We all face moments of stress, overwhelm, or frustration. Sometimes it feels like our problems are bigger than we can handle. In those moments, our mindset determines whether we stay stuck or move forward.

Tony Robbins shares a powerful framework that has made a huge difference in my life: the 3 P’s of learned helplessness. When left unchecked, these beliefs convince us that our challenges are unchangeable, all-encompassing, and our fault. When we recognize and destroy them, we take back our power.
Let’s break them down and look at how they apply in business, personal, and professional life.

1. Permanent: “This will never change.”The first P is believing that your problem is permanent.
When life disappoints us over and over, the brain tries to protect us by whispering, “This is just the way it is.” But that is simply not true.
Here’s the truth: no problem is permanent. Only your soul is permanent.
Think about it. Every challenge you have faced so far, you have survived. Nothing lasts forever. Seasons change. Circumstances shift. New opportunities open up. Even if a challenge takes time to overcome, it is not permanent.
In business: Maybe you hit a slow month in sales and it feels like things will always be this way. Remind yourself that markets shift and opportunities return.
In personal life: Maybe you are going through a health challenge or relationship struggle. It can feel endless, but healing and growth are possible.
In professional life: Maybe you are stuck in a job you dislike. It feels permanent until you remember you can learn new skills, seek new opportunities, and take steps forward.

2. Pervasive: “If one thing is bad, everything is bad.”The second P is the belief that your struggles are pervasive, spilling into every part of your life.
For example, if your relationship feels strained, you might start thinking your whole life is terrible, forgetting that you still have your health, your friends, your work, or even the simple gift of being able to breathe.
It is natural for pain in one area to color how you see the rest of your life. But the reality is this: a challenge in one part of life does not define the whole picture.
In business: A tough client or project can make you feel like your entire business is falling apart, when in reality most of your work is going just fine.
In personal life: An argument with a loved one can make you think the whole relationship is doomed, but often it is just one conflict in an otherwise strong connection.
In professional life: A bad review at work might make you feel like you are failing everywhere, when in truth you are succeeding in many areas.
When you shift your perspective, you notice that even in hard times, there is still good happening in your life.

3. Personal: “It’s all my fault.”The third P is when we make problems personal. We believe there is something wrong with us.
We tell ourselves:

• “I’m not good enough.”
• “I’m not smart enough.”
• “I always mess things up.”

The danger of this belief is that it becomes self-fulfilling. You stop trying because you have convinced yourself that you are the problem.
Instead, learn to separate the situation from your identity. Problems are real, but they do not define who you are.
In business: If sales dip, you may think, “I’m terrible at this,” instead of recognizing outside factors like the economy or seasonality.
In personal life: If a friendship drifts apart, you may assume you are unworthy, instead of realizing that sometimes people simply grow in different directions.
In professional life: If you are passed over for a promotion, you may believe you are not capable, when in reality timing or organizational needs were the main factor.

Moving Forward Without the 3 P’sWhen you destroy these three limiting beliefs—permanent, pervasive, and personal—you stop seeing your challenges as an impossible, overwhelming mess. Instead, you see them for what they really are: problems that can be solved, lessons that can be learned, and seasons that will eventually pass.
It will not always be easy, but it will be lighter. You will stop sabotaging yourself and start facing life with more clarity, strength, and hope.

Final ThoughtsNext time you feel weighed down, ask yourself:

• Am I making this problem permanent in my mind?
• Am I letting it feel pervasive across my whole life?
• Am I taking it too personal?

Remember, your challenges are temporary, limited in scope, and they do not define you.
Jake Ballentine
Host of the Climb Your Mountain Podcast
"You are better than you think you are and you can do so much more than you think you can."

Episode 1: The Night Kenny Barnwell Escaped the Cartel

Faith, resilience, and a 12-hour fight to survive

Welcome to the Climb Your Mountain Podcast! I’m Jake Ballentine, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this new chapter with you. Whether you’ve listened before under the old name or you’re just joining for the very first time, this podcast is about one thing: helping you climb the metaphorical mountains in your life—whether that’s in your business, your health, your relationships, or your mindset.

To launch this new season, I wanted to bring you a story that captures the heart of what this podcast is all about: courage, resilience, and faith in the face of overwhelming challenges. That’s why I invited my good friend Kenny Barnwell to share his unbelievable journey of survival after a chance run on a mountain trail in Mexico turned into a 12-hour life-or-death struggle against the cartel.

Kenny was hunted, attacked, and left broken on the mountainside—but his story isn’t just about survival. It’s about the strength of the human spirit, the power of faith, and the reminder that we are all stronger than we think we are. What he experienced that night has lessons for every single one of us, no matter what mountain we’re climbing.

This episode isn’t easy to forget. It’s gripping, emotional, and deeply inspiring. You’ll find yourself asking: What would I do in that situation? But more importantly, you’ll see how the same principles that helped Kenny survive—faith, focus, resilience, and forgiveness—are the very same principles that can help you overcome whatever challenges you’re facing right now.

Here are some key takeaways from this episode:

• The incredible story of how Kenny escaped the cartel and fought his way to safety against all odds
• Why faith and surrender can guide you through the most impossible situations
• How to balance vision and short-term focus when the journey ahead feels overwhelming
• The surprising truth about resilience: you only discover your real strength when you have no other choice
• Why forgiveness can be the most powerful act of freedom—and how it allowed Kenny to heal even after such trauma
• How to apply the “keep moving forward” mindset to your own challenges, whether in business, relationships, or personal growth

I can’t think of a better way to kick off this new era of the podcast. Kenny’s story will keep you on the edge of your seat, but more than that—it will remind you of what you are truly capable of when you decide to keep climbing your mountain, no matter how steep or impossible it feels.

​So grab your headphones, lean in, and get ready for an episode that will move you, challenge you, and inspire you to keep moving forward.

🌐 Connect with Kenny at kennybarnwell.com/kbhome

Jake Ballentine 
​Mountain Top Motivation

In this video I cover the 3 markets that consistently pay their speakers. You may get paid to speak in another market but these 3 markets consistently pay their speakers. 

Watch the video if you want to be paid as a speaker. 

Jake Ballentine 
Mountain Top Motivation

How To Build a Local Coaching Business with Paul Casey

In this episode of The Mountain Top Motivation Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Paul Casey, founder of Growing Forward Services. We discussed how he built a coaching business in his local market! So much of the coaching training online today is about building virtual coaching businesses. Paul has built a coaching business in his local market and we discuss how he did it!

During our conversation, Paul and I discussed many important topics, including:

• Balancing building a coaching business with a full-time job: Paul shared his own experiences of managing his coaching business alongside a full-time job and provided practical tips for managing time and priorities.
• Taking action: We talked about the importance of taking action, even when faced with fear and uncertainty. Paul emphasized that taking action is the number one difference between those who succeed in business and those who don't.
• Developing an entrepreneurship mindset: Paul shared his insights on how to cultivate the habits and attitudes that lead to success, such as providing value to clients and building relationships with them.
• You Supporting others: We discussed the value of building relationships with other professionals in your industry and supporting and celebrating their achievements.
• You are Taking breaks: Paul emphasized the importance of rest and relaxation, and how taking breaks can actually increase productivity and creativity. He provided practical tips for incorporating breaks into a busy schedule.
• Paul's mission: Paul shared his mission to give back to the community and make a positive impact in the lives of others. He also discussed his philosophy on coaching and leadership.
• How to get clients from networking: Paul shared his strategies for networking and building relationships with potential clients, including attending events and meeting people face-to-face.
• The value of being a lifelong learner: Paul emphasized the importance of continuing education and personal development, and shared his own experiences of learning and growing as a coach and business owner.
• How to find a need in your local market and build a business around it: Paul discussed his approach to identifying a need in his community and creating a business model that addresses that need.

Paul's journey to building his coaching business serves as an inspiration for anyone looking to pursue their passions and make a difference in the world. Remember, your message matters and there are people out there who need it!

Keep “Growing Forward”and enjoy this episode!
Connect with Paul here: https://growingforwardservices.net/

More episodes here: http://www.mtmsuccess.com/blog

Thanks for listening!

Jake Ballentine
Mountain Top Motivation
“I’ll see you at the top!”
​
P.S. Do you want to book paid speaking gigs!?! Get the exact emails I used to book over 500 paid speaking gigs: https://paidspeakingscripts.com/email

And, If you are already a 6 or 7 figure entrepreneur and are looking for an amazing peer group to grow with come and join us in The Rising Tide Connection: http://www.mtmsuccess.com/risingtide

We are kicking off season 3 of The Mountain Top Motivation Podcast with a value packed episode that every business owner, and service provider needs to hear! I had the pleasure of speaking with Cynthia Wellbrock, a successful lawyer who has built her law firm through one intentional referral strategy. Cynthia shared powerful insights on how to bring in consistent referrals to build a thriving business.

Referrals are the holy grail of lead generation in the world of business. They have a higher lifetime value and often come with a level of trust and credibility that is difficult to achieve through other marketing efforts.

Cynthia's referral system involves building relationships with strategic partners that will keep bringing business again and again!

My favorite part of this strategy is that it is applicable to any type of business! I am excited for you to dig into this episode and apply what you learn so you can see amazing results!

Thank you Cynthia for sharing your experience on the show!

More about Cynthia:

Cynthia admitted to practice law in Colorado in 1997 and founded The Law Office of Cynthia E. Wellbrock, LLC in 2002. For almost 26 years Cynthia has focused almost exclusively upon her passion for employment law and gained extensive experience representing both employees and businesses. She has made numerous appearances in both state and federal courts as well as administrative agencies.

In her employment practice Cynthia has handled a myriad of employment law issues such as harassment and discrimination, wage & hour issues, medical leaves, wrongful termination, employment contracts and non-compete agreements. Because of her experience on both sides of the table – employee and employer – she brings a unique perspective to her practice and her clients.

In addition she also provides training for small businesses to help them improve their employment practices - and thus avoid litigation. In 2019 she founded The Respectful Workplace, a training company focused upon helping companies address the issue of disrespectful and sometimes toxic workplace behaviors that lead to lower employee productivity, increased employee stress, increased turnover, lower morale and of course – lower profits. The time for this type of training is now given the rising number of high profile claims of sexual harassment – and the resulting high costs to employers in terms of settlement payments and legal judgments. Her training program is presented in a way that is both enlightening and engaging to attendees and provides them with tools to foster a respectful work environment that people enjoy working in and which stimulates company growth and profits.

To connect more with Cynthia go to: https://www.cynthiawellbrock.com/

Thank you so much for listening!

Jake Ballentine
Mountain Top Motivation
See you at the top!

Connect With Jake:
Mountain Top Motivation Home: http://www.mtmsuccess.com/
More Episodes: http://www.mtmsuccess.com/blog
The Rising Tide Connection: http://www.mtmsuccess.com/risingtide.html
Do you want paid Speaking Gigs? Go here: https://paidspeakingscripts.com/email

In this episode, you will learn:
●  How to choose to be positive
●  Why you can always find a way
●  How you can choose to be positive
●  How to change the habit of complaining
~
About Alex P. Plasky:
Alex Plasky is a quadriplegic motivational speaker and filmmaker. Alex is well known for his strong ability to connect with his audience. He tells his life story in a fun and creative way, incorporating inspiring life lessons in each story. Alex also uses storytelling in the film he creates. Connecting with the audience and creating a life-changing video.
As a child, Alex’s first memory was living in a car with his parents and four other siblings. Then soon after, they felt lucky to sleep in a homeless shelter for a month. After that, his family was constantly on the move. Eventually, social services did get involved because of: lice, malnourishment, his living environment, etc. Alex was placed in foster care and was eventually reunited with his father, to only lose him one year later to lung cancer. Alex then went through two other homes. When life was finally getting better, he had a horse accident and broke his neck, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.
Alex is living proof that the materials he presents work. Alex was held back in school and struggled in many classes because of years of homeschooling. Yet, he went from failing grades in middle school; to being an honors student and top of the class at Full Sail University. This presentation will give you a different perspective on life and the tools to create a life worth living.
 
 
Connect with Alex P. Plasky:
Website: www.alexpplasky.com
 
~
 
Connect with Jake Ballentine from the Mountain Top Motivation Podcast!
Website: http://www.mtmsuccess.com/blog
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeballentine

Thanks for listening!
Jake Ballentine
Mountain Top Motivation
See you at the top!
 
 P.S. If you are a speaker, author, or coach, come and join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/speakerauthorcoach
 
And, if you are a 6-figure business owner and are looking for an elite network of like minded entrepreneurs come and join us at http://www.mtmsuccess.com/risingtide

​

Apple Podcast 

Spotify 
​

How Tanya Goodall Smith created her first $100k year!

In this interview we talk about how Tanya was able to have her most successful year in her career during all of the uncertainty of 2020!

She also talks about the importance of understanding your ideal client, mindset in business, being willing to grow over time, and how a service based business can be a great path for success!
​
My favorite thing about this interview is her willingness to talk about things she has done wrong and not just the things she has done right! This is a must listen for anyone who is dedicated to their business but hasn't reached the $100k level yet!

You can learn more about Tanya at: https://www.workstorycreative.com/

Thanks for listening!
Jake Ballentine
Mountain Top Motivation
See you at the top
More Episodes: http://www.mtmsuccess.com/blog
The Speakers, Authors, and Coaches Network Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/speakerauthorcoach
And, if you are a 6 or 7 figure entrepreneur looking for an elite support community join us in the Rising Tide Connection. Learn more here: http://www.mtmsuccess.com/risingtide