Working On Purpose

Have you noticed there’s a lot of talk today about the importance of developing a resilient, “growth” mindset? There’s good reason for it as mounting research indicates the potency and efficacy of a strong mindset geared toward persistence, growth, and possibility. But why do so many people fear and avoid failure, when it’s one of the most potent learning devices ever devised? In this episode, we talk with mental skills and performance coach Edward Watson about how to cultivate a growth mindset and embrace failure. Also, Mr. Watson will share the perspective he’s cultivated about the differences between boys and girls in terms of how they handle stress as derived from the years of work he’s done in schools. Finally, he’ll discuss the perils of a global society’s fixation and over reliance on cell or iphones, and how their use very poorly positions young people entering the workforce.

Sometimes our very best opportunities for learning come from our most devastating life experiences, which is exactly the case for this episode. As an 8th grader, Jaret was only 90 pounds, won only one wrestling match, and was constantly picked on and bullied. He was able to more than double his body weight, get down to 6 percent body fat, and become one of New York’s best wrestlers and eventually became a 3x All-American Wrestler at Bryant University. Jaret's mission in co-creating his company, brand, and product was to help debunk fitness myths that have existed for decades and help millions of people change their bodies naturally like he was able to without deprivation. Today he uses these lessons learned from wrestling to help people develop a winning mindset in all areas of life such as business, relationships and total well-being. He has also discovered an 8-part process to help people find fulfillment.

In our fast-pasted, competition-driven world, glory goes to the ladder-climbers, the highly ambitious, the “movers & shakers” while those who are satisfied with their supporting roles are seen as lacking drive or vision. But a business would utterly fail without the expertise of followers supporting the CEO and the company’s mission. The important question we should be asking is “How can followers win when leaders get all the glory?” Unencumbered by the need to drive toward share value or other leadership challenges, followers can focus on their areas of interest, refining their skills without distraction or over-stimulation. In this episode, Baldwin shares the top five qualities employers seek when looking for great followers to support their companies, some ways followers can improve their success and fulfillment at work, and some things leaders can do for their supporters to promote thriving work environments that everyone will appreciate.

After falling into the restaurant business, Brett Randle found a career that allows him to live his purpose through his faith. Now with 16 locations across the North Texas area, he revels in feeding the stomachs and souls of his customers and 250 employees through his faith-based restaurants. At Soulman’s, he and his team profoundly understand that culture eats strategy for breakfast and so have purposely created theirs to excel at food, service, and cleanliness. In this episode, Brett shares his own journey into the restaurant business, how he and his team created their culture based on faith, the importance of being a creative follower, and how he has developed his own leadership style over the years that lets him live his faith at work.

The workplace is comprised of women who excel at empathy and communication and men who bring the “hard skills” like critical thinking and problem solving… right? Uh no, not so much. But that type of either-or thinking is all too common. Unfortunately, it does not serve the interests of the men and women who make up the workforce nor the businesses who rely on their contribution of talent. So, what can we do to embrace the traditionally gender-associated talents in both men and women in today’s marketplace, and enable each person to contribute to their fullest performance? Tune into this episode to join the movement and “expand the conversation.”

Did you know that there is an actual neuroscience in communication that explains why words have a certain impact on us? And that we can consciously choose language to have an intentional impact on our listeners? No matter what kind of work we do, having the skill to choose our words for maximum impact can make all the difference in our results. And as we navigate our professional lives, it’s likely our interests will change and we’ll feel compelled to seek a new or different ways to make our livelihood – but how to identify our latent or emerging talents? And finally, the manner we manage our diets, finance, and even relationships both at work and at home can be classified as either “cleansing or clogging.” In this episode, we explore these seemingly independent ideas and how they can be practiced and woven together for a happier, more productive set of results at work and at home.

Staff Sergeant Jason Morgan served in the United States Air Force as a member of an elite unit that provided meteorological and combat support for special operations missions. In 1999, with only a few days left in his deployment in Ecuador with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, SSgt. Morgan came under fire by a militant terrorist group and ultimately was thrown from the vehicle he was riding in, crushing his back, and leaving him paralyzed and face down in contaminated water. After two months in a coma, the road to recovery for SSgt. Morgan was long and daunting, plagued with debilitating pain, infections, and dozens of surgeries, as well as a leg amputation. But despite the immeasurable challenges SSgt. Morgan has faced over the past 17 years, he still has an incredible thirst for life and adventure. In this episode, we talk about the importance of overcoming adversity and the purpose that can be found in service to others.

Developing the next generation of the workforce is a formidable endeavor, and one the guest of this episode does not take lightly. Rather, Principal Evan Robb believes students need to develop a growth mindset, be encouraged to think creatively, and are nourished by inspiration, something he relishes providing in his various forms of communication. In this episode, we explore the current challenges in middle school education and how Principal Robb delights in addressing them and turning them to positive advantage, connecting with the community, and serving as a force to raise the bar in education across the nation.

Corporate wellness programs today are common conversation fodder, and on this program we’ve featured many kinds of professionals who specialize in various corporate offerings. But consider the environment we work in and how it’s set up, which can make all the difference to our productivity, comfort, and contentment. And we often take the ambient nature of our surroundings for granted or don’t pay them much mind, until we recognize work isn’t going as well as we would like it to. Or, someone like this episode’s guest comes into a workplace and waves her magic, professionally trained ergonomic wand and poof, we feel more “at home” at work, less tension in our bodies, and able to focus more readily on our tasks. In this episode, we’ll talk about the four “M”s critical to productivity in today’s workplace and a couple of practices listeners can immediately put to work to make their personal and work lives less stressful and more productive.

Today’s workplace can register as incredibly stressful and yet also allow for magnificent opportunities for personal self-expression and the registration of meaningful impact for the employees who work within corporate settings. In order to perform optimally in such a challenging environment, exceptional professionals and leaders are learning the importance and payoff of understanding their fears in depth and working through them to create new, healthier behavioral patterns that are conducive to deeper relationships, better results, and increased innovation. Similarly, working to increase levels of self-confidence in order to leverage that strength across other seemingly non-related situations also gives professionals an edge. In this episode, we talk with a. n expert who helps professionals across many industries, job titles and professions find the courage and confidence to overcome obstacles, achieve targeted results with velocity and ask for what they want, and get it.

During his young teen years, Christopher Scott was given a prophecy by a priest who had occasion to meet him – that he would live a remarkable life – but would have to endure some horrific things along the way. Little did he know at the time just how resoundingly true and sobering this utterance would be. Only a few years later, Christopher would find himself in prison for a murder he did not commit, spend 13 years locked behind bars and miss seeing his two young children grow up and receive his tutelage. During his time in prison, he read voraciously and learned the plight of countless other men who had similar stories of being wrongfully convicted. And there prior to his release, the House of Renewed Hope was born. Today as free men, Christopher and his team travel the state of Texas to investigate wrongful conviction cases and literally breathe hope into the lives of people serving time, many of whom have been behind bars for more than three decades – truly a man “working on purpose.”

What is it we do every day at work? We communicate. At its simplest, that’s speaking, writing, and listening. Since we do these things every day and often all day long, you might think we’d be pretty good at them. But it’s not necessarily so! Few professionals take the time and effort to cultivate these talents, and many view them as “soft skills that are nice to have but not critical to success.” Yet professionals enjoy a clear advantage when able to deliver clear and concise messages, whether in writing or speaking. Persuasive communication skills help us get noticed at work and will often distinguish a career in excellence versus mediocrity. Further, listening and communicating to resolve or minimize conflict strengthens us in a leadership role, when part of a team, or in serving clients. In this episode, we’ll talk with a communication expert who will share information, tips, and communication tools that have transformed careers, and are sure to help you.

At the heart of business transformation is often the kernel of individual, personal transformation – as this episode’s guest can attest. Anna Scheller’s passion in her work is fueled by experiencing the change she experienced in her own businesses as a result of investment in professional sales training. In one year, she increased the revenues in her corporate housing business 50 percent and doubled the volume in her network marketing business. She personally knows the power of setting challenging but attainable goals and rigorous time management to produce enviable sales results. In this episode, Anna shares her keen insights into the art and practice of sales and some of the practices she imparts in her workshops to help bring sales people to their best game.

With a focus on long-term health and longevity, it is important that we stay strong and healthy to contribute to our families, our society, and certainly in our workplaces. It used to be the case that we all wore the badge of honor of sleep deprivation and no time to exercise, but our top tiers are seeing their teams differently today. They want healthy, refreshed, wide-awake team members who are vigorous and strong with a positive attitude. Mindfulness Based Stress reduction programs are on the lips of our executives, and many of our C level executives are participating in these kinds of activities themselves including meditation and Yoga. It’s not enough that we are going for our edge in our fields, we want to say there in good health. This means a cleaner diet, appropriate hours of sleep, vigorous exercise, and a mindfulness based stress reduction program.

What’s in a life? What are all the important twists and turns that help make up a person and turn him into a success? And what critical lessons are learned along the way? In this episode, we speak with CEO Donald Thompson, an African American technology leader who has created and navigated an unlikely path to success and who’s on a tear to help his fellow young and aspiring entrepreneurs and others find their own leadership path. Having grown his own career in technology, then leadership, then founding a few companies along the way, to investing in other companies, he’s got a few things he likes to share with others trying to make it in business and leadership. Tune in for a healthy dose of inspiration, guidance, and education!

How can breaking out of our comfort zone help us become better leaders? Why does being mindful matter to productivity? And what’s this business about acceptance and commitment therapy helping innovation – how so? In this episode, we talk with a leading psychologist from Ireland who shares her expertise and experience working with individuals and corporate clients to help them achieve more purposeful lives and business results. She is easy to listen to and has a flair for painting a colorful picture of her work with poetic language and of course a beautiful accent.

The Hunt Institute will unveil its wonderfully ambitious EVIE project for Earth Day 2017.

Surviving and thriving in today’s business world requires passion, focus, and a healthy supply of determination. It’s not enough simply to have a good idea; rather, executives today must continually refine their business strategy and sometimes their core offerings to respond to the changing demands of the market. As the refinement process ever continues, remaining open to ongoing chance encounters with prospects and opportunities can be a critical strategy for a company to remain viable and vibrant. At the same time, maintaining a sense of intentionality and purpose in everyday activities is important to maintain productivity. In this episode, we talk with a former large-company executive and current entrepreneur about these perspectives that inform his approach to building the start-up company he co-founded.

At a time when few women were in leadership roles, let alone starting their own companies, Sheila Liberman pioneered an entirely new industry. Founding her pharmacist staffing company in 1980, people told her it would never be a real business. By 2008, RPh on the GO USA was earning $35 million in revenues and was the largest pharmacist staffing business in that niche in the country, doing business in 46 states and in Quam and the Virgin Islands. Prior to the sale of her company, Sheila endured a healthcare crisis of her own, her response to which helped usher her into the next chapter of her professional life serving as a health, wellness, and nutrition consultant to people who wish to lead healthier and happier lives.

Entrepreneurs come in many varieties: some are natural born it seems, while others emerge over the course of their working careers. Assuredly, once the enterprise is founded, it reflects the personality and values of its founder. For example, Amazech Solutions, founded by a woman originally from India, prides itself in hiring mothers who don’t all necessarily have a pure technology background. This cadre of professionals bring a curious, inquisitive approach to their software coding that the founder believes sets her company apart from others. Running the business has allowed the founder to have an impact in her community in ways that are congruent with her sense of identity and purpose. And growing the business over the years has challenged her to rise to new levels she didn’t know she had, a satisfying way to cultivate a full and meaningful life.