The Greatness Machine

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine Darius chats with Jim McCormick, Director of Development at the International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame, as well as the founder and president of the Research Institute for Risk Intelligence. He's a motivational speaker, author, coach, and consultant, helping organizations and individuals improve performance through intelligent risk-taking and the creation of a culture of innovation.  In 2006, Jim was part of a team of skydivers representing thirty-five countries that successfully established the current world record by creating the largest skydiving formation ever built in the skies above Udon Thani, Thailand. The record was set when 400 skydivers, exited five C-130 Hercules military transports flying at 25,000 feet, and linked together into a precisely designed formation in the colors and patterns of the Thai flag. You'll learn about Jim's record-breaking skydiving experience in Thailand and the insights he gained from that experience. You'll discover how a book on commando training Jim read in grade school got him interested in skydiving.  You'll also learn about our unique relationship with risk and how we perceive it, both individually and as a society. Join Darius and Jim for an inspiring and eye-opening discussion on risk and how it affects our lives and our businesses.  Enjoy! What You'll Learn in this Show: Jim's record-breaking skydiving experience in Thailand. How Jim got interested in skydiving in the first place. Our unique relationship with risk and how we perceive it, individually and as a society. And so much more... Resources: The Research Institute for Risk Intelligence The Greatness Group The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Eddy Perez, founder and CEO of Equity Prime Mortgage and a seasoned professional with experience holding multiple executive level positions.  In 2008, Eddy operated the top producing office for Global Mortgage, Inc. He has personally closed over 3000 loans since entering into the mortgage business. He holds a college degree in Finance, with a concentration in International Corporate Finance from Georgia State University. In this episode, you'll discover some of the challenges that come with running a construction business, and how it's changed over the years. You'll learn the importance of developing the art of active listening and asking great questions. You'll also discover why the best investment you ever make will be in yourself. Join Darius and Eddy for an inspiring and eye-opening discussion on everything from being a first-generation immigrant to realizing that you can't change the world, until you change yourself.  Enjoy! What You'll Learn in this Show: The challenges in running a construction business. Why it's important to develop the art of listening. The importance of investing in yourself. And so much more... Resources: Eddy's LinkedIn Equity Prime Mortgage The Greatness Group The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Cosmic Catalyst, Maverick Mischief-maker and Galactic Goofball Yanik Silver. He's redefining how business is done in the 21st century, and he's doing so at the intersection of evolutionary growth, impact and fun. You'll discover the path Yanik took to becoming an entrepreneur. You'll learn the benefits of removing our attachment to results. You'll also discover how Yanik's Cosmic Journal came into existence. Join Darius and Yanik for this wide-ranging, fun and inspiring discussion on growth and answering the "cosmic alarm clock!" Enjoy! What You'll Learn in this Show: Yanik's path to becoming an entrepreneur. The benefits of removing our attachment to results. How Yanik started his Cosmic Journal. And so much more... Resources: Cosmic Journal The Greatness Group The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine Darius chats with Daniel Murphy, a former advertising executive who has worked with Google as well as several opportunities in the startup world. He's the founder of his own companies, Seekr and VendorDB, and was a first-round investor with water brand Liquid Death. Daniel currently leads digital operations at R3SET, a holistic stress management company. You'll learn what it was like to grow up in his mother's Midwest comedy club, and some of the performers he was able to meet before they became stars. You'll discover how he got started as an advertising executive, as well as some revelations about the direction the advertising world is headed. You'll also learn a little about Daniel's newest exciting AI venture. Join Darius and Daniel as they explore the future of advertising and machine learning , and what it was like hanging out with people like Larry the Cable Guy. Enjoy! What You'll Learn in this Show: What it was like growing up in his mother's Midwest comedy club, and some of the stars he got to meet before they made it big. How he got started as an advertising executive, as well as his revelation as to the direction the advertising world is headed. Daniel's newest exciting AI venture. And so much more... Resources: Daniel's LinkedIn R3SET The Greatness Group The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Tom Batchelder, sales coach and author of 'Selling 180.' His focus lies in the psychology of sales, negotiations and "the human condition" - why we don't do certain things we know we should do, and do others we know we shouldn't. He helps thoughtful professionals make sustainable changes in how they communicate, how they work, and how they live their life. You'll learn about the benefits of an accountability partner, and how they can help you build positive habits. You'll discover why the scarcity mindset often leads to the worst possible outcome. You'll also learn the types of tools you can use to maintain productivity, preparation, and focus. Join Darius and Tom for this refreshingly honest conversation about selling more... while being yourself. Enjoy! What You'll Learn in this Show: Having an accountability partner in order to build positive habits. Why the scarcity mindset is often the beginning of the end! Tools to maintain productivity, preparation, and focus. And so much more... Resources: Tom's LinkedIn Selling 180 The Real Darius The Greatness Group Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Vanya Lazarova, founder and Executive coach at LiveAuthentic Coaching. She partners with CEO's and leadership teams in the startup and VC ecosystems as they scale their culture and organizations.  Using a focus on leadership development, culture and alignment within organizations, Vanya supports her clients to navigate the challenges of fast growth. She also contributes to a variety of media publications, such as Best Self magazine, Conscious Company Media, Conscious Magazine, Thrive Global, Addicted2success, and more. You'll learn about the concept of breath work and how it can positively affect your body and mind. You'll discover the importance of identifying and honoring your values, even when we don't always describe our values in the same way. You'll also learn the power of self-awareness and deeply understanding yourself. Join Darius and Vanya as they explore this exciting subject.  Enjoy! What You'll Learn in this Show: Breath work and how it affects your body and mind in different ways. The importance of identifying and honoring your values. The power of self-awareness and understanding yourself. And so much more... Resources: Vanya's LinkedIn The Greatness Group The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine Darius chats with Peter Kozodoy, an Inc. 5000 serial entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, business coach and the author of Honest to Greatness. He works with organizations and their leaders to help them overcome self-limiting bullshit and use brutal honesty to achieve massive success. Peter is a former Olympic-hopeful figure skater and black belt in Taekwondo. You'll learn why, in the process of launching a book, the writing isn't necessarily the hardest part. You'll discover the importance of defining not just what honesty is but also what it is not. You'll also learn why it's vital that we acknowledge the differences we show concerning our values. Join Darius and Peter as they discuss the importance of nurturing more honesty in our society. Enjoy! What You'll Learn in this Show: Why the process of launching a book isn't what you'd expect, and why the writing isn't necessarily the hardest part. The importance of defining what honesty is NOT. Acknowledging our differences around values. And so much more... Resources: Honest to Greatness book The Greatness Group The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Gina Mollicone-Long, an international best-selling author, speaker, peak performance coach and the co-founder of The Greatness Group, a global team building and personal development company. Her mission is to reveal greatness in individuals, teams and organizations. Since 1998, she has trained, coached or spoken to tens of thousands of people on six continents. Her books, Think or Sink and The Secret of Successful Failing are widely read and enjoyed by people around the world. You'll learn the importance of being the most flexible person in any given situation. You'll discover why change cannot begin until you develop the desire to change. You'll learn why successful change must be a continuous process, a pattern of effort that continues until you can't get it wrong. You'll also discover why the difference between great and greatness can be found in that continuous effort - in "the slog." Join Darius and Gina as they explore these subjects and much more in today's episode. Enjoy! What You'll Learn in this Show: The importance of being the more flexible person in a situation. Why you must keep practicing until you can't get it wrong. Why the difference between great and GREATNESS is the slog! And so much more... Resources: Gina's website Gina's LinkedIn The Greatness Group The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode of The Greatness Machine sees Darius sitting down with Doug Erwin, a serial entrepreneur who has made the shift to nonprofit executive, working as the Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurial Development at the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN). He raised $10 million to build an at-home sperm counting machine from Japanese hedge funds back in the 1990s, founded a company with his Navy Seal brother, and is actively involved in disruptive angel investing. Beyond business, Doug is a maker and buddhist who loves to tour hot springs in his airstream with his family. He believes in healing people through love and supporting men. You'll learn how one of his visits to a hot spring following the election of Donald Trump included "naked hippies," a sign (for Doug) that things were going to be alright. You'll discover the importance of leaving behind the multiple masks we wear (one for work, one for family, etc.) and showing up everywhere as your authentic self. You'll also learn about the multiple thresholds we encounter as we grow, and the fears we must overcome to move closer to our authentic selves. Join Darius and Doug as they explore these subjects and much more in today's episode. Enjoy! What We Discussed in this Show: Hot springs, naked hippies and a cure for the "Trump blues." Showing up as your authentic self. Overcoming fear and moving past the thresholds that hold us back. And so much more... Resources: EDAWN The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building and growing a successful business is about more than just having a great idea or product. It's largely about having the right people around you, particularly as you scale. Today's guest discovered this simple truth and is here to share his insights. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Brian Scudamore, a serial entrepreneur probably best known for pioneering the professional junk hauling industry through 1-800-GOT-JUNK. Since conquering that market, he's gone on to apply his O2E (ordinary to exceptional) formula to the painting and home-detailing industry with Wow 1-Day Painting and Shack Shine. You'll learn exactly what goes into being a so-called "overnight success." You'll discover the one mistake that a great many entrepreneurs make at some point in their journey.  You'll also learn why it's vital to be surrounded by people in your business who share your vision and core values. Join Darius and Brian for this amazing and eye-opening discussion! Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The reality of the "overnight success." One common mistake most entrepreneurs make. The importance of having the right people in business. And so much more... Resources: 1-800-GOT-JUNK Brian's LinkedIn The Real Darius Darius Class Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices