My book, Finding Your V.O.I.C.E. - Self-Leadership for the New World of Work introduces the proven and tested V.O.I.C.E. Program. This is a program I have developed over the last 30 years that is designed to help someone know themselves and uncover their purpose, create clarity in their direction, and develop a fulfilling life that is unique to what they desire…not their parents, societal expectations, or elsewise. It is to help someone discover and develop their unique Voice or purpose. It is foundational for building Self-Leadership as well as an entrepreneurial mindset. We create and design our future and life and the book provides a framework to do so.

The first chapter, after a fun & engaging intro, (moooo), is foundational. It is all about uncovering what makes a person unique.  We all have different values that are unique to us in a unique combination.  I say if all of us were soup, what ingredients would make us unique in the recipe: chicken noodle is very different from cream of broccoli.  Values are personal attributes that we want more reflected in our life and lacking them can cause our life to be painful, if they are not actively reflected in our work, hobbies, relationships, etc.  They are (for example): leadership, passion, connection, boldness, risk taking, creativity, beauty, growth, mastery, love, respect, creativity, adventure, and more.  I help people narrow down the list to their key core values of 12 or so through exercises. I have a list of about 50 values in the book that people use as a base to review.  Vision is simply designing a life that reflects your values over the long term.

You quickly learn in reading this chapter that this book is about "doing" as much as reading.

The next chapter is O for Opportunities. In this chapter I teach how opportunities are like waves that continuously come at us, and we all are like surfers who must decide what opportunities to go after and ride.  The best opportunities are those that reflect and feed your values.  So, for instance, one of my values is Boldness. So, I often dress bold, I have my own style, I have 25 custom business shirts and only 1 is white. I sing opera. I’ve owned 7 motorcycles and don’t like to hide in a corner.  My opportunities are risky and bold, or I get bored.  I seldom go backwards.

Read this chapter to start applying your values to your life.

The chapter of the book on Inspiration is helping all of us fight our most dreaded enemy. Boredom. In this chapter we go through how Inspiration means to breath in (inspire).  It is very unique to each of us and this chapter helps people learn what inspires them and how they can be inspiring to others.  Inspiration is key because we all want to be inspired often in our lives but aren’t always clear how or what to do to gain this inspiration….this clarifies it for people.  Inspiration is not enthusiasm (or jumping around). You can be inspired by the peaceful actions of Ghandi, the fiery speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., the acts of service of Mother Theresa or the music of Queen….all very different, all very inspiring.

Read this chapter to learn how to build an inspiring life from the inside out.

In this chapter we use a singer's term, Chiaroscuro to help you learn to make powerful decisions from your values, with a perfect balance of head & heart.

Chiaroscuro = Balance between your Head (logic) and Heart (passion)

Chiaroscuro is an artistic term for balance.  With opera singers it is the perfect balance between your head voice (that ping to go over the orchestra) and your chest voice (the power to be heard in the back of a 5000-person stadium with no microphones).  In my book I use it to describe the necessity to make decisions with a perfect balance between your head/logic and hear/ passion.  If you ignore either your head or heart in making decisions or plans you will suffer. Follow your passion with no research…and go broke.  Go after a logical business to make money and be devoid of joy from 8-5pm. Life demands both head and heart.

Read this to make powerful and life changing decisions constantly and consistently.

This chapter wraps up all of the learning to help you build a fulfilling and engaging life. This chapter helps you check in consistently on whether you are living your life by your own design.

Engagement is both a goal and barometer.  Are you making things happen in your life, watching things happen in your life, or have no idea what happened in your life.  Engagement is being certain you are actively playing on your life stage in every area to develop a truly fulfilling life in all major categories: Money, Career, Friends/Family, Significant Other, Fun/Recreation, Personal Environment, Spirituality/Personal Growth, and Health.  Ignore living your values in any area and watch out.

Honestly, I've had hundreds of clients over the years share how Finding their V.O.I.C.E. helped set them on a path towards fulfillment. I hope it does for you as that is my dream for you, that you step powerfully into your authentic V.O.I.C.E. and build a fulfilling life.  Brian