Daily Influence

Speed gets attention. Patience builds trust.

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith sits down with Mike Hinds, co-founder of Nashville Barrel Company, to explore what building a premium whiskey brand can teach us about leadership, influence, and long-term thinking.

Mike shares how Nashville Barrel Company grew from handwritten labels on a coffee table to distribution in 36 states—without sacrificing quality, culture, or credibility. From resisting the pressure to scale too fast, to protecting brand identity in a crowded market, to treating people with the same care as product, this conversation is a masterclass in intentional influence.

Whether you lead a company, a team, or simply yourself, this episode reminds us that the best results—like the best whiskey—can’t be rushed.

https://www.nashvillebarrelco.com

https://louisvillerickhouse.com/

Motivation gets us started — but it rarely gets us to the finish line.

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why execution has become the defining leadership skill in 2026, and why discipline — not motivation — is what sustains progress when energy fades, distractions rise, and uncertainty increases.

Brian breaks down the critical difference between emotional motivation and operational discipline, why most execution failures are structural (not personal), and how disciplined systems like SMART Management create clarity, calm, and predictable progress — even in volatile times.

If execution feels heavy, this episode challenges leaders to stop pushing harder and start designing better systems.

In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Eric Collett, CEO of A Mind for All Seasons, nationally recognized brain health expert, educator, and advocate for proactive cognitive care.

Eric shares his unexpected journey from running assisted living and memory care communities to becoming a sought-after speaker and consultant in brain health, dementia care, and caregiver education. With a blend of science, compassion, and leadership, Eric explains how addressing root causes—not just symptoms—can dramatically improve cognitive outcomes and quality of life.

Listeners will hear a remarkable story of hope involving early-onset Alzheimer’s, learn practical lifestyle and mindset strategies to support long-term brain health, and explore how responsible influence is less about control and more about creating conditions for better choices.

This conversation is a reminder that influence doesn’t have to be loud or grand—it often shows up in education, service, and taking the next right step.

Key takeaways include:

• Why brain health is deeply connected to daily choices and lifelong learning

• The role of biomarkers, lifestyle, and mindset in cognitive resilience

• How leaders and caregivers can influence others by empowering choice

• Why small, thoughtful actions often create the greatest impact

Whether you’re a caregiver, leader, lifelong learner, or someone thinking about your own cognitive health, this episode offers insight, clarity, and hope.

Connect with Eric Collett or learn more

Website: https://amindforallseasons.com

Economic uncertainty is no longer an occasional disruption—it’s the environment leaders are operating in every day.

Tariffs, market volatility, geopolitical pressure, AI disruption, and shifting consumer confidence have changed how leadership must show up. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why resilience alone isn’t enough—and how strategic influence becomes the defining leadership skill when conditions are unpredictable.

You’ll hear:

Why people watch leaders more than plans during uncertainty

How calm, clarity, and stability outperform forced optimism

What influential leaders do differently to turn volatility into strategic advantage

This episode is a practical and timely conversation for leaders navigating pressure, ambiguity, and constant change—without losing trust, momentum, or direction.

What if the gap between your potential and your results isn’t motivation… but autopilot?

In today’s Daily Influence episode, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with entrepreneur, success mentor, and Think It, Be It founder John Mitchell to unpack the “missing secret” he uncovered inside the legendary book Think and Grow Rich—and how a simple 12-minute daily practice helped him shift from consistent low six figures to building a life that produced seven-figure results.

John explains why most of our daily actions are unconscious, how that silently drives our outcomes in business, relationships, and health, and how his repeatable method helps people build clarity, confidence, and intentional influence—starting with how they lead themselves. You’ll also hear practical examples of how this shows up in everyday moments (like patience at the dinner table and focus at work), plus how listeners can access his free training and tools.

If you’re someone who feels “meant for more,” this conversation offers a grounded, repeatable way to move from intention to action—on purpose.

Learn More:

Email John: [email protected]

Website: Think It, Be It: https://thinkitbeit.com/

THE MISSING SECRET of the Legendary Book Think and Grow Rich : And a 12-minute-a-day technique to apply it: https://a.co/d/61r8r2D

The world of work didn’t just change — it’s been completely unsettled.

Technology, AI, and shifting expectations have disrupted traditional roles, job titles, and career paths. Outcomes now matter more than hours. Skills are replacing roles. And leadership is no longer about control — it’s about influence.

In Episode 653 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith slows the conversation down to focus on what truly matters in the new labor market:

How leaders influence culture when roles shift faster than job descriptions

Why skills-based development is becoming the most effective retention strategy

What intentional, responsible influence looks like in career ecosystems where people lead themselves more and are managed less

This episode is a call to refocus leadership on behavior, trust, and human development — because when structure fails, culture must adapt.

For years, leaders treated technology as something we used.

AI has changed that dynamic.

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores a shift many organizations are already experiencing — AI is no longer just a tool executing tasks. It’s recommending, prioritizing, predicting, and quietly influencing decisions.

That raises a new leadership question:

How do we lead when influence is shared with a non-human teammate?

This episode challenges leaders to rethink accountability, psychological safety, and responsible influence in a world where AI is embedded in daily work. Brian outlines why judgment must remain human, how clarity and SMART discipline prevent chaos, and what it takes to intentionally lead teams where humans and AI work side by side.

If AI is influencing your organization, this episode will help you ensure that leadership — not technology — stays in control.

Today on Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Larry Kaufman — global speaker, best-selling author of The NCG Factor, and one of the most respected relationship builders on LinkedIn. Larry has built a life and career anchored in responsible influence, generosity, and authentic connection. His philosophy is simple but profound: lead with giving, and success follows in unexpected ways.

In this conversation, Larry shares:

• His journey from sales to global speaking—and how being an early adopter of LinkedIn led him to a path of teaching, mentoring, and connecting others.

• The “others-focused” mindset that has shaped his approach to relationships, networking, and influence.

• Powerful stories of impact, including life-changing introductions that launched careers, created opportunities, and even sparked love stories.

• Why listening is the most underrated relationship skill, and how asking one simple question—“How can I help you?”—can transform your personal and professional life.

• Lessons from unique life chapters, from appearing in iconic films to driving sports legends to serving on the board of Holiday Heroes.

• How service, intention, and generosity create ripple effects far beyond what we can see.

Larry reminds us that influence isn’t about scale or status—it’s about showing up for others with integrity, curiosity, and a willingness to help without expectation. This episode is a powerful guide for anyone who wants to build deeper relationships, lead with purpose, and create positive impact through everyday actions.

Tune in and learn how to build a life where connection isn’t transactional—it’s transformational.

Connect With Larry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrykaufmanlinkedinspeaker/

Buy Larry’s Book: https://a.co/d/8veAVPl

SMART doesn’t end once a goal is written down.

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith builds on the recent discussions around milestones and attainability to introduce a critical shift in thinking: SMART is not a one-time goal-setting exercise—it’s a living cycle.

When goals, objectives, milestones, tasks, and feedback loops work together, SMART becomes a self-correcting system. This is how individuals stop waiting to be managed, teams move from effort to excellence, and leaders stop reacting and start managing with intention.

This episode sets the foundation for deeper conversations on ownership, accountability, and individual influence—because systems don’t execute… people do.

In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Serena Mastin—CEO, speaker, creative visionary, and author of the transformative memoir Exposed. Serena’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary: from surviving childhood instability, homelessness, and trauma to becoming a powerhouse leader who builds organizations rooted in creativity, courage, and connection.

Serena opens up about the pivotal experiences that shaped her—from navigating witness protection and foster homes, to building a successful marketing agency, to enduring unimaginable personal loss when her husband passed away in 2020. Through vulnerability, self-awareness, and determination, she rebuilt not only her business but the foundation of her own leadership.

Together, