Cool Change

This episode is for you if:

You feel like you’re stuck in a rut or routine

You’re tired of going along with the crowd

You’re capable of more excellence

You’re considering a career shift

You want to start a new business (and keep your current job, or not)

You love wine

My conversation with Chris Hermann, founder of 00 Wines, is a life lesson in what it takes to excel by choosing your own path — and doing things differently from everyone else. Chris has been practicing law for almost 40 years, and is now also at the helm of the award-winning 00 Wines; a business he started with his 90-year old father several years ago.

Along the way, we see how a relentless curiosity and pioneering spirit drove him to choose different paths than most people around him, and how these choices led to a richer experience of life, which led to different ways of thinking… and ultimately one of the most exciting new wine businesses in America.

Just in time for National Women’s Small Business Month:

Seems like it’d be easy enough… two women forming a 50/50 partnership to go into business with each other, believing that the two of them together are a far more effective force than either of them alone. Turns out it’s easier said than done… but it CAN be done.

In this episode, Sara Thomas and Holly Sydnor shift from secure, well-paying jobs to take a chance on doing business on their own terms, as a woman-owned business divided equally between the two of them. If you’ve ever thought of going into business for yourself, and perhaps with a partner, listen in to Sara and Holly’s story before you go any further.

In the first of several such episodes, special guest host Rilla Delorier turns the tables and interviews me for a change.

In this episode, I share one of the most powerful yet simple strategies I’ve ever discovered to improve the quality of life - with immediate results. It’s a strategy I’ve shared for 25 years and I still get people telling me how powerful it has been in improving their lives.

Jonathan McCoy is a deep thinker in the space of change. A long time consultant in this space, many of his most poignant lessons have come from life outside of work.

I caught up with him during a 4,000+ mile solo motorcycle ride and we discussed writing your own script, making what seems impossible possible, integrity, encouragement, and living fully.

Matt Milletto runs one of the most well-known coffee businesses in Portland, Oregon — a city known for its amazing coffee. In this episode, Matt shares how Water Avenue Coffee navigates change with a focus on community-centric business practices, continual innovation, treating people well, and sometimes making business decisions based on what feels right.

He has helped start multiple businesses, including a new one called Vehicle Chocolates (chocolate bars made with mushrooms) and another one called Virtual Coffee that teaches people to become better baristas in their own homes.

Cool Change Podcast listeners may use the promo code COOLCHANGE to receive a discount at both Vehicle Chocolates and Virtual Coffee. Thanks, Matt!

Chrissy McNair is passionate about helping caregivers live fully in the face of challenging life circumstances. Whether you’re caring for an aging adult, a special needs family member, or anyone else that deserves your energy, time and attention, you'll need to be resilient. After all, you don’t want to just “make the best of things” — you want to thrive and help the others around you do the same.

She’s the author of the upcoming e-book “Special, Too” and she’s offering a free copy to the first 50 Cool Change listeners to pre-order it by emailing her at [email protected].

Sarah Retzer spent more than two decades as an engineer, and has pivoted to start her own business. She retired in June 2020 from Boeing, and is now a full time certified mindfulness trainer.

In this conversation, she shares some of her observations about what people are struggling with these days, along with some straightforward approaches to creating more of the life you want to experience.

To be an artist is to be an entrepreneur, and Tiffany Taylor embodies this ethos as she navigates the world of art and business. With her gallery in Savannah, Georgia, and a presence in Paris, Tiffany emphasizes the importance of balancing studio work with marketing and outreach efforts. She shares her journey from humble beginnings to international acclaim, highlighting how adaptability and innovation have been crucial, especially during the challenges posed by the pandemic. Tiffany's commitment to community building through initiatives like the Savannah Art Walk showcases her belief in collaboration among artists. Join Chuck Allen as he explores Tiffany's inspiring story and her insights on valuing one's work, the significance of financial discipline, and the power of creativity in overcoming obstacles.

If you’re an entrepreneur, artist, or a thoughtful human being, you want to meet international artist and business owner Tiffani Taylor. Her work is found in collections all over the world, including Pierre Cardin, Oprah Winfrey, Diane von Furstenberg, and is included in the Salvador Dali Museum.

She is the embodiment of talent and heart, and will soon be a fan favorite guest on Cool Change. One of the more inspiring talks you’ll ever hear.

So many life lessons in just a 30 minute conversation.

Tiffany Taylor, an accomplished artist and entrepreneur, delivers an inspiring message about the intersection of art and business in a contemporary context. With her gallery in Savannah, Georgia, she emphasizes that being an artist today requires the same entrepreneurial spirit as any business. Tiffany discusses the unprecedented opportunities available to artists through social media and digital platforms, highlighting the need to invest energy not only in creating art but also in marketing oneself and engaging with audiences. The conversation delves into her personal journey, from humble beginnings in Utah to international recognition, underscoring the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. By pivoting her business model to include puzzles and online tutorials, Tiffany demonstrates how artists can innovate and thrive in difficult times.

Takeaways:

• To be a successful artist today, one must also embrace entrepreneurship and business skills.
• Tiffany emphasizes the importance of putting equal effort into both studio work and online presence.
• The pandemic challenged artists to innovate, adapt, and pivot their businesses creatively.
• Building a supportive community among artists helps to foster collaboration and success.
• Tiffany's journey shows that financial discipline is crucial to sustaining a creative career.
• Cultivating self-love and resilience is essential for artists to thrive in their craft.

Author, business founder, speaker, and wildly successful nerd, Aaron Hillegass shares his story of cool change with a comedic bent. Be prepared to take some notes, because this conversation is full of wisdom and great ideas about how to design your life, and why you should “not follow your dreams.”

You’ll learn why you don’t want to be the “pot holder lady in the Christmas Fair of life.”

Pam Kilday traded her rural upbringing for professional basketball, then a successful career in finance and technology, and is now a Director of a global technology company. And now she’s back home again, caring for the land, her neighbors, her animals and her parents. Along the way, everything from cancer to hurricanes threatened her life and property. But together with her wife Daphney, she’s made the wild ride home again.

Bonus: At the end of the podcast, hear a song written just for her that celebrates her journey and her amazing, positive spirit.