It's an honor to introduce you to this month's Featured Lifer, Rich Perry. Rich is an incredibly accomplished professional with a rare level of humility who has a knack for seeing all the possibilities around him. Rich has supported The Lifey Brand since day one and has been using the Lifey Planner since the summer of 2022 to create huge goals that he chunks down into actionable steps that he commits to and fulfills on. In short, Rich is a man of action, a man of integrity, and it is a true honor for us to have him as our March 2024 Featured Lifer.
What's one habit or routine that helps you live the life that you are living?
"Honestly, it's using my Lifey. In my younger years I detested the idea of having a daily planner. But as I got older and more involved in different activities I realized the importance of staying organized and focused on goals. Before connecting with Johnny (and The Lifey Brand), I had multiple books that I was carrying around with me everywhere I went. I had my daily planner to stay organized, a journal, and another notebook for random ideas. It was too much to carry around, and that's why I love Lifey so much. It gives me everything I need in one place. I can write my goals, gratitudes, and random ideas in the same space, then conveniently reflect on everything that's important to me at a later point."
"Honestly, it's using my Lifey... It gives me everything I need in one place." -Rich Perry, March 2024's Featured Lifer
What's a recent goal you've achieved that you are proud of?
"In November 2023, I completed my MBA program through Southern New Hampshire University. I spent 10 years as a therapist and wanted a career change. I became interested in business but didn't have much business experience so I decided to enroll in an MBA program to get a quality business education. Going back for my MBA was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life and for my future. It was an enriching, inspiring, and empowering experience."
Rich graduated with his MBA from the University of Southern New Hampshire in 2023 with an impressive 3.934 GPA and as a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success.
Roadblock and Resolution: What's a significant obstacle or challenge you have faced?
"I've faced many significant obstacles in my life. Some were due to poor decision-making on my part. Others could be chalked up to challenges we face on life's journey. Here's one particular challenge that I think might resonate with the audience. As noted above, I had embarked on a total career change while being enrolled in graduate school. About midway through, I lost my job due to internal restructuring. This was the first time in my life that I had ever lost a job and had to face unemployment. (Full disclosure: I have a coaching & consulting business but, at this time, still rely on steady employment to help pay the bills, cover insurance, and help with school.)
Going through the unemployment process was a humbling experience to say the least. I had many options to weigh and a constant flood of emotions to deal with. In the end, I decided to scale back my lifestyle and level up my student activity. I went from part-time student to full-time student so that I could graduate earlier than anticipated.
I did my best to incorporate practices that would help me overcome the challenge I was facing. I made sure I was staying active and working out, connecting with friends for support, celebrating the small victories, and made every effort to maintain a positive mental attitude.
Some days seemed like smooth sailing. Other days it felt like the walls were caving in on me. But I kept moving forward every day."
Life-Changing Tool: What's something that contributes to your personal development journey?
"The thing I've found and used to my benefit is the timeless practice of finding and collaborating with the right people. You can call it a mastermind or a holacratic learning structure, but in simple terms I'm referring to finding a group of people where everyone contributes to the growth and support of the other members. Everyone plays the role of both teacher and student.
In order for these groups to be successful, every member needs total buy-in. The members must also be aligned in values. This helps build trust among the members, which is paramount to the success of the group. As the saying goes, "One bad apple can spoil the bunch," and one person who isn't aligned or has dubious intentions can ruin the experiment for everyone."
What's an educational piece of content that's impacted your life for the better?
"One of my favorite books is, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie. I try to read or listen to it at least once a year. The book was written about 90 years ago so some references are outdated but the core concepts of relating to and understanding people will never change."
The Keynote Corner:
"My personal motto in life is: Lead By Example Through Excellence.
It reminds me to be a man of action and to give my very best in everything that I do. If this motto resonates with you, then I invite you to adopt it in your own life. "
Lifey Gratitude from Rich Perry
"Thank you to the Lifey brand for creating a product that helps me stay focused on goals, organized in life, reflective on blessings, and celebrating my daily wins. " -Rich Perry, MBA
My personal motto in life is: Lead By Example Through Excellence. It reminds me to be a man of action and to give my very best in everything that I do. If this motto resonates with you, then I invite you to adopt it in your own life. " -Rich Perry, MBA
Thank you, Rich, for your unwavering support and for embodying the ethos of everything The Lifey Brand stands for.
Follow Rich's Journey:
Follow Rich on IG: @coachrichperry
Follow Rich on Linkedin: LinkedIn
Find Rich on Youtube
Check out Rich's Podcast on Spotify
And for more, check out all things Rich Perry at RichPerry.com
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