• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

THE SHUT UP SHOW

Helping lone entrepreneurs shut up and make sh*t happen

  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT BERNI
    • ABOUT PHIL
  • PODCAST
  • EPISODES
    • BY ALPHABETICAL ORDER
    • BY NUMERICAL ORDER
  • CONTACT
    • JOIN
  • Show Search
Hide Search

matthew kimberley

Finding Freedom On Your Plate, in Prison and Poverty with Meg Worden – Episode 36

September 18, 2013 By Berni

If you’ve ever asked yourself the dreaded question we all ask before taking that huge leap of faith as an entrepreneur, small business owner or creator of your own destiny, “What’s the worst that can happen?” then I promise you today’s episode is going to have you at the edge of your seat.

Meg Worden joins me for a one-on-one Skype chat (Phil had to catch a plane) that had me wiggling back and forth in my chair the whole time (sorry for my big schnoz in the camera) as she took me through several shut up moments in her life that often resulted in worst-case scenarios. And I’m not being metaphorical here, Meg has served time in federal prison, ran out of money and was homeless not too long ago. She shares with us exactly what went on in her mind and how she rebuilt her life several times over.

Today, I declare Meg Worden as “The Ambassador of SHUT UP Kwan” for being so brave, resilient, uncompromising, and most importantly for being completely vulnerable and raw with us. Thank you Matthew Kimberley for the recommendation.

 

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited)
Listen to the show (coming soon)

Share Some Shut Up Love –> I don’t want to compromise on a happy life. I don’t feel like living an unsatisfied, torturous life is an option. @MegWorden #shutupshow (click to tweet)

Fun Facts:

  • Meg is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and wellness consultant based out of Portland
  • Meg is a member of AADP and registered with Yoga Alliance
  • Meg was incarcerated in federal prison and served two years for selling ecstasy
  • Meg lived out of her car and hotels surviving off credit cards for a period of time before she built her business
  • She is a writer and author, currently scoping out agents for her memoir

Defining Shut Up Moment:

My big shut up moment happened about four years ago. The income we primarily relied upon came from my then husband. One day, he got a phone call. He lost his job. No severance. Within an hour, FedEx showed up with the final check pro-rated. We had nothing to fall back on. He was unemployed for two years as we tried to work things out. I had been slowly working towards building my business and writing my memoir and then this happens. I wasn’t willing to just do anything for a job and it’s a lot to get over having a felony. I also didn’t finish college so I just didn’t do well in a lot of job scenarios. 

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I wanted to be helping people, immersed in a healthy lifestyle, location independent, set my own hours, for my job to be extremely fun, and to pay the bills so I could buy airplane tickets and sexy boots. I don’t need a lot in life but I don’t want to be in the stress of poverty. After two years of trying really hard, we became homeless. We lived in my car and at times in hotels burning through our credit cards before moving to Portland. I was like, really? The rug’s getting pulled out from under me again?

It took a lot of effort to turn it around. It was something I learned in prison. This is all stuff I learned through necessity and survival techniques. Once you have to do something, you have to do it. Or at least I felt compelled to do it because I don’t want to compromise on a happy life. I don’t feel like living an unsatisfied, torturous life is even an option. I feel my time here is really sacred and important and there’s no way I am going to accept that I have to be unhappy while I’m here. Or put all of my energy into something that has nothing to do with me. I learned to find gratitude even in all of my shut up moments. I started this business over two years ago and today it is everything I ever wanted.

Shut Up Tips:

You either get defeated or you defeat the situation. – Berni

Having roots doesn’t necessarily mean being in one particular place or family. The trick is to have internal roots. Having roots and wings at the same time. I had a sense of stability inside. If the rug is pulled out from under me, I can just hover and hold space and wait to see what the next thing is that comes for me while taking action. – Meg

This is really hard work to accept the fact that your problems are really not that bad. When you get to the next place, you have a whole new set of problems. – Meg

Shit just happens. If we stop and think, what are my problems today? What are the things I’m dealing with? Some things are very serious. Big things are at stake. There may be big fears or emotional triggers attached to them. But just think, would you trade your problems for anyone else’s problems? Generally, the obstacles we’re facing are getting us from where we are to where we want to be. – Meg

When we’re faced with some sort of obstacle, are we labeling it good or bad? Or are we taking action? – Meg

We’re not immune to bad things happening to us, it’s how we react to these things that matters. – Berni

I’ve learned to accept my undisciplined personality and work with it instead of against it. That ends up working a lot in favor with productivity. – Meg

I found a yoga practice. It made my body strong and flexible. It gave me a calm mind and I just kept going. Kept reading. Kept studying. Kept talking to people and kept practicing the idea that if there was something I was afraid of, I should just do it anyway. I recognize bravery was not the lack of fear. Enough practice in that and you’ll get pretty good at it. – Meg

The best thing we can do is edit out the stress. When the stress is intrinsically wrapped around everything we eat, then we’re not being properly nourished. – Meg

I help my clients to figure out what parts of their lives they’re starving in. It’s about long term, sustainable change. What I want for them is freedom. To have a spacious, gentle and peaceful relationship with food and their body. – Meg

Meg Recommends: 

Meg’s post on Maria Shriver: Everything I Know About Freedom, I Learned in Prison

Meg’s talk at Back Fence PDX, a live storytelling series in Portland, capturing her experience before, during and after being incarcerated in federal prison as a new mom.

Find Meg:

Check out Meg’s website and blog at Megworden.com

Tweet Meg at @Megworden

Backstage Special: First 25 Recap Show – Episode 29

September 2, 2013 By Berni

What do you get when you cross a Polish who can do math with an Asian who is allergic to alcohol? You’ll find out soon enough when you watch a very, special backstage episode Phil and I recorded off the cuff after fueling up on some margaritas.

I happened to be in Phil’s neck of the woods giving a shin kicking development training workshop on Friday. So Phil and I decided to huddle up at our Milwaukee hub (Phil’s coworking office at Hudson Lounge in the Third Ward) to record our first ever in-person backstage episode to recap the first 25 episodes of The SHUT UP Show!

 

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited)
Listen to the show (coming soon)

Share Some SHUT UP Love:

We are not the authority in anything. We are guinea pigs and this show is an experiment. @BerniXiong on #shutupshow (click to tweet)

We all have feedback to give. We all have insight that someone needs. @PhilGerb on #shutupshow (click to tweet)

Fun Facts:

  • Berni and Phil do the robot dance right before every episode goes LIVE ON AIR
  • None of the questions are contrived. They are asked off the cuff to keep the conversation real and raw.
  • Phil may or may not have been twerking before this special backstage episode went LIVE
  • Berni really has Asian Flush, which means she “experiences flushes or blotches as a result of an accumulation of acetaldehyde, a metabolic byproduct of the catabolic metabolism of alcohol” (via Wikipedia)

Defining SHUT UP Moment:

Berni nixed a weight management coaching project the week she was about to launch it to the public because it was excruciating work. Even though she had clients lined up and a clear plan to monetize as a newly certified weight management specialist, she decided to instead pursue what she truly enjoyed. That’s when Berni shut up and chose to go all-in with The SHUT UP Show, a project that has no guarantee of monetization, because she’s having the time of her life.

Phil recently got his ass kicked by his accountability coach only days before he was about to launch a new project. His coach helped him to realize the project was not in alignment with his core values. After 3 hours of crying and reflection, Phil decided to follow his heart, instead of leading with the prospect of making a ton of money, and completely derailed his original plan to stay true to his values.

SHUT UP Tips (Highlights from First 25):

I told people to shut up a long time ago and decided now, as my life is changing and I want to start a family, is the time to shut up myself. – Scott Ginsberg

Don’t be afraid to look stupid. Get over it. It’s just a part of being an entrepreneur. You’re going to do things that don’t work. Lean Startup: fail fast, learn, regroup, retrench, relaunch. – Catherine Morgan

If you try to play this game on an island, you’re not going to succeed. If you think you have your little baby–your idea–and you’re almost afraid to show people because you’re afraid they’re going to tell you the truth that maybe its an ugly baby. You need the flip side too; you need good people to be honest with you. – Greg Hartle

If you don’t come up with ideas every day, after 2 weeks your idea muscle will atrophy. – James Altucher

Do what you love in the service of those who love what you do. – Steve Farber

The day it really hit me I realized this is my life and it is my one and only. There are no encores. There are no redos. I don’t get another one. This is it. When you recognize this is not your practice life. This is all you have. Everything changes when you really get that because your choices become more urgent and that fear of “Am I gonna make it?” is much less relevant. – AJ Leon

Special Thanks to Guests from Our First 25:

Scott Ginsberg – Scott Ginsberg on Shutting Up and Not Giving a Shit – Episode 2
Bryson Andres – Bryson Andres on Becoming Discovered by Playing From the Heart – Episode 4
Amy Clover – Amy Clover Moves Us to Be Strong Inside Out – Episode 7
Srini Rao – Srini Rao Teaches Us About the Art of Being Unmistakable – Episode 8
John Haydon – John Haydon Helps us Flip Our Middle Finger to Fear and Doubt – Episode 9
AJ Leon – AJ Leon Helps Us Define Our Moments So They Don’t Define Us – Episode 10
Greg Hartle – Greg Hartle Teaches Us How to Succeed Starting From Scratch – Episode 11
James Altucher – James Altucher Takes Us From Broke to Choosing Yourself – Episode 13
Dat Phan – Death, Sex and Fear: What the Hell Dat Phan? – Episode 15
Craig Price – Craig Price Gives Us a Reality Check & Lots of Laughs – Episode 16
Susan Baroncini-Moe – Susan Baroncini-Moe Breaks World Records & Runs a Profitable Business in Blue Jeans – Episode 18
Jia Jiang – From Foe to Friend: Jia Jiang’s Love Story with Rejection – Episode 19
Catherine Morgan – Catherine Morgan Helps Us Get from Point A to Point B – Episode 20
Steve Farber – Steve Farber On Being More You & Infusing Your Voice with Work You Do – Episode 21
Matthew Kimberley – Matthew Kimberley Helps Us Get a Grip & More Clients – Episode 22
Paul Jarvis – How to Be Whole-Assed & Awesome at Online Business Like Paul Jarvis – Episode 23
Bob Burg – Go-Givers Have More Fun (and Make More Money) with Bob Burg – Episode 24
Chris Brogan – Love in the Time of the Owner with Chris Brogan – Episode 25

Find Berni & Phil:

Contact us anytime

Matthew Kimberley Helps Us Get a Grip & More Clients – Episode 22

August 14, 2013 By Berni

Back in 2011, I downloaded a free report from some marketing coaching guy man whose writing made my brain hurt and face blush at the same time. In a “Wow that’s some good shit” kind of way, of course. After two years of following his work and incorporating his success secrets for making meaningful connections, I thought I’d pull a Matthew Kimberley by asking the man himself to join Phil and me here on The Shut Up Show. As you can see, his stuff works.

If you’re struggling to get more clients, you definitely want to check out this episode as our sexy friend Matthew Kimberley indulges us with some juicy shut up tips and real tactical advice you can begin using immediately to up your relationship-building game.

 

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited)
Listen to the show (coming soon)

Share Some Shut Up Love –>  I always ask myself “What’s the worst that can happen and can I live with it?” @mjkimberley #shutupshow (click to tweet)

Fun Facts:

    • Matthew is a terrible cook, but an adequate lover… apparently so because he and his wife just introduced their second baby boy into the world in August 2013 – Congratulate him!
    • Matthew works closely with Michael Port as the Head of the Book Yourself Solid School of Coach Training
    • Matthew is the author of How To Get A Grip
    • Matthew lives on a beautiful, tiny Mediterranean island called Malta

Defining Shut Up Moment:

I went back to Brussels to sell staffing services in the corporate environment, which is different than what I was used to in my previous direct sales experience. 9 to 5 became 8 to 8. So I got an investor and set up my own staffing company. It went well.

However, the more it got successful, the more physically sick I got. Something wasn’t right. I was the boss and I was hitting snooze on the alarm clock every morning. It wasn’t me. I had no idea what I was really talking about and I had this terrible feeling I was going to get found out. I had invested everything… my entire brand was about recruitment. After my son was born, I used that as an excuse to do what I should have done before he was born.

I parted ways with my business partner and the company was handed over to people who ran it properly. I ended up doing the work I was meant to do. In fact, today my wife asked me “Do you enjoy your job?” I have to pinch myself on a daily basis that people would actually allow me to make a living to do this kind of work.

Shut Up Tips:

I’m just gonna try. I’m gonna stick up my shingle. If it doesn’t work out, what could happen? I could get a job in a bank, get a job pumping gas, work behind a bar–which is work I love to do–so that kinda eliminates the fear. If you know you’re employable, even if it’s cash on a casual basis, then it should eliminate any fear about paying rent or mortgage as long as you live within your means. – Matthew

Keep your friends very close because if you do the dishes and you mean it when you say thank you then you’ll never be stuck with finding somewhere to lay your head for the night. – Matthew

A lot of entrepreneurs and small business owners struggle because they get all this advice but it’s so massive they think they can’t possibly do it all. – Phil

Burn the bridges, keep your safety net. – Matthew

Matthew Recommends:

1. Contactually.com/bys – The App That Builds your Network and Gets You Booked Solid

2. On a piece of paper, in Word, or in Excel, create a list of people who are good for your business or life (90 people is a good number).

  • CONNECT with the top 3 people on the list each day of the month.
  • SHARE your intangibles (network, knowledge, or compassion).
  • MOVE those 3 people to the bottom of the list after you’ve engaged and shared.
  • FOLLOW the same process every day for the whole month.

3. To get the free report that changed Berni’s life, go here: “5 Things You Need To Do Every Morning To Get More Clients In 60 Days”

Find Matthew:

Check out Matthew’s website and subscribe to the newsletter

Get Matthew’s book: How to Get a Grip (or “War Finally The Ass High” in the German-translated version)

Email Matthew: matthew AT matthewkimberley DOT com (he actually answers you personally!)

Did you download your copy of the 18-page solopreneur’s guide?
What ya waiting for? No list to sign up for. Plus, it’s FREE!

Get Instant Access

Copyright © 2020 The Shut Up Show :: A Brave Bear Creative + Digital Selling Strategies Production | Affiliate Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions