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When entrepreneurialism and academia collide, you end up with a conversation that gets to the heart of discourse in our culture. Mitch is joined by Rita Kirk in an interview that brings new perspectives to a world where communication is easy to access but hard to master. Mitch opens the episode by asking Rita Kirk, Ph.D., Professor of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs and endowed Director at the Maguire Center for Ethics and Responsibility at Southern Methodist University about her experience in entrepreneurialism as an academician. Rita responds that teaching is the epitome of entrepreneurialism because it’s a field of solving problems for the world. She then talks about how her experience in an underwater photography class gave her a new perspective on entrepreneurialism and what it takes to succeed. Mitch asks Rita about her top three principles of effective communication and Rita responds with insightful thoughts from both academic and personal points of view. She notes hometown hero, J. William Fulbright, as one of her role models who helped in the formation of her career goal of ending hate speech. The pair move on to talking about common communication errors and Rita gives a surprising answer about what she sees in her students recently. The conversation turns to Rita’s experience in the political strategy arena and a poignant story about knowing your worth. She delves into a memory about a political campaign that was destroyed from the inside out, and how corporate values cannot just be something hidden on a Web site. They must be put into practice. Mitch asks Rita about her greatest joy and the two talk about the rather unique reading material her dad chose during her formative years, leading the conversation to the topic of failure. Rita announces exactly what she’d like to be doing when she draws her dying breath and relays the story of William Wilberforce as an example. The topic of Rita’s book, Hate Speech, is broached and Rita shares her personal belief on how hate is born. Mitch likens the conversation to unity versus conformity and compares it to a husband and wife who don’t agree on everything. Rita shares a story of a student who found a way to ignore the hate speech that was thrown at her. Mitch and Rita finally get down to business discussing where to get the best Mexican food in The Big D – Dallas. Rita will be taking Mitch to Jalisco Norte in the Oak Lawn section of the city, where they will start with a Bring the Heat, a pineapple-jalapeno mixed drink. They’ll order Queso Cowboy, Osso Bucco, Milpa and Tres Leches. Rita gives a mouth-watering description of each and decides to call an Uber. Table Talk: Mitch dives straight into his thoughts on Rita’s interview and Gil immediately reminds him that he hasn’t introduced the other people at the table. Mitch narrowly escapes insulting Erin’s age and, finally, the three of them, along with Isaac the Former Intern, dive into the conversation. Gil was moved by Rita’s segment on hate speech and losing the ability to disagree respectfully. He agrees that hate speech does not make the world a better place. Isaac notes that higher education truly is entrepreneurial because it involves the constant creation of new information. He acknowledges that there are many ways to start the journey as a lifelong learner, but says he hates that college and university get a bad rap as one of those routes. Mitch questions Isaac’s use of the word hate in the context of this interview. Gil chimes in about writing a thesis and the entrepreneurial spirit that must go into creating something from nothing. Mitch shares his weird but thought-provoking knowledge of teaching, knowing, and doing…and that the three aren’t always in that order. Erin attended Southern Methodist University and says that Rita probably wondered if Erin was stalking her because Erin sought out Rita’s classes for four years. The conversation about the culture of avoiding risk spoke personally and globally to Erin, who is a recovering perfectionist. Erin mentions her college friend, Adam Russo, who has made an impact on thousands of parents with his presentation on the importance of letting your kids fail. Mitch waxes philosophical about poppies growing in Australia and Erin poses a question about cancel culture. The conversation turns toward speaker and author Deborah Hirsch and her ground-breaking formula that helps companies move from conformity to unity. Links: Hate Speech by Rita Kirk and David Slayden https://www.amazon.com/Hate-Speech-Rita-Kirk-Whillock/dp/0803972083/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hate+speech+rita+kirk&qid=1618246943&sr=8-1 Rita’s Web site https://ritakirk.com/ Adam Russo https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-letting-kids-fail-st-0131-20160131-story.html Deborah Hirsch https://twitter.com/debrahirsch?lang=en About Our Sponsor: Executive Scheduling Associates employs 120 professional schedulers filling the sales calendars of 500 financial wholesalers across North America. And we now provide short-term services dispositioning event and cold contact lists. Ask us for details at esasolutions.com. Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Joining The Whole Enchilada this week is author Brandon Waldon, who draws on his own experiences in being an artist to give his own perspectives on the power of words and how being more childlike can enhance our experience as entrepreneurial leaders. Mitch Santala introduces best-selling author Brandon Walden and starts by asking how the idea for his first book, Seeds and Trees, came to fruition. When discussing Brandon’s success in some areas of life while he had failures in others, Brandon mentions a childhood trauma that lead him down the pathway of self-discovery, that ended in Seeds and Trees. The two then talk about the timeless principles of entrepreneurial leaders and Brandon says that hands down, the power of words is a principle all leaders need. He follows up with comments on kindness. A conversation about patience leads to a bank account analogy and examples of how bad roots can creep in, to the detriment of the good roots, with Mitch comparing Hallmark Channel movies to an episode of Survivor. Brandon comments on letting seeds grow too big, not anticipating how overgrowth can be stifling, while Mitch shares his own struggles of moving from a career in ministry to a career in business. Is commoditizing something you created akin to selling out? Childlike dependency is discussed when Brandon tells a humorous story about his daughter’s need for help after a trip to the bathroom, leading to a conversation about complexity and simplicity. Mitch then asks Brandon about a time when he felt like he was up against too much and wanted to quit and shares his own story about a snafu at Starbucks and how he never saw the third option that was right in front of him. Brandon talks about his dad’s own entrepreneurial journey and about how the definition of entrepreneur is changing. Finally, Mitch asks Brandon about his favorite Mexican food and Brandon laments the lack of white cheese queso in California. He wants to take Mitch to San Jose Mexican Restaurant, a regional chain in South Carolina. Of course, they’ll order a large bowl of white queso and Brandon suggests a taco salad. Mitch is not prepared to eat rabbit food until Brandon describes the salad in mouth-watering detail and Mitch agrees that he sounds delicious. Table Talk: Gil Moegerle, Erin Pruetz, and Isaac the Former Intern join Mitch to talk about their perspectives on Brandon’s interview. Gil is drawn to Seeds and Trees being about kindness in leadership, sharing his own story about a difficult-to-please boss who operated with anything but kindness. Isaac talks about his own journey as he starts out in creating a new social media marketing business. He places importance on creating seeds inside himself that will grow into his own, personal garden of leadership principles. Erin is reminded of a saying that her kids came home from camp with one year and how it can be applied to life and leadership -- fear is a liar. Mitch finishes up the episode by remarking on how small changes, like how we pose a question, can lead to big changes in what we harvest, even going back to his kids’ elementary school days and a program that highlighted kids doing good deeds around the school. Links: https://www.brandonwalden.com/ Seeds & Trees https://www.amazon.com/Seeds-Trees-childrens-about-power/dp/1947165682/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=seeds+%26+trees&qid=1616949022&sr=8-5 The King’s Way of Life https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZXDSYZL/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 Manchild [Redefined] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1925638464/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2 San Jose Mexican Restaurants https://www.sanjosemex.com/ About Our Sponsor: Executive Scheduling Associates employs 120 professional schedulers filling the sales calendars of 500 financial wholesalers across North America. And we now provide short-term services dispositioning event and cold contact lists. Ask us for details at esasolutions.com. Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

Executive Scheduling Associates’ founder and CEO Mitch Santala talks to ER physician and entrepreneur, Jeremy Corbett, about his three start-up companies and the paths he took for each of them. The Whole Enchilada Team then discusses the interview and how it applies to their own journeys. Mitch begins the episode by asking Jeremy about his entrepreneurial journey, taking us back to the mid-80s and a profound and oddly specific letter 13-year-old Jeremy wrote to himself. Jeremy goes on to talk about baseball as an analogy for entrepreneurialism and Mitch asks him to further comment on the three tenets of The Whole Enchilada: the place, the path, and the person. Jeremy uses the word opaque to describe part of his path and then moves on to talk about being a physician during a worldwide pandemic – how it’s expanded, rather than restricted, his reach in helping others. Mitch and Jeremy discuss getting to the place, or the destination, and what to do then. Jeremy even ponders if it’s right for him to continue moving even after the goal is achieved. He uses his sons’ golf course business as an example to further illustrate his point. There’s also a humorous story about Jeremy’s dad, also a doctor, and what he said to Jeremy when he couldn’t decide if he was going to finish medical school or not. Jeremy makes a point that answers can change depending on the timing of the question. Mitch asks Jeremy to talk about seeing a goal from concept through fruition and Jeremy gets real about his strengths and weaknesses. He makes a great point about why ice cream geniuses should not open butcher shops. Mitch and Jeremy end their conversation on entrepreneurialism by discussing surrounding yourself with the right people, not just filling in the gaps with any old belly button. Our signature question, “Where are we going for Mexican food and what are we having?” takes us travelling back in time to Davis Island, FL, when Estella’s Restaurant was still open. Young Jeremy and his bride are feeling the financial tightness most new marriages experience, so we order tortilla soup, guacamole, and chips…and leave the restaurant with a bill less than $11 (including tip). Table Talk: Mitch is joined by Gil Moegerle, Erin Pruetz, and Isaac the Former Intern. Mitch asks The Whole Enchilada team what stuck out of the interview for them and Erin chimes in with her experience of putting someone in a position simply because they were willing, not because they were the right fit. Gil had a similar experience when he started a band. Isaac takes the interview very personally as someone who is just starting out in his career. He says that Jeremy’s ideas about there being more risk in not doing something than there is in not trying hits home with him, reinforcing Isaac to not stay comfortable in the dugout. He recalls Season 1 guest, Brett Collins, who said he is not afraid of the word no because “it’s not like they can eat you.” Gil shares a story about his own failure when someone gave him capital to start a business and that while it was hard to admit defeat, he is still pleased that he gave it a shot. Mitch ends the episode by reminding listeners that there is an entrepreneur in all of us (does he or she look like Baby Yoda?) and that there is no better way to add value to your world than by letting him or her come alive. About Our Sponsor: Executive Scheduling Associates employs 120 professional schedulers filling the sales calendars of 500 financial wholesalers across North America. And we now provide short-term services dispositioning event and cold contact lists. Ask us for details at esasolutions.com. Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

Start-up CEO Mitch Santala talks to Elizabeth Dixon, the Principle Lead of Strategy, Hospitality, and Service Design at Chick-fil-A about her entrepreneurial background and the leadership principles that guide both her career and her personal life. Gil Moegerle starts Season Two off with a recap of Season One, where financial executive Brett explained the power of “No,” followed by PR practitioner, Jamie, reminding us that, “If your company sucks, PR is not your problem.” We’re also reminded of Kimberly Thompson who loudly proclaimed her desire to bathe in the white queso dip of her very favorite boujie Mexican food restaurant. Mitch Santala then introduced the audience to entrepreneur and leader, Elizabeth Dixon, diving right into asking her how she defines an entrepreneur. Elizabeth’s thoughtful answer includes a quote from Henry David Thoreau and the importance of working toward something bigger than yourself. She makes a point to mention that we should always add value to others. Mitch follows up by asking Elizabeth about the first time she realized she was an entrepreneur and Elizabeth gives a great story from her freshman year in college. Billy Blanks’ Tae Bo, some hazardous conditions, and a non-existent wrestling team are all that it took to get her first small business off the ground. Mitch expands on Elizabeth’s experience by commenting on how she took the initiative to get the project started. She had an idea, she solved the problem…then she asked for help. Elizabeth continues the conversation about taking one step at a time, citing the story of how Netflix was born from a bad experience with late fees. The topic shifts to branding when Mitch asks Elizabeth about raising kids to create their own brand. Elizabeth quips that kids are sponges and that we shouldn’t be afraid to talk about entrepreneurial concepts with them while they are young. She says that being your own brand is your authenticity and talks about paycheck vs purpose. Mitch also brings up best practices in innovation and customer loyalty and Elizabeth proudly notes that innovation is decentralized at Chick-Fil-A. She explains that customer expectations are always evolving and likens the lack of innovation in business to the Sports Illustrated effect for athletes. Mitch agrees that hubris should not get in the way, because that’s where innovation dies. The two discuss the difference between side hustles and side hassles and the struggle that comes with being an entrepreneur – they’re always building or creating something. If you don’t give them something to do…watch out. Mitch and Elizabeth also agree on maintaining the health of your priorities before you start down an additional path. Anyone who loves Chick-Fil-A, will get a kick out of the “My Pleasure” origin story that Elizabeth shares and, taking inspiration from Kanye West, Elizabeth describes the restaurant’s Number One with a lemonade and the unique, chaste relationship the pickles have. Finally, Mitch asks our signature question: Where are we going for Mexican food and what are we having. Elizabeth doesn’t hesitate to answer Taqueria del Sol, local Atlanta chain. They have a simple menu of six types of tacos, enchiladas, and sides and Elizabeth orders the pulled pork Carnitas. Mitch says he’ll try one of those, too, with an additional carne asada for the heck of it. In true Chick-fil-A form, Mitch thanks Elizabeth for being on the show and she responds with, “My pleasure.” Links: Chick-Fil-A https://www.chick-fil-a.com/ The Infinite Game by Simon Cynic https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079DWSYYB/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 How the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins https://www.amazon.com/How-Mighty-Fall-Companies-Never-ebook/dp/B0058DRTYY/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=how+the+mighty+fall&qid=1614785306&s=digital-text&sr=1-1 Taqueria del Sol http://www.taqueriadelsol.com/ Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

Sit back and enjoy a moment while we reminisce about some of the more spontaneous moments of our premiere season and give you a preview of what's coming in Season 2, launching in March 2021.

The power of presence and the importance of slowing down to serve others in an otherwise hectic and fast-paced business…and a chaotic sales environment. Mitch Santala talks to a 25-year financial industry veteran who believes that in the middle of a sudden, unexpected change, you have to take time to slow down. Mitch begins by recapping our four-episode mini-series, recalling Brett from Episode 1 who talked about how change can be a good thing. Episode 2 was Brad who said he gained clarity when COVID hit and his business environment changed drastically. And Episode 3 featured Karen who told us about her shift into survival leadership mode, where she put some tried-and-true practices in place and forged ahead with new vision. Mitch then introduces our Episode 4 guest. He asked to remain nameless but is a 25-year veteran in the financial industry, focusing on long term care. He’s also been an ESA client for ten years. Our guest begins by sharing his outlook on life and how he keeps it positive. He talks about how he plans his strategies through but that he’s found that one tactic that is especially important in times of change: presence. Mitch comments on our guest’s philosophy of presence, even bringing in the sage advice of Guns n’ Roses. In a fast-paced business environment, we have to take the time to be present with our colleagues, friends, and families. He mentions author Celeste Headlee and her book We Need to Talk, in which she goes through a few key points on what we can do to be more present for others’ in our lives. There’s also some great lessons that can be learned from chickens and Mitch shares his experience on how hens act (and don’t act) when there is a rooster around. Finally, Gil turns the table, so to speak, and asks ESA’s Director of Communications, Erin Pruetz, about her favorite Mexican restaurant. A long-time resident of San Antonio, Erin says that she has her pick of great Mexican food, but that Aldaco’s is the place to go, where ceviche and chicken enchiladas divorciadas are two must-order dishes. Links: Celeste Headlee, We Need to Talk https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5US2XA/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Aldaco’s Mexican Cuisine https://aldacosrestaurants.com/locations-stone-oak/menu Whole Enchilada Socks https://www.thewholeenchiladapodcast.com/socks Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

Leading through change takes courage, but it also takes common sense. Know your strengths, lean on those around you, and take a moment to assess your plan before forging ahead. Start-up CEO Mitch Santala and his sidekick, Gil Moegerle, start the program by talking about adaptability and the entrepreneurial spirit. The point of The Whole Enchilada Podcast is to make the word entrepreneur more accessible – it’s not about starting or owning something, but rather about who you are and the spirit in which you lead. Mitch introduces 15-year financial industry veteran, Karen, and Gil asks her about adjusting her sales strategy in changing conditions. Karen talks about her leadership style and the three specific steps she took to pivot into the new business environment. Mitch expounds on Karen’s ideas with his own stories from his days leading young hikers through the Northern California mountains, referencing the basic rules of mountaineering: if you’re feeling lost, stop moving forward for a minute and tie yourself to others to survive. Karen then moves on to her philosophy that leadership not always easy, but how she leans on tried-and-true principles to march ahead even when she doesn’t want to. This resonates with Mitch, as he agrees that times of abrupt, sudden change are not the times to try new things. He even shares his methods for hearing the voice of calm in the midst of the storm. Finally, Erin Pruetz asks Karen The Whole Enchilada’s most important question: Where is your favorite Mexican restaurant and what are you ordering? Karen quickly answers with Casa Alde in Buda, TX, where she orders a Fattie – a breakfast taco stuffed with potato, egg, sausage, bacon, and cheese. She justifies having one because she won’t be hungry for another 12 hours (although her 16-year-old son can eat two!). Karen ends the podcast by encouraging listeners to support local business whenever they can. Links: Jumanji 2019: The Next Level https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7975244 How to Survive Anything: From Animal Attacks to the End of the World (and everything in between) https://www.amazon.com/How-Survive-Anything-Attacks-everything/dp/1681884585/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=how+to+survive+anything&qid=1611195387&sr=8-2 Bear Grylls https://www.beargrylls.com/ Casa Alde, Buda, TX https://www.helenscasaalde.com/ Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter    

Change is hard, but it’s a necessary part of leadership and a true sign of The Whole Enchilada Spirit. In this minisode, Mitch Santala talks to financial wholesaler Brad about the clarity he’s gained since the COVID-19 events of 2020. Gil Moegerle starts this minisode off with an introduction to The Whole Enchilada podcast and its vision of inspiring entrepreneurial leaders to embrace the changes of the current business environment. Mitch Santala talks about a key attribute of successful leaders and how the attribute truly captures The Whole Enchilada spirit. Gil quotes Dr. James Dobson’s belief on the importance of mental health and Mitch agrees, because 2020 was not just a one-off event. We will always have change in our lives and careers. He further illustrates this concept by sharing a story about stopping in for a coffee at a local shop – and what he was able to leave behind. Mitch then introduces financial wholesaler Brad, a 21-year industry veteran and leader. He’s been a client with ESA for more than 14 years and is a doer, versus just being a talker. Erin Pruetz asks Brad about how the pandemic has changed his day-to-day career operations and how it’s stayed the same. Brad surprisingly says that the changes that 2020 brought were refreshing. Erin asks if it’s going to be hard for him to return to his usual schedule one day and Brad makes an analogy between his job and a professional athlete. Mitch chimes in to talk about change bringing clarity. He discusses an encounter with a homeless man that opened Mitch’s eyes and brought him clarity he didn’t know he needed. Mitch mentions best-selling author Rick Warren and the three steps Rick believes every person should take to refresh their minds and gain clarity in their own lives. Gil moves on to ask Brad about his relationship with his scheduler and Mitch makes a point about not ignoring the small tasks just because they’re small. Brad likes scheduling about as much as the baker in the 1980s Dunkin’ Doughnuts’ commercial, “Time to Make the Doughnuts,” likes getting up early to bake dozens of different types of pastries. Finally, Brad talks about his favorite place to get Mexican food – Miguel’s in Tampa. He loves their chicken fajitas with sweet onions, sour cream, and queso and enjoys sharing the experience with his wife. Links: Dr. James Dobson https://www.drjamesdobson.org Tommy Boy https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114694 Pastor Rick Warren https://pastorrick.com Dunkin’ Doughnuts’ Commercial, “Time to Make the Doughnuts” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyZtMfMWONI Miguel’s Mexican Seafood and Grill, Tampa, FL http://www.miguelscafe.com/index.php   Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter  

In this episode, Mitch Santala talks to Executive Scheduling Associates’ client, Brett – a 25-year veteran of the life insurance industry – about how he adapted and lead his team through the 2020 pandemic and into today. After an introduction by host Gil Moegerle, Mitch talks about his take on leading through change – and that not everyone is successful at it. He continues, talking about The Whole Enchilada spirit that defines entrepreneurs, whether their occupation fits the traditional definition or not. Mitch also makes a Chuck Norris claim about how the martial arts master handles shifting trends and variations. Erin Pruetz asks Brett about how his business changed during the pandemic and how it also stayed the same. Brett’s answers about new types of communications and the challenges of virtual meetings lead Mitch to talk about his philosophy of forced change and what it can do to strong leaders and entrepreneurial spirits. He discusses adaptation, the pain of staying the same, and how innovation can quickly become tradition. Mitch also shares a personal story about his experience in a Class 4 white water rafting adventure and the invaluable leadership lessons that came from two pieces of advice from the guide. Brett weighs in on his best practices for managing time with clients and Mitch expands on it, advising that productivity may actually mean the opposite of what we’ve always assumed it means. As always, we asked our signature question, inviting Brett to whisk us away to the best Mexican food he’s ever had. Brett doesn’t hesitate to mention Chuy’s, a restaurant chain in the American South and Southwest, where he urges us to indulge in the Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom platter - chicken enchiladas smothered in a creamy pepper sauce. Links: The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PFC9MR0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful-ebook/dp/B07WF972WK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9LMN9X09C4HE&dchild=1&keywords=seven+habits+of+highly+effective+people&qid=1609991502&s=digital-text&sprefix=seven+habits%2Cdigital-text%2C183&sr=1-1 The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity by Kory Kogon, Adam Merrill, Leena Rinne https://www.amazon.com/Choices-Path-Extraordinary-Productivity-ebook/dp/B00LQMDZZI/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+five+choices&qid=1609991422&s=digital-text&sr=1-1 Chuy’s Mexican Food https://www.chuys.com/ Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

Mitch, Gil, Erin, and Isaac the Intern break down Mitch’s interview with veteran life insurance financial wholesaler, Brett Collins. Erin starts by saying that she appreciated Brett’s philosophy on being a mentor and being kind, brave, and clear with those he is leading, even knowing they may one day surpass him. There are throwbacks to 1980s and 90s sales tools, but the team lands on an important Brené Brown quote. Gil tackles the next leadership principle when he says that he related to Brett’s thoughts on taking no for an answer. He tells the story of his time in sales and the team reflects on the best quote of the episode. Isaac chimes in, remembering Kimberly Johnson’s “mining for wisdom” in Episode 3 and Mitch recalls Coach Greg’s style of mentorship from Episode 1. Mitch says his biggest interview takeaway was Brett’s abundance mentality. He goes into a theory proposed by authors Darrow Miller and Marit Newton. They say that there are two ways to view the world’s resources and that success for all can be achieved by choosing one of those paths. Gil recalls the 1970s oil embargo and that leads Erin to question Gil’s age. As always, Mitch asks our signature question, inviting Brett to step into Bill & Ted’s phone booth time machine and whisk them to the best Mexican food he’s ever had. Brett doesn’t hesitate to mention Chuy’s, a restaurant chain in the American South and Southwest, where he invites us to indulge in the Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom platter - chicken enchiladas smothered in a creamy pepper sauce. Links: Brené Brown https://brenebrown.com/ Dare to Lead by Brené Brown https://daretolead.brenebrown.com/ Daring Greatly by Brené Brown https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592408419/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwbrenebrown- 20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1592408419&linkId=21eb193ed088e8f79da43be84 0ac4dc9 LifeWork: A Biblical Theology for What You Do Every Day by Darrow Miller and Marit Newton https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009PQ9FLK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Chuy’s Mexican Food https://www.chuys.com/ Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

This episode is the full conversation between Mitch Santala and financial wholesaler Brett Collins. Brett and Mitch talk in-depth about the personal role mentorship takes as a leader and the type of mentality you have to keep if you plan to succeed as an entrepreneur. Mitch begins by asking Brett about betting on himself and taking risks rather than playing by the rules. Brett answers profoundly about actions and reactions and the vision that often lies in between. Apparently, Brett is pretty competitive, as evidenced by his reaction when Mitch asks him about how he’s gotten to his station in life. Mitch also touches on what it takes to taste the thrill of victory and the two mull over whether everyone has the ability to succeed at something. Brett goes on to talk about learning from winners and if there is ever fear of being replaced by someone who surpasses you in knowledge and/or skill. Mitch responds with some thoughts on maturity before moving to Brett’s thoughts on what kinds of reactions a leader takes when workplace disappointment happens – when the big sale gets away or a client leaves for a competitor. Finally, Mitch and Brett talk about work-life balance and Brett shares his distinct thoughts on the matter, on what success and failure really mean in the grand scheme of things. He also shares his two favorite leadership books – one of which is unexpected. As always, Mitch asks our signature question, inviting Brett to step into Bill & Ted’s phone booth time machine and whisk them to the best Mexican food he’s ever had. Brett doesn’t hesitate to mention Chuy’s, a restaurant chain in the American South and Southwest, where he invites to indulge in the Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom platter - chicken enchiladas smothered in a creamy pepper sauce. Links: Brené Brown https://brenebrown.com/ Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Gallup https://www.amazon.com/StrengthsFinder-2-0-Tom-Rath/dp/159562015X Who Moved My Cheese? By Spencer Johnson https://www.amazon.com/Who-Moved-My-Cheese-Amazing/dp/0399144463/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=who+moved+my+cheese&qid=1604366900&s=books& sr=1-2 Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss https://www.amazon.com/Green-Eggs-Ham-Dr-Seuss/dp/0394800168/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=green+eggs+and+ham&qid=1604366967&s=books&sr=1-1 Chuy’s Mexican Food https://www.chuys.com/ Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

Mitch, Gil, Erin, and Isaac the Intern tackle Mitch’s interview with Washington DC-area PR professional Jamie Higdon. After Isaac the Intern gets a serious snubbing, Gil dives right into his take on Jamie’s crisis communication quote, where she delivers one of our favorite lines ever. Gil recalls his experience in the PR field when the company he worked for had to train all of their employees to speak on their behalf during a crisis and how your employees are your most important assets and always your primary audience. Gil also delivers a funny line that’s a close second to Jamie’s. Erin is struck by Jamie’s surprising lack of definition of an entrepreneurial leader, citing her kids and their proclivities toward entrepreneurialism. As a mom, Erin agrees because her own kids display totally different skill sets, any of which could lead to entrepreneurial leadership. Isaac the Intern says that, as a recent college graduate, he’s in the thick of Jamie’s non-definition of entrepreneurialism. And while there may not be a class on being an entrepreneur, he was encouraged throughout his education to do entrepreneurial things. Mitch dives into Jamie’s answer to the question, “How do you do it all?” and focuses on the importance of timing, including Cher’s 1989 wish for the ability to go back in time. He says you can’t pay attention to everything…you’ll just end up paying attention to nothing at all. Mitch finishes his thoughts with a challenge to our listeners about the importance of timing over time. Finally, Mitch asks Jamie our signature question about her favorite Mexican food restaurant and what she’ll order. While there is no shortage of fine dining options in the DC area, Jamie says that she would take us to La Lomita Dos Mexican Food on Pennsylvania Avenue, where she would dive into the warm chips and salsa and order a double portion of the chicken and beef fajitas. Ahhh…we can hear the sizzle now. Links: “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All” The Atlantic, July/August 2012. Anne-Marie Slaughter. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-cant-have-it-all/309020/?gclid=CjwKCAjwlbr8BRA0EiwAnt4MTlicoC7CNtNMfN9ScDTsN5ms7HdsjiLSDtUo4m0PSpkqvY0AYya6TBoCqjcQAvD_BwE Book: The One Thing. Authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. https://www.the1thing.com/ La Lomita Dos Mexican Food https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g28970-d481018-Reviews-La_Lomita_Dos_Pennsylvania_Ave-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

This episode features the uncut conversation between Mitch Santala and Washington DC-area PR professional Jamie Higdon. Jamie and Mitch discuss a wide range of leadership topics, from what defines an entrepreneur all the way down to reaching the end of your leadership path. Jamie starts the conversation by responding to Mitch’s question about what defines an entrepreneur and how everyone defines it a little differently. According to Jamie, there are two types. The two move onto “The Whole Enchilada Spirit” where Jamie cites an article she read in 2012 (see link below) and how it lead her to the philosophy that you can have it all…but that you may have to shift some things around to make it happen. Mitch parlays that answer into his next question about how Jamie juggles multiple roles and projects at once. Jamie remarks that priorities have to be adaptable, while still maintaining structure. She gives a unique definition to her decisions and talks about her approach to seizing opportunities. The conversation moves to the importance of a support system, both personally and professionally, and Mitch remarks that chances of success are a lot higher for those who have a team of supporters versus those who try to do it all on their own. Jamie delivers the best line of the interview as she and Mitch delve into the role of communications in a company. Jamie shares her philosophy on how to be an entrepreneur with the knowledge you already have. She also talks about limitations and how important it is to be humble when you don’t have an answer. She also gives a surprising answer about where she sees the end of her communications journey. Finally, Mitch asks Jamie our signature question about her favorite Mexican food restaurant and what she’ll order. While there is no shortage of fine dining options in the DC area, Jamie says that she would take us to La Lomita Dos Mexican Food on Pennsylvania Avenue, where she would dive into the warm chips and salsa and order a double portion of the chicken and beef fajitas. Ahhh…we can hear the sizzle now. Links: “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All” The Atlantic, July/August 2012. Anne-Marie Slaughter. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-cant-have-it-all/309020/?gclid=CjwKCAjwlbr8BRA0EiwAnt4MTlicoC7CNtNMfN9ScDTsN5ms7HdsjiLSDtUo4m0PSpkqvY0AYya6TBoCqjcQAvD_BwE Book: The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive. Author Patrick Lencioni. https://www.tablegroup.com/books/obsessions/  La Lomita Dos Mexican Food https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g28970-d481018-Reviews-La_Lomita_Dos_Pennsylvania_Ave-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

This week the Whole Enchilada Team discusses Mitch’s interview with Garrett Viggers, a founder of Limelight Health, a service that streamlines insurance sales and underwriting processes. Limelight Health’s recent acquisition by FINEOS is the classic fairy tale ending, after a journey fraught with uncertainty and unclear paths. Mitch, Gil, Erin, and Isaac the Intern dive right in, talking about what they personally took away from Garrett’s story. Erin says that Garrett’s conversation about Saint Brendan resonated with her personally, as there was a time in her life when she didn’t know exactly which path to take, while also knowing there was no turning back. Gil talks about Garrett’s version of “Eye of the Tiger” as a leadership principle – that leaders need to encourage their charges to get up off the ground, even when they feel like it’s not worth getting up again. To further that point, leaders need to pick themselves up off the ground, while still being vulnerable enough to admit that they were knocked down but are going to dust themselves off and try again. Isaac the Intern tries to convince everyone he’s never just sat back and played it safe, but the rest of the group has differing opinions. Mitch finishes up the discussion with a rendition of a scene from The Lion King that took everyone by surprise. Finally, Mitch and Garrett salivate over the tacos al pastor at Garrett’s favorite Mexican food restaurant, Taqueria Los Gordos. Links: Limelight Health https://www.limelighthealth.com Eye of the Tiger (Get Up Off the Ground) https://www.iheart.com/artist/garrett-viggers-33015192/songs/eye-of-the-tiger-get-up-73615015/ Garrett Viggers https://www.instagram.com/garrettviggers https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-viggers-90332a20 Taqueria Los Gordos https://www.losgordosredding.com/ Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

This is the uncut version of Mitch Santala’s conversation with Garrett Viggers, a cofounder of Limelight Health (which has since been acquired by FINEOS for 75 million dollars), a service that streamlines insurance sales and underwriting processes. Garrett’s inspiration comes from an unlikely source and he is led by the experience of having to give up one dream to make room for another. Mitch and Garrett start by talking about Garrett’s background in music and how insurance is the last place he expected to land. A devastating event early on paved the path toward his success with Limelight. Mitch asks about Garrett’s first year as a start-up founder and the two talk about the excitement and fear that come with doing everything yourself. Garrett goes into detail about the importance of hiring the right people at the right time and recognizing your own limitations. He also says there is an evolutionary process in building a team. Mitch and Garrett chat about the challenges of maintaining integrity while selling from a prototype and the complexity of saying, “Yes we can!” and then actually fulfilling that promise.  There is also a poignant story about why Garrett’s son was desperate for his dad to go barefoot in the house. Garrett goes on to answer a question about surviving starting up a company and he gives a surprising answer about authenticity and vulnerability. He also cites his biggest sources of encouragement…two men whose paths couldn’t have been more different, but that ultimately led them to successfully make their permanent marks on history. Garrett also talks about how his return to an authentic expression of music helped him build a healthy internal culture as well as connect with the insurance industry through music and virtual concerts. In fact, Garrett picks up his guitar and sings his version on "The Eye of the Tiger." Finally, Mitch and Garrett salivate over the tacos al pastor at Garrett’s favorite local Mexican food restaurant, Taqueria Los Gordos. Links: Limelight Health https://www.limelighthealth.com Eye of the Tiger (Get Up Off the Ground) https://www.iheart.com/artist/garrett-viggers-33015192/songs/eye-of-the-tiger-get-up-73615015/ Garrett Viggers https://www.instagram.com/garrettviggers https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-viggers-90332a20 Taqueria Los Gordos https://www.losgordosredding.com/ Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

Mitch Santala, Gil Moegerle, Erin Pruetz, and Isaac the Intern discuss Mitch’s interview with Kimberly Johnson, the CEO of the non-profit Children’s Legacy Center of Shasta County, in episode three. The four participants begin by highlighting some of Kimberly’s best points – her decision to put down one dream to fulfill a greater need, her desire to learn from others, and the perspective needed to do both. Gil points out Kimberly’s desire to serve and the group discusses the beauty in the simplicity of saying, “Your needs before mine.” Isaac the Intern may not have as many years of experience as Mitch, Gil, and Erin, but he shares a powerful story about a servant leader in his life. Erin brings up Kimberly’s mastery in learning from others and equates Kimberly’s practice of reaching outside her immediate circle to an unexpected analogy: the airline safety briefing. The highlight of the interview for Mitch was the perspective Kimberly had to find when all she could see around her were the weeds. The group discusses her very poignant story of what happened on April 19, 2019, which would become a turning point for her, with the help and support of her husband and children.  The conversation ends when Kimberly decides she wants to take a jet time machine to her two favorite Mexican restaurants. The first is a taco stand just inside the Mexican border, South of San Diego, where she says the al pastor tacos are life changing. The second is a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles where they serve a white queso with chili oil that, if given the opportunity, she would bathe in. Links: The Children’s Legacy Center of Shasta County https://www.childrenslegacycenter.org/ Book: Heaven Help Us! Dr. Steven Lawson https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Help-Us-Eternity-Christian/dp/0891099123 Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

This is the uncut version of Mitch Santala’s conversation with Kimberly Johnson, the CEO of the Children’s Legacy Center of Shasta County, where she has created a better way to assist children who have been neglected or abused. Mitch and Kimberly talk about the importance of failure, putting one vision on hold to focus on another, and that life doesn’t always look pretty. The conversation opens when Mitch asks Kimberly about the Children’s Legacy Center and how her vision evolved into what we see today. Kimberly talks about how her initial idea and timeline were cast aside in order to fill a need that was different from her vision. They continue to discuss the risks and tensions that come with entrepreneurship and how embracing the failures along the way is what makes you stronger.  Kimberly even talks about a very raw day when she decided she needed to walk away from the project for good. Mitch and Kimberly examine perspective and legacy and how to rally your team around a common goal. They also tackle the struggle between ego and humility – and what they discovered may surprise you. Kimberly fully admits to her messy life – a husband who does more than his fair share of shopping and laundry, kids who spend too much time on devices, and a car that’s never clean. But she embraces her daily struggles and allows herself to be perfectly imperfect. The conversation ends when Kimberly decides she wants to take a jet time machine to her two favorite Mexican restaurants. The first is a taco stand just inside the Mexican border, South of San Diego, where she says the al pastor tacos are life changing. The second is a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles where they serve a white queso with chili oil that, if given the opportunity, she would bathe in. Links: The Children’s Legacy Center of Shasta County. https://www.childrenslegacycenter.org/ Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

The Whole Enchilada team talks about the interview Mitch had with Greg Grandell, one of California's winningest coaches, in episode one. They talk about building an organizational culture marked by championship talk, 10-and-0 attitudes, and the meaning of servant leadership. The episode ends with a description from Greg of the best enchiladas he has eaten, including a side of pork ribs, from his favorite Mexican restaurant. Erin is intrigued by Greg’s story of having his team – from the star quarterback to the fourth string center – clean an irrigation ditch in a cow pasture. This perfect illustration of teamwork resonates with the entire table talk group as a reminder that in high-performing organizations, everyone is in it together, doing both the dirty and the glory work, celebrating the wins, and mourning the losses. Gil then comments on Greg’s practice of leading from values more than emotion. Gil cites a story Greg tells about attending conferences with his younger coaching staff even though he felt like being home, to set an example of continuous learning. Mitch hones in on the organizational culture that Greg builds, instilling a belief that life is more than just winning. “It’s about the journey, what we are learning and who we are becoming,” Mitch comments. Finally, Greg takes us on a quick trip via a Delorian with a flux capacitor to Cabo San Lucas, where we visit The Office, a residence-turned-restaurant on Medano Beach. Here we sample, via our imaginations, what Greg believes are the best enchiladas in history. Links: Roland Tiangco, “The Future Belongs to the Few of Us Still Willing to Get Our Hands Dirty." http://www.accidentalmysteries.com/blog/2009/12/future-belongs-to-roland-tiangco.html   The Karate Kid https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087538/   The Office on the Beach, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico http://www.theofficeonthebeach.com/   Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

This is the unabridged version of Mitch Santala’s conversation with Coach Greg Grandell, one of the winningest high school football coaches in California. The two leaders discuss developing a winning organizational culture, leadership principles, and building championship character in business and in a football program. Mitch and Coach Greg discuss the power of language (what the coach refers to as “championship talk”) to shape an organization’s culture and the importance of aligning the values of a culture. They describe how to maintain a consistent philosophy across an institution and the power of modeling desired behaviors. Greg tells stories about learning that the journey to victory is as important as winning. And he talks about how he builds trust among those who follow him. Mitch asks Greg how he sustains his passion for leading young men and how he created staff loyalty resulting in a coaching team with 20 years of partnership. They agree that leaders need to be approachable, grateful, and forgiving. Greg tells the story of how he became involved in coaching, from being the child of divorce who needed structure coaches provided to reading a world leader’s quote, “coaches often impact more lives in one year than most of us do in a lifetime.” Finally, Greg responds to our signature final question about where to find great Mexican food. Coach takes us on a trip to Cabo San Lucas to visit a residence-turned-restaurant on Medano Beach that serves what Greg believes are the very best enchiladas in history. Links: Seasons of Life by Jim Rohn https://www.amazon.com/Seasons-Life-Jim-Rohn/dp/0939490005 Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

Here comes the first season of our new podcast on leading with an entrepreneurial spirit. You’ve noticed. We call it The Whole Enchilada. And we agree - it’s a weird name for a podcast about leading start-ups, for-profits, and nonprofits. This trailer will help explain things. (Full disclosure – the title still might not make sense until you get to the 2:45 mark).  Help us get the word out of this new podcast by sharing it with people you think will enjoy it. Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher. Follow us: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter