Dr. Bill: What inspired you to do what you do today?
LISA NIVER: As a teenager my parents took my sister and I on a cruise to the Mediterranean. I felt like all of my history books came to life. We saw the parthenon in Greece, the Pyramids in Egypt, the Western Wall in Israel and the Ephesus library in Turkey. I was mesmerized and wanted that trip to never end. Later in life, I worked on cruise ships for nearly seven years and have traveled now to over 100 countries. I love sharing my adventures in videos and articles. I have worked as a teacher and a journalist for years sharing stories from the road. Since 2020 and the great pause, I have been at my desk working on a memoir about doing 50 challenges before I turned 50. I cannot wait for your listeners to read it next year when it is published and available in bookstores.
What top 3 Mistakes can you help our listeners AVOID?
- One mistake is waiting for the right time to start. I think about the Chinese proverb which says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Start your blog or join YouTube or Pinterest TODAY! Believe you can do it.
- Another mistake is comparing to other people. Someone will always have more views or be more famous or have more stuff. ONLY compare yourself to yourself—Think about one year from now—do I want to still waiting to get started? Or what goal do you want to have already accomplished.
- Perfectionism kills so many good ideas. Done is better than PERFECT. Do your best and try something new. Remember you aren’t getting graded on your tasks. There is no A+ in suitcase packing.
What is your GREATEST Failure Story? What did you learn and how did you recover from it?
My biggest life reinvention was after my marriage imploded. I had sold my car, quit my job and rented out my condo in order to travel with my then husband for a year in Asia. While we were on the road, I realized we were both fully 1000% on his team doing things his way and there was no space for me. It was very unhealthy. I felt that I was living his dream his way and needed to have a chance to do things that were important to me. It was really hard to start again. I felt like a failure and it was a struggle to keep going but it was necessary to make that change. I made new goals and new friends and started my 50 things before 50 project. I started to go to dance class and art class and little by little I built myself a new even better life.
What are your top 3 success secrets?
**The secret to my success has been to follow my passions. once I learned to scuba dive, I changed everything in order to travel more and explore around the world underwater.
**Another secret is to have Faith that you can do it, remember what – Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Believe you can do it and build the steps along the way.
**I loved interviewing 3 time Emmy award winner Gaby Natale she told me that “Starting SMALL does not mean thinking SMALL” small steps can lead to big changes
What is happening NEXT for you?
I am so excited for my book to be published and to go on the road to talk to people about my 50 things project. So far, everyone has been interested to hear more about my challenges and to think about ones they can do themselves
How do you overcome Challenge Life throws at you?
For me, I overcome challenges by always being ready to start again—Listen to the Chinese Proverb which says Fall down 7, Get up 8!
What Are You Grateful For Today?
I am grateful for my family and friends who have believed in me even when I did not believe in myself. I would never have finished my book without their endless support.
Who is Your Living Mentor ?
I have been fortunate to have many mentors who I can call when I feel unsure about my next steps in my career. Everyone has dark moments when they feel uncertain and everyone needs advice from a trusted source.
What do you want to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered for bringing light, love and laughter to my community. I have helped many people to learn about far away places and build bridges of cultural understanding.
How Do You Start Your Day?
Since reading Michelle Obama’s book, The Light We Carry, I started a new morning tradition where I look at myself in the mirror and say HEY BUDDY! I think very positive happy thoughts while I greet myself.
Why Being Impactful Is Important to you?
We all impact those around us. We have a choice to lift those around us with grace, gratitude and happiness. We can make our corner of the world a more positive and inspiring place.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self—do not worry so much—our life is like a rollercoaster there are ups and downs and sometimes it seems like we are falling out —but we have a seatbelt on— and everything will work out GREAT in the end.
Once you have a revenue-generating idea, how do you convince your partner?
When I have a new business idea, I take it to my advisory council and listen carefully to their suggestions. I know my blind spots and make sure to have a team who complement me.
How can our listeners find you?
I would love your listeners to pick a video on my YouTube channel @LISANIVER to watch and comment on. They can follow me across social media @LisaNiver. I have a monthly newsletter and two websites: We Said Go Travel and LisaNIver.com that way you can be among the first to know to pre-order my book. Find it in bookstores in the Fall of 2023
Thank you Dr. Bill for the super questions and for inviting me to participate on your show. It is an honor to share this time with you and your listeners. My dad is also a dentist like you and people always ask—do I have to floss all my teeth and he says NOPE only the ones you want to keep! And I think that is great life advice. Whatever you focus on, that will flourish!
What would you say as a final word?
Every culture has a festival of lights in this darkest time of the year. During Chanukah, when we light the candles, I always think of how one candle the leader, lights all of the others but it does not diminish the flame. Make sure to share your light with others. —check on your friends and family, hug them close and tell them how much you love them.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW: LINKS BELOW
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/video/live/urn:li:ugcPost:7014624494203940864/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/611903679/videos/1181281782805438/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drbill_williams/status/1608858645734821888
Twitter broadcast: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1MYGNgBPRXOJw
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcOK2kCUpKk
HOST: Dr. Bill Williams from Atlanta GA USA is a Founder, Leadership Council member, and Brand Ambassador of ONPASSIVE, a sought-after international speaker and coach, a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, Host of The Influencers Podcast and the $10,000 A Day Dentist Podcast, and Author of two #1 Best Selling Books: Marketing the Million Dollar Practice and The $10,000 A Day Dentist.