Ambition and Grit

Once just a boy in a small farming town of Marion, Indiana, Dave Liniger found his path as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and visionary in the world of real estate. His journey serves as a testament to the power of ambition and grit.

Main Topics:

Dave's personal backstory - He grew up in a small farming community called Marion, Indiana. His parents divorced when he was young, and he struggled to find himself during his early years. Despite these challenges, he was able to overcome and build his dream business.

Choosing the right career path - Dave shares his perspective on pursuing a college education and advises individuals to carefully consider their goals and what they want to do. College is not for everyone, and exploring other options like the military can provide valuable experiences and direction.

Building a successful business - Dave emphasizes the importance of hard work, following one's own path, and surrounding oneself with influential figures. He found inspiration from military heroes and learned from observing successful people. Being passionate about one's work can be instrumental in achieving success and avoiding the feeling of "going to work."

Episode Links:
To listen to more episodes of the Ambition and Grit podcast and learn more about Dave's story: visit ambitionandgrit.com.
To stay updated and continue enjoying the show: hit "subscribe" and leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.
Ways to Connect:

Email: For any questions, inquiries, or connecting directly with the podcast team, you can email them at [email protected].

Connect with Dave:
Follow Ambition and Grit on various social media platforms for updates, quotes, and behind-the-scenes content:

https://www.daveliniger.com

https://www.instagram.com/davelinigerofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/DaveLLiniger

https://www.linkedin.com/company/davelinigerofficial/ 

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J.R. Martinez is an Army veteran and burn survivor turned inspirational speaker and author. While deployed in Iraq in the wake of 9/11, J.R.’s humvee hit a roadside bomb, ejecting the other troops and trapping him inside the burning vehicle. In those horrifying moments, this resilient warrior thought of his immigrant mother who taught him what it means to use difficult situations as opportunities. J.R. awoke in the burn unit at a hospital in Texas where he would undergo many painful surgeries and begin the long road to recovery. 

Growing up with a single mother who did not know English and had no more than a third grade education, J.R. struggled through school, bullying and the challenges of poverty. His dream was to play football in the NFL, but life had other plans for him. Instead of playing football, he enlisted in the Army after graduation because he wanted to serve his country. Even at a young age, J.R. felt immense gratitude for everything that was available to him in the United States. Those early years of persevering through difficulties were preparing him to blaze his own path in the future instead of allowing tragedy to overwhelm him. Now he travels the country sharing his inspiring story and encouraging others that success begins with an unwavering mindset. Believing we have the power to face adversity and use it to fuel our dreams is the biggest legacy J.R. is passing on to his family and his audience. 

Main Topics

• Childhood with a single, immigrant mother (01:15)
• How instability prepared J.R. for change (03:15)
• J.R.’s combat trauma in Iraq (07:10)
• Affirmations for resiliency (12:40)
• J.R.’s most valuable legacy is family (14:25)

Episode Links

• https://jrmartinez.com

Connect with J.R.:

https://www.facebook.com/iamjrmartinez

https://twitter.com/iamjrmartinez

https://www.instagram.com/iamjrmartinez/

Connect with Dave:

https://www.daveliniger.com

https://www.instagram.com/davelinigerofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/DaveLLiniger

https://www.linkedin.com/company/davelinigerofficial/ 

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Dave Liniger shares hard-won wisdom and practical strategies for using competition to boost your business. In this episode, he tells the little known story about a lawsuit that threatened to destroy RE/MAX in its early years. Because RE/MAX was a rapidly growing change agent in the real estate industry, they became a target for their competition. A competing real estate company attempted to sue the company over bogus claims, which the jury recognized. They overwhelmingly decided in favor of RE/MAX. But not before six months had passed in litigation, during which time the other company hoped to bankrupt RE/MAX with legal fees. Once Dave and RE/MAX won the trial, he used the experience of being targeted to his advantage. 

As Dave grew into an icon in his industry, he began using ethically sourced intelligence about his competition as an important foundation for growth. He recommends gathering information on your top competitors’ strengths and weaknesses and using it to build your company’s growth benchmark. Another great way to outperform your competitors is by harnessing the most important resource already available to you— your employees. Those who work in the field have a unique perspective on specific challenges and can offer specialized insights. Finally, the best approach to staying ahead of the competition is by taking small steps on a consistent basis towards your goals. This allows for adaptability and constant reflection throughout the evolution of your business. And remember— if you’re a target, that probably means you’re doing something right. 

Main Topics

• Early resistance to innovative compensation models (01:40)
• Constant litigation threatened to destroy the company (03:23)
• Shifting the mindset towards competitors (06:45)
• Learning from competitors (08:30)
• Applying the Kaizen concept to business (11:20)
• Utilizing employees for growth plans (13:10)

Connect with Dave:

https://www.daveliniger.com

https://www.instagram.com/davelinigerofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/DaveLLiniger

https://www.linkedin.com/company/davelinigerofficial/ 

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Adam Contos has had quite the career— from SWAT team leader to executive leadership professor to CEO of RE/MAX, his passion is changing people’s lives. In his retirement, Adam continues mentoring others in becoming as successful as they want to be. Sharing wisdom from his life experiences in the military, on the police force and in the boardroom, Adam embodies what it means to practice ambition and grit through life’s greatest challenges. Through Dave’s mentorship and his own inherent drive to be the best he could be, Adam tackled seemingly impossible tasks like earning a masters degree and running a global corporation at the same time. Even though his friendship with Dave was his door into the company, nothing was given to him. He proved himself every day by utilizing communication skills and knowledge of people to excel at one of the largest corporate real estate companies in the world. He encourages young entrepreneurs to find themselves a mentor and take full advantage of the wisdom offered through the relationship. Investing in people is the best way to model human-centered leadership that builds healthy teams and a powerful work culture.  

 Main Topics

• Adam’s wholesome childhood in Colorado (00:40)
• Experiences and lessons from the SWAT team (02:55)
• Adam and Dave meet on a ride along (05:20)
• Key traits of great leaders (07:38)
• The most rewarding aspects of police service (09:10)
• Transferable leadership skills for any industry (11:30)
• Mentorship requires action (13:30)
• Transitioning between industries (14:25)
• Adam becomes CEO at RE/MAX and earns a master's degree (15:30)
• Learning from the lessons (18:26)

Episode Links

• https://adamcontos.com/book

Connect with Adam:

https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO

https://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

https://www.youtube.com/c/AdamContosCEO

Connect with Dave:

https://www.daveliniger.com

https://www.instagram.com/davelinigerofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/DaveLLiniger

https://www.linkedin.com/company/davelinigerofficial/ 

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From decades of wisdom forged in the fire of trial and error, Dave shares practical tips for building strong teams within an organization. One of the greatest challenges business owners face in today’s market is employee retention. 

The first and most important step to creating a successful team is the hiring process. During the interview, it is important to ask questions about previous places of employment and how long they worked there. Not everyone is a service-oriented superstar, so if one such person shows up for an interview, it’s beneficial to spend extra money hiring a strong employee. 

Diversity and inclusion are also priorities when building a team. It’s not enough to simply meet a quota; people need to feel connected. Feeling like part of a team is correlated with higher retention rates and employee satisfaction. Offer consistent gratitude and appreciation for all team members. 

And finally, the best way to fine-tune team building leadership is by asking for honest feedback from employees who leave the company. As Dave leads by example, the best way to keep people happy at work is by getting to know them personally and investing in those important relationships.  

Main Topics

• Retention starts with the hiring process (01:15)
• Three categories of employees (02:18)
• Building a diverse workforce through inclusion (05:50)
• Communicating to an employee that they’re important (07:25)
• Employees are motivated by being part of a team (11:30)
• Ask for feedback when people leave the company (14:50)
• Leadership begins with building relationships (17:50) 

Episode Links

• Bullet point links to the main sources you used in your research, to additional clips and media played during the episode, to your guests’ websites and social media, and any other further reading.

Connect with Dave:

https://www.daveliniger.com

https://www.instagram.com/davelinigerofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/DaveLLiniger

https://www.linkedin.com/company/davelinigerofficial/ 

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Since opening her first dance studio at age 20, Misty Lown has grown into a powerful leader, author and philanthropist in the global dance community through her tenacious determination. When her path crossed with Dave’s at a conference many years ago, he observed her passion and preparedness and knew she was someone worth investing in. Thus began Dave and Misty’s mentorship, which bloomed into a beautiful friendship built on mutual respect and inspiration. 

When Misty pursued her dream of running her own dance studio instead of studying in New York to become a professional dancer, people thought she was crazy to pass up the opportunity. But she understood her calling even though she didn’t have the knowledge or skills required to be successful in business at the time. Recognizing those gaps motivated her to conduct her own investigation and learn from experts in the field. Now she works with studios all over the world, providing them with training resources and growth models that make the power of dance accessible for thousands of young people. Her service mindset is fueled by the desire to give back the way other people gave to her. Whatever Misty does, she does it with all her heart and attention, which means her influence grows at both an individual and community level. 

Main Topics

• Misty and Dave’s unique friendship (0:54)
• Misty starts her first business in her 20’s with a dream (03:56)
• Challenges she had to overcome (05:25)
• Expanding her business to a licensing model (06:50)
• Misty’s makes an impact at community and individual levels (08:00)
• The success of her family is her greatest pride and joy (09:35)
• Finding harmony vs. balance (10:40)
• Misty’s most impactful experiences with Dave’s mentorship (12:00)

Episode Links

• https://mistylown.com

Connect with Misty:

https://www.instagram.com/mistylown/

https://www.facebook.com/misty.w.lown

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mistylown/

Connect with Dave:

https://www.daveliniger.com

https://www.instagram.com/davelinigerofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/DaveLLiniger

https://www.linkedin.com/company/davelinigerofficial/ 

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When Dave Liniger founded RE/MAX in the early 1970s, the statistics of women attending college and seeking professional jobs outside the home were just beginning to increase. The real estate industry was traditionally an “old boys club” run by older men who were resistant to change. Women were not easily welcomed into sales and had to fight for opportunities to prove themselves equal to their male counterparts. RE/MAX was an early pioneer for providing equal employment opportunities for women, largely impacted by the leadership skills of Dave’s wife, Gail.

Today, Dave has been influential in growing the percentage of women at the executive level. He has served on committees that provide education about the benefits of placing women in leadership positions, such as a typically more inclusive and personal leadership style. Transitioning away from the traditional militaristic approach to management increases productivity and retention rates. Placing well-qualified women in leadership roles is imperative to the success of any company, and Dave is hopeful about the changes he’s witnessed over the past several decades. As men and women work together to shatter the glass ceiling, we build a better future with more equity and inclusion in the workforce.

Main Topics

• Post-WWII changes for women in the workforce (01:10)
• The real estate industry’s resistance to change (02:30)
• RE/MAX pioneers opportunities for women in sales (04:20)
• Women in leadership are essential to success in business (07:40)
• How Dave’s wife impacted the development of RE/MAX (09:05)
• Actively working towards change at the C-suite level (13:00)
• The future is bright for women leaders in many arenas (14:25)

Connect with Dave:

https://www.daveliniger.com

https://www.instagram.com/davelinigerofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/DaveLLiniger

https://www.linkedin.com/company/davelinigerofficial/ 

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Mike Kelly is the proud owner of family-founded Jimmy Kelly’s Steakhouse in Nashville, TN, the oldest fine dining establishment in the city. In the hospitality industry, Mike has hosted guests from all corners of the world including a long list of local and global celebrities. But what is most important to him is preserving the legacy of his family. Mike’s great grandfather Jimmy, an irish immigrant seeking his own American Dream, transitioned from bootlegging into the restaurant business in the 1930’s during one of the most challenging economic decades in American history. Mike attributes the success of his family’s restaurant, now celebrating its 89th year, to hard work, perseverance, and building intentional relationships with employees and customers. He wrote his book A Generous Pour to chronicle the inspiring history of the restaurant and the family that overcame all obstacles to keep the doors of a cultural and historical institution open against all odds. 

Main Topics

• Mike’s book and the history of his family (01:07)
• Jimmy Kelly immigrates to America (01:40)
• From bootlegging to fine dining (02:30)
• Success despite the Great Depression (04:05)
• Keeping employees happy (05:45)
• Personal relationships lead to sustainability (08:05)

Episode Links

• https://www.jimmykellys.com

Connect with Mike:

https://twitter.com/JimmyKellys

https://www.facebook.com/JimmyKellys

Connect with Dave:

https://www.daveliniger.com

https://www.instagram.com/davelinigerofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/DaveLLiniger

https://www.linkedin.com/company/davelinigerofficial/ 

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Glenn Stearns’ personal mission is to prove the American Dream is still alive. As the founder of the country’s largest privately held mortgage lending company, his entrepreneurial spirit and persistent work ethic have taken him down some interesting paths. But none of Glenn’s success was handed to him; he built it from the ground up through a series of painful challenges that pushed him to get clear about his dreams. Through a difficult childhood, struggling in school, and becoming a teen parent, Glenn used each situation to strengthen his resolve. He wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of his personal success. 

As an adult, Glenn applied the lessons from his youth to building his business. After defeating cancer and selling his mortgage lending company, he traveled the world with his family and gained new perspectives on life. His travels reinforced his belief in the opportunities America affords those who are willing to work for them. He publically experimented with this notion by starting from nothing and opening a successful BBQ restaurant on reality television. But success cannot be won by going it alone. Some advice he gives to young entrepreneurs is to surround yourself with good people who will help you achieve your dreams. Discover your unique gifts and find ways to capitalize on them. America is still the land of opportunity for those who know where to look. 

Main Topics

• Glenn’s challenges in childhood (01:00)
• The difficult decision to sell his business (02:50)
• Starting another company after beating cancer (05:15)
• Glenn and his wife win a reality TV show (6:50)
• Glenn’s experiment to prove the American Dream is still alive (08:45)
• Tips for achieving goals and maintaining resiliency (10:50)
• Practical tips for young entrepreneurs(13:57)
• Definition of success (15:40) 

Episode Links

• https://www.glennstearns.com

Connect with Glenn:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-3gGP3f-8D93UimKiaBoQ

https://www.facebook.com/GlennBStearns

https://www.instagram.com/GlennStearns

https://twitter.com/GlennStearns

Connect with Dave:

https://www.daveliniger.com

https://www.instagram.com/davelinigerofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/DaveLLiniger

https://www.linkedin.com/company/davelinigerofficial/ 

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

In the beginning of his career at RE/MAX, Dave Liniger admits he struggled to manage a quickly growing business. After decades of running a successful global company, he now offers practical wisdom for unlocking the power of productivity that can be applied to all walks of life. Time management is really about organization. Business owners should find systems that work for them to keep information organized. Dave utilizes the 4D theory: dump distractions, delegate tasks, delay when necessary, and do the most prioritized action items. Another helpful strategy for increasing productivity is to document how you spend your time in a day. Evaluate the percentage of time dedicated to actions that make money versus mundane tasks. Set goals to prioritize what generates revenue for your business and create a daily to-do list. Finally, commit to taking small steps that will help you achieve the goals you set for yourself and your team. Patience and dedication create lasting change for those willing to put in the work. 

Main Topics

• Playing all managerial roles in the early stages of a business (02:00)
• 4D theory for time management (03:07)
• Dave’s system for organizing daily tasks (04:20)
• Make specific and measurable goals (07:25)
• Overcome challenges to productivity (10:37)
• Set boundaries around your time (12:30) 

Connect with Dave:

https://www.daveliniger.com

https://www.instagram.com/davelinigerofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/DaveLLiniger

https://www.linkedin.com/company/davelinigerofficial/ 

Listen, rate, and subscribe!