Bold Future

Episode 10 is here! Today's guest is Deon Gordon. He currently serves as the Director of Business Growth at REV Birmingham and is working on some really incredible projects including CO.Starters and the Biz 1.0 Workshop. I'm really excited to see the impact he will have on entrepreneurship and business growth in Birmingham.

It's hard to believe this is the last interview of Season 1. Thanks SO much for listening!

What you'll learn in this episode:

-Why saying 'No' is so incredibly important and how to do it strategically.

-The importance of testing business ideas beyond your loving friends and family.

-The power and effect of serving, both on yourself and others.

My guest today is entrepreneur and author, Carrie Rollwagen. Her new book, The Localist, documents her journey as she shopped at only locally owned businesses for an entire year. I wanted to interview Carrie because, in addition to leading a company (Church Street Coffee and Books) she is also leading a movement. Her voice for small businesses and local shopping has encouraged her wide following to think about the purchases they make and their impact on the community. We need more people like Carrie speaking out and I am excited to share her insights with you.

What you'll learn in this episode:

-Why truly listening and responding to your community of customers is crucial

-The importance of thinking past personal preference for product offerings

-Why we need both big businesses and small shops for a healthy community

-Thoughts on how to publish a book and why you should consider it.

-The importance of books and the future of the book publishing industry

In his 20 years in the real estate industry, Derek Walchack has seen plenty of ups and downs. Despite the recent recession he and his team have led Shannon Waltchack to become a thriving and dominant broker, investor, developer and manager of commercial property throughout the Southeast. In this episode, we discuss the current state of the real estate market as well as the trends he sees brought on by advances in technology and the Millennial workforce.

In this episode, you'll learn:

-How Millennials are changing work environments and what it means for businesses

-Why real estate matters and the impact it has on cities and people

-What's it's like to take a big risk and see it pay off

-Basic guidelines for making wise real estate investments and some pitfalls to avoid

My guest today is Jay Grinney, CEO of HealthSouth, the nation's largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. In 2004, Jay was brought in to turn HealthSouth around following a massive accounting scandal. The company was in complete disarray - it had lost its SEC filing status, its stock price had fallen more than 90% and it was headed toward bankruptcy. Today, the company is thriving and consistently producing positive earnings and growth reports. The turnaround job Jay has done with his team has been nothing short of amazing.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The power of focus and why you should probably have fewer priorities
• How hard work can compensate for all kinds of weaknesses
• Why your work and vocation should not be your sole identity
• Who to look for when building an outstanding team

Jones Valley Teaching Farm is on a mission to empower children to be the next generation of critical thinkers and change agents in their communities. They do this by connecting standards-based education to real-world food issues and partnering with schools to provide innovative hands on programs for students. At the helm is Executive Director, Grant Brigham. His entrepreneurial mindset and deep concern for people are truly inspiring.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to use transparency and vulnerability as a tool for building trust
• The importance of making unpopular decisions when they're the right decisions
• What to do when you lose sight of your core mission
• Why you should be yourself and only yourself
• How to empower your team to accomplish big goals

Caleb Chancey is a musician, photographer, impresario and just all around incredible guy. In this episode, we use his music projects as a springboard to discuss how he overcomes the fear of perfection and judgement to get his ideas out into the world. Spoiler alert: it's all about making big ideas smaller. I've learned a ton from him over the years, and I have no doubt you will, too.

What you'll learn in this episode:

-Why you shouldn't apologize for not being as good as you're going to be

-Why thinking small will actually help you accomplish big things

-When it's OK to quit and why sometimes you should

-How to redefine success to help you gain momentum without getting overwhelmed

Forrest Walden is on a mission to change the world through fitness. Seven years ago he started Iron Tribe, a group fitness concept out of his garage. To say that customers love Iron Tribe is an understatement; they are truly raving fans. I interviewed him about how he used the tribe mindset to build a fanatical customer base and a rapidly expanding business. In this episode, you'll learn:

-The power and effectiveness of delegating and letting go -The importance of being your own customer -Why it's OK that your business isn't for everyone -Why building a tribe in your business or project should be a top priority

My interview today is with Dave Gray, CEO of Daxko. Our conversation revolves around company culture; how to create it and how to keep it. In this episode, you'll learn:

-What company culture is and isn't -Why language matters and how to use it to empower your team -How to measure company engagement and why painful feedback is crucial -Why communication must be proactive and be redundant (7 times, 3 mediums) -How to use company culture as a long term, sustainable, competitive advantage

Growing a tea company from a regional brand with a few product offerings to a large CPG (consumer package goods) with a national presence is no small feat. Tricia Wallwork started her career as an attorney before switching course to join the family business. On her path to CEO, she took on many roles and learned the company from the inside out. Today, the company is growing at an incredible rate and Tricia was kind enough to share insights she's learned from her journey. 

How do you know if this episode is for you? Here's a few things we discussed:

- How to create a loyal fanbase through attention to quality

- Key lessons for young professionals looking to advance in their career

- Why stepping away from work to unplug is so important

- Daily habits that enrich the mind and body

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I'm super excited to announce Season 3 of the Bold Future Podcast. In each episode, we go behind the scenes to hear from a leader having a big impact on the world. We'll hear their stories and experiences, but most importantly we'll discover key insights that will help us become better leaders ourselves.