The Culture Matters Podcast

"If you're going to try, go all the way.  Otherwise, don't even start.  This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, and maybe even your mind.  It could mean not eating for three or four days.  It could mean freezing on a park bench.  It could mean jail.  It could mean derision.  It could mean mockery--isolation.  Isolation is a gift.  All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it.  And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds.  And it will be better than anything else you can imagine.  If you're going to try, go all the way.  There is no other feeling like that.  You will be alone with the gods and the nights will flame with fire.  You will ride life straight to perfect laughter.  It's the only good fight there is." - Charles BukowskiMarvin Joles is owner of Wis-Coat Asphalt Maintenance and the creator of the "Blacktop Banter" podcast is back with us on the show and today we are going to be unpacking that very lengthy quote.  This quote is very personal to Marvin and he breaks down in very real detail how it applies to his life and his personal journey to his finish line.  Marvin and Jay unpack the lengths that people must go to achieve their goals and ambitions and the sacrifices and dedication it takes to get there.  We're going extra deep on this one and we hope you'll come with us on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast. 

"Unlearning is a level of self-awareness I think some people never reach.  We hate in others what we dislike in ourselves.  I am grateful to God I found this place called unlearning and I hope reading this chapter helps many of you." - Christine BeckwithChristine Beckwith is the founder of 20/20 Vision for Success and the author of Finding Honor: The Journey to Truth and we have her back on the show to continue our discussion on that very book on her birthday!  Today, we are discussing chapter nine entitled "Unlearning: A Rebirth".  The discussion revolves around self-discovery, the fact that different parts of the body (specifically the head, heart, and groin) help drive decision-making and change throughout a person's life, how it can sometimes take a lousy situation to realize that you have work to do on yourself.  Christine doesn't back away from baring her soul in these discussions and the same holds true on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

“You don't believe something by merely saying you believe it, or even when we believe that we believe it. We believe something when we act as if it were true.” - Dallas WillardThe founder of Swink's Creations Mark Swink is our guest on the show today and we are learning more about Mark, his work, and his faith.  Mark and Jay discuss approaching client interactions with a pure heart and really listening to their wants and needs, focusing on higher priorities instead of purely monetary gains, and the overwhelming importance of forgiveness.  This is a very warm conversation on today's episode, so come in from the cold and enjoy this discussion with Mark Swink.

“Men build too many walls and not enough bridges.” - Sir Isaac NewtonAfter way too long of an absence, we have the Chief Lending Officer of PRMG Kevin Peranio back on the program today!  After a little catching up and going through the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic provided, Kevin and Jay chat about what a useful tool LinkedIn can be, what being on the road is like and why taking the extra time to talk with people is so important, and why keeping up with the latest trends and techniques in business is so valuable to your professional growth.  We're hoping it doesn't take so long to have Kevin back on the show and we're sure you'll see why after this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"We both insist on a lot of time being available almost everyday to just sit and think.  That is very uncommon in American business.  We read and think." - Charlie MungerOn a special episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay sits down with his good friend and founder of The Pavement Group and Top Contractor School Brian Hess to remember Charlie Munger.  Jay and Brian discuss what made Charlie such an inspiring figure, his impact on the business world, and what his work has done for them and how he inspired them in their professional endeavors.  His was a life well lived, so please join us as we take some time to remember the late, great Charles T. Munger.

"To get what you want, you have to deserve what you want.  The world is not yet crazy enough a place to reward a whole bunch of underserving people." - Charlie MungerOur dear friend and the founder of EPM Eddy Perez has made his way back to the show and he's here today to bestow a little more of his wisdom on The Culture Matters Podcast.  Eddy and Jay get into what someone operating and performing at a high level can do to undermine themselves and their performance, squeezing every drop of opportunity out of every day to seize the success you want, and the value of prioritizing "school nights".  There is a lot to go over in a fairly short amount of time today, so we hope you enjoy this conversation with Eddy Perez.

"One bad acquisition can derail a management for years." - Adam CoffeyAdvisor, mentor, host of the "Openly Outspoken" podcast, and founder of Unicorn Investments and Unicorn Traffic Jeremy Adams is back and that has got Jay in a chipper mood!  We're going to take that good energy and turn it into good conversation!  Jay and Jeremy discuss upswell of people taking the "buy not build" approach to business, the plausibility of buying a business with no money down, and what makes some people stand out in a business.  We even talk a little car buying!  Jeremy always provides good insight, good conversation, and good advice, so make sure you're paying attention to this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." - Carl JungTransformative health and wellness expert and everyone's favorite medical professional Dr. David Yerkes returns to the program once again to drop a little knowledge.  Jay and Dr. David jump right in by discussing living in reactionary mode and disciplining yourself away from that, how your belief in yourself and your beliefs in general will influence your future actions, and being genuine in who you are and what motivates you.  It's another conversational game of ping pong  as it always is when the good Dr. Yerkes is on the show and we hope you enjoy it on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston ChurchillLong-time friend and previous guest of the show and New Jersey real estate staple John Swartz is back like he never left and we deviating a little bit from our normal topic of discussion today.  Just kidding...we're talking real estate!  John and Jay unpack what it was like for John early on his career, what skills and mindset it takes to succeed at a high level and maintain that success, and what makes a true leader.  We love having John on the show and we're confident you will too!

"The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well, the product or service fits him and sells itself." - Peter DruckerAndrew Berman is an advisor, mentor, and the Head of Engagement and Outreach at American Business Media and is back on the show and today we are talking content.  Jay and Andrew discuss the impact Jay's book Thirty Days of Thought had on Andrew and his speaking skills, the thought process that goes into choosing what topics to discuss on a podcast, and why some people avoid having repeat guests on their show and why some embrace it.  We've got a lot of content talk going on in this episode, so we hope you enjoy this conversation with Andrew Berman.