A Course in Courage

Josh Lipovetsky on Realistic Optimism

Niall Doherty — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:15:41 +0000

Josh Lipovetsky is quite the inspiration. I stumbled across his blog a few months back and was immediately taken with the enthusiasm on display in his videos. It’s all the more remarkable when you consider that he’s still in his teens and has endured some hard battles with Crohn’s Disease.

My favorite thing about Josh though is his healthy approach to optimism. He’s not just thinking wishfully and crossing his fingers; he actually gets out there and makes things happen. In this interview, I ask him to tell us more about that mindset, and how he stays so upbeat even through the tough times.

Video highlights

[1:14] Optimism as a double-edged sword
[2:40] “I’m allergic to moping around and doing nothing”
[4:00] Josh’s experience with public speaking
[5:40] Getting back on the horse
[6:35] The key to success
[7:41] Has Josh always been an optimistic person?
[8:33] “The worst situation I was in at the time was when I was happiest”
[9:00] The personal development book that changed Josh’s life
[10:00] Maintaining your enthusiasm for life
[11:50] The importance of surrounding yourself with positive and supportive people
[12:53] “Don’t be afraid to be immature”

Get more Josh

Check out Optimistic Wellness
Follow Josh on Twitter
A recent post from Josh’s blog: How Daily Stretching Will Change Your Life

And let’s wrap this up with one of Josh’s music recommendations

Mike Roberts on doing big things without pissing off your family

Niall Doherty — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:44:12 +0000

Mike Roberts takes things to the extreme, and then beyond. I thought I was pretty edgy by owning less than 60 things, but then I saw that this guy once reduced his possessions to just ten items! Mike writes about his extreme personal challenges over at Big Goal Hunting. Among other things, he’s fasted for 21 consecutive days, spent three days in the wilderness with nothing but the clothes on his back, and experimented with living money-free. Amazing stuff.

Since Mike lives with his extended family, including his parents and two teenage children, I was interested to know how he balances all these experiments with, you know, not pissing off everyone he loves. Mike was happy to answer in the following interview…

Video highlights

[2:10] What does Mike’s family think of his extreme experiments?
[4:20] Why Mike has passed up some challenges
[5:25] Have any of Mike’s experiments brought him closer to his family?
[5:55] “When I was a teenager, I didn’t want my dad doing crazy shit!”
[7:46] What supports and inspires Mike’s work
[9:26] Has Mike had to cut unsupportive people out of his life?
[11:15] Thoughts on regret
[12:59] The positive ripple effect of following your dreams
[13:29] Reframing resistance
[14:03] Mike’s latest challenge

Get more Mike

Check out Big Goal Hunting
Follow Mike on Twitter
A recent post from Mike’s blog: Urban Foraging: How to find healthy and free food right in your neighborhood

The BIG Secret Nobody Wants To Tell

Niall Doherty — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:29:34 +0000

Riveting TED talk by Bruce Muzik, in which he speaks about confronting and overcoming his own racism in South Africa, and living an authentic life. A quote:

“When we share our truth with others, we empower them to find their own peace.”

Vlad Dolezal on The Movies In Your Mind

Niall Doherty — Mon, 30 May 2011 16:22:19 +0000

As you may know, this entire course evolved out of the Random Acts of Courage project I did back in January 2010. One of the coolest things about that project was hearing about other people taking on similar challenges of their own. One such person was blogger Vlad Dolezal. having found his writing, I started exploring and enjoying his articles. I was especially impressed with how he explained the “inner game” part of building courage and confidence, or unleashing those things, as Vlad himself would say.

In this video interview, I ask Vlad about unleashing confidence, what Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is all about, and the mindset required to work on one’s courage.

Video highlights

[0:44] Why does Vlad talk about unleashing confidence?
[2:20] A quick intro to NLP
[3:42] Aligning your conscious and subconscious mind
[4:26] The first step to changing the negative images in your mind
[6:06] How Vlad discovered NLP, and the impact it has had on him
[7:38] The difference between NLP and affirmations
[9:31] Can you learn NLP by yourself or do you need a coach?
[12:08] A big pitfall to avoid
[12:59] How Vlad helps people

Get more Vlad

Check out Fun Life Development
Vlad’s ebook: Unleash Your Confidence (affiliate link)
Follow Vlad on Twitter
A recent post from Vlad’s blog: How to Gradually Build Your Confidence

New interviews with Derek Dupuy and Ashley Ambirge

Niall Doherty — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:14:13 +0000

Yup, I've decided to only interview people with alliterative initials.

Ok, not really. But you're going to want to check out these latest two video interviews. I chatted with Derek Dupuy about swagger, something he knows tons about since he performs regularly on stage as part of a popular improv group down in New Orleans. Derek also has some great advice in there about working hard and living a life without regret.

And then there's an extended interview with Ashley Ambirge of The Middle Finger Project, who has made a name and a living for herself online by letting her "freak" flag fly. I asked her a bunch of questions about how to be your authentic self with everyone you meet, something I know many of us have trouble doing.

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome on the interviews.

Ashley Ambirge on Being Yourself

Niall Doherty — Wed, 25 May 2011 08:58:29 +0000

In this interview I chat with one of the most authentic people you’ll find online, Ashley Ambirge from The Middle Finger Project. If you’re familiar with Ash’s blog, you’ll know that she’s prone to make references to orgasms and drop F-bombs in her writing. And it’s only helped her succeed in business. In the video below you’ll hear Ash telling me why she’s so damn good at being herself, and offer some advice for how you can do the same.

Video highlights

[0:17] Orgasms and vodka
[0:37] Ash a natural?
[2:20] The shy Ashley
[3:31] Building an audience unintentionally
[5:27] Famous people: just like the rest of us
[7:17] How to be professional, without sounding corporate
[8:51] Why Ash doesn’t get hate mail
[9:33] The downside to being yourself
[11:01] Using a pen name
[12:42] When your friends and family don’t get what you do
[14:50] The biggest problem with not being yourself
[16:50] Putting negative feedback in perspective (so you don’t die)
[18:57] Finding your right people
[21:16] Two reasons why people unsubscribe from your list (or your life)
[21:45] Ash raves about one of her favorite, authentic blogs

Get more Ash

Check out The Middle Finger Project
Follow Ash on Twitter
One of my favorite posts from TMFP: The 67 Emotions of Online Success

Derek Dupuy on Swagger

Niall Doherty — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:52:58 +0000

Yup, swagger! If you’re not sure what that is, Derek gives his definition in the video below.

But wait, who’s Derek? Well, he’s one quarter of the excellent comedy improv group known as Stupid Time Machine. I stumbled across a show of theirs one night in New Orleans and was instantly awed at the genius and hilariousness on display. So much so that I ended up signing for an 8-week improv class. In the interview below, Derek talks to me about having the confidence to get on stage with no script, why he got into comedy, and how to live without regret.

One of my favorite interviews yet:

Video highlights

[0:55] What the hell is swagger anyway?
[2:12] How swagger trickles down into the rest of your life
[3:00] Examples of famous people who have swagger
[5:03] Does swagger come natural?
[5:24] How Derek gained confidence on stage
[6:30] The importance of swagger on stage
[7:00] Swagger, lesson one: where do you start?
[8:05] Handcuffs and lightbulbs
[9:19] A big reason Derek got into comedy
[10:05] The greater pain
[10:36] Why people gravitate towards something
[11:31] Trickle-down happiness
[12:51] Caring about what other people think, and how to stop
[14:10] Quick plug

Get more Derek

Check out The New Movement and Stupid Time Machine
Check out some of Derek’s work on YouTube
Like STM on Facebook

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Niall Doherty — Sun, 15 May 2011 15:25:36 +0000

A legendary commencement speech from Apple CEO Steve Jobs. I love this quote especially:

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

New: Interview with Benjamin Jenks, the transcontinental hitchhiker

Niall Doherty — Sun, 08 May 2011 08:45:05 +0000

There's a new interview posted in the resources section, this one with my buddy Benjamin Jenks. A couple of years ago he hitchhiked all around the USA, taking a big leap of faith and embracing uncertainty. Courageous? You bet.

Benjamin's interview is the fifth posted in the resources section. In case you missed them, here are the others:

Feedback? Suggestions? Let me know in the comments.

Benjamin Jenks on hitchhiking across the USA

Niall Doherty — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:48:39 +0000

Now this guy knows a thing or two about taking a leap of faith and embracing uncertainty. I met Benjamin in New Orleans back in April of 2010, when he was in the midst of his year-long adventure around the USA, a year in which he didn’t pay once for transport or accommodation (well, except for that one time!).

I caught up with Benjamin via Skype and asked him about handling such uncertainty, the kindness of strangers, and what else he learned from his experience….

Video highlights

[0:28] What inspired Benjamin to hitchhike around the US
[1:31] Places he visited on his trip
[2:50] Why hitchhiking appeals to Benjamin
[4:01] Did he find himself in any dangerous situations?
[4:43] Believing things will work out, making good decisions
[5:21] The kindness of strangers
[6:04] When Benjamin felt most uncertain, and how he dealt with that
[6:52] How a year on the road changed him
[8:21] Is everyone inherently good?
[9:03] The mindset you need to embark on your own great adventure
[10:10] What’s next for Benjamin?

Get more Benjamin

Be sure to keep an eye on Benjamin over the coming months. I’ve gotten a sneak peek at the video he put together and I’m pretty sure it’s going to go viral. Great message, very well presented.