He's not far left or far right--those would be much easier places to be in today's politics. To survive as someone who votes on principles, for the needs of his district, and by getting out the word about his hard-fought successes and achievements, isn't easy.But Congressman Henry Cuellar, a 10-term member of congress and member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, has survived and thrived in Congress as the man who builds relationships with members of congress across the political spectrum, who's learned that old-fashioned outreach and conversations can move mountains, and that the hard work of having uncomfortable conversations and holding the line on principles pays off through respect and results.People in both political parties spent more than $20 million to defeat him in the last election cycle and he's still standing.He's proof that nice guys can finish first--if they work hard, tell their story, and build relationships.Listen to Pete Havel and Rep. Cuellar talk about career skills you need to survive when so many are targeting you.  He's the master of building relationships and success. when everyone else is making headlines. To learn more about Congressman Henry Cuellar, go to https://cuellar.house.gov/ .You can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

Daren Martin, Ph.D,  is called "The Culture Architect" for a reason--he works with organizations worldwide to build better cultures. A Wall St. Journal and USA Today bestselling author, speaker, and consultant, Martin's most recent high-profile books include A Company of Owners: Maximizing Employee Engagement and Architecting A Company of Owners.On this show, Pete Havel and Dr. Martin talk about transforming cultures, how to turn employee mindsets into owner mindsets, how a leader can start the culture-building process, discuss success stories in cultural change, make obscure references that they wildly entertain themselves with, and much more!We encourage you to follow Daren on LinkedIn, check out his website and pick up copies of his books .You can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

Your manager and HR just blindsided you with an unfair and ridiculous Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) and wondering if you have any options. Or you've been fired for dubious reasons, but you've always been told that, as an at-will employee, you can be fired for any reason and simply have to accept it. Pete Havel talks with employment lawyer Peter Whelan, Founding Partner at District Employment Law, about how you can make the PIP process more tolerable and survive a bit longer so you can leave on your own terms and schedule.And Havel and Whelan talk about those options, rights, and tools some at-will employees do have when fired for all the wrong reasons.  Listen in and learn how you can protect yourself and your future when your employer goes rogue.You can learn more about Peter Whelan and check out his firm's informative blog artices through his firm's website at http://www.districtemploymentlaw.comYou can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

You can connect with Justin Dorsey via LinkedIn HERE.You can read the post that Justin and Pete discuss HEREYou can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

Ray Green, President & CEO of RJG & Co., went from being a serial entrepreneur to managing director of America's largest business advocacy organization, to a CEO who faced the toughest issues a leader can, to becoming a solopreneur impacting sales organizations across the globe.Hear Pete Havel and Ray discuss hot topics, including:what it took to change a culturethe phenomena of problem employees firing themselves if you build your culture properlyhow an introvert can be an impactful leadermercenariesRay's job that he never thought he'd be discussing in-depth on a podcast, but had tothe leadership hostage situation you want to avoidthe question you may want to ask in every job interview about a company's commitment to supporting their leadersthe value of picking your bossTo reach Ray, go to www.RayJGreen.com and at www.LinkedIn.com/in/raymondgreenYou can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

What's the one thing that can solve the generational and expectations divide in the workplace?If you're in your late 40s, is it time to start looking over your shoulder at work?If you're in your 50s, are you wondering if your company is going to put a "hit" out on you and your career for the crime of earning a great salary and maybe getting a little gray hair? And are there things you can do to avoid it happening to youAnd whether you're 29 or 59, are there generational tensions that are hurting you, your chance to move up, and your company?Those are questions you're either asking today or will be wondering about tomorrow.In this episode, Gas. Glue. Guardrails host Pete Havel and executive coach and generational expert Julie Noonan talk about all the generational issues that provide both stress and opportunity for employees and organizations, and yes, Pete's discussion of mafia hits, in this fast-moving and informative show.You can reach Julie Noonan HERE.And you can connect with her on LinkedInYou can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

Lisa Bowman served as a top executive for the United Way, a nonprofit known for caring for others. A hotbed of harassment, Bowman endured abusive sexual harassment from a colleague for a while, but eventually spoke up. And when she did, she saw her department budget slashed, colleagues around her targeted, and was eventually fired by a CEO who later walked away with millions in donor donations.She went to the United Way's Board of Directors, a group filled with representatives of organizations with strong anti-harassment policies and....you'll hear the rest of her story in this compelling episode.Lisa is the author of "Harasshole: A Cautionary Tale of My Time at America's Favorite Charity", a book that's available at harasshole.com, A foreword from Lisa's book:​"What makes this story different is that we hear, and are used to hearing, about these issues every day in every sector, entertainment, sports, the government and corporate America. We haven’t heard it much in the Non-Profit sector, and surely, it happens. What rings sad here is that these are the very people who are tasked with doing good for our larger society."Gretchen Carlson​Co-Founder Lift Our Voices, Female Empowerment Advocate, Journalist, AuthorYou can reach her at LisaBowmanAuthor@gmail.comYou can buy her book,Harasshole: A Cautionary Tale of My Time at “America’s Favorite Charity,” on Amazon at https://a.co/d/fy38PyZ You can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

Chris York is the author of Set the Standard: Antidote to Average and is one of the top CEOs in healthcare when it comes to building a successful, productive team.  Hear his secrets for setting the tone, succeeding when you're the new leader,  building credibility with a team, taking on bad behavior, creating buy-in, balancing the big egos with the big picture, building trust, and much more. No matter what business you're in, you need to hear this conversation.www.chrisyorkleadership.comchrisyorkleadership@gmail.comwww.amazon.com/Set-Standard-Antidote-Chris-York/dp/1631958798/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=c1a146e5-48bb-45ed-b82b-be6a2bbac08ewww.barnesandnoble.com/w/set-the-standard-chris-york/1140927100You can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

Hold onto your seat! Imagine getting your dream job--the one you've spent your life planning for--and realize that you're facing the mindblowing decision of "Do I keep doing exactly what I'm doing and risk treason charges?" or "Do I trust my conscience and implode my career?  That was the impossible and--for a person of integrity and conscience-- yet easy decision that faced attorney Ashley Yablon several years ago.  He literally put his life and his career in danger by standing on principle against the most unprincipled of employers.His is a story faced in much smaller ways every day by people who face unethical and toxic pressures at work.  Yet none of them--and none of us--have to wonder if we could get out of our companies alive and have the FBI ready to launch a strike to save us. But he did.Ashley Yablon, a former general counsel, risked it all. He's the author of "Standing Up to China"--a book you need to buy today.Hear his story of being set up to take the fall by a multi-billion $$$ company backed by a government that plays dirty and for keeps.  Learn what he learned when he became the target in a story of spying, international business, leadership, survival, adversity, and outrageous courage.Ashley Yablon's links:Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyyablon/https://twitter.com/AshleyYablonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyyablon/Book Sales: https://ashleyyablon.com/https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Up-China-Whistleblower-Everything/dp/1612545580/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=standing+up+to+china&qid=1647652566&sr=8-1https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/standing-up-to-china-ashley-yablon/1140441874?ean=9781612545585You can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

Do you trust your company to conduct fair and smart workplace complaint investigations? That answer may be no-- no matter whether you're the CEO or it's your first day on the job.  Or whether you're the accuser or the accused. On this episode, Pete Havel will talk with Jared Pope about Work Shield, the company he founded that provides the only full-service solution that partners with organizations to efficiently manage reporting, investigation, and resolution of workplace harassment, discrimination, and misconduct incidents.Pete and Jared will discuss what companies are doing right--and wrong--in today's environment, and what common leadership mistakes are taking place that continue to exacerbate issues. They'll also discuss what organizations can do to build trust.Too many organizations lack either the tools or the credibility to investigate complaints. Learn how a 3rd party group can be the solution. To reach Jared Pope, connect with him via Work Shield and on LinkedIn.You can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

When you're a submarine officer like Jon Rennie was, you quickly learn that there's nowhere to hide if a leadership or productivity challenge exists--you have to deal with it or risk the consequences of it. He's taken the lessons learned on the nuclear sub U.S.S. Tennessee and those he's learned as the Founder and CEO of a leading manufacturing company to helps companies, students and employees learn one basic idea: that is, leadership is a people business.  He's the author of 3 books--I Have the Watch, All in the Same Boat and his leadership journal, You Have the Watch. Each tell helpful stories about how leaders can improve productivity and improve the lives of those they lead.Jon Rennie's website https://jonsrennie.com/Jon Rennie's books on Amazon https://amzn.to/3IJLF7xJon Rennie's podcast https://podfollow.com/deep-leadership/viewYou can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

Mark Crowley had an early life that no child should ever face, but has turned those dark moments into a leadership philosophy that made him one of the highest- performing team leaders in the entire Financial Services sector and now is a bestselling author, sought-after speaker,  His book Lead from the Heart: Transformational Leadership for the 21st Century is a deep dive into what leading from the heart looks like--it's relationship-based, positive, proactive and successful. If you as a leader are looking for tips, or your leadership team is looking for answers, you need to understand and implement leading from the heart. If you want more information about Mark Crowley or to reach him, go to http://www.markccrowley.com , follow him  on Twitter @marccrowley and buy his book, Lead from the Heart, at all leading online bookstores.You can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible

Hear an amazing story of a powerful person who lost that power and prestige in the drop of an envelope. Poncho Nevarez was an influential, political rising star until his career ended in a life-changing destructive moment that he now calls one of the best moments of his life. He was caught up in the power and  loved the political game,  but it consumed him. To look for an edge and to cope with the battles, he became an addict. And that addiction led to him being investigated by the same people he oversaw as a high-powered legislative committee chairman. Hear the story of how that drop of an envelope led to a changed life, the type of perspective that only adversity can bring us, a new appreciation for family and friends, and his new mission in life: learning from his mistakes, rebuilding, and starting his second act.You're going to face career adversity--maybe personal adversity--at some point. Your image and ego may be obliterated in an instant. If you're wondering how you can gain perspective to prevent it, deal with it, and understand it, this episode is for you.  You can reach Pete Havel at http://www.fireproofedleadership, com via email at pete@petehavel.com, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and by phone at 214.244.7906.To buy a signed copy of his book, The Arsonist in the Office, click HERE.To purchase an unsigned copy of Pete's book, The Arsonist in the Office, go to AmazonAudiobooks can be purchased at Audible