The Leadership Podcast

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Greg Adams and Blake Miles. Greg was a Special Forces officer, and is now the Co-founder and CEO of Stabilitas, a real-time threat intelligence and communication platform for security professionals working at global organizations. Blake was a Special Forces soldier, and currently is working as the Director of Support for Stabilitas. Greg and his team help safeguard companies and secures travelers with location specific safety information and a lifeline to help, all through their smartphones. Listen in to learn more about how these former Special Forces operators bring military-strength intelligence to corporate security. Key Takeaways [4:24] The Stabilitas team mission is to keep stakeholders safe, communicating risks arising from world conditions. [13:32] Greg had had a learning experience in Afghanistan, where his fundamental assumptions were challenged. Greg said you have to be curious, informed, and confident in your decisions, and always open to new information. [19:27] Greg's top value is to surround himself with quality people, like Blake. It's a combination of taking care of the customer, and building a team of people that care about each other. [21:53] Greg deployed to Afghanistan during the financial crisis. The war wasn't resonating with people who were losing their homes. This event made him want to study the big picture, through empirical economics, which helped him to find data to test big assumptions. Applying this to Stabilitas, they use machine learning to process open source risk data, map it, and dynamically deliver intelligence to a smartphone. [23:39] In the commercial security space, they're at a confluence of markets between intelligence and geopolitical risk, and communicating that intelligence to security staff, giving them civilian equivalents of military tools. [27:30] Stabilitas is exploring social media. The goal is to demonstrate they're doing something new, and social media is a new approach to reach security firms. [33:56] Bringing people with different backgrounds onto the team, means Greg had to find similar and trustworthy people with great autonomy and specialized skills. [38:59] Blake recommends Jan's Crucible cross-pollination of military and executive styles. Bios Greg Adams is passionate about geopolitical risks, empirical research, data analytics, technology, building a team, and getting out in the Pacific Northwest. When he's not building a great product with the Stabilitas team, or running around in the mountains, you can find him at Stabilitas.io. Greg has an undergraduate degree in physics from West Point, and studied economics and business at Harvard. Website: Stabilitas.io Email: Greg@Stabilitas.io LinkedIn: Greg Adams Twitter: @Greg_ii After serving in Special Forces, Blake Miles spent time as a recruiter for the Army National Guard before separating from the military in 2011. While working toward his bachelor's degree, he began his role as Director of Communications for the Green Beret Foundation, and also began writing for the website, SOFREP. Blake earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. Twitter: @BMiles84 Facebook: BMiles84 LinkedIn: Blake Miles

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Lana Holmes. Lana served as a proof-of-concept CEO for 6 companies, and an investor/advisor to over 30 technical startups in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the founder of four companies, she has deep expertise in the complete entrepreneurial journey. Sensing the marketplace needed more than business expertise, Lana invested in her personal practice with an eight-year journey in earth wisdom and oral indigenous traditions. Listen in to learn more about how to be inquisitive, find passion, and navigate your journey so as to pass down wisdom for generations to come. Key Takeaways [3:21] Lana's early career was an executive path, starting at Xerox, where she learned to ask questions. She was also one of the first employees at WebLogic as Director of Operations. [6:56] Looking for passion in her life, Lana went on a year-long walkabout, spending time in nature. She found teachers who were students of indigenous oral traditions, and she asked to study with them. [11:39] Lana discusses the hero's journey. She cites Brian Johnson, who is launching Hero Training 101, after a life of leadership and being a hero in his own right. [14:42] Jim notes consistent similarities shared by the various leader-focused guests on the podcast: asking questions, telling stories, being curious, concern for legacy, listening. Jan cites a TED Radio Hour podcast on "The Hero's Journey," and the crucibles heroes experience. Lana talks about timeless earth wisdom. [17:32] Earth wisdom provided Lana with the essential elements for navigation. Her organizational development work has been influenced by earth wisdom teachings, and medicine wheels, in relationship with nature. She takes clients into nature, diving deep with them to make a quantum leap toward understanding their life's purpose. [19:29] Lana notes that Crucibles impact people by the power of the earth. She provides people with tools, or custom questions, built on the energies of a medicine wheel, to navigate their lives. [26:02] Lana urges aligning business with our values. Disruption creates superstorm systems, that are complicated and challenging to fix. [29:54] Jim considers cycles to be critical. Ancient wisdom teaches balance, and give and take. [35:45] Leadership is one of the highest forms of service. We must first come into right relationship with ourselves, in order to be extraordinary leaders. Service begins at self-care. Lana asks questions to reveal the brilliance that is already within people [39:32] The first step is listening to our own voice, which requires asking ourselves the right questions, and listening deeply to what's moving within us, and then having dialog with people, about those questions and findings. Bio Drawing upon the combined resources of a 28+ year executive career in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lana Holmes served as a proof of concept CEO for 6 companies and is or has been an investor or advisor to over 30 technical startups in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a founder of four companies (2 consultancies, 1 service, 1 product), she has a deep expertise in the complete entrepreneurial journey. More specifically, a refined knowing of the inner and outer structures needed for successful implementation in the current market place. Sensing that the marketplace needed more than business expertise, Lana invested in her personal practice with an eight-year journey in earth wisdom and oral indigenous traditions. Lana has developed skills uniquely suited for the opportunities and challenges of our current world community and serves as an advisor and guide to high impact individuals and couples. Always listening and connected to a deep conviction that the feminine voice holds healing and wholeness for what is needed to restore balance and order among all humans, Lana accepted the role of Vice Chair and Chair of the Nominating Committee on the World Pulse Board and continues to invest her energies toward all that serves and sustains life. LinkedIn: Lana Holmes Instagram: LanarenHolmes Website: LanaHolmes.com Email: Lana@LanaHolmes.com

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Josh Spodek, an Adjunct Professor at NYU, leadership coach, workshop leader for Columbia Business School, columnist for Inc., founder of Spodek Academy, and author of Leadership Step by Step (launching February 2017). Josh talks about how academic teachings failed to prepare him for entrepreneurship, and how learning a theory is insufficient without practicing it. They discuss the critical need for emotional intelligence, and psychological safety, and how they can be developed, and the techniques Josh uses to strengthen them. Listen in to learn more about leadership practices, releasing passion, changing beliefs, and nurturing teams. Key Takeaways [2:59] Josh is concerned that academic education is emotionally and socially passive. At Ivy League schools, Josh learned was intellectually challenged, but he was not taught socially and emotionally. Josh had trouble working with others when he founded his first company. His leadership was ineffective during the recession, and investors forced him out as CEO. [10:34] Reading books, and learning theory, but not learning how to practice the theory, you might as well read about weights, but not actually lifting weights. Josh wanted a place to teach leadership. For Spodek Academy, Josh researched fields that show leadership, to learn from their techniques. He created exercises, tested and refined them, to teach sensitivity to others' emotions. [18:32] Joshua cites exercises by Marshall Goldsmith, such as "FeedForward," and "No, But, However," that taught him so much about listening and empathy. Small changes in behavior change your worldview. Josh organized Goldsmith's exercises, and others, into a progression of learning, with each exercise being more challenging, and all tied together. [19:58] One exercise is to write down your inner monolog, the voice inside your head — not what you're thinking about, but the actual words. A later exercise is to speak your inner monolog. That's scary, because people hear it. It turns out to be authentic, and people respond genuinely. Further exercises are to write your mental model (what creates the inner monolog), and models of others. [25:12] We've all been hurt. When part of your identity is mocked, you can't get rid of it, but you can hide it. We don't get hurt by casual acquaintances, but by people close to us. We learn to close off our vulnerabilities. Leaders who learn to get people to get past vulnerability to share their passion can get them to engage in their work, for purposes about which they are passionate. [26:50] Jim talks about psychological safety, determined by Google's Project Aristotle to be the number one key performance driver of high performing teams. With psychological safety, it is easier to have discussions in touch with your inner monolog. Josh says Laszlo Bock's research at Google revealed the need for our educational system to educate to emotional intelligence. [29:47] Josh teaches adopting a challenging belief, in Unit 2 of Leadership Step by Step. Unit 1 is Understand Yourself. Unit 2 is Lead Yourself. A leader needs to know that beliefs affect how people view the world. Two people, looking at one thing, see two things. To change motivation, change belief. Joshua describes changing the "dandelion belief," to the "burning building belief." [33:36] If you can look at a difficult problem from a different perspective, and solve it that way, you have an additional way to solve problems, or more intelligence. Helping someone change a belief is simpler than convincing them of something. The progression in the book is, understand your belief, adopt a challenging belief, understand other's belief, and help them adopt a belief. [37:48] Visiting North Korea taught Josh about himself. Seeing pictures of Kim Jong Il everywhere, and tuning them out, made him wonder what he tunes out here in the U.S. It hit him, that advertising and brands are what he tunes out. We incorporate into our reality things that are actually aspects of our external culture. Sometimes it takes an outsider perspective to see it. [40:48] Josh teaches entrepreneurs, when they find an industry where everybody has the same fixed beliefs, it is a huge opportunity, especially when the beliefs do not match the interests of the market. The more fixed the belief, the more the opportunity. Google is an example. Before Google were simple site aggregators, like Alta Vista. Google tried to sell "search" for $1 million. No takers! Books Mentioned in This Episode Leadership Step by Step: Become the Person Others Follow, by Joshua Spodek (Available February 16, 2017) Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman Marshall Goldsmith author page on Amazon The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization, by Peter M. Senge NYT Magazine, "What Google Learned From Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team," article by Charles Duhigg Work Rules! Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead, by Laszlo Bock Bio Joshua Spodek is an Adjunct Professor at NYU, leadership coach and workshop leader for Columbia Business School, columnist for Inc., founder of Spodek Academy, and author of Leadership Step by Step (launching February 2017). He has led seminars in leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity, and sales at Harvard, Princeton, MIT, INSEAD (Singapore), the New York Academy of Science, and in private corporations. He holds five Ivy League degrees, including a PhD in Astrophysics and an MBA, and studied under a Nobel Prize winner. He helped build an X-ray observational satellite for the European Space Agency and NASA, co-founded and led as CEO or COO several ventures, and holds six patents. He earned praise as "Best and Brightest" (Esquire Magazine's Genius Issue), "Astrophysicist turned new media whiz" (NBC), and "Rocket Scientist" (ABC News and Forbes) and has been quoted and profiled by ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, Fox, NY1, CNN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, Newsweek, Forbes, Esquire, The Guardian, Nikkei Shimbun, Taipei Times, Salon, and more. He's an award-winning artist, marathoner, world-class Ultimate Frisbee competitor, fitness fanatic, and world traveler. He lives in Greenwich Village and blogs daily. Website: SpodekAcademy.com Twitter: @Spodek Website: JoshuaSpodek.com Facebook: Spodek Academy LinkedIn: Joshua Spodek

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Mary Kelly, CEO at Productive Leaders. They speak with Mary about the challenges of leadership in industry, and what happens when a leader tries too hard to be liked. They also discuss how employees perceive leaders differently than leaders perceive themselves. They discuss accountability, fairness, consistency, and mentoring. They end with a discussion on motivation, happiness, and contributors to depression. Listen in to learn more about steps leaders can take today to build trust and accountability in their organization. Key Takeaways [3:23] Productive leadership is hard, with competing demands from above and below. In the military, everyone wants to lead; to be productive. In many cases in business, we take the enjoyment out of being a leader. We've made it difficult to be a leader. If leaders make mistakes, they get fired. Some ineffective leaders put themselves first, and lack compassion. [6:34] Simon Sinek did a video on Millennials, whose parents wanted to be liked instead of being respected. Jim says, being respected is hugely important. If you care about people, they will like and respect you. Mary says, they like you, until you make a decision that is not in their best self-interests, and then they don't like you — but, if you made a fair decision, they will still respect you. [8:38] For Peter Stark and Mary Kelly's recent book, Why Leaders Fail, they studied over 100K employee surveys from over 10 years, used that data, and crafted a survey for the employee's bosses. They received 1,000 survey responses. The responses exposed a large disconnect between the bosses' thoughts and the employees' perceptions of what was happening. [9:28] The book observes seven common leadership failures: (1) lacking vision and clear goals, (2) sabotaging trust, (3) self-interest, (4) unfairness and inconsistency, (5) not understanding how to build a team, (6) wanting to be liked instead of respected, and (7) turning confidence into arrogance. This last failure stirs the most emotion. [15:55] Hold people accountable for their actions, for what they do, as well as for what they don't do. Encourage them to take initiative, even if it means risk. The right risks are acceptable. Make sure people are doing their job. Don't just go to your go-to person and let others skate. Assign jobs consistent with people's job responsibilities, and then hold them accountable. [20:12] Jan talks about succession planning throughout the organization. People want to know what their path is, and that there is a concerted effort to develop their skills for their future aspirations. Mary sees some who come into an organization for a specific job, want to do it well, and not to be promoted. Leaders will recognize where individuals can do their best work. [24:23] Big companies in many ways have outsourced the risk-taking to startups; and if they're successful, then they absorb them, destroying the startup culture. Big companies just aren't good at taking risks. Risk is the path to growth. [26:36] Jan quotes Dan Pink and Frederick Herzberg about motivators. Mary says attracting top talent is critical for every organization. The happy medium between Herzberg and Pink is that people are individuals. Everyone needs different motivators. Most people leave jobs because of their boss or coworker. They knew what the job and salary were when they walked in the door. [31:30] Mary believes in strength-based jobs. Don't "work on" weaknesses. Develop existing strengths. Student report cards with five A's, but consistent D's in Economics, give awesome clarity. It means their strength is not in Economics, but in the A subjects. They should not try to be economists. Employees with a project that they love, and have passion for, lead themselves. [40:16] Mary did a study on happiness vs. the need to feel valued. The age group with the highest suicide rate is people over 85, because they feel as though nobody cares, and they're not valued. The next group is 45 to 65. They also feel they're not valued. Being valued, needed, and feeling as though you are contributing, is the most important support we have for mental health. Books Mentioned in This Episode Why Leaders Fail: And the 7 Prescriptions for Success, by Peter B. Stark and Mary C. Kelly Master Your World: 10 Dog-Inspired Leadership Lessons to Improve Productivity, Profits and Communication, by Mary C. Kelly Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink The Motivation to Work, by Frederick Herzberg, Bernard Mausner, and Barbara Bloch Snyderman Bio Raised in Texas, Mary Kelly is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and spent over 20 years on active duty in intelligence and logistics. She retired from the Navy as a commander, has a Master's degrees in history and economics, and a PhD in economics. With over 20 years combined experience at the Naval Academy, Hawaii Pacific University, and the Air Force Academy, she taught economics, finance, history and management. She has experience in business development, human resources, finance and organizational leadership. Mary has a track record of success as a leadership expert and executive coach. Mary's sister and brothers were also in the military. Mary is the author of 11 books. She was once the Chief of Police, she makes her own wine, and she's never played a video game. Through her work in college teaching and in the military, Mary discovered the need to make the principles of leadership and communication available to all types of businesses. Her book, Master Your World, became a bestseller and launched her career as an author and speaker. After publishing additional books on leadership, productivity, communication, business growth, and organization, Mary desired to make leadership fun and fulfilling. Mary views conferences and events as a partnership, and she works to eliminate worry and uncertainty for her meeting professionals. Mary knows leaders today are developing talent, managing change, building teams, communicating across multiple platforms, and worried about profitability. Mary helps leaders and managers save time, reduce conflict, decrease absenteeism, resolve challenges, gain clarity, and make decisions that boost morale and productivity. "Great leadership can be learned." Website: ProductiveLeaders.com Website: 7PrescriptionsForSuccess.com for a free chapter (the Trust chapter) of the book, and a free 36-question leadership assessment to use with your team. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrMaryKelly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/DrMaryKelly Twitter: https://twitter.com/marykellyspeaks Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/maryaloha/ Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MaryKelly

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview John Brumer, Jason Ginos, and Micah Niebauer, founders of Southern Pines Brewing. The three entrepreneurs first met while serving in the 3rd Special Forces Group. John enlisted right into the Special Forces qualification course. Jason went to Millikin University, and was a psychological operations specialist before heading into the 3rd Group. Micah attended Wheaton College in the ROTC Program, and went to the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, joined the 82nd Airborne, and then joined the 3rd Special Forces Group. These men served with distinction, with multiple active-duty tours. John, or Juan Peligro, as the Patagonia crew referred to him, has been a GORUCK Cadre since 2014. Jason and his wife, Aleah, have been married nine years, and have three young children, Tanner, Luke, and Charlotte. Micah and his wife, Patricia have been married for 10 years, and have three young children, Eva, Claudia, and Wyatt. Micah is the CEO, Jason is the CFO, and John is the COO of Southern Pines Brewing, in Southern Pines, North Carolina, where they all reside. Jan and Jim speak with John, Jason, and Micah about how disciplines learned through their Special Forces service helped them unite in a business partnership, and how they chose to advance a home-brewing passion they shared into a viable business. They also discuss how identifying with a community, and participating in community programs lends purpose to the enterprise. They discuss the company's mission and values individually, and how these statements of purpose keep them going despite inevitable challenges. There is also a segment about John's participation in the Crucible in Patagonia, and how he is applying the lessons into the business on a daily basis. Listen in to learn more about turning a shared passion into a dynamic business partnership. Key Takeaways [2:00] John, Jason, and Micah all served in the 3rd Special Forces Group, an airborne unit of the Green Berets. Their common bond, and strong teamwork, allowed them to enter head first into the entrepreneurial world as the Co-Founders of Southern Pines Brewing. [4:27] As the Co-Founders developed the slogan and mission statement for Southern Pines Brewing, they focused on the community aspect of craft brewing, with the art, history and tradition behind it. They visited many craft breweries to find inspiration for starting Southern Pines Brewing. They adopted some ideas they saw, and suggestions they received. [6:08] Southern Pines Brewing makes a huge impact on the local community. They participate in Boys and Girls clubs, and the Walter Moss Foundation, and retirement homes. They take their military community sense of belonging with them. Everybody understands beer. [7:33] Southern PInes Values: The customer is the focus of everything we do. We provide the highest quality products for our customers. We are a professional organization, demonstrating this in everything we do. We are constantly learning and growing. We are good citizens in the community. Fear will not drive decision-making. We are aggressive. Nothing is impossible. [8:58] Jason explains that their ambition to venture into brewing led them to be aggressive. First, they needed aggressive growth. In the second year they needed growth and financial efficiency. They will aggressively reach for their full effective production capacity, and eliminate choke points. In 2017, they will grow, but aggressively pay down debt and become a better business. [11:23] Micah talks about overcoming fear, by being proactive in their decisions. Their military experience leads them to take measured risks daily, not for their lives, but for their livelihood. [15:18] John speaks on how nothing is impossible became one of their values. He recalls a race car course in Special Ops. The lesson he learned was to look where you're going. Don't worry about all of the things that could possibly happen. Worry about the outcomes that you're trying to accomplish. John speaks of his support from his partners to turn a hobby into a viable business. [21:33] Jason recommends, The Intelligent Investor, by Benjamin Graham, and the Berkshire Hathaway books. He also recommends Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" speech. Micah recommends two books, Built to Sell, by John Warrillow, and Scaling Up, by Verne Harnish. John recommends, Tribe, by Sebastian Junger, and Nassim Taleb's, The Black Swan. [28:53] Micah notes John's interactions with executives on the Crucible opened opportunities. Jason comments how John was so alive when he got back from being in beautiful landscapes with awesome leaders. The team problem-solving was impactful. John says the biggest thing was the day-to-day training through personal interaction with executives and veterans. [35:20] The partners finally have the time to look forward five to ten years. What are the best tools to get there? It's another world from three Army guys making beer in a garage. There are opportunities and responsibilities not available before. [37:46] John speaks on how difficult it was to get financing. Jason says eight banks rejected them. The local PNC branch backed them, just when they were ready to go to Plan B. Micah adds they are so successful together because they are equally yoked to the success of the business. No one is going home. The business has to succeed. They are past the point of no-return. Books Mentioned in This Episode The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing, by Benjamin Graham "Citizenship in a Republic (The Man in the Arena)," by Theodore Roosevelt Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You, by John Warrillow Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't, by Verne Harnish Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, by Sebastian Junger The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Bios MICAH NIEBAUER, Co-founder & CEO Micah Niebauer is originally from Superior, Wisconsin. He attended college at Wheaton College, IL, majored in Political Science, and was a member of the ROTC program. Upon graduation in 2003, he worked at both the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Commerce prior to beginning service in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer in the 82d Airborne Division. He later joined Special Forces and served in 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). Micah completed multiple tours in support of the Global War on Terror before resigning his commission in June of 2013. He is currently the CEO and co-founder of Southern Pines Brewing Company. Micah completed the Siebel Institute of Technology's Concise Course in Brewing Technology as well as the Essential Quality Control Course at White Labs, San Diego. Micah and his wife Patricia have been married for 10 years and have three children, Eva (7), and Claudia (3), and Wyatt (1). Patricia works as an attorney at Robins, May, and Rich in Pinehurst, and they reside in Southern Pines. JOHN BRUMER, Co-founder & COO John Brumer is originally from Houston, Texas. He enlisted in the Army after high school and joined Special Forces through the 18X-ray program. John served as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant in 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), completing multiple overseas tours. John was later chosen to serve as an instructor in the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne). John turned down a promotion in early 2013 and separated from the Army in June of 2014. He is currently the COO and co-founder of Southern Pines Brewing Company. John completed the Siebel Institute of Technology's Concise Course in Brewing Technology as well as the Essential Quality Control Course at White Labs, San Diego. He has been a GoRuck Cadre since 2014. John resides in Southern Pines. JASON GINOS, Co-founder and CFO Jason Ginos is originally from Hillsboro, Illinois. Jason completed two years of college at Millikin University, IL, before enlisting in the Army as a Psychological Operations Specialist in 2003. Jason later joined Special Forces and was assigned as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). Jason completed numerous overseas tours in support of the Global War on Terror. He was later selected to serve as a Small Unit Tactics Instructor in the Special Warfare Center and School. After completing 10 years of service, Jason separated from the Army in June of 2014. He is currently the CFO and co-founder of Southern Pines Brewing Company. Jason and his wife Aleah have been married for 9 years and have three children, Tanner (6), Luke (3), and Charlotte (6 mo). Aleah serves as a First Sergeant in Military Information Support Operations on Fort Bragg, and they reside in Southern Pines. Website: southernpinesbrewing.com

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Justin Gold, the Founder of Justin's Natural Foods Company, which produces organic and natural nut butters and peanut butter cups. From their humble beginnings at local farmers' markets to launching a national brand, Justin's is now one of the country's fastest growing natural foods companies. Justin's has received numerous local and national accolades and ranked in the top 15 on the Inc. 500 and 5,000 Fastest Growing Companies List, in the Food and Beverage category, two years in a row. Jan and Jim speak with Justin about innovation in sustainable food and reduced packaging, and how entrepreneurial and academic mentors guided Justin in his business start. They also discuss how taking an innovative risk led to becoming an industry thought leader, and how Juston worked out a plan with an acquiring organization that allows him to continue his innovative ways. Listen in to learn more about how leadership and sustainability can support profitability. Key Takeaways [5:24] In a Twitter exchange with musician John Mayer, Justin accepted the challenge to produce the world's first Chocolate Almond Butter with Cookie Dough. John put a photo of it on Instagram, and wrote, "Thanks Justin. You've ruined me for all other of life's awaiting pleasures." [9:27] Justin believes in walking the talk. If we're going to support sustainable food ingredients, and reducing the packaging on our products, then we should be really mindful of the origin and disposal of everything we use, not only in the company, but in our lives. Their products are actually making a difference to people, with healthier food, and less packaging. [11:02] Justin challenges his team consistently to question the way it's always been done in the past. People in companies fall into a rhythm, and keep sustaining this rhythm, because it's easy. We lose track of how we got into this rhythm in the first place. Whether in packaging, product, or consumer engagement, keep looking for better ways to work. Always question everything. [12:59] Justin didn't hit his home run until he moved out of the form factor of jars. After years of really not succeeding with jars, they had the idea of the squeeze pack, and it was a category disruptor for nut butters. Then they tried the peanut butter cup, which led to the snack pack. If he hadn't started with jars, he would not have gotten to the squeeze pack and beyond. [14:50] Tips to get momentum: get validation from someone you admire; have the attitude that anything's possible. When you're positive and you're excited, that energy is infectious, and it will draw the right people to help you. Positivity attracts positive people. [18:37] Justin did not foresee being a thought leader. He sought out early as much help as he could from other entrepreneurs, and they were all open to help him. He made note of that, and realized his obligation and purpose to pay it forward. Knowledge gained can really help a young company. Justin gets inspired by opportunities to share knowledge that did not come easily. [21:48] Justin got help from the U of C Leeds School to write a business plan. Looking back at his first plan, Justin laughs, because he had no idea what he was talking about, but it was important to get it on paper and declare to the world, this is what I want to do. After a professor's critique, he rewrote it, and it was spot on. He was able to execute it successfully. [26:01] Justin's first hire was a roommate, but his biggest step to success was hiring Lance Gentry, who became a business mentor and hero. Lance raised investments, saw them through the 2008 downturn with expertise, and landed them Whole Foods and Starbucks national orders. Lance passed away suddenly, and Justin necessarily carried on to become a leader. [32:54] Justin talks about Hormel. Finances, commodity supply, and manufacturing capacity, required partnering with a big company to provide top quality at the quantities needed, without creating conditions for a food recall. Hormel and Justin inspired each other with their visions of the future of food, so they came to a deal. Justin's goal is to impact change at a larger scale. [43:23] Justin loves the Whole Planet Foundation's Microloan a Month program. It gives beginning entrepreneurs the ability to start a company, which gives people jobs, a sense of importance, and the opportunity to earn money to buy their own food, while building a local economy. Justin's also sends products to relieve conditions after natural disasters. Quotable Quotes "If we're going to support a healthy lifestyle, then we should be engaged in a healthy lifestyle." "When they see me doing it and they see the other leaders ... do it, it gives them permission and a sense of motivation." "A lot of times, with technology, or with science, there are new ways to engage consumers or to solve an end-use problem." "What I do know, is, if you don't start with your idea, then it ends right now." "Your mission as a business evolves as you grow and become more successful and more powerful." "Positivity attracts positive people." Bio Justin Gold is a passionate entrepreneur, who encourages others to follow their passions, and never stop asking questions along the way. In 2013, Justin was recognized as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Mountain Desert Region. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife and children, finding his work/life balance by enjoying an active lifestyle there as an avid trail runner, mountain biker, skier, and backpacker. Justin is a founding member of the Whole Planet Foundation's Microloan a Month program that supports microfinancing institutions across the globe. Justin is passionate about pollinators, sustainable sourcing, mindful packaging, and children's education. Website: Justins.com

