What if the biggest thing standing between you and your best self isn’t stress, deadlines, or lack of time, but your own internal alignment? In this transformative episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard is joined by speaker and advocate Marcel Vögeli to explore how a deeper understanding of self-liberation can lead to true productivity and freedom.

Marcel shares his powerful journey, from surviving a severe car crash to battling an autoimmune disease and discovering the life-changing teachings in The Key to Self-Liberation by Christiane Beerlandt. Together, Gerald and Marcel dive into how illnesses, symptoms, and challenges are often life’s way of nudging us to get back in alignment with our true selves.

You’ll also learn why inner work is key to external success, how to embrace your unique path to healing, and how understanding the energetic messages behind stress and symptoms can help you shift toward a more resourceful, abundant life.

If you’re ready to stop fighting against yourself and start aligning with your inner truth, this episode will inspire you to transform your life from the inside out.

What We Discuss

• [00:00] Introduction to Marcel Vögeli

• [11:02] How The Key to Self-Liberation changed Marcel’s life

• [16:10] Symptoms as signals of the deeper meaning behind our physical challenges

• [22:12] How life tests our decisions and commitment to truth

• [30:45] Positive Thinking vs. Aligned Action

• [36:00] Creating Miracles Through Self-Awareness

• [42:10] Gerald’s Healing Journey

• [51:40] How listening to your body and intuition leads to better productivity and happiness

• [57:55] Where to Learn More About Marcel and the Book

Notable Quotes

• [06:12] “Music is a vibration. It connects us to something deeper within ourselves.” – Marcel Vögeli

• [12:47] “Symptoms are not just problems to fix. They’re life’s messages, guiding us back to our truth.” – Gerald J. Leonard

• [16:52] “Counterforce isn’t your enemy. It’s a signpost that says, ‘Are you sure you’re on the right path?’” – Marcel Vögeli

• [28:15] “True productivity starts when you align your actions with what feels true to you.” – Gerald J. Leonard

• [33:02] “When we shift our perspective, miracles happen, whether it’s a flat tire or healing from disease.” – Marcel Vögeli

• [47:30] “Your body and soul are trying to tell you something. Listen to them, and watch your life change.” – Marcel Vögeli

Our Guest

Marcel Vögeli is a speaker, advocate, and living testimony to the transformative power of Christiane Beerlandt’s The Key to Self-Liberation. After surviving a severe car accident and years of battling an aggressive autoimmune disease, Marcel discovered the book’s profound philosophy: that illness and hardship carry meaningful messages from the body and soul. Today, he shares this life-changing work to help others reclaim inner strength, self-love, and freedom.

Resources

Mentioned

• Book: The Key to Self-Liberation by Christiane Beerlandt

Marcel Vögeli

• LinkedIn - Marcel Vögeli

Productivity Smarts Podcast

• Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com

Gerald J. Leonard

• Website - geraldjleonard.com

• Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com

• Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard

Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds

Did you know the key to unlocking your biggest goals might come down to simply winning the next hour? In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with bestselling author, entrepreneur, and speaker Danny Lehr to reveal why the first step toward any achievement is not a giant leap but simply winning the next hour. Danny’s book Win Your Next Hour distills wisdom from Olympians, elite entrepreneurs, and his own real-life adventures into a clear framework that helps anyone create unstoppable momentum.

Danny shares how his WIN method of Words, Investment, and Noticing progress has guided him through challenges like training for a 73-mile ride around Lake Tahoe on a $150 bike, writing a book while running a company, and saying yes to opportunities that once felt impossible. He opens up about the power of declaring your goals out loud, investing time and energy even when resources are limited, and celebrating small wins to fuel motivation. During the conversation, he illustrates how storytelling, community, and consistent action can turn overwhelming ambitions into achievable milestones.

Whether you are launching a business, chasing a personal dream, or simply trying to get unstuck, this conversation will inspire you to stop overthinking and start taking action one hour at a time.

What We Discuss

• [00:00] Introduction to Danny Lehr

• [06:00] The Tahoe bike ride challenge

• [08:14] Applying the WIN framework

• [17:40] Setting up the smart trainer

• [18:37] The power of sharing your goals

• [19:19] Olympian insights on goal setting

• [21:27] The importance of storytelling

• [26:10] Actionable steps to overcome overwhelm

• [27:24] Developing writing skills

• [32:26] Promoting the book and public speaking

• [34:25] Podcast conclusion and call to action

Notable Quotes

• [05:25] “I don't like to pass up opportunities. I like to live my life and I like to do interesting things.” – Danny Lehr

• [08:08] “The more you say yes to different adventures and opportunities, I feel like the more they seem to appear.” – Danny Lehr

• [19:54] “If I can't even get myself to say it out loud, how am I really going to believe it?” – Danny Lehr

• [20:06] “If you don't believe that what you're trying to accomplish is possible, you're never going to put in the amount of work and time and effort that it really takes to accomplish that goal.” – Danny Lehr

• [27:02] “You don't have to know how to run a $10 million company, you know, if you've never have, like, of course you don't, right? That's okay. You gotta be okay with what you don't know.” – Danny Lehr

• [27:14] “What can I do right now? What can I do in the next hour, in the next day, in the next 40, next 48 hours, that'll move me closer to that goal.” – Danny Lehr

Resources

Danny Lehr

• Website: https://dannylehr.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannylehr/

• Book: Win Your Next Hour: How to Get Unstuck and Turn Your Dreams into Reality

Productivity Smarts Podcast

• Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com

Gerald J. Leonard

• Website - geraldjleonard.com

• Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com

• Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard

Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds

In this powerful episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Hall of Fame speaker, podcast host, and author Bill Cates to uncover how your mindset can either rob you of success or unlock lasting wealth.

Bill takes us behind the scenes of his new book, The Hidden Heist, a parable filled with suspense, humor, and unforgettable lessons about money. Together, Gerald and Bill explore why beliefs are the foundation of every decision you make, how to maintain composure and clarity when life gets stressful, and why mastering your inner dialogue is the secret to real productivity.

You’ll also learn how compounding interest can change your future, why many people sabotage their own financial potential, and how finding the right financial advisor can protect and grow your wealth.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still falling short, this episode will challenge you to rethink your approach, rewrite your limiting stories, and start building a life of abundance and purpose.

What We Discuss

• [00:00] Introduction to Bill Cates

• [05:00] Hidden Heist: concept, plot, structure and lessons

• [12:49] Character spotlight: Elden, handling pressure and decision-making

• [14:55] Identifying and replacing unproductive money beliefs in daily life and work

• [22:02] Beliefs as the foundation for problem-solving

• [23:39] Aligning yourself with a trusted financial professional

• [25:54] Bill’s financial habits and mindset shifts that boosted his productivity

• [28:09] Where to find The Hidden Heist and connect with Bill Cates

Notable Quotes

• [05:27] “When someone says they sold a business, maybe they made money, maybe they didn't. I experienced both.” – Bill Cates

• [13:22] “Composure comes from clarity. Composure comes from clarity of purpose. It comes from mastering your inner dialogue, what you're saying to yourself.” – Bill Cates

• [14:03] “Wisdom is knowledge that is kilned in the fire of experience.” – Bill Cates

• [15:15] “Every human has stuff around money. I have met wealthy individuals that have fear around money when you don't think they should.” – Bill Cates

• [17:17] “Most Americans couldn't handle an 800 car repair bill without selling something or borrowing money. What's wrong with that picture?” – Bill Cates

• [20:06] “Some are, most aren't. So whenever we think about generalizations like rich people are greedy... there's usually these stereotypes and these generalizations.” – Bill Cates

• [22:40] “If we believe it's not fixable, then it's not fixable. If we're in a marriage and we believe the marriage isn't fixable, then it's not fixable.” – Bill Cates

• [26:11] “Those who understand it earn it, those who don't pay it.” – Bill Cates[26:51] “Some of my self worth was tied up in money. And so, you know, I bought a Lexus when I could have bought a Toyota.” – Bill Cates

Resources

Bill Cates

• Website - https://referralcoach.com/the-hidden-heist/

• LinkedIn: Bill Cates

• Book: The Hidden Heist

Productivity Smarts Podcast

• Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com

Gerald J. Leonard

• Website - geraldjleonard.com

• Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com

• Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard

Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds