Greg Barth Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing Greg Barth
Greg Barth is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast interview.
He is a man who quite simply looks better naked than most men of a certain age should look.
To be honest, I haven’t seen Greg Barth fully naked, but seeing what he has done to his upper half, I can only imagine if I wanted to imagine!
But this man is certainly on a mission.
He is a software consultant by day and a Star Diamond Independent Beach-body coach by night.
Yes, that’s right.
An IT geek turned fitness coach, with a desire not just to change himself physically, but also to inspire the world to be more fit, active and toned.
And with his Get Fit With Greg platform, and online TV channel he is taking the bull by the horn and creating targets and programmes from across the world, as well as finding out what makes him tick inside.
How The Dots Joined Up For Greg
And with his astonishment as to how his life has changed he has found that the focus on his health is providing more energy to his day, even to the point of not needing an alarm clock to get him out of bed.
Yes, he literally bounces out of bed everyday, ready to inspire his clients and the world, to take control of their lives, their bodies and what they do with their days.
So what was it that made him want to become the lean mean online machine?
Would he looking back wish that he had done this earlier in life?
And where does he think that this Get Fit With Greg business can go in the future?
Well let’s bring onto the show to start joining up dots, as we discuss the words of Steve Jobs in todays Free podcast, with the one and only Mr Greg Barth
Show Highlights
During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Mr Greg Barth such as:
How he has never seen an episode of Star Trek, or any of the Star War films in his life, and he’s proud of it.
How he realise how he could tackle any obstacle that he encountered once he realised that his mind-set had changed!
How he wasn’t to project an image to 30’s and 40’s that life doesn’t have to be about slobbing on the sofa!
How even the thought of public speaking would scare him, so he began a toastmaster’s course and has never looked back!
And lastly……
How he believes that you have to be scared to be able to move forward in your life…being scared is good!
How To Connect With Greg Barth
Return To The Top Of Greg Barth
If you enjoyed this episode with Greg Barth then why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Stephanie Calahan, Ted Yoder, Sean Swarner or the amazing Alfie Best
Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from.
Audio Transcription Of Greg Barth Interview
Intro [0:00]
When we’re young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here’s your host live from the back of his garden in the UK, David Ralph.
David Ralph [0:26]
Yes, hello, bear world, how are we all this is Episode 169 of Join Up Dots. And it’s gonna be a good one because I’ve been chatting to this man for about the last 15 minutes. And we should have recorded it. It was brilliant stuff. It was the gold. So hopefully we can share the gold through the rest of the show. And you’re going to remember this one as one of those shows to keep on coming back to now let me introduce you to today’s guest. He is a man who quite simply looks better naked than most Men of a Certain Age should look. Now To be honest, I haven’t seen him putting naked but seeing what he’s done to his upper half. I can only imagine if I wanted to imagine. But this man is certainly on a mission. He is a software consultant by day and a star diamond independent Beachbody Coach by night. Yes, that is right. And it geek turn fitness coach with a desire not just to change himself physically, but also to inspire the world to be more fit, active and toned, and where he’s get fit with Greg platform and online TV channel. He’s taking the bull by the horn, and creating targets and programmes from across the world, as well as finding out what makes him tick inside. And with his astonishment as to how his life has changed. He has found that the focus on his health is providing more energy to his day, even to the point of not needing an alarm clock to get out of bed. Honestly, yes, he literally bounces out of bed every day you ready to inspire his clients and the world to take control of their lives, their bodies and what to do with their days. So what was it that made him want to become a lean mean online machine? What he looking back wish he’d done his earlier in life? And where does he think that these get fit with Greg business can go in the future? Well, let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start Join Up Dots bow one and only Mr. Greg, Barth, how are you Greg?
Greg Barth [2:17]
I am fantastic. And I love that I love the intro except for I am wearing clothes. So I don’t want to disappoint anyone. That was a quite a nice little visual to kick things off.
David Ralph [2:28]
He’s saying that he’s saying that listeners i’ve i’ve actually we’re not on video. So there’s no proof. I’ve got wide angle HD proof that you can go to the director’s cut on Join Up Dots and see now you don’t want to actually see a man Director’s Cut. That’s that’s just that’s a bad image. So you are honestly, when you’re in Minneapolis, is that right?
Greg Barth [2:51]
Minneapolis, Minnesota, if I use the strong accent there. I know you don’t have an accent at all. It’s all me. So we talked about? Oh, yeah. Sure. You betcha. That’s the exaggerated version. You live in Munich. Thank you. I was trying to do some accents with on another show one time and I blended like four different nationalities in different regions of the world. And it wasn’t really pretty, but I give I was given an A for effort.
David Ralph [3:19]
So so what what could you do in Minneapolis? If I was going to fly over there to Minneapolis, and I’ll be honest, I’ve toured America extensively. I’ve done literally all of it. But I’ve never been to Minneapolis. So what would be exciting for me, if I went over there, Greg, and we went out on a day podcasters together, leaving our minds behind, what would you do to excite me?
Greg Barth [3:43]
Well, what you what most people like to do is not necessarily what I would recommend, what most people do, especially if you’re in London, you could pop over to Minneapolis on one flight. And you go to the Mall of America, the Mall of America is right by the airport. And they’re expanding itself the largest mall in all of America, I think all over the northern hemisphere, maybe or maybe even Mars. But if you’re not a shopper, or if you live here, you don’t really go there unless someone visits. If you came here, I take you to the lakes. There’s a bunch of chain of lakes around the downtown area this little bit away from there. And when the weather is nice, you go over to the lakes, and you’re just full of energy. There’s people are riding bikes, skateboarding, running, they’re all living the healthy lifestyle. And that gives me energy. And you’d be so pumped up to do 15 podcast episodes in a row that you would you wouldn’t have to do with yourself. That’s exactly where you need to go. And then after the after the circle around the lake, then you go get yoghurt, and you put you put little calories into your system.
David Ralph [4:49]
I did. I’ll be honest, I forgot that you was a fitness freak. And I thought you were going to take me on a tour of Hooters and places like that.
Greg Barth [4:58]
But well, I would say that the food quality at Hooters is probably not ideal if you’re looking for food, but most people are not going to Hooters for the food. Nov fill in the blanks. They’re either going there for other reasons. Like they have really good water drinks. What else Customer service is really good. I can’t think of anything else. I don’t think of anything I know. I’m not really sure Lion
David Ralph [5:21]
King. Now I’m going to Google it and see what comes up. So it’s probably the chicken wings that say I love a good chicken wing Do you do because you’re a fitness guy. And I was listening to the show. And you were listing the things but you don’t eat anymore. And I thought oh, how can you not eight of those. And it was just like anything that was really fantastic. The yummy. You kind of go No, it’s not good for you a box of donuts, for example, a box of big donuts, you’re saying no not going to have them.
Greg Barth [5:50]
I draw the line and donuts. I don’t have donuts. I don’t eat bagels, even though they’re supposedly healthy.
David Ralph [5:55]
But what about the sprinkles on the top? You know, those little ones are coloured wrinkles, and I
Greg Barth [6:00]
put little cauliflower on it. Those are awesome. I
know there’s certain thing I have a lot of foods that aren’t considered really healthy. I have my limits, but donuts I just don’t really want a donut, which maybe makes me crazy.
David Ralph [6:15]
Did you ever want to know?
Greg Barth [6:16]
Oh yeah, I’ve had tonnes of donuts in my prior history. But at some point, you make a decision where you want to be healthy and live and really have a lot of energy and, and feel good. And have ABS versus maybe two minute gratification and maybe feel kind of disgusting later. That’s kind of where the doughnut lies.
David Ralph [6:37]
Yo, I like the gratification and the feeling of feeling disgusted.
Greg Barth [6:42]
You’ll have the little bit of frosty down your lip, and you’ll be running around all all excited for about two minutes while I stare at you. And then as we’re over at the lake, and then you’ll you’ll crash. And then I’ll go do some push ups. They sounds
David Ralph [6:55]
like a kind of gay dating image that you’re creating. I don’t know where we’re what’s going with a spot. Hi.
Greg Barth [7:02]
It’s quite an interesting little ride around here. Let’s Let’s divert over to a different part of the of the anti gay like as I suppose since we’re both heterosexuals? Absolutely. As far as I know.
David Ralph [7:13]
Well, you can speak about yourself. I know. I know. But I am. But if you will, I’m sure Greg been, you know, it’s up to you to find those things out.
Greg Barth [7:23]
Oh, yes. We’re connecting the dots is what we’re
David Ralph [7:26]
doing. You could tell but I’ve done too many shows. today. I’m having a kind of mental breakdown on this one. Is it the last show? No.
Greg Barth [7:34]
This is all what it’s about. It’s having a good time.
David Ralph [7:37]
Absolutely. So the thing about you and I have been looking at pictures of you semi naked. And I’ll be honest, when you started to get ripped. I thought you looked all right. You just look like a sort of normal man. And now you kind of You look very good. And I’m kind of been aware
Unknown Speaker [7:58]
of your heterosexual side of so this day,
David Ralph [8:01]
I kind of look at you thinking, yes, if I could share my body with someone to go and do the work for me. That’s probably what I would like to look like. But you weren’t like a big, big kind of fat slug? Well, you were just a normal person.
Greg Barth [8:16]
Oh, yeah, I didn’t lose 100 pounds, I lost close to 25 to 30 pounds. And I always joke that lost about five to 10 pounds of hair. Because I was very hairy. And miraculously, after doing a lot of the workouts, the hair seemed to fall off, where I don’t have a lot of hair. Now, in those same places. I’m not sure how that works, but it’s a very specific type of workout. And it’s pretty much I’m pretty smooth all over now. Well, Leslie actually competed in a bodybuilding contest or physique contest in June. And I went full circle there. So we could go down a rabbit hole with that one as well. But I don’t have a lot of hair on me. I’ll just leave.
David Ralph [9:00]
Have you ever had a lot of hair on you?
Greg Barth [9:02]
Yes, I’m a very hairy person to start with. So I do some landscaping. And unashamed admit it.
David Ralph [9:10]
Because I really have no body hair. I’m I’m like a young Asian girl I is.
Greg Barth [9:17]
Are you one of those that can’t grow a moustache or you try for about four months, and you have to get a magnifying glass and a little bit of a flashlight. What do you mean one of
David Ralph [9:27]
those? You don’t know who’s listening, there might be half the audience listening, thinking it’s true, great boss, I’m not going to go over to his podcast if he’s saying one of those. Isn’t it’s not Britain. It’s not one of those. I want to know a chap who went on holiday with us. And he would show you first thing in the morning. And by about 10 o’clock in the morning, like two hours later. It’s grown back. You know, he was like the Wolf Man going through a challenge. It was the Simpsons.
Greg Barth [9:56]
Yeah, yeah. That was a Bart Simpson or no Homer where he shaves and then it turns dark right after he’s done.
David Ralph [10:02]
Well, can I tell you something? And this is this is the perfect segue because we have got something in common. And you’ve linked me to my claim of fame, which is the Simpsons, and you have me I heard you talk about this on another podcast the other day, and I thought, Oh my God, he’s the same as me. This man is the same as me. Now, I’m quite proud to say but I have never ever seen an episode of The Simpsons. Out of 900. Interesting. Your Simpsons is my Star Wars. Well, this is it. This is what I heard. And you started quoting, but you’d never seen Star Wars. You never seen Star Trek. And I thought to myself, okay, he’s a bit of a freak. But then yes, I you said something awful. Yes, Harry Potter. I’ve never seen a single Harry Potter. And I’ve never seen a single Lord of the Rings.
Unknown Speaker [10:49]
Because in nor will I,
David Ralph [10:51]
well, it’s too much of my time. Now. It come out as a part of one and I had watched that I might have moved on to how he Potter to. But now you got to go to Harry Potter, the puberty years or whatever it got up to. It’s too much of my life. It’s like It’s like a big ward. And I quite like that, that look of surprise. When you say to people I’ve never seen Harry Potter. And you got that surprised with Tyson web, didn’t you that you’d never seen Star Trek or Star Wars?
Greg Barth [11:21]
Yeah, I think he was a little surprised. But now that’s the fun part is I haven’t seen that and most people have. So that’s something unique. So I’m there’s no way I’m going to watch it now. No, you bet that you might get something unique about myself. Right?
David Ralph [11:35]
You must have seen Star Trek You must have seen and No. No, not even an episode
Greg Barth [11:40]
not even a film. No. I’ve seen like probably a few minutes of just flipping through channels. But I’ve never sat down and actually watched one. Is that weird?
David Ralph [11:50]
Well, I think I’ll get it. How about I come over Minneapolis with the new Star Wars film, it comes out. We spend our morning cycling around the lakes. We go to Hooters for lunch and then we go up and see Star Wars in the afternoon
Greg Barth [12:02]
for the customer service, and then we’ll then we’ll shotgun to Mountain Dew is because I don’t drink any soda. I haven’t drank soda for like 15 years, something like that. And a Barcelona Yeah. Yeah. So then you could you could actually, if you kidnapped me, we could have all kinds of six pack of Mountain Dew donuts, Star track. And then you’d let me You let me out of the handcuffs and then I’d go around the lake and get my exercise in. Because I’d have all this bound up energy.
David Ralph [12:32]
I’ll be honest with you, Greg, I wouldn’t need to kidnap you, you’d come quite willingly. Come on over here. I have donuts? I would back in I would back in with my box of of blood. Yeah, that’s what I would do. So how did you get in all seriousness, how did you get to that point where your normal body which was just a kind of normal person’s body became something that you knew that you had to do something about? Because most people don’t ever get that?
Greg Barth [12:59]
No, it’s interesting to because most people with anything in life have to hit some kind of a rock bottom. So in some sense, in some sense, where if it’s fitness or our health, we have to have some indicator that our blood pressures too high or we’re getting too heavy, where we don’t fit in certain clothes or some kind of flag. For me, it wasn’t really that drastic, it was really more of I didn’t really have that zest for life type of thing where I didn’t have that hope that I just felt something was missing. And I was exploring and trying to figure out where I want to go next. I wanted more out of life. I grew up number four out of five kids in all all sisters thus widened. See Star Wars probably. But I, I consider myself always just doing kind of the status quo. Because I maybe some of that was how I was used to it just growing up with a larger family. Maybe that’s my excuse. But at some point, I just wanted more. So then I saw this silly commercial. Keep repeating on TV called p90x if you’ve heard of it over and over in London, I’ve never say slow, really quite catchy. What was it? It’s p90x or P as in Paul 94, the amount of days and then extra extreme. And some people call it PEX, 90 or whatever. But it’s it’s sold like millions and millions of copies. But its extreme home workout programme that you do in your house, putting a DVD in TV, or the DVD player. And then you there’s a programme you follow and you do do the workout and you go the next day and you do the workout. But it was it’s advertised on TV as an infomercial. And I’m like, that seems really interesting because they show all these transformations, all these normal people that are going from hairy bodies to non Carrey, but they’re going from really a larger, you know, body size to losing a lot of weight usually, and that they have testimonials on the infomercial, which really cells that talking about, you know, it’s really changed my life, I lost 50 pounds, I lost 30 pounds. And you know, I can play with my kids more now, all that stuff. And it really hit home to me. And I was thinking about it for a little bit. I asked a few of my friends that went through the same programme. And they were like, yeah, it works if you do it. But a lot of people don’t continue with it.
David Ralph [15:20]
So So what do you do? Well, how does it actually work?
Greg Barth [15:25]
Well, there’s a whole nutrition guide. And then there’s there’s 90 days is the programme. But there’s like 12 workouts, there’s a schedule. So you get up in the morning or whenever you work out for me was the morning, you get up you do workout number one. And workout number one is like you work on your chest and your shoulders and your back or something. chest and back. I think it’s the first one. And then the next day if you make it a date past a two year really, probably a 50% ahead of everyone else. playa metrics where you’re jumping, jumping, jumping for 60 minutes, roughly. And I almost vomited that second day.
David Ralph [16:02]
I can imagine. I can imagine this isn’t good.
Greg Barth [16:06]
I was I was like getting lightheaded as I came up for some breakfast after that. And like, Whoa, because I was always pretty active growing up. I was in team sports, but I never I never liked working out as far as weightlifting. It just I like playing the sports but I didn’t like to weightlifting. Well why this is a big change.
David Ralph [16:25]
The only time you ever want to do that. Is this done? Yeah. That is the only music that would get any men near weightlifting.
Greg Barth [16:36]
That’s true. You’d have to just keep playing that song every day, right?
David Ralph [16:41]
Well, I would do it once. And then I would give up, you know, the default of fitness. I’ll be honest with you, I like the thought of getting fit. But I would like to hand over my body for the effort to be done with somebody else. Because
Greg Barth [16:52]
maybe you can outsource that right?
David Ralph [16:54]
Well, this would be perfect because I would run a million miles. And the thought of Well, actually, I’ll get fit doing that. Suppose that would work. So any fitness I would run miles away from it. It’s just, it’s just not me. And to jump for 60 minutes on day two and throw up. I’d give up I think everyone would give up. Are you somebody who is so strong willed you almost like a terminator?
Greg Barth [17:19]
No know, that’s what’s interesting. I’ve never really liked that by default. But this was somewhat of the triggering event in my life that caused not only me to have success with that, something about it just said this is time I’m going to go game on 90 days. But then I did 90 days, and I did 270 days in a row I kept going. And then I did the whole programme seven times, which most people don’t even make it through it. Fast day to like I said something about it just made me want to continue more and more because I was seeing success. And then people were noticing changes and then just kept building on there. Were there was other things happening in my life because of the fitness and everything just kept going. So why would I stop is kind of the question I was asking myself. And that was in 2009. And I haven’t really stopped.
David Ralph [18:07]
But I think the brilliant thing about this is, you know, Joking aside and I’ll I’ll I couldn’t do what you’ve done. It’s just not me. And I haven’t got the desire to do it in any shape or form. But the benefits, but you’re saying the fact that you’ve got more energy, the fact that you’re getting up earlier, and the mindset kind of shift but has morphed into so many areas of your life. Now that is brilliant. And that is the kind of thing that I would like to get across to all the listeners, that one thing can have a huge impact on everything else. And your life has literally changed from vomiting in your lounge on that day.
Greg Barth [18:46]
Right, I think in order to have huge positive change, you have to really go through some some more tougher challenges. If it’s a really, if it was working out for five minutes, and it was the workout, the whole idea of the workout was me sitting on the couch watching the workout, then a lot of people probably probably could complete that, but somewhat still make it about three minutes, because they’re looking for the popcorn and the other rumours. But I just think the harder the challenge, the more that you can get out of it. So I made it through that. And then it made me realise that I can do so much more. So that became a huge mindset. And that’s turned in business. It’s turned into competence with meeting people and networking. And it’s turned into the point where I if I want to do something now I really don’t. I believe that I can do pretty much anything as as much as long as I put a plan together and, and meet with the right people and you know, do all the things that I need to do. But it’s all really when I look back at it when I connect those dots, like we’re saying, but I look back everything really stemmed from there. And that’s where it all started.
David Ralph [19:48]
It’s amazing, isn’t it that people can have as we call it a big dot one thing that can fundamentally change your life. And some people tell me that it was the most awful time of their life, and they never wanted to go through it again. But thank God they did. Other people would I got told the storey just before we recorded today on another episode about a chap who basically lost his bike and had to walk home to get his rejection letter for college. And as he was doing it, he realised the bike was taken away from him that wasn’t under his control, something else wasn’t under his control. That was the last time that anything would happen to him, but he couldn’t at least try to control. And it’s amazing how these, these dots, these moments can come from anywhere, but can fundamentally change the way that you see not only your life, yourself and your future, and it’s astonishing that you’ve done something. But yes, so many people out there do. And so many people get up there every morning, and they go to the gym, and they come home in the evening, and I have to go to the gym again. But it’s the mindset isn’t it and away from anything we could have been talking about, you decided to paint, you know, 90 miles of fences or something, he’s still you deciding to do something and actually going and not stopping at the end, just taking it forward to other other areas.
Greg Barth [21:10]
It’s true, it’s definitely a mindset because what I think of is when I think of nutrition, when we even make fun of donuts, or we kind of joke about that, but if I’m at a party and a social event or something, and I’m choosing to have something that’s maybe in a healthier side versus the other side, or maybe I’m having less cake or maybe I’m choosing not to have cake or whatever it is, people will say, well just have the cake, don’t you want, you know, or it’s more like I’m depriving myself but I’m actually if I if I’m making the decision that I don’t want it, I’d rather have this versus I can’t have that. No, I’m saying those words in my head, they’re completely different. Or I’m on a diet, I can have XYZ, I I’m wearing a lifestyle. That’s my favourite word versus diet, which most people in nutrition and are better really thinking about that. Look at it in those terms where they’re not depriving themselves and they don’t think of it as two weeks of misery before they go to that wedding. So that can fit into the draught or whatever it is. It’s it’s how you approach it in your mind. And looking at it as a longer term goal than just two weeks in misery. That’s not the way to do it. It’s not going to really last very long. And you’re not gonna enjoy it along the way either.
David Ralph [22:24]
Did you get people I imagine because I would do this. I’m just thinking about what I would do. But I’d be walking up to you with lumps of cake. Oh. I bet you can Oh,
Greg Barth [22:34]
yeah. Oh, yes. And sometimes I’ll even do the opposite a little bit to where all I’ve been known to do this where I’ll take a picture of myself or some little video put on Instagram or Facebook or something. And I’ll show myself eating the pizza. I was in Las Vegas for that, that stuff this this when I did that show that physique contest, and this is where the Beachbody conference Beachbody is the the company that makes p90x and all that programmes I was out there. And I had this huge, it actually was a thin crust pizza. But I had two pizzas in like a 24 hour span because I was really really dialled in with my nutrition. And then that was over with that competition. So I’m like, let’s just let’s go have a little fun now. But I want to show the balance because I was really dialled in, but then I also have balanced or I have this pizza, and I’m going to like it. I’m not going to feel guilty about having that pizza. So
how you think about it?
David Ralph [23:30]
Yeah, it’s more important to the nutrition if you had to pick one or the other? Is it better to have the nutrition and not be fit or be fit and not have the nutrition.
Greg Barth [23:41]
And nutrition is like obvious, but 80% of the battle. I know most people can probably work out if they get themselves motivated enough, but they really get confused on the food. And you know what the talk and how they approach the food and how much to eat. And it seems very confusing. But a lot of people probably just can get on it treadmill at least or do some push ups or some basic types of fitness, that they can break a sweat, maybe it’s just walking across to get the remote, they might break a sweat. But the nutrition pieces of where it really confuses people. And that that’s the most important because if you are working out two hours a day, but you’re eating garbage can really make a huge amount of progress.
David Ralph [24:22]
I sorry to say yeah, I can actually break a sweat getting my kids to get the remote. That’s that’s how I think generally I’m quite lucky. I’m a naturally slim person so I can get away with will I’m fitness. You know, I don’t look unfair. I look like somebody that could possibly run. But then I learned to drive. So what’s the point?
Greg Barth [24:45]
Right, you could just get in the car and drive across town. Right? You don’t have to run anywhere.
David Ralph [24:49]
Yeah, absolutely. There’s always ways of doing it isn’t?
Greg Barth [24:53]
Exactly. If you have the right mindset and you grab your keys and you know you have a map and you get in the car, you know where to go, then
David Ralph [24:58]
I must when you look at it, I must winning. deciding that you want a long path.
Greg Barth [25:03]
So you know we could do is create a whole marathon instead of running, why don’t we just get in the car.
David Ralph [25:09]
And we could have the air conditioning on?
Unknown Speaker [25:13]
ESPN 12 got a new event coming up? That would be perfect.
David Ralph [25:17]
I’m going to play the most copyright that idea. Suddenly, I copyright everything I do. Yeah, there you go. Just a big dot.on everything. And I’m a lot. I’m going to play the first of our motivational speeches because it’s interesting, and many of our conversations are about taking risks. And I’ll be interested to see whether you consider what you’ve done as a risk because it has fundamentally changed your life. And it’s taking you into areas that you could never dreamed up. But it doesn’t seem to me to be a leap of faith, it’s more sort of jump up and down have faith for a while. So this is the classic Jim Carrey speech up recently.
Jim Carrey [25:54]
My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a concert of choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don’t want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.
David Ralph [26:21]
So do those words apply to you because it doesn’t seem to me as I say that you’ve taken a huge risk. It’s like something that’s naturally found, you
Greg Barth [26:32]
know, it’s interesting that you played that video because I saw that recently. And I watch it numerous times because it really struck a chord with me and I love Jim Carrey. I love all of his movies. He’s He’s hilarious, but he’s also very dramatic. And that’s a very deep video. It’s it has a deep message, and it really connects with me. But like you’re saying it, what doesn’t really what I did doesn’t really convey a risk. What I did was, was follow what I thought was next. And I couldn’t really fail so much I could quit and not have the success that I wanted to have. But it’s also helped me spring forward and see things in a clear mindset. And that’s how I see things now where I noticed if I’m being really reserved in versus what the other option is in front of me. And now I’m taking more of the other option. And I’m just rolling with it and taking more risk. And that’s because of that clarity, in my mind. That’s how I see it. But numerous things, maybe even business. I’m doing business ventures now, and I’m taking a lot of risk as far as I could fail miserably. But I’m doing it anyway. But I’m now I’m pushing forward and not really allowing myself to fail. You know, in the larger picture, you’re going to have small failures to get to success. But I won’t stop until I am successful. That’s that’s how I’m changed in my mind now versus before when I was more than this, you control thinking well, I don’t know. That’s let’s look at this, this net. And now I use the strong words and I just dive in. And I just go until it works.
David Ralph [28:10]
So so you you got fit, and you suddenly started spending more time in front of the mirror them and perhaps you should have done and you could see the benefits. And then imagine if you will like me, I’ll be walking around making my body sister with my finger like I was hot all the time. And your wife is coming in going, you’re looking amazing. You’re looking more than amazing. And your wife’s friends are coming in and you’re getting parties going, and you’re just walking around with hardly any clothes on to prove to yourself what you’ve done this, this is the image of God. So how do you take it from that, but you personally had this achievement to been going while I’m going to create this business online, I’m going to start doing educational videos, TV channel, podcast, blah, blah, blah, because what you’ve done in such a small period of time is quite remarkable. You’ve set up a whole platform, which is rocking and rolling.
Greg Barth [29:02]
Definitely Well, I don’t know how you knew that. But I in your little bit incorrect. It’s not just a few minutes in front of the mirror, I spend a good two hours in the morning and a good two hours in the afternoon. And then about an hour before I go to bed just looking at the mirror going, you are sexy. And then you know, just keep saying that over. Though I think you know, it’s quite, it’s challenging to I put myself out there very publicly. And you can get a lot of feedback saying, you know, who are you what are you doing, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, you get a lot of those haters that come out. But I’ve had to work through that and know that what I’m doing I’m comfortable with it, I’m confident about it. And my whole ideas is I want to project an image that to those 30 something 40 something year old guys that you don’t have to just use the status quo of, well, when you get to be 30. Or when you get to be 40 that this happens. Don’t take that for what it is, you can do way more than you’re expected to do. And just I want to inspire those other guys that they can do the same thing. And that that’s my whole idea. And if people don’t want to like it, then my attitude is that sets too bad. It’s just so you don’t have to, you don’t have to, you don’t have to check it out. And you don’t have to do anything for yourself. But I want if you do want it, I want you to get inspired. And I want you to reach out for help in some capacity and start taking some action.
David Ralph [30:28]
Because I love the fact that you’ve got a few haters, because I’ve realised now by talking to so many people, that means that you are getting noticed, and it’s one of those weird things in life. Although what you’re saying is hugely inspirational and powerful and should be a positive to people. You aren’t going to get haters on you. But you’re only going to get haters when you’re actually gaining success. And then these people come out of the woodwork and try to knock you back. I had a hater letter. And I kind of it took me by surprise because I thought how can you hate what I’m doing? All I’m doing is having come from so hopefully trying to inspire people. And this person came out of the woodwork and said some, you know, quite horrible things really. And I kind of looked at it as a badge of honour really now now because I see that that’s the way of life. And that’s the way that it should be. And so when you’ve got your first hater come through, were you taken by surprise like I was? Or did you think as I do now, but yeah, actually, the more that I put my head above the parapet, the more I raise my game, the more you are going to get these kind of jealous comments.
Greg Barth [31:32]
I think when you first it’s just human nature, human nature, when you first get those negative comments, we always focus on the negative, so much more than the positive. There’s stats out there that you can be given or you can do 100 things that are really considered positive, but you always focus on the one little thing that’s negative, like your show is immensely popular. But one person sends you that little email and says, Why are Why are you eating donuts, you know, you should be working out. Of course, they wouldn’t send you that but but as you work through that, then you start to actually get to a point where you welcome them knowing like you’re saying, knowing that I must be doing something right. And you actually smile and say yes, bring it on. Because the more people that are coming out in trying to be tear you down a little bit, that means you’re doing you must be moving up in little you must be moving up the ladder. And they always say I like this little quote, they say a dog doesn’t bark at parked cars. Because there’s nothing moving, it’s safe. It’s just sitting there. But once something’s moving in, its you’re trying to move in the right direction, there’s going to be people that want to bring you down to their level. So they feel comfortable. But that’s about them. It’s not about you
David Ralph [32:43]
know, that’s absolutely true. And I think that word comfort can go two ways. I think it’s the ultimate swear word. Really now I think it’s a four letter word. Yet, it’s the C word that we don’t like to talk about comfort because it’s the killer of dreams. It’s so many people’s state of mind, they go to work, they come home, they go to work. And you get that phrase, you know, how’s life are same old, same old? And you think Really? Should it be the same old, same old? Should things not be getting better for you? Should you not be taking control of your life? Should you not be doing things that you want? If you really believe that you should be doing that? And you can do that. And we’re seeing that with you, Greg, that you taken this one choice, and you are doing some amazing things. But do you look at that word comfort now is something that sets fear in you like it does me I’m striving for something. And I really never want to go back to being comfortable. I want to be slightly on the edge, striving every day to make this show bigger and bigger.
