The Greatness Machine

Business is not just about making money. Business owners, especially those starting out, should have a clearly stated purpose or the essence of the organization. More than the numbers and figures, businesses exist to provide value to their customers.  Likewise, customers recognize value when you provide them with products and services worth their time, effort, and money. Most of them, if not all, crave a personalized experience and want to feel cared for.  Fred Reichheld, also known as the “high priest” of loyalty and the creator of the Net Promoter System℠ (NPS®), joins us on the Greatness Machine to talk about customer loyalty and his book, Winning on Purpose. In this episode, Darius and Fred discuss what great leadership looks like, the key driver of customer loyalty, and the ways to enrich the lives of other people. They also talk about NPS and eNPS and how these things work and help businesses measure the quality of their customer service. Topics include: What is the one key driver of customer loyalty Definition of Net Promoter System℠ (NPS®) and how it works Fred explains the NPS rating scale Verbal NPS versus digital NPS NPS versus eNPS What makes a great leader And other topics… Resources mentioned: Winning on Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Purpose-Unbeatable-Strategy-Customers/dp/1647821789 Good to Great: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996  Connect with Fred: Website: https://www.netpromotersystem.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredreichheld/  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 move forward after achieving your long-sought-after goals? Where do you go next after you succeed? Wouldn’t it be great if you could do something meaningful beyond success? Being human is all about adding value to the lives around you, and that’s when you realize that you have moved past being merely successful to becoming significant. Bob Buford, in his book Halftime, wrote, “When all is said and done, our success will be pretty empty unless it has included a corresponding degree of significance.” When we live a life of significance, we focus on others rather than ourselves. Having a true understanding of the things that matter most to us is what it means to be significant. Christopher Ryan, former CEO of peer-to-peer mastermind organization GoBundance, joins us to talk about the differences between success and significance. In this episode, Darius and Chris discuss the importance of knowing your vocation and what it feels like to move from success to significance. They also talk about the value of family and what it truly means to leave a lasting legacy. Topics include: What helped Chris find his calling and vocation What is success and how to measure it What it looks like shifting from success to significance Why a parent-child relationship is important Chris shares the secret behind the success of GoBundance What it means to leave a legacy Overcoming imposter syndrome Resources mentioned: Halftime by Bob Buford: https://www.amazon.com/Halftime-Significance-Bob-P-Buford/dp/0310344441 More Than Money by Michael Cole: https://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Money-Sustaining-Preserving/dp/1119264707 Connect with Christopher: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherryan2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Paredigm/ Website: https://www.gobundance.com/ 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

The ability to adapt enhances your capacity to cope with change, regardless of its severity. Being adaptable helps you come up with diverse solutions to problems. It’s also about having the willingness to go the extra mile. Going the extra mile is not just about feeling better about yourself. It is true that the more we are engaged in activities that enable us to put in our best effort, the better we feel about ourselves. But more than the positive self-image it brings, making a special effort to do and achieve something acts as a positive influence on other people. Gabby Reece, former pro-volleyball player, supermodel, and co-founder and co-innovator of Laird Superfood and XPT, joins us to talk about her life as a former athlete, fashion model, actress, and as an entrepreneur. In this episode, Darius and Gabby talk about the ways to get better at working under pressure, how to deal with online criticisms, the importance of adaptability, and why it matters to connect with people. Topics include: How to thrive under pressure How Gabby got into volleyball during the early ’90s Gabby shares the differences in volleyball then and now What Gabby learned from modeling Best ways as a leader to leverage teams How to improve adaptability skills How Gabby handles compliments and criticisms Movement as a tool to protect mental health Why it is important to connect with other people Gabby talks about her marriage with Laird Hamilton Gabby explains XPT and what the training program offers And other topics… Resources mentioned: The Power of One More by Ed Mylett: https://www.amazon.com/Power-One-More-Ed-Mylett/dp/1119815363  Brain Energy by Christopher M. Palmer: https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Energy-Revolutionary-Understanding-Health/dp/1637741588  The Breathing Cure by Patrick McKeown: https://www.amazon.com/BREATHING-CURE-Develop-Healthier-Happier/dp/1630061972  Connect with Gabby: Website: https://www.gabriellereece.com/ The Gabby Reece Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gabby-reece-show/id1492179907  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/?hl=en  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

Practicing meditation can enhance a person's mental and physical well-being in many ways. Research suggests that meditation can help ease anxiety, improve sleep quality, reduce negative emotions, and increase imagination, creativity, patience, and tolerance. There is also evidence that states people who meditate are more likely to be able to avoid destructive habits.  Today, I am flying solo to take a look back at that one moment in my life that made me a believer of meditation and its many benefits. In this episode, I will talk about how I went from disliking the practice of meditation to realizing its positive effects on my life. I will also discuss the effects of meditation on my mental health, decision-making, emotional reactions, and awareness of myself and others.  Topics include: How meditation helps ease my anxiety What I learned from practicing 100 days of meditation Awareness as one of the benefits of meditation What does “game of inches” mean in life and business How meditation benefits your mental health and decision-making And other topics… Sources mentioned: Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Habit-Being-Yourself-Create/dp/1401938094  The Waking Up Course: https://www.wakingup.com/ 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 can I help others?” This is the starting point for finding a sense of purpose or your reason for being. Your life purpose is your reason for getting up in the morning and what will serve as your compass in making decisions. It is what helps you focus on the things that will bring you genuine happiness and fulfillment. Sam Ushio is the Chief Ikigai Officer of Connect3x, a people platform that embeds well-being into the rhythm of business. He is joining us to talk about the Japanese concept of “Ikigai” which means your “reason for being” or something that gives a person a reason for living. By knowing your ikigai and understanding its meaning, you can align yourself with the work you've longed for and the work the world needs. In this episode, Darius and Sam talk about finding purpose, taking risks, living a life with no regrets, building wealth through well-being, and a lot more. Topics include: Sam explains the definition of the Japanese concept of “Ikigai” Difference between shareholder and stakeholder Living with regrets and how to deal with them Sam looks back on becoming an entrepreneur The 7-year cycles of life Sam talks about Connect3x and what they do Importance of employee engagement in business And other topics… Connect with Sam: Website: https://connect3x.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samushio/ Email: info@connect3x.com 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

It is common for customers to return to your brand when they feel valued and enjoy the overall experience. Having that culture of appreciation within your business, where your team members or your internal customers feel valued and recognized for their great work, will also reflect on your external customers’ experience.  Today, I am flying solo to share with you the secret to building a perfect customer experience.  In this episode, I will talk about the most important questions to ask your internal and external customers. I will also discuss how I have been using Net Promoter Score (NPS) to measure customers’ experience. Topics include: Differences between an internal and an external customer What is Net Promoter Score (NPS) and how is it calculated Three questions I always ask my team members The importance of having an appreciation culture at work Five questions to build a perfect customer experience And other topics… Resources mentioned: Net Promoter Score: https://www.netpromoter.com/  ScaleMAP Method: https://www.dariusclass.com/training-video  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

A vision without action is nothing more than a fantasy, and action is merely a means to an end without a vision.  Having a vision is imagining what life will be like after reaching your goals. Not only is it important to have one, but it is essential to communicate your vision in a way that attracts excitement and action. After all, vision is about your goals and how you plan to achieve them in the future. Jonathan Domsky, business and life coach and founder of Untangled Coaching, joins us on The Greatness Machine for the second time around to talk about vision, purpose, and the common limiting beliefs that stop most people from reaching their full potential. In this episode, Darius and Jonathan discuss the importance of transforming vision into reality, the two kinds of visions and how they differ from each other, and the reasons why some of the most hard-working people don’t achieve the life they have always dreamed of. Topics include: How Jonathan realized he wanted to become a coach Two basic kinds of visions and their definitions The difference between affirmation and declaration Why having a sense of purpose is important What motivates people to take action What is vision and why you must have it Five reasons why hard-working people don’t have to lives and businesses they want What stops people from achieving greatness in their lives And other topics… Connect with Jonathan: Website: https://untangled-coaching.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-personal-growth-coach Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathandomsky/  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

Ever wondered how to land a TED talk and make your message matter? Today, I am flying solo to walk you through the process of how I hosted a TEDx event back in 2012. With a theme of The Pursuit of Passion, the one-day event focused on the fire that drives people to pursue their passions. It was about how one finds the strength to follow their heart and intuition despite rejection, lack of support, challenges, or even outright failure. In this episode, I will talk about the process of applying to get a TED Talk, the challenges I had to deal with as a head curator of a TEDx event, and the story behind how I got Scott Dinsmore as one of the speakers for my event.  Resources mentioned: TED website: https://www.ted.com/  Scott Dinsmore TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpe-LKn-4gM  Topics include: Two different ways to get on the main TED stage What is TED and what they do What is a TEDx event and what is the application process for a license How to become a TEDx speaker  How I handled and prepared for no-shows during a TEDx event How Scott Dinsmore’s TEDx talk went viral on YouTube And other topics… 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

What does it take to be “authentic” when it comes to marketing? A fundamental requirement of marketing is authenticity, as consumers expect it. They demand you to communicate your brand’s message consistently, tell an honest story and provide relatable information that will capture customer attention.  Daniel Murphy, SVP of Marketing and angel investor at Liquid Death, discusses the uber-effective marketing strategy that is making Liquid Death the darling and “it brand” in the CPG space right now. With plans for global domination, the canned-water company takes pride in authentic brand-building and keeping its consumers interested.  In this episode, Darius and Daniel talk about marketing strategies, advertising, and the benefits of leveraging social media in building an audience. They also talk about cancel culture and the best ways to handle negative feedback, among other interesting topics. Topics include: How Daniel got into canned-water company Liquid Death What they do at Liquid Death How Daniel became SVP of Marketing at Liquid Death Daniel looks back at his career in advertising What Liquid Death has done in terms of marketing strategy How authentic brand-building wins over consumers Taking advantage of emerging social media platforms Cancel culture and how to handle it Daniel talks about their recent campaigns Collaborating with artists and other brands Working with Martha Stewart How Daniel found his dream job Future plans for Liquid Death And other topics… Connect with Daniel: Website: https://liquiddeath.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liquiddeath/?hl=en  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danqmurphy/ 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

Do you often find yourself thinking about the “what ifs” of life? Are you someone who worries about the worst things that could happen? If you are, then you are probably wondering if there are ways to stop these negative thoughts from filling your mind. The good news is that there are tools, habits, and strategies that can help you avoid anxiety spirals.  Today, I am flying solo to share something very personal to me; my journey of dealing with and overcoming chronic worrying and anxiety.  Growing up in a complicated environment, I had to strive to achieve things and become a good example constantly. The unrealistic expectations later resulted in me becoming an anxious perfectionist.  In the first part of this mini-series, I will talk about how I dealt with anxiety as a kid until I reached adulthood. I will also walk you through the strategies and tools that helped me avoid having thinking errors and anxious thoughts.  Topics include: Experiencing anxiety disorder at such a young age How I coped with anxiety as a teen and young adult Defense mechanisms I used for anxiety as an adult What my therapist asked me to do to track my anxiety What I learned after writing a list of 100 things I was worried about How awareness helped me overcome my anxiety And other topics… 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