The millennial generation is shaping up to be the least entrepreneurial in history. What is driving this crisis in entrepreneurship, and making people not want to take risks? What are the biggest challenges the millennials have when it comes to running their business ventures? On this episode, we have a fantastic conversation with 3 young entrepreneurs winning in the game and making an impact.

Entrepreneurial tendencies and philosophies are great ways to live as a person. -Connor Gillivan

Takeaways 

At the start of the show, Hector, Mani and Connor told their stories and shared what led them to take the entrepreneurial path. Next, we talked about the crisis in American entrepreneurship and why so few millennials are becoming entrepreneurs. We discussed the importance of meditation and having hard lines. We went onto discuss painting a compelling vision, and the new ways entrepreneurs can access capital.

We also spoke about

What’s holding people back from being entrepreneurs is the lack of preparation and having nothing driving them to want to take risks. For young people, the idea of improving yourself isn’t quite sexy yet, and the avenue to get there is through entrepreneurs. The old paradigm of working just for money is gone and how people want fulfillment and happiness. To succeed, structure is important, as well as being driven to succeed through the obstacles. The answer to the question, of becoming an entrepreneur is always yes.

Guest Bio

Hector Santiesteban
After training over 1500 Millennials in entrepreneurship and sales, Hector is focused on helping young people make money in a meaningful way. Go to MillennialSkills.com to find out more about his work.

Mani Vaya
Mani is the founder of 2000 Books. Prior to this, he spent 12 years in the tech industry and most recently was managing Billion dollar cellphone design projects at a Fortune 500 Tech giant. Go to 2000Books.com

Connor Gillivan
Connor is the CMO of FreeeUp and the best selling author of Free Up Your Business: 50 Secrets to Bootstrap Million...

With the surf kickflip, Zoltan Torkos went from surf news, to local news to national news and even to international news. What was the experience of becoming a sensation like? Why does he surf and enjoy teaching other people to surf? On this episode, we are joined by the man himself, the magician of surfing - Zoltan Torkos!

I think I’m a revolutionary surfer, and I should be out surfing and I shouldn’t be at school. - Zoltan Torkos

Takeaways

At the start of the show Zoltan talked about doing the surf kickflip, and the media sensation that happened after the video was uploaded and what Tony Hawk had to do with that. Next, we talked about his experiences after that moment, how he wanted to be the Evel Knievel of surfing and who he looks up to in the surfing game. Towards the end of the show, he gave us a magic trick!

We also spoke about

A lot of people take surfing far too seriously, and start to look down on people who aren’t as skilled as they are. This takes away from the fact that we have to be there for each other and just have fun. You can’t be defined by the conditions, your equipment or whatever your skill level is, just get in the water and enjoy. If your surfing sucks, blame it on the board!

Guest Bio

Zoltan is a fourth generation magician, he performs in a realm beyond playing cards and rabbits in hats.  He brings magic to the art of surfing and a passion for change that is rare and sincere.  Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Zoltan recently made international headlines as the first person to be filmed successfully completing a kickflip while surfing. Go to for more information ZoltanTorkos.com.

We’re in the era of widening appreciation of athletes who have broad capabilities. What lessons should younger athletes learn about life after all the games? How do people create a legendary business and a legendary life with your spouse? On this episode, we’re joined by all round waterman Keith Teboul who shares on coming up, losing it all and staying humble.

It’s the evolution of opportunities that came to me that I was able to see and take advantage of. - Keith Teboul

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Keith shared on going to Marshall Islands and why he likes going there so much. Next, he talked about transitioning to civilian life as an athlete, and why so many people struggle with it. Keith also shared how bankruptcy affected him, and what he’s looking forward to in his future.  

Keith also spoke about;

 People want to be a part of something, and the people we look up to are here to provide that. Humility is important because that’s how they treat all they have with respect. For Keith, his happiness comes from making other people happy. Things in life, aren’t just meant to be, you have to see the opportunities and make choices. It’s important to enjoy your day and what you’re doing.  

Guest Bio

Sixteen dedicated years of playing with concaves, rails, rockers and fin set ups have earned Keith Teboul an undisputable reputation as one of the world’s top shapers. Keith’s skills on the water are equally impressive, widely respected for his progressive, fluid style, it is safe to say that Teboul is one of the major driving forces behind modern wave sailing today. Go to QuatroWindSurfing.com for more information.

The secret of success in war time is our ability to communicate rapidly and create shared consciousness, and this also applies to business. How can you create this mindset among everyone in an organization? How did 9/11 change the military? What are the new levels of understanding the military needs? On this episode, we are joined by McChrystal Group partner, Chris Fussell, who gives insights into these questions.

The best senior leaders are the ones that are willing to admit that no single individual can handle the complexity of this world. -Chris Fussell

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Chris shared how he got into the military, being inspired by his grandfather and father. He also shared how tough military training is, and why it has a lot to do with weeding people out. Next, we talked about how wrestling connects to MMA fighting and he also shared how the military changed after 9/11. Chris also shared what it’s like to be married while you’re on active duty, as well as how the military wasn’t prepared for the information age. We also discussed the work The McChrystal Group does, and towards the end of the show, we talked McGregor/Mayweather fight predictions.  

Chris also spoke about;

In the world we’re living in today, the rule books for solutions to the biggest problems can’t keep up with how fast the problems evolve. For leaders to succeed in this environment, it’s important to admit this complexity and then close the gap between optimal performance, and how fast these new networked problems can move. Sustainable success is about how fast the solutions occur. The best leaders are constantly coming in underneath the organization and staying on their feet to solve these new problems.

Guest Bio

Chris Fussell is a Partner at McChrystal Group, where he heads up the McChrystal Group Leadership Institute. Chris is an author of the 2015 New York Times bestseller, Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World. Chris was commissioned as a Naval Officer in 1997, and spent the next 15 years on US Navy SEAL Teams, leading SEAL elements in combat zones around the globe. From war-torn Kosovo, to counter-terrorism operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,

The networked economy creates abundance, not scarcity. Why is Amazon such a shining example of a company that managed to dominate within an abundant ecosystem? What opportunities can we create when customer experience stretches across companies? What are the opportunities that IoT has for leaders? On this episode, author and consultant John Rossman shares his insights, and gives us a look into what has made Amazon so powerful.

A platform business is a core capability that you could let others use to serve customers, they can leverage the business and innovate on top of it. -John Rossman

Takeaways

At the start of the show, John shared on being a consultant and why it’s different from being an “insultant”. Next he talked about the power of asking questions and what Amazon gets right, “while they are a financially aware company, they don’t do anything based on financial measures.” We went onto discuss platform businesses, how category kings create ecosystems, and the near-term opportunities IoT provides. Towards the end of the show, we discussed the “future press release”.

We also spoke about;

A platform business allows a company to leverage the innovation, intent and skill force of lots of others without having to pay or direct them. The result of this is more creation, collaboration and the solving of problems and possibly the creation of categories. When a company allows this to happen, people have the freedom to try new things, and the market benefits. Leaders should ask themselves how to make their core capabilities good enough to be externalized.  The near-term opportunity for leaders when it comes to IoT is improving the programs you have by infusing more data with it.

Guest Bio 

John Rossman is the author of The Amazon Way: 14 Leadership Principles of the World’s Most Disruptive Company, and a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal in Seattle, specializing in technology strategy, multi-channel operations scaling and platform enablement in multiple industries including retail, service and public sector. Go to

Dyslexia is one of the most misunderstood learning differences. What are the biggest misconceptions people have about dyslexics? How can education work to nurture children who have it, and make sure they find their strengths? What approaches are used to teach children with learning differences? On this episode, Jamie Williamson of the Marburn Academy is here to discuss this, and provide learning strategies for children and parents.  

One of the biggest strengths dyslexics have is this conversation around resilience. -Jamie Williamson

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Jamie shared what a learning difference is, and he also defined executive function. Next, we talked about the myths people have about dyslexia, including the idea that more boys have it than girls. Jamie also talked about how Marburn structure their lessons and classrooms, and towards the end of the show, he shared his own journey and the familial system community conversation.

Jamie also spoke about;

Every child in this world deserves an exceptional educational experience. Every child deserves to find their strengths and be celebrated for what makes them special, not brought down for being different. Educators and parents need to have good training around academics, and create a safe and nurturing environment for a child. Schools like Marburn create this by having small, intimate classrooms with two teachers, and having the children drive the conversation.

Guest Bio  

Jamie joined Marburn in 2015 and is Marburn’s 4th Head of School. Williamson is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and holds a Masters of Science and Education Specialist degree in School Psychology from Miami University. Go to MarburnAcademy.org for more information.

We’re living in a time where people are concerned about machine learning and AI. Why are there more upsides than downsides? What is the opportunity for entrepreneurs as we look into the future? How can two people building big businesses have a beautiful marriage and partnership? On this episode, Peggy Burke and Dennis Boyle talk about designing their businesses and how they got to where they are today.

What’s going to happen is like opening up the black box and all of this incredible inspiration is going to come out as a result. -Peggy Burke

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Dennis and Peggy shared how they met, the history of their companies, and how they were able to raise their family while building their companies. We also spoke about radical collaboration, and taking time to get used to new technologies, and why nice guys actually finish first.

Dennis and Peggy also spoke about;

The biggest opportunity for entrepreneurs, looking into the future is tapping into the labor force that is most likely to lose their jobs and turning it into a happy, fulfilled part of the population. The solution isn’t socialism, but rather it’s entrepreneurism. IDEO and 1185 have stayed in business as long as they have by differentiating on their intellectual capital and doing really good work. As an ambitious couple, you have get help because you can’t be super humans all of the time. That’s how Dennis and Peggy built such a legendary life!

Guest Bio

Dennis Boyle is one of the founding members of the design and innovation firm IDEO and has worked as a project leader for many of the firm’s start-up and established clients including Apple, Palm, Tivo, Handspring, HP, Dell, Procter and Gamble, and others. Dennis is now one of the leaders of the Health and Wellness practice at IDEO. Mr. Boyle is also a Consulting Assistant Professor at Stanford and teaches classes in the Design Division of the ME department. Go to Ideo.com/people/Dennis-Boyle for more information.

The assumption that imagining the worst case scenario prepares you is a fallacy. What do we get wrong when it comes to dealing with fear? How do we distinguish between the types of fear we experience? What happens when what we think is true turns out to not be? On this episode, Dushka Zapata is back to share more of her wisdom, great writing and her perspective on how we overcome the things that hold us back.

The reason we believe in things that aren’t true is we listen to our fears, and we listen to our fears because that’s what keeps us safe. - Dushka Zapata

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Dushka talked about political correctness and her upcoming book “A Spectacular Catastrophe and Other Things I Recommend”. Next, we talked about how most people feel like misfits, and why we have to change the way we view ourselves. Dushka also talked about how we can become trapped by the things we believe, and how to distinguish between your fears. Towards the end of the show, we talked about what we get wrong about love and friendship.

Dushka also spoke about;

We go through life believing things and the fact that we believe them hurt us. We listen to our fears because we’re wired to keep ourselves safe. To overcome our fears, we have to defy the mechanism inside that keeps us safe when we’re experiencing an unknown. There’s the fear the makes you feel dread and the fear that is more thrilling. Human beings can have conversations and declare that things can be different and we should take advantage of it. Remember, we create reality with our thoughts, so we can bend it with our thoughts. That’s how we summon the courage to overcome.

Guest Bio

Dushka helps companies and people put into simple terms who they are, what they do, and where to go next. Her work comes to life through message development, presentation training, media training and personal brand development. It comes to life through executive coaching, workshops and public speaking. It comes to life through what she writes.

Human beings are very good at talking about what’s broken, what’s not working and what’s wrong. What is appreciative inquiry? How does it help companies reframe their problems and how they engage with employees in a meaningful way? What leadership lessons can we learn from this experience? On this episode, Jon Berghoff talks about his life, becoming a leading salesperson and coach, as well as changing the lenses and conversations we are having about work.

If 7/10 people don’t like going to work, maybe we need a new paradigm for how we approach work. - Jon Berghoff

Takeaways

Sensory clarity is the ability to distinguish your internal experience of the external world.

Languaging creates thinking and thinking creates action.

Leaders have to realize they don’t have all the answers. Their people have the answers, so it’s important to trust their wisdom.

You can’t solve a problem without having as many relevant voices in the room when you’re having the discussion.

At the start of the show, Jon shared how he got into ultra-marathons, and how he made ADHD an advantage. Next, he shared on unified mindfulness and how his career got started. We then began talking about appreciative enquiry and the current conversations we have about work, businesses and companies. We also discussed how so many people are seeing life through lenses cast on them by other people, and how to overcome that by changing what we say and what we think. Towards the end of the show, we discussed what companies get wrong when they try to bring a playful environment into the workplace.

We also spoke about;

• The difference between pain and injury

We’re living in an age of accelerated change, and that change includes disconnectedness. This lack of connection affects our relationships and if affects our companies. Appreciative inquiry is the ability to recognize that there’s power to wholeness and connectedness. Companies can’t solve a problem without having as many relevant voices in the room when they have important discussions. Leaders have to realize that every voice adds wholeness to the story they're telling. When the values are in place, and people are clear on the mission, it brings energy into the room. What we need is a collective dialogue that is intentionally designed to move us towards something positive.

Guest Bio

Jon is the co-founder and managing partner of FLI. Under Jon's leadership, the FLI team has designed and facilitated whole-system change efforts, through large group collaborative summits for organizations that include Fathom, Boeing Corporation, Vitamix Corporation, Fortec Medical, and Fairmount Minerals. Jon previously served as the head of sales for the direct sales team at Vitamix Corporation, where revenue grew by 400% in less than 4 years, as their team grew from 175 to over 600 members. His work in Appreciative Leadership, Emotionally Intelligent Negotiations, and Influence has brought him to Australia, Japan, the UK, and South America. Jon is in high demand, known for his authenticity and highly engaging style of creating powerful learning experiences for participants. Go to http://www.lead2flourish.com/ for more information.

Zoom is growing 300% each year, and well on its way to being a category king. Why is happiness at the center of the success of this business? What is the responsibility the leaders have to investors and employees, and what category design lessons can we learn? On this episode, Eric Yuan shares his leadership philosophy and what makes him tick.

Think about how you can scale your business to spend more time caring about existing customers. - Eric Yuan

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Eric shared on the incredible growth of Zoom and his secret for success. He shared why his company has a Chief Happiness Officer, and why it’s important to think about caring about others. Next, we talked about why Zoom employees get free books, why timing is important in successful category design, and why customers are the best VCs.

Eric also spoke about;

When a company aims to make the customer and employee happy, everything else works. Every dollar and every hour of work represents the trust people put in you. Don’t always think about scaling your business to get as many new customers as possible, think about scaling to serve the customers you already have. Keeping people happy should be at the center of all that you do, and it can be applied to every department in a company. A happier employee makes a better product.

Guest Bio

Prior to founding Zoom, Eric was Corporate Vice President of Engineering at Cisco, where he was responsible for Cisco's collaboration software development. As one of the founding engineers and Vice President of Engineering at WebEx, Eric was the heart and soul of the WebEx product from 1997 to 2011. Eric proudly grew the WebEx team from 10 engineers to more than 800 worldwide, and contributed to revenue growth from $0 to more than $800M. Eric is a named inventor on 11 issued and 20 pending patents in real time collaboration.