Greg Barth [33:46]
Yes, I think of Tony Hawk or not Tony Horton. But Tony Robbins has a quote about comfort. I think he talks a lot about it in one of his books that I read to my internet remember magic, the magic of thinking big as a different book. But you know what I’m talking about? He hasn’t caught a bike in the joint. I mean, is it? Yes, yes, there we go. The magic of thinking big is also a great book. But you can tell I’ve been reading way too many books because I have about 10 of them started. I’m just love reading books now. But he talks he talks about being in that comfort zone where it’s actually the worst part to be in because you’re not pushed to move forward. But you’re not really getting to the bottom where you’re bringing, you’re forced to take some type of action, your feet are in the fire someone. And I always try to think about that now. And I will try to look at the signs that are saying, you know, is this being Am I being comfortable right now? Or is this is this what I want for my for my lifestyle? Or do I want to push it and take it to another level where I’m starting to get uncomfortable. And then I when I talk to other people and some people that I’m coaching or peers with and they’re asking or talking about maybe doing a speech would be a good example. And they’re fearful of that. So then I always say, Well, if you get that pit in your stomach, that must mean you have to do it. Because if you’re not really pushing yourself a little bit further each each day, and you’re not getting that little bit of butterfly there, I don’t think you’re really getting the full effect of what life can be. But sometimes you don’t really know what’s out there. If you just look out the window, where you’re you’re putting yourself in safety, but you’re still wondering, you don’t know unless you try it. So that that’s my philosophy is I really tried to just push the envelope and I try to every situation that I’m in if it’s if it’s a challenging one, I try to take it to another level and see create the storeys out of it. because everything’s about a storey, in my perspective. And
David Ralph [35:39]
I think you’re right, I call it sort of bodies compass. And now if I look at something, I think I can do that easily. I don’t really focus on it, I now look for the things that scare me because I know that it’s pushing me out of my comfort level. And once I do that, it’s been pushed me into a better position. And then I can deal with bigger and bigger things. You know, I remember when I started this show, I was terrified. And I can’t actually remember feeling terrified while I was doing it. I think I was in a state of denial. But once I started launching it, I was really scared, but it wasn’t going to take on or I was going to be rubbish at it or no one was going to listen, there was so many thoughts going through my head. But I just sort of persevered. And during these conversations, it is like being in therapy in many ways, because you’re speaking to people, you know, six or seven times a day, who have gone through the same challenges and the same obstacles. But I’m trying to do you’re trying to do and many other people are just getting going on. And they are all scared. They’re all scared in different degrees and they’re just different levels of scared. This is such a word. And it’s a word scared miss it sounds right. I don’t think I think
Greg Barth [36:49]
there is no Yeah,
David Ralph [36:50]
yeah, I think I’ve just created it. That’s what I
Unknown Speaker [36:52]
like it. We
Greg Barth [36:55]
do that all the time and my show.
David Ralph [36:57]
We weren’t kidding. But we create it and and uh, well take it away from us and sometimes slightly destroy it. But hey, that’s like a whole nother episode. They’re like football. That’s all I’m saying, Greg? So yeah. So I do think that you have to look at that, that those butterflies and think why am I feeling bad? Well, I’ve never done it before. That’s why I’m scared. Is it that scary and go for it. It’s not easy to do. But as soon as you realise that that is just you pushing yourself forward, then I think it’s the only way that you should do it.
Greg Barth [37:32]
Well, there’s so many examples there. Because there’s networking events is one one example where people are fearful of going and I don’t know anyone there or public speaking is always the good example. Or I started going to Toastmasters group, which is a local, I don’t know if you’re familiar with it, but it’s an international group, that you go, there’s local clubs all over the world that you join a club. And then basically you go once a week and you practice public speaking. So something drove me to go to that. So seven years ago, and I’ve been going every week. But that that was another dot where something triggered me to start that and then the first speeches I was doing a sweaty palms and just you know thinking about it the night before and not being able to sleep as much and just really a lot of nervous energy to the point where I can do one now and I don’t really have to prep that much and just get up and I can I can do more of an impromptu. So that’s growth it i’m not saying I’m perfect, but if I had if if it was easy for me, I wouldn’t ever push myself to be better. Like even now I’ve been proved but how can it be better? There’s situations I’ll put myself in maybe it’s a large group or whatever it is. Or maybe it’s a podcast environment of some sort. But then I’ll get more squirrely then. And then I’m okay, I must be growing here. So I try to watch those signs to see how I can grow and if it’s something that’s a little scary, it’s time to do it.
David Ralph [38:55]
And boy beats big scary one. If it’s something there’s an opportunity that comes out of the woodwork and you think wow, this would be amazing, but oh my god, this is this is this is big. Can I deal with it? I’ve I got the, the mental structure Have I got, you know, the experience? can I do about all those kind of devil and Angel doubts? Would you do you think at the moment, you could cope with it big scary, and not just a small, scary?
Greg Barth [39:19]
I could cope with it. I guess I have to think of some examples. But if it’s a really, really big scary, you want to say yes to everything, you know, within reason, if it’s someone is saying, you know, jump off a bridge, then you know, obviously, it’s probably not the smartest thing but if it was like maybe drop everything and move over some opportunity or whatever, then that’s that’s big scary. I’d have to think about that for a little bit. But I would want to be very, very open to it and see if there’s any reason not to. But within without getting into into the old default of overanalyzing and, and not making a decision. And I think I’ve gotten really good at that I’ve just going with what feels right. Even though it can be scary because there’s such a difference of scare scariness in fear, and what like maybe danger or just not the right decision. There’s a fine line there. But very open to all those big scary things and throw me a couple of good examples. And I’ll tackle them. Boom. That’s cool.
David Ralph [40:17]
That’s gay.
Greg Barth [40:19]
Yeah, I just ran out of the room.
David Ralph [40:21]
It’d be amazing if I start getting complaint letters from people that are at their desk at work, and I just thrown the coffee over the next the next. I do.
Greg Barth [40:30]
Yeah, I don’t have any clothes on or also to really mess my pants there because I just was really scared. You’re not even wearing pants? How? No, no, I rarely do I just it gets a little uncomfortable when I go out in public for other people. But you know, they got to deal with it.
David Ralph [40:45]
But Greg, you’ve been sitting on that chair for quite a while.
Greg Barth [40:50]
I’m actually standing I want
you got me all fired up. Now I usually sit sometimes they’ll stand but I’m all hopped up this afternoon here. So I I’m just being on the show. I got the energy flowing.
David Ralph [41:04]
Because I do notice actually with people that are fit and buff and ripped and torn and all those kind of things. Bye bye. Start standing in that Superman position. Don’t they were black hands on their hips. And I’ve been looking at a lot of pictures of you and I keep on thinking Yes, he is morphing into a slightly grey haired Superman. Sort of Superman’s just Clark
Greg Barth [41:28]
Clark Kent and I’ve actually seen Superman so you’d be impressed.
David Ralph [41:32]
Yeah. Are you aware that you stand with your hands on your hips, a lot more things you are kind of not normal?
Greg Barth [41:40]
Well, I always try to stick my chest out as far as possible walk around like a like I’m, you know, I’m I’m all that. But usually do interviews I lay down on the couch. And I kind of usually do this. So what’s so tell me about yourself and they talk really in a monotone voice and sometimes I fall asleep. But that doesn’t really seem to engage the audience. Yeah,
David Ralph [42:00]
I heard listen to some Yeah, I’ll be honest.
Greg Barth [42:03]
Yeah. What happened there? Oh, hey, I were on the air. And it’s time to wake up guys. Well, no, I am. I am Superman.
David Ralph [42:12]
Well, what was is going on in your life and where where is your big focus, you’ve done so much over the last couple of years. And everything, everything from my side of the fence seems to be in your land setup, it just looks like you’ve got it right already on air dreams to take it into bigger levels. Because I can’t even I found it hard enough setting up what I’ve set up here. So to get all the kind of visuals and the video and the fitness stuff and all that kind of stuff working like it is. It’s it’s a big deal. So is it where it is? Or have you got big dreams?
Greg Barth [42:49]
Well, I actually have huge dreams because the more that I like I said, now I have this confidence that I can really do everything that I want and set my mind to not want to take it to hold another level, I want to take like the video to a whole nother level where I have my own fitness series or whatever it is, or behind the scenes or some type of reality show or buzz you can really create whatever you want now, or it’s something like this. Another idea I have is I’d love to do this, where you create some type of a bucket list which I have created, and I’m adding to but I not only travel around the world and cross off things off the bucket list. But I also bring someone along with me that they have that on their bucket list or something on their list, and they help them cross it off. So I’m paying it forward to a whole nother group of people. And then we just keep spreading the word. And I know there’s some people that are starting to do some similar ideas that they stolen from me, of course, but those are the things that I would love to do. And just to think bigger and bigger, and you know, write a book and all the standard things you do as you become more than what you ever thought. But the common factor is I want to make sure that I’m helping others. You know, it sounds like kind of a generic term. But I’ve took control of me more, and some of those pieces we talked about, but now I want to help take others to the same level. And how do I you know, how do I help them believe in themselves. And that’s really what it amounts to is, is having creating them or so that they can see the same vision for themselves that I see? And how do I help them do that? And then how do the internet you can do everything?
David Ralph [44:25]
So So how do you help somebody, somebody sitting now on the train going to work listening to our conversation? Thinking? Yeah, I’d love this. You know, I love what Greg is saying, I don’t like what David saying, He’s just stupid. What Greg is saying means something to me, how can they do and take action, like you’re saying,
Greg Barth [44:44]
the biggest piece is basically me doing it because the more that I do, and I create this lifestyle that I have a vision for, and where I’ve, where I started, if I create this chain of events, and I keep making it bigger, bigger and bigger, and they’re following me, it takes time, and they’re they’re seeing what I’m doing. And I knew Greg when he was doing this, and now he’s doing X, Y and Z and it’s keeps becoming a bigger and bigger thing, they start to understand and realise that they could do the same thing, but they just have to start, because you can’t make any progress if you’re just watching. So that you know just it takes a lot of contact and communication just continue, they have to make that first step and then I want to help them get there. And we’ll we’ll walk along the same path that I did. And we’ll start with a little the fitness in the foundation of health and nutrition. And that’s where it starts really, I don’t think you can really lead others or do really large things until you get yourself in order. And I’m certainly not exactly where I want to be. But I’ve made a huge progress as well. So a lot of things I want to do
David Ralph [45:50]
the do some of your friends that you’ve known for a few years, I like surprise, because obviously we’re friends. They know the old Greg, but I never knew what was going on inside the sort of desire to change desire for more and all that kind of stuff. Did I sort of see you and go, man, I can’t believe the difference in you. Not just physically but just mindset since the last time we met.
