The Thought Leader Revolution Podcast

"When I retired, I figured I'm going into my second career and I'm going to be a filmmaker." Big ideas don't always start with big budgets. Sometimes they start during moments of disruption, when plans fall apart and creativity has to take the lead. This episode highlights how shifting direction during uncertain times can open the door to entirely new worlds—both creatively and personally. Doug MacDougall joins the conversation to share the story behind Twice Upon A Time, a bold sci-fi fantasy web series that blends mystery, psychology, and time travel. What began as a creative pivot during lockdown has evolved into an ambitious, multi-season project featuring remote actors, genre-bending storytelling, and a cliff-hanger designed to leave audiences wanting more. The series follows five residents in a near-future asylum whose treatment hides far darker intentions than they realize. Doug is an independent film producer who creates cinematic web series with actors located across North America. Working entirely remotely, he combines green-screen production, post-production creativity, and a passion for storytelling to bring large-scale ideas to life—proving that even in disruptive times, imagination can still take center stage. But this isn't just a movie for the sake of a movie. The series is dedicated to the memory of Doug's sister, Cheryl MacDougall-Oddie. Inspired by her generous spirit, each year, the production aims to raise $2000 of donations for Food Banks Canada and Feeding America. Over the last 5 years, our webseries have raised over $10,000. We hope to again raise over $2,000 this Christmas season with the online première of Season 1 of TWICE UPON A TIME - a sci-fi/fantasy webseries, with 7 private screenings from Friday, December 12 to Saturday, December 27. Cheryl was always a great supporter of mine and an individual who gave whatever she had to those in need especially at Christmas! Set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic future, TWICE UPON A TIME is a sci-fi/fantasy webseries about a group of residents who find themselves in a mental asylum with no memory of how they got there. We soon come to realize that they are test subjects in an unsettling experiment. They eventually escape and must engage the services of a world-renowned time traveller to embark on a journey of self-discovery to find the truth before time runs out and a diabolical plot comes to fruition. If you would like to attend one of the 4 remaining screenings, here is the link for more information.... https://resultsentertainment.com/twice-upon-a-time/ With the economic challenges families face these days and household food insecurity on the rise, CHRISTMAS is the ideal time for GIVING to those in need in our community at large!! So, if you cannot attend, but would still like to make a tax-deductible donation (suggested $20) for food banks during the holiday season, here are the links: FOODBANKS CANADA www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/twice-upon-a-time-private-film-screening-charity-f/ FEEDING AMERICA https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/TwiceUponaTimeFilmScreening Hope you can join us for this worthwhile Christmas charity fundraiser screening event! Here is a link to our Season 1 official trailer https://youtu.be/by4l-EEsHHk Expert action steps: Start creating with what you have instead of waiting for ideal conditions. Use genre and format experimentation to keep audiences engaged. Design projects that combine creative impact with social contribution. Learn more & connect: Check out all of Doug's YouTube content @dougmacdougall4338 Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.

"We were delivering five-star service to clients who couldn't afford it." Most businesses don't struggle because they lack talent or work ethic. They struggle because they're solving real problems for customers who can't afford meaningful solutions. When clients are under-resourced, even great work becomes exhausting, unpredictable, and hard to scale. The same effort, applied to better-capitalized customers, creates stability, clarity, and room to think long term instead of constantly chasing the next invoice. Emad Rizkalla shares how his company worked with world-class brands yet still found itself financially strained. The issue wasn't capability—it was deal size. By moving upstream into government, defense, and large-scale workforce development, everything changed. Larger contracts meant fewer distractions, longer runways, and the ability to plan years ahead instead of months. The work didn't get easier, but the business finally made sense. Emad is the founder of Bluedrop, a Canadian technology company focused on workforce development, training systems, and simulation for government and aerospace clients. Over more than 30 years, he's built and evolved organizations by pairing strong culture with the discipline to pursue opportunities that actually support long-term growth. Expert action steps: Build a strong, non-toxic company culture before trying to scale revenue. Stop tying your self-worth solely to outcomes you cannot fully control. Hire for values and character first, and train skills second. Learn more & connect: https://bluedrop.com/ Also in this episode: https://dreambuilder.org/ Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.

"Most of our stress in life comes from all of the incompletions in our lives." Becoming a better version of yourself starts with understanding the mechanics behind personal transformation. At its core, growth comes from developing integrity, building systems that eliminate overwhelm, and learning the discipline required to follow through on the commitments that shape your identity. When you treat your life as a designed creation—not an accidental series of reactions—you give yourself the structure needed to operate with clarity and confidence. Bruce Muzik shares powerful insight into how his years immersed in transformational work—particularly the discipline he learned under Werner Erhard—revealed that excellence begins with completion, honesty, and the willingness to confront what isn't working. Bruce explains how procedures, integrity, and emotional responsibility become tools that not only elevate performance but also strengthen a person's sense of aliveness. Bruce is a transformational educator and relationship expert who has helped tens of thousands of people strengthen their marriages and redesign how they live. Through his company, Love at First Fight, Bruce brings a systems-based and emotionally intelligent approach to helping people create lasting connection. Expert action steps: Connect before you communicate. No connection, no conversation. Be honest, not armoured. Vulnerability is simply telling the truth about what's happening inside you. Practice healthy interdependence. Stay strong on your own while knowing when to lean on others. Learn more & connect: Bruce is known as the 'Relationship Repair Expert'. Learn more at https://www.brucemuzik.com/. Also in this episode: loveatfirstfight.com Sex, Power, and Transformation by Marsha Martin https://marciamartintransform.com/thebook Landmark Worldwide https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/the-landmark-forum Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.

"I just want to focus on what I love doing, what lights me up, what brings me joy." Buying back your time begins with understanding the true value of your hours. When you separate high-value strategic work from low-value administrative tasks, it becomes clear how much freedom can be reclaimed by eliminating, automating, or delegating what weighs you down. The core principle is simple: focus on the activities that move the needle, and build systems for everything else so time becomes an asset—not a burden. George Rivera & Michael Santonato explore how real transformation happens when you stop being the hero of your business and start becoming its architect. George shows how documenting tasks, creating SOPs, and hiring smartly allows founders to spend more time in their genius. Michael shares how clearing administrative clutter elevates his ability to educate clients and close high-value opportunities. Together, they show that buying back your time is a mindset long before it becomes a system. George is an entrepreneur with over $400M in career sales who now teaches founders how to reclaim their hours and reconnect with what matters most. Michael is a financial advisor and thought leader who helps people become financially indestructible. Both bring decades of mastery into a practical conversation for entrepreneurs ready to level up their time, income, and lifestyle. Expert action steps: Eliminate Remove tasks that don't genuinely matter. If a task doesn't move the business forward or support your highest-value work, cut it completely. Automate Create systems or use tools that handle repetitive work for you. Anything predictable, rule-based, or formula-driven should run on autopilot instead of consuming your mental bandwidth. Delegate Hand off everything that someone else can do at a fraction of your value. Document the process, give clear instructions, and assign ownership so you never have to touch that task again. Learn more & connect: You can find more info about Geroge's book Buy Back Time Formula at https://buybacktimeformula.com/. Learn more about Michael as a financial coach and educator at https://michaelsantonato.com/. Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.

"Take some action, make a commitment to yourself." Every meaningful business breakthrough starts with a simple truth: your time is your most valuable asset. When you choose to treat each moment like it matters, you naturally prioritize clarity, courage, and decisive action. That mindset—rooted in focus rather than fear—creates the space for stronger ideas, smarter systems, and the confidence to grow forward. Becky Amble brings that principle to life. After realizing how quickly everything can change, Becky committed to helping entrepreneurs direct their energy toward what matters, including learning tools that multiply their impact. Through education, storytelling, and hands-on strategy, Becky shows how AI becomes less intimidating and more empowering when approached with curiosity and consistency. Becky is an author, educator, and AI strategist who has invested more than 3,000 hours mastering ChatGPT and practical business applications of AI. She writes multiple books, teaches entrepreneurs globally, and shares weekly AI tips to help business owners leverage technology one simple step at a time. Expert action steps: Identify your growth priorities – Use her "four revenue streams" framework to clarify where your biggest opportunity is. Get foundational AI education – Learn the basics so fear and overwhelm disappear, and you can use AI with confidence. Start immediately – Pick one tool or one strategy and take action this week. Learn more & connect: Becky's latest book: Grow or Die: Mastering the Four Pillars of Profit Mastering ChatGPT for Women Check out Becky's LinkedIn newsletter & weekly AI tips Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.