
It's a Good Life
It's a Good Life, the podcast for entrepreneurs. A podcast about growth - personal growth and growing your business. Inspirational and practical content that reflects the positivity it takes to be an entrepreneur. Presented by Brian Buffini founder of America’s biggest corporate coaching company. Entrepreneurship isn’t always an easy life, but with the right guidance, it can be a good one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Jun 26, 2025 • 10min
Quick Cut: S2E307 How to Delight Your Customers
Click here to listen to the full episodeIn today’s transactional society, entrepreneurs who consistently exceed their customers’ expectations will stand out and achieve phenomenal success. In this episode, Brian teaches why a positive focus on providing exceptional customer service builds a strong business culture, forges long-lasting relationships and creates a tribe of loyal advocates who refer. YOU WILL LEARN:· Why you must fill the need.· How to go the extra mile.· How to make it extraordinary. NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Delight your customers. That's the secret to success in business. No-one ever went out of business having millions of delighted customers.” – Warren Buffet “Poor customer service is the death knell for a business.” – Brian Buffini “One of the key ingredients to building trust is consistency.” – Brian Buffini “People don't get to talk much about great service, so give them something to talk about.” – Brian Buffini “It's easier today than ever before to get a fan. It's easier today to delight your customers, because so many people are just trying to meet the basic needs.” – Brian Buffini “Focus your mind on delighting your customers, and you'll have a delightful business.” – Brian Buffini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 24, 2025 • 44min
S2E306 Goals Aren't Enough - A Conversation with Jon Gordon
What does it take to build a truly great team? In this episode, Jon Gordon discusses his new book, “The 7 Commitments of a Great Team,” and explains why it’s commitment – not just talent – that separates great teams from the rest. YOU WILL LEARN:· The commitments that great teams must make.· Why commitments are greater than goals.· Why positivity is a competitive advantage. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: “The 7 Commitments of a Great Team,” by Jon Gordon “The Energy Bus,” by Jon Gordon “The Hard Hat,” by Jon Gordon The Peak Experience Leadership Conference S2E294, The Power to Change with Craig Groeschel NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Teammates are forever.” – Coach Richie Moran “Devotion is what drives discipline.” – Jon Gordon “You'll never have commitment without connection.” – Jon Gordon “Leaders go first. They lead the way. They demonstrate commitment.” – Jon Gordon “When you demonstrate commitment, you get commitment back.” – Jon Gordonitsagoodlife.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 19, 2025 • 10min
Quick Cut: S2E305 Ownership Is Everything
Click here to listen to the full episodeIt’s human nature to make excuses when things don’t go your way but if you take responsibility for where you are and why, you’ll get on track to live the good life. In this episode, Brian teaches how to succeed in your relationships, health, finances and business life by ditching the excuses and taking ownership instead. YOU WILL LEARN:· The types of excuses we make.· The reasons we make those excuses. · The importance of outside perspective. NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Excuses are the lies we tell ourselves.” – Jocko Willink “When we take ownership and truly embrace where we are and why we are, then we get to go to work.” – Brian Buffini “Excuses do have purpose. They save face, they lower expectations and they justify low performance.” – Brian Buffini “Ownership means I choose to do this, I embrace this on purpose.” – Brian Buffini “Change is hard. We're like homing pigeons - we want to go back to what we know.” – Brian Buffiniitsagoodlife.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 17, 2025 • 37min
S2E304 How to Accelerate Your Business - The Activator Advantage with Matt Dixon
In this engaging conversation, Matt Dixon, the founding partner of DCM Insights and author of The Activator Advantage, shares insights on customer engagement and business growth. He discusses the five types of business developers and emphasizes the importance of nurturing relationships over traditional sales tactics. Matt explains how Activators deliver personal and business value, leverage professional networks, and foster deep connections to enhance client loyalty. His reflections on the role of storytelling in building relationships add a personal touch to his practical advice.

6 snips
Jun 12, 2025 • 11min
Quick Cut: S2E303 How to Make a Good Comeback
Failure isn’t just a setback; it's a stepping stone to success! The discussion highlights how embracing failure can foster resilience and growth. Insights are shared on how successful individuals navigate their missteps and use them as fuel for comeback stories. There's a powerful reminder that failures can be transformative experiences, shaping character and determination. With inspiring quotes, this talk ignites optimism and encourages listeners to see their own setbacks as pivotal moments on the journey to a better life.

Jun 10, 2025 • 41min
S2E302 Demystifying AI with Michael Thorne
In this enlightening discussion, AI expert Michael Thorne, who developed the AI Bootcamp with Buffini & Company, demystifies the world of artificial intelligence. He emphasizes that AI isn't just for techies; anyone can harness its power to optimize business processes, especially in real estate. Michael shares insights on overcoming misconceptions and enhancing client relationships through technology. Listeners learn how interactive training can ease fears about AI while driving business growth and productivity, making it a valuable ally rather than a replacement.

Jun 5, 2025 • 11min
Quick Cut: S2E301 How Culture Gives Competitive Advantage with Matt Mayberry
Click here to listen to the full episodeIn today’s increasingly disconnected world, a great workplace culture is vital to the success of any business. In this episode, author and consultant Matt Mayberry shares how leaders can build a culture that drives organizational excellence and unleashes the full potential of every employee. YOU WILL LEARN:· How to define workplace culture.· Why a company’s culture impacts its bottom line.· How a mission statement differs from a cultural purpose statement. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:mattmayberryonline.com cultureistheway.com NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Culture is how your people feel on Sunday night before getting ready to start a new work week.” – Matt Mayberry “Culture is truly behavior at scale.” – Matt Mayberry “A culture has to be able to now breed out beyond boundaries, physical space and being in connection with one another.” – Brian Buffini “Culture and strategy are connected.” – Matt Mayberry “You can never let your small business have you be small-minded.” – Matt Mayberryitsagoodlife.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 3, 2025 • 32min
S2E300 Leadership - Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It with Garry Ridge
Do you want to bring out the best in your people while also maximizing your bottom line? In this episode, former WD-40 Company CEO Garry Ridge explains how leaders can build dedicated teams and drive phenomenal success by following Aristotle’s principle, “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” YOU WILL LEARN:· The ‘dumbass’ leadership philosophy.· The 4 pillars of a fearless tribe.· The impact of values on organizational success. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: thelearningmoment.net “Any Dumbass Can Do It,” by Garry Ridge “Helping People Win at Work,” by Ken Blanchard and Garry Ridge “To Be Honest,” by Ron A. Carucci “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” by Robert FulghumNOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Anything of value comes from learning.” – Garry Ridge “People are happy when they know they're making a difference and they're respected for doing that.” – Garry Ridge “Dumbassery is a superpower, and the dumbassery really is you as the leader deflating your ego and making sure your role is to bring out the best of everybody else.” – Garry Ridge “Let's get rid of the word failure, and let's talk about ‘We don't make mistakes in our organization. We have learning moments.’” – Garry Ridge “It's not about you; it's about the people you have the privilege to lead.” – Garry Ridge itsagoodlife.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 29, 2025 • 11min
Quick Cut: S2E299 REAL Communication with Rachael Yeaman
Click here to listen to the full episodeEveryone has a unique communication style. In some interactions, you feel like you’re on the same page; in others, nothing clicks and you feel totally misunderstood. In this episode, REALStrengths expert Rachael Yeaman explores why so many people struggle to connect and reveals the secrets to high-level communication in business and in life. YOU WILL LEARN:· How most people communicate. · Why miscommunications can happen so easily.· How you can identify and use your natural communication style. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: REALStrengths Assessmentitsagoodlife.com NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “The only way to have deep connection is to actually show someone who you are, which means you need to open yourself up.” – Rachael Yeaman “Our connection with others is only as strong and as deep as our connection with ourselves and the strengths that we have.” – Rachael Yeaman “Be mindful that who you are is not how the entire world is programmed.” – Rachael Yeaman “Be aware that not everybody is wired the exact same way. Ask questions to determine how they’re wired, and then adjust your style accordingly.” – Rachael Yeaman “Relationships are a two-way street. We don't need to have every problem solved in our heads before we open our mouth to actually speak. Allow it to be a reciprocal dynamic.” – Rachael Yeamanitsagoodlife.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 27, 2025 • 31min
S2E298 We Need to Talk - How to Have Better Conversations with Celeste Headlee
In today’s technological world, people feel less connected and more divided than ever before. In this episode, Celeste Headlee shares why real conversations matter so much and why we need to start talking to one another if we want to survive as a species. YOU WILL LEARN:· The difference between communicating and conversing.· The importance of listening.· Actionable steps to improve conversation. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: celesteheadlee.com TED Talk headwaytraining.org “We Need to Talk,” by Celeste Headlee “The Pickwick Papers,” by Charles Dickens 12 Angry Men movie NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “The more you do it, the more you realize how pleasurable it is to listen.” – Celeste Headlee “Our species has only survived because of our conversational skills.” – Celeste Headlee “We have to stop working against our own biology and neurology, understand how we work best and give ourselves the environment that's best suited to make us successful.” – Celeste Headlee “There's a real connection to be made when someone feels heard.” – Celeste Headlee “Learn how to say, ‘I don't know.’” – Celeste Headlee itsagoodlife.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.