The Greatness Machine

Leaving an established corporate gig to branch out on your own can seem daunting, and for many, the risk remains too high.  In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Jeffrey Schox, general partner at Trucks Venture Capital, and the founder of Schox Patent Group, a boutique patent firm focused on startups. Jeffrey started his career as an engineer on the original electric vehicle at General Motors before becoming a patent attorney for two of the largest patent law firms and eventually founding his own firm. You'll learn about Jeffrey's unusual background, from following his parents in the automotive industry to eventually striking out on his own as a patent attorney. You'll discover the power of giving and accepting help, and why passing a potential client to a more-qualified friend resulted in a flood of much needed business for his struggling new firm. You'll learn why timing is an essential tool in determining the viability of an investment, whether it be in an invention or a company.  You'll also discover Jeffrey's knack for taking a complicated idea, product, etc. and teasing out the differences to determine its future value. Join Darius and Jeffrey as they discuss the entrepreneurial path, timing and the power of giving and receiving. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: A little of Jeffrey's background, including his work on the original electric car at General Motors and his eventual shift to patent law. How handing over a potential client to a more qualified friend ended up being paid back in spades for his struggling firm. Why an understanding of timing is vital when assessing a company / product to invest your resources in. And so much more... Resources: Darius Class Website The Real Darius 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

Strategic planning is a skill that every business can use to accomplish tasks from one quarter to the next and create growth. However, like any system, when misused, strategic planning can create an endless cycle of never-finished projects that can have the opposite effect. In today's solo episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius shares some of his early experiences with strategic planning, the challenges he discovered, and how he's looking to make the system work much more smoothly. You'll learn how his team began to repackage/rename uncompleted projects and resubmit them from one planning session to the next, only focusing on the things that came easily - and how he resolved the issue. You'll find out why he believes the standard SWOT model is broken, as well as his suggestions for a better method of planning. You'll discover the distinct difference between working ON the business and working IN the business - one leads to growth, the other, to stagnation. You'll also learn about his new training covering the Scale M.A.P. Method and the Three Pillars of Invisible Scale. Join Darius for this fascinating discussion on strategic planning and how you can make yours as effective as possible. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The biggest challenge he's encountered when doing strategic planning with his team. Why Darius believes the SWOT system is broken, and how he's tried to improve it. The difference between working On the business and working IN the business. And so much more... Resources: Darius Class Website The Real Darius 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

If asked, most entrepreneurs would describe themselves as mavericks, rebels or even ‘unemployable.’ They possess a unique combination of drive, ambition and intelligence that makes working for someone else difficult if not impossible. This burning desire to go their own way means that entrepreneurs tend to take an unusual approach to education. Such is the case with today's guest. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with David Osborn, a self-proclaimed 'chaotic entrepreneur' and principal owner of the 6th largest real estate company in the US, with 4,500+ agents responsible for over 19,000 transaction sides and $10 billion in sales in 2017. Born in the US but raised in Europe, David was selected as a National Merit Scholar, he attended the University of Texas and graduated with an economics degree. You'll discover a little about David's unusual background and his belief that entrepreneurs often have an aggressive father in their background to inspire them. You'll find out why he started working in real estate with his mother almost as an afterthought, with no plans to stay in the career. You'll learn what it truly means to 'pivot' as an entrepreneur and how he's used it to achieve great success. You'll also discover the power of investing in passive income vehicles as a way to ensure success and weather crises. Join Darius and David as they map out the unusual path of an entrepreneur, and discuss why money should be more of a means to a goal rather than a goal in and of itself. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: How growing up in Europe gave David an appreciation for the US, and how he ended up working in real estate almost by accident. What it means to ‘pivot’ as an entrepreneur. The importance of investing in passive income vehicles. And so much more... Resources: The Real Darius Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn www.dariusclass.com 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

How do you define success? The entrepreneurial path is a long and difficult one, filled with risks and obstacles to be overcome. On the other hand, there are great rewards to be found along that path as well, as long as you have a clear definition of what success means to you. One path taken by many entrepreneurs is authorship - leveraging their experience, successes and failures and sharing those insights with their readers. Such a path is often far more difficult than people realize, and brings with it its own set of challenges. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Mike Michalowicz, entrepreneur, speaker and author of 'Get Different,' 'Fix This Next,' 'Clockwork,' 'Profit First,' 'The Pumpkin Plan,' and 'The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.' His books have been published around the world and translated into 10 different languages, and he's passionate about connecting with entrepreneurs. You'll discover some of the challenges of writing, launching and promoting a book, and why many new authors only focus on the first part of that process and forget the rest. You'll learn why "success" has almost as many definitions as those who strive for it in business and in life. You'll also discover why Mike believes that marketing is not in any way bothersome - in fact, it's the ultimate, deliberate act of kindness. Join Darius and Mike as they explore the long and winding road to becoming an entrepreneur, as well as the rewards and pitfalls that can be found along the way. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The challenges and rewards of writing, launching and promoting a book, particularly for an entrepreneur. How we each define success in different ways, based on our beliefs, experiences and desires. Why Michael believes that marketing is, in reality, a deliberate act of kindness. And so much more... Resources: Michael's Website The Real Darius 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

What are your goals for your business, and do you have a plan for getting there? A surprisingly large number of entrepreneurs create lofty goals for their businesses, but fail to create a solid plan to achieve them. That's like getting in your car to drive from California to New York without a map or a GPS. It's very likely you'll get lost and never reach your destination. But how do you go about creating a plan that will let you scale your business and turn those goals into realities? In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius is flying solo, offering up some insights on the importance of planning to scale and understanding that the entrepreneurial process is about more than simply setting targets and then doing nothing to reach them. You'll learn why so many entrepreneurs create bold and powerful goals but fail to take the next steps to achieve them. You'll discover the importance of incorporating scale into your goal planning and why many scale systems are complicated and overly cumbersome. You'll learn about revenue, income, size, and ethics (RISE) targets and how focusing on them can make the difference in reaching your goals or simply grasping at dreams. Join Darius as he offers his insight and experience on the subject of growing your business in a way that will generate real results. What You’ll Learn in this Show: Why a goal without a plan is a dream, and why do many entrepreneurs refusal to create plans lead to their failure. The importance of building a plan around scale when trying to grow your business. RISE targets: what they are, and how they can help you reach the levels of success And so much more! To Learn More: www.dariusclass.com Additional Resources: The Real Darius 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 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. Enjoy! What You Will Learn In This Show 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 so much more… Resources Steve Sims Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen The Greatness Machine Podcast 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

How did you choose your current career path? For some of us, our career path is dictated by trends, listings of in-demand jobs. For others, it's determined by the level of financial compensation a career path offers. Whatever the reason, far too many of us pursue career paths that leave us feeling unfulfilled and uninspired. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius talks to Isabelle Peyrichoux, career reinvention coach and founder of Brilliant Seeds. She's helped hundreds of people leave jobs they hated to find careers they love. Isabelle is no stranger to career reinvention herself, having gained two Master's degrees, a 2-year certificate in Psychotherapy, and certification as a Professional Co-active Coach through the Coaches Training Institute (CTI). You'll discover how career reinvention goes beyond traditional career counseling to help people find careers they truly love. You'll learn strategies for navigating the unknown, as well as the importance of focusing on work that allows you to express yourself and make a positive impact on the world. You'll also discover tips for overcoming the inevitable societal pressure that many of us face to choose jobs that pay well, or that are popular, despite the fact that we may not even like the field. Join Darius and Isabelle for a fascinating conversation about the importance of finding a career you love, rather than a job that simply pays the bills. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The process of career reinvention and how Isabelle's process differs from traditional career counseling. Navigating the unknown, and focusing on work that allows you to make a difference in the world Tips for overcoming societal pressure to enter careers that pay well, but that don't inspire you. And so much more... Resources: Brilliant Seeds The Real Darius 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

Every entrepreneur will experience adversity at one time or another - that's a fact of life. Whether it be business related or personal, how we respond to the presence of these challenges is vital to determining whether we will triumph over them. In today's episode of "The Greatness Machine," Darius chats with Ben Woodward, speaker, strategist, coach and best-selling author. Ben is no stranger to adversity, having had to send his father to prison, struggle with undiagnosed bipolar disorder and endure a corporate crisis throughout his life. The wisdom he gained from these experiences has been outlined in his book, "The Empowerment Paradox." You'll discover a little of Ben's journey - Moving from New Zealand to the UK with only 50 pounds in his pocket to live with his father - who turned out to be a sex offender who had never been brought to justice. You'll learn how Ben was forced to confront his father, a process that resulted in a prison sentence and a new perspective on their relationship. You'll discover how Ben's life has been shaped by undiagnosed bipolar disorder, offering him unique insights into the concept of surrender and becoming a victor over one's circumstances. Join Darius and Ben for a deeply personal and powerful discussion that will change the way you look at adversity in life and in business. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: Ben's journey from living in New Zealand to, at just 22, taking a one-way trip to the UK to live with his father - who he hadn't seen since he was 14. How his father turned out to be a sex offender who had never been brought to justice, and how Ben was forced to testify against his father and send him to prison. How undiagnosed bipolar disorder has shaped Ben's life and offered him unique insights into the concept of surrender. The importance of becoming the victor over your circumstances, no matter what they may be. And so much more... Resources: Ben's Website Ben's Facebook Ben's Twitter Ben's LinkedIn Ben's Instagram The Real Darius 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

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many changes to the business world, but one of the most significant has been the shift from the traditional office to remote work. Some companies have weathered this transition well, while others have struggled. There are several reasons why some businesses have adapted better than others, but today's guest believes that it comes down to having clear company values, good management, communication and trust principles in place. In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Robert Glazer, serial entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Acceleration Partners and the co-founder and Chairman of BrandCycle.  You'll discover the advantages and disadvantages of remote work, and how they can affect your business results. You'll find out why allowing employees to work remotely is the best way to test the strength of your company values, communication and even the management. You'll learn why Robert believes that the "office/no office" argument is flawed - the future of business is based around flexibility. You'll also discover the importance of setting clearly defined physical and mental boundaries when working from home. Join Darius and Robert for this fascinating discussion on the future of work and the workplace. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The advantages and disadvantages found in working remotely. How to maintain your company core values with workers who are working remotely. The importance of setting physical and mental boundaries when working from home. And so much more... Resources: Robert's Website The Real Darius 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

There's a lot of talk these days about values, whether they be through individuals or businesses. What's missing in these discussions however, is the importance of emotion in determining those values. In today's episode of "The Greatness Machine," Darius chats with Fran Biderman Gross, founder and CEO of Advantages, an award-winning Inc. 500 company. Through her work, Fran leads her clients along a journey of brand discovery that reveals their personal and organizational 3 keys: purpose, values, and story. You'll discover why emotion is often the missing link when determining shared values for your team and your business, offering deep insights to make the process more effective. You'll learn why shared values can often be demonstrated in different ways by members of your team, and why understanding those differences makes the implementation of those values far more effective. You'll also discover why having employees and team members who are engaged and aligned with the values of the company and the visionary builds more effective teams and avoids common HR issues. Join Darius and Fran as they have a frank and fascinating discussion on the importance of including emotion in the creation and implementation of shared values for the business. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: Why emotion is the key to creating powerful shared values among your team and for your business.  The importance of discovering your key values and those of your team, and as well as understanding the different ways people demonstrate those values. Why having employees and team members who are engaged and aligned with the values of the company avoids issues of disloyalty and the like. And so much more... Resources: Advantages 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