Grow Strong Leaders Podcast

Did you know that Napoleon Hill only revealed half the secret for creating success in his classic book, Think and Grow Rich? My guest John Mitchell studied the book for months in his quest to dramatically increase his income. He discovered and tested the full secret, and he shares it in our conversation.This technique caused his own income to go to $5 million a year, after 20 years of low six figures a year. You’ll discover: Why working harder is the wrong approach if you want to increase your incomeThe key point from Napoleon Hill’s bookA practical way to apply John’s technique that only takes 12 minutes a dayThe importance of Clarity and Repetition in the process

What can you do to make sure your company avoids being part of the Great Resignation? Maurice “Moe” Rondeau has specific suggestions you can adopt, based on what he and his team have done to build community and high performance.Moe is Vice President of Learning & Development at WinnCompanies, a real estate property development and management company in the Boston area. He has a diverse 25+ year background in global learning and organizational development. Moe’s multi-industry experience provides him with a solid understanding of the challenges that business leaders face in engaging and retaining talent.You’ll discover: What leaders can do to engage and retain their top talentWhat WinnCompanies does to keep everyone informed and involvedA few thought leaders Moe admires most…and why5 key lessons Moe learned when starting up the L&D division from scratchHow Moe structured programs for high potentials and first level managers to achieve a positive impact

DescriptionWhat leadership lessons can we take away from the Elders in traditional communities around the world? Eboni Adams Monk has first-hand experience living with and learning from these wise individuals, and we uncover several of them in this inspiring conversation. Eboni is Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Excellence at a specialty chemical company. She draws from her studies with Elders to inspire transformational leadership and life-changing growth so others can succeed at work. Her experiences with these cultures led her to write her beautiful and powerful book, Leading Wise: Inspirational Reflections for Corporate Leaders.You’ll discover: Why Eboni makes no distinction between work life and personal lifeWhat inspired her to write her book and the key messages she wanted to conveyThe benefits of taking time to reflect…and the consequences if we don’tWhy Eboni considers the power that leaders have to be sacredHow leaders can build a feeling of community

What does it look like when the CEO of a publicly traded company treats people as the company’s #1 asset? Phil Gallagher does just that. He’s an extraordinary leader whose motto is, “When people feel good, they do good.”Phil is the CEO of Avnet, a publicly traded company with annual sales north of 20 billion dollars and more than 14,000 employees worldwide, and ship to 140 countries. They’re #167 on Fortune 500.You’ll discover: The value of self-awareness in a leader’s growthHow Phil developed his own EQWhy asking for feedback and receiving it well is a critical skill for every leaderSome of the little things Phil does to strengthen relationshipsThe difference in leaders who head Avnet’s highest-performing locations vs. the lowest-performing locations

What does it take to help people unlock their true potential? Peter Walmsley is masterful at doing this, and you’ll learn the key approaches he’s taken over the years. Peter has lived and breathed everything my podcast is about, so I know you’re going to value the insights and ideas he shares in our conversation. Peter is the Senior Vice President of Organization Effectiveness at Scopely. He’s a highly committed leader with extensive experience in global organizations covering the U.S., Europe, Asia, and North Africa. He’s originally from London, and he’s lived and worked primarily for US companies in Paris, Madrid, Geneva, and San Francisco. You’ll discover: Why Peter creates an environment for people to flourishWhat he does to convey his belief in an individualThe role of courage in decision-makingHow Peter developed his own courage muscleWhat leaders can do to become more comfortable with uncertainty and help their team members with this, too

We all know about the “elephant in the room.” But what about those less obvious thoughts and feelings you might be having? My guest David Wood describes them in his captivating new book, The Mouse in The Room – Because the Elephant Isn’t Alone. You won’t want to miss out on the mice he names during our conversation…and the simple 3-D process you can use to determine if you want to bring them up. We’re at a time when our world needs more vulnerability, transparency, and connection. David’s experiences make him the ideal person to teach us how to do that. He built the world’s largest coaching business and coached thousands of hours in 12 countries, and he’s advised business owners and leaders. The Mouse in The Room can be a powerful guide to fostering more connection, influence, and understanding with the people who matter to you, both at work and at home. You’ll discover: What “mouse naming” is and why it’s important for your wellbeingWhat Toleration Mouse and Desire Mouse are connected toWhy we tend to hide our mice…from ourselves and from othersThe impact that self-esteem has on our ability or willingness to identify mice and talk about themHow to receive a mouse from someone else without getting defensive

Want to stand out from every other candidate when you’re being considered for a new position or a promotion? Debra Olshan Cooper is a genius at helping clients answer the question: “Who are you?” You’ll find out the exact approach she uses with clients to uncover their true talents and passion. She’s a masterful storyteller herself, as you’ll hear in the many client examples she shares. Debra is the founder of Your Career Design Lab, which mentors and coaches college graduates to excavate their passion and turn it into a paycheck by crafting their unique story. She’s worked with young adults and people in their 60s. Her 30 years of experience as CEO of two highly successful public relations and marketing firms puts her in a unique position to teach her clients how to create, tell and sell their individual story.You’ll discover: How to turn an interview into a conversation where you share compelling storiesWhy it’s important to ask for what you wantHow to transform imposter syndrome into a strengthWhat you can do to turn a No into a YesWhat employers need to know and do to maximize performance of younger workers

What’s it like to work in a company whose core values are practiced daily by leaders and employees alike? Christopher Lind paints a clear picture, describing the positive impact on relationships and results. Christopher is Chief Learning Officer at ChenMed. He’s a globally recognized, digital-first leader in learning and workplace technology with a career at the intersection of people, business, and technology. He’s the founder of Learning Sharks and host of the Learning Tech Talks Podcast. You’ll discover: How ChenMed teams live their core values when interacting with each other and their patientsFour challenges that Christopher is hearing about when talking with leaders in organizations A simple solution for eliminating the problem of poor managersHow leaders can reduce employee anxiety and build a foundation of trust

What if every CEO understood that their title really stands for Chief Environmental Officer? My guest Jay Steinfeld makes the case that the #1 role of a CEO is to create a culture that helps people thrive and achieve their potential. He should know. His company maintained an astonishingly low turnover rate of 8% throughout his years of leadership. Find out how this exceptional leader built a healthy workplace that encouraged people to evolve continuously, experiment without fear of failure, express themselves, and enjoy the ride along the way. Jay was founder and CEO of Blinds.com, the world’s number one online window covering retailer, that was acquired by The Home Deport in 2014. Jay remained on as its CEO and later joined The Home Depot Online Leadership Team. He stepped away from these positions in early 2020 and has RE-WIRED himself for new roles as advisor or Board member for several companies. You’ll discover: How Jay brought the 4 Es to life everyone in the companyThe practices that helped Jay and his team hire the right peopleWhat leaders can do to make it safe for people to take risksWhy generosity and gratitude are two of Jay’s core valuesWays that Jay instilled fun and humor so people actually enjoyed coming to work

Are you aware of the kind of energy you bring to conversations? My guest Marcel Daane has combined his study of martial arts and neuroscience to create a powerful, practical model you can use to apply the right energy in any situation.. In our conversation, we discussed the model and Marcel’s latest book, Five Energies of Horrible Bosses and How Not to Become One. You can take his free 5-minute assessment to become more aware of your own dominant energy and learn how to adjust it for the person you’re with. Marcel is the CEO of Level V Partners, a global network of uniquely trained Executive Coaches working with multinational organizations, teams, and leaders. In 2020 Marcel was voted Executive Coach of the Year by Singapore Prestige Brands, and in 2016 he was awarded the Global Coaching Leadership Award.You’ll discover: How to identify an organization’s culture in terms of weatherThe 3 Pillars of Wisdom and the one most leaders mistakenly rely onA practical definition of EnergyWhy the acronym W.I.S.E. serves as an excellent model for leadersThe 5 Energies we all have and what they look like on our behavior

Want to know what separates peak performers from everyone else? Dr. Ruth Gotian has studied super successful people for decades and shares the four elements that set them apart. You can learn and adopt these same behaviors. Ruth is the author of The Success Factor: Developing the Mindset and Skillset for Peak Performance and a contributor to Forbes and Psychology Today where she writes about optimizing success. She won the Thinkers50 Distinguished Achievement “Radar” Award, ranking her the #1 emerging management thinker in the world to bridge theory and practice. You’ll discover: A definition of success that has nothing to do with moneyThe single sentence from one of Ruth’s mentors that totally changed the focus of her workThe four elements that all super successful people have in commonWhat you can do to identify and work with a mentorHow the mindset of very high achievers differs from everyone else

What if you could find out secrets to a strong marriage and then discover that these same secrets can apply to all your relationships? That’s exactly what you’ll learn in this profound conversation I had with John David Mann and Ana Gabriel Mann, co-authors of The Go-Giver Marriage. John is coauthor of more than 30 books, including his classic 2008 parable The Go-Giver, coauthored with Bob Burg. Ana is a clinical psychologist and therapist currently focused on training coaches around the globe to lead The Go-Giver Marriage workshops.You’ll discover: The role John and Ana each played in the creation of this bookThe one principle that underlies all 5 secretsSpecific words you can say to express appreciationWhich secret is a favorite for John and for Ana – and whyWhy they refer to one’s partner as an “unexplored continent”

Do you need to get things done with people whose personalities are very different from yours? Dr. Nate Regier shares how you can recognize their drivers as well as their distress signals—and then respond in a way that best serves you and them.Nate is the CEO and founding owner of Next Element Consulting, a global leadership firm dedicated to bringing compassion into the workplace. He’s brilliant in creating models that foster positive relationships and workplaces…and then teaching clients how to use them to transform their organizations. Our conversation centered around his latest book: Seeing People Through: Unleash Your Leadership Potential with the Process Communication Model.You’ll discover: What it means to “see people through” versus “see through people”The 6 personality types in the Process Communication ModelWhy it’s important for leaders to detect distress signals so they can invite people back to a healthy placeWhat it means to have personality agilityHow leaders can become “self-full” rather than selfish or selfless

What if you could begin each day with the ultimate confidence and focus? Eric Lofholm shares the exact daily routine that prepares him to have an extraordinary, productive day…every single day.Eric is President and CEO of Eric Lofholm International and the author of 15 books including his latest, Continuous Sales Improvement: The Secret of Achieving Your Peak Sales and Personal Potential. He also leads a Facebook group based on the book, The Ultimate Coach, that’s focused on how you are BEING in the world.You’ll discover: How Eric went from failure in sales to a highly respected international sales trainerThree steps you can follow to become a masterful time managerThe distinction Eric makes between Affirmations and Declarations with his “I AM” statementsThe win-win mindset Eric uses when he encounters “No” from a prospective clientWhy Eric started a Facebook Group around a book he didn’t even write

What if you could learn how to notice and heed your inner signals to make the best decision? Scott Shute describes how you can do this by slowing down and becoming more mindful. We go deep into his fantastic book, The Full Body Yes, exploring the importance of knowing and loving yourself in order to bring more compassion into your world. In his most recent role at LinkedIn, Scott was the Head of Mindfulness and Compassion programs. He’s been a pioneer in creating mindfulness programs and advancing the discussion around “operationalizing compassion” in the workplace.  You’ll discover: What Scott means by The Full Body YESHow Scott manages his competitive spirtWhy mindfulness is a powerful tool in the workplaceHow organizations can operationalize compassionWhy gratitude is a superpower you’ll want to develop

Why is it best to put people before processes in order to achieve the best possible results? My guest Tom Lawrence has learned the answers through intense study of thought leaders and dedicated application over the years with his own teams. Now he’s passionate about sharing his experiences and insights with aspiring and current leaders. You’ll get many practical tips from someone who’s still on the job every day honing his leadership skills.Tom is unique among my guests because he’s worked in engineering for his entire career. His undergraduate degree is in mechanical engineering, and his master's degree is in maintenance engineering. He had his first leadership role as a project manager in 2009. As a result of his various experiences in all levels of leadership positions, Tom is now on a mission to help aspiring leaders as well as current leaders enhance their leadership skills so they bring out the best in the people on their teams. As part of his mission, he’s written two books, Manager to Leader: How to Become a Highly Effective Leader and A Limitless Mindset: How a Highly Effective Leader Thinks. I highly recommend both of them!You’ll discover: Tom’s journey from acquiring engineering skills to a focus on people in order to achieve the best resultsWhat Tom means by a “highly effective leader”Why character-based leadership is the most powerful way to influence peopleThe differences between secure and insecure leadersHow Tom helps people learn how to solve their own problems

Are you a person who’s always looking for ways to grow and expand? If so, you’ll love my conversation with Simon Haigh. And get ready to take notes. Simon shares valuable, practical ways for expanding your mindset and behaviors to become a more effective leader. Simon is founder and CEO of GCM Consulting and Simonhaigh.com. He’s known as The Growth Strategist because he helps organizations and leaders grow in 4 areas: business, leadership, brand, and mindset. Simon started out as a tri-qualified commercial lawyer—in England & Wales, Australia, and Ireland. He’s been an entrepreneur, building and selling out of companies in 3 industries: technology, luxury items and travel. Simon has also been a C-suite executive and has sat on five boards across different industries. He’s currently an associate member of the Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching Organization. You’ll discover: What Simon learned from Marshall Goldsmith about matching his confidence with his capabilitiesThe benefits of having clarity around your purpose3 questions you can ask yourself every morning for 6 weeks to gain greater self-awarenessWhy you can actually achieve more when you slow downThe importance of understanding both the light and dark side of yourself

What if you could welcome conflicts instead of avoiding or dreading them? My guest Jason Digges describes how it’s possible to do just that by using Authentic Relating. We talk about that topic and many other ideas from his excellent book, Conflict = Energy, The Transformative Practice of Authentic Relating. You will want to take notes because Jason shares a wealth of practical ideas you can apply at work and at home. Jason is a modern renaissance man. He’s equal parts artist, philosopher, teacher, and media producer. From 2003-2012 he worked for Integral Institute to create thousands of hours of educational media on the topics of transpersonal psychology, spirituality, productivity, and personal growth. Jason is obsessed with how humans can live and relate optimally. Since 2012, he’s facilitated groups and taught authentic relating and circling courses in over 20 cities around the world.  You’ll discover: The 5 practices involved in Authentic Relating (AR)Why Appreciation is a key element in building trust and strong relationshipsThe roles of Noticing, Appreciating, and Curiosity in ARWhy Dignity + Humility = Transformation and how the shadow side of each can get in the way of connecting with othersHow leaders can create psychological safety so people feel free to speak up and share their thoughts and feelings

Have you considered starting a business—or do you run one now? In either case, my conversation with Sylvana Caloni and Paul O’Donnell is a must-listen. They share essential lessons learned from the starting up and closing down of a premium pie business. Their insights can help you avoid pitfalls and increase your chances of long-term success.Sylvana and Paul co-authored Humble Crumbles: Savouring the Crumbs of Wisdom from the Rise and Fall of Humble Pie to tell the story of Paul’s failed business venture. Paul provides a raw account of his journey as an entrepreneur with his company, Humble Pie, and Sylvana supplements his narrative with observations and suggestions based on her dual lenses as an equity analyst and leadership coach. They embrace the one word we tend to avoid in life and in business: failure. You’ll discover: Why “failure” is not a negativeThe importance of self-awareness for entrepreneurs to be successfulWhy you must consider the downsides when creating a business planHow to make the most of mentors and advisors when starting and running a businessThe value of making a BIG ask

What if you could increase your emotional intelligence and expand your self-awareness? That’s the journey my guest Jon Hunter traveled in advancing from salesperson to Chief Revenue Officer. You’ll be drawn in by Jon’s truth-telling around topics like self-awareness, feedback, and creating safety and trust. Get ready to take notes because Jon drops a lot of nuggets you’ll want to remember and apply. Jon has held positions like Chief Revenue Officer and Senior VP of Sales in various enterprise software companies over the past 25 years. Now he’s passionate about developing the next generation of leaders, and he started The Hunter X Podcast to share insights gained from his experiences. Jon’s podcast is packed with nuggets you can use every day, in just 8-12 minutes per episode. I highly recommend you subscribe and read all his posts on LinkedIn. You’ll discover: Why leaders must create safety and trust early on when working with a new teamThe #1 stumbling block for leaders who want to advance to the next levelHow Jon developed his emotional intelligence to become a highly effective leaderThe most important trait John looks and listens for when interviewing job candidatesThe value of getting feedback throughout your career