NOT YOUR AVERAGE OPERATOR

As for all things that have a beginning, they must also have an end. This week, we are proud to put the “final” stamp on our NYAO podcast journey after 90 straight weeks. 90 straight weeks of our core pillars of humility, honesty, and action. Sharing stories and lessons of failure, victory, and everything in between. Throughout our time, Mike, Melon, and Raf have gone through a substantial amount of growth. Learning to speak to one another and access new levels of emotional intelligence, communication, and significance. You, our listeners, have only added to that vine with your shared stories and experiences. We have been happy and honored to have you along the trail with us. In this episode you will hear the teams final thoughts on the 90 week journey, what it means to them, and what is ahead.    There will also be new details on the future as the trio will evolve and relaunch 01 June 2022 with their new brand and title: “Pushing Back Chaos” W/ Melon, Mike, and Raf Watch out for advertisements on FB, IG, Twitter, Linked In, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Heroes Media Group in the coming weeks! Cheers and thank you from the NYAO Podcast team! We’ll see you soon!   Very Respectfully, Mike Paul “Melon” McFAdden Raf “Tio” Espinosa

It’s always great to take stock of where you have been- this is one of the most important parts of determining where you are now, and helps refocus on the journey ahead. Raf opens this episode revealing where he is now in life. Sharing the house he dreamed of with his extended family, and about to embark on a 10 day trip that will culminate with him completing his type rating and certification in his airline job. These initially only existed in his mind, but over the course of our series, our audience has witnessed his journey, as he went about creating the life of his dreams from possibility to actuality. Your team then take the time to go over some of their standout episodes- a difficult task after nearly 90 episodes over 20 months. We only release conversations that we feel reflect who we are and support our aim of attempting to push back the chaos, along side you, our audience. It can be rare sometimes to find a space or a group where men share honestly and deeply. We opened our podcast series with a conversation right from the heart- about our biggest setbacks. This set the stage for how our subsequent episodes flowed and the show unfolded. Big topics, attempting to remain authentic and to normalize men discussing life while having a few laughs. We have been blessed with amazing guests- too many to mention in this short summary, but together we remember a few that left lasting impressions on us, and about whom we received a lot of feedback. Your team finish with a major reveal about an opportunity they see ahead of them.   Let us know about some of your favorite episodes, topics and guests. Maybe a story touched you, or you were motivated by a guest. Maybe there was a favorite story that still makes you laugh.   Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com     SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

As a follow-up to last week’s episode on being authentic, we must acknowledge that while being genuine, it is important to understand what we are attempting to be a part of. Whether it be a relationship, a work environment, a political party, or within a family. In order to conform, one must accept and understand the positives and negatives that may come along with the decision, as all others do. Throughout this process, people in the world have the right to change and evolve. Sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worst. As Mike says, “Sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade.” Conforming can bring unity, identity, teamwork, power, and friendships. On the flipside, it can also bring blind loyalty, abuse of power, censorship, non-authenticity, and divisiveness. It is important for us to always evaluate our own morals, standards, and character and assess whether or not the groups we are part of stand for and reflect those exact key pillars. Whether you are brand new to the environment, or a veteran of 20 years, we should always strive to be the voice of reason in all aspects and hold the standards for the greater good. Do you have some examples of both good and bad instances in which conforming came into effect? Was it addressed? How was it resolved? We’d love to hear your responses.   Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com   Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com   Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

“This above all: to thine own self be true And it must follow, as the night the day Thou canst not then be false to any man” – William Shakespeare, Hamlet   People often speak of being “Authentic”. What does it mean? How does this play out in life? Authenticity, in the context of this episode, is defined as the degree to which our actions are aligned with our values and desires- especially when there is pressure to behave differently. How closely are being true to ourselves? With some people, we know that we can really be our true selves. We can bring everything we have to the table. We know them, and they know us down to the ground. We have true freedom and full self-expression in these relationships. We feel alive. In other situations, we repress our thoughts or feelings under a layer. We are “inauthentic”. We have a loss of full self-expression. There are ways of being or topics we can’t touch. We feel fake or repressed. Clearing these relationships up takes honesty and the willingness to take responsibility for letting things slide. As Raf says, sometimes we “need to put the ugly baby on the table”. Which is Melon’s new favourite English phrase. In this conversation, you’ll hear examples of work and personal relationships where a straight conversation took place, and authenticity was restored. Your hosts distinguish between authenticity and being an ass. You can be straight and kind. You can clear up a past error and end with no negative charge in the space between you and the other person. In all cases, you can at least get any skeletons out of your closet and out of your future. You can remove the mask and know you aren’t faking it with that person anymore. Let us know of a time when you have restored a relationship and experienced being authentic. Try having a conversation with this aim this week- let us know how it goes.     Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com     SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477    

This week, the boys felt compelled to talk about a somber topic; the invasion of Ukraine. On the eve of the 5th day of the Russian invasion, the guys felt it was important to try and focus on many of the inspiring and positive stories that have been propagating the news from the front lines. Stories of leadership and sacrifice. Strong men and women making difficult decisions to save their country and families, while forging ahead to hold off invading forces. They share their thoughts on the inspiring true tales of the famous Ukrainian boxing champions, the Klitschko Brothers, who have left their life of luxury to defend their native lands. Similarly, President Zelensky is celebrated for his ability to rise to the occasion as a war time leader. They run some parallels from their former experiences while serving in various combat theaters overseas. All three make an effort to funnel their current frustration with anecdotal talking points on how we can all glean fundamental importances that would massively benefit our society here in the Western First World to avoid the destruction of peace as we’re witnessing in Ukraine.. Clear cut examples by the individuals in Ukraine fighting for their lives. Fundamental importances such as, making every effort to never dehumanize any opponent. Striving to be an absolute dangerous monster, but controlled and harnessed as a sheepdog, rather than a tyrant. Finally, they want to remind everyone that no one ever wins in a war, not even the victors. Please share your thoughts about this episode and more importantly, we hope this encourages our listeners to spend some time thinking about what you can do to support Ukraine in their fight for survival as a sovereign nation.  We encourage all of our listeners to reach out to us with your own stories. We love reading your insights, feedback, and how we can add more value to your day Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

This week, the boys were inspired to talk about the many layered approaches that have historically proved fruitful for transitioning veterans, as well as themselves in establishing bonds similar to their time in service. More pointedly, they discussed  how to shift your mind and processes to ensure a positively gained experience as you leave your old (military) tribe, and venture out to find your new (civilian) tribe. They had a deep discussion on some of the catastrophic results that can come from dissociating from our evolutionary deep rooted inclination to be an intrinsic member in communal life. Largely, having others depend on you, as much as you depend on them, as is commonly experienced in high stressed, high risk tight knit organizations like the military, law enforcement, and alike. Mike spends some time warning that a significant number of veterans are unfortunately setting themselves up for downfalls by having an expectation of entitlement that more often diminishes the core life skills developed through unique hardships and challenges experienced in a combat environment. Melon highlights that injecting yourself into a sport you love is a great opportunity to cultivate those bonds we’re seeking, but also play a massive role in mental health rehabilitation. Raf shares anecdotal stories he heard on a recent podcast and how humanity’s mental health,  and its ability to deal with trauma reaches the apex when the individual is surrounded by a close knit tribe, are not just coincidentally related, but necessary and backed by countless studies. Please share your thoughts about this episode and more importantly, we hope this encourages our listeners to spend some time thinking about what works best for them to unindoctrinate from an old organization while successfully cultivating strong ties with a new one whose’ contrasts are stark. We encourage all of our listeners to reach out to us with your own stories. We love reading your insights, feedback, and how we can add more value to your day. Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

This week, the NYAO team is proud to welcome our friend and NFL lineman BJ Finney, from the Pittsburgh Steelers. BJ joins us to discuss what he routinely calls his “Unfair Advantage.”- Being handed the worst of circumstances at a young age,only to learn the lessons and prosper from them sooner rather than later in life. His story is one of great loss and then to uncompromising success, beginning with the unexpected passing of his father, followed by many years of struggles to pay for college, medical issues, and taking care of his family and evolving into a successful 7 year tenure in the NFL. As BJ explains, life can be viewed in a few ways. For one, life can be a game of poker in which we are dealt a random hand and we can either focus on the less than desired cards we received, or have positive inputs and build upon that hand to win at life. Another way is to think of life as a road with multiple forks in the road. On a daily basis, we find ourselves coming to that decision point on not just one instance, but multiple. It is up to us to choose not just easiest path, but right path to get us where we want to be. If you can relate to BJ’s story and you’d like to reach out, have questions, or comments, reach out to us! We always enjoy to hear from our listeners! Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

Have you ever wondered if you actually were fitting in? Whether it be a professional group, friends, new acquaintances, family, or even an intimate relationship? Sometimes we struggle to “fit in”, but if we are struggling, we must ask ourselves an honest question: Do we even belong in it if we are struggling and it’s not who we really are? Listen in as the trio of Raf, Mike, and Melon open up and discuss some of their own experiences on fitting in as children in a gang environment, to going through a culture transition in special operations, and the trials of acceptance in the aviation community while also reflecting on some of the considerations one must make to feel accepted into a community, group, or relationship. Some of the questions we must ask ourselves: -Why do I want to be a part of this? -Why do I want to be accepted? -Do I accept myself for who I am? -If things change, am i comfortable walking away and being ok? Let us hear your stories and share your thoughts on what it means to “fit in.” Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477  

Young people when asked said the main thing they wanted in life was to make a lot of money. More than 80% listed this first. Is this the best indicator or sign post for a good and fulfilling life? How could we ever know? Harvard University has been tracking a group of students for more than 75 years, and the results of this huge study reveal that the number and strength of social connections throughout our life is the best indicator of our future physical health, mental functioning and sense of happiness. At the same time, suicide rates among men are skyrocketing in synch with rates of loneliness. Men over 45 reporting loneliness increased from 20% to 33% in ten years, while the suicide rate in this group went up 50% in the same period. Male suicide rates are 3.7 times higher than among females. Men struggle with self-expression- of their internal emotional state, and especially with the ability to tell significant people that they love them. And yet boys up to their early teens are just as open and expressive as their sisters. How are these things linked and what can be done about it? How can we help boys and men make progress in these critical areas? Join you hosts as they take on a topic that they feel it is essential to address: the ability to self-express and generate meaningful relationships as life moves forward. There are take away’s here for all of us- not just men. But think especially about men in your life you love- from boys to grandfathers- as it applies to them even more. Our challenge to you is to initiate a conversation with someone new for the first time. Let us know how it went for you.   References: Harvard Study of Adult Development https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/   TED Talk by Dr Robert Waldinger, 4th Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness?language=en   Mark Green’s article “Why do we murder the beautiful friendships of boys?” https://medium.com/remaking-manhood/why-do-we-murder-the-beautiful-friendships-of-boys-3ad722942755   Commuter Study- University of Chicago Booth Prof. Nicholas Epley https://www.chicagobooth.edu/media-relations-and-communications/press-releases/mom-was-wrong-you-should-talk-to-strangers 2019 BBC Article on the same topic: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-48459940 Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477  

Ever wonder what kind of leader you are? Does it match your personality? Are there instances when you have to shift from one style to the next depending on the environment? Now you can find out! This week, the team tackles the 5 styles of leadership and share some of their own experiences and how they are as leaders. 5 Styles of Leadership: Authoritative: imposes expectations and define outcomes. Participative:  involves team members in the decision making process. Delegative: gives initiative to team members. Transactional: presents rewards, punishments and other exchanges to get the job done. Transformational: inspires his or her followers with a vision and then encourages and empowers them to achieve it. To find out about yourself, we recommend you visit: PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT: https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/IPIP-BFFM/ LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENT: https://www.verywellmind.com/whats-your-leadership-style-3866929 Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   LISTEN IN ON:   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

This week, the boys are doing some Q&A for the listeners. What do you want your legacy to be? More pointedly, what impact do you think your existence will have after you’ve physically passed on. All three responses were unique in their emergence, yet they shared fundamental threads in their finale. Melon gave a philosophical response that centered on the current and future wellbeing of his family. Every day, the actions he takes are to some degree, mirrored off the health of his family, and the current state they’re in, both collectively and individually. Mike idiosyncratically focuses his attributes to build a legacy that he has refined down to 4 pillars he wants to be moored to. That is, he wants to be remembered as Authentic, a Warrior, Humble, and a Beacon of Resiliency. Finally, Raf hopes that his legacy will be his ability to validate  that unique drive of the human spirit to achieve what you dream, regardless of where you are in life and its infinite number of obstacles that will stand in your way. He hopes his story will inspire others with similar crossroads to exhaust every effort to reach their dreams, as well as, help those around you reach theirs.   Please share your thoughts about this episode and more importantly, we hope this encourages our listeners to spend some time thinking about what works best for them when they have to reignite their passion. We encourage all of our listeners to reach out to us with your own stories. We love reading your insights, feedback, and how we can add more value to your day. Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   LISTEN IN ON:   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q

This week, the boys were fortunate enough to sit down with Elliot’s wife, April (from Episode 78 – The Legacy of Adam) and talk about the most unspoken tenant in the life cycle of the battle with P.T.S.D.; the sojourn of the spouse in this palpable fight of mental illness. You’ll quickly understand the strength and  grace that April brings is forged in the rawness of her experience in standing by Adam through his darkest moments. Many times, having a very direct impact on her own mental health. April does the rest of us a massive favor in being candid about her close proximity with the fallouts of undiagnosed P.T.S.D and exposing the fractures it brought into her home. She navigates this tender topic of the injured spouse with such candor and strength, to hopefully shed light for the rest of us, of what it’s like and what to expect when it’s our turn. The boys agreed that this  episode will be one of the most popular in our series, because April leaves everyone a roadmap.  A step by step list of faith based  axioms and approaches to push through the chaos into higher ground. For her and Adam both, it started with their faith in God.   April’s Recommended Resources & Organizations:   1.“Why is Dadso Mad”, book by Seth Kastle. Helps explain PTSD to kids. 2. Giveanhour.org; free counseling/therapy/chiropractic and other care for veterans and their families. 3. Mighty Oaks Warrior Program; Faith based retreat for veterans and spouses in California and Ohio, no residency requirements & travel expenses may be covered. 4. Boulder Crest Retreat; free family/individual retreat opportunities. Warrior PATH program for PTSD. 5. Elizabeth Dole Hidden Heroes; retreats, caregiver resources & support. 6. Reboot Combat Recovery; 12 week faith based course for veterans, first responders, and their families. 7. Operation Homefront; support for military families. 8. Project Sanctuary; free family retreats. 9. Semper Fi Fund; financial assistance if qualified. 10. Wounded Warrior Project; support, activities, individual & family retreats, help with disability claims. 11. Vet Center; counseling, help with claims, other resources.   Please share your thoughts about this episode and more importantly, we hope this encourages our listeners to spend some time thinking about what works best for them when they have to reignite their passion. We encourage all of our listeners to reach out to us with your own stories. We love reading your insights, feedback, and how we can add more value to your day. Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   LISTEN IN ON:   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

What a way to start off 2022!  In our first episode of the new year, we welcome our special guest, friend and fellow Marine Corp veteran, Adam Elliott to the show. With many people stating that the new year is an opportunity to become a better version of themselves or to reach their goals, we must first acknowledge our past and revisit our journey to extract the required lessons throughout hardships that assist in guiding us to our future self. Adam takes this opportunity alongside the team to share his journey through his military service as a Marine and post military life as a father and husband. His courage and openness to discuss the topics around his experiences with PTSD, alcohol and drug addiction, and relationship issues that are shared in this episode is a master class example on how to navigate through hard times. His acknowledgment of the need to maintain a positive legacy within his family reminds him that everything in life, both good and bad, are all part of of the journey.   If you would like to reach out to Adam or share your own similar story, please reach out to us: Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   LISTEN IN ON:   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

Happy New Year!!! (Already?! -Or- “About time?!”) In our final show of the year, the team takes the time to discuss, assess, and remember 2021 for what it meant to each of them. From personal triumphs and career changes, to hardship and the effects of what we could not control ultimately brought to who we are as we stand here on the last day of the year. -What were our 2021 goals? -Did we reach them? Why or why not? -What was our significance and who did we affect? -What are we looking forward to most in 2022? -Are we ready for what is ahead? Join us in our final episode of the year as we invite you into the conversation as we share some great stories and some of our favorite memories! Cheers and Happy New Year to all of you around the world! If you would like to share some new Years photos, please send them to our FB or IG page and we will post them on January 1! Thank you to all of our supporters and listeners for a wonderful year! Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   LISTEN IN ON:   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

Merry Christmas everyone! We at NYAO wish you all the best for a season filled with love, caring, gratefulness, and memory making with those who we truly care about and the strangers we encounter along the way. This week, the team decided to have some adult Christmas fun with the one and only Irish Jolly man, Mark McCarthy AKA “Slainte’ Claus.” Listen in as Slainte’ Claus (after a few frothies) reviews his naughty and nice list and reminds us that he knows if we’ve been bad or good…mostly bad! But hey! We’ll see you next tuesday Slainte’ Claus! Please feel free to share your holiday messages and thoughts with us as we would like to hear from you all out there! We hope you all made the nice list! Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   LISTEN IN ON:   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477   HEREOS MEDIA GROUP   https://www.heroesmediagroup.com/

It’s daunting. It can be intimidating. It can mean the first step of a dream or the first setback along your journey. Either way, job interviews can be labeled many things, but the primary goal should never be to ignore your preparation for them.   Since we like to keep things relevant here at NYAO, Mike, Melon, and Raf decided to breach the topic on how we have prepared for our own job interviews.   Recently, Melon was promoted this previous year and shares some of his suggestions and techniques to prepare, including his STAR method.   Currently, Raf was hired to a major airline after going through extensive processes and in-depth interviews, sharing the importance of interviewing as yourself and not as a position or title.   In the near future, Mike will be interviewing for a coveted childhood dream type position within his community and share some of his own guidance and insights on how to be the right kind of person that leaders with the right characteristics want.   Do you have a story about interviews? Any suggestions for our fellow veterans? We’d love to hear from you and share both the challenges and successful stories that have transpired within our circles.   Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   LISTEN IN ON:   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477   HEROES MEDIA GROUP   https://www.heroesmediagroup.com/

This week we are special guests on The Decision Hour Podcast with our friend Mr. Adam Bird to discuss The Importance of Mindset. (TheDecisionHour.com) We are forced to make Decisions in our lives every day.  We are faced with situations that we have no control over, however we can control our reactions to those situations.  Before you can do that, you must be in the right mindset.  Mindset is a conscious decision that requires a choice: positive or negative. In this episode, I was lucky enough to sit down with the guys from Not Your Average Operator, a podcast that dives into some of life’s hardest questions, challenges, and situations as they open up their lives and personal experiences and dissect them in a way that can bring out the best version of ourselves, and help leave the negative in the rearview mirror. After some much-needed banter and some really good laughs, we dive into the topic of mindset. We discuss the importance of mindset and provide some examples of our own personal experiences regarding positivity, being grateful, asking for help and how to turn a bad situation around. We had a lot fun recording this episode as you will hear.  That said, this is a topic we don’t take lightly, we understand the importance, we have all been there.  We hope that you enjoy this episode.  Should you find yourself letting your mindset wonder into places it doesn’t need to be, call on us… We are here to help.   Email: Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com

Have you ever considered using a technique or framework to solve a critical task a lot more effectively? The boys discussed a famed technique called the OODA Loop invented by a legendary United States Airforce fighter pilot John Boyd. OODA is an acronym for Observe, Orient, Decide, Act! The boys have a quick discussion on how they’ve implemented this process throughout their professions as well as in their personal life. They dissect each step and share the varying methods that they commonly implement. More importantly, the biggest gains in using this process is the ability to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations, increasing your rate of execution, and thriving in total unpredictability. Please share your thoughts about this episode and more importantly, we hope this encourages our listeners to spend some time thinking about what works best for them when they have to reignite their passion. We encourage all of our listeners to reach out to us with your own stories. We love reading your insights, feedback, and how we can add more value to your day.     Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   LISTEN IN ON:   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

Have you ever had an instance where you know you are fundamentally right, but every one around you is trying to convince you otherwise? They make you question everything in that moment, but you still can reference back to some sort of solid pillars, maybe even a feeling, that can give you justification?   This week, the team address some of their own struggles when it comes to sports, military objectives, and aviation. They supply the context, identify the friction points, and discuss their approaches that ultimately led to their overall successful end states.   Listen in as the team offers up some framework for these situations and also cover the four zones of growth that can assist in the development of a confident person or leader:   -Comfort Zone -Fear Zone -Learning Zone -Growth Zone   Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   LISTEN IN ON:   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477

“Thank you for your Service” What do you want it to mean? “I’m appreciative of you being a volunteer and sacrificing yourself for our country”?   What does it possibly mean to a veteran that has: -Immense stress -Experienced worst of humanity at a young age -PTSD -Struggles with depression -Grieving -Survivors guilt -Lost time/missed life occurrences -Relationship strains/divorce -Physiological or physical wounds -Social reintegration (distances themselves) -Relatability to society   In Leu of Veterans Day, the team tackles this topic to help bring together civilians and veterans on a more human level. As a society, both should strive to reconnect as common people, instead of civilian vs veteran. Taking the time and getting to know and understand what veterans have been through can have amazing results on the common perceptions about military service and possibly help those veterans who are struggling with post military service.   Challenges:   What can you do different the next time you approach a veteran?   To the best of your ability, attempt to imagine being in their shoes and ask yourself how would you want to be approached?   Paul “Melon” McFadden NotYourAveragePaul@gmail.com Raf “Tio” Espinosa NotYourAverageRaf@gmail.com Mike NotYourAverageMike77@gmail.com   LISTEN IN ON:   SPOTIFY:   https://open.spotify.com/show/6cQyL6nPDxPNFz4p8RN5PQ?si=Pm-chuufQGSYdcflJ5Xq0Q   APPLE PODCASTS:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-operator/id1522297477