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Jim Palmer, a marketing and business-building expert, and in-demand coach. The author of five books, Jim is best known internationally as The Newsletter Guru, and creator of No Hassle Newsletters, the ultimate done-for-you newsletter marketing program used by hundreds of clients in nine countries. Jan and Jim talk with Jim Palmer about how he became a business leadership thought leader, and what that means to him; how he grew up with a worker servant mentality, and how he applies it today; some of the principles Jim teaches in Decide and his other books; and what his four pillars are for business success. To end of the interview, Jim and Jan ask for and receive some coaching of their own! Listen in to learn more about getting past your fears, serving without monetary reward, and achieving growth by building on the four pillars. Key Takeaways [3:27] If you put enough good information out there, with a servant attitude, giving value and helping people without expecting return, you get a reputation as a servant thought leader. [6:17] When Jim became an entrepreneur he remembered Sam Walton's words about the customer's power to fire everybody by deciding to spend somewhere else. In online marketing in 2006, everything was 'free.' If you are really giving, people gravitate toward you. Jim has a free download, "Serve First, How to Unlock a Life of Abundance and Purpose." No email is needed. [10:32] Jim talks about his book, Decide. High achievers, when presented with a challenge or an opportunity, quickly assess the pros and cons, and then make a decision, yes or no, and act. They never go to 'Squishyville,' because business and life happen too quickly. [20:38] Jim's four pillars of success are Knowledge, Environment, Mindset, and Habits, similar to the growth mindset sought for in special operators. In any field, there are the ordinary, and the high achievers. Very few qualify for the elite. You have to do things that others will not do. [22:45] Environment is space you create. To write, Jim picks the time, sits at his desk, and puts away all distractions. The only thing he wants to do is type what's in his head. He can write for two or three hours. You have to be able to control the environment, in order to produce the result. [24:03] Mindset is much more important than perfecting your skill or talent. Some very top copywriters get 10 times what a normal copywriter gets. They don't write 10 times better. Habits are self-evident. Rich people have big libraries, and poor people have big TVs. Have habits in place to make your priorities happen, and create and protect the environment to do it. [26:55] Knowledge for highly successful people means to own who they are; their strengths and limitations. They hire and delegate. To help his business, Jim joined a Mastermind. The leader asked, "What makes you think you're entitled to the same level of success as these peers ... but you're not willing to do the same things that they're doing to grow their business?" [30:23] The idea of a multi-day live event petrified Jim for a few reasons: picking the right date; renting space with food and beverage and a number of guest rooms guaranteed; and fear of disappointing attendees by forgetting how to present. He kicked his fears to the curb, and found out he's pretty good at it, with five sold out. That's when he began to accelerate significantly. [31:38] Dan Kennedy is the person most influential on Jim's development. Dan is a blue-collar guy who built a multi-million dollar business, because he understands people, he understands marketing, and he's not afraid of hard work. He does something everyday that will bear fruit down the road. Jim learned much about writing from reading Dan Kennedy's books. [33:40] Jim gave coaching for The Leadership Podcast, which stands in its own unique space. He likes the back-and-forth. His greatest advice to Jim and Jan is to avoid adhering to a strict format and schedule of questions, but to have a lot of conversation starters, and to follow up on answers of interest. Get people to tell stories. Always focus on the listener, not the downloads. Quotable Quotes "I shot my first video in 2009, I had three watchers. I was one of them. My wife and my Mom, I think, were the other two." "'It's no wonder he's successful. Look at how much stuff he does.' There's a real nugget in there, if you think about it." "We volunteer for three or four different local charities, which are near and dear to our heart." "If you're going to expect a big reward, you have to be willing to step up and risk." "I really think this year is going to be a banner year." "Rich people have big libraries, and poor people have big TVs." Books Mentioned on the Show Sam Walton: Made In America, by Sam Walton and John Huey Decide: The Ultimate Success Trigger, by Jim Palmer Stop Waiting For It to Get Easier: Create Your Dream Business Now, by Jim Palmer No B.S. Guide to Direct Response Social Media Marketing: The Ultimate No Holds Barred Guide to Producing Measurable Monetizable Results with Social Media Marketing, by Dan S. Kennedy and Kim Walsh-Phillips Bio Jim Palmer grew up in a small town in Massachusetts, learning to work, serve, and help people. Jim is the Founder of Dream Business Academy and Dream Business Coaching and Mastermind Program. He hosts Dream Business TV, the weekly web TV show watched by thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners. He's also hosts Stick Like Glue Radio, a weekly podcast based on his unique brand of smart marketing and business-building strategies. Jim has been advising business owners for well over 20 years, and has been doing his weekly business videos for six years. Website: DreamBizAcademy to learn about the upcoming event, February 8-10 in Orlando. Website: GetJimPalmer.com Website: GetJimPalmer.com/ServeFirst for a free download on the servant mentality. Website: DecideForSuccessBook.com for a free copy of the book, for only $6.95 S&H.

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview John Coyle, Founder and CEO of The Art of Really Living. John is one of the world's leading experts in innovation and design thinking. John is an SVP and Professor of Innovation, and a thought leader in the field of horology — the study of how we as humans process time. His mission is to innovate the human experience, and he has been applying "design thinking" to Fortune 500 companies, careers, and leadership challenges for more than 20 years. Jan and Jim talk with John about his Olympic journey, his pursuit to maximize the ratio of experience to time, how design thinking helped him find the right questions to ask, how to achieve Flow, and when to de-stress to recover. Listen in to learn more about the path to Flow, the pursuit of excellence, and how to apply it with your team. Key Takeaways [3:39] John spent all of his time as an athlete cramming more distance into the same time. In that pursuit, he won an Olympic silver medal. Small increments of time matter greatly, and can change a life. His experience of the passage of time in the working world (slow in meetings, and fast with friends), led him to study chronoception. He now works to manipulate cognitive time. [7:51] John called every expert he could find on neuroscience and the psychology of time, until he spoke with Dr. Philip Zimbardo at Stanford, who told him everybody experiences the acceleration of time as they age, but nobody has done research on how to unwind it. [8:24] John used design thinking — a style of creative problem-solving through asking the right questions — to try to discover how to get more experienced time in our years. It is possible, as our brains don't process time linearly. John helps people reframe their relationship with time. [17:40] One of the hallmarks of the Flow state is that the brain actually stops measuring time. Most people report this simultaneously as going really fast, and slowing down completely. Your brain is processing really fast, resulting in the ability to thin-slice and rewind moments with exquisite detail. Steven Kotler says extreme sports and meditation both lead to Flow. [20:28] If you want to slow down time on your vacations, design fear and suffering into them. We are wired for stories. We remember stories much better than data. Stories have a plot, which develops through a crisis. [22:44] Helping your team members move outside their comfort zones, to find their native strengths, and having them design their roles to do more of that, fundamentally changes their relationship with risk and reward. They will risk more when they excel in what they do. [25:10] Mike Weldon was John's coach from age 11 to 25. He taught John, "Race your strengths; design around and train your weaknesses, but don't make them your centerpoint." He designed his Olympic training on Mike Weldon's teaching, and won the silver-medal. [28:56] John says, ask the right questions in development and leadership. Instead of asking how to fix your weaknesses, ask how to design for your strengths. Don't ask how to have more years in your life, ask how to have more life in your years. Instead of asking how to maintain a work-life balance, ask how to perform better under increasing stress, and how to recover. [37:41] Reduce stress when needed, by refocusing on your strengths, and applying these three destressors: low-grade aerobics, social intimacy, and physical contact with your partner or a pet. [42:20] Regarding having worked with particular individuals who very publicly fell from grace, John says innovation works by ignoring the rules and the status quo while generating ideas. In order to make a good solution, you then need to apply an ethics filter to the idea. Some people skip that step, and they hurt themselves and others. Quotable Quotes "The value of an increment of time is not related to its duration." "I just started becoming obsessed with … how we experience time … the technical term is chronoception." "Cognitively speaking, how can we experience more time, in the same amount of linear time?" "They can reframe their relationship with time, and actually slow, stop, and reverse the perceived acceleration of time." "You can get to the Flow state so many ways, but it is one of the penultimate outcomes of the human condition." Books Mentioned on the Show 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management: The Productivity Habits of 7 Billionaires, 13 Olympic Athletes, 29 Straight-A Students, and 239 Entrepreneurs, by Kevin Kruse Neuromarketing: Is There a 'Buy Button' in the Brain? Selling to the Old Brain for Instant Success, by Christophe Morin Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by General Stanley McChrystal (Upcoming Book) Counter-Clockwise: Unwinding Cognitive Time, by John Coyle Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance, by Steven Kotler The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable, By Nassim Nicholas Taleb Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway Bio John Coyle has an MBA from Northwestern University, and is a graduate of Stanford University's "d.school" where his academic advisor was David Kelley, the founder of IDEO and Steve Jobs' right hand man. John is an NBC sports analyst, two-time TEDx presenter, author, and sought-after keynote speaker. He won an Olympic silver medal in speedskating, an achievement he attributes directly to his design thinking background. As a speaker and author, his talent is weaving facts, examples and intellectual principles into engaging stories which bring his topics to life and really make you think. They are inspiring, practical, and actionable. Website: JohnKCoyle.com Website: JohnKCoyle.com/Manifesto Website: TheArtofReallyLiving.com

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Jim Thompson, Founder and CEO of the Positive Coaching Alliance. Jim is focused on how to get the best from people, especially young athletes, through the teachable moments. Jim started PCA, a national nonprofit organization, in 1998 to transform the culture of youth sports into a Development Zone™ with the goal to develop Better Athletes, Better People. Jan and Jim talk with Jim Thompson about his background with youth, ways that coaching youth sports can build children into better adults, how positivity turns a mistake into an opportunity to improve effort, and what triple-impact competitors can contribute to your organization. Listen in to learn how sports coaching, and leadership development, both depend on positive attention and natural consequences. Key Takeaways [4:16] It took PCA about 15 years to boil their mission statement down to four words: "Better Athletes, Better People." Their model of the double-goal coach is winning on the scoreboard, and using sports to teach life lessons. [5:14] Youth athletes, to have a great experience, need to feel connected to their coach and teammates, need to believe that they can improve their performance, and need to know they are part of an organization that does things the right way, that they can feel proud of. [7:19] Jim tells of his journey, starting as a teacher's aide for emotionally disturbed, behavior problem kids in St. Paul, MN, under the mentorship of great educators. Very troubled kids were taught with a relentlessly positive approach, every good action receiving positive reinforcement. [9:21] Jim found out while coaching his son's teams, that a relentlessly positive approach with the kids caused them to perform really well. They had more fun, they were more aggressive; and even other parents wanted their children to be on his teams for the next year. [13:29] Jim shares the Sara Tucholsky and Mallory Holtman softball story, when Sara, who had hit a homerun, but injured her knee at first base, was carried around the bases by opposing players Mallory and a teammate. You will have your own Mallory moments, when you can elevate the game. [16:49] PCA takes insights from academia and great coaches, and turns them into tools that anyone can use. One of their powerful tools is the mistake ritual. When a player makes a mistake, everyone calls out: Don't worry about it, we'll get the next one, brush it off! That helps the player focus back on the game, and drop the negative self-talk. [30:30] Difficult conversations are needed. You want to be a noticer of effort and improvement, but you want the very best performer on the job. Making mistakes is part of the game, A lack of effort to improve is when you want to have that difficult conversation. Even that conversation can be done in a positive way that will build people up. [33:41] PCA training includes a session where the trainer says, name your first teacher in school. About 50% can remember their name. Then the trainer asks, what's the name of the first coach you ever had? Almost everyone remembers. [36:24] The number one lesson from sports psychology: Focus on what you can control, and ignore what you can't control. This takes mindfulness. Focus on the process. Be positive. [41:00] Help every player to identify their best self, and make a commitment to be their best self. The triple-impact competitor works hard to make themselves better, the people around them better, and the game better. Coaches help the players to become better persons. Books Mentioned on the Show Positive Coaching: Building Character and Self-esteem Through Sports, by Jim Thompson The Double-Goal Coach: Positive Coaching Tools for Honoring the Game and Developing Winners in Sports and Life, by Jim Thompson Shooting in the Dark: Tales of Coaching and Leadership, by Jim Thompson Elevating Your Game: Becoming a Triple-Impact Competitor, by Jim Thompson Developing Better Athletes, Better People: A Leader's Guide to Transforming High School and Youth Sports into a Development Zone, by Jim Thompson Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life, by Martin P.E. Seligman, Ph.D. Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the 3 to 1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life, by Barbara Fredrickson Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive: Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate, and Outnegotiate Your Competition, by Harvey B. MacKay Bio An Ashoka fellow, Jim Thompson and PCA received the inaugural ETHOS Award from the Institute for Sports Law and Ethics (ISLE) in 2013 and he is now on the ISLE Board. He is on Stanford's Continuing Studies Program faculty where he teaches courses in coaching, leadership, and sport & spiritually. He and his wife, Sandra Hietala, are founding board members of Recovery Café San José, a healing community for individuals with mental illness and drug abuse issues. Positive Coaching Association (PCA) is a thriving nation-wide organization with 14 chapters, and an expansion plan to reach 20 million youth athletes by 2020. PCA's vision has attracted the support and involvement of many elite coaches, athletes, academics, and business leaders in this country. Jim has written nine books on youth sports, including, Positive Coaching, The Double-Goal Coach, Shooting in the Dark, Elevating Your Game, and Developing Better Athletes, Better People. Website: PositiveCoach.org Website: Development Zone Resource Center

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Scott Friedman. Scott is an internationally sought-after professional speaker and author. As a motivational humorist, Scott inspires and entertains with fun-filled interactive and content-rich programs. Scott's main area of expertise is employee innovation, customer experience, and using humor and celebration as a strategic tool. In addition to being Chief Celebration Officer at Scott Friedman & Associates, Scott has written many books on celebration, humor, audience engagement, and creating happier and healthier workplaces. Jan and Jim talk with Scott about how good humor, good communication, and good leadership align; some traits that are shared by successful CEOs; the power of stories to build connections; the power of celebration to build employee engagement; and the power of gratitude to inspire philanthropy. Listen in to learn how leadership, celebration, and engagement work together with good humor to result in consistently successful outcomes. Key Takeaways [3:53] Three characteristics really stand out in becoming a great communicator: First is authenticity, second is vulnerability, and the third is a sense of humility. [8:40] Scott quotes Terry Paulson, who said, "When someone blushes with embarrassment, when someone carries away an ache, when something sacred is made to appear common, when profanity is required to make it funny, when a child is brought to tears, or, when everyone can't join in the humor, it's inappropriate." [11:03] Jim Collins studied companies, and found 11 that sustained greatness for at least 15 years. Their CEOs had two traits in common: a professional will to succeed, and a sense of humility and a self-effacing style. [14:30] Stories and humor transcend cultures. They are tools for connecting with authenticity, vulnerability, and humility, in a global community. Great leaders are good storytellers. [15:18] In your story, make others see their own stories. Make your story about them, as well as about you. But don't tell too much of the story — less is more. [19:01] Scott Bemis used to ask in interviews, "If you come here to work at the Denver Business Journal, can we make an agreement that this will be the best job you've ever had?" [25:20] Celebration leads to engagement. Engagement leads to higher productivity and performance. Treat people right, and they will engage. [27:39] Richard Branson said, first he takes care of his employees, then he takes care of his customers, and then he takes care of his shareholders. In that order, everybody is taken care of. [31:01] Consider starting a meeting by saying, let's celebrate for a short moment — what are we doing that works? Bring up the best of the best. [38:55] The Together We Can Change The World Foundation reminds us we are members of the lucky gene club. We have a lot of great things just by how and where we were brought up. Quotable Quotes "Good humor, to accomplish well, is as difficult as good leadership." "The best leaders truly care about their people, and they set them up to win." "The reason celebration fails in most companies today, is because it becomes institutionalized." "Gratitude is the fastest way to happiness." "The life you change will be your own. ― Together We Can Change the World Foundation" Books Mentioned on the Show Happily Ever Laughter: How to Engage Any Audience, by Scott Friedman Making Humor Work: Take Your Job Seriously and Yourself Lightly, by Terry Paulson Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't, by Jim Collins Celebrate: Lessons Learned from the World's Most Admired Organizations, by Scott Friedman A Celebration a Day: 365 Ways to a Happier Healthier Workplace, by Scott Friedman (to be released in December in the U.S.) Stop Screaming at the Microwave: How to Connect Your Disconnected Life, by Mary LoVerde Hamlet, by William Shakespeare Bio Scott Friedman, CSP, travels more than 250 days a year for his fun, which is a humorous approach to workplace motivation and innovation through speaking engagements. For three decades, Scott Friedman has combined his improvisational comedy experience, and the art of storytelling, to help his clients achieve their objectives. A certified speaking professional, and trusted member of the speaking community, Scott continues to have a strong presence, both domestically and globally. Scott is a former president of the National Speakers Association, and was the 2013 recipient of their distinguished Cavett Award. Active in many philanthropic projects, Scott is committed to helping people lead more fulfilled lives. Friedman's speaking career is impressive, but his foundation, Together We Can Change the World, might be his legacy. "At this stage of my life, I get the most satisfaction from the volun-tours with global speakers to Southeast Asia to build schools and homes, awareness, self-esteem and hope for the future," he explains. Website: TWCCTW.org Facebook: TWCCTW