Amy Barg

Amy Barg As a growth environment specialist I love helping people make changes that positively impact their f Adding this kind of value to your life...would make my day!

My passion for connecting people to people and people to resources to improve their lives is the unifying thread of my life's experiences. Simply put, I have a crazy curiosity about people and love learning what makes them tick, ignite and grow! My own personal and professional journey of difficult detours followed by startling successes has taught me that humans struggle AND humans survive! Facil

itating the learning, living and leading of the John Maxwell life-giving principles of personal growth and leadership is absolutely energizing to me because I've seen how they work. Let's get started.

I'm not exactly sure when I learned this.But it's true.You are not going to love every single thing you do every single ...
07/05/2025

I'm not exactly sure when I learned this.

But it's true.

You are not going to love every single thing you do every single day.

However, you need to pay attention to how often you say "yes" to this question. (Ryan Leak calls it the "fun" question.)

Am I enjoying it?

Here's why.

Enjoying some of what you're doing... some of the time, matters.

It bleeds over into other parts of your life.

Ryan suggests that being able to answer this well will help you live and lead at a higher level.

Who knew fun and enjoyment could be that important?

Isn't that just for kids?

Apparently not.

A little research revealed that FUN:
-is a feeling (not an activity)
-produces a visceral sense of radiance (in people having it)
-involves playfulness, a sense of connection, and a state of flow

That was super encouraging to me.

And... it reminded me.

One place I worked the small team I was on got moved into a tiny office space with no windows.
Definitely NOT fun.

On a dull, quiet afternoon my boss started throwing small wads of paper over the cube wall that separated our desks.

Clearly NOT what I expected.
And for the next several minutes we pelted each other back and forth.

Definitely FUN.

Simple.
Unexpected.
Playful.

That was decades ago, and I still remember it.

She created something we could enjoy.

She could have just as easily complained about our situation.

Complaining comes pretty naturally to most people.

Think about how often you hear someone complain about their:
- job
-health
-relationship
-dislike of the weather

Those folks don't seem to enjoy much of anything.

And because they're not... everyone around them senses that.

Ever given much thought to where you are on the complaining-enjoyment continuum in life?

Might be worth it.

“Complaining robs you of energy you could be using to contribute. And you need to protect your energy because whatever you put energy towards gets the most wins.” -Ryan Leak

I'll quickly add...life comes with plenty of "not fun" challenges.

But.

Just because something is challenging doesn't mean you need to complain about it.

Another option?

Give yourself permission to enjoy the journey.
Celebrate who you can become because you're willing to engage in it!

Easy to do?
Nope.

Worth it?
All day long.

“If your current situation is
-stretching your capacity
-helping you grow

-and causing you to think about what’s possible in your life…
Be grateful for that opportunity. Your growth hinges on your perspective of what’s difficult.” ~ Ryan Leak

Complaining less and enjoying more WILL uplevel your life (and your leadership).

And... a rising tide lifts all boats!
(For more tips on fun check out episode #115 for the Growth Mindset Matters Podcast on Apple, Spotify or at amybarg.com/podcast)

Levels.You know them when you see them in-sports-cars-even grocery storesBut what about levels... in life?Not necessaril...
24/04/2025

Levels.
You know them when you see them in
-sports
-cars
-even grocery stores

But what about levels... in life?

Not necessarily career and finances (although that could be a part of it).

More the level at which you show up... in life.

Ryan Leak talked about this recently.

Four questions to live at a different level.

Here's one he called the self-awareness question.

What's it like to be on the other side of me?

I thought, depends on who you ask.
(i.e. dentist vs your spouse)

I then thought... who really asks that question?

Has anyone ever asked you that?

If so, you might think:
-Do they really want to know?
-Will there be retaliation if I'm honest?

Ryan said, “One person might say it’s inspiring to be on the other side of you and another might say it’s intimidating.”

Realizing that you may come across in different ways might be a hard pill to swallow.

You might...

Dig your heels in and say, “I am NOT like that!"

He suggested this strategy (that demonstrates "intellectual humility.")

Hey, I could be wrong but…

- from my perspective that meeting was not as productive as we had hoped it would be

Hey, I could be wrong but…

- I thought we had agreed to spend part of tomorrow morning cleaning out the garage

Here's the kicker.

“If you can’t say ‘Hey I could be wrong,’ you’ll NEVER say:
-I was wrong.
-I am wrong.
-I'll own that." ~Ryan Leak

Saying (and meaning) those statements goes a LONG way toward becoming more self-aware.

In her book, Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life, Donna Jones says,

“THE most important ingredient to a healthy relationship is an attitude of humility … that must permeate our heart, mind and soul. Two humble people can work through just about any conflict life can dish out. Humility is not a mark of weakness but a mark of strength. Biblical humility doesn’t make us doorMATS for exploitation but doorWAYS for conversation.”

(For my real life example check out this week's episode of Growth Mindset Matters Podcast.)

Ok, so not a “life and death” example.

But… isn’t that the way with most of the things that happen in our lives?

They aren't life or death…

They're little things that turn into big things when we fail to

-Stay humble
-Imagine what it’s like to be on the other side of us
-Ask for another person’s perspective

Here’s the deal.
You can’t "do self-awareness”… by yourself.

Trying to… is like refusing to look in the mirror your friend is holding up because you’re sure the dirt smudge she's telling you she sees on your face, isn’t there.

Your denial doesn’t change the reality.

So, who do you need to ask, “what’s it like to be on the other side of me?”

What stops you from asking?

How you answer that… will tell you something about your belief about how you are coming across to others!

Because the more you think, “I’m good,” the less likely you are to ask.

Living at a different level requires a willingness to do something differently.

Asking this self-awareness question… is a great place to start!

What if... you thought about your life as a "personal" business?-calculating where you're producing a great ROI-actions ...
27/02/2025

What if... you thought about your life as a "personal" business?
-calculating where you're producing a great ROI
-actions that are negatively influencing your P & L statement
-staying afloat or going under.. as a human.

Here's a grim statistic.
According to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
49.4% of businesses fail in their first 5 years
65.3% fail in their first 10 years

Obviously, you've made it that long physically.
But what about:
-emotionally?
-relationally?
-spiritually?

This month marks a decade for me having my own "business" business.

Reflecting on that, some mindset lessons have surfaced.

I've realized that what has helped me in my business has also helped me in my life.

This might help you.

When I first started my business, I spent a LOT of time learning.

Quickly went from: I don't know what I don't know.
To: WOW... I know that I NEED to know!

I determined to do what my mentors said.
That would be "the ticket."

Except it wasn't.

What I experienced was:
-shifting
-making changes
-quitting some things
-trying new things..so that I could keep going.

One day I discovered this.

Marry the goal, date the plan.

Meaning...
-don’t lose sight of where you’re heading
-but don’t be afraid to take a different route

Thinking something has to happen:
-THIS exact way
-There’s NO changing
-NO flexibility.. might end up being "the death of you."

Like the story of the guy who refused all efforts to rescue him as the flood waters rose around his roof.

In heaven (after drowning) he challenged God, "You were supposed to save me."

God replied, "I tried. You refused all the help I sent."

He ignored Brian Tracy's advice: “Be clear about your goal, but be flexible about your process of achieving it.”

I have dated my plan…a LOT in this decade of doing business.

Like any dating experience… some of the dates have been more productive and enjoyable than others.

Nonetheless… I continue to keep this mindset truth top of mind!

And it has helped to keep me … from becoming one of those grim statistics!

I’m still here doing it.

(My "date the plan" mindset is one of five I'm sharing in this week's episode of the Growth Mindset Matters Podcast-on Apple, Spotify or at amybarg.com/podcast)

Here's why I think this could matter for you.

You wouldn’t judge a newborn for all it can’t do (crawl, walk, run).

But you would have thoughts about an adult … who insisted on crawling everywhere because their fear of falling if they walked, was just “too much” to try to face.

As ridiculous as that sounds… it is highly likely that there is SOME area of your life where you're doing that.

Where “what you are thinking” (your mindset) IS keeping you crawling.

When you were MADE to walk and maybe even run!

I say that because
-I’ve done it
-and I’ve seen my clients do it.

But… there is hope when you’re willing to take an honest look at where you may be doing that.

If you're not?

There may be something else you're married to...

When was the last time you made progress on something....-at work-in your workouts-with a family member..and you actuall...
23/01/2025

When was the last time you made progress on something....

-at work
-in your workouts
-with a family member
..and you actually took time to “celebrate” what you did?

Most don't.

They win and immediately move on to what's next.

Life is busy.

There's more to do.

Here's the deal.

Research says that recognizing small successes activates the brain's reward system, which releases dopamine and reinforces positive behavior.

(It's why games on your phone are so addicting.
Every success is rewarded.)

But here's some surprising news.

You can create your own dopamine hit by taking a minute to celebrate your progress in ANY area of life.

And making progress... leads to being more highly engaged in whatever it is you're doing.

For me, this week... that "making progress thing" is the 100th episode of my podcast-Growth Mindset Matters!

I've learned many lessons after doing 100 episodes.

Here are three of them.

#1 Keep Adjusting
#2 Keep Persisting
#3 Keep Investing

And I realize that just reading those words probably won't change your life.

But.... listening to the episode to hear:
-what caused the lessons
-the questions posed for you
-the examples applicable to you
.. has the potential to (at the very least) nudge you to think about your life.

(You can listen on Apple, Spotify or at amybarg.com/podcast)

Even if you don't listen... consider this.

An easy way to "up the ante" on your celebration of making progress about something you care about is to think about:

-why you've been able to make the progress
-how many obstacles you've overcome to keep "doing the thing"
-what the positive impact to others has been because of it

That matters.

It's like you giving your own brain the dopamine hit that says...

-Yea you!
-Look at how well you've done!
-Look at how far you've come!
-You can do hard things, and it is worth it!

Or... you can hurry past the celebration and wonder why you are burned out.

As with all things that are growth-related... the choice is always yours.

And your choices... make you.

The degree to which you're willing to slow down long enough to celebrate your progress has a real impact on your ability to continue to make progress.

If you've never considered the correlation between celebration and continued progress... maybe now is the time.

I AM... choosing to celebrate!

I'd love for you to join me.

And if you feel inclined to send me a "Woo Hoo for 100" I'll happily receive it as a dopamine hit from you.

Even better... go listen to the 100th episode and leave me a 5 star review. :)

That will be a DOUBLE DOPAMINE for me!

And you might be surprised at what it does for you.

Imagine going out into your backyard and digging one shovelful of dirt.If you did that every day for..... a month you'd ...
31/10/2024

Imagine going out into your backyard and digging one shovelful of dirt.

If you did that every day for..... a month you'd have a hole

If you did it every day for a year you'd have a pit.

Ok, you'd probably never do that.
At least not with a shovel and dirt.

But.... you do it more than you realize.

With negative thinking.

"If you think a negative thought for 15 seconds, it is really easy to then think another and another and another. It's called thought stacking." -Ed Mylett

Statistics report that 80 percent of our thoughts are negative and 95 percent of our thoughts are repetitive.

Those repetitive negative thoughts can create quite a pit in our minds.

And just like you'd need help to get out of a pit dug with a shovel, you need help for the one in your mind.

Here are three useful tools.

-Lead Coat (refuse to wear them)
-Pennies (remember to pick them up)
-Ladder (resolve to climb them)

Sounds crazy, I know, but they work when you know how to use them.
(For more on the first two check out episode 88 of the Growth Mindset Matters podcast on Apple, Spotify or at amybarg.com/podcast)

Here's #3-Ladders.

They can be game changers.

But.

A ladder leaned against the side of the house won't clean the gutter.
The only way it serves you is if you are willing to climb it.

Here's what happens with your thinking.

You stay stuck saying things like:
-This is awful
-It is always going to be like this
-I am never going to get out of this mess
-No matter what I try it won't work

And each stacked, negative thought is like:
-rolling out the rug
-hanging pictures on the wall
-setting up the sofa
...in your pit of thinking.

You’ve officially decorated your pit so you can live there.

It might even begin to feel comfy.

But here's the challenge.

The more decorated your pit... the harder it can be to leave it.

Even if someone gently lowers you a ladder, you might not be willing to climb.

That ladder could be there all day long (strong and sturdy) and do you absolutely no good.

The reality is…you're the only one who can lift your foot to that first rung.

Falling into a pit in your thinking is normal when you have a:

-challenging work situation
-difficult relationship issue
-self-esteem problem
-(add your own situation here)

Decorating it and living there is a choice.

Resolving to climb the ladder might be
-talking with a friend
-getting counseling
-reading a positive book (High Road Leadership is a great choice)
-listening to episode 88 for the other two "pit protectors"

Here's the good news.
Once you've climbed the ladder out of one pit:

-You can do it again
-You get faster at climbing
-You're less likely to decorate down there

Save your decorating energy for the place you do want to live!

23/10/2024
I've officially reached the summit of the "rebrand the podcast mountain!"(And yes, it has taken a lot longer than I anti...
23/10/2024

I've officially reached the summit of the "rebrand the podcast mountain!"
(And yes, it has taken a lot longer than I anticipated.)

It's ok.

I've been growing.

But oh wow....it feels amazing to be celebrating:

-Fabulous help and unwavering support I received from Matt, Tamara, Kevin, Rachelle and Sam
-EVERYONE who voted on the new name and image
-The perseverance to hang in there and not give up
-Growth Mindset Matters is finally LIVE and ready for you on Apple & Spotify!

If you'd be willing to celebrate with me... I'd love it if you'd:

-Listen to the trailer (2 minutes)
-Listen to the first episode - Welcome to Growth Mindset Matters-No More Groundhog Day! ( #87)
-Leave a 5 Star Rating (if you believe it's worth it)
-Write a brief comment or review (wherever you listen)
-Follow or Subscribe (so you never miss an episode)
-Share the show (with someone you know)

Ok, I realize I just asked you to do six things (probably breaking some cardinal rule of marketing).

When you're excited... you get carried away.

I am.

I did.

Do what you can. :)

My "it would be fabulous goal" is 100 plays.

My "this is an absolute miracle goal" is 500 plays!

Your help means more than you know.

I can't do it without you.

Thank you in advance.

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." -Cicero

I'm so grateful for your help!

And the winner is.....Thank you SO much to all who took the time to vote on the new image for the new podcast name!I am ...
17/10/2024

And the winner is.....

Thank you SO much to all who took the time to vote on the new image for the new podcast name!

I am truly honored that so many people weighed in here, on LinkedIn and via my email.

The new show name, image and TRAILER launch next Wednesday, October 23!

I would LOVE for you to
-Listen
-Follow
-Rate
-Write a review

Until next week... you can enjoy the very last episode of "Growing with Amy!" (Listen on Apple, Spotify or at amybarg.com/podcast)

Here's a sneak peek of what it's about.

If there's an area in your life where you're here... and you'd like to be....... there.

You're "gap aware."

And that's a good thing!

It means you see that you have a place where you have room to grow and improve.

Gap awareness can also be painful.
(i.e. like the past five months with the whole "podcast name and image change" thing.)

Oddly enough, there's good in pain.

In the final episode of "Growing with Amy" (listen on Apple, Spotify or at amybarg.com/podcast) I talk about five pain lessons.

And here's the deal.

My pain lessons... are your pain lessons.
Because whatever gap you're wanting to close you have to go through a process that includes some pain.

While it's not "life and death" pain it is still... pain.

And pain can do several things.

Cause you to:
-stop dead in your tracks
-push off issues you know you should deal with
-set up camp in it and relive it over and over and over

None of those will lead you to grow.

Recognizing
-growth is a process
-where you are in that process
-pain is a part of it
-a commitment to act in the midst of the pain...will lead you to grow.

Next Wednesday, October 23, I'm closing my five month gap of living through five pain lessons.

Growing with Amy... is gone for good.

Growth Mindset Matters is launching for real!

The winning image is above.

And... you can search for in the Apple or Spotify app next week.
(Many thanks to all who voted!)

My fifth "pain lesson" from this final episode of Growing with Amy, might be surprising.

#5 Success is Painful

Closing this five month gap is like finally reaching the top of a big hill I've been climbing.

It's great to be there!

And... there's a little pain in it.

I see the next gap.

The same is true for you.

With any gap you have a choice.
1. Stay put and say, "I'm good. This is as far as I'm going."
2. Step forward and say, "There's more and I'm going for it!"

What you think about that choice will determine what you do.

Growth Mindset Matters will be all about helping you make the "going for it" choice.

I'd love for you to join me on the adventure of closing YOUR next gap by tuning next week!

I can guarantee you.... making the choice to step into your gap and grow is worth every bit of the pain.

And I would challenge you that the pain of not growing.... is greater.

In case you missed the opportunity to vote on the new podcast image... Here it is again. I've love to know your opinion ...
04/10/2024

In case you missed the opportunity to vote on the new podcast image... Here it is again. I've love to know your opinion on which one most makes you want to "click to learn more!" A, B, C, or D?

Would you give me your opinion on the new image for my podcast? Which one would most likely cause you to click to learn ...
25/09/2024

Would you give me your opinion on the new image for my podcast? Which one would most likely cause you to click to learn more?
A B
C D
Showing my "lack" of editing skills here... imagine they are stacked😬Thanks in advance!!!

A friend of mine sent me a video of her one-year-old with a new toy.He clearly had no idea what to do with it.Did he cry...
12/09/2024

A friend of mine sent me a video of her one-year-old with a new toy.
He clearly had no idea what to do with it.

Did he cry and quit?
Nope.

He got curious.
-turned it over
-put it in his mouth
-shook it

His parents know that if they yank it from him and do it for him... he will never do it for himself.

They also know it may take.... a while before he is successful.

And that is ok.
It's expected.

Why is it?
Something that's so obvious to us with babies, we can be completely oblivious to in ourselves.

Last summer I had the chance to get up on water skis.

Short story.

I did it.

But.

Doing it took me doing something that is easier NOT to do.

Persevere.

After two or three tries, I could have said "Not gonna happen."
(SO glad I didn't.)

I'll take a chance here and guess that you have at some point had "the thing" that
-you maybe didn't know how to do
-didn't happen the way you thought it would
-seemed to take a lot longer than you wished it would
-made you question whether it was really worth it to keep after it

You may have also had the thought,
"If I quietly quit talking about this maybe no one will remember I ever said I was going to do it."

Confession.

I'm NOT always a 10 at keeping after it.
I have quit on some things.

But I recently read this article in BrainTrust that reminded me why perseverance is so important.

(And since it referenced the studies of neuroscientists and psychologists... it carried weight with me.)

Here's the super short summary:

1. You can cultivate perseverance. (not just born with it)
2. Grit is a better predictor of success than IQ or talent. (yea for grit, when I lag behind in those other two)
3. You're more likely to succeed if you believe your abilities can be developed than if you believe they're fixed. (there's always hope)

Which means... you can go from thinking:
-Failure is BAD
-I must NEVER fail
-If I fail, I AM a failure

...to thinking, failures:

-strengthen my ability to persevere
-build resilience
-teach me lessons I could learn in no other way

I love it how we're super encouraging with babies when they need to persevere in their exploration.

What if... we could do the same for ourselves?

One way I have worked on doing that is around the whole "change the name of my podcast" thing.

After nearly 4 months of:
-talking about it
-worrying about it
-polling people about it
-thinking about it

Perseverance... has won the day.

The new name is: Growth Mindset Matters.

(If you're curious to know more about the double meaning...check out this week's podcast episode at amybarg.com/podcast.)

I don't know where you may need to be leaning into perseverance and grit.

But I do know this.

Perseverance produces something IN you that can be produced in no other way.

What's your score on the perseverance/grit scale (1=awful 10=awesome)?

Take a tip from the one-year-old.

Stay curious.

You'll be glad you did.

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