Crushin' Company Culture

By Aaron Marx & Todd Kuckkahn

Engaging, easy-going, entertaining, and educational chats about improving all things leadership and company culture. For anyone who does work at a place!... more

· Business

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FAQs about Crushin' Company Culture:

How many episodes does Crushin' Company Culture have?

The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.

Crushin' Company Culture episodes:

August 10, 202311 - Catching Up and Bouncing Around
We're catching up and bouncing around a bit.

Molly’s wedding, public speaking, balancing giving and getting, setting goals, authentic sales, and more!

Recorded 1/25/23, includes:
Lots to catch up on!

An interesting exercise - not a true wedding, not a true vacation - all about Todd’s daughter Molly’s wedding in Jamaica

The toughest speech Todd ever gave

The shape of the son-in-law relationship

Aaron’s Business X-Change at the PCBC

Energy is the most metaphysical everyday conversation we have

A shift in Aaron’s life

Todd’s public speaking - “I need to weave facts into the story, not weave the story into facts”

Playing the networking long game

Aaron’s upcoming speaking career

A fun Law of Attraction story

Give to get - “Is God trying to give me a message here?”

Boundaries around professional services - “It’s gotta be a good fit both ways”

Is time scarce? - Priorities and time management

New Year’s Resolutions - How do you establish your goals?

“Isn’t that what we’re all here to do, find as much meaning as possible?”

Turning priorities into habits - If I form the right habit the rest should fall into place

“The One” - If I was to say at the beginning of the year I’m going to do it 365 times I would say you’re crazy

Process goals vs. Outcome goals

Energy sovereignty

Did you always have that kind of energy, or did you have to develop it?

The tension between authenticity and growth

Skiing vs. networking events

“Some days wearing pants is a big deal for me too.”

Bonus morsels:
Talking shop

So let it be written, so let it be done

Are you on the downside of this cold?

Sounds good brother!
Learn more about Todd at ⁠https://toddkuckkahn.com/⁠, on ⁠Facebook⁠, or ⁠LinkedIn⁠
Learn more about Aaron at ⁠https://aaronjmarx.com/⁠, on ⁠Facebook⁠, or ⁠LinkedIn
...more
1h 8min
July 09, 202310 - Trust, Part 1
This is the first part of a very careful, thoughtful, intentional, and reflective conversation about trust.

Recorded 12/21/22, includes:
“You’re a shovel enthusiast!” & anticipating snowpocalypse

Reliving our story

Here’s Trust, Part 1, everyone!

Rediscovering trust

Every core value is like a good book

Patrick Lencioni and the absence of trust

“It’s your tendency to trust people unless you’re given a reason not to”

Levels of trust - there is general trust, but trust can grow

Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr.

Would they have been as famous if they had survived?

Whatever you want to achieve, trust is the first step

Todd’s list of 18 ways to build trust

Hard to build, easy to knock down - building trust is like weight loss

Trust is improved through self-awareness

Can you negotiate your way to deeper trust?

All growth happens out of your comfort zone

Trust is ALWAYS a risk

The one thing that can build trust quickly - why some businesses fail at this

How to more effectively build trust within an organization

A job description needs to build trust quickly - how to do it

A valuable lens for leaders

Tradeoffs of trust?

Zero-sum trust and the political game

Building trust through setting expectations

Trust can’t ever be perfect, but can always be deepened

Looking for a threshold

Trust is sacred

How do you know when trust is absent?
Bonus morsels:
High-wire act

I’m super offended!

You never put a 🎀 on trust…
Learn more about Todd at ⁠https://toddkuckkahn.com/⁠, on ⁠Facebook⁠, or ⁠LinkedIn⁠
Learn more about Aaron at ⁠https://aaronjmarx.com/⁠, on ⁠Facebook⁠, or ⁠LinkedIn
...more
56min
June 18, 20239 - Big Questions, Deep Conversations, Honest Social Analysis, Talking Shop, The Creative Process
Recorded 12/7/22, includes:
Passion, or a senior moment?

Posthumous degree question

Todd’s aura entrainment vs. dispassionate talk on Zoom

Does networking happen at funerals?

Pearl Harbor Day vs. 9/11

Even Todd gets cynical sometimes, but it’s exhausting 🙂

Generations

Todd is a former history teacher

Who would you rather have on your team? (Roosevelt, Churchill, Hitler)

The moral responsibility of teaching strengths

Strengths are morally neutral

Beasts (Jessie Owens & smoking)

Todd’s beast is lack of consistency but Aaron doesn’t see it

Orient your life to be associated with the strength that is the opposite of your weakness

Aaron’s beast

Being salesey on LinkedIn

I’ll get up in front of a group of chipmunks and talk

Aaron is exceptionally thoughtful and thought-provoking

Aaron’s awkward intensity

Nobody but you knows what you’re going to talk about

Coaching and high performing friends

Speaking in a finite amount of time

“Two too many things” - We don’t like murdering our children (creative children)

“You’re accountable to the consequences”

Todd’s consequence-oriented masterminds

Results show what you can do, process shows if you’re the right one

How much do you improve your strengths vs. improve your weaknesses?

What’s the one thing you would focus on?

Why does Todd like speaking so much? How did he know it was what he wanted to do?

Why does Aaron like coaching so much?

Learn more about Todd at ⁠https://toddkuckkahn.com/⁠, on ⁠Facebook⁠, or ⁠LinkedIn⁠
Learn more about Aaron at ⁠https://aaronjmarx.com/⁠, on ⁠Facebook⁠, or ⁠LinkedIn
...more
1h 4min
May 26, 2023Short - Philosophical Friday
A short conversation about technology, insecurity, history, geopolitics, economics, privilege, and intergenerational trauma in the workplace. Todd and Aaron get unexpectedly philosophical on a Friday afternoon 😄

Recorded 9/23/22
Nothing is untouched by technology
Not a LOT of B&W TV shows…
A funny story about Heidi…
Being unsure how people feel about you/wavelength
Fearing people don’t like you and not overthinking it
Do you guys like me?
Fears in the post-Haber world - Rejection is the new starvation
Thriving while others are in crisis
Redistribution vs. the entrepreneurial spirit
How stable and secure are we really?
We have good lives in spite of everything
Look for the little ways you can help people
Philosophy is a rich man’s sport
Awe of the human condition
How do we solve persistent problems?
Giving people hope in the workplace
Intergenerational trauma flowing through the workplace
Great leaders work on 5 levels
I feel like I have to pray all the time. Good work is praying.
All we can do is start the ripple
The Kindness Factor - Why do we have to make a business out of kindness?!
I just get on the call with you! We don’t really need a topic - it doesn’t take any effort to have a conversation with you.
It’s all integrated in the Realm of Purpose
Unexpected beauty

Learn more about Todd at https://toddkuckkahn.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
Learn more about Aaron at https://aaronjmarx.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
...more
31min
May 11, 20238 - Core Values, Part 3
This episode was recorded before Thanksgiving of 2022, just after Aaron went through one more core values exercise led by Todd. Take a listen to hear the results. Todd and Aaron conclude that they have much to be thankful for!

At one point Aaron references professor John Vervaeke's 50-part lecture series about philosophy, religion, and cognitive science called "Awakening From the Meaning Crisis". Learn more and watch the series at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh3f0P5qjrSdb5eC1ZfZwWJ

Recorded 11/21/22, includes:
Setting up a convo about core values

Todd’s first experience with core values

Live to Lead and Lead Transformed

Faith and Family are the glue

Remembering Todd’s core values

Basking in Todd’s aura

The sun doesn’t try to shine - it just does

Todd’s core values create his aura

“It has your name on it, Todd.”

When I leave this room I’m gonna wonder the entire way home whether you like me or not!”

Leaving People With an Impression of Increase

There’s a 5-foot sphere around Todd

“I’m glad it’s an aura and not an aura”

“You have to give to get” (Todd’s secret to networking)

Aaron’s top core value - is there a word stronger than “curiosity”?!

What Aaron is grateful for in 2022 - better conversations with more people

What brought us here, to the present moment?

Aaron’s brand shift

Curiosity has driven all of it

Todd’s keynote

Aaron’s core values and the story his conversations tell

A crisis of meaning

Healing in the workplace

Why not make a Monday feel like a Friday?

Meaningful engagement

The only sacred thing is sanctity itself

An obligation to discern

What’s your top core value?

It’s more important to be right than fast

It’s mysterious how we know the right answer…

Can core values change?

Leaning into your core values

It should hurt a bit

I feel like this is a sacred thing we’re talking about

Individual vs. organizational core values

Personality conflicts in the workplace

Honoring the trueness of the individual - where trust comes into play

You can enact healing and positive transformation in hundreds of ways

Many permutations - how many combinations are possible?

Giving Thanks - Aaron’s conversations and Todd’s inner circle

Happy Trails! Generational Differences

Fun ending things

Learn more about Todd at ⁠https://toddkuckkahn.com/⁠, on ⁠Facebook⁠, or ⁠LinkedIn⁠
Learn more about Aaron at ⁠https://aaronjmarx.com/⁠, on ⁠Facebook⁠, or ⁠LinkedIn
...more
53min
April 26, 20237 - Core Values, Part 2
This episode, recorded immediately following Todd's successful keynote address through the Portage County Business Council (PCBC), covers the experience of the keynote address and Aaron's early attempts at discerning his core values.

Please note, Clearly Simple is no longer accepting new clients. Anyone interested in working with Aaron should visit and inquire through https://aaronjmarx.com/. Todd can be found at https://toddkuckkahn.com/.

Recorded 5/10/22, includes:
Todd’s cool bike ride

Todd’s keynote address for the Portage County Business Council (PCBC)

Vistage

What Aaron got out of Todd’s keynote

Did Todd get paid?

Why Todd wanted to help with the promotion - his network helped to fill the room

“If nothing else, the breakfast was good”

A point of alignment

The PCBC’s yearly keynote

Todd’s signature talk - his first time putting everything together in 3 hours

Testing presentations, speaking as performance

What entrepreneurs can learn from standup comedians and musicians

Introvert or extrovert? Energized by speaking or not?

Todd’s star quality

Impostor Syndrome

How Aaron experiences speaking

How to be a relatable speaker

Walk among your people

A story about Tommy Thompson

Network Development

Todd’s networking tips

Commercial

Networking on LinkedIn

Aaron’s successful mailing list strategy

Aaron’s core values - Some people seem to do it faster than others

Details Todd remembers

A quick connection - it cuts through all the crap

The tone is immediately aspirational

You don’t think of a meat manufacturer as the type to get into core values…

Introduce yourself as who you are, not what you are

“You can’t read the label from the inside of the jar”

Aaron’s who statement

“It helps you believe in yourself”

A productive disagreement

Culture or vision - difference between large organizations and small businesses?

The importance of belief systems

Final congratulations to Todd!

Learn more about Todd at https://toddkuckkahn.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
Learn more about Aaron at https://aaronjmarx.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
...more
52min
April 13, 20236 - Core Values, Part 1
Todd and Aaron dive deep into one of their favorite topics, core values. They go through and explore Todd's core values, and prepare to help Aaron narrow his down. Tune in next time to see how THAT goes!

Recorded 4/5/22, includes:
Todd’s core values

Todd’s process of first discerning his values

Faith and family as overarching metavalues

100 to 20, 20 to 5

Todd’s core values in detail

Optimism

Trust

Dealing with broken trust

Honesty

Aaron’s mind lingers in darkness more

Everybody Lies

Google is SUPER honest!

Lies, damn lies, and statistics

“There's something about you that makes me want it to be true!”

Enthusiasm

Teamwork

“I don’t think you can do things without teams.”

Basketball story

Teams endure

Solopreneurs consultants and their different teams

EVERYTHING we do is a team effort!

LIfting each other up

Exercise: List all the teams you’re a part of

Aaron’s beginning explorations with core values

How to narrow down core values

Learn more about Todd at https://toddkuckkahn.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
Learn more about Aaron at https://aaronjmarx.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
...more
44min
March 31, 20235 - Personality Type
Todd and Aaron have a wide-ranging talk about all the ins and outs of personality type.

Recorded 11/11/22, includes:
Why personality type is the most important concept Aaron has ever learned

Personality type is about our differences and similarities

“They both feel like superpowers to the other person”

We should be focusing on our strengths and finding others to complete us

Preferred personality systems

They all tell the story in their own ways

Expanding upon Myers-Briggs

How Aaron got interested in personality type

Some fun personality type in popular culture

How knowledge of personality type helps Aaron get better results in his life

“I always feel like you’re analyzing me…”

Awareness of social dynamics, power, and agreements

Creating more meaningful, engaged, respectful relationships

How Todd “flexes” his style to maximize harmony and productivity

How personality type helps everyone to lean into their strengths

How personality type aligns with core values

“I never get bored”

Nothing is cookie cutter

Human beings never get boring

Growth mindset is a choice, and personality type is a leadership topic

The personality type equivalent of picturing the audience naked

How Todd likes to start his corporate trainings

Do you ever wish you could unlearn personality type?

Would you want to be a different personality type or style?

It’s exhausting to be what you’re not

Personal development is about becoming more of who you are

It can be exhausting and vulnerable to be who you really are

Is it better to lean into your strengths or improve your weaknesses?

Advice based on John Maxwell’s Power DISC

Why Todd and Aaron get along so well

How many times have we imagined the crowd in their underwear? How could the crowd determine whether your message is wrong?

Some of Aaron’s favorite personality systems

Personality type is a deep, significant topic that provides endless insights about how people work together

A couple poetic final thoughts - St. Paul & 8 billion types
Learn more about Todd at https://toddkuckkahn.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
Learn more about Aaron at https://aaronjmarx.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
...more
54min
March 16, 20234 - Dirty Jokes, Live to Lead, and Intergenerational Communication in the Workplace
Todd and Aaron chat about the power of dirty jokes, Todd's latest Live to Lead facilitation, and get into a detailed discussion about the nature of intergenerational communication in the workplace and life.
Recorded 10/26/22, includes:
“What happens in the VIP Room stays in the VIP Room”

Dirty jokes and breaking the ice

A story from Aaron’s college music experience

A story from Todd’s college - Can I get paid to go into a bar and drink beer?

There’s always the parts of the job you don’t wanna do

Todd’s sixth Live to Lead - How it works & the guest lineup

Todd’s clever and useful ACT system of taking notes

It’s amazing what people will tell you - leadership and the integration of human experience - boundaries are unclear and it’s impossible to disentangle it all

Baggage goes into the workplace and baggage comes out of the workplace. It’s all about meaningful engagement.

Tim Elmore and generational diversity in life and the workplace

Todd and Aaron’s generations

Generations and differing work ethics, major events, outlooks

The nature of purpose

Communication and value differences between generations

Aaron’s kids and their generational communication style

What schools and school districts need to remember

“That’s where we’re going” and a prediction for the year 2050

How long will it be before people are living on the sun?

More about Live to Lead

Purpose does not happen in a day - it’s daily

Do you ever get tired of personal growth? Todd’s answer

Do you ever get tired of personal growth? Aaron’s answer

It’s a hard thing to measure

Is economics abundant or zero-sum?

Have you impacted anyone in the last 5, 10, or 15 years?

Don’t stop doing it!

Each of us has something the world needs.

There are people out there who should be doing what we’re doing.

The next Live to Lead

Something about the way our conversations go

Hilarious jokes

NSFW

The power of (dirty) jokes

Doris Kearns Goodwin and what presidents did to get away from it all
Learn more about Todd at https://toddkuckkahn.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
Learn more about Aaron at https://aaronjmarx.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
...more
48min
March 01, 2023 Short - Leadership, John Maxwell, J. S. Bach, Self Promotion. And radishes
A short conversation about Leadership, John Maxwell, J.S. Bach, the challenge of self promotion. Oh, and radishes too 🙂

Learn more about Todd at https://toddkuckkahn.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
Learn more about Aaron at https://aaronjmarx.com/, on Facebook, or LinkedIn
...more
18min

FAQs about Crushin' Company Culture:

How many episodes does Crushin' Company Culture have?

The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.