The Greatness Machine

Are you showing up? Showing up for yourself is crucial for personal growth, self-awareness, and well-being. It means prioritizing your needs, desires, and goals, and taking intentional actions toward them. When you show up for yourself, you acknowledge your worth, and you create a foundation of self-love and self-respect.  It also means taking responsibility for your life, and not relying on others to fulfill your needs or make you happy. By showing up for yourself, you cultivate a sense of empowerment and agency, and you become more resilient and adaptable to life's challenges. So make it a habit to show up for yourself every day, in big and small ways, and watch how your life transforms for the better. Today I am flying solo to talk about who I am trying to be in the world and what I do to become that version of myself. In this episode, I will share a few tips I learned on how to become the best version of yourself and why it matters to show up and take action. I will also discuss the things I learned from two books I recently read, Atomic Habits by James Clear and The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. Topics include: My biggest takeaway from reading Atomic Habits The three things I’m trying to be in the world The importance of showing up And other topics… Resources mentioned: Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Morning-Not-So-Obvious-Guaranteed-Transform/dp/0979019710  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you reclaim your life after exiting a cult? Cults often prey on vulnerable individuals, offering them a sense of community, belonging, and purpose. They use tactics such as manipulation, mind control, and emotional abuse to keep their members in line, making it challenging for individuals to leave and regain their freedom. Escaping a cult can be a difficult and traumatizing experience, requiring immense courage and strength. One of the most challenging aspects of escaping a cult is the process of deprogramming. Members of a cult have been subjected to intense indoctrination, where their thoughts, beliefs, and behavior have been shaped by the organization's leaders. Sarah Edmondson, a Canadian actress, voice actor, and podcaster, joins us on the Greatness Machine to talk about her experience as a former member of NXIVM, a now-defunct multi-level marketing company. In this episode, Darius and Sarah dive deep into the effects of cult manipulation and how cults rewire the brain of their members. Now a cult recovery advocate, Sarah also shares her story of being a member of NXIVM, which she later exposed for their abusive practices.  Topics include: What drew Sarah to join the NXIVM group How Sarah found out about the disturbing activities within the group The factors that contribute to joining cults What it was like for Sarah working as an actor while being a member of the NXIVM Sarah talks about the HBO documentary series “The Vow” The story behind A Little Bit Culty podcast And other topics… Connect with Sarah: Website: https://www.sarahedmondson.com/  Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-little-bit-culty/id1553334816  Book: https://www.amazon.com/Scarred-Story-Escaped-NXIVM-Memoir/dp/1452184267  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahedmondson/ Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are few things more demoralizing than pouring your heart and soul into a job (not to mention countless hours of dedicated work) only to have your employer let you go with barely a thank you for your hard work.  Today's guest has experienced this firsthand, but rather than allow it to stop her, she's used it to fuel her own massive success. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Hala Taha, entrepreneur, CEO of YAP Media and LinkedIn's Podcasting Princess. Her path to success has been a long and challenging one, despite her relatively young age, and she's ready to share her insights on today's episode.  You'll learn about Hala's journey through the ups and downs of the entertainment industry, a difficult path that provided tremendous experience and eventually led her to the corporate world where more lessons awaited.  You'll discover some surprisingly effective habits and tactics used by successful leaders. You'll also learn how Hala's extensive experience inspired her to create her #1 rated Young and Profiting podcast and more recently, YAP Media, a full-service social media and podcast marketing agency for top podcasters, celebrities and CEOs. Join Darius and Hala and get inspired by her story, her determination and her insights!  Topics include: The process Hala used to become an "overnight success” Surprising habits and tactics of successful leaders The reasons why Hala decided to start the Young And Profiting podcast And other topics… Sponsored By: Go to organifi.com/greatness and use code GREATNESS for 20% off your entire order. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/darius and get on your way to being your best self. Connect with Hala: Website: https://youngandprofiting.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/htaha/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yapwithhala/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/yapwithhala  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you running on the hedonic treadmill? The hedonic treadmill refers to the phenomenon where people's expectations and desires for pleasure and happiness increase over time, but their actual level of happiness and satisfaction remains relatively constant. In other words, people constantly strive for more and more pleasure and happiness, but they never really reach a state of lasting satisfaction or contentment. Getting off the hedonic treadmill can be achieved by changing one's mindset and approach to life, focusing on things that provide deeper meaning and fulfillment rather than short-term pleasure. Today I am flying solo to talk about my personal struggles of being on the hedonic treadmill for so long and how that mindset has caused me dissatisfaction despite achieving some of the biggest milestones I have set for myself. In this episode, I will share some tips on how to avoid getting stuck on the hedonic treadmill, the benefits of building habits and rituals to achieve success, and the importance of celebrating achievements. Topics include: What is the hedonic treadmill and how does it affect your happiness Letting go of chronic dissatisfaction Things that hold back happiness Why setting daily goals helps you accomplish more The importance of building habits and rituals to achieve success And other topics… Resources mentioned: War of Art by Steven Pressfield: https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/  The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Morning-Not-So-Obvious-Guaranteed-Transform/dp/0979019710  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elevating your team to become a team of leaders is a crucial step in building a high-performance team. It involves empowering each team member to take ownership of their role, develop their skills, and contribute to the team's success. By creating a culture that values leadership at all levels, you can unlock the full potential of your team and achieve greater results. To build a team of leaders, it is essential to foster an environment that encourages open communication, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you're a team leader, manager, or business owner, building a team of leaders is a critical component of achieving long-term success. Robert Glazer, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Acceleration Partners, a global partner marketing agency, joins us once again on the Greatness Machine to give us a sneak peek into his newest book, titled, Elevate Your Team: Empower Your Team To Reach Their Full Potential and Build A Business That Builds Leaders. In this episode, Robert and I discuss the four areas of the “Capacity-Building” framework which are spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional capacities. We also dive deep into the challenge of having difficult conversations at work and how new managers often fail at handling such situations.  Topics include: Robert looks back at his decision to step back from his CEO position in 2019 The role and responsibilities of a CEO Robert explains the “Capacity-Building” framework and its four areas Why recruiting based on experience often is not the right option Handling difficult conversations at work Robert talks about his new book Elevate Your Team And other topics… Resources mentioned: The Motive by Patrick Lencioni: https://www.amazon.com/Motive-Leaders-Abdicate-Important-Responsibilities/dp/1119600456 Connect with Robert: Website: https://robertglazer.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glazer  Book: https://eytbook.com/  Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/elevate-with-robert-glazer/id1454045560  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s show, Darius interviews Steve Sims. Steve is the badass founder and CEO of the luxury concierge service, Bluefish, bestselling author of Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen, and a sought-after life coach. Also known as the “Wizard of Oz”, Steve shares his incredible life story and philosophy in today’s show.  We start this special show with Steve sharing his incredible backstory. Steve started off his career years back working as a doorman at a nightclub. And incredibly enough, he credits this experience to his uncanny ability to read people. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” ~ Jim Rohn A firm believer in this adage, Steve shares that he made a conscious effort to surround himself with rich people.  As he puts it, you get dividends if you surround yourself with rich people. Whereas, you get only excuses if you surround yourself with poor people. As a nightclub doorman, Steve also shares how he always strives to resolve conflicts in the most frictionless way possible. This has allowed him to cultivate stellar relationships that have withstood the test of time. So, how did Steve go from being a nightclub doorman to owning a luxury concierge service? Steve credits his blatant ignorance and stupidity which he calls his “superpower” for his success.  In this segment of the show, we discuss the importance of overcoming our fear of rejection which often inhibits us from going all out and realizing our full potential.  Topics include: How to resolve strife in the most frictionless way possible How “ignorance” and “stupidity” and can power you ahead  The value of surrounding yourself with like-minded and inspiring people  And other topics… Sponsored By: Go to organifi.com/greatness and use code GREATNESS for 20% off your entire order. Right now LMNT is offering my listeners a free sample pack with any purchase. That’s 8 single serving packets FREE with any LMNT order. This is a great way to try all 8 flavors or share LMNT with a salty friend. Get yours at DrinkLMNT.com/GREATNESSMACHINE. Connect with Steve Website: https://www.stevedsims.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedsims  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevedsims/  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darius Mirshahzadeh has spent two decades building high-growth companies from startups to hundreds of employees, and during that span of time, he realized what it takes to grow his companies exponentially and how to build a core-value-driven organization from zero to one thousand employees. Darius is a core value evangelist, a serial entrepreneur, and a culture-building mad scientist who was ranked #9 on Glassdoor’s list of Top CEOs of Small and Medium Companies in the US. Topics include: The story behind my “pink unicorn” symbol What made me realize that I was meant to be an entrepreneur Discovering the importance of core values Where the title The Core Value Equation came from What is cultural fit and why it matters in the workplace The most important principles The Core Value Equation will teach the readers How to design headers that stick out  Knowing your values and sticking to them And other topics… Brandon Fong is a young entrepreneur and the founder and host of the 7-Figure Millennials podcast. His podcast now ranks as one of the top 2% most popular shows out of 2.7M podcasts globally, ranked by Listen Score (the estimated popularity score). Connect with Brandon: Website: https://7figuremillennials.com/  Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-figure-millennials/id1539028952  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsfong/ Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do small habits make a big difference? Tiny habits are small, simple actions that can be easily integrated into your daily routine. These habits may seem insignificant on their own, but when practiced consistently over time, they can lead to significant changes in your life. One of the reasons tiny habits are so powerful is that they are easy to stick to. When starting a new habit, it can be overwhelming to think about the big picture and all the changes you need to make. Tiny habits, on the other hand, are manageable and do not require a significant amount of effort. This makes it more likely that you will follow through with them and eventually form a lasting habit. Once you establish a small habit, it can be the foundation for building other positive habits. In addition, tiny habits can be used to address specific areas of your life that you want to improve. Whether it's for personal growth, career advancement, or physical health, small habits can be tailored to your specific goals. BJ Fogg, a behavior scientist and founder of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University, joins us on the Greatness Machine to talk about his new book, Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything. In this episode, Darius and BJ talk about habit formation and how to create big changes by starting small. They also discuss the various applications of Tiny Habits in areas such as personal development, health, and business. Topics include: BJ explains the Fogg Behavior Model and Tiny Habits Method BJ reveals one habit he had to get rid of Effects of disruptive behavior and how to manage them Homeostasis and change Setting the bar low as a key to behavior change Creating action prompts and anchors for new habits Why it is important to celebrate successes How tiny habits can lead to big changes And other topics… Connect with BJ: Website: https://www.bjfogg.com/ Website: https://tinyhabits.com/  Website: https://behaviormodel.org/  Website: https://www.foggmethod.com/  Book: https://tinyhabits.com/book/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjfogg/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjfogg/  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s show of the Greatness Machine, Darius interviews a Hindu priest, former monk, entrepreneur, and teacher, Dandapani. Dandapani teaches people how to avoid instant gratification and the accompanying distractions so that we can focus on the most important things that truly take us forward.  We start this show by discussing the impact of COVID. While the loss of life and livelihood has been devastating and unimaginable, this black swan event has forced us to reassess our lives and priorities.   Next, Dandapani shares with listeners some interesting details about his visionary project – Siva Ashram in Costa Rica. Built on 33 acres of land, near a river, this Ashram will house seven botanical gardens – each signifying a critical area of our mind.   Dandapani reveals his 300-year plan for this Ashram so that his work can continue uninterrupted for many generations to come. Additionally, Dandapani has some excellent advice to help listeners focus on the core things that matter the most.  Topics include:  How COVID has forced us to reassess our priorities How to FOCUS on the core things that matter the most How we can do our bit to care for and protect our environment And more topics… Connect with Dandapani: Website: https://dandapani.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandapanillc/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/DandapaniLLC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dandapanillc/ Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it true that maintaining a habit of going to bed and waking up early can result in good health, wealth, and wisdom? Waking up early can be a powerful tool to boost productivity throughout the day. By starting your day earlier, you give yourself extra time to accomplish important tasks, prioritize your to-do list, and set a positive tone for the rest of the day. One of the key benefits of waking up early for productivity is that it allows you to establish a routine. When you wake up at the same time every day, your body becomes accustomed to the schedule and you can train yourself to be more productive during your waking hours. This can lead to increased efficiency and focus throughout the day, as you're already in the mindset of getting things done. Waking up early also allows you to tackle your most important tasks when you're at your freshest and most alert. This is because you're able to start your day with a clear mind and fewer distractions, allowing you to focus your energy on the tasks that require the most brainpower and creativity. Today, I am flying solo to talk about Hal Elrod’s book, The Miracle Morning, and how it changed me to become a morning person.  In this episode, I will talk about my morning routine and what my day looks like after learning about the SAVERS productivity routine. I will also share my manifestations and what I do to achieve them. Topics include: How Hal Elrod’s book The Miracle Morning changed my life Practical steps to becoming a morning person How the SAVERS routine help boosts my productivity How to visualize and manifest what you want The benefits of having an accountability partner And other topics… Resources mentioned: The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Morning-Not-So-Obvious-Guaranteed-Transform/dp/0979019710  The Self-Aware Leader by John Maxwell: https://www.amazon.com/Self-Aware-Leader-Play-Strengths-Unleash/dp/078526664X  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices