The Greatness Machine

On today’s show, Darius interviews Jevon (JT) McCormick, CEO, Scribe Media who shares with us his thoughts on racial injustice, socio-economic inequality, company culture, and much, much more… Born a son of a black pimp father and an orphan mother, Jevon was in and one of the juvenile systems in his formative years. And early on in his career, he had to overcome racial injustice as he tried to cement his place in corporate America. He talks about his changing his name from Jevon to the more ambiguous, JT before changing it back to Jevon in the light of the recent BLM moment. We also talk about company culture. And how working at a “people-first” software company was an eye-opening experience for JT after his experience in the banking sector.  Because both Darius and JT come from the mortgage world, they also reminisce about the sub-prime crisis. While banks were blamed for the financial mess, Darius and JT ague that the people (borrowers) were equally responsible. As a huge proponent of conscious capitalism, Jevon is passionate about creating opportunities for at-risk youth. A board member for Conscious Capitalism and the StartEdUp Foundation, he has mentored young men and women in the juvenile justice system, as well as those in the lower economic communities. JeVon is passionate about conscious entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for at-risk youth. He has mentored young men and women in the juvenile justice system, as well as those in lower economic communities. Enjoy! What You Will Learn In This Show How JeVon went from a GED to CEO Accountability in the workplace The effects of systemic racism for entrepreneurs of color and changes we can make to fight against it. Resources I Got There: How a Mixed-Race Kid Overcame Racism, Poverty, and Abuse to Arrive at the American Conscious Capitalism The StartEdUp Foundation Scribe Media 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

Have you taken a moment to step off the hamster wheel to pause and reflect on whether your life is headed in the right direction? On today’s show, we interview ex-CMO of Harley Davidson, Shelley Paxton who shares with us her wisdom on purpose, alignment, and discovery. You will learn the real truth about busyness and the importance of figuring out what’s truly important to you. With her trademark sass and rebel attitude, Shelley shares her incredible life story, and how she ended up stewarding some of the most iconic organizations in the world including Harley, Visa, McDonald’s, and AOL. Shelley stumbled into the world of marketing and advertising because of her dad. But years later, when she made it to the top of the corporate ladder, she still felt unfulfilled and non-aligned. So, at the height of her success, in 2016, she decided to give it all up and embark on her discovery journey. This ultimately led to Soulbbatical and her new life mission – which is to liberate the souls of leaders and organizations, by inspiring them to realize their greatest purpose and potential. Enjoy! What You Will Learn in This Show Building a rabid brand following The real truth about busyness How to discover your life’s calling Purpose of a sabbatical When your soul smacks you in the face And so much more…                                                                                                                                                                 Resources Soulbbatical The Greatness Machine Podcast Website                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 your life would look like if you could strike a perfect balance between work and family? Our guest for today, Jon is living the life of his dreams. He is focused on fatherhood and family, owns a thriving business, and has enough money to live comfortably. But this wasn’t always the case. Back in 2005, Jon was trying to get his business up and running. He had run through all savings and was doing all he could to ensure his family’s survival. And ironically enough, his struggle had distanced him from his wife and kids.  This experience of his inspired him to start Front Row Dads whose main goal is to help fathers show up in the correct way for their families. As men, we are preoccupied with earning money and ensuring that our family leads a comfortable existence. But, in the process, we take the easier way out and dump all family responsibilities on our wives.  On today’s show, Jon and Darius share their experiences – both as sons and later on, as fathers. Like Jon, Darius also made the mistake of focusing all his energies on his business when he was just starting out. Eventually, he realized the futility of his approach. And how his “success” in business felt hollow if he was not giving his 100% to his family. Front Row Dads is helping men and dads deal with their deep-seated issues and their vulnerabilities. Listening to Jon will surely force you to pause, and indulge in some self-introspection. What You Will Learn In This Show Living life in the front row The complexities and vulnerabilities of being a father and a business owner How to create a true legacy And so much more… Resources Front Row Foundation Front Row Dads Front Row Factor The Greatness Machine Podcast 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 you build it, they will come." Most of us know that line from the film, 'Field of Dreams.' It's inspirational, but not a great strategy when building a business - especially when it applies to the core values of your business. In June of 2008, Darius attended an event in which he experienced a "gut punch" that completely changed the trajectory of his life and forced him to rethink the way he ran his business. In this quick solo outing, Darius shares the story of his life-altering experience - and it all came down to three simple questions, starting with, "Does your business have core values?" Core values are powerful tools for any business, but, as Darius discovered, there's far more to them than it appears. You'll learn why creating core values for your business is important, but only the beginning of the process, not the end. You'll discover why 9 out of 10 business owners get the idea of "core values" wrong. You'll also learn about the power of "invisible scale" and how you can use this strategy to massively build your business. Core values are powerful tools, but only if they're understood and used correctly by everyone in your business. Stay tuned to the end for an exciting announcement about a new project Darius will be debuting shortly! Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show: Why three questions at an event completely changed the trajectory of Darius' life. Why having core values and knowing what they actually are... are two completely different things. The power of "invisible scale." 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

On today’s show, Mary Henderson, the founder of Lights Camera Action show shares with us her distilled wisdom on personal branding, building authority, and authenticity. As one of the most sought-after personal branding experts, Mary helps commercialize a brand into a monetizable online business. She is extremely picky about whom she works with and on today’s show, she reveals the seven qualification questions that she asks a client before signing them on. Growing up, Mary was keen to pursue a professional singing career. However, her parents forced her to take a more “conventional path”. Fortunately for her, she rediscovered her life’s purpose when she was in her mid-thirties. Mary’s discovery journey was not an easy one; she sold her business and took a year-long sabbatical. Fortunately for her, she found three well-meaning mentors who helped her along the way. She discovered how she could use her three superpowers to help true experts leverage the internet to monetize their business. We live in a world where everyone is a self-proclaimed “expert”. Creating a false halo has never been easier as there are many businesses that are operating solely in the online space. So, how can you cut through the noise and separate out the posers from the genuine experts? Mary also encourages listeners to indulge in introspection so that they can discover their big why. Confronting your authentic self is painful. But you will learn how doing so will allow you to get into an effortless and natural flow state. What You Will Learn In This Show Consistency and congruence Establishing your authority Creating your influential circle And so much more… Resources Mary Henderson’s Website Facebook Instagram 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

Have you ever wondered about your purpose - the core mission you're here to accomplish in this life?   It's a powerful question for many people, and one that, sadly, is often left unanswered. Intriguingly, each and every day we're being driven by purpose, whether it's driving to a specific destination or even going to the bathroom - there is a purpose to nearly every act, so why shouldn't our lives have an overall purpose as well?   In this episode of The Greatness Machine Live, Darius chats with Dandapani (again), a Hindu priest, entrepreneur, international speaker and former monk on finding a greater purpose and using it to create more joy in our lives.   Dandapani graduated university with a degree in Electrical Engineering and then incredibly, left it all behind to become a Hindu monk under the guidance of one of Hinduism’s foremost spiritual leaders of our time, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.    A decade later, Dandapani chose to venture out into the world once again with a powerful new mission: To help people live a life of purpose and joy by empowering them with tools and teachings that have been used by Hindu monks for thousands of years. He works with entrepreneurs and companies in cultivating focus and managing energy.   In this inspiring conversation, you'll discover how your ability to focus your mind is key to discovering your purpose. You'll also learn about the power of your core values, and how they help you stay connected to your singular purpose.    Join Darius and Dandapani (along with his delightful laugh!) as they explore this fascinating and inspiring subject and show you how you can connect to your purpose as well, creating a life of fulfillment and joy!   Enjoy!   What You’ll Learn in this Show: Dandapani's path to helping people find their purpose. The importance of spending time with yourself. Why your core values are vital for keeping within your lane. Why your core purpose should never be dependent on something or someone outside yourself. And so much more...   Resources: Dandapani'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

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. Tune in to this special show now! What You Will Learn In This Show 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 so much more… Resources Dandapani Website Facebook Instagram 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 if you could earn a passive, life-long income without being a slave to your job or business? A lot of entrepreneurs start their businesses because on some level, they want greater freedom in their life. However, once they start, they end up giving even more hours and time than ever before. Has this happened to you? On today’s show, we have Justin Donald, author of The Lifestyle Investor who shares how you earn passive income and buy back your time! Justin shares his investing philosophy while calling out some common mistakes that seasoned entrepreneurs and professionals make. Early on in his career, Justin transitioned from his W-2 job to being self-employed. But while he did end up making more money, this move did little to improve his life on a holistic level as he just ended up being a slave to his business. He was still working 18-hours every day. He was still working weekends. And he was still not showing up for his family in the right way. Justin realized that he had to flip the switch, and think more like a “self-employed entrepreneur”. By leveraging low-risk cash flow investing, he had to generate a passive income that would sustain his lifestyle. As a huge proponent of lifestyle investing, Justin shares both basic (but often ignored) and sophisticated investing strategies guaranteed to help you out. With the Fed printing dollars like never before, what can you do to hedge your portfolio against inflation? Justin also has some great tips for stock market investors who are finding it difficult to navigate the extreme volatility in today’s market. You will also discover more about Justin’s new book, The Lifestyle Investor where he explains his 10 Commandments of Lifestyle Investing in great detail. Even if you don’t have large financial coffins and savviness to back you up, listening to today’s show will help you up your investing game. What You Will Learn In This Show How to stop being a slave to your job or business Hedging your portfolio against inflation Passive income generation strategies for those who are just starting out Things that your financial advisor is not telling you And so much more… Quotes “I want to help people in the way they process and think about investing, and living life, and the way they value time”. “People don't often look at the actual math, and this to me is a big smoke screen where people don't know what's really happening. That's my big issue.” “My goal is not to earn money. My goal is to earn my time back”. “Earn the income that you don’t have to put time into”. Resources The 4-Hour Work Week Rich Dad, Poor Dad Justin Donald Facebook Instagram 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 Aga Bajer, founder and CEO of a boutique consultancy, Aga Bajer & Associates who shares with us her distilled wisdom on entrepreneurship, culture, and failure. Aga’s first business was a colossal failure which taught her the importance of figuring out her WHY. She learned that she needed clarity about who she was, and where she was headed first. After a brief stint with PWC, Aga found her true calling as a consultant with Hay Group (promoted by Daniel Goleman of “Emotional Intelligence”). Once she got some experience under her belt, she took the entrepreneurial route once again. And this time around, having learned her lesson well, Aga chose a field that she is extremely passionate about. Currently, she is helping start-ups create a thriving culture at scale. Aga and Darius discuss why you need clarity about where you are ahead, and how this will help you set your personal development goals. You will also learn the importance of surrounding yourself with a close “Inner Circle” whom you can lean on during challenging times. Enjoy the episode!  What You Will Learn In This Show -A time we both failed miserably as entrepreneurs and how that shaped us. - Ways to cultivate a culture that inspires people to do their best work -Why we should get rid of ALL managers and what we should replace them with! - And so much more… Resources CultureLab Podcast The Culture Lab Building and Sustaining a Coaching Culture Facebook Instagram 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

Are you feeling bogged down by the monotony of your daily life? On today’s show, Darius talks about enjoying the journey rather than incessantly worrying about the end results.  Like many of us, Darius loves his cup of morning coffee. And he obsesses about getting the right beans, the temperature, and adding the correct amount of milk.  Recently, a friend of Darius’s bought an expensive coffee machine that automated the entire process. While this made it extremely easy to make the perfect cup of coffee, Darius realized that he enjoyed the process of making his cup of coffee way more than drinking the coffee itself. On today’s show, you will learn why you need to fully immerse yourself in the process to enjoy the outcome.  Darius also shares how the simple act of making a cup of coffee aligns with his SIX Core Values. And why you should strive to apply this same passion and love to all your aspects of life. Enjoy! What You Will Learn In This Show Enjoying the journey rather than incessantly worrying about the outcome Finding joy in the mundane chores that typically bog us down How to approach every aspect of your life with love and passion And so much more… Resources The Power of TED Darius’s Website Darius’s Facebook  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