Closing The 18 Inch Gap Podcast

Hosted by Edwin Soler

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Aug 2026

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This is a podcast based on the book titled Closing the 18-Inch Gap by Edwin Soler. This is a book that helps you discover the bloodspots in your mindset so that you can close your 18-inch gap which is the distance between your mind and your heart. Your heart desires to accomplish big dreams and lofty goals but your mind says you cannot do it for whatever reasons there may be. I help you close the gap so you can achieve your dreams and goals.

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August 14, 2026Episode 13035 min

EP 131: What Happens When You Are In The Wrong Room?

What Happens When You Are In The Wrong Room I have been part of many marketing groups and have had very little success to show for it. I'm about to wrap up the latest one as my schedule is shifting and will certainly consider joining any in the future. The wrong room doesn't always mean bad people. Sometimes the people in the room aren't malicious. They may simply have a different vision, different values, different expectations, or a different definition of success. And sometimes you have outgrown the room. The message isn't, "Everyone who doesn't support your dream is toxic. Leave them." It's this: The room isn't necessarily wrong. It may simply be wrong for where you're going. And that connects directly to your 18-inch gap: the distance between what your heart knows it wants and what your mind has been convinced is possible. Sometimes closing that gap requires more than changing your thinking. It requires changing the environment in which that thinking is constantly being reinforced. Don't spend your entire life trying to convince the wrong room that you belong there. There are rooms where you will have to prove yourself. That's part of growth. But there are also rooms where you don't have to spend every ounce of your energy proving that your dream deserves to exist. You walk in. You speak. You contribute. You are challenged. You are heard. You are valued. And most importantly— you are allowed to become. Maybe your dream isn't dying. Maybe it's suffocating because you're trying to grow it in the wrong room. The question isn't always: "What's wrong with me?" Sometimes the better question is: "Is this still the room where I am supposed to become who I'm capable of becoming?" I'm Edwin Soler, your dream realization partner and this is the closing the 18-inch gap podcast. "I help professionals that desire to be speakers, authors and/or coaches uncover the beliefs keeping them trapped in unfulfilling lives, so they can finally take courageous action toward the dreams they've put on hold and finally live a life of their choosing." Quote of the week: "It's better to admit you walked through the wrong door than to spend your life in the wrong room." — Colby Kultgen Points covered: When You're in the Wrong Room: 20 Ways It Can Affect a Dreamer 1. You begin questioning your own worth. When you're constantly overlooked or undervalued, you can eventually mistake someone else's inability to recognize your value for evidence that you don't have any. Counter-action: Separate your worth from their recognition. Your value doesn't increase when someone applauds you or decrease when someone ignores you. Stop using the room's opinion as the measuring stick for your worth. ________________________________________ 2. You shrink your dreams to fit the room. Instead of asking, "What is possible for me?" you start asking, "What will these people allow me to want?" Counter-action: Give your dream permission to become bigger again. Find environments where ambition isn't treated like arrogance and possibility isn't treated like foolishness. Your dream needs room to breathe. ________________________________________ 3. Your confidence slowly erodes. Being repeatedly dismissed can make even a capable person hesitate before speaking, acting, or taking a risk. Counter-action: Rebuild confidence through evidence. Start keeping track of the things you have accomplished, survived, learned, and overcome. Let your history remind you that you are more capable than the current room suggests. ________________________________________ 4. You stop using your voice. When nobody listens, eventually you may decide there is no point in speaking. Counter-action: Use your voice somewhere it can be heard. Your voice doesn't become less valuable because the wrong people refused to listen. Find people who are willing to engage with what you have to say. ________________________________________ 5. You become afraid of being misunderstood. You may start editing yourself before anyone else gets the opportunity to misunderstand you. Counter-action: Stop making yourself smaller to prevent misunderstanding. Not everyone will understand your vision—and they don't have to. Clarity about who you are matters more than universal approval. ________________________________________ 6. You start seeking permission instead of pursuing possibility. The wrong room can condition you to wait for someone else to validate your next move. Counter-action: Give yourself permission to move. You don't need everyone to agree with your dream before you take the next responsible step toward it. ________________________________________ 7. You confuse familiarity with belonging. You may stay simply because you've been there a long time, even though the environment no longer fits who you're becoming. Counter-action: Ask whether the room fits your future, not just your history. Something can be familiar without being healthy for your growth. Sometimes leaving isn't rejection; it's recognition. ________________________________________ 8. You begin believing your dream is unrealistic. When everyone around you thinks small, your dream can begin to feel unreasonable simply because it is different. Counter-action: Expose yourself to people who think possibility. Spend time with people who have pursued difficult things and understand that meaningful dreams often look unreasonable before they become real. ________________________________________ 9. You become emotionally exhausted. Constantly defending your ideas, explaining yourself, or trying to prove your value consumes energy that should be going toward your dream. Counter-action: Stop spending dream energy on unnecessary validation. Not every critic deserves a response. Protect your emotional bandwidth and redirect it toward building. ________________________________________ 10. You become overly dependent on external validation. You may need someone else to say "good job" before you believe you actually did one. Counter-action: Develop internal validation. Learn to recognize progress even when nobody is clapping. Sometimes the most important person who needs to believe in your progress is you. ________________________________________ 11. You begin playing a role instead of living authentically. You become whoever the room rewards rather than who you genuinely are. Counter-action: Return to authenticity. Ask yourself, "Who am I when I don't have to perform for acceptance?" Your dream should be connected to your identity—not a character you created to survive someone else's expectations. ________________________________________ 12. You lose momentum. Constant discouragement creates hesitation, and hesitation eventually becomes inactivity. Counter-action: Create movement before motivation returns. Take one small action that reconnects you with your dream. Momentum often returns after movement—not before it. ________________________________________ 13. You become afraid to fail publicly. If the room already doubts you, failure can feel like proof that they were right. Counter-action: Redefine failure as information. A setback doesn't validate the room's opinion. It gives you information about what needs to change, improve, or be attempted differently. ________________________________________ 14. You start comparing yourself to the wrong people. You measure your progress against people whose values, circumstances, goals, or definitions of success are completely different from yours. Counter-action: Choose a better scoreboard. Measure yourself against the person you were yesterday and the person your dream requires you to become tomorrow. ________________________________________ 15. You become resentful. Being repeatedly ignored or undervalued can create anger toward the people who seem to hold you back. Counter-action: Turn resentment into redirection. Instead of spending your energy proving them wrong, use that energy to build something that proves yourself right. ________________________________________ 16. You begin abandoning parts of yourself. You may stop talking about your interests, ideas, ambitions, or dreams because you've learned they aren't welcomed. Counter-action: Recover what you silenced. Revisit the ideas, passions, and dreams you buried to fit into the room. Some of your greatest potential may be hiding underneath everything you stopped allowing yourself to express. ________________________________________ 17. You mistake rejection for a verdict. Someone saying "no" can begin to feel like the world saying "no." Counter-action: Treat rejection as redirection, not definition. One room's rejection doesn't determine your destiny. Sometimes the closed door is simply evidence that you are knocking on the wrong door. ________________________________________ 18. You become afraid of outgrowing people. You may intentionally hold yourself back because you're afraid success will change relationships or make others uncomfortable. Counter-action: Allow growth without apology. You can love people without remaining the same size for their comfort. Growth may change relationships, but refusing to grow changes you. ________________________________________ 19. You forget what you originally wanted. The longer you live according to someone else's expectations, the harder it can become to distinguish your dream from the life you've been conditioned to accept. Counter-action: Return to the original question: "What do I want?" Strip away expectations, obligations, comparisons, and other people's definitions of success. Reconnect with the dream underneath the noise. ________________________________________ 20. You conclude that something is wrong with you. This is perhaps the most dangerous consequence. Eventually, the dreamer may believe, "Maybe I'm the problem." Counter-action: Consider that you may simply be in the wrong room. The right environment won't make every problem disappear, but it can create space for your strengths, voice, ideas, and potential to be recognized and challenged appropriately. Sometimes you don't need to become a different person—you need to stop trying to bloom where everything around you keeps telling you not to grow. Have you ever been to a pet store and not been able to buy fish because they are sick? I have. How is this fixed? They don't treat the fish they treat the water. Stop trying to change yourself and instead change your environment. You will see such a huge improvement! Call to Action: If this resonated with you then please reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat. It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough. If you want to take me up on this special offer then simply send me an email to edwin@edwinsoler.com It's that easy. I'll be in touch with you shortly afterwards. I can't wait to hear from you! This episode was sponsored by my book Closing the 18-inch Gap and is available on Amazon. You can find it and so much more I offer for your journey to make your dreams come true by going to edwinsoler.com/gift and getting your gift from me to get started. Thank you for listening, in the meantime, keep closing that 18- inch gap!

August 4, 2026Episode 13229 min

EP 130: Why Dreams Are Never a Destination—They're a Journey, Part 2

EP 130: Why Dreams Are Never a Destination—They're a Journey, Part 2 Last week I spoke about how before you ever arrive somewhere meaningful, you spend hours making decisions, adjusting, overcoming obstacles, and continuing forward. That's exactly how dreams work. They are rarely accomplished in one giant leap. They're achieved one mile, one decision, one obstacle, and one lesson at a time. In this episode, I will be taking you on a journey of making your dreams come true. I use this framework of taking a trip in the car as a way to illustrate what that would look like as a way to remember this easier. It was so much information that I split this episode in two. Are you someone that may be stuck in a job or a situation where you know there is so much more but have no idea how to get there? Do you dream of something bigger but don't know what or where to start? Well I want to tell you how I can help you with that. My role isn't to provide answers—it's to help people like you step through that fear, replacing uncertainty with clarity, isolation with partnership, and hesitation with purposeful action. And if you don't have any of these and are ready to start your journey, I 'm here for you too! I'm Edwin Soler, your dream realization partner and this is the closing the 18-inch gap podcast. "I help professionals that desire to be speakers, authors and/or coaches uncover the beliefs keeping them trapped in unfulfilling lives, so they can finally take courageous action toward the dreams they've put on hold and finally live a life of their choosing." A gift for you: 3 Ways to Know You Are Ready To Start Achieving Your Dreams Get your gift at edwinsoler.com/gift Quote of the week: Quote of the week: "Dreams don't work unless you do." — John C. Maxwell Points covered in this episode: The journey continues: More challenges lie ahead but you are prepared for them. • Flat Tires- A flat tire interrupts the journey, but it doesn't cancel it. Problems demand attention, not surrender. Life's disappointments are often temporary repairs, not permanent endings. Learning to fix what breaks is part of becoming the person capable of reaching the destination. • Engine Trouble- Occasionally the issue isn't external—it's under the hood. Something inside the vehicle requires repair before continuing. Sometimes our beliefs, attitudes, habits, or emotional wounds become the real obstacles. Until those internal issues are addressed, external progress remains limited. • Getting Lost- Missing an exit doesn't make the destination disappear. It simply requires humility to admit you're off course and the willingness to make corrections. Many people spend years pretending they're headed in the right direction because they're too proud to turn around. Growth often begins with admitting you've been driving the wrong road. • Using GPS- GPS constantly gives guidance, even after mistakes are made. It doesn't shame you for taking a wrong turn—it simply recalculates. Mentors, coaches, faith, wisdom, and trusted counsel serve the same purpose. The best guidance doesn't condemn your mistakes; it redirects your future. • Ignoring the GPS- We've all done it—thinking we know a better shortcut. Sometimes that shortcut adds an hour to the trip. Pride has a way of convincing us that advice is optional. Dreams are often delayed because we insist on learning every lesson the hard way. • Carpooling- Long journeys become lighter when shared with the right people. Great companions encourage you, help navigate, share expenses, and make difficult miles enjoyable. The wrong passengers, however, complain constantly, distract you, criticize your direction, and drain your energy. Choosing who rides with you is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make. • Passengers Who Want a Different Destination- Not everyone sitting beside you shares your vision. Some will continually suggest turning around or heading somewhere safer. If you constantly surrender your destination to satisfy everyone else, you'll never arrive where you were meant to go. Protecting your dream sometimes means disappointing people who never intended to travel your road. • Changing Drivers- During long trips, drivers switch because fatigue affects judgment. In life, trusted mentors, accountability partners, and wise counselors can temporarily help you regain perspective when you're emotionally exhausted. Asking for help doesn't mean giving up control; it means protecting the journey. • Roadside Attractions- Interesting attractions can provide refreshing moments along the drive. Celebrating milestones, victories, and moments of joy keeps motivation alive. Just don't confuse the attraction with the destination. Enjoy the stops, but don't unpack your life there. • Driving at Night- At night you can only see a short distance ahead, yet that's enough to keep moving. Dreams often unfold this way. You don't need to see the entire future—you only need enough light for the next faithful step. • Sunrise After a Long Night- Every overnight drive eventually welcomes the morning. What once felt uncertain suddenly becomes clearer. Seasons of struggle don't last forever. If you keep driving, clarity eventually catches up with your courage. • Helping Another Stranded Driver- Sometimes you pull over to help someone whose car has broken down. It delays your arrival slightly, but it reminds you that the journey isn't just about you. Often the people you help today become part of the encouragement you need tomorrow. Dreams become more meaningful when they lift others along the way. • Watching the Miles Add Up- Most trips don't feel dramatic mile by mile. Yet every mile matters, even the ordinary ones. Dreams are rarely built in moments of excitement—they're built in thousands of faithful, unnoticed steps. Consistency often accomplishes what intensity never can. • Crossing the State Line- There comes a moment when you realize you've entered new territory. Nothing magical happened at the border; you simply kept driving until the scenery changed. Personal transformation happens the same way. One day you look back and realize you're no longer the person who first started the journey. • Finally Arriving- Reaching the destination feels incredible, but something surprising happens almost immediately—you begin imagining the next adventure. The destination provides satisfaction, but the journey is what transformed you into someone capable of getting there. Your greatest reward isn't the place you arrived; it's the person you became along the way. • Planning the Next Journey- Every meaningful destination eventually becomes another starting point. The confidence, wisdom, resilience, and experience gained from one dream prepare you for an even greater one. Life isn't about reaching one final destination and stopping. It's about becoming the kind of person who continually answers the call to grow, explore, and pursue the next dream with even greater faith and purpose. Closing Thoughts: Don't forget to celebrate! But if you only celebrate arriving, you'll miss the thousands of moments where your character was built. Dreams are never simply about getting somewhere—they're about becoming someone. Every toll paid, every detour endured, every storm survived, every mile traveled, and every lesson learned is shaping you into the person your dream has been waiting for all along. The destination may inspire you to start the journey, but it's the journey that transforms you into someone capable of living the dream. And there you have it! The Road Trip of a Lifetime: Why Dreams Are Never a Destination—They're a Journey! Part 2 If this resonated with you then feel free to reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat (click on the link). It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough. I can't wait to hear from you! This episode was sponsored by my book Closing the 18-inch Gap and is available on Amazon. You can find it and so much more I offer for your journey to make your dreams come true by going to edwinsoler.com/gift and getting your gift to get started. Thank you for listening, in the meantime, keep closing that 18- inch gap!

July 29, 2026Episode 12933 min

EP 129: Why Dreams Are Never a Destination—They're a Journey! Part 1

The Road Trip of a Lifetime: Why Dreams Are Never a Destination—They're a Journey Part 1 Before you ever arrive somewhere meaningful, you spend hours making decisions, adjusting, overcoming obstacles, and continuing forward. That's exactly how dreams work. They are rarely accomplished in one giant leap. They're achieved one mile, one decision, one obstacle, and one lesson at a time. In this episode, I will be taking you on a journey of making your dreams come true. I use this framework of taking a trip in the car as a way to illustrate what that would look like as a way to remember this easier. Are you stuck in a job or a situation where you know there is so much more for you? Do you dream of something bigger but don't know what or where to start? Well I want to tell you how I can help you with that. My role isn't to provide answers—it's to help people like you step through that fear, replacing uncertainty with clarity, isolation with partnership, and hesitation with purposeful action. I'm Edwin Soler, your dream realization partner and this is the closing the 18-inch gap podcast. "I help professionals that desire to be speakers, authors and/or coaches uncover the beliefs keeping them trapped in unfulfilling lives, so they can finally take courageous action toward the dreams they've put on hold and finally live a life of their choosing." A gift for you: 3 Ways to Know You Are Ready To Start Achieving Your Dreams Get your gift at edwinsoler.com/gift Quote of the week: "Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground." — Theodore Roosevelt • Eyes on the Stars: Represents your dreams, vision, and long-term goals. It is the ambition that drives you to reach higher and think outside the box. • Feet on the Ground: Represents your values, practical steps, and current reality. It ensures you maintain a solid grasp of your daily responsibilities and foundational principles. Points covered: How it all starts: If you don't know where you are going, you will not get there to begin with. • Choosing the Destination Every road trip begins with answering one simple question: "Where do I want to go?" Before you ever turn the key, your destination already exists in your imagination. • Deciding the Trip is Worth Taking Plenty of people dream about visiting amazing places but never actually leave their driveway. The decision separates dreamers from travelers. • Mapping the Route Nobody simply starts driving hundreds of miles hoping they'll accidentally arrive. You consult a map, GPS, or itinerary because direction matters more than speed. • Preparing the Vehicle Before leaving on a long journey, wise travelers inspect the tires, brakes, fluids, battery, and engine. They know a neglected vehicle is far more likely to break down. • Packing the Essentials Nobody packs everything they own for a road trip. They intentionally choose what will help and leave behind what will only weigh them down. Pursuing a dream requires doing the same with your life. • Fueling Up Before Leaving Starting with an empty gas tank would be foolish. You begin full because you know there may be long stretches without another station. Spiritually, emotionally, and mentally, you also need to start full. • Checking the Weather Experienced drivers know the weather influences the journey, but it doesn't determine the destination. Rain may slow you down, snow may require caution, and storms may force temporary adjustments. • Leaving the Comfort of the Driveway Nothing happens until the car actually begins moving. The driveway feels safe because it's familiar, but nothing new is discovered there. Every meaningful dream begins with uncomfortable action. • Following the Speed Limit Driving too slowly keeps you from reaching your destination, but driving recklessly can destroy the journey altogether. Growth has a pace. Many people delay their dreams through procrastination, while others sabotage them by rushing success before they're prepared. • Watching the Fuel Gauge Throughout the drive, you constantly monitor how much fuel remains. Ignoring the gauge eventually leaves you stranded. The same is true emotionally. • Stopping for Fuel Refueling may seem like it delays the journey, but it's actually what makes the journey possible. Breaks aren't signs of weakness; they're investments in longevity. Rest is often the difference between finishing your dream and abandoning it halfway there. • Paying the Tolls Some roads require a toll if you want access to faster or better routes. Success also demands payment—not always financially, but through discipline, sacrifice, consistency, learning, and perseverance. Every worthwhile dream has a price tag attached to it. • Driving Through Construction Zones Construction slows traffic because improvements are taking place. While frustrating in the moment, those delays create safer and stronger roads for future travelers. Personal growth often feels like construction. • Unexpected Detours GPS suddenly announces, "Recalculating route." The original road is closed, but the destination hasn't changed. Dreams often unfold exactly this way. What feels like a setback is sometimes the only road leading you toward an even better outcome than the one you originally imagined. • Traffic Jams Sometimes you do everything right and still sit completely still. Progress appears invisible even though you're still on the correct road. Seasons like these teach patience, endurance, and trust. Closing Thoughts: If you only celebrate arriving, you'll miss the thousands of moments where your character was built. Dreams are never simply about getting somewhere—they're about becoming someone. Every toll paid, every detour endured, every storm survived, every mile traveled, and every lesson learned is shaping you into the person your dream has been waiting for all along. The destination may inspire you to start the journey, but it's the journey that transforms you into someone capable of living the dream. And there you have it! The Road Trip of a Lifetime: Why Dreams Are Never a Destination—They're a Journey! Part 1 If this resonated with you then feel free to reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat (click on the link). It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough. I can't wait to hear from you! This episode was sponsored by my book Closing the 18-inch Gap and is available on Amazon. You can find it and so much more I offer for your journey to make your dreams come true by going to edwinsoler.com/gift and getting your gift to get started. Thank you for listening, in the meantime, keep closing that 18- inch gap!

July 23, 2026Episode 12834 min

EP 128: Fifteen Real Reasons Many Say No To Their Dreams!

Why do so many people say no to their dreams? I'm someone that is very curious about these things and when you strip away the surface objections many people have, almost every hesitation falls into one of these Deeper Emotional Drivers: • Fear of failure – "What if this doesn't work?" • Fear of success – "What if my life actually changes?" • Fear of vulnerability – "Someone will see the real me." • Fear of wasting money – "I've been disappointed before." • Fear of being judged – "People will think I can't handle my own life." • Fear of commitment – "What if I can't finish?" • Fear of change – "My current life is miserable...but it's familiar." • Fear of trusting again – "I've been let down too many times." • Fear of hope – "It's easier not to dream than to be disappointed again." The Biggest Hidden Objection The strongest resistance often isn't about coaching at all. It's this: "What if I discover I'm capable of more than I've been living...and then I have no excuse not to pursue it?" Do any of these resonate with you? That's the tension many people carry. They don't fear the coach as much as they fear confronting the gap between the life they're living and the life they believe they're meant to live. My role isn't simply to provide answers—it's to help people like you step through that fear, replacing uncertainty with clarity, isolation with partnership, and hesitation with purposeful action. That shift in identity and possibility is often more compelling than coaching itself. I'm Edwin Soler, your dream realization partner and this is the closing the 18-inch gap podcast. "I help professionals that desire to be speakers, authors or coaches uncover the beliefs keeping them trapped in unfulfilling lives, so they can finally take courageous action toward the dreams they've put on hold and finally live a life of their choosing." Quote of the week: "I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'" — Muhammad Ali Points covered: In this episode, I cover three points for each question: What's being asked, the real pain behind the question and my Dream Realization Counterpoint. 1. Do I really need a life coach? They don't believe they're "broken enough" to deserve help. They think they should figure everything out alone. You don't hire someone because you're broken—you partner with someone because your dream is too important to leave to chance. 2. Is life coaching worth the money? Fear of wasting money. They've invested in things before that didn't work. The greatest expense isn't coaching—it's spending another five years living beneath your potential. 3. Can a coach really help me? They doubt anyone can understand their unique situation. A Dream Realization Partner doesn't have to live your life—they help you see what you can't see from inside it. 4. What if coaching doesn't work? Fear of disappointment and another failed attempt. Coaching isn't magic. Transformation happens when commitment meets the right guidance. 5. Can't I just read books or watch YouTube? They believe information equals transformation. Information gives knowledge. Partnership creates accountability, clarity, and momentum. Those are completely different. 6. Why can't I motivate myself? They're ashamed they've lost confidence. Motivation fades. Vision, purpose, and accountability create sustainable action. 7. Am I a failure if I need help? Pride mixed with insecurity. The strongest leaders, athletes, and entrepreneurs all have coaches because growth is intentional—not accidental. 8. How do I know if a coach is legitimate? Fear of scams and fake experts. The right partner doesn't promise perfection—they provide clarity, challenge, honesty, and measurable progress. 9. What if I'm not ready? Fear disguised as preparation. You'll never feel completely ready. Readiness is created by taking the first courageous step. 10. What if I don't follow through? They've broken promises to themselves before. A Dream Realization Partner helps rebuild trust with yourself one commitment at a time. 11. What if I have too many problems to fix? They feel overwhelmed and don't know where to begin. You don't solve your entire life in one day. You create one breakthrough that changes everything else. 12. Is coaching just someone giving advice? They don't want to be lectured or controlled. Great coaching doesn't tell you what to do—it helps you discover the best version of yourself and equips you to become it. 13. Why do I keep starting and stopping? They've lost confidence in themselves. Consistency isn't about willpower—it's about removing what's keeping you stuck. 14. Will coaching force me to change who I am? Fear of losing their identity or comfort. True transformation doesn't change who you are—it uncovers who you were created to become. 15. What if people judge me for getting a coach? Fear of looking weak. People may judge your investment today, but they'll admire your transformation tomorrow You do not have to have every single one of these. In fact, it only takes one to hold you back. I don't want to see you stuck or making excuses. I want to see you make those dreams come true. There is no better time than now to get started. Stop comparing yourself to others that may seem like they have it all together and have no problems or challenges. The truth is that we all do. It's how you face and overcome the challenges that makes a difference. And having me on your side will certainly make your journey a lot easier. Because the fastest path from point A to point B is having someone like me with you. If this resonated with you then please reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat. It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough. If you want to take me up on this special offer then simply send me an email to edwin@edwinsoler.com It's that easy. I'll be in touch with you shortly afterwards. I can't wait to hear from you! This podcast is based on my book Closing The 18-Inch Gap and can be found by simply going here: edwinsoler.com/book

July 16, 2026Episode 12733 min

EP 127: Seven Instant Benefits Clarity Unlocks Now!

If there is something that will stop a dream before it ever gets started is the lack of clarity. But once you have it, you become unstoppable. In this episode I will be covering for you what having this clarity will do for you: eliminate frustration, push discouragement aside, rediscover the courage to dream again, and much, much more. But the key is that this takes time. It's important to let time work in your favor. You cannot rush clarity, you must be patient and allow to it reveal itself. This is not a journey for the weary, it's for those that are willing to go the long haul and see their desires come to life over time. When I was an athlete, I had a coach that always told me: "If it were easy, everyone would do it". That was over 35 years ago and those words still hold truth in them to this day. Clarity will help you stay committed long after many others have quit and settled for a life NOT OF THEIR CHOOSING! You have to be committed to preparing for what is to come. I can tell you for sure that if your dream has not come to fruition, what ever that may be, it's because you are not prepared for it yet. I have seen and read more times than I can count of people that had such huge success in their lives only to see if disappear practically overnight. They simply were not prepared for the success they experienced, and it escaped them. They lacked clarity on what it would take to keep moving forward. If you are determined to stay in the game for the long haul, clarity will start revealing just what to do next. This is not a journey where you will see every single step the entire path. Not at all, instead it will reveal itself as you take each step trusting that you are on the right path. Clarity will show you where you will need to make changes, pivot when needed, even pause. It's not about constant aimless movement forward but instead, intentional steps to reach your goals and desires. Clarity has its instant benefits that few have the patience to wait for, see and understand. Today I will bring all of them to you and discover with you the instant success this will unlock for you to see. It will not jump you to the very front of where your dream will be but it will certainly make the journey there a much more enjoyable one. A journey that few have the determination to walk through. But not you. You are listening to this just in time to get more clarity and keep moving forward with more enthusiasm than you perhaps have had in a long time. Why? Because this is what clarity does. • Quote of the week: "Clarity about what matters provides clarity about what does not." — Cal Newport Points covered: 1. Crystal-Clear Life Direction: stop wandering through life reacting to circumstances and begin living with unmistakable clarity about where they're going and why it matters. • Wake up every morning with certainty instead of confusion. No longer questioning what you should be doing, you'll move through each day with confidence because your path is finally clear. • Make decisions with peace instead of fear. You'll stop overthinking every opportunity and start making choices that align with the future you truly want to create. 2. Renewed Hope for your Future: replace discouragement and uncertainty with genuine excitement, believing your best chapters are still ahead of you. • Replace discouragement with genuine anticipation. Instead of expecting more disappointment, you'll begin looking ahead with excitement for what's still possible. • Believe your greatest victories are still in front of you. You'll stop allowing your past to define your future and start embracing the possibilities that still await you. 3. A Vision Worth Fighting For: develop a compelling future that pulls you forward every single day. • Develop an unshakable reason to keep going. Your dream becomes bigger than your excuses, giving you the strength to persevere through every obstacle. • Stay committed when motivation disappears. A compelling vision keeps pulling you forward even when the excitement wears off. 4. Freedom From Other People's Expectations: stop chasing someone else's definition of success and begin building a life that reflects who you were truly created to become. • Stop seeking approval and start living authentically. You'll experience the freedom that comes from knowing your worth isn't determined by someone else's opinion. • Build a life that genuinely fulfills you. Instead of chasing someone else's version of success, you'll pursue what truly brings purpose and joy. 5. Alignment Between Your Values and Your Life: priorities become clear, eliminating the internal conflict of pursuing things that don't actually fulfill them. • Experience inner peace through congruence. Your actions will finally reflect your deepest beliefs, eliminating the tension of living divided. • Feel fulfilled instead of merely accomplished. Success will become meaningful because it aligns with what truly matters most to you. 6. Confidence Through Purpose: when purpose becomes clear, confidence naturally follows and you stop second-guessing yourself because you finally know what you're pursuing. • Trust yourself with greater certainty. When you know why you're pursuing something, self-doubt loses its power over your decisions. • Speak and act with authentic confidence. You'll stop shrinking back and begin showing up boldly because your purpose gives you solid ground to stand on. 7. A Future That Creates Daily Motivation: instead of relying on temporary inspiration, your vision becomes the fuel that keeps you moving when emotions fade. • Stay driven long after inspiration fades. Your vision becomes a constant source of energy that keeps you moving forward on difficult days. • Build unstoppable momentum toward your dreams. Small daily actions begin creating life-changing results because your future continually pulls you forward. And much, much more shared with each point above. And there you have it! Seven instant benefits that clarity will bring. Don't forget that you do not have to try to memorize everything I shared today. Just focus on the three most impacting things that I mentioned today. Write them down. Explore them more. But please, more than anything else, I ask of you to take it one day at a time. I wrote in my book, Closing the 18-Inch Gap , that Rome was not built in a day but that it was burned down in just a few. This is true in History. It was during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero in the great fire of 64 AD in Rome. The same happens with instant success, it may take some time to build but without clarity on how to sustain it and grow from it, it will burn down faster than it was ever built. And I don't want to see that happen to you! And the best way to avoid that is to always have clarity! If this resonated with you then please reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat. It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough. If you want to take me up on this special offer then simply send me an email to edwin@edwinsoler.com It's that easy. I'll be in touch with you shortly afterwards. I can't wait to hear from you!

July 8, 2026Episode 12634 min

EP 126: The Messy Middle, Where Dreams Thrive or Die

Every journey has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning is exciting. It's where dreams are born. Energy is high. Hope is overflowing. You can't stop talking about where you're going because you can already see it in your mind. The end is exciting too. It's where victories are celebrated, sacrifices finally make sense, and people suddenly notice all the work they never saw. But almost no one talks about the place in between. The messy middle. The place where the excitement fades, the finish line is nowhere in sight, and every step feels heavier than the last. It's the place where motivation goes silent. Where doubt gets loud. Where progress feels invisible. Where quitting starts sounding reasonable. It's the halfway point. Too far to go back... but not close enough to see the finish. This is where most dreams are abandoned—not because people weren't talented enough, smart enough, or capable enough. They simply got stuck in the middle. Every dreamer will arrive here. Every entrepreneur. Every student. Every parent. Every creator. Every person chasing something bigger than themselves. The question isn't whether you'll face the messy middle. The question is... Who will you become when you get there? Today, I want to be your dream realization partner. Not someone who simply cheers from the sidelines, but someone who reminds you why you started, helps you keep your perspective, and walks beside you through the hardest part of the journey. Because your dream deserves more than a passionate beginning. It deserves a powerful ending. Today I'm going to share fifteen ways to push through the messy middle so your dream has every opportunity to cross the finish line. After all... You've already come this far. Why would you stop now? • Quote of the week: "The middle is messy, but it's also where the magic happens. If we believe in ourselves, if we reach out together, and if we lean into a little bit of that grace... we can get through this." — Brené Brown Fifteen ways to push through the messy middle: 1. Remember Your "Why" More Than Your "How": When the road gets difficult, people obsess over how they're going to make it instead of remembering why they started. 2. Stop Measuring Distance and Start Measuring Progress: The messy middle feels exhausting because you're focused on how much is left instead of how far you've already come. 3. Fall in Love With Consistency Instead of Motivation: Motivation is emotional. Discipline is dependable. Don't wait until you feel inspired—show up because that's who you've decided to become. 4. Break the Mountain Into Pebbles: Looking at the whole journey can feel overwhelming. Instead of climbing the entire mountain today, simply take the next step. 5. Stop Comparing Your Chapter Five to Someone Else's Chapter Twenty: Comparison steals energy you'll never get back. You don't know what battles others fought to get where they are. 6. Let Failure Become Your Teacher: Every setback contains information. Instead of asking, "Why did this happen to me?" ask, "What is this trying to teach me?" 7. Protect Your Mind: Not every opinion deserves access to your dream. Guard what you watch, what you listen to, and who speaks into your life. 8. Borrow Belief Until Yours Returns: There will be days when your confidence disappears. That's why mentors, friends, books, podcasts, and faith matter. 9. Give Yourself Permission to Rest Without Quitting: Rest is not surrender. Recovery prepares you to continue the race. Don't confuse slowing down with giving up—they are completely different decisions. 10. Visualize the Finish Line: Spend a few minutes every day imagining what life will feel like when your dream becomes reality. 11. Become the Person Your Dream Requires: Sometimes the dream isn't waiting on better circumstances. It's waiting on a better version of you. 12. Expect Resistance: Every meaningful dream attracts obstacles. Resistance isn't evidence you're on the wrong path; it's often confirmation you're pursuing something worthwhile. 13. Keep Showing Up When Nobody Is Watching: The middle is lonely because applause usually comes at the end. Learn to work without recognition. 14. Remember That Feelings Are Temporary: Some mornings you'll feel unstoppable. Other mornings you'll question everything. Don't let temporary emotions make permanent decisions. 15. Refuse to Leave Your Dream Half Built: Imagine reaching the end of your life wondering, "What if I had just kept going?" That question is far heavier than today's struggle. The messy middle isn't your punishment. It's your proving ground. It's where dreams stop being exciting ideas and become lifelong realities. It's where passion matures into perseverance. Where wishing becomes working. Where potential becomes purpose. Most people will never experience the life they imagined because they stopped in the middle. Don't let that be your story. Your future is waiting on the other side of the season you're tempted to quit. Keep taking the next step. Keep believing when the evidence is small. Keep moving when the progress feels invisible. And if no one has told you lately... I'm proud of you. Not because you've finished. But because you're still fighting. Your dream is worth it. You are worth it. Now get back up. The finish line isn't coming to find you. It's waiting for you to come claim it. If this resonated with you then please reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat. It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough. If you want to take me up on this special offer then simply send me an email to edwin@edwinsoler.com It's that easy. I'll be in touch with you shortly afterwards. I can't wait to hear from you! This episode was sponsored by my book Closing the 18-inch Gap and is available on Amazon. To find it faster, simply go to edwinsoler.com/book . That will take you to the book page where you can click on the Amazon logo and order your copy right away. It's available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible. Thank you for listening, in the meantime, keep closing that 18- inch gap!

June 30, 2026Episode 12529 min

EP 125: Every Piece Matters- What Chess Can Teach You About Realizing Your Dreams

There is something fascinating about a chessboard. Sixty-four squares. Thirty-two pieces. Endless possibilities. Most people only notice the king when the game is over. They celebrate the queen because she's powerful. They admire the knights because they make impossible moves. But very few people stop to appreciate the pawn. That's exactly how people treat themselves. They compare their journey to someone else's highlight reel. They believe they don't matter because they don't feel important yet. They underestimate what they bring to the board simply because they haven't reached the other side of it. As your Dream Realization Partner, I've discovered something that changes everything. Dreams don't collapse because people lack talent. Dreams collapse because people underestimate their value. Every piece on the board has a purpose. Every move matters. Every sacrifice has meaning. Every position contributes to victory. And maybe... Just maybe... You've been trying to become someone else when all along your greatest strength has been becoming exactly who you were designed to be. Let's play. • Quote of the week: "Life is like a game of chess, in which there are an infinite number of complex moves possible. The choice is open, but the move made contains within it all future moves." — Shelley Smith The pieces on the chess board and how they can speak to your journey to your dream path: The Pawn – The Power of Small Beginnings The pawn is considered the weakest piece on the board, and because of that, it is often overlooked. People see its limitations before they recognize its possibilities. Isn't that exactly what happens to so many dreamers? We convince ourselves that because our first step is small, it must not matter. Yet nearly every meaningful journey begins with one humble move. The Knight – The Courage to Think Differently The knight is fascinating because it refuses to move like everyone else. While every other piece follows predictable paths, the knight surprises everyone by moving in an entirely different pattern. It teaches us that breakthroughs often come from unconventional thinking instead of conventional behavior. Sometimes your greatest advantage is that you don't fit the mold. The Bishop – The Power of Vision The bishop travels diagonally, seeing opportunities others often miss. It reminds us that vision isn't just about seeing what's directly ahead; it's about recognizing possibilities hidden beneath the surface. Vision allows us to connect today's decisions with tomorrow's destination. The Rook – The Strength of Stability The rook is powerful because it is dependable. It doesn't rely on flashy movements or emotional decisions. It moves with confidence, direction, and purpose. It reminds us that sustainable success is built on consistency rather than excitement. The Queen – Maximizing Your Gifts The queen is the most powerful piece because she has incredible freedom. She can move in multiple directions and influence nearly every area of the board. But her power isn't random—it is purposeful. She represents fully developed potential operating with confidence. The King – Protect What Matters Most Ironically, the king is not the strongest piece on the board. He moves slowly. He possesses limited mobility. Yet the entire game revolves around protecting him because without the king, everything else becomes meaningless. Life works the same way. Maybe today you feel like a pawn. Maybe you're learning to think like a knight. Maybe you're rediscovering your vision like a bishop. Maybe you're becoming dependable like a rook. Maybe you're finally stepping into your queen-level potential. Or maybe life is reminding you to protect your king. Whatever piece best describes you today, remember this... You are not on the board by accident. Every season has purpose. Every move carries meaning. Every setback teaches strategy. Every sacrifice prepares victory. And every dream worth pursuing requires every piece working together. I'm not here to play your game for you. I'm here to walk beside you as your Dream Realization Partner, helping you close the eighteen-inch gap between your head and your heart so you can stop admiring the life you were meant to live and finally start living it. Your next move is waiting. The only question is... Will you make it? If this resonated with you then please reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat. It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough. If you want to take me up on this special offer then simply send me an email to edwin@edwinsoler.com It's that easy. I'll be in touch with you shortly afterwards. I can't wait to hear from you! This episode was sponsored by my book Closing the 18-inch Gap and is available on Amazon. To find it faster, simply go to edwinsoler.com/book. That will take you to the book page where you can click on the Amazon logo and order your copy right away. It's available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible. Thank you for listening, in the meantime, keep closing that 18- inch gap!

