Fixing America’s Broken Educational System on Tola Talks – Ep #227

In this episode, Rich Tola dives deep into the pressing issue of education in America, asserting that the system is fundamentally broken. He shares his personal experiences as a substitute teacher in inner-city schools, highlighting the challenges faced by both students and educators. Tola emphasizes the importance of five key elements for success: desire, discipline, consistency of effort, accountability, and sacrifice, arguing that these traits are often more critical than formal education itself. He critiques the current educational practices, particularly the promotion of students who have not mastered essential skills, and calls for a complete overhaul of the system to better serve all students.

Tola passionately discusses the need for a more tailored approach to education, suggesting that separating students based on their learning capabilities and providing vocational training could be beneficial. He also critiques standardized testing, arguing that it often fails to reflect a student’s true potential and can create unnecessary stress. Throughout the episode, Tola’s fervor for improving education shines through, as he advocates for a system that prioritizes genuine learning and accountability over mere progression through grades.

Watch now and discover: → Education is failing in America and needs urgent reform. → Success is driven by desire, discipline, and sacrifice, not just education. → Promoting students without mastering skills harms their future learning. → Standardized tests create stress and do not reflect true student abilities. → Vocational training could provide practical skills for students who struggle academically.

Getting ready for Monday talking Tola Talks w/ Sam & Wren

Had a great time on LATalkRadio’s “Sam in the Morning” show this past Wednesday with Sam & Wren. You can isten to the show below by clicking the play button…I’m introduced at 11:07mins.

Thanks again Sam & Wren…it was fun talking Hollywood, pumpkin patches, Wall Street and the Oct 2nd re-launch of Tola TalksPeace – R

Do it Your Way

As part of my book event on August 1st, Mystic Journey Bookstore invited me to contribute to their blog and specifically called it “a personal message from you to our readers”.

Simply put, my message is this: Do it Your Way.

Rich TolaNo matter what conventional wisdom holds, and no matter what others believe you can and can not do. It doesn’t matter – you’re the only one that matters when it comes to what you believe is possible. Not to mention what you put in your mouth and what you do to preserve your body every day, i.e., diet and exercise. Which happens to be the exact same message you’ll get from my memoir, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood.

It’s 69 short and witty chapters about following the herd and living a wild and colorful life – with Wall Street excesses, exotic locales and scores of bad-boy romances with NYC strippers and wealthy married women. Then finding the peace and courage through Yoga to finally change my evil ways, evolve my soul, and follow my dreams to Hollywood.

Because anyone can change…if you believe you can and want it bad enough to confidently set your sights and try. Just like the women and children living in domestic violence shelters where we teach the benefits of Yoga. Upon completion of my film, Boulevard Zen, I founded The Boulevard Zen Foundation to bring the powers of Yoga to families overcoming adversity, specifically survivors of DV. So in 2005, after 20 years of wanting to change my lifestyle and really go for it on that daunting ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’, I became enamored with this 6,000 year-old mind-body-spirit practice that truly changed my life. Two years later I bought a one-way ticket to LA and never looked back.Rich Tola (Age 8)

I also went bust along the way. But did I fail? On the contrary, I succeeded in following my dreams and I’m still standing. Happily I might add, with a film, a self-published book in paperback, digital and audio (narrated by me), and more than 15 hours of instructional Yoga videos on the market. Not too bad for a poor Sicilian kid from Trenton, NJ who overcame the odds and went on to graduate from the Wharton and Kellogg business schools with no particular background in the Arts.

So anything is possible, wouldn’t you say? Just Do it Your Way.

Hope to see you there! – R
RichTolaBookTalk

Welcome to a new Fat Burning lifestyle!

What does fat burning mean to you?  Is it a specific thing, or action, or result?  To me it’s a lifestyle.  I know we hear that word a lot and in too many scenarios, but for the most part we all know what lifestyle means, right?  Mirriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “the typical way of life of an individual, group, or culture “.  I define it as the way you choose to live your life.  Yes, choose.

Because your choice of what’s “the typical way” for you impacts everything you do, and subsequently how you feel.  And how you feel is what really matters.  Because it permeates you, affecting your overall mental and physical well-being.  It’s simple really. Lifestyle = Actions = Feelings. So where am I going with all this?  I’m going to the three simple rules I reinforce in every one of my 15 minute fat burning workouts:  think positive, speak positive and feel positive.  And by positive I mean you can workout every day, you can make healthy choices about what you eat and drink every day, you can speak only positive words regarding any situation or circumstance – because there are positives in everything we experience, and finally, you can feel positive all the time by adhering to the first two simple rules.  Trust me. It works.  So forget about the potentially hazaradous lifestyle you think you currently have, because those are just thoughts you can change whenever you choose to.  So choose to join me for a fat burning lifestyle, one that includes working out every single day for at least the next 30 years.  And I’ll see you tomorrow.

Peace – R