The Greatness Machine

If you've watched "Below Deck: Mediterranean" on Bravo, then you know crazy things can happen at sea. As you're about to learn, it's no different behind the scenes! In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with childhood friend and Executive Producer of "Below Deck: Mediterranean," Nadine Rajabi. A list of Nadine's accomplishments sound as if she's lived several lifetimes: Host for several Bravo digital series such as "The Shahs Come Clean with Nadine," "Fresh Squeezed: The Real Housewives of Orange County," and "Housewivesology: The Real Housewives of New Jersey," as well as several other top networks and platforms. She's an actress, comedian, national champion black belt, competitive snowboarder and a former semi-pro soccer player. On top of all that, Nadine also holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. in Biology. You'll learn about the kinds of challenges (and craziness!) that goes into filming "Below Deck: Mediterranean," particularly during a pandemic. You'll find out how Nadine made the transition from being in front of the camera as an actress/comedian/host to the role of Executive Producer. You'll also learn about the ever-changing and evolving nature of comedy over the years. Join Darius and Nadine in part one of this fun and eye-opening two-part conversation! Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: The challenges of shooting Bravo’s "Below Deck Mediterranean" during a pandemic. Nadine’s journey from being in front of the camera to an Executive Producer. How comedy has changed and evolved over the years. And so much more... Resources: Nadine's Instagram ‎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

We're all familiar with B2B (Businesses to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer), but have you heard of H2H (Human to Human)? In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with Joshua Lee, entrepreneur, author, coach, marketer, husband, father - "The Dopamine Dealer of LinkedIn" - to discuss this concept, and why it's key to building a successful business in the 21st century. You'll learn a little about Joshua's start in digital marketing in the wild days of the early 2000s, when he landed a little company called "MySpace" as an early client before it was bought by Rupert Murdoch in an epic deal. You'll discover the moment he realized his work had devolved into "monetizing just to monetize," and why he decided to do a massive "reset" of his life and career, forging a new and more fulfilling path. You'll learn methods for pushing past the noise and automation to create and nurture an organic following and boost your engagement score using LinkedIn. You discover why Joshua is so passionate about helping people reconnect and create lasting relationships for themselves in business and in life. Joshua brings an incredible amount of value in this discussion - thoughts, ideas and strategies that can help you humanize your business and grow your engagement. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: How he got started in the "Wild Wild West" of digital marketing in the early 2000s, as well as the moment he made a serious "reset" in his life and career. How you can build and nurture an organic following using LinkedIn. The "magic formula" for boosting your engagement score. Why bringing the human connection back into marketing and cutting through the noise is so important. And so much more... Resources: Joshua's website ‎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

From a childhood filled with gang violence, illiteracy resulting in a 100+ year prison sentence, to a successful career as a speaker, author and Harvard Fellow - it sounds like something out of a Hollywood film. In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with the "Ambassador of Hope," Andre Norman to discuss his incredible and inspiring journey, as well as the circumstances that shaped his decisions at a young age. You'll learn how he struggled with illiteracy and systemic racism in the inner city of Boston, and how they factor into his choices. You'll discover how the path he was on eventually led to a series of convictions, eventually resulting in a sentence of over 100+ years. You'll learn how a two-year stint in solitary confinement led to an epiphany and a new path for Andre's life... one that eventually led to Harvard University. You'll also learn how systemic racism and classism pervades the country and results in a society where 4% of the population makes up 50% of the prison system. Andre's story is powerful and ultimately triumphant. He is living proof that, while we all have the potential to rise above our circumstances, there is still a great deal of work to be done to create a society where every person has the opportunity to discover their greatness. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: Andre's struggles with poverty and illiteracy growing up in the inner city of Boston. How he ended up with a 100+ year prison sentence. The epiphany that changed his life and put him on a path that eventually led to becoming the "Ambassador of Hope." The effects of the systemic racism and classism that still pervades the country. And so much more... Resources: Andre's website ‎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