June 23, 2026Episode 12431 min

EP 124: The Man That Sang To No One- A True Story

Last week I sent an email out about a memory that resurfaced after many years. After I sent the email, the message still stuck with me and will not leave me so I decided to expand on this in this podcast episode and dive deeper into this message. A memory I have carried a long time resurfaced again this week. I thought about this man many times before but this time it was different. When I met my wife, and before we became engaged, I was invited to go with her and her family to her birthplace in Ciudad Juárez in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. It was a beautiful place at that time. This was long before the notorious cartel wars broke out. This place is literally just a stone's throw away from El Paso, Texas in the US. There are parts of a highway that you drive down where the country of Mexico is separated by simply a very tall fence. You're so close you could have a conversation with someone on their side if you wanted to, or at least if you were allowed. Back then the city was very vibrant, beautiful and active. There were many restaurants because what better thing to bring people together than food. One night we had dinner at a very famous restaurant not knowing that three years later we would be at the same restaurant where we would celebrate our rehearsal dinner, the day before our wedding. What struck me on this particular night as I was having dinner with my future wife and all of her family was a man on a stage. There were a few musicians and him singing his heart out. What struck me was what he would say at the end of every single song: "thank you, thank you everyone for all your applauses". But here's the thing, absolutely no one was applauding! Not. One. Single. Person. The only reason I even paid attention to him was because of what he kept saying about people applauding. I thought he was crazy. But what he was doing was teaching me a lesson that would take a long time to understand. That was over 25 years ago! Yet that memory stayed with me and then it clicked this weekend. Let me explain, because there's a lesson in this. That man kept singing and singing no matter whether anyone was applauding or not. He still showed up even if no one listened, he didn't care that he was rejected, or anything else. He still took the stage and sang. What about you? What stage are you avoiding? What is keeping you from making your dreams come true? Are you waiting for applause, approval, permission? Will you be willing to sing on stage even when no one applauds you? The truth of the matter is that: • No one will applaud you • No one will notice you • No one will listen to you • No one will care I know that sounds harsh but it's the truth. It's the reality. But here's the one thing you have to remember. If you stay on the stage long enough and keep singing or doing what it is that you dream so much about and push through, then it's just a matter of time before: • People will start applauding you • They will start noticing you • They will listen to you, and they will care But you have to be willing to get on stage and do it first! You have to be willing to pay the price of persistence, isolation, frustration, and much more. That's all part of the growth process. Too often people seek stages for approval and give up way, way too early. I'm talking about months or something just even weeks of trying. But let me tell you today that anyone you see succeed has been at it for years, perhaps even decades. There is no such thing as an overnight success. Any overnight success you're seeing is the fruit of someone working hard for years and years suddenly reached the top and became notice. But behind that success is tremendous amount of work, paying, overcoming many beliefs and so much more. What's your stage? Who are you trying to reach? What are your dreams, where are they? While I cannot answer this question for you, the stage is waiting for you. What stage is that? Whatever you decide that to be! It could be speaking, podcasting, writing a book, creating music, standing up for a worthy cause you believe in and so many more things. But the stage is yours. Jump on it and sing your heart out! It doesn't matter that no one notices, cares, or even applauds you. Because at the end of the day, no one ever will if you don't get on the stage to begin with. I'm Edwin Soler, your dream realization partner and this is the closing the 18-inch gap podcast. "I help professionals uncover the beliefs keeping them trapped in unfulfilling lives, so they can finally take courageous action toward the dreams they've put on hold and finally live a life of their choosing." So, let's dive into The Man That Sang To No One- A True Story More on the other side. • Quote of the week: "A person of vision sees 'something' in the nothing that everyone else ignored because they were convinced of its nothingness." ― Craig D. Lounsbrough Points covered: Here are some valuable lessons I don't want you to miss: 1. Detach Your Worth from Applause A lack of recognition does not mean a lack of value. People often confuse visibility with significance. Focus on becoming excellent rather than becoming noticed. Recognition usually follows consistent excellence. 2. Remember Why You Started When you feel ignored, reconnect with the original reason you began. Your purpose existed before the audience arrived. Write down your "why" and revisit it regularly. Purpose can sustain you when encouragement is absent. 3. Measure Progress, Not Attention Attention can fluctuate, but progress is measurable. Track the actions you control instead of the responses you receive. Small wins build confidence and momentum. Progress is often happening long before recognition appears. 4. Focus on the Next Step Overwhelm often comes from looking too far ahead. Instead of worrying about the entire journey, focus on the next action. One step completed is better than a thousand steps imagined. Momentum is created through movement. 5. Become Your Own Encourager There will be seasons when nobody is cheering for you. Learn to speak life into yourself during those moments. Replace negative self-talk with truth and possibility. Self-encouragement is a critical skill for every dreamer. 6. Understand That Growth Is Often Invisible Seeds grow underground before anyone sees evidence of life. Your growth may be happening in ways others cannot yet recognize. Trust the process even when results are hidden. Hidden growth often creates visible breakthroughs later. 7. Build Discipline Instead of Motivation Motivation comes and goes, but discipline remains. Create habits that move you forward regardless of how you feel. Show up consistently even when excitement fades. Discipline carries you through the days motivation cannot. 8. Learn from Rejection Rejection is painful, but it often contains valuable lessons. Instead of seeing rejection as a verdict, view it as feedback. Ask yourself what can be improved. Growth often hides inside disappointment. 9. Develop Emotional Resilience Your emotions are real, but they should not control your decisions. Learn to feel disappointment without surrendering to it. Resilience grows every time you keep going despite setbacks. Emotional strength is built through practice. 10. Stop Looking for Instant Results We live in a culture that celebrates overnight success stories. Most breakthroughs are actually years in the making. Commit to the long game. Patience allows your efforts enough time to bear fruit. 11. Stay Consistent When Nobody Is Watching Character is revealed by what you do in private. Continue working on your dream even when no one notices. Consistency creates trust in yourself. The habits built in obscurity often support future success. 12. Improve One Percent Every Day Massive change rarely happens overnight. Small improvements compounded over time create remarkable results. Focus on becoming slightly better each day. Consistency in improvement eventually becomes transformation. 13. Separate Feelings from Facts Feeling ignored does not necessarily mean you are being ignored. Emotions can distort reality during difficult seasons. Examine the facts objectively. Clarity often reduces discouragement. 14. Keep Showing Up Persistence is one of the greatest competitive advantages available. Many people quit right before momentum begins. Continue showing up day after day. Consistency often outlasts talent. 15. Focus on Service When attention becomes your primary goal, discouragement grows quickly. Shift your focus toward helping others. Ask how you can add value. Service creates purpose beyond personal recognition. 16. Reframe Silence Silence is not always rejection. Sometimes people are watching, learning, and processing. Not every impact is immediately visible. Continue planting seeds even when feedback is absent. 17. Remember That Most Success Is Delayed The world often sees the breakthrough but misses the preparation. What appears sudden is usually the result of years of unseen effort. Trust that your work matters. Delayed results are still results. 18. Trust the Compounding Effect Many efforts seem insignificant in isolation. However, consistent actions accumulate over time. The results you desire may be forming beneath the surface. Trust that today's effort contributes to tomorrow's breakthrough. 19. Become Comfortable with Obscurity Every dreamer spends time in seasons where few people notice their work. Obscurity is often preparation, not punishment. Use this season to refine your skills and strengthen your character. Preparation creates readiness for future opportunities. 20. Keep Taking the Stage Whether your stage is a podcast, a business, a ministry, a dream, or a personal goal, keep showing up. Do not let silence convince you to stop speaking, serving, or creating. Some of the people who need your message have not found you yet. Your responsibility is not to control the audience—it is to faithfully take the stage and give your best every single time. "The world may not notice your effort today. They may not applaud your growth tomorrow. But if you continue to show up, continue to improve, and continue to believe in the value of what you've been called to do, eventually your consistency will become impossible to ignore. The dream belongs to those who keep taking the stage long after everyone else has left it." Let me ask you again: What's your stage? Who are you trying to reach? What are your dreams, where are they? While I cannot answer this question for you, the stage is waiting for you. What stage is that? Whatever you decide that to be! It could be speaking, podcasting, writing a book, creating music, standing up for a worthy cause you believe in and so many more things. But the stage is yours. Jump on it and sing your heart out! It doesn't matter that no one notices, cares, or even applauds you. Because at the end of the day, no one ever will if you don't get on the stage to begin with. If this resonated with you then please reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat . It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough. If you want to take me up on this special offer then simply send me an email to edwin@edwinsoler.com It's that easy. I'll be in touch with you shortly afterwards. I can't wait to hear from you! This episode was sponsored by my book Closing the 18-inch Gap and is available on Amazon. To find it faster, simply go to edwinsoler.com/book. That will take you to the book page where you can click on the Amazon logo and order your copy right away. It's available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible. Thank you for listening, in the meantime, keep closing that 18- inch gap!

June 17, 2026Episode 12338 min

EP 123: Dos and Don'ts For Dreamers Communicating with Confidence

Last week I released an episode with my amazing guests and Donna Ricardo were we spoke about…. well about speaking. This week I decided to continue the topic. Today's topic is dos and don'ts about communicating with confidence. It's important to be able to communicate confidently what you want. If you want to go from dreaming to doing, you need to be very clear about what it is that you want for yourself. Now this conversation can be developed with others around you as you express your desires to make your amazing dreams come true. I am a true believer that what you communicate comes from deep within. And the more you practice on communicating effectively not just to others but also to yourself as you hear yourself communicating these thoughts you have, it will also make your dream realization path much easier, at least not harder. Not been able to communicate effectively will certainly also hinder your progress moving forward. So today I want to bring you 15 dos and don'ts of communication skills that will help you not only communicate better with others, but also in the process help you shape and communicate what exactly do you want to do so that your dreams can come true. This communication is crucial to closing your 18-inch Gap. Those crucial 18 inches between your heart and your mind text so often can be in conflict with the communication they are telling each other. I'm Edwin Soler, your dream realization partner and this is the closing the 18-inch gap podcast. "I help professionals uncover the beliefs keeping them trapped in unfulfilling lives, so they can finally take courageous action toward the dreams they've put on hold and finally live a life of their choosing." • Quote of the week: "Your success or failure... will depend on your programming—what you accept from others, and what you say when you talk to yourself." — Shad Helmstetter Points covered in this episode: Listen first- Do: hear others fully before you respond Don't: interrupt or assume you know the point Be clear and concise- Do: use simple words to share your message Don't: overcomplicate or ramble unnecessarily Ask clarifying questions- Do: confirm understanding with thoughtful open questions Don't: assume you've understood without checking Focus on tone- Do: speak calmly and respectfully in every situation Don't: use aggressive or dismissive tone Maintain eye contact- Do: show engagement with appropriate eye contact Don't: stare or avoid looking at people altogether Adapt to your audience- Do: tailor your style to suit the listener Don't: use the same approach for every person Stay open-minded- Do: be receptive to ideas, even if unexpected Don't: shut down perspectives different from yours Being active listener- Do: show interest with nods and verbal cues Don't: zone out or look distracted when listening Watch body language- Do: use open gestures to build trust Don't: cross arms or look unapproachable Choose your words wisely- Do: be mindful of how words may impact others Don't: use harsh or careless language Be respectful in disagreements- Do: share your opinion calmly and professionally Don't: raise your voice or become dismissive Focus on nonverbal cues- Do: notice posture, gestures, and facial expressions Don't: ignore signs of discomfort or misunderstanding Avoid jargon- Do: use language that everyone can understand Don't: overuse technical terms without explanation Respond thoughtfully- Do: take time to think before you reply Don't: react emotionally or without consideration Follow-up on conversations- Do: summarize points and agree on next steps Don't: leave discussions without clear conclusions Do you want to explore what may be keeping you from speaking more confidently to make your dreams come true? I invite you to reach out to me for a complementary Next-Level Dream Chat . It's only about 30 minutes to get started and get momentum working in your favor to get your breakthrough. If you want to take me up on this special offer, then simply send me an email to edwin@edwinsoler.com It's that easy. I'll be in touch with you shortly afterwards. I can't wait to hear from you! This episode was sponsored by my book Closing the 18-inch Gap and is available on Amazon. To find it faster, simply go to edwinsoler.com/book . That will take you to the book page where you can click on the Amazon logo and order your copy right away. It's available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible. Thank you for listening, in the meantime, keep closing that 18- inch gap!

June 11, 2026Episode 12244 min

EP122: Speaking with Confidence- An Interview with Donna Riccardo

Today is a special episode titled Speaking with Confidence- An Interview with Donna Riccardo. She is an expert speaker and speaking coach that helps others break into speaking the right way. She has a vast resource of knowledge and today she shares some of this with you. In this episode Donna shares: How she started as a hairstylist which led her to speaking- a story you do not want to miss Expert tips on the speaking industry She also shares how she did not getting distracted during a practice speech she once gave Also why you do not have to fear being judged when speaking and so much more! Make sure you get her gift just for you titled: Top 10 Speaking Tips to Keep Your Audience Hanging onto Every Word! Simply click here: https://showupspeakup.com You can also find Donna at the following sites: https://www.facebook.com/donna.riccardo.96/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnariccardo/ https://www.donnariccardo.com/ Here you will find so much more information as well like the S.P.E.A.K . your way to the bank as well as Five Public Speaking Tips to Empower You. Get her book on Amazon: Public Speaking for Entrepreneurs: How to show up, speak up and get what you want for your business and your life: https://tinyurl.com/4wsyax82 Listen to this powerful episode and discover how Donna can help you close your 18-inch gap and Speak with Confidence!