Level Up Your Life

Two-time transplant survivor, four-time marathon runner, speaker, and coach Mark Black welcomes you to the Level Up Your Life Podcast. If you’re here that means you are ready to take some necessary steps to change your life. One of the wonderful things about this podcast is Mark doesn’t focus on just your work or just your relationships. He encompasses your entire life: work, finance, relationships, fitness, emotional & mental wellbeing. He wants you to join him on the next level and with his advice, you surely will. Take a deep cleansing breath, grab a notebook and a pen, and get ready to make the changes you’ve been thinking about making! In this episode, Mark talks about simplicity. We live in a complicated world of technology and many options on how to do things, but when we make things simpler we de-stress. We live multi-faceted lives and it’s very easy for life to get complicated. Why would we want to make things simpler? Better execution Mark gives an example of being on a specific diet for 5 ye

Everyone wants to achieve success. The question is: what does "success" really mean and, more importantly, how do you get it? Most of us have taught about success in the wrong way. We have been taught to set goals, create actions to pursue those goals, and then enjoy the rewards. The problem with this model is that it makes your happiness contingent on your results. To HAVE what you want, you have to DO what it takes, and then you can BE happy. Have-Do-Be is a broken model. In this episode, Mark suggests flipping that model on its head: Be-Do-Have. Focus first on your identity and who you want to become; then discern the actions that kind of person would take; so that you can have the things that kind of person would have. In this episode we talk about: Why the Have, Do, Be model of success is broken Where real happiness comes from and how to achieve it (did you know lottery winners are no happier than you are? Why you have to get "right with yourself" first before you can ever hope to have what you want Ho

Are you chasing the right things? Have you pursued goals only to find out that they weren't what you really wanted? Have you reached a peak and found out that it wasn't all it was cracked up to be? In this week's episode, Mark talks about the dangers of blindly pursuing goals purely for the sake of racking up achievements and building a good resume.  Instead, Mark proposes getting clear about your priorities and values and pursuing the things that matter most first. Level Up! www.levelupimpact.com Use code PODCAST   Share the show! www.markblack.ca/podcast   More Mark: Your Best Year Yet transformation Program  Mark's website  Mark's LinkedIn profile  Mark's Twitter profile Mark's Facebook profile   Click HERE for one month FREE Audible

Welcome to Level Up Your Life with Mark Black.  In this week's episode, we're talking about happiness; what it is and how to have more of it.  Want to learn how to be happier? Would you like to know the simple strategies to make yourself happier?  Tune in to this episode and adopt a new outlook! Level Up! www.levelupimpact.com Use code PODCAST   Share the show! www.markblack.ca/podcast   More Mark: Your Best Year Yet transformation Program  Mark's website  Mark's LinkedIn profile  Mark's Twitter profile Mark's Facebook profile   Click HERE for one month FREE Audible

Everyone wants to be more productive. After all, who wants to waste time? In this episode, we talk about some simple, but powerful strategies that you can implement into your life and your work, to help you get the most from your efforts. It isn't about working more, it's about getting more done in the same amount of time. Join our community: www.levelupyourlifepodcast.com Learn more about Mark's speaking and coaching: www.MarkBlack.ca

Welcome back to another episode of Level Up Your Life! On this week’s episode, Mark Black is talking all about routines and why we need them! From waking up in the morning, to doing our job, to going to bed at night, the day is full of opportunities to put things on autopilot so that we just don’t have to think about them anymore! Mark shares a ton of real, day to day examples of where a routine would help, and even goes a step further and teaches us how to create a routine for ourselves that we can stick to! Ready to create a routine that supports your success? Click play and get ready to Level Up!   Why bother setting up a routine? The real story behind decision fatigue: how it works and how a routine helps to diminish the impact of it. Routines lead to habits, and habits lead to successfully achieving your goals! Beware of the trap that can come with routines: being too comfortable to experience new things. No two routines are created equal, the best routine is the one you can stick to! A frame

Are you looking to have a breakout year next year? The kind of year that sets you apart from the person you’ve routinely been, and catapults your life into a place that you can truly feel proud and accomplished? The kind of year where you cast of the shackles of fear and go after something huge or make a significant change that lasts? If that’s the case and this sounds like you, then you’re going to need a framework in place to help you get there. In this week’s episode of Level Up Your Life, Mark Black talks us through the processes and framework he uses year after year to ensure that his impact is as big as it possibly can be. He also shares some tips and insights on how to plan, set goals, and what to do when you find yourself losing steam! This is a great one, so click play, tune in and share the message!   Is your purpose clearly defined? What does success look like for you as a person? What do you want the next year to look like? What do you want to create? How many steps are between Point A and Point

