Joel Boggess Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing Joel Boggess
Joel Boggess is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs Join Up Dots podcast.
Joel has a fascinating story, which touches on many areas of physical and emotional heartache and obstacles.
When he was just five, Joel Boggess fell over 30 feet off a bridge and spent over three weeks in a coma.
Fortunately the only damage he received from this fall was a loss of hearing in his ear.
Because of the relearning he had to do, including walking, Joel was always picked last for sports, and picked on the most.
You would have thought at this point he would have lashed out and fought back with resentment.
However that would have been nowhere near the truth of what happened.
Instead, Joel enrolled in karate and in a very short time achieved black belt status, to became a teacher.
How The Dots Joined Up For Joel
In his words Joel Boggess says “Looking back, while I taught the mechanics of kicking and punching, what really excited me was helping the students understand their inner strength and believe in themselves again.”
He had found his path in life, but now just had to find a way of channelling his passion.
And that is where his wife and business partner of the Relaunch Show Podcast comes in.
With a fascinating journey of her own, taking her from a childhood growing up in China, to the culture shock of a life in America.
In the states she pursued education with a passion, and studied to become a dentist.
Finally owning her own very successful practice.
And that for many would have been job done, but like her husband she felt something was missing.
She felt drawn to creating a better world for others.
And so together this powerhouse of a married team, have taken it on themselves to create their own business.
Built around coaching, podcasting, writing and being hugely positive to create a future that is 100% percent unique to themselves.
Well let’s bring onto the show to start joining up dots, as we discuss the words of Steve Jobs with the one and only Joel Boggess.
Show Highlights
During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Joel Boggess such as:
When you find your connection in life, you start providing true value to everyone!
How the 2nd part of your life can happen at anytime, and this makes it so exciting!
The four key ingredients to a kick ass life: Being open, being receptive, being gentle and being forgiving!
Why it is so important to not worry about what others think!
And lastly……
Why he likes the phrase “Get it done and get it right”
How To Connect With Joel Boggess
Return To The Top Of Joel Boggess
If you enjoyed this episode with Joel Boggess why not check out other inspirational chat with Trevor Blake, Jessica Pettit, One Year No Beer and the amazing Steve Sims
You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy
Audio Transcription Of Joel Boggess Interview
Intro [0:01]
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, everybody. Hello to Episode 35. And it’s a master class today because I have got a gentleman all the way from America on most of my guests from America. And he has been well he’s been on his own path for the last few years and came to my attention from being a podcasting legend. Yes, there’s more than one of us out there. So he really has a fascinating storey which touches on many areas of physical and emotional heartache and obstacles when he was just five, he fell over 30 feet of a bridge and spent over for three weeks in a coma, not good. Fortunately, the only damage he received from this fall was a loss of hearing and easier. Because of the re learning here to do including walking, he was always picked glass for sports and picked on the most, you would have thought at this point he would have lashed out and fought back with resentment, but that would have been nowhere near the truth of what happened. Instead, he enrolled in karate, and in a very short time achieved black belt status to become a teacher. And in his words, he says, looking back while I taught the mechanics of kicking and punching, what really excited me was helping the students understand that inner strength and believe in themselves again, he had found his path in life, but now just had to find a way of channelling his passion. And that’s where his wife and business partner comes in. And with a fascinating journey of her own, taking over my childhood growing up in China, to the culture shock of a live in America, she states that she pursued education with a passion and studied to become a dentist finally owning her own very successful practice, and that for many would have been job done. But like husband, she felt something was missing. She felt drawn to creating a better world for others. And so together, this powerhouse of a married team have taken it upon themselves to create their own business, built around coaching, podcasting, writing, and being hugely positive to create a future that is 100% unique to themselves. So there was no better time than today to bring onto the show and start joining up the dots for one and only Joe Boggess. How are you today? Joe?
Joel Boggess [2:27]
David, I am doing fantastic. And I am excited to be a guest today on Join Up. Dots. This is tremendous.
David Ralph [2:35]
I love Americans because Americans do excitement don’t buy?
Joel Boggess [2:39]
Don’t? Absolutely.
David Ralph [2:41]
Even going into a shop. I’ve done many states. I tell people, I’ll tell you a quite a lot of times on this show. And a lot of Americans go really. And I’ve been to every state bar to I haven’t done Alaska, and I haven’t done Hawaii. But other than that I’ve toured America over the last 20 years. Even people who working in in careers that you would say are probably a little bit humdrum, still bring an excitement out, which I don’t see any United Kingdom very often. Huh,
Joel Boggess [3:13]
that’s interesting. Yeah, sometimes people are connected with what it is that really brings out their best. And when people are able to really find a career to find a vocation that taps into who they really are, what excites them, what they stand for, it can be an absolute difference maker. So you have probably run into many of those types of people as you’ve toured through the states. Yeah. And I do
David Ralph [3:42]
find it. Amazing. But as waitresses, I was in Dallas once and I went into a restaurant, and there was about nine or 10 of us. And it was a sports bar. And there was screens everywhere showing hockey in one and loads of different spots all around. And you can imagine the noise in these bar when one team of blokes was watching one screen and another team are watching another screen. So it was like a cacophony of sound. And this lady came up to us and she said, Can I help you guys? And we said, Yeah, I’m happy. You got nice, all of them beer and food? And she said, Yeah, no problem at all. And she went around the table, and it was like nine or 10 of us. And she said, Can I take your order, and I told her my drink. And I told her the food. She didn’t write anything down the went to the next person went to the next person. And I said to my mate, this is going to be terrible. This, you know, she didn’t write a single thing down. Well, she came back. Absolutely perfect. She put everything we ordered in front of us in exactly the right position as we ordered it. And I said to her, I said, How did you do that? You know, you didn’t write a single thing down and you remembered all the orders? And she said, two reasons. One, I’ve been doing it a long time. And the second one, I care. Isn’t that good? announcer?
Joel Boggess [5:01]
That is a that is a brilliant answer. And that just kind of reinforces what I’ve what I’ve always said is when you’re doing something that is in alignment with who you are, and it really comes out to serving and to being a value to people, you’re going to be sharper, you’re going to be more enthusiastic, you’re going to have more joy with what you’re doing. And that that lady that you that was waiting on you and your tribe of friends. She was she was serving the best part of herself. And that’s why she was on
David Ralph [5:34]
on her a game. Yeah, she certainly was. And I bet she’s still on it. Are you going now that was probably about 15 years ago. But you are certainly somebody who as far as I can see, although you had a bit of a rocky kind of start and your your passage through childhood and stuff. You want your A game now on your you know, your unique path, and you play to your strengths on a daily basis.
Joel Boggess [5:55]
You know, I do, David, and thank you for such kind kind words. And we are excited about really, you know, making a difference for people and helping people understand how to how to make a difference in a way that makes a difference to them and moves them internally. And it is it is absolutely a game changer when a person understand how to connect with themselves themselves at a at a deeper level.
David Ralph [6:27]
How do people do that, though, and I’m going to focus in on you. But I’m just going to say generically, because I’m sure there’s loads of people out there listening to the show today. And they’re on their way to a job that they’re not keen on. I wouldn’t say that I hate it. But they’re not keen on and saying, Yeah, it’s all right for these two guys saying, I’ve connected with myself, I found my passion. How do you do that? Is there a way or kickstarting back job?
Joel Boggess [6:52]
Yeah, absolutely. And wow, what a great question. Thank you for asking, you know, a striking observation, David, that I made in my own life’s journey is that the past leaves clues. And as far back as I can remember, there’s always been a pool in my spirit, a pool. And you’ve kind of touched on it already a pool to work with people and to help them to really get in touch with their inner strength and to help them to over come. And as you mentioned, you know, early in life, even during my teenage years, I became a karate instructor. And as you pointed out, I was teaching the mechanics of, you know, punching or spinning or kicking things of that nature. But really, that was just a mechanical application, I was actually teaching them how to find value, and worth within themselves. And when I got out of high school, and I entered college, I went to Texas Tech that’s in Lubbock, Texas. I
David Ralph [7:54]
was birthplace of Yeah,
Joel Boggess [7:57]
yeah, yeah. Wow, that’s good. I am, I took job as a swimming instructor. I think about this for a second, I went from karate teacher to swimming instructor. And while the mechanics of what I was cheque what I was teaching the kids because this was kids, again, the, the mechanics had changed because now I was teaching kids how to, you know, dog paddle and how to kick and how to blow bubbles and things of that nature. So the mechanics chain, but really, I was still helping all of my students, kids, and then also, you know, teenagers later, I was still helping them to tap into their own inner strength to develop more confidence or self esteem, and to overcome their their fear. You know, what I got out of college, I then went on to graduate school twice. And then I took a job as a personal fitness trainer, and then later, as a as a as a counsellor. I got a master’s in counselling, psychology, and well, the mechanics change twice. You know, from personal trainer, then to counsellor, it was always the same thing for me, I was helping people to really find something with within themselves, something that they could get handles on, to move them forward. So that they could, you know, experience themselves at their absolute finest. And that that’s always been a reoccurring theme in me is to help people one on one, to experience those kind of revelations within themselves. Even better, Yeah, go ahead.
David Ralph [9:38]
It’s interesting that you say right at the beginning there, that there are clues in your life, because that’s really the mantra of this show, Join Up Dots. And we’re going to play the speech from Steve Jobs later. But I have always fought. And now I’m having these conversations on a daily basis, sometimes five or six times in a day. I don’t try to do many of those days, because it gets a bit exhausting to be honest. But literally, every single person says to me, yes, if I had spent more time looking back on the things I was good at and the things that were uniquely me, I would have found my happiness quicker. And I totally believe what you were saying that the clues are there but.up, as I say, but if we reflect back and we look at those things that wouldn’t would naturally easy. We’re playing to our strengths, put us in a position of flow where we weren’t aware of at the time, Ben, join all those up and try to create a career or a lifestyle round nose. And you’ve got a hell of a head start. But we don’t do we we just don’t do it. We just go for the money. We go for the easy job that’s just in front of us. And then we don’t spend time reflecting on our inner self.
Joel Boggess [10:52]
Yeah, you’re right, David. And, you know, it’s people have the best of intentions, but sometimes people just I know that the past leaves clues all along the way. And Matt, tell you a very quick storey,
David Ralph [11:06]
you tell me a long storey.
Joel Boggess [11:07]
Okay, fantastic. You know, I worked with this one woman, she is a is a, she’s in her 50s. She has two full grown daughters. And her first name is Kim. And I write about her storey and defining your voice book. And, you know, Kim, for a long time, didn’t think she had anything to offer. And she came to coaching, she entered coaching with me, it’s kind of a last resort, if you will, and she said, Joe, I’ve just got to find something different I need, I need a new job. Because this job that I’m working in is highly, highly toxic. And it was actually showing up in in physical symptoms, you know, her her heart would raise her pumps will get sweaty, and you know, her her equilibrium would be thrown off. And it got to the point where she had a breakthrough yourself against the wall and say a little silent prayer before she entered into the doctor’s office, which is where she worked at the time, to, you know, steal her resolve and get ready for another another day that would that would train her spirit. And when we went through some coaching together, and I challenged her about some of the things that were in her past some of the things that brought her meaning brought her joy brought her happiness, she couldn’t get away from the fact that you know, women, especially moms, would come to her over and over and over again, you know, wanting guidance wanted wanting direction. wanting some answers about you know, how do you do this mothering thing? How do you do this? brand new wife thing? Yeah, how do you do this? And
she had been doing that for a long, long time, women are being attracted to her. And
here’s the thing, she didn’t see it as her doing anything special. She told me, she said, Well, that’s just me, that’s just something I do. And I said, putting my finger on my nose and then pointing my other finger at her. I said, exactly, it is just you. That’s the value. That’s some of the value that you bring to people. So here’s the thing with Kim, she was blind to it. She was blind to what she was doing. Because she was just being herself. She was fully expressing some of her gifts. And what’s really kind of sad, David is because she was doing that. Nobody had to teach her. It was woven into who she was. She didn’t place any value. Yeah, on that. And for a long time, she she would run from what she could not, not do, which is which is to provide mentor and to provide coaching to provide information solutions to young moms and new new wives and make a long storey short. I don’t know how good of a job I’ve done with that. But in the end, she ended up walking away from a toxic environment, an environment that was stripping her of her soul. And she found the courage in the family support to build a business around what she had always done in the first place, which is to provide leadership guidance, support to the women that needed to be served by her exciting, exciting times for Kim and her family. And later after she and I finished our coaching. I got this long email from from one of her daughters she has to and without reading the whole email to you basically what she said is Joe, thank you. I have my mother back. And the most was just talking about it, David, because the ripple that Kim created in her family will be felt for generations because she understood the value of looking back and realising that the past leaves clues left clothes in her life
David Ralph [15:20]
to feel the same No, Joe, do you feel once you’re doing something that is inherently you? Is it was there a part of you that was a bit dismissive about the value that you can provide? You just telling that storey there, I was in fraud, and I know that my listeners will be improved as well. You know, I was hanging on every word because I felt the passion, the enthusiasm and the pride that you felt that your contact with this lady had changed and caused those ripples. But it still gets back to you. And do you kind of think that’s just me. You know, I won’t I won’t charge for that coaching because it’s just something I naturally do anyway.
Joel Boggess [16:01]
Of course, of course, I’m human. And to doubt yourself is to be human. It is straight up. And I just like anybody else I doubted myself, I doubted myself through through traditional education. Through the school system through college, I knew that I needed to come alongside people and help them to realise the best within themselves. I knew that. And also knew I needed to be in front of people, a spokesperson type, or or a media type. And I had to lead that charge. I had to help people take that hill, of course I knew that. But did I tap into it? Oh, heck no, no, because I didn’t think that that was the right thing to do. And I like a lot of people, you know, I know, people that are in our in our circle and people that we come in contact with on a day to day basis. They are trying to live up to other people’s expectations. You know what mom says you should do or what dad said you should do or what? You know leaders in our life teachers, pastors, coaches, counsellors were trying to live up to what they think that we should do. And, you know, they had the best of intentions, for the most part, everybody has the best of intentions. But it there comes a point in time when it’s time for relaunch, and it’s time for someone to move into the second half of their life. And it’s time to start calling the shots and creating your own rules. When you move into that second half. And here’s the thing that I love about relaunch and about second half is because your second half your listeners second half David can happen at any given moment, I’ll give you a quick example. My wife and I were speaking together, we were leading a workshop, little two hour workshop at a yoga studio. And there were mostly women, there’s one man in there besides myself. Those women were at varieties of different ages. You know, there was one young lady there who was in middle school. There were ladies here that were 30 4050. And one of the things that I said right at the end of the workshop, I said, ladies, gentlemen, everyone, your second half can begin today. It doesn’t matter. Your age, doesn’t matter, your experience doesn’t matter your income level or your educational level, your second half can begin today, right at the right now, if you decide for it, to begin. And that’s the key, right there. And that filled the room with hope, an inspiration. Because that’s what it takes, it just takes a decision.
David Ralph [19:06]
But it doesn’t even need a decision does it it just needs something. When you when you look back dot, and I called it but big dot. And the way I describe it, it’s like a huge.in your life. But really you hit and you bounce off onto your unique path. But actually, it could be like a pebble, it just needs to be a word from someone it needs, you know, I’ve been quite open. But my dot was just simply I was working with a manager, but I decided I couldn’t work with anymore. Simple as that. And my manager let this new lady came in, I just didn’t see eye to eye with her. Now, if somebody else had come in who was as good as the bloke before, then I probably would have still been there, you know, he just needs something doesn’t it to, to open you up to the opportunities that are out there for you in life.
Joel Boggess [19:59]
And that’s and that’s what I want your listeners to get. There’s really three key ingredients, to setting yourself up for a successful relaunch or a successful transition into your next season or into your second half. And that is you have to be open.
You have to be receptive.
And you also have to be gentle with yourself. And when you’re able to connect those three dots, being open to possibilities being receptive to what your mentors, your coaches, your your spouse’s, your loved ones are trying to impart into you. And to be gentle with yourself.
