Harlan Kilstein is the founder of Completely Keto, a lifestyle blog featuring keto-friendly recipes, author of the “Completely Keto Cookbook” and creator of the Speed Keto diet plan. Kilstein is also owner and publisher of “Dogington Post” and a marketing expert who has helped clients generate over $100 million dollars in sales.

Thrive Global : What Gives You Energy?

Harlan Kilstein: Helping people get results and receiving positive feedback in return is, without a doubt, what gives me the most energy. Take my work with Completely Keto and Speed Keto, for example. Customers have told me that my teachings have helped them not only lose weight, but get rid of anxiety, sleep better, and become healthier and happier.

Hearing these things gives me an extra boost of energy that powers me through the day. You don’t always get feedback for your work — no matter how large your following might be — but I’ve learned to appreciate it whenever it does come.

Thrive Global : What is Your Secret Life Hack?

Harlan Kilstein: To be frank, it’s my ketogenic diet. Adopting this way of eating has seriously changed my life. I’d even go as far as to say that it has increased my lifespan by ten to twenty years!

It all began a couple of years ago when my doctor diagnosed me with something called Syndrome X — a collection of different health imbalances that caused my body to store fat rather than burn it. I was horrifically insulin resistant and was at risk for high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and more.

In the end, it was keto that got me out of that rut. I managed to push the reset button, live healthier, and become happier.

Thrive Global : Name a Book that Changed Your Life

Harlan Kilstein: If I had to pick just one book it would be “Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment” by George Leonard. I’ve read it a dozen times and I frequently recommend it to friends and colleagues because it truly gave me a new outlook on life.

Leonard writes about differing expectations — how, for example, there are some people who expect overnight success, so they work and work but only end up burning themselves out. Then, there are people who start something, reach a plateau, and stay there their entire life, either by choice or because they give up.

Finally, he discusses the people who realize growth comes in spurts. They are the ones that know to be patient, not only with themselves but with the journey.

The moral of Leonards’s book can be applied to literally anything: Go slow, push and push if you have to, but be patient. Success comes at different rates, and if you work hard for long enough without burning yourself out, you’ll get there.

Thrive Global : Tell us About Your Relationship with Your Phone, does it Sleep with You and Why?

Harlan Kilstein: I know that there are a lot of people out there who find it impossible to put their phones down, but that’s not the case for me. I’m the type of person who can just turn it off. I don’t answer calls or texts in bed. I don’t check my phone first thing in the morning or after brushing my teeth at night.

I’ve made sure to assign the important people in my life special ringtones so that if there’s ever an emergency, I will get their call. That goes for my brother and my kids, but everyone else? I’m sorry, but that would be a big “no.” It’s my time off, and I’m not going to worry about replying to text messages or keeping up with social media.

Thrive Global : How Do You Deal with Emails?

Harlan Kilstein: The quick answer is, I don’t. I have about seven or eight different email addresses right now, and each is dealt with a little differently. My public email address, which is undoubtedly the most active, is managed by someone else — so I hardly need to look at it.

All my private addresses have different purposes, which makes them easier to manage. If there is ever an emergency or legal issue, the basic system I use works pretty effectively at getting the important messages to my attention without them getting lost in the storm of collective work emails, offers, and spam.

Thrive Global : You Unexpectedly Find 15 Minutes in Your Day, What Do You Do with It?

Harlan Kilstein: As soon as I get any free time, I sit back, relax, and turn on some music. I work on creating playlists whenever I can, and I try to choose songs that will allow me to just zone out and take a step back from everything else.

If I have a little more time, reading is my go-to activity. I pull out my Kindle and allow myself to get sucked into a story or learn something new from the perspective of someone who knows better. There’s never a time where I can’t find anything I want to read. Lord only knows how many thousands of books I’ve read on my trusty ol’ Kindle.

Thrive Global : When was the Last Time You Felt Burnt Out and Why? How Did You Overcome It?

Harlan Kilstein: I’ve been lucky; it has been a while since I totally burned out. Going through a divorce a few years ago was pretty tough, but the passage of time, combined with a lot of reading, introspection, and meditation helped me overcome that dark period.

Surviving burnout and rough times is really all about finding peace, letting wounds heal, and distracting yourself with things that make you happy.

Thrive Global : When was the Last Time You Felt You Failed, and Did You Overcome It?

Harlan Kilstein: I’m the type of person that just doesn’t see failure as an option.

“Failure” isn’t a word in my vocabulary. It just means that I didn’t try hard enough, or didn’t take the time to revise what needed to be fixed. In my line of work, it’s very hard to fail — unless you just don’t put in the effort.

Plus, I believe whether we succeed or fail is all about mindset. In my opinion, it’s better to look at failures as something that we can learn from rather than as mistakes.

Thrive Global : Share With us a Quote That You Love and That Gives You Strength or Peace.

Harlan Kilstein: My favorite quote would have to be “Actions educate.” It’s not a very long one, but I don’t think that makes it any less powerful. It’s a bit of a variation on the more common “Actions speak louder than words” sentiment, although I see it a little differently.

In my mind, it’s all about making sure that you control how you react to people because the way others perceive you is important. If you want someone to listen to you, don’t get angry. Be calm, show them how you want to be treated, and maybe they’ll be kinder in return.

Harlan Kilstein :Helping people get results and receiving positive feedback in return is, without a doubt, what gives me the most energy. Take my work with Completely Keto and Speed Keto, for example. Customers have told me that my teachings have helped them not only lose weight, but get rid of anxiety, sleep better, and become healthier and happier.

Hearing these things gives me an extra boost of energy that powers me through the day. You don’t always get feedback for your work — no matter how large your following might be — but I’ve learned to appreciate it whenever it does come.

Thrive Global: What is Your Secret Life Hack?

Harlan Kilstein :To be frank, it’s my ketogenic diet. Adopting this way of eating has seriously changed my life. I’d even go as far as to say that it has increased my lifespan by ten to twenty years!

It all began a couple of years ago when my doctor diagnosed me with something called Syndrome X — a collection of different health imbalances that caused my body to store fat rather than burn it. I was horrifically insulin resistant and was at risk for high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and more.

In the end, it was keto that got me out of that rut. I managed to push the reset button, live healthier, and become happier.

Thrive Global: Name a Book that Changed Your Life

Harlan Kilstein :If I had to pick just one book it would be “Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment” by George Leonard. I’ve read it a dozen times and I frequently recommend it to friends and colleagues because it truly gave me a new outlook on life.

Leonard writes about differing expectations — how, for example, there are some people who expect overnight success, so they work and work but only end up burning themselves out. Then, there are people who start something, reach a plateau, and stay there their entire life, either by choice or because they give up.

Finally, he discusses the people who realize growth comes in spurts. They are the ones that know to be patient, not only with themselves but with the journey.