Optimal Living 101: How to Set Goals
That Actually Make You Happy :)
with Brian Johnson
Course Overview
In this 3-day immersion course with Brian Johnson, Philosopher + CEO of en*theos and creator of PhilosophersNotes, you'll learn the scientifically proven strategies on How to Set and Achieve Your Goals. Happy people have projects and goals. This class is all about helping you envision and create your ideal 2013 based on grounded, evidence-based wisdom.
We'll look at the science of effective goal setting and help you envision and plan your ideal 2013--creating vertical coherence with your long- and short-term goals (this is huge!) while setting challenging but possible goals and holding the dynamic tension btwn your ideals and your current reality. (And, a lot of other goodness. :)
If you're ready for some goal coaching with Brian and a private group of 9 other people ;) Check out Brian's Virtual Group Coaching! (it takes place right after the Goals class!)
Who Should Attend?
If you're committed to creating more happiness, meaning and mojo in your life and you know there's more to it than the latest "Secret"/get-it-quick trick, then this class is for you.
Dates & Tuition
Time: Thursday - Saturday @ 10am PT/1pm ET for 90 minutes
Dates: December 27, 28, 29
(Miss a class? No big deal. You'll get MP3 recordings + class notes the next day! :)
Tuition: $50
(If cash is tight, we offer a "Pick Your Price" model where you can choose to pay $50/$25/$10. And, if cash is *super* tight, you can apply for a scholarship!)
Subscribing to the Monthly All-You-Can-Optimize Plan gives you access to:
- A new micro class every month
- PN LIVE! group discussion (1st/3rd Tuesdays of the month)
- OL101-LIVE! group discussion (2nd/4th Tuesdays of the month)
- the Optimal Living 101: Reboot class
- A Philosopher's Notes audiobook
- *PLUS* Access to amazing new interviews and projects that Brian releases throughout the year!
Cancel any time. Guaranteed to inspire!
(If cash is super tight, Pick Your Price and scholarships are available!)
For more info about goal coaching with Brian and a private group of 9 other people ;) Check out Brian's Virtual Group Coaching! (It takes place right after the Goals class!)
Textbook for the Course
A Philosopher's Notes by Brian Johnson
About Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson is the Philosopher + CEO of en*theos—a company that's all about changing the world by helping people optimize their lives so they can live with more health, happiness, meaning and mojo while making a positive contribution to their families, communities and world.
Brian created PhilosophersNotes, taught a class called Optimal Living 101, wrote a little book called A Philosopher's Notes, has a monthly "Big Ideas" column in Experience Life magazine and was featured in the documentary Finding Joe. Plus, he enjoys spooning with his Goddess, Alexandra. In his past lives, he raised $8 million to finance the creation of eteamz + Zaadz after graduating Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA (where I studied Psychology + Business).
Here's the longer story...
A few years ago Brian realized he wasn’t quite rockin’ his dharma, so he decided to sell the business he was running and give himself a Ph.D. in Optimal Living. He couldn’t find a program that integrated everything he wanted to study—from old school philosophy, positive psychology and spirituality to nutrition, health & fitness, creativity, business and modern self-development. So, he decided to create his own doctoral program.
He earned his Master’s by creating an innovative company called PhilosophersNotes where he shares “More Wisdom in Less Time” by distilling the Big Ideas from one hundred of his favorite optimal living classics into fun, inspiring and super practical 6-page PDFs, 20-minute MP3s and 10-minute PNTV episodes. Optimal Living 101 (both the class and the accompanying book, A Philosopher's Notes) is his dissertation.
In one of his past lives, as a 24-year-old law school dropout turned Founder/CEO, Brian led the creation of eteamz-the world’s largest amateur sports site that currently (and profitably) provides team and league web sites and a comprehensive suite of services to over 3 million teams from over 120 countries around the world. (For example, Little League Baseball® uses the technology.) After spending the requisite time in “garage-mode,” eteamz won UCLA’s Business Plan competition, raised over $5 million of capital, grew from 3 to 45 employees in less than a year (including the CEO of Adidas and the eventual winner of Apprentice II) and was sold for over $13 million of stock and cash to The Active Network, Inc. in 2000.
After successfully leading the integration of the two companies as a Vice President at Active, Brian spent a few years as a philosopher, immersing himself in philosophy, psychology, mysticism and optimal living. He read hundreds of books and traveled a bit-studying Jesus in Jerusalem, Marcus Aurelius in the Danube of Hungary, Rumi in Konya, Turkey, and Socrates in Greece. On his return, he created thinkArete.com, a site where he began distilling the universal truths of optimal living. Over 10,000 people signed up to receive his daily newsletter where he shared the wisdom of his favorite teachers, showing how everyone (from Nietzsche to Buddha to Emerson) is saying the same thing.
In 2004, in an effort to integrate his philosophical and entrepreneurial selves (yes, he’s a Gemini :) and to put the truths he was studying into practice, Brian created Zaadz (now Gaia)-a company named after the Dutch word for seed committed to leveraging world-class social networking tools to connect, inspire and empower people committed to transforming their lives and our planet. (Think: Facebook for people who want to change the world.)
As the Philosopher & CEO of Zaadz, he raised $3 million to finance the launch of the business. Investors included a billionaire and his family and the CEO of Whole Foods. Feeling the dharmic pull to immerse himself back into studying and living the universal truths, Brian sold Zaadz to Gaiam, Inc. (Nasdaq: GAIA) in the summer of 2007.
Before all of that, Brian graduated Magna Cum Laude with Phi Beta Kappa honors from UCLA where he studied Psychology and Business. Brian has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal and various other publications on everything from philosophy and business to his vision on how to change the world. He has presented on various panels, served as a judge for the Anderson School at UCLA’s Business Plan writing competition, and given lectures on conscious capitalism, entrepreneurial finance and the Internet economy at USC’s Marshall School of Business, Claremont McKenna and Cal Tech.
Brian is also a contributing author in Michael Strong’s book Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs & Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World’s Problems where he joins Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Muhammad Yunus, legal reform expert Hernando de Soto and others in discussing how we can leverage entrepreneurialism as a force for good. His chapter focuses on the role of the conscious entrepreneur in transforming our world.
Praise for Brian Johnson
Fans of A Philosopher's Notes
"Brian Johnson has written a wonderful book on optimal living that is very easy to read and has invaluable suggestions on how to live authentic, successful, loving, and happy lives. There is great wisdom in this book to help enrich anyone’s life no matter what their age. I wish this book was available 40 years ago when I was just starting out on my own life journey. I whole heartedly recommend it."
— John Mackey, co-Founder & co-CEO of Whole Foods
"A great resource to live life at your absolute best."
— Robin Sharma, author of the #1 international bestseller The Leader Who Had No Title
"Curiosity can kill cats but it can also create cool cats and Brian Johnson is, no doubt, the coolest cat I know. If I could install a "chip" in Chip's head that allowed me to download this book all day long, I'd do it in a minute. Or maybe not, because one of the brilliant truths of "A Philosopher's Notes" is the visceral sense of discovery you experience each time you turn the page. These notes are more than streams, they are raging rivers of wisdom and reading just a half dozen pages at a time will sustain you for a week."
— Chip Conley, Founder of Joie de Vivre Hotels and author of PEAK and Emotional Equations
"Brilliant! Brian Johnson has a rare gift for fresh-squeezing timeless wisdom and serving it up with a grin. Every single page of this phenomenal little book is packed with life-changing insights and down-to-earth charm. Prepare to get smarter, healthier and happier from the moment you pick it up!"
— Pilar Gerasimo, Editor in Chief, Experience Life Magazine
Students of Optimal Living 101
"Optimal Living 101 is yet another example of how Brian is able to congregate the wisdom of living and dead men and women, and enable you to apply it to your own life - and then actually start LIVING it. That's the difference - Brian bridges the gap, and helps you begin to integrate all this wisdom into your day-to-day life. It's just not something most of us (well, at least not me, anyways) can do on our own... I can't think of anything more valuable. I'm so grateful I found Brian's Philosophers Notes and took Optimal Living 101"
- Michelle
"Brian is a master in the art of living. The wisdom, courage, truth and love that his presence exudes is nothing short of astoundingly spectacular! Lucky for us, he has created the ultimate crash course on how to live a kick-ass life!
The flow of the classes felt similar to chatting with a wise old best friend. I have yet to come across a more potent, powerful, and *practical* product for increasing my everyday overall quality of life.
Optimal Living 101 has brought me clarity on my purpose, my relationships, and most of all, on my understanding of self. I can’t recommend this course enough!!"
- Jacob
"Imagine having the ability to listen to and re-listen and reinforce optimal living thoughts and strategies over and over again. Do you think your life would change for the better? My life certainly has.
Although I was not able to participate on the live calls every week, I have used the Optimal Living 101 mp3 recordings to listen to the content on a daily basis. The discussions and ideas covered are just that powerful that it is like having a one way conversation with the leading Optimal Living 101 coach in the world today, Mr. Brian Johnson.
I have long been a fan of the Philosopher Notes, but these calls bring those concepts and ideas covered in the notes to life. The recordings reinforce those ideas that not only make us better human beings, but they help improve the world around us as well. It is hard to say I have one favorite session because they are all so good. If you want to bring Optimal Living 101 to life and feel like you are having a one on one conversation with Brian Johnson where he coaches you on all these important concepts, then you can't find a better offer and way to improve your life. I highly recommend the Optimal Living 101 calls and I am sure you will agree they are worth the investment of your time and money."
- Derek
"I have read a plethora of self help, positive psychology and self development books, but never managed to find the one that really fitted. I am dubious of all these get rich quick schemes, or programs that promise quick results offered over the internet. It is difficult to know who you can trust and what will really offer true value to yourself- Brian believes in sustained growth, honesty and authenticity and Optimal Living definitely embodies this approach.

Optimal Living is most definitely the class I never had and I am truly inspired and astonished by the affect it has had on my life. Brian's wisdom and generosity is second to none. His enthusiasm and knowledge is inspiring and his delivery always promises to be passionate, energetic and contagious. "The world needs demonstrators more than it needs teachers"- and Brian is the greatest demonstrator I have ever had the privilege to be introduced to.

I hope that you feel inspired to be involved as these will be the most valuable lessons you have ever learned."
- Vicky
"I paid for the optimal living 101 calls and even though I couldn’t take part due to the time difference, I got and continue to receive great benefits from listening to the recordings and implementing the big ideas. This is about living your best life now, with specific methodology, no secrets. And it’s fun, in fact Brian emphasizes that fun/playfulness is an essential part of optimal living. Now that’s good news"
- David
"I not only enjoyed the Optimal Living 101 series, but found it uplifting and enlightening. It was definitely one of my lifetime's most memorable 'take your breath away' experiences. I am so glad that Brian decided to share his genius."
- Adran
Brian Johnson is the Philosopher + CEO of en*theos. He also created PhilosophersNotes, taught Optimal Living 101, wrote a little book called A Philosopher's Notes, is featured in the documentary Finding Joe and has a monthly "Big Ideas" column in Experience Life magazine. Learn more about Brian »
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