It’s amazing. It’s like releasing magic dust in the air.
David Ralph [20:50]
What do you mean by being gentle with yourself? Joe?
Joel Boggess [20:53]
Okay, yeah, that’s a great question. Well,
most people with the best of intentions are way too hard on themselves. Let’s say you’re driving somewhere. And, and you don’t quite get the light. say they’re stuck at a red light? Well, you know, being harsh on yourself would be, man, I can’t believe it. Another red light. I really should have left earlier. What am I thinking? How can I be running late going to this appointment? I need to be there. You know, my reputations on the line, so forth and so on. That’s, that’s being hard on yourself. To be being gentle with yourself is to go is to not even experienced that. Yeah, you still get a red light. Yeah, it’s unfortunate. But you know what, it’s not the end of the world.
It’s going to be just fine.
And you’re going to be able to make wherever it is you’re going. Everything’s gonna be fine. So if you learn to be gentle with yourself, and that is a learning process, but once you learn to be gentle with yourself, what ends up happening, David is you save yourself a tremendous amount of spiritual and emotional energy.
David Ralph [22:15]
It’s funny as you’re talking about my job. I’ve got this image of this very old Tom Hanks film called Joe versus the volcano. Did you remember that? Yeah.
Unknown Speaker [22:25]
And if you know, yeah, go ahead, go ahead.
David Ralph [22:27]
And if anyone’s out there hasn’t been aware of Joe versus the volcano. It’s not a Tom Hanks classic in any shape or form. You know, it’s not Forrest Gump or Saving Private Ryan, or any of the other sort of genius films he’s done. But I think it was the first one that he did, where him and Meg Ryan Connect. And he works in a job, which is just terrible. It’s horrible. Everybody just kind of drags themselves in, drags themselves out. And he gets through the day. And when you see the film, you think, why is he putting up with this because he’s, his health is rubbish. His life is rubbish. And it’s just it’s dire, totally dire. But he does, because that’s what’s expected of him. And he doesn’t know if there’s anything better been a doctor comes to him one day and says to him, Look, I’ve checked your health records, and you’ve got this, this brain cloud, you’ve got this thing wrong with you, and you’ve only got six months to live. So he goes, Oh, my God, I got six months to live. And the next day a millionaire turns up at his door all kind of connected, and says to him, Look, I’ve heard that you’ve only got six months to live, I will pay for everything you want. For the next six months. If the end of the six months, you throw yourself into the volcano, and there’s jewels on this island, and all the natives in the island will only let us have the jewels, if the gods who control the volcano, are pacified. And that needs a human sacrifice, and you jump in. And he decides to do this, he decides to do this. And it’s it’s the weird thing that once he gets himself away from that environment, once he starting being gentle with himself, once he’s been more open to opportunities, actually, he realises you know, all I don’t think I do want to die. And he’s life is better. And he’s out in the fresh air. And he meets a beautiful Meg Ryan, and they fall in love. And everything is great. Just because he pulled himself away from that toxic situation. Like you were talking about Kim and created a path that is all he’s
Joel Boggess [24:38]
you’ve got to know you’re being gentle with yourself is all about self care. And taking care of yourself basically, is what I’m what I’m trying to say. And that’s really where it all starts, you know, moving forward into a better place in your next half. Hey, starts with how you take care of yourself. So be being gentle is a game changer. And most people aren’t aren’t used to being gentle. They’re used to being harsh. And once a person learns to grow and their awareness, it that’s that makes all the difference in the world. And as you’ve obviously figured out, then you save yourself the grief that you put yourself through I mean, just when I was telling you that storey of being down in yourself beating yourself up because you You missed a green light and you’re not stuck in a red light. You you you probably will you definitely heard but you probably also felt the, the energy coming from me, as I was, you know, beating myself over the head over and over and over again. How can you miss this? How can you do so if you learn to be gentle. You’re saving yourself from that anguish, mental, emotional, spiritual anguish.
David Ralph [25:55]
So taking you right back to the very beginning, because you have had anguish. You know, if the falling off a bridge, when you have five, I want to ask you why he was on the bridge or anything because you know, that’s not really important. But the important thing is, that doesn’t seem to be kind of any resentment from you that these things would linked, you know, you were in a coma, you had damage to you here, then you had to learn to walk you got picked on at school, that should really make you quite a better person, I would have thought I know quite a few kids who unfortunately bullying happens and they find school a horrible experience. I was very lucky. I just breezed through it. But I know the opposite view is, you know prevalent. And I know about they would love to go back to school reunion so that they could you know, say a few words to their tormentors. And they they just got like this kind of bit of you. You haven’t? And is that just cause of maturity? Or was that just is that totally you?
Joel Boggess [27:01]
You know, there comes a point where you’ve just got to forgive and move on.
And that’s really the fourth thing we talked about being open, we talked about being receptive, you got to be gentle, but you also have to be forgiving. And that means forgiving, forgiving yourself and other people. And that took me a long time, David, and that’s still something that every once in a while rears its ugly head, and I have to remember that. That person that wronged me has been forgiven. I know I no longer have to carry that burden. And that that took a while because yeah, there were there were kids in school. There were relationships, that my mom and my dad were involved in that a kid a child should have had no part in that relationship at all should have had to watch some of the drama that unfolded right here right in front of me. But I had to forgive. For my own benefit. One of the things that I’ve heard about in the finding your voice book, and it’s a quote that many of us have heard I’m sure you’ve heard it before, too, but you know, not forgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person. Yeah, to die. Yeah, yeah, that’s a that’s a worn out. phrase. I don’t know if it’s for now. But it’s well used. But it but it’s absolutely totally accurate. And I got to that point where you know what I just have to forgive. And I have to also understand that the people in my past that have done less than noble things to me or with me, they were doing the best that they could based on what they knew of the situation at at the time. And that includes my parents. And that’s a bitter pill to swallow some time. But really, you know, my folks, the people that were involved with them, were doing the best that they could, based on the information that they had at the time.
David Ralph [29:10]
So what’s the most important, Joe? I don’t know if you saw I’m looking down at them. And I’ve written them down open, receptive, gentle and forgiving. Probably forgiving is the key one, isn’t it to start getting on that, that, that journey of improvement.
Joel Boggess [29:27]
But really, you can lump three and four both together. Because if you if you are gentle with yourself, now that I think about it, that also means being having a forgiving nature. So I would Yeah, now that I think about I would probably put those, put those two in the same category.
David Ralph [29:49]
When you first went behind the mic and disrupt your podcasting. Was that just to build up competence in yourself? Or was it to grasp wider audience for your passions?
Joel Boggess [30:03]
Sure. Now that is a great question. In the 90s, David, I entered radio, radio broadcasting, I like terrestrial traditional radio, yeah, it’s kind of a dying breed these days. But that’s why I entered I entered radio. And then right after that, I entered TV, I was on air talent. And then I was also behind the scenes. And and you know this because you’re you’re a rockstar podcaster but it’s broadcasting is something that gets in your blood. And even though I left the biz, the traditional biz in 75, or I’m sorry, and that’s in, I don’t know where that came from. And 97 I left the biz boy, being back on the radio back behind the mic, you know, back on stage was just something that just was a part of being it goes back to the storey I told you about Kim earlier, it was just woven into who I was similar to, you know, the storey I told you about Kim broadcasting was woven into who I was. And it was just something I had to do. And no matter what job I had, or what occupation or vocation, whatever you want to call it, I would always look for Okay, how can I get this message on the radio? How can I get this message on the TV. So when podcasting started out of the gate, it was just something I had to do head to head to head to do. And we started our podcast, gosh, about five years ago, or so, four or five years ago. And it is just been phenomenal. You know took a wonderful class with a cliff ravens craft podcasting, A to Z ticket with my wife and I. And that was a game changer. And then that helped us with the finding your voice show that I got involved with our mutual friend john Lee Dumas and Entrepreneur on Fire. That just set me into a higher gear he had Okay, sure. He, john and Kate and team, they really taught me how to how to build a business at a podcasting. If you want to do it as a hobby, that’s great. Because that’s that’s and that’s pretty much what I was doing. Because that’s all I knew how to do. But I really wanted to incorporate into my business and make it into a business. And john and Kate had the blueprint. And and I chose to follow the blueprint. And after some what I like to call heated fellowship with with my wife and a lot of prayer, we decided that you know what, that’s what we’re going to do. And we just recently launched our show relaunch is the name of our show. And within two days at the time of this recording, we went from out of the gate to now we’re new and noteworthy and three of our categories. Congrats. Yeah, last time I looked, it was it was the top row. And, and one of our categories been in all three were there. So the the planet we’ve learned from john and Kate is is stellar, and phenomenal. And then we are just so excited. And here’s how excited and committed we are to relaunch to podcasting and to helping people find their voice and to to join their own dots. Pay. I don’t even know if I should be telling you this, David, but it is what it is pay actually sold her practice her dental practice about two or three weeks ago.
David Ralph [33:45]
That must be nothing for her to do very
Joel Boggess [33:48]
well, it was something that we just agreed was time for. Okay. And the practice had been very good to us for eight years. And oh, that period of time, we have grown closer as a couple and is also business partners. And then we decided that you know what, if we want to take a relaunch, and we want to blast it off to a whole nother stratosphere, we need to be side by side work working together. Instead of just a hobby for one person, and kind of a kind of a full time gig for another person. And that’s how committed we are to relaunch. And to helping people build their podcast
and their and their business.
David Ralph [34:39]
You don’t know how lucky you are to have a supportive partner. Because so many of the entrepreneurs and and non entrepreneurs, the actors and professionals I’ve been speaking to have said that until they hit that tipping point that there was a financial future that could be seen, their partner couldn’t quite get it. They supported the individual. They love their passion. They were there for them, but I couldn’t see it. And I’m still in that situation. Now my wife can’t quite grasp what I’m doing. And I keep having to say to her look, it will get there, it will get there I need to build an audience, I need to provide content, which is fresh every single day, but powerful and motivational. And I think I can do bad. But it’s going to take time, it’s going to take time and she believes in me. So for somebody to be, you know, a kindred spirit and working on the mechanics of the business as well. Well, that’s that’s Rocky power.
Joel Boggess [35:41]
Absolutely, that that is the booster fuel that will drive your your podcast and your business. You know a lot of people, they it’s a challenge, and it was a challenge for us. And frankly, David still is. But if you put together a plan, plan, a plan to show the money. It seems to provide a lot of comfort. And in another person that doesn’t quite understand, understand the podcasting or understand what we’re what you know, other entrepreneurs are trying to do with with social media and in word of mouth and all that. But if you put together a plan, and then both people agree on the plan, don’t have to understand all of the intricacies the bells and the whistles, but agree on the plan and then also agree on a time limit. I found that that I find that that can make a tremendous difference and can add a lot of stability is not the word but can can add a lot of motivation to both people. I’ve asked this question to
David Ralph [36:58]
quite a few people, actually. And I’m going to ask you to you when you started on this journey. And I’m going to play the Steve Jobs speech in a moment because I think we’re round about that time. When it is it’s useful to hear about again. But when you started on this journey, what superpowers what super talents Did you have that the average man out there listening in thinking? I’d like to be like, Joe? What did you have that I haven’t got?
