How often do you operate at the intersection of urgency and happiness to pursue what you want most out of life? And how much are you missing out on when you push yet another goal to “tomorrow”? Figuring out how to take advantage of now, live life to the fullest, and use your time wisely: these are all strategies that our latest guest has written and spoken about. And now he’s bringing them to the podcast.   Scott White, The Life is Too Short Guy, is the happiest guy you will ever meet. After spending over a decade in investment banking on Wall Street, he took a chance and became an entrepreneur and business builder. Today, he is Chairman and CEO of a public real estate company. Now he’s on a mission to make the world happier, one smile at a time.    Tune into the full conversation for more on some of the core principles of Scott’s book, why what you think in the morning is so important, how to avoid the most common regret that people on their deathbed have, and a lot more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    Why Scott says careers are similar to marathons, plus some of the “twists and turns” that Scott has had, from law school to investment banking to being the CEO of a real estate company, to what he’s doing now The two roles involved when it comes to running a publicly traded company More about the Life is Too Short Guy, and what story that persona helps Scott tell to the world What happens at the intersection of urgency and happiness The key principle behind Scott’s book, and why it doesn’t include telling people how to spend their time (plus the important paradigm shift that he *does* teach around how to spend time) The mental image that Scott gives people to help them understand how much time they have remaining in their life The biggest regret that people on their deathbed have  Why Scott thinks the word “purpose” is overused — and how he helps people find their “passion” instead The simple mindset shift that Scott helps people implement to rethink how they wake up in the morning — and the impact that has on their overall attitude in life The power of recognizing how far you’ve come, instead of continually moving the goalposts and never reaching perfection or happiness   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  The Life is Too Short Guy website “The Life is Too Short Guy: Strategies to Make Every Day the Best Day Ever” by Scott White Scott White on LinkedIn Scott White on Instagram “The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy “The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life” by Shawn Achor Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

What happens if someone writes the best book on the planet… but no one ever finds out about it? For anyone who has a message, idea, or project to share with the world, a crucial piece of the puzzle is actually *marketing* it. And in a current publishing world more complex — and more accessible — than ever, it helps to have an expert by your side. Our latest guest is that expert.   Ben Gioia is a three-time best-selling author, podcast, and international radio show host who helps folks make an impact as an expert with their book, enjoy 5-figure speaking fees, and get leads, clients, and partners before publishing. He’s trained hundreds of millionaires and helped a Fortune 100 create a mindfulness video game for 20,000 employees.   Tune into the full episode for more on the tools Ben teaches authors for writing and marketing their book projects, what writers should know about self-publishing vs traditional publishing, why a book can be an effective business card, and a lot more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    How Ben helps clients accelerate the book-writing process and get to a first draft in as little as 5 weeks  How to figure out pricing as a service provider or businessperson, depending on the value you bring your clients What Ben means when he says that authors should use their books to start the conversations with clients Some of the misconceptions of self-publishing and the downsides of traditional publishing Why “if you build it they will come” is a bad strategy for marketing your book, plus more details about cost for self-publishing a book in today’s age  How to “make your brilliance relevant” for the masses The one thing Ben has his authors do first when it comes to marketing their books Why Ben’s process “stirs the pot really fast” — and why people should ride that wave  How Ben measures success with his book-writing clients  Why “smiling” is on the list of habits Ben has tried to integrate into his life to be his best self What makes Ben say, “holy crap, the Buddha!” — plus an important book recommendation from his own life More about Ben’s upcoming event to help people market their books and podcasts   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Ben’s company, Influence With a Heart Ben’s event Nov. 4-5: The Podcast & Book Roadmap Ben Gioia on LinkedIn Ben Gioia’s author profile on Amazon “Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha” by Thich Nhat Hanh Bookreviews.cc for book recommendation templates Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

Money solves many problems, but it doesn’t solve *all* of them. And in some cases, wealth can actually create some new problems. Here to talk about that dynamic — and how people can get ahead of those issues by proactively managing their wealth — is someone who’s helped dozens of families do exactly that over the last couple of decades.   John M. Jennings is president and chief strategist of St. Louis Trust & Family Office, a $15 billion wealth management firm. His book, “The Uncertainty Solution”, is an engaging dive into investing philosophy and best practices as well as an authoritative, accessible guide for anyone who feels inundated with financial news and data.    Listen to the full episode for more on the “unsexy” task of figuring out cash flow, why having large amounts of wealth can come with its own unanticipated problems, John’s insights into investment, and a lot more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    More info about what John’s organization does, and what differentiates them from other competitors The power of “ridiculous customization”, plus why John’s company starts with the “unsexy” things (like cash flow) before anything else related to investment Why having major wealth isn’t always “puppies and butterflies” More about the intricacies of estate (and other types of) tax, and when a family or business owner should seek advice in order to minimize how much they pay in taxes Some of the biggest insights from John’s book, “The Uncertainty Solution” — and why it’s not actually just an investment book Why John didn’t buy Amazon stock — and what that says about the overall stock market What John prioritizes when it comes to his physical and mental health, and why those habits help him perform his best Why John’s measure of success in his personal life is related to naptime More about the journey it took for John to finally write his book despite a lot of self-doubt  Several of John’s top book recommendations   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  John’s website and blog St. Louis Trust & Family Office website “The Uncertainty Solution: How to Invest with Confidence in the Face of the Unknown” by John M. Jennings “The Success Equation: Untangling Skill and Luck in Business, Sports, and Investing” by Michael J. Mauboussin “The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman “Winning the Loser’s Game: Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing” by Charles Ellis “Scale: The Universal Laws of Life, Growth, and Death in Organisms, Cities, and Companies” by Geoffrey West  Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

One of the biggest concerns organization leaders have these days is the labor market: how to win (and keep talent). And for good reason. These days, it’s harder than ever to find and retain a great team. But no matter what external factors are impacting the job market, CEOs and managers can always control one thing: their leadership style. And chances are, they’ve been thinking about their leadership all wrong.    Joining us on the Measure Success Podcast is one of the top leadership experts in the world. Stephen M. R. Covey is the New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of “The Speed of Trust,” which has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. In this podcast, we discuss his latest book, “Trust and Inspire.”    He’s also the co-founder of CoveyLink and the FranklinCovey Global Trust Practice. A sought-after and compelling keynote speaker and advisor on trust, leadership, ethics, and collaboration, he speaks to audiences around the world.    Tune into this special episode for more on Stephen’s advice for how leaders can stay relevant in the labor market (no matter the external conditions), the healthier alternative to a “command and control” leadership style, the core “stewardships” that leaders have, and, of course, several of Stephen’s top book recommendations.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    Why Stephen’s process to finish his latest book was a 17-year journey The differences between a “command and control” leader and a “trust and inspire” one, and why context is so crucial to both methods The data behind a high-trust work culture and why the “trust and inspire” leadership value can be so powerful for shareholder value, innovation, productivity, and more How leaders can move their team from engagement to inspiration How leaders can win the war for talent, and what they need to change about their leadership styles in order to be on the cutting edge of the next era of work Some real-world examples of leaders who have changed their styles and seen great results The difference between being and doing, and why both are so important for leaders to be effective  More details about the 3 stewardships that Stephen describes in his book How to stimulate more openness and transparency within a workplace More about Stephen’s relationship with his father, the well-known bestselling author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” Why inspiration is a learnable skill for leaders How Stephen measures success, both in business and in his personal life Additional resources from Stephen for leaders who want to bring the best out of their teams and stay relevant amidst a new era of work   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: FranklinCovey website Stephen M. R. Covey on LinkedIn “The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything” by Stephen M. R. Covey “Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others” by Stephen M. R. Covey  “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey “Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most” by Greg McKeown “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown “No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention” by Reed Hastings “CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets that Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest” by Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra “How Will You Measure Your Life?” by Clayton M. Christensen Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

When is a recession coming? How are interest rates impacting the housing market — and what’s next for the Fed? Is AI — and ChatGPT specifically — coming for all our jobs? Should we all just become plumbers? To answer some of those questions, we’ve invited Bill Conerly back to the Measure Success Podcast. It’s also the first time we’ve ever had a three-time repeat guest.    Bill is a senior contributor to Forbes, a Duke University PhD, and a consultant who connects the dots between the economy and business. He’s worked in economics and corporate planning at two Fortune 500 companies as well as a major bank. He’s spoken to over 1,300 audiences in five countries and 31 states.    Tune into the full episode for more on Bill’s predictions about the economy, a potential recession, the labor market, the housing market, interest rates, artificial intelligence, and a lot more.    Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    Why Bill predicted there would be a recession in the first half of 2024, plus what he thinks the Fed will do next More about the Fed’s risk management strategy and what that means for the potential for a recession The relationship between unemployment numbers and other forecasts, and why this will be a tough decade for companies in hiring mode More about the fact that we’re about to see the lowest growth of the working age population since the Civil War — and what that means for the future What the heck is going on with the housing market  The potential impact that the 2024 election could have on the Fed’s decision-making When Bill believes interest rates are set to come back down again — and why he thinks we’ll never see rates as low as 2020  What the “path to inflation” is, according to Bill  Bill’s thoughts on AI and how it might impact productivity and the labor market — plus his predictions for which types of jobs will be most and least affected Some of the things companies should be cautious about ChatGPT and other AI tools A book Bill recommends, plus why the mindset described in that book helps him make his own forecasts   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Conerly Consulting website Bill Conerly’s author page on Forbes “The Flexible Stance: Thriving in a Boom/Bust Economy” by Bill Conerly “Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction” by Philip E. Tetlock Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

For virtually every human being, there’s a gap between where they are currently, and where they’re *capable* of getting. Sometimes that gap can be small (and closing). Sometimes it can feel gigantic, especially without the right work ethic or motivation, mindset, and soft skill set. But bridging that gap between reality and potential is exactly what our latest guest is an expert in.   Jason Ma is the preeminent Chief Mentor of Next-Gen Leaders and CEO of ThreeEQ. With deep expertise in elite college admissions, college life, executive, and parent coaching, Jason has guided and transformed 1:1 the lives of numerous Gen Z and elder leaders from teens to CEOs, while easing legacy and succession planning in wealthy families.    Listen to the full conversation for more on the secrets behind some of the most successful leaders’ motivation, how to overcome imposter syndrome even when you do reach your goals, why humility is so important to leadership, and more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    What drove Jason to become a foremost coach/mentor in addition to hismigrate from tech and global business repertoireto the coaching sector How Jason guides in overcominges the common challenge of motivation — including for kids with ultra-successful parents  Why Jason believes no human being has reached their full potential, plus the importance of “pragmatic humility”  How to teach someone humility  Why it’s so important to want to “aggressively learn” and grow How Jason helps others overcome imposter syndrome Why Jason is a “secret weapon” for helping students getting into top universities with stronger, pragmatic emotional, social, and leadership intelligence (“3EQ”) Why mindset is one of the top challenges that CEOs struggle with The two principles that Jason lives by, how that also guides his work, and Jason’s definition for what “character” is How Jason’s faith has impacted his work and business How Jason is measuring success in his multiple businesses and in his life Several book recommendations from Jason, including more about his own book    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  ThreeEQ website “What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School: Notes from a Street-smart Executive” by Mark H. McCormack “Thriving on Chaos: Handbook for a Management Revolution” by Tom Peters “Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Handbook of Silicon Valley’s Bill Campbell” by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle “The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?” by Rick Warren Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

Business leaders and entrepreneurs know plenty about success, working hard, and performing well at work. But too often, so much of that comes at the expense of their health. Things get busy, so it’s easy for sleep, nutrition, and exercise to fall to the wayside.    Our latest guest is on a mission to change that, for high performers everywhere. She’s an expert at helping people build longevity and health plans — and helping them reach their full physical and mental potential. Dr. Vonda Wright is a double boarded orthopedic sports surgeon, researcher, author, innovator, and expert on aging and precision longevity. She believes by harnessing the actionable science of aging, precision lifestyle, and mindset mobilization we can make the rest of life the best of life.    Tune into the full conversation for more on her career path from being an oncology nurse to an orthopedic surgeon, why people should be crafting a strategic plan for their health (and how to), her tips for better sleep, what she’s learned from working with peak athletic performers, and more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    More about Dr. Wright’s career background, including her journey from oncology nursing to orthopedic surgery The secret behind all the best doctors The paradigm shift that has happened in orthopedic surgery, which has journeyed from scalpels to needles, and what that means for patient recovery Why Dr. Wright made the transition from nursing to surgery, and what she means by her “imperfect path of success” What Dr. Wright has learned from working with athletes and high performers throughout her career What a “precision longevity plan” is, and what measurements and tools Dr. Wright uses to build them for her clients What happened when Dr. Wright put herself through one of her own programs  More about the five books Dr. Wright has written, including her upcoming release this year Why people so rarely write a strategic plan for their health — and why they should How Dr. Wright measures success within her orthopedic practice, plus more about the “wall of fame” wall in the building The pieces of Dr. Wright’s daily and nightly routine, and why she works to protect her sleep and routine as much as possible Dr. Wright’s advice for how much sleep everyone should get    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Dr. Wright’s website Dr. Vonda Wright on Instagram Books by Dr. Vonda Wright Advanced Menopause Support Product line site “Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women’s Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives — Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer” by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