On today’s show, we interview entrepreneurial and executive coach, Malorie Nicole who shares with us her thoughts on ethics in coaching, core values, and fulfillment. Back in 2014, Malorie fell sick and faced some serious health issues which forced us to reassess her life’s priorities. She decided to change paths and chuck her comfortable engineering job to become a life coach. If you are finding it difficult to pivot and change tracks, this segment of the show will particularly interest you. One of the main themes of today’s show is the importance of ethics in coaching. Many self-appointed coaches neither have the necessary qualifications nor the disposition to help out other people. In the process, they end up doing more harm than good. We also talk a great deal about core values, and how a lack of consciousness leads to discomfort – and ultimately flailing mental AND physical health. Darius and Malorie also emphasize how core values can help in this segment of the show. Towards the end, Darius shares his unique fulfillment formula which will surely force you to self-introspect. What You Will Learn In This Show Integrity in Coaching The fulfillment formula and the biggest things that can move the needle forward for you How cultivating consciousness around core values can help your overall health on a holistic level And so much more… Resources Abundantly Clear Podcast ‎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

What is the number ONE reason that people do not hit their body transformation goals? (Hint: it is not a lack of will-power) On today’s show, we interview international body transformation expert, Angelo Poli who unravels the mysteries of metabolism and data-driven weight loss. At the age of 38, Darius was tipping the scale at 363 pounds and was grappling with multiple health problems, as a result. This is when he ran into Angelo who helped him get his health and his life, back on track. On the back of his extensive experience which involves working with more than 20,000 people (including celebrities like Aaron Rodgers), Angelo dispels some common health and nutrition myths in today’s show. You will learn how to use data to tackle a highly individualized subject like metabolism. Angelo also reveals the TWO important factors that he considers when recommending a diet. If you are frustrated with your fitness levels and your overall health, you must tune in to this show for some valuable insights. Enjoy! What You Will Learn In This Show Why people hit a plateau as they pursue their body transformation Understanding the highly complex and individualized subject of metabolism How different people respond to diets in a different manner And so much more… Resources Metpro ‎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

Feeling bogged down by your “need” to set the benchmark, higher and higher every time? On today’s show, we interview the incredible artist turned author, Victoria Labalme who shares with us her distilled wisdom on goal-setting, risk-taking, and our flawed attitude towards achievement. Victoria taps into her extensive experience in theatre, comedy clubs, and films to help out artists, entrepreneurs, and C-suite uncover their hidden genius at work, on stage, and in life, in general. Our society of today puts immense pressure on achievement and winning. On today’s show, Victoria shares why we need to change this attitude and get more comfortable with the “fog of not knowing”. We also question our judgmental society where we harbor incorrect biases. As someone who straddles across different professions, Victoria calls out this flawed mindset and emphasizes the need to respect people irrespective of their professional choices. This is a show that you cannot afford to miss. Enjoy! What You Will Learn In This Show The idea of goal-setting Risk-taking and the pressure to achieve things Creating your own path and why it is important to realign How to get comfortable with the “fog of not knowing” Our judgemental attitudes and how to overcome our biases Resources Riskforward.com/circle ‎The Greatness Machine Podcast Website Facebook Instagram 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

It sometimes seems as if certain people are born to be entrepreneurs. That's certainly true of Alana Winter! In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Alana Winter, serial entrepreneur, creative thinker, founder of MI6 Academy and Stiletto Spy School and guide on the path to self-aware leadership. Her journey has taken her from university admission at 16 to simultaneously being fired by her dad and set up in her own business. Following a string of challenges and feelings of burnout, she sold her business in 2006, leading to some powerful questions: "Who am I now? What do I do with my life?" In this wide-ranging discussion, you'll discover how her upbringing in a family of entrepreneurs has helped guide the path of her life. You'll learn why a lack of passion and alignment with your business can open the door to greater and greater difficulties. You'll discover how Alana sold the business she was no longer passionate about, and how doing so forced her to decide who she really was and what she really wanted in her life. You'll also learn how a trip to a James Bond film eventually gave rise to an entirely unique form of coaching: The MI6 Academy and Stiletto Spy School! Join Darius and Alana as they explore the fascinating, unpredictable and sometimes frustrating path that is entrepreneurship. Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: Alana's background and unusual upbringing, and why she was literally born to be an entrepreneur. How her father helped her start her first business... by firing her. The challenges she faced in that early business, such as burnout, employee theft and even embezzlement from a business partner. Why she believes that a lack of passion and misalignment set the stage for the challenges she faced in her early entrepreneurial career. How she navigated "the void" after selling her first business with no plan for the immediate future. And so much more... Resources: Alana's Website MI6 Academy ‎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

On today’s show, we interview entrepreneur, designer, endurance athlete, and certified Integral Coach, Tony Lillios who shares with us his incredible life story, his many tribulations, and successes. Tony started his professional career as a consultant with IDEO. But then the desire to “do more” kicked in. And back in 1996, Tony founded Speck Design and then Speck Products. Speck Products designed and manufactured cases for laptops and phones. And they were the first manufacturer to bring hard cases to the market. Speck rode the early wave of success but then the business got harder. And they plateaued once sales hit $150 million. Reading the market conditions, Tony and his partners sold out to Samsonite – a larger organization that had the resources and the distribution network to continue scaling the business. Today, as an Integral Coach, Tony works with individuals and small teams looking to unlock more possibilities when feeling stuck. His most productive relationships are with clients that have tried to address what isn't working or what they aspire towards and have come up short. Towards the end of the show, we have an interesting discussion on core values – a concept that is still grossly under thought. This is a show that you do not want to miss. Enjoy! What You Will Learn In This Show How Tony started the journey to success in developing his own company What happens when a business starts plateauing, the market becomes harder and more expensive How Tony transitioned from owning his company to starting his integral coaching career Why core values are grossly underthought through And so much more… Resources The Greatness Machine Podcast Tony’s Website 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

On today’s show, we interview Brent Gleeson, a Navy SEAL combat veteran, serial entrepreneur, and now acclaimed speaker who shares his distilled wisdom on leadership, accountability, and discipline. Growing up in Dallas, Brent had a normal and secure childhood. And after graduating from SMU, he decided to stick to the tried and tested path by becoming a financial analyst. But, along the way, Brent was inspired by a fraternity brother who had a lifelong dream of joining the Navy. And he decided to ditch his spreadsheets and pivot tables as he set his eyes on becoming a SEAL. In this segment of the show, you will get a peek into the world of the military. Only 10-15% of applicants manage to successfully complete the rigorous SEAL training. An ultimate test of physical and mental strength, you will surely be inspired by tuning into this show's segment. After leaving the military, Brent went on to start two businesses, New Condos Online and Internet Marketing Inc, a digital marketing agency – a business that he successfully exited in 2016. Brent has since been helping organizations develop better teams and better leaders. He is an acclaimed speaker on topics ranging from leadership and culture transformation to change management and building high-performance teams Towards the end of the show, we have an interesting discussion on core values. And how clearly defining core values and measuring success can help drive an organization towards success. This is a show that you do not want to miss. Enjoy! What You Will Learn In This Show The importance of having the same vision with your business partners on where to take business The benefits of having authentic core values in an organization How core values drive an organization Why SEAL training is the ultimate test of physical and mental prowess And so much more… Resources Brent Gleeson’s Website Taking Point Embrace The Suck The Greatness Machine Podcast Darius' 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

Ever wondered what makes Tiger Woods the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.)? On today’s show, we interview Dr. Jeff Spencer who shares with us some expert goal-setting tips and the five critical things to cultivate a winning mindset. At the age of 7, Jeff set the big, hairy, audacious goal of being an Olympic cyclist – something that he accomplished at the age of 21. Fortunately for him, he met some well-meaning mentors who helped him along the way. Later on, Jeff again found his true calling by helping out top athletes (like Tiger Woods) and entrepreneurs achieve their full potential. On today’s show, you will first learn how to vet your goal. If you are not in for the right reasons, can you really make the jump from the ordinary to the extraordinary? Along with having a solid why, Jeff shares that you also need the right skills and the right mindset to back you up.  Athletes and entrepreneurs who are performing at the top level often possess a similar level of skillsets. However, when push comes to shove, and you show up in the arena, it is just the champions who deliver their peak performance. So, what can you do to step into the winner’s circle more often? When you don’t win, it is not because you are lacking in skills, but because you have not gotten your head in the right place. You will learn how you can have your champion mindset trump your scarcity mindset so that can thoroughly enjoy your pursuit of excellence. Enjoy! What You Will Learn In This Show How to vet your goal and ascertain that you are on the right path Aligning your mind, body, and soul to cultivate the champion mindset What is that top athletes and entrepreneurs do differently? And so much more… Resources 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