Welcome to the first issue!

And to Tara Baldwin, this week's guest on Moving Forward

Author

John Lim
January 17, 2024

Good morning!

I’m back and in newsletter form!

Hi, I’m moving out of the 2010s and into 2024. For you Moving Forward listeners, you’ll still be able to get all of the legacy episode write-ups and collections at the old website. For season 11, which is the last full one, I’m going to integrate podcast summaries here within its own section. However, while the podcast will end at episode 500, I’m hoping to continue with this weekly newsletter and deliver fun, distracting, and occasionally helpful content (provided I get more than two subscribers). So share this newsletter with your friends (it won’t cost them anything) and enjoy your weekly quirk. -John

Moving Forward

Episode 453: Inspiring individuals: Tara Baldwin

I was sitting in Panera this past Wednesday and a couple hours before my conversation with Tara Baldwin, this week’s guest and Moving Forward alum, I hopped onto my podcast to find her prior episode. Turns out, that was almost six years ago - Episode 121, which aired on June 13, 2017, to be exact. Crazy how time flies! It was great to catch up and I didn’t realize it until our recording concluded that this is the first time we’ve actually seen one another over zoom as prior to 2020, my podcast was exclusively audio. But Tara has such an effusive personality that she makes you feel like at ease; like you’ve been friends for years.

You’ll feel the same way if you check out the video version of MF 453, which is available on Spotify.

❝

I’m not going to tell you what to do ... I’m going to ask you powerful questions to get you to think about things in different perspectives and you come up with your own best answers.

-Tara Baldwin

Some things I learned from and about Tara on this week’s episode:

  • An answer to a very important question that I’ve never asked any guest before.

  • What exactly is a life coach and why you don’t have to be 80 years old to be one.

  • What a life coach will do and not do for you (hint: you have to do some a lot of the work). But don’t worry, you’ll learn why this is a good thing.

  • The importance of being trauma informed and the difference between (t)rauma and (T)rauma.

  • What is a regulated nervous system and how can it help you deal with life’s daily stressors.

  • And finally, the one habit that will get you in trouble at grade school but will serve you later in life as a life coach.

Connect with Tara:

Think you have what it takes to a be a life coach? Find out! Tara’s teaching a seminar through The Johns Hopkins Odyssey program. Register now and save your spot.

How to be a Life Coach with Tara Baldwin | Johns Hopkins Events

In this powerful lecture, learn about the Business of Coaching, Industry Boundaries, Types of Coaches and the importance of Trauma Informed Environments in the work of a Successful Coach. 

events.jhu.edu/form/odysseybaldwincoachspring24

Hacks

Snow day, library still ok.

As it’s snowing this week here on the East Coast and in many parts of the country, it’s a good time to remind you that your library is now in the 21st century and has been there far longer than I have. While their doors may be shuttered, most libraries across the country will allow you to check out ebooks, audiobooks, and even movies and TV shows through three great apps: Hoopla, Libby, and Kanopy. The best part: returns are automatic so no late fees! You can feel like a responsible patron without leaving the comfort of your bed.

Movie recommendation

A sleeper that won’t put you to sleep.

The Holdovers (2023) **** A group of boarding school students with nowhere to go for the holidays is stuck on campus with a crotchety English teacher, Paul Hunham, who smells like fish and isn’t well liked by his students or colleagues; played by Paul Giamatti in his best role since Sideways (also directed by Alexander Payne). The motley crew includes a rebellious but talented student named Angus (Dominic Sessa), and Mary Lamb, a sage, no nonsense school cook played by the talented Da’Vine Joy Randolph who steals the show in multiple scenes. This is hands down one of the best films I’ve seen in years. It takes its time to tell its story and allows you to get to know and care about the characters. The film is set sometime in the late seventies and the filmmaking evokes that period with the lighting, music, and opening credits. This is a feel good movie that isn’t syrupy or overdone, and is replete with outstanding performances and smart dialogue. The Holdovers is still playing in select theaters and is currently streaming on Peacock.

Book recommendation

What I didn’t know (but always suspected) and now that I know, I’m hesitant to share with you but am going to anyway!

The 48 Laws of Power (Amazon affiliate paid link) by Robert Greene (****) This book details 48 laws, as the title suggests, that powerful and successful individuals use to win and stay on top. Each law is backed by numerous anecdotes of historical figures that have successfully applied the law, breached it to disastrous results, or have been the rare exception to the rule. This isn’t a comfortable read and much of it will challenge your thinking and offend your sensibilities. But that’s kind of the point. If you’ve ever wondered why certain individuals seem to be playing a whole different game of life, you’ll get a better understanding that it’s not so much that their dice is loaded as much as that they’re playing by a different set of rules with a lot of cheat codes. I found this a compelling, thought provoking read, albeit a little long (800+ pages is a lot for only 48 laws). Greene makes a compelling case for why these laws work even in the face of common sense, decency, and logic.

Quirky recommendation

The best medicine is double toasted laughter.

Now, from feel good dramedy movies and books that should be read with furrowed brows and Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries playing in the background to something lighter. If you need a good belly laugh, one of my favorite respites is spending time with Double Toasted, a comedy, entertainment news / review, and general commentary YouTube channel. While I enjoy all of their content, I’m a particular fan of the bad movie roasts, which usually air on the weekends. The trio of Korey, Martin, and Billy have incredible comedic chemistry and their smart quips on some truly bad movies will leave you in stitches.

In particular, check out their roast of Samurai Cop. You don’t have to have seen the movie to enjoy their over the top and on-point commentary on one of the worst films ever made. Korey and Martin’s stinging observations mixed with Billy’s hyena laugh over bad edits, bad acting, and terrible effects is the perfect comedy cake with high rewatchability. Whenever I need a pick me up, I’ll put this bad movie roast on in the background. [Warning: strong language, crude humor, NSFW].

Upcoming

Don’t wait until “one day” to write your first book unless that day is March 28th.

Write and Self-Publish Your First Book With a Step-by-Step Plan with John Lim | Johns Hopkins Events

If writing a book is one of your 2024 goals, take my next writing and self-publishing class, which starts March 28th. It’s through the Johns Hopkins Odyssey program and open to the public (discounts for Hopkins alum).

events.jhu.edu/form/odysseylimterm2spring24

Resources

Teach a man to fish, you know the rest (if you don’t, check these out).

  • Book a coaching call with me on Clarity.

  • Follow me on Goodreads for book recommendations.

  • Check out one of my favorite daily newsletters Morning Brew (affiliate referral link).

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“What are you selling?!?” -actual quote from a b-school classmate

Affiliate disclosure

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