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Matt Johannsen aka “Josie” and his wife, Kelly, started Upstairs Circus together and have captured a totally creative niche: crafts & cocktails. But this ain’t no ordinary follow-along painting class; this is a dope-ass bar, with banging beats, and an edgy vibe. And the crafts are things that you’d ACTUALLY use, wear, and show off on Instagram and in your crib. Heck, I’ve even made some killer stuff like hand-stitched leather wallets, custom flasks, a 6-pack holder, and even a bracelet for my lovely lady. And I’ve brought many organizations to here to build group crafts. Matt walks us down the path that he and Kelly went on to conceive of the one-of-a-kind concept and how they put it all together. Plus he’s jacked so he shares some of his health and workout secrets – keys to his success as an entrepreneur. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Related Episodes Meet the Founder Whose 93 Ventures in 59 Countries Benefit 8 Million Lives Jason Eckenroth Reveals What Happened Immediately After His Company Was Acquired Selected Links from the Episode Dave’s Powerseed Bread Fairlife Milk Technics turntables – new ones When I Work – app Gusto (formerly ZenPayroll) ONO – Options, Not Obligations book (non-affiliate link) Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute Show Notes [2:40] Upstairs Circus being built over abs workouts [4:00] What does the name Upstairs Circus mean? [7:45] How Upstairs Circus helps you with projects while you have fun [10:10] As Upstairs Circus expanded, what did Matt and Kelly Johannsen change? [12:12] What is the non-retail space used for Upstairs Circus? [13:25] Company events at Upstairs Circus [15:00] How fitness impacts Matt Johannsen’s business [18:00] Matt Johannsen’s food hacks [20:35] Which sports could we play by raiding Matt’s garage? [23:25] What sport is Andy Seth’s body made for? [28:23] The only thing that could make Matt Johannsen an asshole [30:45] What works about the Upstairs Circus culture? [33:15] Who are the Circus Babes? [34:40] Working together as husband and wife [36:40] The process of engineering the type of business that fits your lifestyle [41:10] When Matt reconsidered being into “stuff” aka material possessions [42:23] Business ideas that didn’t make the cut People Mentioned Kelly Johannsen – The Ring Mater (Instagram) Clint Gehde – co-founder of Exer Labs King Louis – Facebook DJ AM – Netflix documentary Simon Sinek – Start with Why Ted talk The post Meet the Lion Tamer from Upstairs Circus, Matt Johannsen appeared first on Andy Seth.

Mike Arzt is one badass creative and thank god he picked up a snowboard 20+ years ago. His passion for snowboarding became a career, which became a business, which is now five businesses. The Public Works is creative agency that he co-founded with Frank Phillips but they don’t just dream up cool shit, they build it. Mike talks us through some incredible projects starting with the launch of the Airstream Basecamp which we turned into a studio for this episode! Mike has had the fortune of working some of the greatest brands on Earth including RedBull, who trust his team to come up with wild ways to activate their brands. If you want a dose of creativity or to just hear about the cool things that happen in plain sight, you need to hear Mike’s story. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode The Public Works Airstream Veuve Clicquot RedBull Aspen Snowmass Colorado Rockies Smith Optics Dakine Epicurean Rustico L.L. Bean Warren Miller Entertainment Show Notes [3:45] Airstreams as a force multiplier for travel [4:05] What’s involved with being part of the product design team [5:14] The number of times Andy Seth has gone camping [7:34] What makes The Public Works so different from traditional agencies [11:00] Building a pop up champagne bar for Veuve Clicquot in Aspen and winning Conde Nast’s 10 Best Champagne Bars in the World [14:00] Frisky Whisky hosted at Laws Whiskey [15:25] How did Mike Arzt and Frank Phillips start The Public Works? [18:13] Building custom DJ booths for Red Bull [20:43] What is skunkworks? [21:45] Building the Colorado Rockies a 9 foot baseball bat [24:10] Yes, there’s a market for public library furniture – the founding of the Supple Collection [30:25] Libraries morphing into a hub of community, not just books on a shelf [34:10] Mike Arzt’s creative process and creating content upon content upon content [35:10] Reaching out to other brands for Airstream’s Basecamp launch like Smith Optics, Dakine, Epicurean, Rustico, and of course The Andy Seth Show [41:10] How owning an Airstream fundamentally changed the way The Public Works does business [43:15] Mike Arzt turning business into personal experiences with his family [48:45] How FOMO drove Mike to land a shoot for LLBean’s segment in a Warren Miller film [51:30] Mike Arzt shares a memorable trip with his daughter The post The Hands-On Creative Behind Airstream Basecamp, RedBull’s Custom DJ Booths, and Veuve Clicquot’s Champagne Bar appeared first on Andy Seth.

If you polled 100 startup founders about the kinds of things to expect during the process of a company acquisition, you’d be hard pressed to find any of them who would suggest that the company being bought would continue to grow exponentially during and after the acquisition process. But that’s exactly what happened as Jason Eckenroth (website) led his team through the acquisition of ShipCompliant by a larger company. It’s a testament to the leadership and relational skill Jason applied to the situation as he remained on the ground in the company to ensure that things went well for his team. You can hear Jason’s inspiring story on this episode, so be sure you take the time to listen. Intentional personal and company growth Jason Eckenroth built his company, ShipCompliant, as a Saas provider in a highly niched market. His software was the no-brainer solution for most companies within the space so growth happened fairly quickly. But even with that kind of growth he realized that without a clear focus on intentional growth – both personally and as a company – everything could stagnate. During this conversation Jason shares his story and outlines the path he took to ensure that his company and his team were able to continue breaking through to new levels of achievement and growth, even during an acquisition. It’s an uncommon story that you’ll want to hear. Devoting more energy to his team during the acquisition As the acquisition of ShipCompliant moved forward Jason Eckenroth realized that his team was going to need even more of his attention and help if they were to make the transition healthily. He committed to being there through the transition process to help them navigate the questions and uncertainties of the transition. It’s an uncommon move for a founder to make post-acquisition, but Jason felt it was his responsibility to do, for the long term health of the team and the future profitability of the company he had founded. There are many lessons to learn from Jason’s example and he shares the insights and resources he used to lead with such integrity, on this episode of the podcast. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode ShipCompliant BOOK: No Vision All Drive Tech Stars Pinpoint Technology BOOK: Walk Away Wealthy BOOK: Finish Big BOOK: Small Giants BOOK: Traction Firespring BOOK: The Empowerment Dynamic Show Notes [0:14] Andy’s introduction to Jason and his company Shipcompliant. [0:45] How Jason’s company built and focused on a niche market, then expanded. [1:50] The accidental beginning of Jason’s company as he studied structural engineering. [4:30] Licensing code to customers as a unique approach to his offerings. [6:00] Changing his focus from software coding to a Saas product solution. [10:40] The move from playing not to lose TO playing to win. [14:36] A series of ceilings Jason had to bust through as the business grew. [18:56] The ego trap that offers to buy the company became. [23:30] Why Jason pursued an option to sell – finally. [26:20] How companies become tenderized and why it’s important for buyouts. [32:00] The decision to sell or move into a new market. [36:00] Surprises in hashing out the terms of a buyout offer. [39:50] Advice for anyone considering selling their company. [44:31] The pressure Jason felt surrounding his obligation to others involved in the decision to sell the company. [46:24] Jason’s consideration of whether he should stay with the business post-sale. [48:27] The varying responses Jason’s team had to the closing of the deal. [51:40] Jason’s decision to engage in the transition process even more than expected. [54:03] The expectations Jason had about how long he’d be around after the transition. [56:10] The two types of acquisitions that are possible and how it impacted Jason’s part in the transition. [1:01:58] The high drama of how the transition actually works and what Jason did to navigate it well. [1:03:04] How Jason worked to help his team make the most of the transition process. [1:08:48] Lessons learned from the acquisition process. [1:14:38] The growth that happened in the company during Jason’s leadership during the transition time and how he thinks it happened. The post Jason Eckenroth Reveals What Happened Immediately After His Company Was Acquired appeared first on Andy Seth.

Every entrepreneur dreams of building a company that makes a difference in the world and he or she is able to grow for years to come. George Morris (@gmorris) felt the same way but felt a tension in his own soul as he did. The things the company needed from him were not resonating with who he was – both in terms of his skill level and his own personal growth needs. It was from that place that he made the decision to extricate himself from the company that he founded and let it move forward without him. You can hear George’s story and the path it has taken him down on this episode of The Andy Seth show. The decision to trim the payroll of himself George Morris started his company with the help of his co-founders and oversaw the growth of it for a number of years. He was in charge of sales and worked as the President as the company became more and more successful. But as time went on he found himself less personally invested in the company. He delegated some of his responsibilities as the chief salesperson and watched as the company lost its momentum over time. When the day came that he and his partners had to make some decisions to let some of the team go, George woke with a realization: Nobody deserved to lose their job except him. It was the day he discovered a new path for himself and set the company free to reach new heights. You can hear George’s story on this episode of The Andy Seth show A real entrepreneur builds his own character as well as a company In the process of stepping out of the company he co-founded, George Morris was also navigating a divorce – something he vowed he would never allow to happen in his life. It was the “perfect storm” that enabled him to see things in his own character and life that others had told him needed to change for some time. His ability to finally see those things pushed him to rethink his entrepreneurial ambitions along the lines of what he could do to impact the world to a greater degree and enable his own children to step over boundaries in ways he’d not imagined before. George’s story is an encouraging one you’ll gain a lot from, so be sure to set aside the time to hear it on this episode. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode GMorris.com – George’s website Axial (formerly Imulus) Helix Technologies Eden Hydroponics TechStars Show Notes [0:31] The genesis of the company George created. [1:45] How George got the business going: smiling and dialing via cold calls. [2:50] The roles George filled in the company at first. [3:58] The growth of the company to 24 people. [5:15] What made the 8 to 10 people size the “best” in George’s mind and how he began seeing the need to grow beyond that. [8:02] Going after bigger clients and growing the team: Implications and impacts. [11:09] The allure of dreams in the digital space. [16:30] Losing heart for the company, an honest confession. [17:37] Path’s George and his team considered as things began faltering. [19:50] The path to deciding that he wanted his partner to buy him out. [23:00] Dealing with the expectations and opinions of others as he exited the company. [25:20] Worrying the most about his team and the pressure that came as time went on. [28:11] How George expected his exit announcement to happen and how it actually went. [32:42] Looking at his decision to leave from a position of hindsight. [37:32] Working through the structure of the buyout. [39:00] A new business idea on the heels of his exit. [40:42] An exercise George is using to chart the course for his way forward. [43:30] Identifying the things that sabotage your success. [47:00] Figuring out what he’s going to do differently moving forward. [50:30] George’s philosophy about what he’s doing with his business ventures – and it has to do with his children. [52:00] Why taming your ego does NOT hurt your confidence as an entrepreneur. [56:00] Why being self aware and talking about it are powerful things for an entrepreneur. [58:25] Advice for those contemplating an exit from their business. [1:03:00] Why entrepreneurs are making the changes that the world needs. The post The Founder Who Fired Himself appeared first on Andy Seth.

Dr. Ryan Ross’ (email) journey from the projects to PhD will show you he transformed through grit, hustle, and the kindness of others. There are a couple things to pay particular attention to in this episode. The first is how Ryan always came up with a third option when faced with two unappealing ones. The second is the sheer amount of effort he puts into helping others. I believe his stories as a young hustler to now educating kids may help you identify situations where you have two options not so great options to choose from, and need to create a third option to reach your goal. It’s that third option that can change your life and that of others, but as we’ll hear from Ryan, it takes some creativity, hustle, and the help of good people to make it happen. Today Ryan’s area of focus is on leadership development and working with students, especially disadvantaged and students of color, and is directly related to his experiences growing up and desire to pay it forward to the community that afforded him so many opportunities. He’s the first to acknowledge how important mentors were in his life and that’s what fuels him to help others today. He didn’t wait till some distant point in the future based on having the right amount of time, money, reaching a certain age or milestone in life. No, he is helping people now to transform their lives because he knows first hand the dividends this pays. Just like compounding interest with money, that same concept applies to Ryan giving back. Ryan’s won numerous awards among which are “Denver’s role Model for Inclusiveness by the Denver Urban Spectrum, 40 under Forty, MLK Humanitarian from Colorado’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, and one of the top 25 Most Influential Young Professionals in Colorado. Most recently Dr. Ross was announced a finalist for the Channel 9 news leader of the year recognition. I’m proud to introduce you to… Dr. Ryan Ross. QUESTION OF THE DAY: What have you done to help someone today? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode Denver Kids Community College of Denver Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado
 Show Notes What’s the influence for Ryan’s bow-tie look? [3:05] Ryan’s early days and what life was like for him as a kid. [4:15] The experiences that took Ryan out of his “street hustle”. [6:00] The lessons that Ryan learned from his early experiences that still service him today [18:36] Ryan explains the driving force that keeps him from being complacent. [20:02] The age Ryan started paying bills [22:05] How Ryan is fostering his children’s mindset about life. [23:29] How self-talk has shaped Ryan’s life [26:22] Life after High School for Ryan [28:12] Ryan’s outlook on giving back and why it’s important. [32:16] An amazing, but often overlooked way to network and build relationships. [34:39] Homeless after college?  [40:00] Ryan’s first job after college. [44:48] How Ryan lands his next job, wearing a tank top and gym shorts. [46:48] What inspired Ryan to pursue his P.H.D.  [51:35] Ryan’s current Role at CCD [55:25] The reoccurring messages Ryan uses to encourage to students. [59:56] How Ryan prioritizes how he spends his time. [1:01:16] Ryan’s take on the culture of giving in Denver. [1:11:01] Rapid Fire questions [1:13:55] Ryan Ross’s one two things he wanted to leave with the listeners. [1:21:05] People Mentioned “Classic Man” by Jidenna Norm Early “Triumph” by Wu-Tang Clan The post Schooled: One Man’s Journey From the Projects to PhD appeared first on Andy Seth.

Teju Ravilochan (@tejuravi) is the CEO and co-founder of the Unreasonable Institute, has already been named “30 Under 30” by Inc. Magazine, and received a standing ovation for his TEDx talk. And he’s as humble as they come. Since 2009, his institute offers entrepreneurs from around the world, a 5-week bootcamp connecting them with highly seasoned mentors to build profitable businesses while solving a social problem. The results show that his team’s methods are working; their entrepreneurs benefit over 8 million people and counting around the world. We sat down to understand how this idea came to fruition from its origins in a college door room, the hyper-intensive process he puts entrepreneurs through to speed their learning, and the single greatest asset his parents gave him to take the risk of starting his own business. Without question, Teju is changing the world and he delivers nuggets of wisdom throughout this interview. Sit back, relax, and be inspired… and enjoy the show. QUESTION OF THE DAY: What enables you to devote your life to your principles, to stand up against social injustices, and take action? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode Teju Ravilochan TEDx Talk Unreasonable Institute Unreasonable.is Show Notes Teju Ravilochan describes what works and doesn’t to help the poor [8:10] Why did Teju Ravilochan believe he could teach entrepreneurs having just graduated from college? [9:40] What principles did Teju teach entrepreneurs that he had to learn himself? [13:58] How did Teju get mentors to volunteer their time to help entrepreneurs? [15:50] What does the Unreasonable Institute do? [18:18] What approach does the Unreasonable Institute take to take its immersion program to scale? [22:00] What is the Unreasonable Institute’s role in documenting a body of work to help the poor? [24:45] What mindset and experience does an angel investor need to have when investing in a social enterprise? [29:45] What’s needed in the ecosystem of social entrepreneurship to continue to grow? [36:00] Teju Ravilochan describes the optimization difference between institutions and entrepreneurs [39:35] How startups experiment and learn [42:10] What is Teju Ravilochan proud of and what is he obsessed with improving? [45:05] What values did Teju’s parents instill in him that he now carries through in his work? [50:45] How do Teju’s parents feel about the unreasonable work he’s doing? [54:40] People Mentioned Daniel Epstein Stanford Social Innovation Review Poor Economics by Abhijit Banarjee Out of Poverty by Paul Polak Banks Benitez The post Meet the Founder Whose 93 Ventures in 59 Countries Benefit 8 Million Lives appeared first on Andy Seth.

My guest this episode is Maggie Hsu (email), Chief of Staff to Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com. Maggie is an Advisor at the Downtown Project which treats downtown Vegas like a startup, using $350 million of Tony’s personal funds, to revitalize the city. After she gave me a personal tour and did a shot of Fernet-Branca, I knew something special was happening and I had to share it with you. There are plenty of cities and downtowns especially, that need a facelift. Master planners have tried and many projects have failed. Well Maggie and Tony have taken a different approach: they have taken the startup process of experimenting, failing, and iterating to city planning. Unheard of. Maggie provides lessons from getting into Harvard (twice), experimenting with physical space, and creating “story tale moments”. The result is a work in progress but certainly an improved and revitalized downtown Las Vegas. The Downtown Project now encompasses a collection of over 300 investments and operations across small business, technology and real estate. Maggie is a master learner and successfully cold called her way to become Tony’s Chief of Staff. She combined her ability to learn quickly with her interests in hospitality, city planning, and the idea of serendipity, to join Tony and together, they are figuring out how to revitalize a city. QUESTION OF THE DAY: What have you seen work and not work in your city to make it a great place to live? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode Downtown Project video (pw: dtp) Zappos.com Downtown Project Gold Spike Oasis Hotel Economic Innovation Group Container Park Fernet-Branca Intro to Holacracy (1 hour video) Harkness Method Show Notes Maggie Hsu’s approach to the college selection process [6:05] How Maggie Hsu got into Harvard (twice) [8:00] What was the essay subject of Maggie Hsu’s Harvard MBA application? [10:30] What role does “engineered serendipity” play in the workplace? [11:40] What learning style works best for Maggie Hsu [13:50] What is the hypothesis of the Las Vegas Downtown Project? [16:30] When designing a city like a startup, how do you measure its progress? [21:25] The Gold Spike experiment to start an ice skating rink in the desert [23:50] Why the Downtown Project leaves physical space unfinished [26:09] How long do investors need to wait to get a return in the Downtown Project? [27:40] What are the unconventional ways Maggie Hsu gathers feedback? [30:10] How does local government collaborate with the Downtown Project? [33:25] Where consensus building should take a back seat to taking action [36:30] How a container park creates “storyboard experiences” in Downtown Vegas [39:50] The ceremonial beverage we drank that’s Tony Hsieh’s favorite drink [44:00] Holocracy as a self-management system where management doesn’t exist [47:00] Why Maggie Hsu decided to cold call Tony Hsieh [57:45] People Mentioned Tony Hsieh Greg Lindsay Where Good Ideas Come From (TED video) by Steven Johnson The post Maggie Hsu on “Engineered Serendipity”, Working with Tony Hsieh, and Revitalizing Downtown Las Vegas appeared first on Andy Seth.

Elizabeth Vino (email) gave me tangible, practical tools and steps to implement when I wanted to build a great company culture. You see, I’m obsessed with great company cultures and as much as I’ve read, I just couldn’t figure out what to do. The light bulb went off when I went to a leadership training program at the Ritz-Carlton who is known for hiring “ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen” and learned one of their secrets. That secret is what I’m going to share with you and then some. This episode is going to be different than the ones in the past, because I’ve chosen a topic that I’m often asked about and decided to decode it for you. I hope that in doing so, you take away one or two tidbits that can help you build and be on a team whose culture fits who you are. CHALLENGE OF THE DAY: What one thing makes you love coming to work that’s part of your company’s culture? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode Management Training Resources The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center Show Notes If the first step isn’t embraced, none of the other steps matter [3:10] How to predict the behaviors of an employee or colleagues [8:25] Letting the job talk vs. writing a job description [11:30] Shortening the amount of time it takes for a team to get to know each other by 75% [18:20] What you cannot use assessments for when hiring and evaluating [22:00] Bringing awareness to your team’s behaviors so there’s mutual understanding [26:10] How values affect your behaviors and happiness at work [32:18] Reducing turnover by hiring for the right behaviors [34:10] How do you implement the learning’s? [39:00] Establishing loyalty and trust with customers by adapting your business to their behaviors and values [42:26] Choosing vendors whose values align with your company’s culture [49:00] The post 5 Tangible Steps for Creating Company Culture with Elizabeth Vino appeared first on Andy Seth.

Lorii Rabinowitz (email) is a master community builder and highly decorated civic leader who shares with us her design blueprint to engage various people at the ground stage of a new venture, creating physical spaces to make behavioral change, and building a culture of acceptance and growth to create vibrant communities. Lorii’s newest project is to create from scratch, the Denver Center of Arts & Technology. It’s a massive undertaking and Lorii is summoning all her people, skills, and experiences to make this dream a reality. And while the building blocks of her life have all led to this point, it’s the attitude and spirit you’ll hear in this interview that will inspire you. She walks us through the protocol she’s used to help companies nationwide in their pursuit of greatness. This process is a design-centered approach which engages stakeholders from the beginning, methodically going through phases beginning with understanding the feasibility. I immediately took away steps that I’ll be using as I continue to build for the future, and I believe you will gain something from her experiences as well. This gal’s energy is infectious so enjoy the show! QUESTION OF THE DAY: What inspires you to take action in your community? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode Denver Center of Arts and Technology Leadership Exchange Project Angel Heart IDEO Johari Window Rebound Solutions Thrive Workplace Show Notes What is the mindset that Lorii Rabinowitz has when meeting new people? [5:50] What’s the opposite of listening? [7:15] Lorii Rabinowitz’ launch of the Denver Center of Arts and Technology [12:00] What can we learn from the expansion approach of being invited to expand into a new city as opposed to identifying where to expand? [19:15] How Lorii Rabinowitz engaged stakeholders in a feasibility study when launching DCAT [22:15] What are the components of a feasibility study and how you can use this for growth [25:40] What is an environmental scan? [30:30] How does Lorii Rabinowitz convene large groups of people? [34:20] The process of de-risking a new venture [36:20] How you can use an outside facilitator to get deep insights and break barriers [37:40] Lorii Rabinowitz on the identity change that came with her career shifts [43:30] How Johari’s window allowed Lorii Rabinowitz to learn about herself which others already knew about her [46:50] When deciding the programming to help a community, what’s the strategy being used? [53:10] How Lorii Rabinowitz designs a physical and cultural environment to make behavioral change [59:45] What visual triggers does Lorii Rabinowitz keep on her desk? [1:07:40] Why Lorii Rabinowitz is moving from a wealthy neighborhood into a mixed-use, mixed-income community [1:11:0] What is the importance of public-private partnerships (aka P3)? [1:17:00] People Mentioned Bill Strickland “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, by Dale Carnegie Mel Ulle, Founder of Philanthropy Expert “A Good Hard Kick In The Ass”, by Rob Adams Phillis Wheatley “Cake By the Ocean” by DNCE The post Master Convener Lorii Rabinowitz’ Blueprint for Designing Vibrant Communities appeared first on Andy Seth.

Gloria Neal (@glonealknows) is an award-winning journalist whose experiences range from TV, radio, and print. She is the morning news anchor on CBS 46 in Atlanta and brings her one-of-a-kind flavor into the living rooms and hearts of thousands. Glo is known for being a personality, both on and off the air, and gives so much to the communities where she lives. She embodies the spirit and energy of someone who I believe found her voice and is able to reach people because she is real – someone we can all connect with. But that takes work and skill and as I uncover in this interview, there’s a lot of prep that goes into making sure she’s always winning the audition for viewers’ time and attention. Tons of lessons learned in this power-hour interview… we laughed and no joke, even teared up at the end when we talked about love. This woman is ALL HEART, baby! Enjoy the show! QUESTION OF THE DAY: Is it true that you would rather your news anchor be real than perfect? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode CBS46.com Leadership Denver Show Notes What the Fortune Magazine with Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg on the cover taught Gloria Neal [9:00] How does Gloria Neal connect with an audience behind a camera? [12:20] What’s the adjective in the story; what’s the hook and why do people care? [14:20] What are the things that Gloria Neal does when listening to someone and she needs to move them along? [19:00] How does Gloria Neal handle rejection when trying to get a story? [21:15] Gloria Neal defines what it means to trust someone to tell your story [23:15] What is “good” journalism? [27:10] How does Gloria Neal prepare to get the context of her story while being flexible to real-time events? [30:10] How does Gloria Neal educate herself to be able to coverage a broad range of topics? [34:43] What are Gloria Neal’s daily habits to get the most creativity out of herself? [37:33] Why does Gloria Neal do evening events when she wakes up at 2am every day? [42:00] How does Gloria Neal leverage her fame for the good of other causes? [44:25] What does Gloria Neal tell people who are inspired to do something good for others? [46:40] How do you make a marriage work when you are such a public figure?[48:45] What role does love play in helping your community? [53:50] What are you damn good at and who are you to think you’re not? [57:30] People Mentioned Amani Ali Pete May James Rothe The post TV Personality Gloria Neal on Emotional Hooks, Serving Community, and the Power of Love appeared first on Andy Seth.

In Part II of the monster Amit Sharma interview, we decode his experiences working as Chief of Staff for one of the largest international banks on Wall Street during the financial crisis. Finally, we dive into his current endeavors focused on leveraging capitalist markets to improve social welfare. Here are are the intro and show notes below…. Amit Sharma (email) is one of the greatest storytellers you’ll ever meet. And for good reason; what this guy’s seen will blow you away. From living in a tent in Mongolia for 2 years to tracking down terrorists through financial markets, to lifting the hood under Wall Street’s institutional investors, Amit has seen some shit. Be a fly on the wall and listen to some of the private conversations he had with Foreign Ministers and his own leadership in the US Government, all in the name of tracking and shutting down terrorists through financial markets. His story about Afghanistan puts you in the middle of a marketplace you would never know existed. I can say this because the US Gov’t didn’t know about it. Then hear about Amit’s experiences as he led one of the largest banks in the world through the financial crisis, eventually buying 21% of Morgan Stanley for $7 Billion. You’ll get a front row seat into that historic time and hear from someone smack dab in the middle of it… with cash. The good news is, he’s one of the good guys. His newest endeavor is Empowerment Capital where he’s advising bulge bracket companies to grow the top line and reduce risk through their “impact” strategies. His foresight into what’s needed to develop the impact ecosystem will help anyone interested in getting into this space – be it on the investor or entrepreneur side. This is a TWO PART episode because it was a monster interview. Enjoy the show! QUESTION OF THE DAY: What do you believe is true wealth to you? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! If you can’t see the above embedded players, here are other ways to listen: Listen to it on iTunes. Stream by clicking Part 1 here and Part 2 here. Download both as MP3 by right clicking (Part 1, Part 2) and choosing “save as”. Selected Links from the Episode Money Laundering Policies Hurting Poor Countries Managing Sustainability Risks as Profitable Opportunities Culver Military Academy Peace Corps Hawala Mitsubishi Bank of Tokyo Impact Investing by Jed Emerson (Andy’s Highlights and Notes) Impact Measurement Frameworks: GIIN, GIIRS, IRIS, SASB, B Corps and B Labs Show Notes (Part I) How Amit Sharma uses his land as a vehicle for expressing creativity [8:45] What mindset shift occurred when Amit Sharma moved from a big city to a rural space? [13:30] How do you live with contradictions (e.g. hustle vs. slowing down)? [18:40] How do you break down complex issues into simpler bites? [25:25] What resources does Amit Sharma turn to when seeking knowledge and counsel? [37:36] Amit Sharma on playing professional polo in Argentina [43:00] What expectations did Amit have of living in Mongolia and how did that match with reality? [50:25] How did Amit Sharma use his development experience to work on counter-terrorism in foreign countries? [1:01:00] Amit Sharma recounts a time when he went unguarded into an Afghan market to gain field intelligence [1:04:30] Post 9/11, who was Amit meeting with and what was he doing to fight terrorism? [1:12:35] Amit Sharma explains how some counter-terrorism tools could be used to find corruption and the impact that had on convincing foreign governments to implement them[1:19:20] How terrorists like ISIS and Hamas gain legitimacy to receive foreign aid and use donations and grants to fund their illicit activities [1:22:00] How are counter-terrorism tools in financial markets being used outside of catching terrorists? [1:32:45] Show Notes (Part II) Amit Sharma explains the unintended consequences on people and communities of a high compliance banking system [5:40] How Amit Sharma parlayed his Treasury experience to becoming Chief of Staff at Mitsubishi Bank of Tokyo [16:50] How did company culture affect Amit Sharma’s strategies during the financial crisis? [19:40] Amit Sharma on planning in crisis vs. steady-state [22:30] Why Amit Sharma started a private enterprise named Empowerment Capital to solve global social problems [24:50] What innovations need to be driven in the “impact” ecosystem? [33:08] What advice would Amit Sharma give to people interested in getting into this impact space? [41:45] Amit Sharma’s call to action: if you are interested in getting involved with Amit’s work either personally or through resources, reach out to him [48:00] What 3 classes does Amit Sharma wish were taught in school? [52:00] QOTD: What do you believe is true wealth to you? People Mentioned Tariq Aziz Jed Emerson The post Amit Sharma (Part II) on Counter-Terrorism, The Financial Crisis, and Impact Advising appeared first on Andy Seth.

Amit Sharma (email) is one of the greatest storytellers you’ll ever meet. And for good reason; what this guy’s seen will blow you away. From living in a tent in Mongolia for 2 years to tracking down terrorists through financial markets, to lifting the hood under Wall Street’s institutional investors, Amit has seen some shit. Be a fly on the wall and listen to some of the private conversations he had with Foreign Ministers and his own leadership in the US Government, all in the name of tracking and shutting down terrorists through financial markets. His story about Afghanistan puts you in the middle of a marketplace you would never know existed. I can say this because the US Gov’t didn’t know about it. Then hear about Amit’s experiences as he led one of the largest banks in the world through the financial crisis, eventually buying 21% of Morgan Stanley for $7 Billion. You’ll get a front row seat into that historic time and hear from someone smack dab in the middle of it… with cash. The good news is, he’s one of the good guys. His newest endeavor is Empowerment Capital where he’s advising bulge bracket companies to grow the top line and reduce risk through their “impact” strategies. His foresight into what’s needed to develop the impact ecosystem will help anyone interested in getting into this space – be it on the investor or entrepreneur side. This is a TWO PART episode because it was a monster interview. Enjoy the show! QUESTION OF THE DAY: What do you believe is true wealth to you? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! If you can’t see the above embedded players, here are other ways to listen: Listen to it on iTunes. Stream by clicking Part 1 here and Part 2 here. Download both as MP3 by right clicking (Part 1, Part 2) and choosing “save as”. Selected Links from the Episode Money Laundering Policies Hurting Poor Countries Managing Sustainability Risks as Profitable Opportunities Culver Military Academy Peace Corps Hawala Mitsubishi Bank of Tokyo Impact Investing by Jed Emerson (Andy’s Highlights and Notes) Impact Measurement Frameworks: GIIN, GIIRS, IRIS, SASB, B Corps and B Labs Show Notes (Part I) How Amit Sharma uses his land as a vehicle for expressing creativity [8:45] What mindset shift occurred when Amit Sharma moved from a big city to a rural space? [13:30] How do you live with contradictions (e.g. hustle vs. slowing down)? [18:40] How do you break down complex issues into simpler bites? [25:25] What resources does Amit Sharma turn to when seeking knowledge and counsel? [37:36] Amit Sharma on playing professional polo in Argentina [43:00] What expectations did Amit have of living in Mongolia and how did that match with reality? [50:25] How did Amit Sharma use his development experience to work on counter-terrorism in foreign countries? [1:01:00] Amit Sharma recounts a time when he went unguarded into an Afghan market to gain field intelligence [1:04:30] Post 9/11, who was Amit meeting with and what was he doing to fight terrorism? [1:12:35] Amit Sharma explains how some counter-terrorism tools could be used to find corruption and the impact that had on convincing foreign governments to implement them[1:19:20] How terrorists like ISIS and Hamas gain legitimacy to receive foreign aid and use donations and grants to fund their illicit activities [1:22:00] How are counter-terrorism tools in financial markets being used outside of catching terrorists? [1:32:45] Show Notes (Part II) Amit Sharma explains the unintended consequences on people and communities of a high compliance banking system [5:40] How Amit Sharma parlayed his Treasury experience to becoming Chief of Staff at Mitsubishi Bank of Tokyo [16:50] How did company culture affect Amit Sharma’s strategies during the financial crisis? [19:40] Amit Sharma on planning in crisis vs. steady-state [22:30] Why Amit Sharma started a private enterprise named Empowerment Capital to solve global social problems [24:50] What innovations need to be driven in the “impact” ecosystem? [33:08] What advice would Amit Sharma give to people interested in getting into this impact space? [41:45] Amit Sharma’s call to action: if you are interested in getting involved with Amit’s work either personally or through resources, reach out to him [48:00] What 3 classes does Amit Sharma wish were taught in school? [52:00] QOTD: What do you believe is true wealth to you? People Mentioned Tariq Aziz Jed Emerson The post Amit Sharma on Counter-Terrorism, The Financial Crisis, and Impact Advising appeared first on Andy Seth.

Sue Jacques (@TheCivilityCEO) spent 18 years as a forensic death investigator and was responsible for investigating thousands of unexpected, unnatural, and unexplainable deaths. Her curiosity was not only to solve the death, but to understand the untold life story that never got a chance to be heard. Sue’s grace and kindness is evident as she shares these stories with us and quite literally gives me goosebumps. She gives us powerful life lessons and also useful tips for the workplace. As “The Civility CEO”, companies bring her in when there’s disharmony so she can help restore relationships, and she does this through practical tips which you can use and share with your team as well. But it’s the stories of her days as a death investigator that are most poignant. Join me as we walk down memory lane with Sue Jacques who shares with us stories of compassion, gratitude, and respect that came from investigating unfinished lives. CHALLENGE OF THE DAY: Sue tells the story of a woman who thanked her after 22 years for how Sue treated her husband’s unexpected death. Who is someone you are overdue to thank or want to thank for lessons they taught you or something nice they did?  Please reach out to them let me know what happens in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode What the Fork by Sue Jacques The Five Minute Journal Muay Thai Tao de Ching by Laozi The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo Show Notes How people lose loyalty when not showing others enough respect [6:01] Companies using Sue Jacques to bring professionalism and courtesy as a currency for better employee relationships [8:55] What five times Sue Jacques says you should step away from the computer [11:18] That time Andy Seth made a video of his Vegas trip and it got to his wife [12:45] How Sue Jacques became a death investigator [15:20] Two things Sue Jacques learned from seeing so many unfinished lives [20:25] Sue Jacques tells the story of one man’s death experience that showed her the power of compassion [22:40] What’s the best way to express compassion when someone is going through a hard time? [26:30] The story of Marilyn thanking Sue Jacques 22 years after her husband died [30:50] Challenge: reach out to someone who you want to thank and share your story with me [33:50] How Sue Jacques trains muay thai and other rituals to feel grateful [35:30] Are there funny deaths? [48:40] People Mentioned Dr. John Butt, Forensic Pathologist The post Life Lessons from a Death Investigator with Sue Jacques appeared first on Andy Seth.

Cindy Carrillo (LinkedIn Profile) is who I call when I needed help seeing the future. Her 40 years of business experience give me a perspective that I can’t get from peers, and who better to help me find the future than someone who’s been there, done that. This interview is to help you get clarity on whatever may be clouding your vision and to leverage her experiences to find what works for you. Cindy was the Founder and CEO of Work Options Group from 1986 until 2009, when she sold the business to a major competitor. But not before she handed the reigns to a CEO she brought in, and then ultimately ousted, when she realized she was the right one to take the company forward. Cindy’s entrepreneurial career began at the age of 19 when she started a retail plant business with her parents. She raised two children with that mindset and shares the framework she used to help them think like entrepreneurs. After selling her business when it reached $20MM in revenues, she “retired” by building a ranch and created a mission statement for it. She works with select individuals to help them see their next and has redefined relationships, careers, and now retirement. QUESTION OF THE DAY: What comes to mind when you think about the word “retirement”? Please let me know in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! Selected Links from the Episode Cindy’s Yurt on Airbnb The Women’s Council at CU Leeds School of Business Show Notes Cindy Carrillo’s mission statement for her ranch, CC Blue [5:45] How Cindy Carrillo went into business with her parents when she turned 19 to pay for college [9:25] A framework for raising kids to think like entrepreneurs [14:00] What’s a common denominator for those who have trouble seeing the future clearly? [20:40] When hiring, what are most companies missing which costs them in turnover? [25:10] The four-letter “f” word [28:20] What holds women back from re-entering the workplace? [30:15] Cindy Carrillo’s bedside talk that challenged her physician husband’s boredom [34:30] How to audit yourself and see if you’re settling on something without even knowing [40:35] Cindy Carrillo talks about redefining relationships [44:08] The human behavior that leads people to leave jobs only after making things bad [47:00] How Cindy Carrillo iterated her business in an industry that didn’t exist [54:15] Why Cindy Carrillo decided to exit the business she started [1:10:00] The “Dick” who took over Cindy Carrillo’s company and how he drove it into the ground [1:17:55] Cindy Carrillo stages a coup to take back her company [1:21:00] QOTD: What comes to mind when you think about the word “retirement”? The post Cindy Carrillo on Staging A Coup To Take Back Her Company appeared first on Andy Seth.

James Eklund (@EklundCWCB) is a whisky-drinking buddy and someone I think has set a legacy at a very young age by developing the first plan in Colorado’s history on its most vital resource: whisky water. James is the director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board.  As a lawyer and a government official, James is already a disappointment to much of his family on the Western Slope.  He is redeemed in their eyes, however, because he drinks whisky and fights over water (but never at the same time).  The CWCB protects the state’s water with responsibilities ranging from Colorado’s Water Plan to our nine interstate compacts. James is a graduate of Stanford University and the University of Denver College of Law (neither of which, his father is quick to note, made him any better at cleaning ditches or irrigating pasture). Scroll below for links and show notes… Enjoy! QUESTION OF THE DAY: In this episode, James decodes how he created Colorado’s first water plan. What innovation do you think is needed in the water industry and is there a way to incent people to do this? Selected Links from the Episode Colorado Water Plan Metro Denver Leadership Foundation Show Notes Why James Eklund volunteered to drive around Colorado’s Attorney General after graduating from Stanford [9:45]  When does volunteering for a political candidate make sense? [12:30] How James Eklund got into water law [14:23] Governors having their own suite of lawyers [15:30] How I negotiated against James Eklund’s for an assistant he was hiring [18:30] How did James Eklund get appointed to be Water Czar? [19:45] What Governor Hickenlooper did to go against traditional advice to have James Eklund’s back [21:50] How James Eklund motivated his employees to be excited about developing a 400+ page plan without more budget [25:00] The water-diamond dilemma [34:50] What are the different mechanisms to get feedback; which are efficient and which are inefficient? [36:24] When does James Eklund decide to gather feedback vs tell it like it is? [40:28] What opportunities does James Eklund see for entrepreneurs in the water business? [45:15] What one piece of advice would you give a 10 year younger version of yourself? [47:23] What’s James Eklund’s whisky of choice these days? [48:05] QOTD: What innovation do you think is needed in the water industry and is there a way to incent people to do this? [49:00] People Mentioned U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar Governor Roy Romer Governor John Hickenlooper Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell President Barack Obama Mara MacKillop The post James Eklund on Creating Colorado’s First Water Plan appeared first on Andy Seth.