Intentional Leader with Cal Walters

➡️ Get my Newsletter (Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Geoff Woods is the author of The AI-Driven Leader and the Founder of AI Leadership, where he empowers leaders to harness AI, escape operational overwhelm, and think strategically to accelerate growth. AI Leadership is spearheaded by Geoff Woods, a visionary leader with a proven track record helping companies grow through strategic thinking and AI-driven solutions. As the former Chief Growth Officer of Jindal Steel & Power, he drove market cap growth from $750M to $12B in four years through AI-driven leadership. He also co-founded the training and consulting company behind The ONE Thing, where he coached and advised companies with annual revenues from $10 million to $60 billion.​​ In this conversation, Cal and Geoff explore the transformative potential of AI in leadership and decision-making. They discuss the importance of asking the right questions, mastering essential skills, and using AI as a strategic partner rather than just a tool. The dialogue highlights real-world applications of AI in business, including creating AI boards to simulate executive dynamics and enhance decision-making processes. The speakers emphasize the need for leaders to adapt to technological advancements and leverage AI to overcome significant challenges in their organizations. In this conversation, the speakers explore the transformative role of AI in leadership and decision-making. They discuss practical applications of AI in board meetings, presentation feedback, and strategic thinking. The importance of maintaining a thought leadership role while leveraging AI as a thought partner is emphasized, along with the need for leaders to adapt to the rapidly changing job landscape. The discussion also highlights lessons from Blockbuster's downfall and offers practical steps for leaders to integrate AI into their daily practices. 00:00 AI as a Strategic Partner for Leaders 07:23 Harnessing AI for Strategic Thinking 21:43 Creating AI Boards for Leadership 26:02 Real-World Applications of AI in Business 27:51 Simulating Reality: AI's Role in Predictive Analysis 29:03 Proactive AI Engagement: Preparing for Presentations 31:20 Thought Leadership vs. Thought Partnership 33:05 Building Your AI Board: A Personal Strategy 38:50 Strategic Thinking: Lessons from Blockbuster's Downfall 42:38 Practical Steps for Leaders: Using AI Effectively 45:04 Future Skills: Preparing for an AI-Driven World 49:52 Powerful Questions: Shaping Your Leadership Journey

➡️ Get my Newsletter (Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Get On Character by General McChrystal: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/about/books/detail/2025/01/04/on-character--choices-that-define-a-life Follow Stan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanmcchrystal/ Learn about the McChrystal Group: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/  In this conversation, General Stanley McChrystal discusses the profound impact of character on leadership, emphasizing that true leadership is tested during challenging times. He reflects on his personal experiences, including his resignation from the military, and how his marriage has shaped his character. The discussion also delves into the importance of understanding core values, the influence of parents on our convictions, and the role of fear in leadership decisions. McChrystal encourages leaders to clarify their values and to recognize that character is a choice that defines us. In this conversation, Stanley McChrystal discusses the dynamics of leadership, the importance of courage in speaking up against groupthink, and the necessity of discipline in personal and professional life. He reflects on his experiences in high-pressure environments, the challenges of maintaining integrity, and the value of writing as a tool for clarifying thoughts and fostering a national dialogue on character. The discussion emphasizes the significance of learning from mistakes and the impact of personal values on leadership effectiveness. 00:00 The Essence of Leadership and Character 03:00 The Journey of Writing and Reflection 05:55 Marriage as a Foundation for Character 11:49 The Role of Character in Leadership 17:55 Understanding Core Values and Convictions 23:00 The Influence of Parents on Character 25:50 Confronting Fear in Leadership 30:15 The Pressure to Conform in Leadership 32:44 Courage to Speak Up: A Personal Reflection 35:33 Coaching Leaders to Embrace Truth 38:26 The Importance of Discipline in Leadership 46:57 Learning from Mistakes and Moving Forward 49:05 The Value of Writing and National Dialogue on Character

➡️ Get my Newsletter (Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Get Will's book: https://noelevatortoeverest.com/ Learn about Corner to Corner: https://cornertocorner.org/ In this conversation, Will Acuff shares his journey of finding joy amidst life's challenges, particularly through his experiences with his family and the transformative 'trauma camp' that helped him shift his perspective. He discusses the importance of self-compassion, the struggles of parenting a child with disabilities, and the pressures of maintaining a facade of having it all together. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of recognizing small sparks of joy and the power of community and support in navigating difficult times. In this conversation, the speakers explore the themes of love, mercy, and personal responsibility within relationships. They discuss the drama triangle concept, emphasizing the importance of shifting from a hero mentality to one of ownership and self-compassion. The dialogue also touches on thriving in tough circumstances, the significance of self-awareness, and practical practices for cultivating joy in daily life. 00:00 Finding Joy in Hardship 02:53 The Journey to Trauma Camp 11:42 Transformative Experiences at Trauma Camp 22:02 The Power of Joy in Difficult Times 24:35 The Context of Love and Mercy 25:08 Understanding the Drama Triangle 29:04 Shifting from Hero to Ownership 30:44 The Impact of Codependency 32:07 Self-Compassion and Ownership 35:31 Thriving in Tough Circumstances 36:40 Exploring Joy and Self-Awareness 42:22 Practical Practices for Daily Joy Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/ 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters/?sub_confirmation=1  

Sign up for The Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Discover Your Core Values Course: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/checkout The Work-Life Balance Toolbox: https://www.stephenrgraves.com/balance Steve's book, Flourishing (for free!): https://www.stephenrgraves.com/flourish Cornerstone+ Membership: https://www.cornerstoneco.com/ In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with CEO coach Steve Graves about the intricacies of leadership, coaching, and achieving a balanced life. They explore the importance of holistic coaching, the courage required to make meaningful life choices, and the challenges of work-life balance. Steve shares insights from his experiences coaching top leaders and discusses frameworks for personal development, including the significance of understanding one's capacity threshold and the art of saying no. The conversation emphasizes the need for intentional living and aligning one's life with core values to lead effectively at work and home. 00:00 Leading Well at Work and Home 02:38 The Role of a Coach 07:15 Work-Life Balance Toolbox 08:30 A Tale of Two Funerals 13:16 The Importance of Courage 1 9:33 The Cost of Saying Yes 24:44 Understanding Capacity Threshold 36:51 The Art of Saying No

➡️ Sign up for my Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Follow Katie's work: https://katiequesada.com/ In this conversation, storytelling expert Katie Quesada discusses the profound impact of storytelling on personal and professional lives. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling in leadership, how it can create emotional connections, and the science behind why stories resonate with us. Katie shares her journey into storytelling consulting, practical frameworks for effective storytelling, and the significance of personal and family narratives. The discussion also highlights the difference between macro and micro storytelling, encouraging leaders to weave stories into everyday interactions to foster connection and engagement. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of storytelling, emphasizing its importance in leadership and personal relationships. They discuss the three essential components of a story: context, conflict, and conclusion, and how to effectively balance these elements to engage an audience. The conversation also touches on the significance of vulnerability in leadership, the process of restoring meaning to personal experiences, and the value of storytelling in everyday interactions, particularly within families. The speakers encourage listeners to embrace their unique stories and share them in ways that resonate with others, ultimately highlighting storytelling as a powerful tool for connection and influence. 00:00 The Power of Storytelling 02:59 Katie Quesada's Journey into Storytelling 06:01 The Science Behind Storytelling 09:04 Practical Applications of Storytelling in Leadership 11:56 Mining, Refining, and Reminding Stories 14:59 Personal Storytelling and Its Impact 17:59 The Importance of Family Storytelling 20:57 Macro vs. Micro Storytelling 28:05 The Art of Storytelling 31:24 Understanding the Three C's of Storytelling 35:35 The Balance of Context, Conflict, and Conclusion 40:39 Vulnerability in Leadership 43:00 Restoring Meaning to Personal Stories 46:43 Finding Your Storytelling Platform 48:44 Relational Storytelling Techniques Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/ 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters/?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Support Me Here! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calwalters 🔗 Stay Connected With Me. Linkedin (Cal Walters):  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cal-walters-5571b824/ Linkedin (Intentional Leader):  https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-living-leadership/ Website:  https://calwalters.me/ 📩 For business inquiries: cal@calwalters.me

Get weekly insights from me: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Take the Attributes Assessment (make sure you use coupon code INTENTIONALLEADER15 to get 15% off at check out): https://theattributes.com/assessment-tool Get Rich's new book, Masters of Uncertainty: https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Uncertainty-Navy-Stress-Success/dp/B0DMGYW5YH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E4HOYQ84M5H7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ya84ZhsafB6rPwbEySGGDg.98hhrIiRMlraDT4SDOw9Dih-3Y1Z1b772CBQOmMDIBw&dib_tag=se&keywords=masters+of+uncertainty+rich+diviney&qid=1732210579&sprefix=masters+of+uncertainty+rich+diviney%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1 In this conversation, retired Navy SEAL Commander Rich Diviney shares insights on leadership, stress management, and the importance of attributes in high-performance environments. He discusses the significance of humility, the distinction between being a leader and being in charge, and the challenges faced during BUD/S training. Rich emphasizes the critical role of compartmentalization and attributes in determining success, particularly in high-stress situations like those encountered in military training and operations. In this conversation, the speaker delves into the importance of understanding personal attributes and skills, emphasizing the role of self-awareness in effective leadership. They discuss how stress and fear can be harnessed for positive action, the significance of focusing on controllable factors, and the science behind motivation through dopamine. The conversation also explores the impact of identity on behavior, particularly in uncertain situations, and how recognizing and prioritizing identities can shape our responses and actions. 00:00 Navigating Stress as a Leader 03:04 The Essence of Humility in Leadership 06:06 Understanding Leadership Beyond Hierarchy 09:01 The BUD/S Experience and Its Challenges 11:56 Compartmentalization: The Key to Endurance 15:04 Skills vs. Attributes in Leadership 18:03 Insights from SEAL Team 6 Selection 20:47 The Importance of Attributes in Performance 29:10 Understanding Attributes and Skills 35:01 The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership 38:07 Harnessing Stress and Fear for Action 43:45 Focus on What You Can Control 49:22 The Science of Dopamine and Motivation 52:30 The Power of Identity in Uncertainty

In this engaging discussion, Alison Wood Brooks, an O’Brien Associate Professor at Harvard Business School and an expert on conversation, reveals the secrets to effective communication. She shares personal insights from her life as an identical twin and how it shapes her understanding of interactions. Listeners explore techniques for mastering conversation dynamics, the critical role of preparation, and the importance of specific encouragement in enhancing connections. Her unique 'conversational compass' helps navigate relationships, emphasizing the blend of vulnerability and enjoyment in meaningful dialogue.

Subscribe to the Intentional Letter (my weekly newsletter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Get the The Thin Book of Trust.    Cal and Charles Feltman delve into the intricate nature of trust, exploring its biological underpinnings and the personal experiences that shape our propensity to trust or distrust others. They discuss the importance of sincerity, reliability, competence, and care as key assessments of trustworthiness, and how leaders can foster a trusting environment by extending trust to their teams. Charles Feltman has over 25 years of professional experience coaching, facilitating, consulting to, and training people who lead others. An overarching goal in all of his work is that his clients experience both success and wellbeing at work and in all areas of their lives. Prior to starting his coaching and consulting business he spent a decade in leadership roles in technology industry companies.  Charles is the author of The Thin Book® of Trust: An Essential Primer for Building Trust at Work, based on three decades of experience working with individuals and teams to build, maintain, and when necessary restore trust.   After completing his coach training in 2000 with Newfield Network, one of the premier coach training schools worldwide, Charles served as a mentor coach for Newfield’s programs. In this capacity he taught, mentored and coached others who were learning to become skilled coaches.   Charles holds a BA in psychology from U.C. Santa Cruz and a master's in organization development and communication from the University of Southern California. He has an International Coach Federation credential of Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He is certified in The Leadership Circle Profile, MBTI, DiSC Work of Leaders, and the Triscendance Trust Assessment for Leadership Teams. He is also a certified husband, father and grandfather. 

Sign up to receive The Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Follow Intentional Leader: https://calwalters.me Take Mark Miller's Quicksand Assessment by texting BeSmart (no spaces) to 66866 Get in touch with Mark Miller: 678-612-8441 mark@leadeveryday.com https://leadeveryday.com Mark Miller, former vice president of high performance leadership at Chick-fil-A, discusses the key factors that contribute to the company's exceptional customer experience. He emphasizes the importance of leadership, particularly at the local restaurant level, as the competitive advantage of Chick-fil-A. Miller also highlights the role of the corporate staff in serving the operators and creating a powerful combination. He explains the rigorous selection process for restaurant operators and the focus on character, competence, chemistry, and an internal locus of control. Miller acknowledges the challenges in defining leadership and distinguishes it from management, emphasizing the importance of vision, engagement and development of others, continuous reinvention, and valuing both results and relationships. In this conversation, Mark Miller discusses the importance of embodying a leader's heart and the role it plays in leadership effectiveness. He emphasizes that a leader's heart is a big deal and can multiply the effect of their skills. Mark also talks about the need for both leadership and management in an organization, highlighting that leaders should compensate for their bias towards either results or relationships. He provides practical strategies for valuing both results and relationships, such as setting goals for expressing appreciation and gratitude. Mark concludes by sharing his excitement about continuing to serve leaders in his second half.

Discover Your Unique Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_ZF6AG_9ZylHul1O5wHhg Connect with Juliet Funt: https://www.julietfunt.com/military/ Get Juliet's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Minute-Think-Reclaim-Creativity-Busyness/dp/0062970259 00:00 Introduction to Task Saturation and Overload 02:06 Juliette's Experience with the Military 07:01 Communication Challenges in the Military 20:15 Understanding Task Saturation vs. Overload 28:10 Leadership and Time Management Strategies 29:36 Leadership Transitions and Onboarding Challenges 32:49 Prioritization vs. Reduction in Task Management 35:32 Navigating Task Saturation and Honest Feedback 39:43 The Importance of Preparation and Rehearsal 42:51 Technology and Task Management in the Military 49:29 Maximizing Time Away and Digital Disconnection Featured in top media outlets such as Forbes, CNBC, and Fast Company, Juliet Funt is a globally renowned keynote speaker, tough-love advisor to the Fortune 500, founder and CEO of the efficiency training firm, Juliet Funt Group. Juliet is the author of A Minute to Think, nominated for the Next Big Idea Club curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Susan Cain and Adam Grant. She is an evangelist for freeing the potential of companies by unburdening their talent from busywork, and she has brought her powerful concepts to Spotify, National Geographic, Anthem, Vans, Abbott, Costco, Pepsi, Nike, Wells Fargo, Sephora, Sysco, and ESPN.