Natalie interviews personal development gurus and inspiring people from all over the globe on her super popular online show!
Join The Inspiration Community
& Receive a FREE copy of
MANIFESTING WITH THE MASTERS
Claim Your FREE Copy Of Manifesting With The Masters!
An inspiring 5-part video series featuring 5 of the world’s top Law of Attraction gurus!
You'll also periodically receive emails with inspirationals message, videos, interesting offers and cool freebies.
Final Inspiration Show episode!
Brandee Lynn - The Healing Powers of Ayahuasca
Stewart Emery - Who's In Your Room
Sharon McRill - How to Transition Like a Winner
Dr. Joan Rosenberg - 90 Seconds to a Life You Love
The Power of Eight - Lynne McTaggart
Pauline Nguyen - How to Become a Spiritual Entrepreneur
Tom Cronin - Meditation Benefits You Didn't Know About
Spryte Loriano - Awakening Giants: Your Favorite TV Show
Karen Noe - Wayne Dyer's Message About Grief and Struggle
Cynthia James - Take Care of #1 - YOU!
Arjuna Ardagh - How to Make an Impact in the World
Martin Rutte - How to Experience Heaven on Earth
Ajit Nawalkha - Have Success Without Working Harder!
Tim Shields - Don't Let Your Fears Get in the Way of Your Dreams
RaShawn Renee - Boost Your Self-Esteem
Allison Maslan - How to Successfully Grow Your Business
Mark Gober - An End to Upside Down Thinking
Brett Anderson - How to Get into a Flow State
Adam Markel - How to Find the Clarity to Change
Jim Self - How to Find the Real You
Sandra Biskind - How to Raise Your Vibration
Patty Aubery - How to Become an Outrageously Successful You
Christy Whitman - How to Find The Secret to Success
Radha Agrawal - How to Find and Make Deeper Connections
Denise Mange - How to Communicate With Your Pet
Brian C. Wilson - How to Integrate Science and Spirituality
Akshay Nanavati - How to Turn Fear Into a Positive Force
Bill Bennett - How to Find and Follow Your Intuition
Nikki Jade - How to Connect to Your Mind-Body Power
Sarah Anne Shockley - How to Cope With Chronic Pain
Jeremiah Burgess - Help Build a Sustainable School
Regina Lon - The Power of Sacred Geometry
Tristan Truscott - How to Heal With Qigong
Yvonne Tally - How to Break Up With Busy
Michelle Fondin - How to Use Chakra Healing
Julie Simon -How to Overcome Emotional Eating
Meriflor Toneatto - How to Change Your Relationship With Money
Kristine Carlson - How to Move Through Grief
Dawson Church - The Secret Behind Epigenetics
Jonathan Robinson - How to Listen During Conflict
Sara Wiseman - How to Connect to the Universe
Marilyn Suttle - How to Enhance Your Creativity
Brad and Kasey Wallis - How to Master Your Higher Consciousness
JJ Virgin - How to Become a Warrior Mom
Herb Freed - How to Recognize Your Soulmate
Dawn Harris - How to Heal Your Emotional Wounds
Corrine Zupko - From Anxiety to Love
Martin Rutte - Heaven on Earth
Sandra Mendelson - We Walk Beside You
Kelly McGrath Martinsen - A Year of Inspired Living
Richard Gordon - The Secret Nature of Matter
Geneen Roth - This Messy Magnificent Life
Carl Studna - The Evolution of Loving
Arielle Ford - Discovering the Light Within
Derek Rydall - The Abundance Project
Charles Langley - Unforeseen Forces: Healing Secrets of a Lost Navajo Tribe
Sidney Reeves - Surviving Against the Odds (Part Two)
Sidney Reeves - Surviving Against the Odds (Part One)
Troy Amdahl & Dave Braun - Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World
Joe Nunziata - How to Stop Chasing and Start Living
Spring Washam - How to Move Through Grief
Chef Lance Roll - Bone broth: Healing Magic Elixir
Natalie Ledwell - 2017 Special Christmas Edition
Doug Noll - How to Turn Anger into Peace in 90 Seconds
The Better Brain Solution - Dr. Steven Masley
Mind Gourmet is Food for Thought - Nina Kaiser
Becoming Supernatural - Dr. Joe Dispenza
The Power of Qigong - Master Teresa Yeung
Connecting With Your Sexual Soulmate - Susan Bratton
What Is The Meaning Of Life? - Gregg Braden
The Power Of Music - Craig Young
How To Trust Your Intuition - Terri Christine
How To Live With No Regrets - Christine Hassler
How To Deal With Grief - Robert Clancy
The Power of Eight - Lynne McTaggart
The Great Mother Bible - Mare Cromewell
The Benefits of Past Life Regression Therapy - Amy Weiss
The 4 Sacred Gifts - Anita Sanchez
How To Land A Book Deal - Zhena Muzyka
5 Steps To Becoming Your Own Health Hero - Dr. Nanda Parthi
Overcoming Your Difficult Family - Dr. Eric Maisel
Love is The Power - Robert O. Williams
How To Be a Champion of Change - Frankie Picasso
Akashic Knowing - Lisa Barnett
Beyond Food - Tomas Reyes
Patricia Gachagan - Born Together
Dr Shawne Duperon - Project Forgive
Michel Pascal - Meditation For Daily Stress
Jennie Lee - How To Use Yoga Therapy For Healing
Wendie Colter - How to Use Medical Intuition For Healing
Live Your Happy - Maria Felipe
How to Discover Your Sacred Wealth Code - Prema Lee Gurreri
Morry Zelcovitch - What is Brainwave Entrainment?
Keith Mitchell - Yoga and Mindfulness as Tools for Healing
Cedric Bertelli - TIPI: The French Antidote To Fear
The Worry Free Mind - Carol Kershaw, EdD & Bill Wade, PhD
Spirituality For Men - Mike Marschhausen
Digene Farrar - Healing From Trauma and Abuse
Maria Flores Letelier - How To Ask For What You Want
Acharya Shunya - How To Heal and Lose Weight With Ayurveda
Jayne Gardner - What is Divine Intelligence?
Holly Parker - If We’re Together, Why Do I Feel So Alone?
Deirdre Hade & William Arntz - Can Science and Spirituality Co-exist?
Natalia Levey - How To Master Your Food Cravings
Jill Lublin - The Gift of Kindness
Dr. Peta Stapleton & Kate Helder- How To Get Rid Of Anxiety Using EFT
Dawa Tarchin Phillips - How To Use Mindfulness To Erase Negative Habits
Neel Raman - How to Awaken the Leader in You
Eva and Olga Karpman
Ken Stone - How to Experience Your Divine Within
Pete Bissonette - Breakfast Tea & Bourbon
Sandra Biskind - How to Upgrade Your Frequency
Lisa Loving Dalton - Falling For The Stars
Dr. John McGrail - What is Synthesis Effect?
Bob Doyle - Does the LOA Really Work?
Teresa St. Frances - How to Communicate With Your Teenager
James Van Praagh - The Power Of Love
Emma Mildon - The Search Of Your Soul
Sherianna Boyle - Mantras Made Easy
Rico Racosky - Just 2 Choices
Ann Barham - Past Life Regression: The Truth Demystified
Pat Duckworth - Discover Your Greatest Purpose At Any Stage Of Your Life
Cynthia James - How To Make Time For Yourself Without Being Selfish
Elisabeth Dale - How To Buy A Bra That Fits
Craig Babic - How To Pay Off Student Debt In A Holistic Way
Koby Ben - Modern Day Millionaire
Dr. Marilyn Joyce - How To Live Your Life To The Fullest
Mridu Parikh - How To Organize Your Life
Robert Clancy - How To Live And Lead With Kindness
Keryl Pesce - The Secret To Happiness
Laura Lane - Hope And Happiness For Cancer Kids
Kevin Hancock - How To Find Spiritual Fulfillment
Tom O'Bryan - Is Gluten Bad For You?
Mare Cromwell - 1000 Goddesses Gathering
Melita Ray - How To Remain Positive During Chaos
Vasavi Kumar - How To Transition Through Big Life Changes
Dr. Sharon Livingston - How To Survive A Friendship Breakup
Naomi Katz - How To Prevent Teenage Depression
Courtney Amundson - Does Pain Serve A Purpose?
Yol Swan - Are You An Indigo?
Alicia Diaz - How To Dissolve Emotional Blocks
Lynne Cockrum-Murphy - How To Leave Suffering Behind
Dr. Toni Luisa Rivera - How To Listen To Your Body's Wisdom
Valerie Sheppard - 4 Steps To Finding Happiness
Bruce Cryer - How To Keep Your Inspiration Alive
Arjuna Ardagh - Can Men Be Spiritual And Masculine?
Marilyn Suttle - How To Turn A Difficult Customer Into A Raving Fan
RC Henningsen - The REAL Secret To Manifesting Dreams
Zen DeBrucke - How To Tap Into Your Inner Guidance System
SARK - 6 Powerful Habits To Experience More Love
Dr. Edwige Bingue - Guide To Spiritual Awakening
Barry Goldstein - Can Music Heal?
Christine Hassler - How To Overcome Dissapointment In Life
Tony Wilson - How To Not Lose Your Hope
Jonathan Robinson - 5 Components Of True Happiness
Natalie Ledwell - The Reason Why You Can't Manifest Successfully
Carol Tuttle - 4 Types Of Energy Profiling You Need To Know
Tom Bird - Write/Right From God
Warren Davies - The Unbreakable Farmer
Aleya Dao - 7 Steps To Connect With Your Inner Self
Jack Canfield - How To Quite Drinking In 30 Days
Marni Battista - The Do's And Dont's Of Online Dating
Dr Lise Janelle - Your Mission In Life Revealed!
Megan Duma - How To Manifest A Dream Birth
Vicki Sandler - How To Raise Your Vibration In 90 Seconds
Lisa Nichols - The Secret To Abundance
Terri Levine - Discover Your Talents In 5 Steps
Scott Coady - How To Become A Modern Day Leader
JJ Virgin - How to Lose Weight And Feel Great
Arielle Ford - How To Make Your Mate Your Soulmate
Jasmina Agrillo Scherr
Michaela Haas PhD
Marilyn Short
Dr. Michelle Nielsen
Robyn Openshaw
Carol Tuttle
Jennifer Powers
Jude Weber
Teresa de Grosbois
Kim Schneiderman
Ariyana, a Star Child
Clayton Ainger
Susan Stiffelman
Steve Taylor
Kelly Johnson
Dr. Galen Loven
How to use meditation at work - Alka Dhillon
Anita Sanchez
Minna Yoo
Louise Armstrong
Thomas Bähler
Asher Fox
Lucinda Cross
Barnet Bain
Micheline Nader
Mira Kelley
Helen Woo
Dr. Bill Dorfman
Dr. Paul Drouin
Bob Proctor
Brian Ridgway
Zlata Petrak
Lloyd Burnett
Anil Gupta
Karen Russo
Natalie Ledwell
Corey Poirier
Miriam Knight
Karl Gruber
Judy van Niekerk
Michele Rosenthal
Joanne Henig
Andrea Cox
Patti Handy
HeatherAsh Amara
Rico Caveglia
David Christopher
Pete Winiarski
Clarissa Burt
Jim Proser
Brandy Faith Weld
Deirdre Maguire
Julie Kleinhans
Dr. Jo Anne White
Kenneth Krell
Patricia Petersen
Temple Hayes
Jana Beeman
Bonita Lehman
Valerie Sheppard
Barb Schmidt
Allyson Chavez
Derek Rydall
Wake Up! TV:
A new talk show with a conscious twist
Dr Joe Rubino
Elizabeth Lombardo
Natalie Jayne
Dave Asprey
Cristiana Dragomir
Christine Hassler
John Seeley
Jeff Carreira
Andy Shaw
Meshell Zwicker
Kit Summers
Sharon Klinger
Heather Smith
Paramahansa Jagadish
Mary Morrissey
Tom Cronin
Miriam Schafer
Tiamo
Judy O'Beirn
Mark Waldman
Sue Stone
Renee Mollan Masters
Fiona Fine
Arjuna
Joe Vitale
Dr Joe Dispenza
Bertrand Dory
Christy Whitman
Damian Reid
V. Lynn Hawkins
Graham Dragon
Treyce Montoya
Remy Chausse
Brent Hunter
Anik Singal
Kaya
Risaria Langley
Ken Elliott
Regina Cates
Dr Amelia Kemp
Jeff Gignac
Micaela Passeri
Ron Prasad
Julie Renee Doering
Marni Batista
Tom North
Nathalie Chantal
Paula D'Andrea
How to turn any adversity into opportunities
David Trybus
Janice Davies
Tina Dietz
John Edwards
Dianne Bischoff
Liana Chaouli
Kathi Burns
Sunny Dawn Johnston - Angels
Raven Blair Davis
Terri and Robert LIVE
Divora Stern
Bennie Mayberry
Patricia Cori - The Emissary
Shonte Taylor LIVE
Jonathon Robinson - Find Happiness Now
Importance of Education in Women's Lives
Suzanne McQueen - Decoding the Woman's Cycle
How to use the Law of Attraction - Live
Aileen McCabe - Inner Peace Diet
Jim Alvino LIVE
Jeanie Cisco-Meth
Sheevaun Moran LIVE
Twenty Twenty
Panache Desai LIVE
Nicholas Steele - Unbreakable
The Power of Body Language
David Howitt - Heed Your Call
The Inspiration Show: Ha, I Laugh In The Face Of Cancer
Jewels Johnson - LOA Event
Hale Dwoskin
Morry Zelcovich
Robyn Benson
Tracey Trottenberg - Own, Honor, Unleash
Orna and Matthew Walters - Love on Purpose Revolution
Christa O'Leary
Anne Perry - Business Heroine
Dr. Jenny Ellis- 5 Women 5 Transformations Part 2
Dr. Jenny Ellis- 5 Women 5 Transformations
Dianne Collins - Do You QuantumThink?
Dr. Elsbeth Meuth and Freddy Zental Weaver - Creating Lasting Fulfillment
How To Cash In On Your Dreams - Noah Solomon
Dr Michael Cotton
Dr Cynthia Thaik Your Vibrant Heart
Overcoming Challenges - Katrina Starzhynskaya
Mark Bowness - Join A New Year's Revolution
Marci Shimoff - Your Year of Miracles
Janice Davies - Say YES to a Positive Attitude
Successful Kids Revolution - Julie Kleinhans
What is your What? - Steve Olsher
Karen Russo - Grow yourself AND your wealth
Red carpet premier of 'Stickability'
Special End of The Year Show!
Gary Malkin - Wisdom of the World
Krystalya Marie - Holistic approach to cold and flu
Laura Rubinstein - Feminine Essence
Sujata Vadlamudy - Attitude Orange
Sarah Blaine - Dance with the Devil
Gina Hussar - 30 Seconds To Peace
Team Toby
Glynda-Lee Hoffmann - The Genesis Code
Lynn Rose - Life-Changing Legacy
David Eby - Finding Happiness
Susan Guddat - Manifesting Mamas
Vrunda Dave - Savvy Business for Women
Raymond Aaron - Create Wealth Doing What You Love
LAUNCH! your success with Scott Duffy
Christopher Tims - Dreams Fulfilled
A Passionate Healthy Life
Tap into the power of YOU!
Inner Hottie Sexy Body
Marry Your Passion
Dreaming Heaven
Living the High Life without the Champagne
Trees of Transformation
Pilgrim Mother
Against All Odds Part 2
Milton's Secret
Transform Your Health
Stickability
Dare To Dream
Against All Odds
The Gift of Infidelity
Dr Katherine T Kelly
Ronna Prince - Sacred Journey of the Heart
Tinh
The Secret to Puppy Love
How to use hypnotherapy to overcome bad habits
Senior Cinema Circle
Business The New Way
Sexy Boss
Manifestation Success
Malcolm Allen BBB Conference
Your Life Now
5 Steps To Align With Your Purpose
Empowered Spirit
Tonya Hofmann - Speaking for Success
Nothing Short Of Joy
Jill Douka
Skinny Genes
Surviving Grief
Unstoppable Self
The Happiness Factor
Conversations For Your Soul
Esther Nicholson - Soul Recovery
Soloman Speaks - The Reconnection
LOA Summit
Maximize Mind Movies Matrix
Dr. Joe Dispenza explains the Law of Attraction in a scientific way
Joanna Ashley - Healing4Bodies
Be Part of Scientific History
Edie Weinstein - Befriending your shadow
LOA expert, Christy Whitman revealshHow to use the 7 universal laws
Moving Through Grief
Hidden Treasures
Bringing Women Together Worldwide
Never In Your Wildest Dreams
Healing With The Masters
Mark Porteous - Personal Transformation
Mind Over Medicine
The WE Paradigm
Terry Tillman
Lynne Sheridan
Modern Day Mastery
Is The LOA Working Against You?
Super Saturday Spirit Sale
Crystal Ki Healing
Kevin Thompson
Freeman Michaels
Keidi Keating - The Light Project
Ivan Misner
Sara Lahey - Love-N-Aid
Amy Scott Grant KidCentered.com
7 Step Formula To Effectively Apply The Law Of Attraction
The Real Mind Movies Story
Adoley Odunton Wellness Revolution
Eric Brown - Mindful Moon
Sonia Ricotti - Unsinkable
Inspiration from Kenya
Magnetic Charisma Cris Van Cleemput
Genetic Energetics Larry Michel
Roberts Rules Made Simple
Science of Stillness
Heal Your Health Kerry Douglas
Julian Kalmar 10 Million Clicks for Peace
Vasavi Kumar Keepin' It Real
Brave Heart Women Resonate
Bewell Buzz
Rick Luck
Welcome to your life
Melanie Nicolas Wealth Tips for Kids
Special Christmas Show
What's Really happening Dec 21st
Celestine
Kacper and Josh Silent Furnace
Passion vs Purpose
Special 'Gratitude Week' Edition: Gratitude Journals
Don't Worry About What Other people Think
Dogs are Gifts from God
Brain Change Therapy
Orrin Husdon Inspiring Kids Through Chess
Rich German
Mike Dooley
Jason Freeman
Betty Iams
101 Powerful Affirmations
The Science of Affirmations
Global Health Summit
Jonny Andrews The Kindle Revolution
An Empowered Woman
Corey Glazier U Without Borders
Dr Huesan Tran - The Meridian of God
Dr Huesan Tran - Pebbles in the Pond
Soul Contracts Danielle MacKinnon
Seriously! The Movie
Inspiring Stories Sam Riggio
Overcoming Adversity
Gabrielle Knowing your Archetypes
Conscious Wealth Marguerita Vorobioff
Empowering Women
Discover your Passion Janet Bray Attwood
FEEL The Book - Michelle Bersell
Survivor Gillian Larson
5 Secret Tips to Being Extraordinary
6 Habits to A Long, Happy Life
DD Watkins
Eliminating Doubt
Dawson Church EFT Explained
Kindness The Movie
Jinny Throup - Inspirational Stories
The Power of Masterminds
Shanda Sumpter - Heart Core Woman
Never Wake Up On the Wrong Side of the Bed Again
Aline Boundy
Stacey Canfield Soul Sitter
The Benefits of Hypnosis
Jack Canfield
Shawn Stevenson
Nikkea Devida Getting Unstuck
Tristan and Sabrina
Viki Winterton
Marcia Tabram Phillips
Inspiring Women Michelle Patterson
Larry Crane Where Has The Happiness Gone?
How to use the Law of Emergence to activate your own calling
Jake Ducey
Fantastic Frank
The Storm Before The Calm
Passion Peeps - Jill Lublin
Passion Peeps - Shawn Shewchuk
Inspirational Stories - Jim Oliver
Passion Peeps - DC Cordova
Finding Joe The Movie
Passion Peeps - Gabriel Nossovitch
Neale Donald Walsch and Karin Volo
Passion Peeps - Dr. Ray Blanchard
Don Jose Ruiz
Passion Peeps - Ted McGrath
Brendon Burchard - The Charge
Cracking The Man Code
Sharon Babineau Maddie's Story
Passion Peeps - Lisa Kalmin
Passion Peeps - Joe Vitale
Parenting without Power Struggles - Susan Stiffleman
Inspirational Success Stories - Mark Romero
Passion Peeps - Mat Boggs
Don Jose Ruiz - 5th Agreement
Passion Peeps - Scott Coady
Power of Intention
Passion Peeps - Barnet Bain
Your Special Visualization Mind Movie
The Yin and Yang of Life
Passion Peeps - Mary Morrissey
Inspirational Success Stories - Dr.Bob Uslander
Passion Peeps - Dwayne Klassen
2012 - What will happen?
Passion Peeps - Esperanza Universal
Inspirational Kids - Xanthe and Quinn
Passion Peeps - Lanny and Deena Morton
Passion Peeps - Jen Bailey
Inspirational Success Stories - Glen Ledwell
Inspirational Success Stories - Vanessa Hamilton
Passion Peeps - Cory Glazier
How to overcome fear and defeat it for good
Passion Peeps - Renee Airya
This or Something Better
Passion Peeps - Jim Bunch
The Four Agreements
Passion Peeps - Mari Smith
Inspirational Kids - Julia Weber
Passion Peeps - Loral Langmeier
How to Create an Abundant Vibration
Passion Peeps - Mercedes Maidana
A Mind Movie for Your Pets!
Dealing with Negative People
Passion Peeps - Gay and Katie Hendricks
What is your New Years Resolution?
Passion Peeps - Chris Attwood
Health Tips part 2
Passion Peeps - Tiamo
Win the Race of Life
Passion Peeps - Christine Arylo
Health Tips part 1
Passion Peeps - John Assaraf
Stickability Nik Halik
Passion Peeps - Bob Proctor
Discover the Gift
How Do I Know I'm Making The Right Decision?
Passion Peeps - Eldridge DuFauchard
Passion Peeps - Karin Volo
Passion Peeps - Drew Canole
Q & A
Passion Peeps - Bob Doyle
Never, Ever Give Up
Spirit Junkie Book Review
Passion Peeps - Amy Ahlers
Answer to 7 Secrets Questions
You Don't Need to Know How
Big Fat Lies Book Review
Passion Peeps - Gabrielle Bernstein
Dressing for Success part 2
Passion Peeps - Max Simon
Dressing for Success part 1
What is the Reticular Activating System?
Passion Peeps - Zhena Mukyka
Implementing Your Daily Routine
Will Smith on the Law of Attraction
Your Daily Success Routine
Passion Peeps - Peggy McColl
Mike Dooley Wisdom
Passion Peeps - Mark Black
Your Perception is Your Reality
The Power of Thought
Passion Peeps - Marcia Wieder
Meditation
Eliminating a Limiting Belief?
Passion Peeps - Paul Hoffman
What is a Limiting Belief?
Martin Cooper Takeaways
Passion Peeps - Greg S Reid
Passion Peeps - Sean Stephenson
Identifying your Passion
What are your Core Values?
Passion Peeps - Marci Shimoff
Q & A from Europe
Are You in Your Happy Place? pt 2
Are You in Your Happy Place
Passion Peeps - Gary Vaynerchuk
Creating a Mind Movie in minutes
Welcome to the Inspiration Show
EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION
NL: Hi everyone. My name is Natalie Ledwell and this is The Inspiration Show. I'm going to be bringing you a fantastic show this week and I'm really looking forward to introducing you to my special guest, but before I do that, I just want to make sure that if you are watching this show live on Facebook or if you're watching it later on our YouTube channel, make sure that you click the link below after you finish watching the show, so you can take my 30-second quiz so we can figure out what's holding you back or what's blocking you from success. Okay, so please help me introduce or help me welcome my guest today, Maria Flores Letelier. How are you Maria?
MFL: Fine. Thank you for having me.
NL: It's a pleasure to have you here. I was actually going through your bio and some of the major accomplishments that you've been able to achieve throughout your life. You've worked with some incredible companies I think here in the US and in Mexico. So tell us a little bit about your background and what it is that you were doing, that you have been doing.
MFL: Okay. Well, my background academically, I studied philosophy as an undergraduate and that really impacted me. I learned about the way language affects us and how we can embed our world to language. And then at some point later on, I got a Master's in Marketing at Northwestern and by the end of that I started to work on projects. One of the most interesting projects I worked on is a project in Mexico where we launched a housing service for people, low-income people. Basically people who build their houses one wall at a time and we actually offered them a service where they could build their whole house over a 70-week period and we use women in the local community to build the houses. I'm sorry not to build the houses, to sell the service, and that was a big inspiration actually for the book.
NL: Oh fantastic! So like I was saying, you've worked with massive companies and I think that all your skills in helping with communication and how to solve conflicts and how to have empathy I think has really helped you a lot with that. But yes, what we're talking about today is the book that you've written which is called “Javi’s Opportunity Manual” which is a guide for children to to make things happen. So it's a bit of a shift like a children's book from the corporate work that you've been doing. So what motivated you to write the book?
MFL: Well, that's I guess I was being a little elusive, but that program that I worked on, I work with women and I've worked with families and communities basically teaching them how to commit something in the long term for their house and then how to be customers, how to make requests that was a big part of it. How the woman could also being offered to others in the community by helping them with a service. How when somebody defaulted with a payment what would what kind of conversations that they have to have to renegotiate. All of that made me realize that people early on need to learn those skills about making requests, making offers, inventing your own opportunities, and if we wrote a book for children that would be the best place to start. And it's actually interesting because in those communities the book was also published in Spanish and a lot of people are reading in those communities, both adults and children together.
NL: Yeah.
MFL: That's where my inspiration came from. Also, I have a big family, I have nieces and nephews and I could see that early on, some of them really did struggle with making requests and they struggled with communication at an early age. And I came across a study by the American Sociological Review in 2012 that talked about how they follow the kids third to fifth grade and they learned that those kids that came from higher economic homes were able to invent their own advantages. Basically by making requests at school. And the ones that came from lower-income communities didn't make any requests and struggled much more in school. They didn't know how to ask for help in school. Ao the combination of those three experiences allowed me to write the book.
NL: Right. So what I hear you saying is that there is a right way to make a request and a way that's not very effective. So what is the right way to make a request?
MFL: Well, the way children tend to make requests often, (this is what the book shows in the character to some of the children) is passively or they want people to read their minds or in a whining kind of way. So what the book talks about is first of all, if you want to make a request, ask for what you're asking for, communicate it. Second of all, state how you would like whatever it is that you're asking for done. In the world of philosophy that's called conditions of satisfaction, but in the book it's explained in a much more informal way. And thirdly by the time when you want something done - what is the time period that you need your request to be fulfilled by. It's very simple but it's things that people don't do and especially children as they're growing up are not taught to do.
NL: Yeah, exactly and I have done some work with our mutual friend, Scott Cody, who teaches a lot of Dr. Forester’s work. So yeah, so what we're saying is that to make a request, you need to be clear about what it is that you want, you need to communicate how you would like it to live it and that you also when you would like to have it completed, that's right. And do you get a buy-in or do you get an agreement from the other person that they can actually fulfill it in that time?
MFL: Yes, exactly. But the idea is to have conversations. The idea is that we invent our world with conversations. And that's something that in the book is explained in a very easy way for children to have. And also all the hurdles that they can encounter throughout the way. We don't always get what we want. Sometimes we're told, no, so how do you keep inventing the conversation, what are other conversational moves that can happen, what other possibilities are open for you. That's what the book covers that through a narrative, through a story of a girl rather than a teaching format, which would have been another way to write the book, but I thought it would be more effective for kids to cover as a story of a girl who is struggling on her own.
NL: Yes, because I was going to say that fiction or a story is an easy way to remember the lessons. Yeah?
MFL: Exactly.
NL: So I know that you also cover things like the importance of listening and the importance of working with others, so tell us a little about the storyline like what's the storyline outlined in the book?
MFL: Well, the story is about an immigrant girl who has come to the United States and early on she could sense a certain culture change between the way she's being raised by her parents and the way success happens in the States, and so then she has this dream of going to tennis camp and she's told, no, that she can't go. Because, actually she's not even sure why she's told no, it's not until in the book until she finally has the conversation with her parents where she actually makes a real request that she learns that they don't have the funds to send her to tennis camp. So at that moment through the help of her uncle, who's taking classes on entrepreneurship, tells her, hey what can you do to go to tennis camp, what can YOU do on your own? And she realizes she can raise funds and that she's going to do that. Eventually, she realizes she could do it through a food cart as her father is a great cook. He loves to cook. And that's basically the story. All the hurdles that she encountered along the way, she needs to get other people to help her and that's a big theme in the story is how do you get other people to help you? It's not easy. It's sometimes she can make a request to be helped and people blow her off. In the story she, she becomes friends with another character whose name is Benji. Benji is doing something that she's in awe of, she's giving guitar classes to other kids and he makes five dollars. But what really blows her mind is the teachers are promoting his fliers, the parents are paying for his classes and she's saying she thinks to herself what is it that he's doing that I can't do? It's actually not easy for her to do the food carts, it’s not easy for her to get her parents involved, to get help from her friends and to get the principal to sign off on the food cart at school, to get people buying her products. All of that is a challenge, and at some point, she discovered that people don't want to buy her products anymore, that they’re getting tired of it. So what does she have to do to actually add value, whether what kind of questions that she have to ask, she has to listen to other people. All of these are things that she learns in the book to make her journey come true finally.
NL: Right. So what age is the book relevant to?
MFL: I voted for middle graders which is technically like 9 to 12 year olds, but I'm finding that a lot of 13, 14, older kids are also reading it. We did a pilot in one school in Chile where the whole class read the book. It was sixth graders who read the book, and then they did a video saying what they got out of the book, what they learned from it, and there were some interesting things I don't know if you want to hear about that.
NL: I'd love to hear about that.
MFL: Well, there was a class, they wanted to have a party. An informational email had been sent out to the parents of the classroom and the party wasn't happening. No one was responding to this email and basically, the kids finally realized that a request had never really been made to the parents, only an informational email stating that this was going on. So the kids really wanted to have this social event, so they committed that each kid would ask their parent - can they participate in this party. And they did, and they had a 95% turnout. That's one example. Another one is a girl who had been making scarves for herself as a hobby at home, but after reading the book, she realized that she could actually sell those scarves and she wouldn't have to ask her parents for money to go to the movies and things like that, she could make her own money. And another case of a boy who wanted to lose weight and asks for support. He asked for his parents to enroll him in a nutrition program and asked his friends not to eat junk food around him anymore. So those are three cases that came from reading the book.
NL: That's fantastic and I mean it sounds like they’re principles that kids could be showing with their parents as well, like it sounds like it really could expand and help family communication, right?
MFL: Exactly.
NL: Yeah, I know because I have a program called PD For Kids, which a lot of people in our Mind Movies community know about, and we're doing work in Colombia and in Liberia. So we should talk after the show and see how we could support each other there. So how long has the book been out? What is the success of the book been so far?
MFL: Well the Spanish version came out about 6 months ago and that one is doing quite well for it took have been just 6 months. It sold through the first printing, but the Spanish version was launched in Colombia first, and from there it's being launched in Spain and being distributed in other countries. The English one came out in December of last year and that one has sold okay but I still need to get the word out there with that one.
NL: So who do you think are the best families or children that could really benefit from reading the book?
MFL: What do you mean a family? What do you mean by that?
NL: Is there like I know the age group that we're looking at, but is it applicable to any children?
MFL: Yes. I think it is applicable to any children. I think there is - partly from my background in the kind of projects that I worked on - there is a benefit for people who normally would have access to resources and don't have skills for having proper communication. So I want to do and I am going to do more pilots here in the US with lower income schools and communities because I know my kids go to public schools, but they go to a school in a very privileged community, and while there are shy kids and some kids that have a hard time making requests and making offers, a lot of them are being pushed and driven by their parents from early on. That's not happening in lower-income communities. So I want to distribute the book and do programs in lower-income communities as another way of getting the book out there.
NL: Yeah, well I think the book is beneficial to any child. And it's interesting because you could have children in Beverly Hills, you could have children in Detroit, and even though the situations are different, the results are the same, and kids are feeling very overwhelmed, maybe they are being pushed by their parents or maybe they're being ignored by their parents, but this book could really help communication not just with them improving their particular life by helping their school life, but also to improve the communication with their family and to be able to expand that as well and to help them feel like they have some control over the results that they get in their life. And I think this book does an incredible job of being able to illustrate that in a way that's really easy to read and very easy to understand. So I want to congratulate you, Maria, because I think you've done an amazing job.
MFL: Thank you.
NL: So where can we send people if they want to get their hands on the book and if they want to purchase the book?
MFL: Amazon is the best place. It’s on Amazon.
NL: Do you have a website as well?
MFL: I don't have a website yet, I'm working on one right now.
NL: Alright. So the name of the book is “Javi's Opportunity Manual Soft Cover: A Kid's Guide to Making Things Happen”. So I encourage you to click on the banner or the link so you can go straight through to the Amazon site to purchase the book and I think it's a great thing to do as a family as well, to be able to go through the book together, which is a great idea. So thank you again, Maria for joining me today. It's been an absolute pleasure talking to you.
MFL: Thank you for having me.
NL: Great! So guys make sure that like I said before, now that the show is towards the end, after the video finishes just click on the link below if you're watching this on Facebook live or if you're watching it on our YouTube channel, take our 30-second quiz, so we can figure out what's holding you or blocking you from success. And don't forget if you're watching this on mindmovies.com, just leave your email so we can send you the Manifesting with the Master's video e-course for free. So, until next time, remember to live large, choose courageously, and love without limits. We'll see you soon.