits her faith with staying calm after the accident and the fear of the future once she learned the degree of her injuries.
• "You get to be sad, then you have to fix it."
• "There is so much life left to live."
• It was harder for her to deal with not riding, not taking care of her horses than it was for her to deal with not walking.
• She is the only paralyzed barrel racer in the United States.

AMBERLEY SNYDER'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Wonder by R.J. Palacio, I felt like it was just a great story of a kid with so much strength. 

2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do with it? The first thing is I want to start my own charity for kids and veterans, I'd get a ranch that was paved and accessible, and take care of my family.

3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? If I have my horses and family outside already...(sigh), I'd need a cowboy hat and a saddle.

4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? I honestly would take one of my brothers with me, if I couldn't bring both.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Every day doesn't have to be "your day", just make sure the next one is.

6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20? That's only six years ago and still after my accident. I'd say, "the ability to talk will be a blessing soon."

7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?  There was no future in giving up on her life. 

*** 

If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe (automatically get new episodes), rate & review (help spread the word!) this podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

I can’t wait to see you here next Thursday! Today is your day. Live Inspired.

Live Inspired with John every day on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and get his Monday Motivation email: www.JohnOLearyInspires.com/Monday-Morning