Greg Barth [46:14]
Definitely. And I’ll use my sister as an example. I’m really close with my sister, Rhonda. And she has a transformation as well. She’s another crazy fitness person. And she’s seen she’s known me since we’re Yeah, we’re closest in age. She’s known me forever. So she’s known where I’ve been. And she’s made a lot of progress with herself. But just, you know, I haven’t lost 100 pounds, whatever. But she knows exactly, and all of my other friends and they see me as the fitness person now and person that’s in shape and doing all these other things and really confident with what he’s doing. But they know that people have new knew me before that know that I was not at that spot. And they never really thought I was really, totally like not motivated, or it was just kind of that standard status quo just getting by type thing. But now they see what you can do. And they’ve noticed a huge difference. And that’s what they that’s what they look at me at least as far as what they tell me. And they come to me for help. Because they they’re seeing what I’ve done. But if I don’t do it myself that I’m not going to really make anyone believe that I can help them. Because I can’t even help myself. If that makes any sense.
David Ralph [47:26]
No, it makes total sense. And that must be quite powerful that must that that would drive me on to be honest, if I think to myself, if I let myself down, I’m letting so many other people down, I would possibly be out to jump 60 minutes without vomiting. Now I’d still vomit.
Greg Barth [47:44]
But I’m more likely to do I’m going to put that challenge out there for you at some point, maybe, well, we got to put a date on it. But now we’re just taking that first step.
David Ralph [47:52]
Now we’re not vomit bucket challenge or something that goes viral around the world, Libya,
Greg Barth [47:58]
the half donut challenge, instead of the full donut, the half donut challenge. We’re crazy. We know it’s very inspiring. And and also that the other people I that I have gotten to know I’ve really gotten to know people all over the world now, through this whole chain of events that I feel that I need to continue to make progress. So they actually drive me, I need to continue to make more and more progress for myself. And that’s what I want anyway. But in order to help inspiring and inspire and help them more, because if I stop and I don’t want to do it anymore, then I’m not really creating anything for them to follow or to to see what can you what you can do.
David Ralph [48:40]
But let’s play the words of Steve Jobs, which are obviously so inspiring and really helped find the feet of this show. And I’m always fascinated to ask the guests on the show whether these these words are relevant. So this is Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs [48:54]
Of course, it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards 10 years later. Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something, your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leaves you off the well worn path. And that will make all the difference. Can you see that being
David Ralph [49:29]
true to your life?
Greg Barth [49:32]
Yeah, you must be reading my mind because that’s another one of my favourites. But I agree with that 100% because a lot of times you’re going through life, and you’re running into some type of struggle or some type of decision that you’re making. You don’t realise the impact of it at that very moment. It might seem maybe even insignificant or smaller, and in the proportion of everything else you’re doing. But it’s not until you look back that you actually can see why that would be why did you make that decision? And why did you go down that path? Because you’re going down the one you make one decision and that creates a whole nother whole nother picture for you and your life is completely different from one decision. But then those decisions compound. That’s what actually makes it fun, though, because when you look back, you can see Well, it’s similar to like small kids, I suppose when when they’re your own kids, you don’t notice how they’re growing so quickly. But when you’re a grandparent, you see them maybe a couple months later or something, they look completely different because they they don’t see the everyday growth. But when you look back at, if you look back at my storey up to this point, when I was going through all those specific changes, and started 2009 was when I put that first dot there is I don’t really didn’t know the impact of what was going on until I look back. And now makes me really fired up and excited to see where will it be when look back in a few more years. That that’s the part that really gets me going now and it makes me want to continue every day making another step forward. That’s exactly I love those words.
David Ralph [51:12]
hugely powerful. And although you’ve been looking at what’s possible in the future, what I want to do now is bring the end of the show and I don’t want to say goodbye to you, Greg, I feel we bonded. I feel like there’s a connexion made
Greg Barth [51:25]
sleep visually seeing each other naked, almost, it’s really you can’t go any more than that, can you?
David Ralph [51:29]
I think you can, I think you can go a long way. And to be honest, you’re an adult. So you should be able to know that.
Greg Barth [51:37]
Yes, I know what you’re talking about yet.
David Ralph [51:39]
But we’re not going to go there because we are professionals. But this is the end of the show. And this is the part that we call the Sermon on the mic. And this is when we can send you back in time to have a one on one with your younger self. And if you could go back in time and go into a room and see the young Greg, what advice would you give them what we’re going to find out because I’m going to play the tune and when it beats you up, this is the Sermon on the mic.
Unknown Speaker [52:05]
Here we go with the best bit of the show.
Greg Barth [52:23]
Hey, little Greg, this is big adult, Greg and I just have a few words for you. I want you to really believe in yourself. Because as I’m looking at you from an older perspective, and down the road a little bit, I’ve realised numerous things and one thing that I’ve seen is you always just wanted to be the status quo and just be that average guide is to get along through life and to touch other people’s lives, but you never really had that extra own to be the best that you can be. And now I know that I can be the best that I can be. And I want you to realise that at an earlier age. Really focus on the relationships that you have. Not the things in have tonnes of competence. Gold, big, be strong. But always focus on what you want out of life and pour that into others to help them do the same thing but be confident. Know You can do whatever you want. Go out there and crush it.
David Ralph [53:24]
Greg, how can our audience connect with you sir?
Greg Barth [53:28]
My main site is the life of now calm for my podcast and then the fitness site is get fit with Greg calm. And then I have all the links to everything else there. I want to Twitter, Greg underscore, Barth. And then I have numerous other you know, Instagram and stuff and covered waggon is a choke, scanning, faxing pretty much every way possible. They want to connect with me, but it’s all on the the life of now calm and get that with Greg gmail.com.
David Ralph [53:53]
We will have all the links on the show notes. Greg, thank you so much for spending time with us today. Joining us today. Please come back again when you have more dots to join up because I do believe that by joining up the dots and connecting our past is the best way to build our futures. Greg, it’s been a
Greg Barth [54:09]
pleasure mine as well. Thank you so much.
Outro [54:13]
David doesn’t want you to become a faded version of the brilliant self you are wants to become so he’s put together an amazing guide for you called the eight pieces of advice that every successful entrepreneur practices, including the two that changed his life. Head over to Join Up Dots.com to download this amazing guide for free and we’ll see you tomorrow on Join Up Dots.