Joel Boggess [37:26]
You know, that’s it? That’s a good question, David, I don’t think that I had anything that anyone else didn’t have. I was just willing to take action on it. And I think that was the big game changer. Taking action. I knew what I was good at. I knew what I was passionate about. And I had a pretty good understanding for the vision that I wanted to create, for my life or for my family’s life. And I just I just took action on it. And I stayed focused. And boy, that’s a challenge. It continues to be the challenge. But it’s like john Dumas says, follow one course. Until successful. Easy, heck no. But it’s a wonderful, wonderful source for us to remember, you know, follow one course. And that’s that’s what we continue to do with with many challenges. Like other people have everyone has, but it’s just to know what we’re committed to. And then being able to take action on it. One of my mottos and I say this guy’s I probably said it on my last batch of podcasts, I probably said it five, five times, and all the interviews back to back to back like you, like you do but get it done. Then get it right. Yeah. And you can tweet that out too. But what what I find that when people really understand that content, get it done, didn’t get it right. It can, it can make all the difference in the world. And most people do the opposite of that they work so hard, tweaking and tightening and loosening and trying to try to get her right. Before it’s done, that they they waste all their time, their energy, and oftentimes their resources. Like Seth Godin says ship it and then didn’t get it right. Here’s the thing with that, you’re going to make adjustments and tweaks anyways.
So you might as well just ship it
ahead of schedule, knowing that you know what, there’s going to be adjustments, there’s going to be maybe some bumps that we need to smooth out. And some interchanges that we need to make, but let’s just get it out there. Which you take an action Richard Branson says,
David Ralph [39:55]
screw it, let’s do it, or Screw it, just do it.
Joel Boggess [40:00]
Gonna be my new model. Yeah, I think I think one of the tattoo parlour right after this, right after this interview.
David Ralph [40:06]
I think that really does say it, doesn’t it because he says most of these bigger successes were opportunities, but he said, I can do. And then when I found out how to do stuff, or asked people, he said, there’s so many opportunities that bypasses because you look at it, and you go, Oh, no, no, I’m not quite ready for that. Or no, that’s too big for me, or that is only the fear factor, keeping us where we are. And that’s really leads us on to where Steve Jobs was talking about. So I’m going to play the speech now. And I’m going to ask your thoughts on this afterwards. Joe, this is Steve Jobs, you bet.
Steve Jobs [40:39]
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.
Unknown Speaker [41:14]
What you reckon?
Joel Boggess [41:17]
Yeah, you if you have a vision, you’ve got it, you’ve got to go for it, you absolutely have to go for one of the things that I encourage all my clients to do is to develop a vision. And I think that word vision, David, it scares and it paralyses a lot of people because people think, okay, if I have a vision for my life, that means I have to have this, you know, full feature, avatar, like, you know, movie, kind of fully produced and playing on the back of my forehead and treacle I don’t know if God reveals things to people in that way. But what I do know is that people are that God reveals things, people in glimpses, sneak peeks, and previews. And when I’ve helped people create a vision for their life, for their business, you know, it’s grabbing onto some of those sneak peeks some of those coming attractions, previews, and putting them down on paper. Now getting bogged down in the how, but just knowing what you’re trying to do, what you’re trying to accomplish, what you’re trying to create. And what I found is that once you’re clear on the business that you’re trying to build, you have to know all the bells and whistles yet, once you’re clear on the business, that you’re trying to build a life you’re trying to create them that the how oftentimes takes care of itself. It’s amazing. The things that happen, once a person is clear what they’re trying to create, or what they’re trying to do, you know, Branson didn’t know how to run a airline, he didn’t know how to run Virgin Airlines. But he knew that that was part of his vision. So once he established that as part of, you know, Branson, stuff, Branson enterprises, then the rest of it was just details. Gotta have a vision.
Start with what you know. Now with what you don’t know,
David Ralph [43:34]
I’ve got a vision of this show. And I’ve mentioned it a couple of times. But I kind of scare myself when I’m talking about it, it just seems too big in my in my head. And so I’ve kind of stopped talking about it, but it’s in the back of my mind. And the reason is, I’m better with doing the bite sized chunks, bang, looking at the big picture, the big picture just is too much for me to handle, and I just go running screaming into a cupboard somewhere, sort of locked myself away. But by doing these tiny little things, you know, for example, the internal dialogue when I went on to launch this show, back on April, the 30th, I had built up everything I possibly could to come out of the blocks, bang, I thought I was going to get some amazing downloads, and everything was going to be rosy in the garden. And I got 6000 plus Facebook followers, and I’d got Twitter followers and the social media platform was there. And I recorded 40 episodes of the show. And I’ve got better and better and better and doing them. So I thought I was onto a winner. And the very first day I launched, I tell everyone 45 downloads, and I thought, well, that’s not bad, you know, for the first show. And then the second day, I got 54. And then the next day, I got 22. And then the next one about 24. And then I got into new and noteworthy. And as you were saying new and noteworthy for anyone who’s doing a podcast, you go into it. And they put you in an area, which basically has more eyes on it. So hopefully you get a bit of juice and people will go on to iTunes. And instead of sort of trying to find you you’re pretty much where their eyes fall. And so you should get more listeners. And I went into new and noteworthy on on three categories. And next day 109 and about this is it. I’m on my way. 2222 22. And I was thinking well, how does this new and noteworthy work when because I’m not getting any juice here at all. Then I started thinking to myself, people can’t like the show, they can’t like the show, why would 100 people listen to on one day and then 20 to the next day, that’s 80 people were just gone. You know, this is rubbish. You know, there’s other shows out there. Man, I got an email, I got an email from a lady called page in Arizona only if you’re listening page, thank you so much for this. And it was just an unprovoked thanks you for putting the content out there. And it made me realise at that stage. Now Hang on, I shouldn’t be focusing on the downloads, I should be focusing in on the individuals. And if I focus in on providing value to the individuals, hopefully things will take care of themselves. But I was almost ready to pull the plug. Even though I’ve done everything I possibly could to create this show those those low levels when it was ticking along ticking, ticking along. I couldn’t see what I could have done better. But then once I did see, it’s all been playing savings insane.
Joel Boggess [46:36]
Oh, yeah, absolutely. You know, there’s something about commitment. And once you’re committed doesn’t mean you won’t have doubts. But once you’re committed and you go forward anyways, you never know when your your moment is going to get here. And I might be slow starting. But it will come if you fully believe in what you’re doing. And you know that it’s something that you cannot not do. He just gotta you just gotta go for it. And surround yourself with people that believe in your dreams, I call them relaunch relationships, you’ve got to have relaunch relationships, for a blast off into a better second half relax relationships. And those are people hopefully under your own roof. And also mentors, coaches, you know, people from the from the outside people that can give you an unbiased perspective, people that don’t have an agenda for your life, people that will just shoot straight up with you. You gotta have that?
David Ralph [47:49]
How do you take advice, when you’re out there?
Unknown Speaker [47:53]
Well, not very well, so passionate about
David Ralph [47:55]
something, you know, and you really want it to be good. You’re setting yourself out in a very public place. And people start saying, Joe, we think you’re missing a beat here. We don’t think it’s it’s as good as you think it is. How do you deal with that?
Joel Boggess [48:13]
Well, you know, like, like anybody. I have hesitation. And then I began to have a little bit of inner doubt in my own abilities. And did I read that right? I mean, am I catching this right in my in my spirit and my thoughts? And then I take into consideration what they said. But I also realised that it’s going to come down to the decision that I that I make for myself and I’m pretty committed in my decisions in my hundred percent right all the time. No, of course not. But more times than not, when I stay true to what I feel in my heart and my spirit, it comes out where everybody benefits may not come out exactly looking like I thought it should look but it will come out to everyone has benefits. And one of the things that I love about doing podcasts with you know, personal development, gurus and you know, world class speakers is I get tremendous, you know, coaching you know, over the air coaching, here hearing about their storeys learning about, you know their their struggles. Hearing about how many people said no to them. Hearing hearing Larry Winget tell the storey about how he grew to hate his audience to hate his life and to hate his wife because he was trying to
to connect somebody else’s dots and not his own.
David Ralph [50:02]
Why? Why would he be ignoring himself? Because you can’t get yourself right? Haven’t you before anyone else?
Joel Boggess [50:09]
Without a doubt you do? Well, in Larry’s case, he was trying to be a speaker, just like every other speaker. There, there was no difference maker in him. He wasn’t delivering it that we all know, he was just your average vanilla motivational speaker talking about the same thing that motivational speakers generally talk about. You got to think positive, you gotta do all the right things. You got to touch your head, you gotta stand on one foot, you gotta, you know, read these declarations every morning. He was saying the same thing that pretty much everyone else was saying. And there’s there’s a lot of value in some of the things that I just just briefly mentioned, into incorporating them into your, your relaunch routine. There’s definitely value there. But that wasn’t what wing it was all about. And he told me, he said, You know, I’m contrarian in nature. And I’m very confrontational. And I had to be that guy. And Larry says that when he was heckled one time, at a, at a speaking gig, somebody stood up and heckled him, la didn’t know what to say, cuz he’d never been heckled before. And Larry said, words that are immortal. Now he says, shut up, stop whining, and get a life. And one lady said that the the entire room erupted in laughter, and Larry received the very first standing ovation he had ever received. And after that gig was over and he went home, he pierced his ears, went out and bought some outrageous cowboy boots, got himself some jeans to replace the Dockers that he would wear every day. And he gave birth to the delay wing it that people see on stage today and his career has, has gone up several stratosphere because he was he connected his own dots. He was trying to live up to everyone else’s expectations. But it got to the point where he couldn’t do it anymore, because it was too full of resentment.
David Ralph [52:25]
And you come You can’t play that part too. Too many times without a crumbling somehow, can you? You know, I, I used to say, and I still kind of go along with this at the beginning. fake it until you make it. And if you’re uncomfortable with doing public speaking, pretend you’re someone else who is comfortable, and it kind of gives you a comfort blanket that you can wrap around you and get through the job. The next time is not quite as scary, and so on and so on. But once you do find that, that inner voice that is you, you know, I remember but once standing up there doing a course. And suddenly, people were laughing. And I thought why are they laughing? And I realised it was just because I was being totally myself. And once I was totally myself, I thought I can play around with this. And I did. And to be honest, I took it too far, when I was more focused on the on the jokes and stuff more than the actual content. And I had to pull it back. But it was all part of my learning process of actually finding myself you know, and now I think that I’m as I’m as close to my natural self as I can be on the mic. And certainly people that I used to work with who’ve been listening to this has been have been saying, this is just you. It’s just you having conversations. So I’m you know, I’m quite happy with that I’ve that that’s one of those kind of phrases I kind of thing. I know, it sounds easy. I know it sounds like we’re just having conversations, but it means that we’re comfortable.
Joel Boggess [53:56]
Yeah, absolutely. Gotta be yourself. Go to so
David Ralph [54:00]
now we’ve user, you have yourself many different times, and this is the part of the show, but I’m going to send you back in time to have a one on one with your younger self. And if I could send you back night, Marty McFly, where would you want to have a one to one we have a what age of Joe would you choose? So I’m going to play the music. This is the Sermon on the mic. Once you pay down, I’m going to stay totally silent. And you’re on this is the server.
Unknown Speaker [54:37]
best bit of the show.
Joel Boggess [54:51]
You know y’all I think what you really need to do is you need to pay attention to what it is that brings you life which makes you light up, they make you be on fire with yourself and in the service that you is you’re giving to other people, you have a a passion to help people to overcome their own challenges, just like you’ve overcome with a lot of help the challenges in your life coming out of the hospital, going through special education, learning how to walk a straight line. Again, literally learning how to walk a straight line, you overcome tremendous challenges. And you’re a guy that wants to do the same thing for other people. And they may not be the same challenges that you went through. But it’s still challenges and stumbling blocks and hurdles that other people come across that you are on fire to help people with and what you need to do. Jill is not worried about what other people think you should do. not worried about what a job title sounds like or the prestige that may or may not be involved with a certain occupation. But you’ve got to do what you cannot not do. And that’s be of service to people serving them in the way that you are best designed and equipped to to serve them. To be a go with guy to walk alongside them, to walk behind them, to sometimes walk in front of them to lead to guide and to help people make a difference in the world. A difference that makes it makes a difference to them. That’s what you have to do. Don’t worry about what other people think. Just do what you know
David Ralph [57:01]
what age Joe was bad at. So you were just coming into sort of college or just you were in college at the time, were you?
Joel Boggess [57:10]
Well, the thing was, thanks for asking. I had, I had developed this plan of going into the military who was going to go into the Marine Corps. right out of high school, I had already taken the entrance exam, I was meeting with my recruiter doing some functions. And that was that was my plan. And I was going to go into the Marine Corps, I was going to be there for 20 years going to be a career military officer, and then I’ll retire when in my 40s. And then I’d be able to relaunch into a second career. And because of the hearing loss that I suffered at age five, I was immediately disqualified from from the Marines. And that tore me apart for several years. And it wasn’t just moraines. But it was in the army, the Navy, the Air Force, the State Guard, the local fire department, so forth and so on, kept finding that reason to keep me from from service from serving people in that way. And that was tremendous. And that, that heartbreak right there. Was this the shattering of my plans, right out of high school. So from that, then I was like a pinball in a machine, you know, bouncing around from Okay, well, I guess I’ll do this and, you know, personal banker. Yeah, that sounds kind of worthy. Let me try that. And a recruiter. Sure I can do that. That sounds kind of cool. My business card or account exec, so forth and so on. But I took a long time, before I realised, Hey, you know what I just need to do, what I was put here to do. serve people in the way that will help them move forward in their life, using what I’ve learned, and what I’m good at, which is speaking, coaching, broadcasting.
David Ralph [59:24]
And connecting those dots.
Joel Boggess [59:26]
Yes.
David Ralph [59:28]
Just before you go, Joe, just before I let you go. I know you’ve got some free resources that you are offering to our listeners.
Joel Boggess [59:37]
Absolutely. Yeah, I’ve read a fun ebook. It’s an easy read, it’s a flipped it to flip through type e book, seven days to self care. And it is a very, very popular and for your audience. Of course, it’s absolutely free. Go ahead and just put that link right there on on the show notes. And I love this little handy resource seven days to self care. Because going back to what I said earlier in the interview about being gentle. Well, when you practice some some self care, that’s when you learn how to become gentle with yourself. And it’s just one day a week is something on Monday, something different on Tuesday, something different on Wednesday, and so forth, just to get into the practice of self care. And we all need that kind of practice. The other ebook that I have, this is a fun ebook. It’s called passion. reconnect with what lights your fire. And this is a neat ebook that actually uncovers for rock solid clues that can lead you to your passion. And one of the people that I highlight and feature in the book is his podcast superstar Cliff ravens craft actually first podcasters that I actually studied under. And he talks about his journey and we weave it into, you know how he was able to really figure out that the podcasting was his passion. Not to mention a little bit on how he was able to wrap a business around his passion. So seven days to self care Grady book, and then passion, reconnect with what light your fire ebook, I number two, absolutely happy to make those ebooks available to your audience.
David Ralph [1:01:31]
The links will be on the show notes. Joe, thank you so much for spending time with us today, joining up the dots. And as I say to every guest, please come back again when you have more dots to join up. Because the beauty of this show is that our histories keep on going forward. And I really do believe that the only way to build our futures is by reflecting and actually connecting our past. So Joel, thank you so much.
Joel Boggess [1:01:56]
It’s been fun, David, thanks for having me.
Outro [1:01:58]
David doesn’t want you to become a fated 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.
