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In this episode, I caught back up with Mike Bates who recently returned from a 3,000 mile row across the Atlantic Ocean. Mike took on this incredible challenge to raise money for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Leeds General Infirmary. In our conversation, we discuss his dangerous journey across the sea, how to overcome constraints, the power of human connection, global issues facing middle aged men today, and much more.  If you are thinking about taking on a big quest in your life, this episode is sure to be full of advice to get you started. From the courage it takes to start your quest, to the strength to complete it,  and everything in between - Mike shares his inspiring story that has raised over $225,000 for a cause that saved his son's life a decade ago. Topics & Questions  00:00 Podcast Introduction 00:58 What did you wish you knew before embarking on this quest? 03:21 How to view constraints when taking on difficult challenges 06:31 The start of the row 10:43 The risk involved with the row 15:22 Lessons learned on the ocean 16:55 The power of human connection 24:42 The challenge facing middle aged men today 33:46 Sleep deprivation  38:35 Questions from university students  42:26 Advice for young professionals Show Links Follow bigQUEST on social media:  Twitter https://twitter.com/mybigquest LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/company/bigquest/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mybigquest/ Follow Mike on social media: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikebates_official/?hl=en LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-bates-4b2a32201/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mikebatesofficial Website https://mikebates.uk/ Related Links: Leeds Hospital Charity - https://www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk/

What does it take to create real change? In this episode I chatted with John Gaiters to hear more about his quest to reshape the way business impacts unity and belonging.John is a  young entrepreneur with big dreams to make an impact in the DE&I space by bringing people together for conversation, learning and action.It’s an incredible story worth hearing and a testament to the power of purpose and a willingness to venture into the unknown to take on a big problem worth solving. Topics and Questions00:00 Episode Preview00:58 Guest Introduction03:07 The inspiration behind John’s quest for unity04:33 The power of belonging05:45 Discovering your purpose07:20 The story of Trendsetters09:20 The purpose of Unity Brands 11:30 Persevering through early difficulties13:52 The birth of the Unity Conference16:02 The secret to building successful support systems 18:36 Long term goals of Unity Brands20:07 How can companies actively strive for unity?22:08 The importance of HBCUs23:16 What is your personal inspiration to drive change?24:57 2023 Unity Conference Details Show Links:Connect with Andy Murray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewlmurray/Connect with John Gaiters: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gaiters-59328378/The Unity Conference: https://unityconference.info/home/

 There's a question I've been thinking about for some time. How do we create truly new ideas that move us forward?   Fresh ideas that truly move our companies forward? How will we need to think differently to find fresh, new ideas? So much of what we call new is really just an extension of the present. The post industrialized work world has been great for incremental improvements and efficiency, but struggles to generate cultures that can voyage beyond the land we already know. Few would argue today we need leaders with the ability to bring both left and right brain thinking to the moment or maybe better said a more balanced approach using both intuition and reason.  It is hard to find a recent business book that doesn't advocate for more intuitive thinking at work or challenge us to "think like an artist." But how do artists think? To answer that question, I set out to reconnect with a brilliant artist who I knew would have a perspective worth hearing, Makoto Fujimura. Mako is not only an amazing artist, he's also an accomplished writer who is just as passionate about the process of art as he is the outcome. In this episode, Mako and I talk about intuition, how it works, and how it needs to be harmonized with reason.  We take a look back into history to 500 years ago, to a time when Europe was coming out of the Black Plague and how that applies to what we are going through today. We also talk about how artists look at constraints, mastery, and asking questions beyond the question. In the last half of the podcast, I turned the tables and asked Mako how he might use the approach of an artist if he were to take on a C-Suite job in a big company.  And I can tell you now, his answer was brilliant. Mako shares some practical stories from his work on the Board at Bucknell University. Lastly, I asked him to look forward into the future and tell me what gives him hope. Again, his answer will surprise you. 

What does it actually mean to act like owners, take more risks, and be more entrepreneurial in the conference room or executive suite of a big company? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy Murray talks to Julie Walker, partner and CEO adviser at Inc. CEO Project, about what has changed in business where the ordinary employee is now being compelled to become something they’ve only read about and were certainly never taught in business school. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

How would you define your value proposition? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy Murray talks with entrepreneur and CEO, Habib Salo. They cover the gains of customer-centric marketing, innovative digital strategies, and the light bulb moment that inspired Habib to run the family business in a totally new way. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.Episode Links Young Nails Inc - https://www.youngnails.com  Youtube - https://www.youtube.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com  Twitch.tv - https://www.twitch.tv 

Is your team hungry to grow? Tune in to today’s episode Andy talks with marketer and innovator, Sean Womack, about cultivating a growth-mindset culture, setting and achieving radical outcomes, and applying consumer-focused innovation to an often-overlooked market — eggs. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

Could a strategic partnership transform your business? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy talks with Tom Muccio, leader of the 1980s global relationship formation between Walmart and Procter & Gamble. You’ll hear rich leadership insights focused on shared outcomes, the secret sauce to motivating teams on a bigQUEST, and whether collaborations can occur in today's supplier-retailer environment. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.Episode Links Procter & Gamble - https://us.pg.com  Walmart - https://www.walmart.com 

Are you creating your own best practices or following others in your industry? In today’s episode, Andy uncovers customer service insights with Adrian Swinscoe, customer service advisor and author. They discuss the importance of paying attention to the edges and identify the one vital ingredient to a bigQUEST: bravery to try something new and embrace the possibility of failure. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

What kind of bigQUEST will define your legacy? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy Murray talks with Mike Bates, who’s training for a solo row across the Atlantic. They discuss the single biggest dragon Mike has faced as he prepares, how he’s training to avoid “handle down” moments, and what is driving this unique Quest. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com

What’s the one thing you should never say when telling a story? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy Murray talks to Paul Smith, best-selling author and business storytelling coach, about crafting 10 powerful stories to effectively communicate your mission, vision and values, and how to overcome the fear that goes along with this right brain method of leading and earning buy-in. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com. Guest Links: www.bigQUEST.com Andy Murray- LinkedIn Andy Murray- Twitter bigQUEST- Twitter bigQUEST- LinkedIn  bigQUEST- Instagram PAUL SMITH: www.leadwithastory.com Paul Smith - LinkedIn Lead With A Story - Twitter Lead With A Story - YouTube Lead With A Story - Instagram Lead With A Story - Facebook Lead With A Story - Blog Episode LinksIn today's conversation, Andy and Paul mentioned many companies, foundations, and products. For ease of reference, we have linked those here. Procter & Gamble - https://www.pg.com Saatchi & Saatchi X - http://saatchix.net Merck Pharmaceuticals - https://www.merck.com  VMLYR (referenced as Y&R) - https://www.vmlyr.com James Watt And The Steam Engine by H. W. Dickinson & Rhys Jenkins Walmart - https://www.walmart.com

How can leaders clearly communicate outcomes in a messy, undefined marketplace? In today’s podcast, Andy talks with Daniel Eckert, fin-tech and digital retail pioneer, about the similarities between Marine missions and bigQUESTs, the need for outcome clarity, and how to modify your methodology while keeping an Agile mindset. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

Can you flex your leadership style based on the day’s priorities? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy talks with Asda CEO, Roger Burnley, about the key to reading customer trends, how to lead adaptively in a crisis, and what the future of retail will (and won’t) look like. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

When launching a quest into the unknown, overcoming obstacles becomes a way of life.  Tune in to today’s episode where Andy Murray talks to James Orsini, CEO of The Sasha Group, about leading change from the top, how to build measures that matter, and how we discover where to best share our passion and skills (and the tool to help guide you). For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

How quickly is your organization willing to stop and pivot? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy talks with Darrell Rigby, author and innovation leader, about the Agile methods that deliver results faster and motivate teams better, how the pandemic has revealed a workforce of eager innovators within organizations and the benefits of a diverse mindset.  For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

How do you identify the one key activity that is strategic to success? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy Murray talks about Questions 4 & 5 of the 5 Big Questions when starting a bigQUEST: What is the single measure that moves us toward success? What is one thing everyone can do every single day? Learn how a simplified framework can build momentum and earn buy-in across stakeholders, the power of choosing one single measurement, and the exponential impact of empowering team members to complete one tactical function every day. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

What are the leadership gaps you see within the new marketplace?  Tune in to today’s episode where Andy Murray discusses the magic of co-creation, the power of leading with responsibility, and leadership gold that will turn moments into a movement. He explores some blue ocean moments in his three-decade career at Walmart, P&G, and Dayspring, and how the bigQUEST framework was born from those adventures. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

Is there a trick to quickly uncovering the problem most impacting my customer? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy Murray talks about Question 1 of the 5 Big Questions when starting a bigQUEST: What is the single biggest problem we need to solve? Andy will share how to use storytelling and mystery-solving skills when problem-discovering, and how to know for sure that you’ve achieved your goal. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

How can we start a bigQUEST by calling out only one barrier? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy Murray talks about Question 3 of the 5 Big Questions when starting a bigQUEST: What is the single biggest barrier that must be overcome? He’ll explain how to spot the biggest obstacle and how to acknowledge the endless variables when strategizing solutions. After three decades overcoming obstacles in corporate environments, he’ll share his personal secret for securing a commitment. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.

What’s the litmus test for determining the most important outcome of a bigQUEST? Tune in to today’s episode where Andy Murray talks about Question 2 of the 5 Big Questions when starting a bigQUEST: What’s the single most important outcome? He’ll walk us through the framework for achieving customer-centric results, break down the difference between objectives and outcomes, and shed light on the beauty of uncertainty. For more information on the bigQUEST Framework, find us at bigQUEST.com.