Why look back at all? What’s the point? In Today’s episode of Level Up Your Life, our for-the-most-part fearless host Mark Back talks about why looking back is often necessary in order to move forward. If all you ever do is plow ahead, accomplishing the things you set out to accomplish without reflection, you may find yourself burned out, tired, or even getting nowhere. It’s possible that simply looking back at the things you’ve done well, or things that haven’t worked could provide answers that you may have missed! Hindsight is pretty amazing when you allow it to work for you! Wondering how to make reflection just as productive as moving forward? Click play and tune in!   What is the biggest mistake that people make at the end of every year? Why does looking back matter? Appreciate how far you have actually come. An exercise for stopping, starting and continuing habits. You’re either learning or succeeding, which are you doing?   “A meaningful, purposeful life does not happen by accident” “In order to move

Welcome to Level Up Your Life! The critical importance of slow, steady progress is what Mark Black will be talking about in today’s episode. While not the sexiest of topics, it’s super important when it comes to discussing the accomplishments of high achievers! Mark is no stranger to progress, as he spends the vast majority of his time teaching others how to achieve it, and yet even he fails to recognize the benefits of taking things slowly sometimes! Want to learn how to use the pace of progress to your advantage? Tune in to this episode and adopt a new outlook on things that can sometimes feel like they’re taking forever!   Major significant change rarely happens quickly. Pick any problem and someone is out there offering a “quick solution”. Understanding how progress truly works will help you to appreciate the slow and steady pace it takes. Are you heading in the right direction? Celebrate the small wins alongside the big ones. Use long term vision and forgive yourself more freely for slipping up. The ama

Welcome to the podcast where we take your life, your work and your relationships to the next level! In this episode of Level Up Your Life, our host Mark Black discusses the value of recharging your batteries. It’s not always the easiest thing to do in today’s world of rushing and racing to get everything done, but prioritizing your rest, and relaxation can make a huge difference to how effective, safe and happy you can truly be! Mark shares some counterintuitive strategies that will make a significant difference in the way you feel, and shares very specific ways to help you rest, relax, recharge and get back to conquering your list of things to accomplish!   You cannot function at the highest level if you don’t take the time to maintain yourself. Can Barack Obama recharge someone’s batteries?. Until you do THIS ONE THING, you will never perform at your best. More isn’t always better. Sometimes doing less is exactly what you need! Mark’s marathon training program seemed a little counter-intuitive, but made a

What does saving money, losing weight, having a successful career and a long and loving relationship have in common? They all require a level of dedication and commitment to pull off! Not sure what commitment is or how to create it within your life? On this week's episode of Level Up Your Life, our host, Mark Black will be guiding us through the 3 biggest things you can do to create momentum and lasting impact by becoming a more commitment oriented person! If you commit to one thing this week, let it be to listen to this episode and learn the ins and outs of hot committing to something and following through can be the biggest differentiation between failing or experiencing success!   What does commitment mean? The secret to losing weight, saving money and having success in business and relationships. Commitment is the price you’ll pay to have the life you’re looking for. Why are contracts always so detailed? What am I asking myself to do? It’s critically important to define your purpose. Why are you doing wh

Are you engaged in meaningful work? Do you know what to look for? How about the word meaningful, do you feel you have a deep understanding of what it means and know how to tell if you’re on the right track? If you’re not sure about any of that, how about this: Do you like the people you work with? The job itself? The tasks you do? If so, then fantastic! You’re one of the rare people who have figured out how to be truly happy at work! But if it’s a no, or you’re just not sure, then this episode is definitely for you. I this episode of Level Up Your Life, Mark is joined by fellow speaker, author and podcast host Eric Termuende to discuss work, and more importantly, the meaning behind it. What starts off as a simple concept grows into a very high quality conversation about creating a life with less friction, and more happiness, and truly levelling up to your true potential. Mark and Eric also share their mutual opinion on the single most wasteful activity a person can spend time doing, and why taking responsibil

What is your passion? Do you know what passion truly feels like? How do you find what you’re most passionate about if you know that what you’re doing right now isn’t it? A lot of people have a misconception about passion that often leaves them confused about what passion really is. They think that if they are passionate about something, it means that they have to enjoy every aspect of what it is they do. On today’s episode of Level Up Your Life, host Mark Black is here to tell us that it simply isn’t the case. Passion is not about loving everything about your job or hobby, it’s a lot deeper and more meaningful than that, and at the same time, a little more possible to attain than a perfect career. Whether you’re unsure of how to find your passion, don’t know what passion is, or want to reignite and old passion that you’ve lost in your journey, this episode is a great one for you!   What exactly is passion? This is not an episode telling you to quit your job and follow your passion. What excites you? What mak

Welcome to another episode of Level Up Your Life! In this episode, Mark Black welcomes Natalie Davison to the podcast! Natalie is the cofounder of Marrow Marketing! She’s also a speaker, and long time colleague of Mark’s, so you know it’s going to be a fun conversation! These two share a lot of things: stages, schools, even their very first motivational speaker! Another important thing they share? Their views on the importance of live events for your personal and professional development. Mark and Natalie speak in detail and at length about the many amazing benefits of attending an event, and the impact it can have on your life for weeks, months, or even years to come!    The best event speakers are often event attendees on the regular. The first motivational speaker that Mark and Natalie saw (it was the same person). The energy of live events: What’s happening for the audience, and what’s happening behind the scenes to create such a buzz? Are you going to make this event something that can change your life?

We all want to level up our lives, don’t we? In this episode, Mark Black is sharing what he believes is the number one tool to help you discover your full potential, ensure you’re operating at 100%, and help you grow into the person you were meant to be! What is the secret? Doing difficult or challenging things! While this may seem a little counterintuitive in a world where ease and convenience is taking over, the truth is that the more comfortable we get, the harder it is to handle life when it doesn’t go exactly the way we want it to. The result? Prolonged Unhappiness. When things go wrong, or are out of our control, we tend to drag out the resistance to the issue, the feelings of dissatisfaction, and even the anger or frustration surrounding the issue! Doing hard things won’t ensure that bad things never happen to you again, but it will make those bad things so much easier to deal with when they do arise. Does this sound like something you’d like to participate in? Click play and tune into this week’s epis

Do you have big goals? Do you want to impact the world in a huge way? It’s truly amazing if you do! Massive vision and big, hairy audacious goals are pretty rare in a world where people would rather play it safe and small than risk failure. But what happens when your goals are so big that you find yourself getting overwhelmed or burning out? See, most people only address the Thinking Big part, very few really shed light on the significance of starting small. There are a lot of benefits to starting small and building the to level you want to be, rather than starting huge and putting too much pressure and stress on yourself. Don’t know how to do it? Tune into this episode of Level Up Your Life and let our host, Mark Black take you through the process and help you think big, and start exactly where you are!   It’s crucial to have big goals and huge vision, but there is an equally important concept in starting small. Why do people try to talk you out of your goals? Setting goals is not about trying to predi

Are you lacking confidence? Do you believe in yourself and your abilities? If you do, and you never lose faith or belief in yourself, then well done! You’re one of the rarest people on the planet. But, if you’re like most of us, there are likely times in your life when you lost confidence, and probably didn’t believe in yourself as much as you should have. That’s normal. It happens, and luckily there are ways to restore that self confidence so that you can carry on crushing your goals and being awesome. In this episode of Level Up Your Life, host Mark Black shares 4 tips he’s learned that will help you build belief in yourself!   Belief is not about being able to say you’re great at everything. Michael Jordan’s baseball career. Looking back at your past can help you build confidence in your future!  Shift your focus from competency to capacity! We can figure things out. Separate yourself from your failures and flaws by changing your language. Surround yourself with supportive people!   “Just because it look

Want to know the secret to having outstanding relationships? It’s all in the expectations you have of one another! Want a clear and happy personal or professional relationship? Get into the details of how you want things to go! The more you talk about your expectations and the expectations of others, the better life gets. Is it easy? Maybe not, but Mark Black is giving us 4 ways to over deliver on expectations this week on Level Up Your Life! Tune in and make a huge impact in your relationships as early as today!   Is the value being delivered to you meeting your expectations?  How Disney over delivers on the experience they promise. How can you make people want to pay more than the bare minimum? Was Senior Prom a let down? Are you setting proper expectations? Little ways to make a big difference. The attitude of Gratitude.   “How can you over deliver on expectations?” “People will pay more for something if they know that the value is going to be higher” “If we go into a transaction with ridiculously high e

If you take a look at any successful person, you’ll likely see one commonality between them: They make time to read. Reading is one of the greatest ways we could possibly pass our time, and yet there are a lot of people who simply don’t do it. Too busy to read? Not quite sure what book to pick up? Turned off of reading because of school? These are all pretty normal things, and are all part of the process! Luckily, in this episode of Level Up Your Life, Mark Black gives us a big secret on not only how to enjoy reading, but how to get it done a lot faster than normal!    There is a book about every topic you would want to learn about! What should you be reading? Staying relevant and keeping your mind active are just a few reasons to read a little more. Who makes time for reading? Strategies for “finding the time” to read. Mark’s big secret to how he doubled the amount of books he consumes Some great non-fiction books to check out if you’re looking for a game changer..   “Reading gives you the op

Welcome to another edition of Level Up Your Life! In this episode, we’re going to be talking about vision, goals and purpose, and what happens when you become too invested in a specific outcome. Being invested is crucial, but Mark wants to shed light on 4 pitfalls that could potentially derail you on your journey to a better life. This episode hits on some deep issues that can arise with being too focused on success, but as always: Mark has a solution lined up for us! Tune in and figure out how to avoid the pitfalls of success and protect your happiness!    Can you be too caught up in your dreams, goals or purpose? It’s okay to pivot, shift and change priorities If you are going to pursue excellence, then you are going to fail. Then what? Don’t miss out on the most important parts of life!   “It is possible to care too much about your goals and your dreams” “You are not the same person you were yesterday”  “If you have the same goals at 20 that you did when you were 5, then you’ve got a problem” “Achieving