Taking the Leap
Taking the Leap Podcast hosted by Robert Dickie III discusses changes in our global economy impacting the way we work and live. For young professionals starting their careers, mid-career professionals navigating changes and late-career professionals thinking about starting an encore career, Robert and his guests discuss the global economy, technology, workplace developments, and all the latest changes impacting our professional lives.
Sat, June 22, 2024
The Wright Formula: Building and Leading a World-Class Hospitality Business
Our guest today is Larry Wright Jr., the CEO and President of Wright Investments. His multi-generational family business represents over 200 hotels and 26,000 hotel rooms in 28 states. They specialize in hospitality investments, hospitality management, and hotel and real estate capital projects. Larry graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. He then earned his Master's Degree at NYU and graduated from the Harvard Business School OPM program. Larry is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and an avid outdoorsman. I am excited to learn more from Larry about the hospitality industry, the story of how his father got started, what Larry learned leading his company through the COVID shutdowns that radically impacted his business, and how he inspired confidence in his staff during challenging times. I also have questions on how he navigates today's difficult political climate while serving customers, why continued learning is important to him and his career development, and what books have impacted him most. This will be a fascinating discussion, so let’s jump right in.
Sat, June 15, 2024
Leading in Challenging Times - Christine Assouad, CEO of Dunkin Lebanon
Our guest today is Christine Assouad, the CEO of Dunkin Donuts Lebanon and Semson Lebanese Cuisine. She has been successfully growing and leading restaurant brands in the Middle East for over 27 years. She is a board member of Food and Beverage companies in the Middle East and provides business workshops at conferences in in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Lebanon. Her work also includes business development, franchising, and acquisitions across the MENA markets. Christine is passionate about supporting female entrepreneurship through the “Empowering Tribe” community, where she helps provide online classes, bootcamps, and one-on-one CEO coaching to empower female entrepreneurs to achieve their full potential. Christine earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from the American University of Beirut. She received a Master of Science in Food Science from McGill University and a Master of Marketing from the ESA Business School. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School President’s Program and a member of the Young Presidents Organization, also known as YPO. I am really excited to learn more from Christine about her journey leading various businesses, overcoming obstacles in her career, reinventing herself at 47, mentoring next-generation leaders, and her passion for spreading a little happiness and joy in all she does. I know you will be motivated and inspired to hear her story, so let's jump in.
Mon, May 27, 2024
Behind the Menu: Jim Klonaris' Recipe for Iconic Restaurants and Resilience
Our guest today is Jim Klonairs. Jim and his wife, Lori Klonaris, make up a dynamic team that has changed the face of Knoxville's hospitality and restaurant scene for the past 30 years. Together, they are the co-founders of Spaces in the City, where Lori is the CEO, and Jim is the creative genius behind the iconic Knoxville restaurants and spaces like the Kalamata Kitchen, Cafe4, Kefi, Vida, The Vault, The Press Room, The Square Room, City Catering, and Bella in Maryville. Jim is a serial entrepreneur, having worked in multiple industries, including hospitality, janitorial, consulting, real estate, and commercial development. Jim earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture, Interior Design, and Graphic Design from the prestigious University of Tennessee. Jim is also active in his local community, supporting the Prison Ministry Men of Valor as an executive board member. I am excited to learn more from Jim and what he has learned as a serial entrepreneur, the leaps he has made in his journey, how he overcame bankruptcy early in his career, and the importance he places on education and personal growth.
Fri, May 03, 2024
From Graduation to Retirement: Navigating Life's Insurance Needs
Adam Hancock is a national award-winning State Farm Agent from Montrose, Colorado. He has a wealth of experience as a third-generation state farm agent and is a recipient of their prestigious President’s Club. Adam got his professional start in the United States Navy, owned a landscaping business, and then followed in his family's footsteps into the insurance industry. Adam studied engineering at Colorado Mesa University and has his BA in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. In this conversation, we'll explore Adam’s journey from the Navy to State Farm and the key questions young people, middle-career professionals, and those nearing retirement should ask about their insurance coverages and needs for their life stage. I’m interested in unpacking these questions and many more to ensure our listeners have the proper protections for their families and that your long-term objectives are being met so lets jump in!
Sat, April 27, 2024
The Forte Focus: Mental Wellness Support For Today's Workforce
William Norvell, the co-founder and President of Forte, a company that's revolutionizing the way businesses support their most valuable asset: their people. Under William's leadership, Forte's mission is not just to provide counseling services but to transform the culture of corporate mental health. William brings a wealth of experience from venture capital, private equity, and investment banking. He has a degree in Finance from the University of Alabama and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a principal at Sovereign’s Capital, co-founder, podcast host, and contributor of The Faith Driven Entrepreneur. In this conversation, we'll explore William's journey from a keen investor to a compassionate entrepreneur, the challenges and triumphs of building a startup to tackle workplace stress, and his vision for a world where mental health is prioritized as physical health in our work environments. Join us as we unpack the story behind Forte and learn from William's incredible insights on mental health, entrepreneurship, and creating change within the corporate landscape. To learn more about Forte visit their website: https://www.getforte.com/ To listen to The Faith Driven Entrepreneur visit their website: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast
Thu, April 18, 2024
From Battlefield to Boardroom: The Transition from the CIA to CEO
Todd Wilcox has a fascinating career journey, truly living the American rags-to-riches story. Born in a low-income neighborhood in South Tampa with a single mother Todd grew up helping raise his siblings when a mentor changed his life. Convinced that education was his path out he earned an Army ROTC scholarship to the University of Tampa. Upon graduating, he went on to serve as a rifle platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm. Upon promotion to Captain, Todd volunteered to transfer to the US Army Special Forces branch, and after earning his Green Beret, he commanded a Special Forces A-team in counter-terrorism in East Asia. After 8 years of military service, he resigned to accept a position with the CIA to join the global war on terrorism. Todd left the CIA in 2006 to create Patriot Defense Group (PDG), a defense contracting company dedicated to serving those who defend America. Since then, Todd has started multiple other related businesses and has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal and through awards such as the Orlando Business Journal “Veterans of Influence” and the Ernst and Young "Entrepreneur of the Year." Todd serves on the board of the National Defense University Foundation, the Rand Corporation Center for Middle East Public Policy and the Orlando Economic Partnership. He has a degree in Finance from the University of Tampa and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Presidents Program. Todd is also an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Show Notes: 3:00 – Todd shares how to prepare as an entrepreneur for future threats and the importance of instilling resilience in yourself. 5:00 – Todd gives insight into the events that are happening in the Middle East and Ukraine. 9:00 – Bob asks Todd to share what he has learned throughout his career as he has accomplished a myriad of different disciplines. Todd shares his upbringing, beginning in Tampa. He opens up about the key learnings that he believes contributed to his future success. 15:00 – Todd touches on the culture shock that came with joining the army. He then talks about the biggest inflection point that he noticed moving from a young army officer to special forces and the challenges that accompanied these transitions. 23:00 – Hollywood vs. Reality– Todd touches on the differences he sees in his career in the agency as opposed to the way it is depicted in media that we consume. “It would be a really boring show if they showed you everything that actually went on.” 28:00—Todd discusses how much of Patriot Defense is working with the US government versus commercial services. Todd defines “open source intelligence” and “big data analytics.” “The amount of data that is publicly available is kind of scary.” 35:00 – Todd gives his advice as an intelligence officer to traveling busi
Tue, March 19, 2024
The Green Credit Wave: Carbon X Solutions' Mission to Monetize Solar
Our guests today are Cody Newton and Dr. Doug Cleveland. Cody Newton is a serial entrepreneur, having started or been involved in over 20 companies, including professional sports, franchising, direct sales, and the energy markets. He is dedicated to democratizing renewables, carbon credits, and recycling for home and business owners in his latest project with Carbon X Solutions. Dr. Douglas Cleveland is a trained Anesthesiologist from the University of Chicago with a Medical Economics Certificate from the Harvard Business School. Doug is also an entrepreneur with expertise in process and operational efficiencies and shares Cody’s passion for the energy and renewables space and the impact it can have on the environment. I found this story fascinating, as two entrepreneurs with vastly different backgrounds saw the same problem and figured out a way to complement each other with their diverse approaches to business. They built a team and tackled a problem many experts said was impossible. This conversation will highlight the complexities and challenges of starting a new venture when everyone around you says it can’t be done. If there is one thing I have learned from all these interviews, it is that entrepreneurs almost always have to defy the odds and many naysayers along the way to launch a product or service that is new, innovative, and world-changing. Learn more at www.CarbonXSolutions.com Show Notes: 3:00 - Doug begins by sharing how he entered his entrepreneurial journey. He shares how he started out in med school to become an anesthesiologist and started practicing anesthesiology but became restless to do more and learn more. 6:00 - Doug shares his background, where he got his various degrees, and where he completed his professional training. 7:00 - Cody shares his background of growing up in a small farm town, embarking on getting a degree from Kansas State and pivoting to become an entrepreneur. 13:00 - Doug discusses breadth vs. depth in the medical field and how that translates to his entrepreneurial journey. Quote: “Riches are in niches.” 16:00 - Doug and Cody share some “key lessons” they learned early in their careers that would be valuable to young people starting out in their careers to help speed up their entrepreneurial journey. They share the 26:00 - Cody and Doug share how they discovered carbon credits and why they were led to participate in this “green movement” to help the environment, as well as businesses and homeowners participating in this movement. 31:00 - Cody discusses the posture of his heart toward smaller and medium-sized businesses when involving them in this industry. He shares his goal to make this attainable for small and medium-sized companies to utilize thi
Sat, February 24, 2024
Curtain Call: The Story Behind A Hollywood Journey - Danny Fehsenfeld
Danny Fehsenfeld is a multifaceted talent in the entertainment industry, known for his versatile contributions as an actor, singer/songwriter, public speaker, and writer. With a rich career that spans across various mediums, Danny has left his mark on audiences worldwide. He is recognized for his role as "Gil" on "The Young & The Restless" and his compelling presence on YouTube with over 250 million views. As the face of national campaigns for brands like Jeep, Chrysler, and 5 Hour Energy, Danny's influence in advertising is undeniable, with award-winning Super Bowl commercials and notably setting trends with his viral campaign for Nordnet. His voice acting prowess is showcased in the Oscar-winning "Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse," and he stars in several major animation features, including "Chickenhare & The Hamster Of Darkness" and "Latte & The Magic Waterstone," both acclaimed on Netflix. Danny is also the voice behind "Bogota" in the globally celebrated series "Money Heist" (La Casa De Papel). On-screen, Danny's notable roles include Nelson Stone in the TV series "Scarlett" and appearances in "The Upshaws" and "The Day You Found Me." His vocal talents extend to the music industry, backing icons like Celine Dion and John Legend, and leading the praise band at the Crystal Cathedral. Growing up on the road with a public speaker father, Danny's early life was filled with travel and homeschooling experiences that shaped his passion for art and communication. Today, he continues to inspire through his performances and as a speaker at various events, embodying the transformative power of creativity and imagination. Show Notes: 4:00 – Danny shares his story, his “La La Land” journey, as he falls in love with singing and acting and begins to follow his dream. He talks about the tenacity and faith it takes to follow a dream to Hollywood. 12:00 – The entertainment industry is built on selling perception. The entertainment industry is not so much interested in what is best but what is being bought. He shares how to become and remain relevant in the industry. “ Art itself is always a reflection of the culture from which it is derived… anytime you try to regulate art, it ceases to exist; art in its purest form is freedom.” 20:00 – Danny shares his first “big break” and how that altered his perception of his finances. He then talks about experiencing an empty feeling after starring in a #1 film as he immediately started to think about what came next. “Who I am as a man always takes precedence over my accolades.” 26:00 – “How soon can I buy my freedom?” Danny shares what things were most important to him– not being bound to a day job, freedom to travel, etc– and what he did to achieve those goals financially. 32:00 – How to be
Sun, February 11, 2024
Decrypting Crypto: Navigating the Blockchain Revolution - Hervé Larren
Today's distinguished guest is Hervé Larren, the entrepreneurial force behind Airvey.io , a company dedicated to building, supporting, and providing expert advice to Web 3.0 ventures. Hervé emerged as a pioneer in the cryptocurrency realm, adopting Bitcoin and blockchain technology early in 2013 and becoming one of the early initial crypto miners in the United States. His strategic foresight led to capitalizing on his mining endeavors through public vehicles with Grayscale, and he has recently been elected to be a special council member for the ApeCoin DAO. Throughout his illustrious career, Hervé has imparted his knowledge to over a dozen prestigious projects, such as Horizen Labs and the innovative Yuga Labs’ ApeCoin. His vision was instrumental in the early work in Decentraland and helping create one of the largest commercial zones in the the Metaverse. He also played a key role in developing the Horizen ZEN token. Hervé's expertise has not gone unnoticed; his profile has been elevated through features in leading publications, including CoinTelegraph, Forbes, Bloomberg Magazine, and The Huffington Post, as part of the American Express Spotlight Series. His insights have graced television screens on Bloomberg, KTLA, and E! News. As a guest speaker, Hervé has shared his knowledge of the crypto and blockchain economic revolution at over 30 international conferences across 10 countries. Before venturing into the entrepreneurial landscape, Hervé honed his skills with prestigious tenures at luxury conglomerates LVMH and Pernod Ricard. An alumnus of the Harvard Business School Presidents' Program, Hervé also holds an MBA from Columbia Business School. His leadership qualities and keen insights have earned him membership in the elite Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) . Show Notes: "Nothing discussed in this podcast should be considered investment advice. This conversation is for informational and, hopefully, entertainment purposes only. Enjoy!" 03:47 - Hervé discovers "Plan B" = Bitcoin 08:30 - "If you mistrust your country, you will mistrust a digital currency they create." 12:30 - How did Hervé manage psychologically living at the cutting edge of a new technology movement when most of his peers did not understand it and thought it was crazy? 18:00 - What are the problems crypto was solving? This is what entrepreneurs do...find a problem and solve it. 20:00 - What are Hervé's predictions for the future and things he is excited about? Value investing and linear growth vs. network effects and metcalfe's law . 30:00 - Real-world problems and use cases for blockchain technology. 35:00 - These p
Tue, November 07, 2023
Bet It All & Live Fearless - Ryan Niles
Ryan is the Founder, President, and CEO of Niles Industrial Coatings in Fenton, Michigan which he has led for close to 21 years. NIC is a best-in-class safety, coatings, and technology company focused on commercial and industrial painting across North America. As a serial entrepreneur, Ryan has founded and led multiple companies in the home building, commercial scaffolding, commercial services, and investing areas. Ryan is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Medical Technology and is currently in the Harvard Business School President’s Program. Ryan is also a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO). Fun fact, Ryan and I both graduated from Grand Blanc High School, where I was a year ahead of him, so this was fun for me to connect with an old friend. I respect Ryan’s business intellect and how he leads by example, with humility and authenticity, and putting his people first. He has created a unique learning culture within his company and is having a noticeable impact on his community. He is an incredible husband and father who leads with character and integrity and knows how to live life to the fullest. You will enjoy this conversation, so let's jump in! Show Notes: 4:00 – Ryan begins by sharing his origin story. He shares his experience growing up in a family business and why he wanted to leave to chart his own path, leading into why he “took the leap.” He says that his father encouraged him to get out of the family business and pursue something more “stable.” 9:00 – Ryan talks about his experience being laid off from his job in 2002 and the emotions and lessons that came with that. He then begins to start his own business but struggles to get his family to get on board. With the support of his dad, he gets his new business started. Quote: “I see consistently that at your lowest point at your darkest hour in life, generally, that's when the seeds of your greatest successes are being planted and people just have to have faith through those dark seasons.” – Bob 12:00 – Ryan states that he wants to raise his kids to be fearless because he feels that fearlessness is what built him. 13:00 – Ryan shares how his wife supported him in the “unstable” parts of his career and how his dad’s partnership impacted his life and career. 15:00 – Rod breaks down the biggest pivots that he made and how fearlessness played into those, one of the decisions being joining YPO. How important is it to him to protect the fearless trait within him to grow and manage his business? Quote: “It amazed me. When you really want something, how much you can get done.” – Ryan 19:00 – Ryan delves into his business endeavors with his dad, where he experiences extreme risk-taking. He emphasizes the importance of having high trust with your partner, the power of negotiation
Tue, September 26, 2023
The Longevity Code: Exploring Health and Wellness with Dr. Darshan Shah
Dr. Darshan Shah is a health and wellness specialist, well-known surgeon, published author, tech entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Beautologie and Next|Health. As an expert on all body systems, he has performed over 10,000 surgical procedures, including trauma surgery, general surgery and plastic/reconstructive procedures. As a health and wellness specialist, he has advised thousands of patients on how to optimize their well-being and extend their lifespan, culminating in the creation of Next|Health, the "Apple Store" of Health and Wellness offering healthspan and lifespan-extending technology and treatments in a beautiful, welcoming environment. Dr. Darshan Shah started his training at an accelerated MD program at the age of 15 at the University of Missouri and earned his medical degree at the age of 21, becoming one of the youngest doctors in the United States. After surgical training in central California, Dr. Shah then continued his training at the Mayo Clinic, one of the most prestigious medical institutes in the county. After earning his board certification, he went on to open medical/surgical centers throughout California, as well as starting innovative tech companies, creating patented medical devices, and advising dozens of startups in medicine, finance, and tech. Dr. Shah's belief in continual education and self-improvement has earned him alumni status at Harvard Business School, Singularity University, and is a member of YPO (Young President’s Organization.) Dr. Darshan Shah is the oldest of three children. He is very close to his family and attributes his success to the values of hard work, passion for everything you do, and relentless tenacity taught to him by his parents. He lives in Malibu, California with his wife, and two children and loves to travel, exercise, and has a passion to continuously educate himself and others. SHOW NOTES: 2:20 – Bob asks Dr. Shah to share his origin story and how he was one of the youngest doctors in America to earn his medical degree. Dr. Shah shares what inspired him to pursue this career. Quote: “Going into surgery saved my medical career.” – Dr. Shah 5:30 – Dr. Shah shares how he found himself being 15 years old going into medical school. 6:50 – Dr. Shah discusses what inspired him to pursue medicine, even when discouraged. 11:20 – Bob asks Dr. Shah how he decided to operate his own business as well as practice medicine. Quote: “You quickly realize that [running a business] is a completely different skill set from being a doctor, and it is an additional skill set to be a leader.” – Dr. Shah 15:00 – Dr. Shah gives insight into how he started learning how to run a business when he was already an expert in surgery. 17:20 – Bob asks Dr. Shah what the 3 most important lessons are that he learned as a doctor starting his business. <stron
Wed, September 13, 2023
Career & Life Transformation: The Benefits of a Personal Coach - Bassel Hamwi
Bassel Hamwi has a fascinating career journey, having been in private equity and the banking industry along with being a CEO of start-ups and board member for 19 different companies. He spent 20 years as a senior staff member at the World Bank and was also a CEO and board member for over 12 years in start-ups and financial institutions. Bassel is currently the President of BASY Ventures, an investment and consulting company operating in the US, MENA, West and South Asia. BASY Ventures invests in asset-backed lending and the fintech space and also provides consulting, executive coaching, and board and family governance. Bassel is also the Chairman of GlobalTech, a technology investment and development group of companies operating in MENA, India, and the US. From 2005 to 2014, Bassel was the Founder and CEO of Bank Audi Syria, which became the country’s largest private lender. He is the founding member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) Levant Chapter and the Syrian-American Business Council. He was also a global board member of YPO from 2018 to 2022. Bassel holds an MBA in International Finance and a BBA in Business Computer Information Systems and Organizational Management from the University of North Texas and he is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Presidents Program and just started an executive leadership program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He has 32 years of expertise in the financial markets and has contributed to publications like the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and the New York Times. Show Notes: 4:00 – Bassel shares his origin story, upbringing, and how he got to the point he is now in his career. Quote– “I learn from my own mistakes, those are the lessons that are most powerful.” 11:30 – Bob asks Bassel what sparked his determination at a young age to work at the World Bank. 19:30 – Bob asks Bassel how he responded to the catastrophic events happening in his home country when he had to leave his friends and family behind. Bassel shares his learnings and advice in processing the event and pushing through. Quote– “Part of our identity comes from the reflection we have on people’s faces.” 27:00 – Bassel discusses some of the things that he is doing to get help so that he can continue being a leader. He mentions the help of his parents and the benefits of being coached. 33:00 – Bob emphasized that history repeats itself and that our nation’s freedom could be threatened at any time. He proceeds to ask for Bassel’s advice in preparing for these potential events and facing challenging situations. Quote– “I behave in a way that is consistent with my values.” 38:45 – Bassel begins to share what he is doing next and how he is continuing to grow, aligning himself with his values and beliefs.
Mon, September 04, 2023
Mustache Mortgage Minute - JP Sicotte
JP Sicotte is the branch leader for Movement Mortgage in Littleton, Colorado. He is passionate about helping every client find the ideal loan package for their home or investment property. He is best known for his short, insightful, "Mustache Mortgage Minute" videos on Linkedin and Instagram. JP is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and was a track and field athlete while he was a cadet. He served in the Air Force for over 23 years as a navigator of the RC135 and C-130 aircraft, having multiple deployments around the globe. He also completed his MBA in Finance from the University of Colorado. Homeownership and understanding real estate is a foundational tenet in building wealth. The market is very dynamic at the moment, with interest rates fluctuating and home prices on the move. Everyone I meet from young people starting out looking for their first home, to mid-career professionals looking for a vacation home, and late-career professionals considering downsizing or moving to their retirement destination…seems to be talking about real estate. I could not wait to have this conversation with JP and hear his insights on this market and advice for those ready to make "the leap". I know you will learn something new in this conversation. Show Notes: 4:00 – Bob asks JP to tell us what is happening in the American real estate and mortgage markets. JP unpacks this for the listeners who may be in the process of making a big decision. JP begins by discussing the high-interest rate and lack of affordability. 7:30 – JP encourages those in the market to get in now. He gives his housing market predictions and forecasts. 12:30 – JP discusses his belief in the significance of real estate for the American family building wealth. Quote– “When is the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. When is the next best time? Now.” 14:40 – Bob asks JP’s advice for newlywed young adults who are looking to buy their first home. Bob then asks JP what the wise things young adults can be doing now in preparation for buying their first home. 22:30 – JP advises how to improve your credit score in preparation for purchasing a home. 25:30 – JP gives his advice to people in mid-career who are looking for a vacation home. 28:00 – JP gives his thoughts on Airbnb vs. Vrbo 29:40 – Bob asks JP what those near retiring are asking and things they need to be doing in advance to prepare. 33:30 – JP talks about American homeowners tapping into equity to pay bills and pay down debt and gives his insight on the best ways. 37:30 – Bob touches on JP’s background and asks what drew him to the real estate industry from serving in the Air Force. JP gives how he applies his discipline and learnings from the military in his real estate and financing. 42:00 – Bob and JP reminisce on their favor
Mon, August 28, 2023
From Entrepreneur to Enterprise Sales - Jim Stirewalt
Jim Stirewalt started his career as an entrepreneur at the urging of his father. After growing and selling his company and learning the art of sales he jumped into enterprise sales, growing and leading international sales teams for iconic companies such as Kronons, SAP, and IBM. As Vice President of SAP, leading the Fashion and Retail business Jim helped grow the business by 247% in his final two years. Jim was head of World Wide Sales for IBM Watson Customer Engagement. During this time, he led the transformation of a 1,600-person sales team in charge of $1.6B in software sales. Furthermore, he helped lead an AI initiative to disrupt markets leading to a pipeline of new business over $100M. He later was part of a $2B divesture of the IBM Watson Customer Engagement business. He also has been the Chief Revenue Officer of CoreMedia Corp, President of Marketplacer, and SVP and Managing Partner of GreyOrange. Jim has vast experience in business, ranging from start-ups to global enterprises. Show Notes: 4:00 – Jim’s origin and the beginning of his fascination for building businesses. Jim talks about his entry into graphic design and the development of his small business and how he grew it into a full-service agency over a 7-year span. 13:45 – Jim breaks his journey into three parts: entrepreneurialism (“hustle and sell”), the power of the network, and execution. 19:00 – Jim talks about how he took the sales leader skills that he learned early on in his career and took it into his role in corporate America. 23:00 – Bob asks Jim’s advice that he would give to young people who might have a friend or a peer or mentor who is approaching them and trying to give them executive coaching. Jim’s advice, “seek people’s feedback actively.” Quote - “Pride is the biggest hindrance to growth.” 28:15 – Jim is in the second stage of his career. He discusses the failures and successes he has experienced and the lessons he is learning. The importance of knowing the product, the value proposition, and how it fits into the market. The 3 key elements of a successful deal are: First, execution sponsorship, second, business value assessment, third, mutually agreed sequence of events. 40:00 – Jim applies his learnings to a direct-to-consumer model. Jim discusses the consumption gap. 50:20 – Bob asks how Jim handles the complex changes and difficulties he experienced in his career. Jim talks about his experience before announcing a vast change in the company. 53:45 – Bob talks about how there will be times in your career where you will be facing a challenge or obstacle that is high stress and high stakes and you’re asking yourself, “how am I gonna execute this particular challenge?” Bob gives the advice to operate with a high level of character and integrity and be honest and take good care of your people. Jim advises to embrace the situation wholly and t
Sat, August 19, 2023
Adversity Makes the Leader - Kim Jeremic
Kim has been the President of multiple companies in the fashion and retail industry, spanning a twenty-year career where she led R&D, manufacturing, product design, marketing, and growing market share during some of the most dynamic and challenging retail environments. Kim is passionate about helping women in poverty and used her leadership and roles in companies to help develop and implement an industry-leading approach that provides opportunities for women providing true living wages that allow team members to have real opportunities and thrive and break the cycle of poverty. You will hear in this episode how Kim is finishing a mid-career sabbatical and entering the second phase of her career with new insights, motivations, and goals of how to best serve and inspire those around her and the next generation of leaders. Kim has studied finance at Queen’s University and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School President’s Program. She also just completed Oxford University’s “Reimagining Leadership Executive Program.” Kim is a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and has been a chapter chair and education chair, and has previously been on the Canadian board for YPO/WPO. Kim provides incredible insight and learning from her journey. As you will hear, Kim is a close friend of mine whom I have a great deal of respect and admiration. I have watched her over the past decade lead in many different environments. She consistently demonstrates class and grace while being tenacious in achieving every goal and overcoming any obstacle in her way. She is loved by all our classmates because she has a true servant-leader heart and cares about everyone she meets. Show Notes: (13:11) - Kim realizes a key to her success was to get near leadership and learn from people who had results. (17:30) - Kim gives advice to young people starting their careers today. Quote - "Success Leaves Clues" (23:00) - Discussion of the "Imposter Syndrome." (27:00) - The power of testing your assumptions. (29:00) - Kim talks about the importance and her learnings of taking a mid-career sabbatical. (41:00) - Bob and Kim discuss work-life balance and the challenge of going all in early in your career to achieve while still seeking balance. (48:45) - "My mess is my message." (49:30) - What Kim learned leading her company during COVID. "Cash is King and get lean fast!" Quote - "No decision is a decision and it is the worst decision you can make!" (1:00:45) - Kim talks about changes in the e-commerce business and what business leaders need to do. (1:07:00) - The importance of having a real relationship with your customer...connection with them. (1:10:00) - Advice to mid-career professionals who must leap a new direction or career. (1:16:00) - The importance of having a
Mon, August 07, 2023
Ukraine: Perspectives from Moscow - Vadim Belyakov
Vadim Belyakov is from Moscow, Russia and has been a serial entrepreneur since 1999 when ROST XXI Group was founded. ROST main activity was the importation and distribution of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) throughout the entire Russian Federation and it quickly became Russia’s leader in brand sales. In recent years, the company has shifted focus providing real-estate development and back office solutions to medium size multi-national companies doing business in Russia. Vadim is also the President of Uniland, a trading company that distributes a wide range of products to consumers in the Urals. He is a member of YPO and has won multiple awards to including Best Regional Learning Officer, Best Large Personal Event, and Best Overall Experience. He has his Master of Arts from the Russian Academy of Economy and is a graduate of London Business School and Harvard Business School. Since 2017 he has been working on the NotAlone App, which is an application for young people who feel alone, depressed, and struggle with Anxiety. The app uses innovative and life-changing technology like an AI bot, online forums, and 20 years of established clinical psychological experience to provide users with various strategies to meaningfully connect and deepen healthy and positive self-awareness. Show Notes: Not Alone App - Vadim's creation to help people dealing with feeling alone, depressed, and struggling with anxiety. (15:00) - How is Vadim dealing with the conflict? What is the mood in Moscow and how are people reacting? (24:00) - How has life changed in Russia and Moscow? (29:00) - President Putin still has the majority support of everyone in Russia. (30:00) - If you are a Russian and oppose the war you are alienated. If you travel outside the country you are alienated. You feel like a compete refugee. You are judged by the actions of the government not your own character as a person. (36:00) - How are Russian businesses dealing with sanctions? (45:00) - What do Russian people say is the reason this conflict started? (52:00) - In Negotiations you understand the term ZOPA (Zone Of Possible Agreement). Before the start of the conflict we had a small ZOPA area but now Vadim believes there is none. (1:12:13) - "I believe that iron curtains today are built in our brains by propaganda. It is no longer physical walls." - Vadim (1:15:00) - Professor Rawi Abdelal - HBS Case Study "Russia: A Drama in Three Acts" (1:21:00) - Why Vadim is worried that nuclear weapons could be used. (1:24:00) - "My heart is for peace." - Vadim One final key insight. Vadim does not believe Russia has aims to occupy a country of 40M people that do not want them there. That would not be possible in his mind. If that is the case. What is their objective? Let
Sat, July 29, 2023
Charting the Course: A Visionary's Journey Through Leadership and Life - Adam Eiseman
Adam is the CEO and founder of the Lloyd Group , a prominent managed service provider for small and medium-sized businesses that provide services like asset management, help desk support, project management, cybersecurity, IT governance, and cloud services. Under Adam’s 28 years of leadership, the Lloyd Group has been named on the list of Inc 500 and Inc 5000 fastest-growing companies in America, along with many other accolades and recognitions, including employee satisfaction and corporate culture. Adam has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Adelphi University and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School President’s Program . He also completed the Entrepreneurs Organization MIT Birthing of Giants Program . Adam is a member of YPO (Young President’s Organization) and serves as the Learning Alliance Champion, and was the Chair of the Harvard Business School President’s Program. Show Notes: (11:00) - The key to growth and transformation is moving from thinking you know everything to admitting you know nothing and starting a lifelong journey of self-discovery and lifelong learning. (12:00) - Adam created six "Truth North Objectives" to measure everything against to ensure he did not waste any more of his life and stayed on track what is his "True North." 1 - Have a supportive fun, accepting, relationship with my spouse. 2 - Instill a sense of responsibility and humility in my children. 3 - Have a transparent and deep relationship with my children. 4 - Have a life of no regrets and fear will not stop me. 5 - Achieve a state of acceptance of myself and others. 6 - Have a balance of unplanned time with value-producing activities. (19:42) - What is a painted picture exercise? Why is this important for people to do. (23:30) - Why working at McDonalds was one of the most formative jobs he had in his life. "Hold your kids with open palms." (27:00) - "Your network is your net worth!" (29:35) - Adam and Sarah started their business in 1995 with a simple but profound Noble Purpose. "To create opportunities to learn, earn, and live better!" It all centers around building a team and community. "You need to put a process around your relationships!" (37:00) - How did Adam get started in business, accounting, and entrepreneurship? (41:00) - Everything I deal with in business is people related. Adam shares how the smartest people in the world with poor people skills get passed up and don't advance in their careers. (46:00) - The most successful people have consistent integrity. "One of the things I regret most is conversations I have had when I was still emotional about it. "You need great rela
Mon, May 08, 2023
Lebanon - The Cross Roads Between East and West - Richard Haykel
Richard Haykel is the Chairman of Haykel Hospital S.A.L. in Tripoli, Lebanon and Executive Director of CARA Ventures, LLC. Richie has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Tufts University, a Master’s of Hospital and Health Care Administration and Management from the University of Paris Cite. He is also a Harvard Business School Executive Program graduate and OPM 49. Richie is a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and is home based in Tripoli, Lebanon. Show Notes: Lebanon has always been at the crossroads between East and West. "It plays a role much bigger than its geography." A $6 tax for What's App launched the Oct 2019 revolution. (11:30) The financial system collapse has led to 80% of the population in poverty, runs on banks, life savings wiped out for many. Prior to this, the poverty rate was around 20%. Overnight, a majority of the population was plunged into poverty. (20:00) "Morally, we needed to walk the talk with our kids." We came back to make a difference! "Everything rises and falls on leadership." - John Maxwell (22:45) What are the warning signs that this could be coming to your country? (30:00) Why are we starting to see a reverse migration from America? (31:00) Why are tenured professors at Columbia and Princeton afraid of losing their job? (37:00) There is no dollar alternative at the moment. (46:00) Bitcoin, crypto winter, FTX collapse and the future of cryptocurrencies...and real estate? (49:00) How did the pandemic impact the middle east and Lebanon? Lebanon has the ability to adapt. (54:00) How does Hezbollah impact everything in Lebanon today? (56:00) What is the impact of Saudi Arabia and MBS in the middle east? (1:04:00) The pivot to Asia has destroyed the trust of the United States in the middle east. (1:18:00) Why do you invest so much in advanced education and continued education later in your career? (1:24:00) Book Recommendations - Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Deep Purpose by Ranjay Gulati, Glass Half Broken by Boris Groysberg Podcast "After Hours" (1:30:00) Leadership insights while leading during a crisis. (1:34:00) What would Richie say to the American people if he was asked to give a State of the Union address?
Wed, May 03, 2023
Life Lessons and Investing Strategies with Grant Johnson - Managing Director Benevolent Capital
Show Notes: Grant is a graduate of Brown University and is finishing his executive program at Harvard Business School. He is a Young President’s Organization (YPO) Member. He is the managing director of Benevolent Capital . Montgomery Securities – Institutional sales program First non-MBA member to be hired in the program. “Sometimes it is about timing. Sometimes it is about who you know more than anything else!” Venture Capital is for very early-stage companies to help them get off the ground. Private Equity is generally for later-stage companies looking to grow or transition. Grant became a “Sherpa” at Montgomery Securities (9:00) One of his first tests early in his career was to see if he had the ability to tell people that he didn’t know the answer. Always tell the truth and be honest. Don’t be afraid to apply for jobs where you don’t have all the skills. Skills can be taught. Hiring managers are looking for character, integrity, honesty, interpersonal skills, and communication skills. (12:45) Grant highlights a learning experience as the captain of his crew team when he lost a position in the first boat. “Sometimes out of the bad comes the great!” You really learn about yourself and life when things go wrong. Covid presented a learning and growing opportunity for us all. (17:45) Why is tenacity so important? Why did Montgomery Securities start by only hiring Athletes? (24:00) When Warren Buffet is wrong he is barely wrong but when he is right BIG and for a long time. Why did Grant leave Greenwich, Connecticut, and New York City? Wanted a state with no state income tax A friend told him to check out Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN Chattanooga was voted “Best small town” in America twice . (34:45) Grant’s advice to his daughters “Free to be you, free to be me.” (40:00) “Our country needs the ability to have more debate.” (43:10) “You feel like we are fighting and arguing and I feel like we are finally communicating.” Grant uses a quote from the movie Jerry McGuire to help demonstrate a point on modern-day politics. Do we believe in free speech and diversity and inclusion or do we not? Today many only believe in this as long as you agree with them. (54:00) How to build a company with a billion in revenue? The importance of a robust board Your customers are raving evangelists for your product or service “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast.” – Peter Drucker (55:00) How is Grant training his
Mon, May 01, 2023
Jess Mah - Entrepreneurship Lessons from a Unicorn Breeder
Jess is the founder and executive chairman of inDinero, a business that runs thousands of companies' tax, accounting, and finance operations. She is also the Co-Founder and Chair of Astonishing Labs and founding partner of MahWay. This venture builder creates innovative, industry-changing billion-dollar businesses that improve the world. She earned her Associate of Arts from Bard College and her Bachelor's in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley . She is in the Harvard Business School President’s Program and a Young President’s Organization (YPO) member. She enjoys flying her commercial multi-engine pilot's license in her spare time with an instrument rating. She started her first business in high school and was has been on the cover of Inc Magazine and was recognized on both Inc. and Forbes Magazine's "30 under 30" superstar entrepreneurs. Her combined companies have a value of over one billion dollars. Show Notes: Jess's entrepreneurial journey started at 13 because she knew she "did not want to work for anyone else." She started a business to solve her own problem and then used it to solve others. Barnes and Noble was her first mentor as she was pulling books off the shelve to learn about business. She realized early how important it was to learn and grow and later get mentors and coaches to help her build her business. (11:45) Business got easier as it got larger and scaled. The hardships of the early days will not last forever. (14:30) Don't compare yourself to others...you are in competition with yourself. Focus on your "next step" and your journey! Jess likes the ratio of focusing 80% on the next 45 days, 10% on the next quarter, and 10% on the next one to five years out. (15:50) "People consistently overestimate what they can get done in the next 30 days but underestimate what they can achieve in five to ten years." (17:15) Entrepreneur communities are super important to support each other on your journey. (18:45) The real challenge is our mindset and attitude. Most entrepreneurs have an understanding of what needs to happen next. (24:25) The greatest growth comes from taking advantage of the latest trends! How are you going to leverage AI? (26:10) Time blocking is a productivity hack that people can use to accomplish more. Elon Musk does this. (30:00) What is the difference between the entrepreneurial vs. employee mindset? First, the biggest difference is you have to have a sense of ownership. Everything starts and ends with you. Second, you have to be optimistic at all times. This also bleeds over to your personal life. Third, you need to grow yourself constantly. How do you evolve as a person and leader? (32:15) "There is no such thing as work-life balance. As an entrepreneur, your business is part of you. You don't have spouse li
Mon, March 27, 2023
Sustainably Feeding the World from the Desert - Miguel Calatayud
Miguel Calatayud is the CEO and Director of IWI, an innovative algae nutrition company building sustainable and scalable nutritious food to feed the world’s growing population. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Universidad Pública de Navarra, a Master’s of Finance from ESIC, a Master's of Global Logistics from ICIL, an MBA from Comilas Pontifical University, and also graduated from the Harvard Business School President's Program. Miguel is a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and is home based in Houston, Texas. He has spent the past 25 years in the food and agriculture industries and is now helping to revolutionize both with new food tech and agri-tech. His revolutionary technology uses non-arable land, salt water, and the sun as their energy source to produce the world’s best omega-3 and complex proteins. In the process, he is creating jobs and new industries for local populations. IWILife.com has been featured on CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Guardian, Fast Company, and many other outlets. Show Notes: Algae omega has three times the absorption rate of fish oil omega. Algae protein is better than egg and whey, has all the amino acids needed, and is highly soluble. You can grow 20 pounds of essential amino acids per acre of peas per year, 71 pounds of essential amino acids of beef per acre, per year, but with algae, you can grow 6,000 pounds of essential amino acids per acre per year! This is a massive breakthrough! Furthermore, it does not use current freshwater or agricultural land but rather previously unusable desert land and salt water. You need 9,000 gallons of fresh water to produce 1 pound of amino acids from peas, and 17,000 gallons of fresh water to produce 1 pound of essential amino acids from beef, and with algae, they use ZERO fresh water. (11:00) - Miguel tells his origin story and the idea behind IWILife.com in 2016. Miguel announces the launch of a new product, a three-ounce protein drink with 17 grams of natural protein that has all the branch chain amino acids better than egg and whey. 33% of daily needed protein...an "8-hour protein!" The three most important aspects of a successful food, drink, or protein...Miguel says it is "Taste, Taste, Taste!" (19:30) Miguel shares his go-to-market strategy. (21:30) Miguel shares how he builds and grows a company during a difficult economy post-COVID. "The challenge is everything we are doing is new. This is also a new category. We have to explain it to the customer." Strong clinical studies on the product and thousands of consumers raving about the product is helping growth. "Many times in life, you have to choose between making an impact or doing a profitable business. In our case, they are both the same!" We are democrati
Tue, March 14, 2023
Redefining the Art of Law - Kevin Thompson
Kevin Thompson is the Co-Founder of the Thompson Burton Law Firm in Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. Kevin graduated from the University of Tennessee with a BA in Political Science and then earned his Juris Doctorate from the Tennessee School of Law. While at UT, Kevin was a track athlete and earned All-American honors in the Decathlon, and participated on two SEC and NCAA National Championship Teams. Kevin is a serial entrepreneur and is passionate about redefining the art of law. Show Notes: Kevin shares his family origin story and his grandfather coming to the United States from Italy and how it created a family legacy that impacts him to this day. Kevin's grandfather participated on three National Championship Football teams and the Notre Dame. ('44, '45, and '47) What did athletics teach Kevin? Failure is part of the success process. (11:00) "I am trying to teach young lawyers that success compounds over time. Young people do not like the period of embarrassment where they are bad and they don't hang in there long enough for compounding to work for them." Our generation's greatest investor is Warren Buffett and 99% of the wealth he has today was generated after the age of 65. This is not an example of "it is never too late to start" but rather he started at age 14 and allowed compounding to work in his favor over time! (14:00) What are the dangers of helicopter parents? How can you stunt your children's success by being TOO involved? Give them space to grow and learn. (16:00) The origin story of Thompson Burton Law firm. Taking risk is critical for success. "More is caught than taught. Everything changed for me when my son Luke was born. I knew I had to model the right behaviors." (26:00) How do you make a stand? Dive deep into an issue and get to understand every aspect of the issue and take a position on it. "The cleaner the space and the more well-defined the rules the less opportunity there is. The messier the space that is less defined has great opportunity." (30:00) How will AI impact the legal profession? Why AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ChatGPT is a meteor heading for the legal profession. "The value a great lawyer brings is years of experience and judgment." ***Key Principle of Success*** "Be a person worthy of a partnership!" Partnerships are not 50/50...don't look at the world that way. Always be looking for ways to give and serve more than the other party. (40:00) Walt and Kevin laid a foundation of compensation that was very different from other professional firms. Comp was objective and transparent and it has brought the best entrepreneurial attorneys to their firm because it of the business model. Charlie Munger, "When in doubt, focus on the incentives of an organization." What does Kevin look for in employees and partners? "Invest on the trend line, not the dot!"
Sat, March 04, 2023
Taking Stock & Creating New Frame Works for the Future - Robert Dickie III
In this episode, I give a short recap of the origin story of this podcast and how we have been doing post-COVID. We look at a few of the most recent guests and their insights and discuss some of the latest economic data that is impacting every aspect of the economy which according to Professor Mihir Desai, should cause everyone to rethink mental models and frameworks as we move forward. Show Notes: The origin story of this podcast and the questions we have been asking guests? How I became nicknamed "Q" in college. Review of guests and their content. (20:00) - "The quality of your life is determined by the quality of the questions you ask...Successful people are looking for new sources of information and data that they can leverage! Who we become and the success we have is downstream of the information we get." (21:00) - HBS Professor Mihir Desai insights on the global economy - Finance For a World Turned Upside Down . We will have to change the frameworks for how we see and operate in the world. (27:00) - Action produces data, and from there, you can PDCA - Plan, Do, Check, and Adjust. (34:00) - 77% of the advertised jobs in the US with a salary over $35,000 require a four-year college degree yet only 1/3 of Americans have a college degree. The cost of a college degree has gone up over 1,482% since 1977! (36:00) - The benefit of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) like EdX.org and Coursera.org (38:00) - How has work changed? The 150-year work model of the 8-hour work day and 5-day work week was blown up during 2020 and COVID. (40:00) - This is the most unaffordable housing market in US history! (42:00) - What is the impact on the tech sector? Why are thousands of employees being laid off? (46:00) - How is this impacting small businesses around the United States? (47:00) - What is the Boskin Commission and how did it impact entitlement programs and US spending by changing inflation numbers? (51:00) - Book Recommendation - The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel (55:00) - The key to have success is to take agency of your life...have personal discipline and realize our success is up to us and our personal decisions.
Mon, February 13, 2023
Disrupting the Page: The Future of Print, Publishing, and Media - Sean Murray
Sean Murray is the President and CEO of Advocate Printing and Publishing in Nova Scotia, Canada. Established in 1891 Sean highlights his family's journey and how his grandfather and father worked in, bought, and led this iconic Canadian business that has become a family business over time. Sean is in the Atlantic CEO Hall of Fame, was celebrated as one of Canada's 40 under 40 business leaders, and received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal . He graduated from Pictou Academy, St. Mary's University, and the Harvard Business School Executive Program. He is the Chair of the Young President's Organization (YPO) Atlantic Canada and is the Director of YPO Canada. Show Notes: The importance of being a lifelong learner in your career. How have print, distribution, fulfillment, and media changed over the years? Advocate was established in 1891 with the oldest company founded in 1865. The importance of succession planning in business but especially family businesses. (24:30) How did Sean pivot his business over time due to changes and technology in the global economy? "We put the client's success before our own success." (33:00) Why data is digital oil for the new economy. Favorite Case at HBS ? Francis Frei and focusing on customer delight. What are you choosing to be good at? What are you choosing to be bad at? You can't be everything to everyone! (36:00) What is the art of the possible? Borris Groysberg and building teams and culture. (40:00) "The Great Resignation" moved to "Quit Quitting," and now we are moving to the "Great Re-Imagining" as people rethink how they want to live life going forward. "We are moving from work-life balance to life-work balance." "As soon as people start making more we learned they want to work less." People want to be rewarded with free time not more overtime or increased salary. What people want is changing all around us. (45:00) We are seeing on-shoring or re-shoring back to North America. This will have profound changes in our economy. (52:00) "When in doubt, focus on incentives!" - Charlie Munger Flexibility today matters more than financial incentives. (55:00) Ranjay Gulati's book - Deep Purpose - The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies (58:00) "We optimized for efficiency but not purpose and meaning!" (59:00) Is "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs" changing today? Do we need to reimagine this for a new global economy of an enlightened and empowered population? "Careers may be in 3-year increments today instead of 20-year increments as in the past!" (1:05:00) Advice for young
Mon, February 06, 2023
A Super Bowl Bet Turns Into A Multi-Generational Family Legacy - Jeff Wayne
Jeff Wayne is the President and CEO of Max ERC Refund and comes from a family of serial entrepreneurs. He is the owner and operator of multiple Cycle Bar franchises , Max ERC Refund while he and his family have owned and operated 23 businesses. He is the former President of Dynamic Rehabilitation. He graduated from Michigan State University and was a member of the Young President's Organization (YPO) for Greater Detroit. Show Notes: (03:00) - What mountain climbing teaches you about yourself and life. (09:00) - What is the "long gear" in mountain climbing and life? Why is the mental approach so important in life? (17:00) - The start of Durakon and DuraLiner and a family business legacy! Watch the Super Bowl ad here . (22:00) - How to go "All In" with educated and calculated bets in life. (23:00) - Jeff explains why you want your sales team to make a ton of money...its obvious, but many don't understand it. (26:00) - Jeff talks about how he is mentoring his daughter Madison Wayne and her four businesses in Scottsdale, Arizona. Check out Icon Itinerary for your next trip to Scottsdale! (33:00) - Advice to parents raising children. Jeff discovered he did not want to work for someone else in life. (39:00) - John James - Detroit Businessman, Army Veteran, YPO member, and US Congressman . (43:00) - A watching "Top Gun" on Kilimanjaro. (55:00) - Lia Wayne CEO and Founder of Top Gun Talent and Jeff Wayne CEO and Founder of Max ERC Refund . What is the CARES ACT ? (1:03:00) - All of Jeff's businesses are people and service-centric. What has he learned to have success as a business leader? Jeff is building most of his businesses via Zoom and not face-to-face today. This is a big change from the past. You have to find a way to stand out! Make a connection. (1:10:00) - "Business is easy... it's all about relationships. People will do business with people they like, and people like people who are like themselves. The key is finding commonalities and areas of mutual interest to build rapport and trust!" (1:15:00) - Jeff gives insight into the white-collar and tech recession hitting America in early 2023. Working at a large company is not safe. This will lead to more entrepreneurship in America. (1:21:00) - Jeff asks an incredibly important question for entrepreneurs. "What do you find attractiv
Sun, January 29, 2023
Leading a Work Revolution with Technology - Jason Radisson, CEO and Founder of ShiftOne
Jason Radisson is the CEO and Founder of ShiftOne. He has a bachelor of arts degree from Holy Cross with honors in Political Science. He was a Fulbright Scholar in economics at the University of Gottingen and started his Ph.D. at Harvard in Economics. Jason worked at McKinsey , Uber, 99 (an Uber competitor in Brazil), with many other stops along the way. Jason is helping lead a work revolution for frontline workers solving employment problems with technology. Show Notes: Jason gives his background and origin story that leads him to become the CEO and Founder of ShiftOne.com and his entrepreneurial insight on "frontline workers" and how technology can help both employees and employers. (16:00) Are terms "gig economy" and "freelancer economy" the same or different? ShiftOne is focusing on full-time jobs not part-time jobs. (21:00) What are the challenges of building a dual sided market place? How good of a manager you are in this type of industry is determined by how well you can grow both sides together. (25:00) What is going on with the worker shortage? H-1b Visa issues and immigation issues impacting the US Economy? (33:00) Why would someone want to look for work through ShiftOne? What are the benefits? The ability to learn, pivot industries, and have access to more opportunities. People want more flexibility and opportunities! The ability to give people "deep skills." (37:00) Why education is important. Why you should always look to "up skill" in your career. Marc Andreessen "Software is eating the world!" Software and automation is changing the economy and will destroy old jobs but also create NEW jobs and industries! If you are doing unskilled tasks they will get automated away. People need to move up the value chain which will require new skills. Machine operation roles Engineering roles Healthcare Where can you go to get more skills for free? Coursera.org and EdX.org are great assets to use. (40:00) Where do you start? Be curious. Ask questions. Become a lifelong learner. (43:00) What is the secret of building and running a unicorn business ? Picking the mark
Mon, January 09, 2023
The Bourbon Whisperer - The Art, Science, and History of American Bourbon with Rod Arnold
Rod Arnold graduated from Texas A&M University and was a member of the famed Corps of Cadets. He is the Chairman of the Board of The Delta Chi Educational Foundation, CEO of All Pro Rush, and the CEO of the Bourbon Whisperer . Follow him on Instagram at the Show Notes: Rod starts by sharing his origin story and what motivated him to leave a 30-year career as a healthcare executive to become the "Bourbon Whisperer." How did he discover this opportunity? Why did he make the leap? (15:00) - Rod discusses how his wife was an essential part of starting the company and helping him craft the business plan. He recognizes how this pivot will be better for him and his career. Having situational awareness of what is going on in the world around you is important to see opportunities. (20:00) - Rod discusses how sales classes and learnings from his career helped him during the transition and manage the tensions and stress of making a dramatic career shift. How do you break out of patterns and habits to do something new? "The chains of our habits are unnoticeable until they are too strong to be broken!" (27:00) - Rod started his business by finding a place to serve others! Start by serving others and you will find a way to grow. (30:00) - The first crisis for the industry was Prohibition from 1920 to 1933. The second crisis in American bourbon history came during the 1960s as the younger generations turned away from their parent's whiskey and turned to clear liquors. When Sean Connery as James Bond asks for a martini "shaken not stirred," this marks the cultural shift. (33:00) - The Heaven Hill Distillery fire shows how this industry, with many generations of family-owned businesses, are connected, and help each other in good times and bad. (39:00) - What is the right way to drink bourbon? (41:00) - Women have three times the taste and olfactory senses men have. They are much better at picking up the tastes and smells in food, wine, and alcohol. (44:00) - Frank Sinatra always drank Jack Daniels. He was the first celebrity endorser of a product and never got paid for it. He had a favorite drink and a secret way to drink it. Rod gives the story of Frank Sinatra. Book Recommendation - "The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and The Lost Art of Livin" (50:00) - Bourbon does not need to be made in Kentucky but must be made in the United States to be called a Bourbon. The weather, water, and barrel, all impact the bourbon as much as the ingredients. Bottle an
Tue, December 27, 2022
Helping Bring Professional Soccer to America with Brett M. Johnson - CEO of Benevolent Capital
Brett M. Johnson graduated from Brown University , where he was a member of the rowing team and received his Bachelor of Arts in History. He received his MBA from Pepperdine University and graduated from the Harvard Business School Executive Program. He is a member of the Young President's Organization (YPO) and is the CEO and Founder of Benevolent Capital and Founder of Fortuitous Partners . Brett is the Chairman of Rhode Island FC , Director and Shareholder of Ipswich Town FC in England and Phoniex Rising FC in Phoneix, Arizona. Show Notes: How Brett fell in love with soccer (Football) and the insight that led him to get involved in professional soccer (football) in the United States and England. Phoenix Rising FC, Rhode Island FC, Ipswich Town FC (8:00) What were the problems and challenges that Brett found with traditional private equity firms? (11:00) Brett discovered the incentives were misaligned. When he and Grant founded Benevolent Capital they decided to focus on creating the right incentive structure, which is very different from traditional private equity firms. (13:00) - What did Brett learn as a "Wartime CEO"...a leader navigating challenging times. "The challenges I faced made me a good CEO and leader...I love being an entrepreneur!" "As an entrepreneur, the universe will test you!" (24:00) - What was Brett's thesis for Professional Soccer in the United States? What are the similarities and differences between traditional business and professional sports? (29:00) - What is the impact of Ted Lasso on the game of soccer in the United States? (33:00) - What other business insights is Brett having after being in professional sports? (40:00) - The World Cup truly is an event that brings the world together unlike anything else. (45:00) - Brett advises young people. (49:00) - Brett's top three skills everyone needs to be successful in life. "I know I am doing exactly what I should be doing and that is a great feeling!" Brett had to "take the leap" to get there and he went all in! You get rewarded when you go "all in" and people and the world see that you mean business. Learning how to "manage up" in your career is as important as how you "manage down" in your career. Book Recommendations Never Split the Dif
Mon, December 19, 2022
Dr. Sajjan Gohel - Author of "Doctor, Teacher, Terrorist" - The Making of a Global Terrorist Leader
Dr. Sajjan Gohel has a Bachelor of Arts in Politics with Honors from Queen Mary University in London. He earned his Master's in Comparative Politics and Ph.D. in International History both from the London School of Economics. International Security Director for the London-based Asia Pacific Foundation Editor of NATO's Counter Terrorism Reference Curriculum Host of NATO's first-ever podcast series, "Deep Dive" Author "Doctor, Teacher, Terrorist" the story of Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahari Show Notes: Dr. Gohel gives a succinct overview of Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahari and conflicts in the middle east. What are the ideological doctrines that radicalize? What did the fall of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan mean for the middle east? The near enemy vs. the far enemy. The 9-11 attack was less about an attack on America and more of an attack on a value system. It was part of an ideological war. What is the Haqqani Network? What is the Quad in the Indo-Pacfic? What you need to know ? What is the difference between ISIS and Al-Qaeda ? Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahari's last strategy was the "safe base" concept being built in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The difference between Osama Bin Laden and Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahari? Why is it important to know history and learn from history...it is the foundation of understanding our world today. Why and how did Dr. Sajjan Gohel choose his career path? Why people should be proud historians. What is Dr. Gohel's advice to young people starting their career? Dr. Gohel discusses his love of football, the Celtic Club in Scotland , and his prediction for the World Cup final. Book Recommendation - for Soccer (Football) fans - Martin O'Neill - Biography If Dr. Gohel could give a State of the Union address to the American people what would he say?
Mon, December 12, 2022
Changes in marketing & why personal coaches are key to success - Kelly Fletcher - CEO of Fletcher Marketing & PR
Show Notes: Kelly Fletcher is the founder and CEO of Fletcher Marketing & PR . She is a graduate of Meredith College with a degree in communications. She is the host of Ms. InterPReted Podcast: Public Relations Demystified. (2:00) How is the marketing, PR, media, and crisis communications industry changing today? The how and why of reaching the female audience. (14:30) You can't fix communications problems unless you fix operational issues first. (21:00) Why Kelly "the expert" hired an expert to help her with her personal "rebranding." Dr. Trillion Small - Business/Mindset Coach (24:00) What I appreciate about Kelly...her leadership, humility, and experience. (27:00) How Kelly continues to grow and navigate through difficult times. (30:00) Kelly hires a mindset coach to help her go to the next level. Why do high performers have a coach and why does it matter? (40:00) Why Kelly is hiring business coaching for her son for Christmas. (46:00) How to build your culture in a remote environment and why it is so important for a business and relationships with your team. (51:00) What is the biggest challenge of the remote workplace environment? Book Recommendations The Secret Life of the Savoy Hotel - Olivia Williams (57:00) If Kelly could give a State of the Union Address to the American people this is what she would say. "Sphere of Influence vs. Sphere of Control" "We all need to do the hard work of becoming a good person!" As we are about to land the plane Kelly decides to tell a story about her "blanky!" :) Go Kelly!!!
Mon, December 05, 2022
Starting a New Business Mid-Career with Mark Ferrier - Co-Founder and Partner at AndCapital.ca
Show Notes: Mark Ferrier is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and Harvard Business School . He is a serial entrepreneur, having started seven companies with his newest venture AndCapital.ca . He is also a Young President's Organization (YPO) member. Mark discusses his career, multiple pivots, and his latest leap. (07:00) - Mark starts his first business at twenty-six and "tripped into being an entrepreneur" out of college. "Urgency creates opportunities!" (16:00) - Surround yourself with smart people and keep your emotions in check at all times. "You don't want to be a dinosaur in a young person's game." "If you are going to sell your business, you are better off selling it for less earlier and have time with your children and family." (27:00) - Mark discovers a way to pivot his company. Instead of trying to stop turnover, they decided to be the agency known for the best people and training, and thus they have the most recruited staff. It changed everything. (34:00) - Mark takes a year off to spend time with family and started studying other industries. What challenges are they facing? He has an entrepreneurial insight that is the birth of his next venture. (39:00) - Mark reflects on his COVID experience and what he and his family learned and how it lead to a new chapter in his life. Advice to young people There is power in authenticity and transparency "Sometimes the paragraph is better than sentences...because it contains all the emotion." (50:00) - Mark has an insight and pulls all his career insights and experience together to start www.AndCapital.ca "We are super founder friendly. We tell founders that we will help you grow and scale your business, help your customers and culture and give you a clear picture of that AND then tell you what to do with capital." What are the problems and challenges founders face in growing their businesses? (1:05:00) - The differences between private equity firms. (1:12:00) - Advice to his children and young people. Creativity, curiosity, and resiliency, are superpowers in life. Understand your life is a series of chapters...enjoy and maximize each one without worrying about the next. Ask questions and listen! The process of helping companies start with alignment, empowerment, culture, value creation, then execution! (1:18:00) How do you build resilient people and cultures? Lean into discomfort! This is where we grow. "Sometimes to be your happiest you need to be at your most uncomfortable first!" "At the moments of your greatest defeats are also the times where the seeds of your grea
Mon, November 28, 2022
Learning From Our Nations Hero's - Naval Aviators Reunion - Class of 1958 (28-58)
Show Notes: Special thanks to the guests of Pensacola Naval Air Station class 1958 (28-58) for their time and insight. Captain Walter "Dub" Fields aka "Fireball" Captain Bill Solms Captain Rodney Neibauer aka "Rocket Rod" Commander Bob Vollaire LT Floyd Joramo (13:15) What was America like in 1958 when you were entering the military? What was the world like? (18:27) Dub recalls meeting and hanging out with Elvis Presley in Kilgore, Texas. (23:00) Advice and words of encouragement to young people and to the country during a time of division. Capitalism vs. Socialism Problems with the media America needs energy independence (35:00) Dub recalls classmate Bob Flynn who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam war and his "six principles" that helped him survive 5.5 years in prison all of which were in solitary confinement. #1 God #2 Duty #3 Honor #4 Country #5 Family #6 Self (37:00) How to make decisions in life. (42:00) Capt Bill Solms gives a warning about China, debt, and a divided America. "You can't be afraid to fail." - Rodney Neibauer (47:00) Capt Bill Solms decides to do a loop - "The smartest thing I did was start that at 20,000 feet!" An old aviator saying, "Three things a pilot does not need; Altitude above you, runway behind you, and fuel left in the truck!" Advice for parents raising kids. (56:00) If you could give a state of the union address to the American people what would say? Why optimism is a difference maker! (1:02:45) - Bob Dickie's "call to action" for the men and women who are enjoying freedom today!
Sun, November 13, 2022
The Start-Up Entrepreneurs Journey with Oren Zaslansky - Founder and CEO of Flock Freight
Show Notes: Oren is a graduate of California State University at Long Beach & Harvard Business School Young President's Organization (YPO) member Marc Andreessen “Software is eating the world!” Flock Freight – “We are building an enormous tech stack and incredible cutting-edge technology business while building a best-in-class freight block – algorithmic ride-sharing of freight.” https://www.flockfreight.com/about-us/ 50% of the semi-trailers on the road are only 50% full. This is wasteful of space and increases carbon emissions to move cargo. Terminal-free or hubless shipping to move cargo across the country. Key performance indicators in the freight industry. On-time pick up On-time delivery Damage Transit time Loss/theft (9:45) HBS Professor Francis Frei - Three Wedges of Business Customer Delight Supplier Surplus Profits for the Firm Flock Freight is the only C ertified B-Corporation in the freight industry! It is important to be environmentally AND financially sustainable (18:00) Is deflation coming to the freight industry? Transportation as an industry is $7 Trillion globally and $1 Trillion in the US (20:50) How does Oren pivot and tackle the challenges of entrepreneurship while dealing with the stress of the job? “It is better to expect that you will have to chew glass daily!” “Because it is hard it is worth doing! Don’t expect hard things to be easy.” (27:00) Why is it important to have close friends, confidants, mentors, and coaches around you on your journey to help you? (29:00) “Business is like middle school.” (33:00) What is it like to navigate an 18-month near-death experience for his business? (39:00) What is it like to have big outside investors like Softbank , Google Ventures , GLP , and Signal Fire as investors in your company? (49:00) Why is it important to wear your values on your sleeve as a leader and CEO? (50:40) Why does Oren invest so much in continuing education? Why I started vs. Why I stayed. “I loved it because I felt safe.” (1:04:00) How can society come together to communicate better and see different points of view? Be conscious about the world around us Be thoughtful about others’ viewpoints and perspectives “99% of the world is the same…we all want to live in peace and raise our fami
Mon, November 07, 2022
Surviving a Heart Attack and Remembering What Matters Most with Jim and Kathy Paullin
Show Notes: Jim Paullin – MBA from Emory University, division manager for a global paper company, and now an entrepreneur Kathy Paullin – BS from Emory in Chemistry, worked at the CDC and Monsanto, and now an entrepreneur (6:45) “Joe Darkangelo, I need your help. I have slight chest pains.” (10:15” ****Code Blue**** (17:15) “The most important realization we had about this heart attack was that God was in control….if we had the heart attack at home he might not have made it.” (21:10) “All I can remember is I WANT SOME OXYGEN!” (25:50) Why it is important to invest consistently through life. (29:00) Why you buy insurance when you don’t need it. (31:00) Jim Paullin gives advice to young people of what he has learned in life. We decided to do life together Learning soft skills and personal development in life is critical The secret to success is to ask questions and then LISTEN. Get mentors and coaches that can help you in life. (41:00) The hare vs. the tortoise. (46:45) Words of encouragement to Jim Paullin about his mission for the next generation. The best days of America are ahead, and there is hope and opportunity! (56:00) Jim & Kathy’s parting words of wisdom “The life you want is easily obtained by getting new information.” Book Recommendations Leading With A Limp – Dan Allender Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie Follow Bob Dickie in Twitter @RobertDickie Follow "Taking the Leap Podcast" on Youtube
Mon, October 31, 2022
The Hunt - Thundering Aspens Sportsman's Club
Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club – Mesic Michigan http://thunderingaspenssportsmanclub.com/about/ Ken Herman – sportsman, teacher, coach, business leader Ken is passionate about teaching and coaching kids in sports and life. Joe Darkangelo is an entrepreneur but formerly served as a firefighter and police officer Joe wants to make a difference in people’s life. Isaac Darkangelo, his nephew is playing linebacker for the University of Illinois and having a great season at 7-1! How you prepare for a hunt is similar to how you prepare for victory in life. Take counsel from people who have the expertise and it can make a difference in your life. Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club – Mesic, Michigan Jonathan Wright – World-Class and World Champion Taxidermy Artist A family business run by Jonathan, Jason, and Gregory Wright brothers. People love being around people who are “all in” and enjoying and maximizing life! Following the basics in any pursuit is critical for success. “There is no better way to spend your life than in the service of others.” Ceaser Guerini Shotguns https://gueriniusa.com/shotguns/forum-sporting/ Field Sport – Purveyor to the Wingshooter https://www.fieldsportltd.com/ Book Recommendations Leading with a Limp – Turning Your Struggles Into Strengths - Dan Allender Whale Done – The Power of Positive Relationships – Ken Blanchard The Obstacle is the Way – The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph – Ryan Holiday “Shoot and Move – always work to improve your fighting position.” US Army Rangers Follow Bob Dickie on Twitter @RobertDickie Follow "Taking the Leap Podcast" on Youtube.com
Mon, October 24, 2022
Insight on Business and Politics from a Modern Day Renaissance Man Dean Parker - Chairman of Vita Capital
Show Notes: Dean is a graduate of Liberty University & Harvard Business School and a member of the Young President's Organization (YPO) . “You will meet the same people on the way up that you do on the way down in your career. Treat all people with respect in all situations.” “A non-self-examined life is a life not worth living.” No amount of success will fill a previous wound or hurt. At some point, you will have to address and deal with the problem. “Leadership is about serving the people.” “I was running from the pain…it never fixed the issue. I felt devalued and so I was trying to create value for myself with my business and success. I had to discover that I was enough as Dean Parker.” We have the power to break muti-generational curses. The saddest thing in life is to see a leader that does not have a story arch of change and growth. “When one door opens another will open but you have to be looking for it.” “I have all my employees take the 5 Love Languages test because I want to know what is most meaningful to them.” The key to business is to give more than you receive. “Always expect the worst in people and you will not be disappointed.” – Dr. Ben Carson Dr. Ben Carson asks Dean Parker to be the national finance chairman of his political campaign. “Dean, God is going to do something great through us, I just don’t know what it is.” What Dean learned about politics. It is all about the money. You need money to win and have influence. If you provide enough vision and people believe in that vision it’s amazing what you can accomplish. If someone in power with influence validates you, you get positional authority whether you have experience or not. Sadly, many times those who do the wrong thing often time get rewarded because they are owed a favor. Many times in politics people in opposite parties want the same thing but have different views on how to get there. Advice from Governor of Arizona Doug Ducey – Former YPO member Make sure your family is on board Make sure you have enough money that you don’t have to sell your soul to the devil. Donald Trump’s philosophy during the campaign was, “Say what I have to say to own the media and I will win the election.” Dean’s opinion is that the national economy will hinge on the mid-term elections. Many places around the country will be resilient…the southeast will continue to grow as the economy thrives and people leave places like Chicago and Illinois. The political campaigns changed overnight after the Paris attack. One event can be a hinge point that changes everything. Dean talks about the shifts in the country to states that are losing power and states that are gaining economic opportunity and freedom. Dean thinks
Mon, October 17, 2022
Drayton Wade - Kognitos, Head of Product Strategy and Business Operations
Drayton Wade, with a Clemson undergraduate degree and London School of Economics (LSE) Master's degree decides to go back to get an MBA at Dartmouth Tuck School of Business. Left UIPath after their IPO The key data point for SAS (Software as Service Companies) – ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) Drayton realized he enjoyed the chaos of start-ups instead of the structured systems of a public company. This led him to make a leap. Drayton realized he wanted to grow in sales development but also wanted to get an MBA to get more business experience. The lifeblood of all business is sales (8:45) Key to success for young people? “Seek out more responsibility. Add value.” (12:00) Different people are created for different companies AND even different stages of companies. You have to know what your gifting is and where you will thrive. What is the culture and what will be rewarded? (16:00) To achieve "outsized" success you have to go “all-in.” Do you know what you want? Do you know how you are designed? (19:00) Smaller college towns do a better job of fostering community and engagement. Drayton joined Kogintos as Director of Business Development and Operations while he is finishing his MBA. www.Kognitos.com “Kognitos is the world's first automation solution that understands English. This means any business user can create, modify, and maintain automations. Kognitos can automate the many tasks that run your business such as quote generation, invoice processing, credit card payment reconciliation, bills of laden entry, or any other repetitive process.” Much of what you learn at a top-tier MBA program can be learned via www.Coursera.org Drayton learns about the issues with impact investing and ESG and “greenwashing.” (32:00) Book Recommendations The Power Law – Sebastian Mallaby AI 2041 – Ten Visions for our Future – Kai-Fu Lee Angel – Jason Calcanis The Firm – Duff McDonald The Terminal List – Jack Carr Amazon Unbound – Jack Stone Meditations – Marcus Aurelius The Daily Stoic - Ryan Holiday How to use Meditations to control emotions (49:00) The benefit of "first principle" thinking and removing emotions from a critical decision moment to stay focused on the logic of the issue. You will obtain better results and not make bad decisions. (52:00) Drayton wonders if Gen-Y has over-corrected and is too emotional and vulnerable and taking it to far. Emotions are not built and are not founded in logic. Kognitos allows you to write in English and create automation for your business. (1:05:30) The story arch of data processing using from using coding languages like Python to Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to Kognitos…the process continues
Sun, October 09, 2022
Dustin Markowski - CEO of Power.Solar
Dustin Markowski – CEO of Power Solar 4:00 min – Graduated High School at 14 and was accepted to Harvard. 10:30 min – Advice to young people – people want to speak into your life. Be careful who you listen to! 13:00 min – Dustin ditches a legal career in corporate law to go into technology and sales. 14:00 min – Dustin discovers frameworks for success in sales and business. Slow down and do things well. Perfect your process. Success takes many times years of failure to learn and grow to hit your success “The only difference between success and failure is when you decide to end your story.” Don’t own labels that others give you! 21:00 min – Failure is not fatal when you learn from it. 24:00 min – Dustin makes the leap to cleantech and solar energy There is nothing like owning your own business The economics are in your favor The gig economy is growing faster than ever Advice – Young people should start a business. You have a cushion that you don’t have at other times in life. 30:30 min - Why Solar Energy makes sense now? One electric vehicle doubles the energy need of a household. The average household have 1.8 vehicles. We could see a tripling of energy usage of the average home in the US in the next decade we move to electric vehicles. 37:25 min – Government Investment in Clean Tech The government is helping businesses and homeowners go solar but why don’t government agencies have budgets to go solar themselves? Inflation Reduction Act – Tax credit is now 30% Nonprofits can now take part of this tax credit This not about selling but really about educating people about the benefits 48:00 min – We are at the start of the clean tech revolution just like technology was in the early 90’s Book Recommendation Commanding Your Morning – Cindy Trimm Pitch Anything - Oren Klaff Twitter @DustinPaul Website - Power.Solar Twitter @RobertDickie Website - RobertDickie.com
Wed, September 29, 2021
Grant Webster - CEO of Launch Thought and Co-Founder of Zephyrus
In Episode 28, Bob Dickie sits back down with fan favorite guest Grant Webster to discuss the block chain revolution. Some of the topics discussed in this podcast are: The Afghanistan humanitarian crisis Block chain technology revolution and what it is Cryptocurrency Helium and The People's Network Follow Bob Dickie on Twitter @RobertDickie
Wed, August 04, 2021
Jim Martin and Joe Darkangelo - Entrepreneurs and Sales Leaders
Jim Martin and Joe Darkangelo are both successful Bonvera Entrepreneurs who are radically changing the gig economy space with the banner of “Home Is Business”. Some of the topics discussed in this podcast are: Navigating and learning how to adapt as business owners during the Covid-19 pandemic. Adapting, growing, and overcoming as entrepreneurs Connections and relationships in a virtual environment Being prepared for the rapidly changing economy Keeping a high standard of excellence in business The importance of connecting and building relationships F.O.R.M. (Family, Occupation, Recreation, Motivation) Insights into becoming a successful entrepreneur Book Recommendations: Speed of Trust - Steven Covey DNA of Relationship - Gary Smalley Magic of Thinking Big - David Schwartz How To Fail At Almost Everything and Still Win Big - Scott Adams Radical Candor - Kim Scott Follow Bob Dickie on Twitter @RobertDickie
Wed, July 14, 2021
Triniti Gawthrop - CEO & Founder of Ami Wellness and Brand Activate
On Episode 26 of Taking The Leap Podcast, host Bob Dickie interviews Triniti Gawthrop. Triniti is the CEO and founder of Ami Wellness, a plant-only wellness company that empowers women on their wellness journey. Triniti's own personal journey ranges from living the “hippie” lifestyle as a child to working in New York City as a Director of Marketing. This contrast has given her key insights into both eastern and western medicine practices that has inspired her approach to wellness. Some of the key points Bob and Triniti discuss are: Flexibility, tenacity, consistency, and dedication in all aspects of life Lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic Advice for young girls to female executives The entrepreneurial leap into creating your own business Plant-based wellness Book Recommendations: Think Like A Monk - Jay Shetty The Third Door - Alex Banayan The Leap - Bob Dickie Love Your Work - Bob Dickie Follow Bob Dickie on Twitter @RobertDickie
Wed, April 07, 2021
Bud Ayers - Dance Instructor at San Jose State, Author
Albert “Bud” Ayers is a lecturer at San Jose State University where he teaches social dancing. He has been dancing since 1990 and has taught thousands the joy of dancing as well as the physical and social benefits. Bud truly believes that if more people danced the world would be a better place because dance is an expression of joy. What separates Bud from the other dance instructors are his words of wisdom or life lessons he incorporates at the end of each class. He inspires his students to take risks, accept failure and be better at communication, and understand that dance is a metaphor for life. His varied experiences in manufacturing, distribution, personal growth, sports, communication, entertainment, entrepreneurship, public speaking and ballroom dance give him a unique supply of resources and perspectives on life. He is known for his passion for sharing his love of dance as well as helping others navigate their personal life challenges. Some of his students who took his class as a mere curiosity have taken his words and have changed their careers to become either professional or competitive ballroom dancers. He is happily married to his wife Deborah Borlase (whom he met dancing) and has three children and seven grandchildren. Key Learnings: Dance can help you be confident, and it brings joy to life. It’s also about communication, learning your partner, and how to work together in relationships. Life and dancing cross in showing us how to take risks, be afraid, and do it anyways. People’s thoughts don’t hurt them. Fear kills more dreams than death. Life is not just success. A lot of failure precedes the success. It’s about learning the struggle in the journey. Knowledge is the vehicle, passion is the gasoline. We reap more benefits when we live in the moment, not being focused on worries and preoccupations. You know what's expected of you. You know what's right. The seven C’s of life: Choice, challenges, character, change, charity, community, courage. Links: Napoleon Dynamite & Can’t Buy Me Love , other classic dance movies Bud Ayers Dance Website Become a Fan of Bud Ayers on Facebook Words Matter website Tiger Mom, or Tiger Parenting <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Way-Practical-Guide-Waking/dp/1
Wed, February 03, 2021
April Zeilinger - VP of Operations for Zeilinger Wool Company
April Zeilinger is helping to keep her husband’s family legacy alive in the challenging arena of American textiles. She is not only the Vice President of Operations but also the heart and soul behind the Brand Awareness and Marketing for the company. April is the creator of Foodie Yarn, a fun yarn line that is dyed the colors of food and launched it during the pandemic. Zeilinger Wool Company is a fourth generation fiber mill producing thousands of pounds of natural fibers per week into yarn, socks and other items enjoyed within the craft and wool lovers market. April worked 20 years in financial institutions before leaving everything that was comfortable around her, for half of her salary and took the risk to join her husband Jon in his family business. The business had no presence on social media and a twelve year old website to start her entrepreneurial journey. She is a self-taught business gal who never wants to stop learning with a certificate in leadership from Great Lakes Bay Hispanic Leadership Institute through Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, Michigan. In this episode, April shares how she came into her own and stepped up in her career journey. Key Learnings: A break-up with your job isn’t fun, but you have to break-up sometimes. You will experience resistance, so get ready for it. Don’t let fear guide your decisions. When you work with your spouse, you learn to have a mutual respect for each other’s strengths. Learning to take knowledge and experience it in action is true learning. No one tells you how to be an entrepreneur; you figure it out. Ask people, especially women, where they see their career going. Write good things to yourself and speak them to yourself. Two things to do to grow in your own leadership abilities? Spend time by yourself and be curious. Links: Zeilinger Wool Company Myers Briggs Personality Test Great Lakes Bay Hispanic Leadership Institute To learn more about Bob’s two books, find them on Amazon here: The Leap and Love Your Work .
Wed, January 20, 2021
Joe & Laura Darkangelo - Entrepreneurs and Sales Leaders
Joe & Laura Darkangelo left corporate America in 2005 and haven’t looked back. Most of their days consisted of reaching someone else’s goals and dreams, and they found little time for each other or for their children. With Joe in the sales department for a large distributor and Laura in the airline industry AND owning their own pizza franchises at the same time, they were spent. With exhaustion and an unfulfilling life, they started their entrepreneurial journey. Today, they’re entrepreneurial giants leading teams in Bonvera. In this episode, they recount their personal journey to entrepreneurship, and they hash out the dreams, the struggles, and the victories. Key Learnings: Stress is one thing; entrepreneurial stress is another. We justify a job rather than taking a leap to entrepreneurship. I noticed a lot of people in entrepreneurship, and they had better marriages, were always learning, and had good relationships. I learned more in entrepreneurship more than I ever did in college. Negative motivation doesn’t work. Positive reinforcement works best by lifting others up and encouraging them. Education saves us from becoming who we don’t want to be. I’m different from everyone else, so I can’t be like this author or that. But I can use their teachings and apply them to myself. It’s your time that matters and what you do with it that’s important. Live your priorities. Links: Dream Big by Bob Goff Love Does by Bob Goff Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa Terkeurst Live in Love by Lauren Akins Phyzix MD Bonvera’s Global Impact Initiative Hard Easy by Arthur Coombs II
Wed, November 18, 2020
Anne Beiler - Part 2 - CEO & Founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels
“Discipline is really about doing what you don’t want to do until you often find joy in what you do.” - Anne Beiler Anne Beiler is the creator and founder behind the world-renowned franchise, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Most wouldn’t know this about her, but she started this incredible company with no business plan, no capital, and no education. Growing up in an Amish community, she only received up to an eighth-grade education and got married when she was 19 years old. Years of baking cakes and breads for her large family taught her how to make some of the world’s tastiest pretzels, and what started out as a small business and dream grew to be a global sensation. In part 2 of this interview series, Anne shares her professional experience learning and growing from a founder and creator to a manager and business woman. She shares her keys to success and her biggest takeaways from managing a global enterprise of tasty pretzels. Quotes: Overcoming personal challenges helped me to know I could overcome other obstacles I’d face. I didn’t know anything about training, writing a mission or purpose statement, or franchising. It was going back to my roots -- discipline and hard work. A list is good no matter your age. If we can’t manage the small things right now, we’ll never be able to manage the bigger opportunities coming. The appetite for learning is a part of your personal growth, your professional growth, your emotional growth, and your spiritual growth. You have to grow in all those areas to become truly successful. I define success as are you doing what you love to do? At the end of the day, can you put your head on the pillow and can you say I did my very best? Training isn’t barking out orders. Training is role modeling. Training is talking to your people to help them understand who you are. Create relationships with people and train them to be excellent in what they have -- loving, respecting, and honoring them. It’s about role modeling what is important to you, and you do that with grace and kindness. People will come flocking to you. They’ll carry out your purpose. They’ll do it without you being the boss. The very seeds of your greatest victory are being planted right now. Links in this episode include: Anne Beiler Auntie Anne’s Pretzels Anne Beiler Store The Secret Lies Within: An Inside Outlook at Overcoming Trauma and Finding
Wed, November 04, 2020
Anne Beiler - Part 1 - CEO & Founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels
“With faith and hard work, all things are possible. That’s what truly makes you successful.” - Anne Beiler Anne Beiler is the creator and founder behind the world renowned franchise, Auntie Anne’s pretzels. Most wouldn’t know this about her, but she started this incredible company with no business plan, no capital, and no education. Growing up in an Amish community, she only received up to an eighth grade education and got married when she was 19 years old. Years of baking cakes and breads for her large family taught her how to make some of the world’s tastiest pretzels, and what started out as a small business and dream grew to be a global sensation. But her story of entrepreneurship and professionalism grew from experiences she was going through personally and spiritually. She overcame so much trauma, suffering, and pain in order to become the person she is today. Having sold Auntie Anne’s, she now shares her personal experiences and testimony to help others overcome their own obstacles and challenges with hope in this part 1 of 2 interviews. Quotes: The successful entrepreneur will do what others don’t feel like doing. Most of the time, I was the obstacle. I limited myself because of my pain. Perseverance is the point. You don’t stop when you feel like it. You don’t stop when you think you can’t do something. Life is hard. God is good. I’m not confused about that anymore. If I would have stayed there and didn’t have the courage, there would be no Auntie Anne’s. What I discovered was that stepping outside of that box, there is so much more room out there to be who God created you to be. We spend so much time wishing we were somebody else that we don’t take time to be ourselves and use our gifts. Be who God made you to be. Out there, it is limitless. Whining about what we don’t have is wasted energy. Understanding what we do have is enough. Focus on what we do have instead of whining about what we don’t have gave me boundless energy. Salt doesn’t speak, it only makes things tasty. Light doesn’t speak, it only draws people in. Links in this episode include: Anne Beiler Auntie Anne’s Pretzels Anne Beiler Store The Secret Lies Within: An Inside Outlook at Overcoming Trauma and Finding Purpose in the Pain Blog from Anne To learn more about Bob’s two books, find them on Amazon here: <a href
Wed, September 23, 2020
Reggie Leonard - Associate Director for University of Virginia School of Data Science
“I always think there is so much more to see. I’m so excited to be alive, and there is always potential to be cultivated.” - Reggie Leonard Reggie Leonard is an education, tech, and learning fanatic. He’s a young millennial leader influencing the way we think about education, technology, AI, and the entire learning process. Reggie received his undergraduate degree from Bowie State University where he was the treasurer and founding member of the men’s soccer club. He attended Liberty University following, and he got his Master’s degree in Counseling. Today, he works at the University of Virginia, and he serves as the Associate Director for Career Connections and Community Engagement for the School of Data Science and Engineering. Bob and Reggie don’t waste a minute as they dive right into the heart of education and how it’s changing especially with the onset of COVID-19. They discuss the paradigms of education and learning, and they have an interesting dialogue about how it’s changing and what the future could really hold. Together, they banter back and forth about insights they’re learning and influencing in today’s world. Notes and Quotes: Make sure that the decisions you’re making are in line with the vision for your life. The earlier you ask the questions about who and how you want to be in the world, the more defined your path and direction will be. For those that don’t have strong social capital or access to opportunity, college is a great opportunity for that. To not go to college is to have a sense of resilience and ingenuity. Our education system hasn’t trained people in that way, it’s trained them to check the boxes. College is the most linear. Imagine living in a world where you can never take your shoes off. It’s one thing to have protection on your feet, and it’s another to feel safe taking off your shoes and can kick back. There is efficacy in creating safe spaces - comfort, belonging, camaraderie. There is a difference between peace keeping and peace making. “People are easy to hate from a distance, move in.” - Brene Brown That’s the word -- strengthen and practice. The way to be great at something is to practice something. We don’t often think about practicing things like resilience or having enough or being uncomfortable and learning how to operate like that. We don’t seek that out nor fully exist presently while we experience them. Most people do their jobs, but they don’t think about their jobs. That’s what separates professionals from workers. Links in this episode include: About Reggie Reggie Leonard, Bio at the University of Virginia
Wed, July 22, 2020
Gino Wickman - Entrepreneur and Author of Rocket Fuel, EOS, and Entrepreneurial Leap
“The number one reason you’re going to succeed is because of your passion.” - Gino Wickman Gino Wickman has been an entrepreneur since age 21, and even at an early age, he’s had an obsession for learning what makes businesses and entrepreneurs thrive. At 25, he took over the family business, which was deeply in debt and in need of help. After turning the company around and running it for seven years, he and his partners successfully sold the company. He then set out to help entrepreneurs and leaders get what they want from their businesses. Based on his years of real-world experience, he created the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a practical method for helping companies achieve greatness. He has personally delivered more than 1,900 full-day sessions for more than 135 companies, helping them implement EOS. He’s also the author of the award-winning, best-selling book Traction: Get a Grip On Your Business , as well as Get a Grip, Rocket Fuel, How to Be a Great Boss, and What the Heck is EOS? , which have sold more than one million copies. As the founder of EOS Worldwide, an organization that helps tens of thousands of businesses implement EOS with the aid of an international team of over 350 professional certified EOS Implementers and online support. There are almost 100,000 companies using the EOS tools worldwide. He’s now devoting his time and energy toward helping entrepreneurs-in-the-making get a jump-start on taking their entrepreneurial leap, which is why he created Entrepreneurial Leap. The mission of Entrepreneurial Leap is to find all of the entrepreneurs-in-the-making, at any age, wherever they are - to help them realize their purpose and live the life they were born to live. In this episode, Bob and Gino break down Gino’s latest book, Entrepreneurial Leap, and they talk about the principles and philosophies of what makes an entrepreneur. It’s really an inside peek at his new book and a unique conversation with the author first-hand. Notes and Quotes: -Responsibility is really this -- you tend to look at yourself when something goes wrong, and you dive in to solve your problem. -The first thing to do is discover your passion. Do some soul searching. Get clarity about what you’re built for. A simple exercise is to evaluate your 3 greatest successes, your 3 greatest failures, and what life has prepared you for. -Success as an entrepreneur is greatly accelerated and improved with a mentor. It’s undeniable. -A mentor wants to leave a legacy. Show them appreciation, give them feedback on how you’re applying what they’re giving to you, and put in the work. -Make a 10 year goal, and then work backwards from there. You’ll find you get to your goal faster, better, and more peacefully. Links in this episode include: Entrepreneurial Leap Information <a href="htt
Wed, July 08, 2020
Bill & Jann Newton - Entrepreneurs and Sales Leaders
“There are no crops without both the sunshine and the rain.” - Bill & Jann Newton Bill & Jann Newton are a dynamo duo as Bonvera co-founders and leaders. Married for 44 years and with 33 years in the relationship building business, they know a thing or two about working together and overcoming trials and tribulations. Both from Kansas, they met when they were in high school and stayed together through their university days at Texas A & M. Bill was an all star javelin thrower in college, and he was bound for the Olympics. Yet, he and Jann started their journey together and were called to help the family farm in Kansas. Together and with their family, they grew their farm equipment business to a hugely successful venture. In 1980, they were one of the largest tractor dealers in America, and a year later, they were the largest combine dealer in America. Today, they’re speakers, sought after mentors, teammates, and leaders to one of Bonvera’s largest Kansas teams, VIP United. They’ve got sage wisdom and they’re leaving a legacy. In this episode, Bill and Jann join Bob in the Bonvera HQ home office studio. The key thread woven throughout this episode is wisdom. In this dialogue, Bill and Jann talk about lessons they learned through their business, even when times were hard and difficult. They recount the early days of meeting one another, and Bill unpacks what it was like to be a college athlete bound for the Olympics with a javelin in one hand and big dreams in the other. Leaving a legacy is important, and in this episode, you’ll learn why. Notes and Quotes: -Problems aren’t bad. Every successful venture has come about because of a problem. -When you go through obstacles, ask yourself: what could I have done differently? -Don’t look at others to blame or make excuses. Look to yourself. -I’m enthralled with information as I am with application. -It’s okay to be down, but don’t stay down. -There are no crops without both the sunshine and the rain. -Pain is a great motivator if you use it properly. Links in this episode include: Bill & Jann Newton Leadership Profile Bill Newton, Bonvera Board Member What is the ICAA? QBQ! The Question Behind the Question book on Amazon New Way MBA , the new way to pursue continuous education online for any entrepreneur To learn more about Bob’s two books, find them on Amazon here: The Leap<
Wed, June 24, 2020
Mark Sullivan - Entrepreneur, Fire Fighter, Founder of Lime Biscuit Creative
“Someone said you’re a pyromaniac at heart. I said, it just depends on what we’re burning. We try to take anything creative for clients and burn it up and make it light up the sky for them.” - Mark Sullivan Mark Sullivan has an interesting bio to say the least. Mark is the founder and Creative Director of Lime Biscuit Creative (@limebiscuit1), one of the Atlanta area’s fastest growing branding and design agencies. Currently, Mark also serves as a Lieutenant with the Douglas County Fire Department, where he has been for over two decades. Mark is also co-owner of Toxic Suppression, a company specializing in post-fire decontamination for firefighters. On top of all that, Mark served as the host and emcee for the Love Worth Fighting For Marriage Tour with actor Kirk Cameron and Warren Barfield. In the past, Mark worked with talent from History Channel, A&E, and other major networks. When not working, which is rare, Mark loves to attend concerts and sporting events. Mark has been married to Sherry for 22 years, and they have two children Zach and Mia. It is easy to see why his co-workers penned him as "The pyromaniac of creativity". In this episode, Bob and Mark discuss the importance of branding as well as how he decided to brand and name his own design and branding creative agency. Mark teaches that branding isn’t the same as it used to be. It’s easier now more than ever to begin a business today and get your brand out there in front of people. From firefighter by day to entrepreneur by night, Mark discusses the entrepreneurial journey and best branding tips for entrepreneurs everywhere. Notes and Quotes: -Millennials enjoy going out and seeing who you are and what you do, connecting with your personality and who you are. -“Education is what remains after you’ve forgotten what you learned in school.” - Albert Einstein. -Now that time is minimized to start a business, you can maximize your time to market yourself, see clients and customers, and network. It enables you to do that face to face with people and build that relationship with them. -Doing business with everyone is not your goal. It’s too big. You need to refine your brand to attract a particular audience. -We developed this idea of entrepreneurs to find your torch. You have to light your ship with something. What’s your torch to light your ship then? What’s your passion and what’s your gift? How to discover that and use it to light the ship and burn it down to get it out of your way to light your path. -The entrepreneurial journey is fraught with difficulty. There is no such thing as a journey with no risk involved. Links in this episode include: About Mark Lime Biscuit Design and Branding Agency Toxic Suppression
Wed, June 03, 2020
Nicole Porter - Real Estate Agent, Entrepreneur, Sales Leader
“I wasn’t scared to try.” - Nicole Porter Nicole Porter is a business owner, entrepreneur, leader, speaker, mother, and wife. She builds teams, builds businesses, and connects with others for a living as a part of Bonvera. She and her husband also run multiple other businesses in the education, technology, and realty sectors. (And they were guests on Episode #9 inside their store, MacDaddy’s). Formerly a dental hygienist, she left that industry to start her own businesses and dictate her own freedoms. Today, with 14 years in the industry, she joins us to talk about how to build a home-based business in a socially distanced world. In this episode, Bob and Nicole recount her journey from full-time employee to full-time business owner. They discuss trends in the industry of household purchasers, the part-time gig economy, building communities online, and connecting with others. Notes and Quotes: -Over 80% of participants in the home-based business are females. In most American households, the CFO is generally the female. She is making the majority of the purchasing decisions. -What’s unique about this industry is that you can earn a couple hundred dollars a month or you can earn a career level income. You don’t have to do a 40 hour work week either. I think that’s what is so attractive to women in this industry. -With social media, I want to add value to people’s lives by what I post on my social media platforms. I want people to see my life, get to know me, and be genuine. When you do that, people want to be a part of it. -People are going to follow you, they aren’t going to follow a product. -We’ve seen a huge need for high communication with people right now. We are no longer in the hustle and bustle, but our world is still so noisy. Your voice needs to be a little bit louder and a little more positive than the noise out there in the world. -People need to be lifted up right now, and they need to be encouraged and inspired. -We need vision casters more than ever. We need leadership more than ever. -Everyone is on social media right now, and if we know they’re on there, where do we want them to be? We want them to be getting positive information with a clear vision to see past all of this. -If you’re going to be a successful leader, you need to check your attitude and your expectancy. -If you want to be a successful leader, be hungry to grow and learn. -What made the biggest difference for me? I just wasn’t scared to try. -Success is where opportunity and preparedness meet. -Before all of this, we used to say, “I just want to be at home.” Now, look at us, we have the most time at home we’ve ever had. Think of the time we have. Links in this episode include: <a href="http://bonvera.rocks/bonvera-profiles-in-leadership-kirk-nicole-porter/?fbclid=IwAR18w_aRMTC1VYj_qf-
Wed, May 20, 2020
Jim & Dolores Martin - Part 2 - Entrepreneurs and Sales Leaders
“Don’t get weary in well doing. Communicate and think about others. Don’t fall into woe is me. We can’t change what has happened, but we can change our actions towards what is going to happen.” - Jim & Dolores Martin In part two of this episode, Jim and Dolores note the unique circumstances that COVID-19 and the global pandemic present -- an opportunity to be leaders and inspire hope in others. At the same time, Jim and Dolores talk about how to structure your time and implement daily disciplines into your rhythms. The episode concludes with a few rapid fire questions from this power couple. Notes and Quotes: -I did learn one major thing to set my priorities to be in this order: my God, my husband, my children, my business. To do that then, I need to structure my time that way. If I have to make phone calls, I have to clear the time before I do it. I communicated that to my kids, so they knew that they mattered. -You don’t want to make them feel like you’re putting them on a shelf, and you’re going to come back to them after you’ve become successful in your business. Otherwise, they’ll learn to hate the business. I had to make sure my kids saw that we were running for goals. -We prioritize our time. I live by what I say I live by, and I write it down. -Eliminate the distractions and be disciplined. An undisciplined life is rough. -The American dream is to own something. I believe it’s security and freedom from depending on someone else. It’s woken people up. Security is from the neck up. It’s how we think that differentiates us. What we do, what we think, and how we act. -If we can get a bunch of people together and working together, we will move mountains. -Attitude and selflessly loving people you are in business with are the two skills they mentioned to being an entrepreneur. -Last encouraging words to a global audience? Don’t get weary in well doing. Communicate and think about others. Don’t fall into woe is me. Write down 10 things that are going right in your life before you go to bed at night. It keeps you focused. We can’t change what has happened. We can only change our actions towards what is going to happen. -Don’t waste this opportunity to move your business forward. Consistency is what is going to win the day. The power of compounding will take effect. Get into action and don’t stop the action. Adapt, change, and don’t waste this. Stay consistent. Links in this episode include: Jim & Dolores’s bio UK Appoints a Minister of Loneliness , an article from the New York Times Meet UK’s Minister of Loneliness , an articl
Wed, May 06, 2020
Jim & Dolores Martin - Part 1 - Entrepreneurs and Sales Leaders
“Every reason not to do something is the reason to do it. We have the right opportunity at the right time with the right people, and we want to help people succeed. This quarantine time is just time for real community. Facebook isn’t the same as a phone call. Stay connected to people. Everybody matters.” - Jim & Dolores Martin From sunny Florida, Jim and Dolores Martin are top industry leaders in the relationship business. With 18 + years of experience in the industry, they partnered up with a team of men and women to found Bonvera, a business built on entrepreneurship and community. In another life, Jim was a master plumber who owned his own business for many years, but his life was spent working about 70 - 90 hours a week running his business. Dolores was in the banking and insurance industry as well as running an in-home daycare business. After they got past their own excuses, the rest was history. Today as co-founders of Bonvera, they are building teams of authentic community leaders who serve and support one another. In part one of this episode, Bob joins Jim and Dolores to talk about their story. They recap joining this industry right around 9/11, a time very similar to COVID-19, and why they got started. They also discuss why they founded Bonvera and the gap Bonvera filled in the industry space. With their experience and results, Bob and Jim and Dolores urge listeners to see the unique opportunity this global pandemic presents to support, care for, and communicate with your community. Notes and Quotes: -I wasn’t looking for something more to do, but I wanted the results that others had. Now, I see that if I wanted different results, I’d have to do something different to get them. -I wasn’t looking, but I should have been looking. The reason I should have been looking was because someone in my industry as a plumber that had more experience than me was in the exact same predicament as I was in. I kept doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. -Every reason not to do something is the reason to do it. I don’t have money, that’s the reason to do it. I don’t have time, that’s why you should do it. Every excuse is the reason to do something. We have the right opportunity at the right time with the right people, and we want to help people succeed. -What it boiled down to was that we didn’t want special deals. It didn’t matter if you just got started or you had been in the industry for years, we wanted everyone to have the same opportunity. We saw that in Bonvera we could be leading the change. -Being able to look face to face with people and let them know you care is huge in our industry. -In this industry, people want to know you care. They know that by looking in your eyes. Now that we have this, it’s still important for people to hear your voice. People need fun and community, and that’s what I love about this business. This
Wed, April 15, 2020
Dr. Jeff Davis - The State of Our Health in COVID-19
“I always start with the basics. Basics of handwashing have been effective. This virus is surrounded by a lipid membrane, which means it’s a fat. That means that anything that cuts grease is going to destroy this virus. Simple soap and handwashing is extremely effective. Practice basic hygiene." Dr. Jeff Davis is a practicing doctor of family medicine, functional, and integrative health. He’s the owner of Prairie Health and Wellness in Wichita, Kansas, and he serves as Bonvera’s Medical Director of the Phyzix MD product line. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, and he is an advanced fellow in regenerative and functional medicine through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. As for his schooling, he completed his residency in Family Medicine through University of Kansas at Via Christi Hospital in Wichita, Kansas and earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in clinical gerontology from Baylor University. He’s on the leading edge of healthcare as he has been involved in multiple FDA clinical trials, and his clinic has been designated an FDA research site. He and his team do this to provide the best care to their patients. In this episode, Bob and Dr. Jeff Davis discuss the current state of our country and our world due to the ramifications of the global pandemic that COVID-19 has caused. In this episode, they speak on everything related to the virus from simple tips to staying hygienic and practical steps you can take to boost your immune system to the future of healthcare and how to sleep well during this time. Notes and Quotes: -“People go from slightly sick to seriously sick in a matter of hours, and we don’t see that with influenza. Common symptoms are fever and a cough. Because this virus enters through AC2 receptors, which are found predominantly in the lungs those are the common symptoms. However, they are also found in cardiac tissue or the gut, which less reported symptoms could be diarrhea, abdominal cramping, or even nausea and vomiting.” -“The European Association of Ear Nose and Throat Doctors put out a bulletin that an early symptom is a loss of smell.” -“SARS-COV-2 is the name of the virus that causes the disease, and the disease named COVID-19, which is short for coronavirus disease and named 19 because it was discovered in 2019. SARS is a severe acute respiratory syndrome.” -“One research said it looks like drowning or it looks like HAPE, which is high altitude pulmonary edema. That’s where it’s like you’ve gone to sea level to 20,000 elevation and you can’t oxygenate your tissue.” -We have data that Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc can help support you during this time. “You’ll know if you’ve had too much vitamin C in your system, your body will tell you. You’ll get diarrhea. Making sure that your vitamin D is at a healthy level. Zinc
Wed, April 08, 2020
Kelly Fletcher - Part 2 - CEO & Founder of Fletcher PR
“For me, I wouldn’t go back and change anything. It’s been a great ride. I’ve gotten to do things, learn things, and experience life in a way I don’t think I would have otherwise. ” - Kelly Fletcher Kelly Fletcher (@fletcherpr) is a powerhouse leader, CEO, speaker, author, podcast host, marketer, and former Miss North Carolina. She graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina with a degree in Music, Vocal Performance, and Communications. All through her twenties, she was aspiring to be a singer and lived in New York. She’d tell you, “I worked a lot, but I didn’t make a lot of money.” Up until she was 29, she sang with the National Opera Company as a cover, which is similar to an understudy, for two years, she worked odd jobs to make ends meet, and she toured with music companies. When she left New York, she decided to pivot to a career in communications as well as start a family of her own. At age 40, she started her own marketing and PR firm, and let’s just say she’s killing it. She not only reinvented herself, but she created an incredible company, successful career, and community of leaders following in her footsteps. In part 2 of this episode, Bob and Kelly dive into the power of the female consumer. Additionally, Kelly shares helpful and timely advice for leaders looking to grow in their leadership skills and abilities. Bob and Kelly talk about if this entrepreneurship journey is all worth it, what her pet peeves are, and a few productivity hacks. Notes and Quotes: -The female is the CFO of American households. They do the majority of household purchasing. -About 50% of women in this country aren’t married. If you only market to women that are married, you’re leaving market share on the table. You can’t market to all women in the same way. -Advice I’d give to young women is that you really can’t have it all. Media portrays that women can, but it’s not that simple. It’s only in certain seasons, and you have to realize how to prioritize. -There are sacrifices to be made for different choices. We are kind of raised to think we should do it all, and it’s just not possible. -Prioritize what’s important to you. Make a list. Set goals every year. I found this old journal of mine, and a lot of my goals are still the same as they are now. To find that and look back on it, it was cool to see I’ve been doing the right things. Figure out your process and stick with it over the years. -For me, I wouldn’t go back and change anything. It’s been a great ride. I’ve gotten to do things, learn things, and experience life in a way I don’t think I would have otherwise. -If you really want to find what you’re capable of, you have to push yourself. -It’s a pet peeve of mine whenever someone on our team says, “I’m not this or I’m not that. Or I don’t know how to do this.” We don’t ever say that to a client. We deliver solutions. If we do
Wed, March 25, 2020
Kelly Fletcher - Part 1 - CEO & Founder of Fletcher PR
“I would rather take the chance of being able to work harder, put in more time, and push for a different outcome rather than having someone else control my future.” - Kelly Fletcher Kelly Fletcher (@fletcherpr) is a powerhouse leader, CEO, speaker, author, podcast host, marketer, and former Miss North Carolina. She graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina with a degree in Music, Vocal Performance, and Communications. All through her twenties, she was aspiring to be a singer and lived in New York. She’d tell you, “I worked a lot, but I didn’t make a lot of money.” Up until she was 29, she sang with the National Opera Company as a cover, which is similar to an understudy, for two years, she worked odd jobs to make ends meet, and she toured with music companies. When she left New York, she decided to pivot to a career in communications as well as start a family of her own. At age 40, she started her own marketing and PR firm, and let’s just say she’s killing it. She not only reinvented herself, but she created an incredible company, successful career, and community of leaders following in her footsteps. In this episode, Bob and Kelly reminisce on the beginnings of her entrepreneurial journey. They recount the fear and courage it took for her to transition careers over the years from music and performance to marketing and communications. She shares her personal journey of growing in confidence and growing into her own, and with such care, she inspires audiences with her empowering spirit and advice. Notes and Quotes: - I really wasn’t that confident, and it didn’t come until much later. I didn’t really come into my own until my mid to late thirties. -I got more and more courage, and I got less and less fearful. The fear is still there, and if it’s not, it may be a bit of an issue. Having a little bit of a pit in your stomach when you’re trying to make a decision is a good thing. That little moment of doubt fuels you to push through. -Fear isn’t a bad thing unless you let it drive you or control you. Fear helps you perform better. It keeps you from complacency, which is so important as a small business owner or entrepreneur. -As a small business owner or entrepreneur, you have to keep working at your business even when you’re in the good times or seasons. It prepares me for harder times in my business. When it gets hard, I’m motivated and I’m on it. It pushes me to work however many hours to get it done because the alternative isn’t looking good. -Consistency is so important to any business. If you aren’t consistent, it’s hard to maintain a level of normalcy in business. This helps you weather the storms. -I quickly realized that if I wanted to move up and control my own destiny, I needed to get into sales. That’s when I learned a lot about selling and building relationships. That’s all sales really is -- relationship build
Wed, March 11, 2020
A Recap of Where We’ve Been, What We’ve Learned, and Where We’re Going
“Everyone has something different and unique to share, but yet there are similarities amongst them all. Everyone has a unique story; everyone has a unique journey. We can learn something from everyone.” - Bob Dickie In this episode, we walk back through the past few months of podcasting together. We highlight the guests who have been on this show and the guests we’re thinking of having in the future. Additionally, we discuss some of the key learnings and observations we’ve seen in our guests and their insights. Amongst all of the guests, there is a common thread -- we can all learn from mistakes and failures. We set the stage in this recap episode for highlights and insights to come in 2020. Notes and Quotes: -You expect a highlight reel from people, but that’s not often what we actually get when we sit down and connect with people. We get the realness and rawness of lessons learned which were the greatest factors to success for our guests. -Be a great questioner. Be someone who genuinely wants to learn and know other people. -You can do this exact same thing we’ve done via this podcast. Sit down with someone, build that relationship, ask questions, and genuinely invest in one another. -Social media isn’t where real relationships are built. They’re built eye to eye and face to face. Links in this episode include: The very first introductory podcast episode Tim & Brandy Jarvinen’s podcast episode Cody Newton’s podcast episode Jeremie Kubicek’s podcast episode The 100X Leader by Jeremie Kubicek Bonvera’s NTE, shorthand for National Training Event, these are Bonvera’s big training events held 3 - 4x a year Tymber Lee’s podcast episode Grant Webster’s podcast episode Mark & Raque
Wed, January 15, 2020
Kirk & Nicole Porter - Founder of MacDaddy, Entrepreneurs, Sales Leaders
“You get that exhilarating feeling of like, ‘Oh, man, I could get out of this place.’ And that's really where I was. I was very hungry to learn. I was very hungry for different results. And so even though it took time, a lot of people think it's going to be easy too when they take that leap. Like, ‘Oh, I'll just make this decision, everything's going to be easy.’ You got to be willing to stick it out. You've got to be willing to do the hard things to be able to get where you want to go. And so even though we made the decision that we were going to do something different, it took time to begin to work hard and to switch that from being an employee to jumping over into entrepreneurship.” - Kirk & Nicole Porter Kirk & Nicole Porter (@Kirkporter and @Nicole_insights) hail from Dallas, Texas where they fell in love, started their careers, had their boys, and pivoted to multiple different ventures, including their current venture as Bonvera entrepreneurs. Before becoming entrepreneurs, they were comfortable and keeping up with the Joneses but they wanted so much more. With Nicole as a dental hygienist and Kirk in IT, they were trapped and stuck in the daily grind. But, they weren’t staying stuck. Through battle after battle, they gained more knowledge, got grittier, and learned to stay in the fight. Today, they’re serial entrepreneurs who run multiple businesses in realty, technology, network marketing, and education. They’re passionate about helping others find success as entrepreneurs too. In this episode with Bob, Kirk & Nicole recount why they decided to pursue entrepreneurship. In this process, they learned how to shift their thinking from an employee mindset to entrepreneurial freedom. They learned how to keep pushing past the challenges, and they learned how to focus so strongly on their dream that nothing stood in their way. Notes and Quotes: -We basically got into the spot where we bought the American dream, right? Like we had the nice cars, we had corporate jobs, we had the nice house, and we looked good from the outside. But on the inside, we were in debt. Any money we made, we spent it. -We learned three keys to wealth, which was delayed gratification, long term vision, and the power of compounding. -But [in this documentary of Pumping Iron], he says, "When I'm competing, if my car gets stolen, I can't even think about my car getting stolen. Because I'm so focused on my goal to get where I'm going, that someone else can't even come and tell me that, they have to handle it for me." -When you're chasing your dream and you're doing those things, you’re so focused on your goals. Nothing is going to stand in your way. Your car gets smashed on the side of the road. You're like, I don't got no time for that, right? -I'm in the hunt. I think a lot of times people want to pass that hunt and just talk about the success that they think they've already a
Wed, January 01, 2020
Drayton Wade - Senior Director Strategic Partnerships UiPath
"If work is going to be that consuming and that integratable into life, it better be something you’re interested in. I keep making these pivots because of A.) self-awareness and B). what I am interested in. If I’m going to put in lots of hours, I want to be interested in it. [So I ask myself,] is it something I’m interested in? Is it something that leads to more opportunities?" -- Drayton Wade Drayton Wade (@draytonwade) is a millennial entrepreneur, start-up veteran, Clemson grad, Knoxville Fellow, and graduate of London School of Economics . As one of the youngest delegates at the Christian Economic Forum , Drayton has worked at multiple start-ups and is currently working at a start-up in the area of technology and automation at UiPath . His passions include counterterrorism, economics, automation, artificial intelligence, nonprofit work, and sales. Drayton joins Bob in this podcast to talk about his unique passions and how they helped him pivot in his atypical career path from his college studies that started out in engineering to his post-grad days working for start-up companies in AI and automation. Together, they banter back and forth over what sales really is, the differences between American education and British education, and the many remarks people make about millennial career men and women. Not to mention, they discuss countless books they’re reading, how they implement education into their life, and the mentors that have authority to speak into their lives. Quotes from this episode: -“People with backgrounds that are atypical can leverage that in sales because they have a good EQ. They have a good understanding of how to communicate precisely and concisely. [At the London School of Economics,] they wanted to know how you thought, how you could structure an argument, and how you could communicate. That’s sales in a nutshell.” -“We aren’t rational creatures. With sales, it’s the same way. It’s all about the relationship. It’s about understanding the person, it’s about getting to know the person on the other side.” -“The atypical path has helped me. I don’t know any better. I don’t have this rigid path I have to follow. I jumped around, and I pursued whatever there was.” -“I’ve changed jobs almost every 2 years. It’s often viewed as a negative [for millennials]. It’s total crap to me. Think about the expectation you’re setting on them. You’re expecting them to be self-aware enough to know their interests and gifts God has given them [for their lives at the young age of 18 - 22].” -“If work is going to be that consuming and that integrable into life, it better be something you’re interested in.” -“I keep making these pivots because of A.) self-awareness and B). what I am interested in. If I’m going to put in lots of hours, I want to
Wed, December 18, 2019
Mark & Raquel Williams - Police Officer, Entrepreneurs, Sales Leaders
"I had a win, and it told me that I could do it. I had that piece of me that kept reminding me of that win saying 'You can do it. Remember?’" -- Mark & Raquel Williams Mark and Raquel Williams (@mdub50 and @RRWilliams_) are a couple of entrepreneurs partnered up with Bonvera. Both from different backgrounds, these two are humble but incredibly successful on their own and together in their respective industries. Mark comes to the table with a background in law enforcement, detective work, SWAT team, and kicking butt, while Raquel comes from a background of recruiting, staffing, and sales. Coming together, they’ve brought their expertise and grit to be business partners, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals in their own ventures, including an ice cream shop and a Bonvera business. Mark and Raquel reside in California where they manage a big family, multiple businesses, and several teams of entrepreneurs. They join Bob in this podcast episode to talk about how to win. Raquel personalizes her story about how she came to believe “I can do it!” Mark shares his training and experience with law enforcement and as a SWAT officer. Together, they share with Bob the lessons they learned from a typical 9-to-5 job and how they applied them in their entrepreneurial pursuits. Notes on Believing in Yourself: -Remind yourself over and over again of your self-belief. -You can do it. Remember? You’ve done it before. -Find a great mentor who will believe in you and push you. -A great mentor instills the courage in you to help you develop and grow. -Oftentimes, we have pain and wounds that hold us back. -It takes courage to go into our wounds, heal them, and move forward. -Find tools and resources that help you heal your wounds. Links in this episode include: Mark & Raquel’s Leadership Profile , a bio on their story, why they joined Bonvera, and what their life looks like as entrepreneurs How to Beat Self-Doubt and Stop Selling Yourself Short , an interesting article from Forbes on the very topics Raquel faced early in her career SWAT Team process , an article on how you become a SWAT officer Hair Loss Solutions , a company somewhat similar to what Raquel did in LA early in her career Hair Club , hair replacement solutions for men and women <a href="https://www.hairclu
Wed, December 04, 2019
Grant Webster - CEO of Launch Thought
“It's really just realizing 'look on my own, I don't have what it takes to be successful or perform at a high level.' I need other people to come alongside of me and help me." -- Grant Webster Grant Webster (@grantwebster) is the CEO and Founder of Launch Thought, an investor in several startups, Silicon Valley consultant. Grant gravitated toward learning while being homeschooled as a kid, even checking out classic business books from the library. While still in college Grant started his own software and web development firm. The combined busyness of getting married and the growth of his business led him to drop out of school and continue his career without a formal degree. Despite this nontraditional path, Grant’s career has continued to flourish. Today, Grant is able to spend the majority of his time serving other entrepreneurs and leaders who are advancing God-inspired solutions to the world’s greatest challenges through his work in the Christian Economic Forum. He joins Bob in this podcast episode to talk about what a coach is and why Grant invested in one. He highlights key differences between a friend, mentor, and coach, and he emphasizes the key things to look for in a mentor or coach. Additionally, Grant shares his story on his educational background, how he got started in his entrepreneurial endeavors, and the thoughts he encounters daily as an entrepreneur. Along the way, Bob and Grant discuss how to dispel fear, combat the doubt, and believe in the truth. Notes on the difference between a friend, mentor, or coach: -A friend is close to you, and they may be biased. -A mentor counsels you and gives advice. They’re typically intentionally asked to mentor an individual. -A mentor wants to see that their investment in you will be worthwhile. They’re gifting you something, so they want to see you use the gift. -A coach can give you unvarnished and unbiased outside perspective. -A coach can see things you can’t see. -One coach can’t help you with everything. It’s not a one-sized all approach. -A tennis player is so successful because they have a coach for multiple areas of their game -- their nutrition, their technique, their mental health, their strategy, etc. -If you’re looking for a coach, don’t look for a unicorn that can mentor you or coach you on everything. Those are unfair expectations. Don’t view a mentor or coach as the end all be all. -Look for a mentor that’s really good at something you want to learn about or improve upon yourself. However, be careful not to take everything that they are and emulate that. -Keep in mind you are a unique individual, and you can’t replicate their whole life. You’re a different person. -If you want a mentor, prove you’ll be a good student. Volunteer to help them. Learn as much as you can from them. Be a value-add to them. -Oftentimes, someone you’re as
Wed, November 20, 2019
Tymber Lee - Serial Entrepreneur, Commercial Real Estate Developer, Investor
"The race you are starting, I've finished. I survived. You can take your life experiences that are personal to you and you can open yourself up. There are people at the starting point of the race you've finished. The social media lens we have into people's lives is unfair. All you see is their best picture on vacation or their perfect cup of coffee with their devotion. You don't see the chaos on either side of the phone. It's the same thing with entrepreneurship. You compare yourself to the highlight reel of all of these companies, and that's not fair. It's not real. If you can peel back the onion, maybe 10 layers back, you'll see they were where you were at at some point too." -- Tymber Lee Tymber Lee (@tlee3232) is an investor, board member, former professional baseball pitcher, and commercial real estate investor and developer. Tymber is a get-after-it use every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears kind of entrepreneur and business owner. With entrepreneurialism in his blood, he’s been involved in various business opportunities and endeavors since he was a kid helping in his family business of custom homebuilding and development. His love for competition, teamwork, and winning carried over into his studies as he attended Wichita State University as a student athlete and was selected in the Major League Baseball draft as a pitcher by the Anaheim Angels. His career evolved into specializing in commercial investment property and industrial sales and leasing, which has led to the development of The Lee Companies (TLC). He joins Bob in this podcast episode to talk about fear and failure, the lessons from heartbreak, and the grandfather who taught and mentored him growing up. They hash out the journeys they’ve experienced as entrepreneurs, investors, and business executives in this heart-wrenching and thought provoking episode. Notes on Fear and Failure: -Ask thought leaders, “If you were to go back and do anything differently, would you?” -Then, “shut up, and listen.” -Action cures fear. -Don’t be afraid of failure. Failure is where the gems are. -People want to see how you’re going to fail. How will you handle the failure? How you handle failure determines your success. -Failure is not a matter of how or if. It’s a matter of when. Links in this episode include: Tymber’s Board Bio Tymber’s MiLB Profile , a stat sheet from the Minor Leagues Tymber’s MLB Profile , a stat sheet from the MLB <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grit-Passion-Perseverance-Angela-Duckworth/dp/1501111116/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1OLEAA43H810T&keywords=grit+by+angela+duckworth&qid=1573150425&sprefi
Wed, November 06, 2019
Jeremie Kubicek - CEO and Co-Founder GiANT WorldWide, Author, Entrepreneur
“The best leaders in the world gain influence because people want to be around them not have to be around them.” --Jeremie Kubicek Jeremie Kubicek (@JeremieKubicek) is the CEO of GiANT TV, Co-Founder of GiANT, speaker, best-selling author of multiple books, husband, and father to three. Jeremie specializes in getting leaders to a higher and healthier level, which he talks about in his books The 100X Leader and 5 Voices: How to Communicate with Everyone You Lead among others. In this episode, Jeremie highlights and elaborates on a talk recently given to entrepreneurs from all over the United States about the differences in a dominating and liberating leader. He weaves many themes and principles from his book The 100X Leader into this discussion including the analogy of climbing Mount Everest with the help of a Sherpa. Jeremie teaches audiences what a leader should do in terms of providing support while also providing challenge, what he has learned about being a leader throughout his entrepreneurial journey, and the practices he uses to live out leadership daily. Notes on a Dominating vs. a Liberating Leader: A dominating leader provides high challenge with low support. A protecting leader provides high support with low challenge. A liberating leader brings empowerment and opportunity but also a challenge. Awesome quotes by Jeremie in this episode: “We need leaders who bring unbelievable challenge but provide support.” “No one can do it without someone helping them along the way. To be a sherpa, I fight for them. I create support for them. And I follow up behind them to challenge them.” “The platinum rule is to do unto others as they’d like done unto them.” “Credibility and influence is a daily thing. It’s something I’m doing today.” “Opportunity comes when you do relational things really well.” “Call people up, don’t call them out.” “My dad always told me this in my 20s. It’s not what you do, it’s who you work for.” “Circumstances don’t dictate your behavior.” Links in this episode include: Zoom , a digital video conferencing tool New Way MBA , Bonvera’s education platform for entrepreneurs GiANT TV , a digital media company for leadership information transformation The Sherpa people , the group of people who live their lives summiting Mount Everest Leadercast Conferences , leadership conferences Jeremie was a part of GiANT Worldwide , a leadership transformation company <a href="https://theprairieatpost.c
Wed, October 23, 2019
Cody Newton - Serial Entrepreneur, Sales Leader
“As a leader, you put yourself in their position, and I think that has been an asset in my entrepreneurial journey. Just being able to feel what they're feeling." -- Cody Newton Cody Newton (@newton_cody) is a leading industry professional, serial entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Bonvera, franchiser, and father of 5. Cody is a self-taught, hands-on entrepreneur that has started multiple companies including Bonvera, and has become a leading industry professional building teams of passionate people rooting together toward one goal and vision. In this episode, Cody joins Bob to discuss the heart behind his entrepreneurial journey. They chronicle hilarious stories from Cody’s childhood that shaped his educational path and the beginning of his entrepreneurial endeavors. Along the way, Bob highlights the phenomenal speaker Cody is and what good books they’re reading. The continuous thread throughout this episode is what it takes to have the heart of an entrepreneur, to feel the pain and joy, and the heart to learn, grow, and do it even when you’re scared. With these two, there are many laughs, good stories, and sharings from the heart. This episode mentions books and leaders including Peter Thiel, The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest Teams by Sam Walker, The Power of Five by John Maxwell, How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People by Les Giblin. Links include Thrive Farmers Coffee , which is a unique partnership with Bonvera to provide customers and entrepreneurs with exceptional coffee from Latin America. Thrive Farmers offers specialty-grade coffee hand-grown by farmers in Latin America that have grown coffee for generations. By partnering with Thrive Farmers, farmers receive 3.5X more in wages than before. This net income increase empowers farmers to then improve access to other needs for a thriving life , including healthcare, education, clean water and more. You can learn more about Cody at this link . Follow Bob Dickie on Twitter @RobertDickie
Wed, October 09, 2019
Tim Jarvinen - Entrepreneur / Sales Leader
“Anybody can be what they want to be if they're willing to put in their 10,000 proverbial hours." -- Tim Jarvinen Tim Jarvinen is an entrepreneur and sales leader at Bonvera, an all-star football and basketball athlete, and a former Delphi automotive engineer. In this episode, Tim joins Bob to rehash what it was like to be an engineer dreaming of a day where he had more time, more money, and more time with his family of six. Tim reflects on lessons he learned as a football and basketball athlete and how they carried over into lessons he learned as an entrepreneur. His wife, Brandy, joins him later in the episode to talk about what it was like to set out to build a business together as a couple and team. They share sacrifices, goals, and teachings they carry out in order to do it well, embracing that entrepreneurship is a family affair. It’s something they can do together with their kids. This episode mentions books including Real World MBA by Jack Welsh. Follow Bob Dickie on Twitter @RobertDickie
Wed, October 02, 2019
Casey Roths - Millennial Marketing Manager at Bonvera
“It's so important to us that we connect what we're doing with what matters to us and what we're passionate about. We want more. We want to do something we love and enjoy but also resonates deeply with us." --Casey Roths Casey Roths is a millennial career gal, recent University of Tennessee Knoxville college graduate, and Manager of Marketing Operations at Bonvera, a network marketing start-up in Knoxville, Tennessee. In this episode, Casey joins Bob to set the stage for the podcast. In this episode, Casey asks Bob why he wanted to do a podcast, what he’s most excited about, and what content to expect in this podcast. Along the way, they discuss what it’s like to be a millennial in this new age economy, what’s important to millennials, and how their values impact their decisions when beginning their career journeys. They land the episode on the hope this podcast offers to those later on in their career and the bridge that connects these two generations. This episode mentions books Windows of the Soul by Ken Gire, Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller, and At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider. Follow Bob Dickie on Twitter @RobertDickie Follow "Taking the Leap Podcast" on Youtube.com
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