When’s the last time you did something you had *no* experience in? And when’s the last time you tried to make that thing into a career? While this might be an extreme jump for most people, it’s all part of a key philosophy for succeeding in business and life: pushing the boundaries of what you think is “possible.”    No one can speak to that philosophy better than David Wood. After life as a consulting actuary to Fortune 100 companies, David built a successful coaching business and became #1 on Google for “life coaching” at one point. He coaches high-performing entrepreneurs, executives, teams, and even prison inmates to amazing results and connection, one conversation at a time. He wrote his coaching philosophy in his book, “Mouse in the Room: Because the Elephant isn’t Alone”, with foreword by Jack Canfield.   Tune into the full conversation for more on how David made the jump from the corporate world to his own coaching business, his time as a musician (and now his journey as a budding actor), why entrepreneurs typically constrain themselves, several book recommendations, and more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    More about the “accident” that led to David leaving the Fortune 100 world and eventually wading into entrepreneurship More on David’s new journey of becoming an actor  Why David has gone into so many fields in which he had zero experience — and why that philosophy gets to the heart of what he now offers in his coaching business What “you can’t read the label from inside the jar” means The story about one of David’s clients whose business made $20 million in revenue — but he still wasn’t paying himself Why it’s so common for entrepreneurs and leaders to constrain themselves — and how to get past that hurdle How David measures success in his life, plus what the “game” is that everyone is playing, whether they realize it or not More about David’s book, “Mouse in the Room” and why he wrote it, plus his recommendation for a fiction book that’s helped him in his life   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Focus.CEO website David Wood on LinkedIn “Mouse in the Room: Because the Elephant isn’t Alone” by David Wood Focus.ceo with David Wood on Facebook Extraordinary Focus with David Wood on YouTube “The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)” by Seth Godin “Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine” by Mike Michalowicz “The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

Climbing the proverbial “mountain” and overcoming hurdles are metaphors that business owners have heard dozens of times before. But this week we’re chatting with a *real* mountain climber.    Renata Chlumska is an adventurer and mountain climber and was the first Swedish and Czech woman to climb Mount Everest. She’s also performed the Around American Adventure and most recently has been voted the 2023 Speaker of the Year.   Listen to the full conversation for more about Renata’s mountaineering expeditions (from Mount Everest to all the other Seven Summits), what she learned from a 14-month journey around the lower 48 states, how she fits consistency into her hectic life, and more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    What inspired Renata to climb Mount Everest after becoming a Base Camp manager there many years ago How long it took Renata to train for her Everest expedition, plus some of the biggest obstacles she overcame in her training More about the “brutal awakening” Renata experienced during one specific season as a Base Camp manager More about the extremely difficult decision that Everest climbers often face of whether to turn around or keep going, when conditions are disintegrating  Details on Renata’s 14-month-long “Around America Adventure” Why naivete can sometimes actually be a strength  Why Renata’s journey around the lower 48 states “restored her faith in humanity”  Why Renata never wanted her children to be an “excuse” for her to say no to experiences, and why she didn’t tell many people about her Seven Summits goal More about the highest summits on each continent  How Renata integrated consistency into her life, despite running a business, having kids, mountaineering, and everything going on in her life Why Renata wakes up at 3:15 in the morning every day — and why that time to herself clears her head and recalibrates her for each new day How Renata has transformed her experiences into lessons that she teaches other people through speaking and her business   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Renata Chlumska’s website Renata Chlumska on Instagram Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

Making the jump from a well-funded C-suite position straight into launching your own small business can be a shock to the system. But there are a couple lessons you can take from the C-suite to make your entrepreneurship journey more successful — and there’s no one better to teach those than our latest guest, Erin Marcus.   Erin is an international speaker and the founder and CEO of Conquer Your Business. Having made the successful leap from corporate executive to entrepreneur and small business owner, Erin uses that experience, along with her MBA education, to help her clients reach heights they never dreamed possible.    Tune into the full conversation for more on the typical mistakes small business owners make when they’re trying to sell their services, how to lead with value, why she starts every morning with LL Cool J (sort of), and a lot more.    Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    More about what Erin does, and why one-size-fits-all tactics don’t work for business development Why it’s easier to sell a tactic than a strategy — and why that’s not working for businesses who are wanting to grow Why Erin says this era is the opportunity small businesses have been waiting for What the “horror” is that Erin realized when she left the corporate world — and why that realization can be such a shock to the system for entrepreneurs The lessons that former C-suiters should take into their entrepreneurship journeys  How corporate teaches people to be risk averse — and why that mindset doesn’t always serve small business owners well Why there needs to be a “faster pace of failure” in small businesses Why telling people “what” to do isn’t enough — and why value comes in explaining “how” to do it  The pieces that cause your mental acuity to “leak” and why that informs the habits that Erin has integrated into her life Why Erin “setting her stage” at 5:30 in the morning involves coffee, dogs, senseless violence, and LL Cool J Why Erin’s litmus test every day is “Am I being a goat today?”   Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Conquer Your Business website Erin Marcus on LinkedIn Erin Marcus on Instagram “You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth” by Jen Sincero Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

Success requires great systems — but also the flexibility to adapt when needed. That’s true in both life and business. And no one is more qualified to speak on success in both sectors — and how to balance both routine and adaptability — than our latest guest.   Jay Nixon is an accomplished speaker, author, coach, and mentor whose mission is to disrupt the health and fitness industry. He is the owner of Thrive Fitness Studio in Palm Desert, California, and the creator of the Thrive Forever Fit F.L.E.X. Transformation Program and The Hero Academy.   Listen to the full conversation for more on Jay’s story (from acupuncture studio broom closet to NFL consultant to multimillion-dollar business owner), why most people get in their own way when it comes to health, the most important mindset shifts people need in order to succeed, and a lot more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    Jay’s background, and how that led him to the fitness industry and the entrepreneurial life — including his time consulting with the NFL How Jay drummed up the courage to take the entrepreneurial leap despite having the comfort and status of a great corporate career How Jay built up his career over the years — despite starting his personal training business in the broom closet of an acupuncture studio  Why Jay believes success is 80% psychology and only 20% mechanics The role that Jay’s chaotic childhood — including the death of his father when he was a young child — has affected his psychology as an adult What “aggressive empathy” is and why Jay says he has it  The top reason people get stuck when it comes to weight loss or starting a healthier lifestyle  Why Jay can tell whether someone has a self-esteem issue, just based on the first 3 minutes of meeting them  Why one of the most important things someone can do to create change in their lives includes writing a “new story” for themselves How Jay measures success in his business and life, plus the regular routines he’s incorporated into his life (including getting up at 3 a.m.) Why Jay says he treats his life “like a business” Why Jay doesn’t believe in balance and how he incorporates both regimentation and flexibility into his life     Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Thrive Forever Fit website Thrive Forever Fit Supplements Jay Nixon on Instagram Jay Nixon on Facebook “The Overweight Mind: The Undeniable Truth Behind Why You’re Not Losing Weight” by Jay Nixon “The Purpose of Pain: How to Turn Tragedy into Triumph, Because Life’s Not Supposed to Suck” by Jay Nixon Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

So you’ve found a team of great employees. But now your real work is just beginning: actually *keeping* them at your company. Our latest guest — the second time we’ve invited him onto the podcast — is someone who’s built his whole career around helping organizations figure out the tricky world of recruitment and retention.    Ryan Englin is the CEO and Founder of Core Matters, and is passionate about supporting growing businesses to build amazingly productive companies by providing coaching and training on attracting, hiring, and retaining rock star employees using his proven process, the Core Fit Hiring System.    Tune into the full episode for more on how to find rock star employees (NOT super stars!), how most companies mess up during their employee onboarding processes, the problems with employee referral programs, how to counter someone’s counteroffer, and more.    Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    More about Ryan’s backstory, including why he left corporate and why he started his own business  Why a recruiting problem is actually a marketing issue How most companies approach their recruiting process — and why it’s not actually the most effective way of attracting good employees Why most employee referral programs don’t work The two problems that organizations need to solve in order to retain their employees The biggest mistakes that companies make during new employee onboarding  How an organization can build great “defining moments” for their employee experience  How to deal with when you’ve chosen a new employee, made an offer, and then that person’s boss makes a counteroffer  Why Ryan tells organizations to “expect nothing” from new employees within their first 2 weeks on the job — and what that time period should include instead  The strategies that Ryan teaches company leaders that help bolster their employee retention  The difference between a “rock star” and a “super star” employee — and why one of them will get you in trouble quickly  More about personality assessments, and how results from those tests can give leaders clues whether an employee is a future rock star or super star  What a “core fit conversation” is, and how leaders can integrate them in order to improve retention    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Core Matters website Core Matters on LinkedIn Core Matters on Twitter Core Matters on Facebook “How to Hire the Ones You Won’t Want to Fire: The Art of Pulling Back Their Mask to Really Know the Person You’re About to Hire” by Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins  Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

If you’re hoping to sell products, connect with new clients, attract investors for your company, or do any kind of business in today’s world, then people need to know who you are. And public relations is an integral piece of getting your organization’s story out into the world.    Our guest this week is an expert in that field. Susan Harrow is a media trainer, marketing strategist and author of the bestselling book, “Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul” from Harper Collins.    Tune into the full episode for more on the essential pieces of effective public relations, how leaders and entrepreneurs can get past imposter syndrome, what a “signature story” is and how business owners can craft their own, and more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    More about what Susan does, why she got into public relations, and what she says is an “epidemic” among business owners today Why PR can “open the entire world” to an entrepreneur or company The 3 P’s of successful public relations How Susan helps her clients overcome imposter syndrome and the tools she uses to quickly shift someone’s internal barometer  Why presence is one of the most important pieces of successful PR  What people should do instead of “faking it ‘til they make it” More about “tapping” and the emotional freedom technique, and how it can help people overcome doubt, fear or other negative feelings Why Susan wrote her book, “Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul”, and why it’s helpful for both introverts and extroverts Breaking the myth that extroverts actually get more money from investors How Susan measures success in her personal life, and what it means to be a “wish-fulfilling jewel”  What Susan thinks it takes to become a great thought leader  More about Susan’s martial arts practice, and some of her other daily practices that help her maintain peak performance  Why anyone who wants to do PR needs to have a “signature story”   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Susan’s website, PR Secrets “Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul: A Woman’s Guide to Promoting Herself, Her Business, Her Product, or Her Cause with Integrity and Spirit” by Susan Harrow Susan Harrow on Facebook Susan Harrow on Twitter Susan Harrow on Instagram “Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins “Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior” by Chogyam Trungpa  Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

What if you could spend just one day learning what it took someone else *decades* to learn?    That’s the power of picking up a book: you get the most important lessons and advice, condensed down into a couple of hundred pages. Spend just one afternoon reading a great personal development book, and you could reap the benefits for decades to come.    It’s that concept that inspired Nicholas Hutchison to start his business, BookThinkers.      Nicholas is our latest guest and is the Founder of BookThinkers, a company dedicated to spreading the power of personal development books. Nicholas is focused on developing insightful content and interviewing the world’s top non-fiction authors for his podcast, BookThinkers: Life-Changing Books. As a digital nomad, Nicholas runs his business from a different country every month and gives all the credit for this lifestyle to some of the early books he has read.   Tune into the full episode for more on Nick’s top book recommendations (of course), how new authors can market their books even if they don’t have a huge platform already, why great leaders should read as much as possible, and more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    More about Nick’s business and how he got started in the book world  The connection between great leadership and reading habits Some of the statistics around supply and demand in the book industry, especially with the increase of self-publishing What gives books staying power beyond just an initial bestseller lists  How Nick helps authors market their books, even if they don’t have an existing large platform What’s surprised Nick the most about working in marketing and the book industry, plus what it means to “condense decades into a day”  The percentage of books that Nick reads multiple (and many) times How Nick measures success with his clients, and how some of those KPIs have changed over the past few years Why books are the business cards that entrepreneurs actually need Some of the daily habits Nick has integrated to maintain peak performance, including physical movement, biohacking, fasting, and more Why Nick actually has more energy as he’s gotten older, and some of the routines that have helped him maintain that energy level The power of asking yourself “What am I optimizing for?”  How one book completely changed the narrative of long-term travel for Nick, and how travel has impacted Nick’s own self-development   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Book Thinkers website Book Thinkers podcast Nicholas Hutchison on LinkedIn Book Thinkers on Instagram “Own the Day, Own Your Life: Optimized Practices for Waking, Working, Learning, Eating, Training, Playing, Sleeping, and Sex” by Aubrey Marcus “$100M Offers: How to Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No” by Alex Hormozi “The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success” by Darren Hardy “No Excuses!: The Power of Discipline” by Brian Tracy “Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!” by Robert T. Kiyosaki “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin “The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success” by Ed Mylett “The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals” by Chris McChesney “Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel” by Rolf Potts “How to Die Happy: Curated wisdom, stories, and utilities for the art of living” by Martin O’Toole Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

As a teenager, Nigel Bennett showed up for his first-ever job alongside his dad — and ended up in a helicopter that Colombia FARC forces were shooting at. It’s been a worldwide adventure for Nigel ever since, as he eventually started his own company and scaled it to the point of working in more than 100 countries around the world. In his decades as a successful business owner and international traveler, he’s still found time to spend with his family — and keep his business running without him.    Nigel joins us in this episode of the Measure Success Podcast. He is the Co-Founder of Aqua-Guard Spill Response, which provides a range of state-of-the-art oil spill response solutions. He’s also the author of “Take That Leap: Risking It All For What REALLY Matters” and co-host of the Impact Podcast.    Tune into the full conversation for more on Nigel’s twisting and turning journey, his secrets to scaling a company, info about oil spills worldwide (which his company helps clean up), his year-long trip around the world with his family, and more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    More about what Nigel’s company does in relation to containing oil spills — plus how often these spills occur  Why Nigel’s first day of work ever involved Colombian FARC forces trying to shoot down his helicopter, plus more about his time working in Egypt  Why Nigel had to build up the courage to tell his dad he was leaving his company and starting his own  How Nigel expanded and scaled his business to providing services in 105+ countries What got Nigel to the point of wanting to leave the business 10 years in — and how he got himself out of that burnout  When Nigel realized that “poaching” managers and dropping them into his business wasn’t working (and what he figured out he should do instead) How Nigel has been able to set up his business to run even when he’s not in it day-to-day — including when he and his family traveled the world for a year, including to places like Myanmar and Burma Why Nigel brought his teenage kids to high-level business meetings  How Nigel measures his own success, plus how those metrics have changed over the past couple of decades One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make and why leaders need to spend a couple of days on their own after a planning retreat in order to actually put ideas into action The one thing that Nigel started doing during the pandemic that’s had the most impact on his day-to-day life   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Nigel’s website Aqua-Guard Spill Response on Facebook Impact Podcast TruBeach GiftADD “Take That Leap: Risking It All For What REALLY Matters” by Nigel J. Bennett Nigel Bennett on LinkedIn “From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life” by Arthur C. Brooks Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

Winning the war for talent will be one of the top ways that the businesses of tomorrow will not only succeed — but survive. So how do you actually win that war? How do you become the leader — and company — everyone wants to work for? Our guest this week is the perfect person to answer those questions.   Paul Falcone is principal of Paul Falcone Workplace Leadership Consulting, LLC, specializing in management and leadership training, executive coaching, international keynote speaking, and facilitating corporate offsite retreats. He is the former CHRO of Nickelodeon and has held senior-level HR positions with Paramount Pictures, Time Warner, and City of Hope.   Listen to the full conversation for more on talent scarcity (and how to overcome it), what younger generations want in the workplace, Paul’s secret to writing 15 bestselling books, and more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    How Paul Falcone “back doored” into his career path in human resources How Paul found time to write 15 bestselling books in the midst of his successful corporate and consulting career, plus why he thinks his books have stood out in the publishing landscape Why talent scarcity is one of the top factors that will impact the next era of work  The key to holding your employees accountable  Why leadership is the greatest gift a workplace can give  What it means to “sit around the campfire” — and why today’s society has lost the ability to do it  The difference between someone’s “doingness” and their “beingness”  Why Gen Z is considered the most isolated and lonely generation in history, and what that means for mental health in the workplace The power of gratitude when it comes to HR, recruiting, and hiring What the younger generations of workers want in a company and boss  What the leap to entrepreneurship from the corporate world has been for Paul, and why he wasn’t ready for it earlier in his career How to measure success in the HR world Why leaders shouldn’t be responsible for motivating their employees — but instead create an environment in which they can self-motivate  More about Paul’s book-writing process, and why that mode commonly hits him in the middle of the night   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Paul’s consulting firm, Paul Falcone HR Paul Falcone on LinkedIn Paul’s SHRM author page “The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century” by George Friedman Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

When it comes to starting, building, and eventually selling a successful business, there’s one often overlooked ingredient that can make or break a company: trust. Trust among coworkers. Trust with clients. Trust with investors when it’s time to sell. In an era where fewer and fewer people are doing what they say they will, trust in business is at an all-time premium.    Our guest this week is one who knows that concept well — and who works with business owners every day to build valuation and sell their companies. Greg Sheldon is the Founder of Metal Merger Corp. His business is a medium for generations of hard-working metal and steel people: if it wasn’t for them, modern life wouldn’t be possible.    Tune into the full episode for more on the metal industry’s enormous significance in today’s economy, how owners can set their businesses up for success even after they depart, the power of establishing a “why” for selling a business, and more.    Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    How Greg got started in the metal industry, why he felt like he had a “duty” to his industry, and why the industry is so pivotal to our modern economy The first questions Greg asks of someone when they are thinking about selling their business — and the power of asking “why?” more than once How Greg helps clients visualize what will happen to their business after they leave  The importance of equity for the whole team when it comes to selling your business How Greg measures success with his clients Why Greg is so inspired by the U.S., plus the power of being able to do business anywhere in the world Why “analyzing the crap out of something” doesn’t always work, and why it can’t be someone’s entire approach  What an “algorithm of the gut” is, and why it’s so important when it comes to taking action in life  How to jump from “small thinking” to “big thinking” — and why it’s harder to do smaller things than bigger ones The one habit from the “seven habits of highly effective people” that has made the most impact on Greg’s life, plus a couple of his other book recommendations The importance of trust in business   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Metal Merger Corp. Greg Sheldon on LinkedIn Greg’s Linktree “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill “The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything” by Stephen M.R. Covey  “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

If you’re a small or medium-sized business hoping that all the buzz about AI and other recent technological innovation will just die down without you having to do anything about it… well, you’re already behind the 8-ball. The time to take advantage is now — or you risk being left behind quickly by your competition.   Our latest guest is someone who knows innovation — and how to use it — well. Trent Gillespie helps companies out-innovate Amazon, based on his 9 years as a senior leader there managing major global expansion and innovation programs, and his over 20 years of technical experience.    Tune into the full episode for more on the rapid evolution of AI in recent years, what businesses can do to stay ahead of the curve, how companies can build cultures of innovation internally, and a lot more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    What Trent believes is one of the most valuable skills you can learn, especially in the face of technological development, AI, and more Some of the recent innovations in the AI space, and what they mean for the future of business The top use cases for AI in business, especially ChatGPT, and where small to medium-sized businesses can do now to take advantage of this technology Whether businesses should be worried about AI, and why Trent believes they really only have 5 years to respond to today’s technological innovations How Trent has transformed his experience at Amazon into his current work now The one characteristic that every successful company should structure their business around  What “sustainable innovation” is, why it’s so important for businesses to invest in, and why Amazon actually isn’t great at this type of innovation How to create a culture that embraces innovation, and what that means for an organization’s incentive programs Why innovation should factor prominently into your hiring strategy How Trent measures success in his own business, with his clients, and in his personal life Why Trent has shifted the measure of his happiness from simply money to quality of life   Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Trent’s company, Day One Innovation Trent Gillespie on LinkedIn “The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail (Management of Innovation and Change)” by Clayton M. Christensen “[Non] Human Intelligence: AI, Automation, and How Robots Will Make Us Better People” by Cesar Keller “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins “How Will You Measure Your Life?” by Clayton Christensen, James Allworth, and Karen Dillon Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox  40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

So many company founders out there have found success because they’ve had a great idea, a particular skill set, and a willingness to put in the long hours. But those 3 characteristics are NOT how to scale a company. Instead, to become a successful CEO of a growing business, founders have to evolve what they do within that business — and this can be one of the toughest transitions for them to make. Letting go of job duties or responsibilities doesn’t come easy for these high-achievers.   Our latest guest, Dr. David Stern, MD, is someone who has gone through that transition himself. Stern is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Experity, a GTCR portfolio company and a leading software and services company providing integrated solutions to more than 50% of the U.S. urgent care market.    Tune into the full conversation for more on David’s journey from doctor to business owner, how he’s evolved as a leader over the years, the pros and cons of mergers, and more.    Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    More about what David’s company, Experity, does  How the introduction of electronic medical records inspired David to start his own business The value of firsthand experience in developing the product that would make up the core of David’s business How David morphed his job duties over the years, and how that helped scale the company Why founders are “scary” to investors What “drivers” are and the two conditions they have to meet  The potential benefits and risks of doing a merger between two competitors — and what made David’s so successful How David has transitioned his work habits so he can spend more time with his family  The routine David has with his daughter, and how that has made his personal life so much more meaningful  David’s book recommendations, especially for business owners looking to scale their companies without stretching themselves too thin or trying to do everything all at once The one habit that successful CEOs consistently maintain    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Experity Health website David M. Stern, MD on LinkedIn David M. Stern, MD on Twitter “The Great Game of Business: The Only Sensible Way to Run a Company” by Jack Stack and Bo Burlingham “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins “The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals” by Chris McChesney “The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results” by Gary Keller 40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

In an age where the average person sees tens of thousands of marketing messages every day, how do you as a business owner actually stand apart? The answer involves both psychological and copywriting principles — and our guest this week is an expert in both.    Csaba Borzasi is a former psychology researcher turned direct response marketing consultant and sales funnel copywriter. He helps ambitious online businesses engineer profitable marketing funnels and persuasive sales messages, so they can unlock more consistent cash flow while impacting more people around them.    Tune into the full episode for more on Csaba’s tips for better copywriting that can help you stand out from the competition, how to narrow down your niche, typical marketing mistakes that Csaba has seen business owners make, and more.    Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    How Csaba migrated from psychology to copywriting, and more about what his business does now Some of the biggest mistakes Csaba sees business owners make when it comes to messaging, marketing, and copywriting The key to competing against some of the biggest companies out there who spend millions on marketing and ad spend  More about the “blank page syndrome” and how to avoid it How to narrow down multiple customer avatars in order to focus on the one that’s the best fit for your product or service One of the most surprising copywriting methods that actually work The “five stages of awareness,” and how understanding this framework can uplevel your marketing and copywriting  Tips and tricks for how to stand out from the competition in each step of your marketing funnel How Csaba measures success in his business (and life) The importance of not just email clicks, but email replies  The typical open and click-through rates that businesses can try to target The personal habits that Csaba has integrated into his life — and how he sees his productivity changing once he becomes a father    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Game of Conversions website Game of Conversions course 100-Day Proven Sales Letter Breakdown Playlist “Breakthrough Advertising” by Eugene M. Schwartz “Great Leads: The Six Easiest Ways to Start Any Sales Message” by Michael Masterson 40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn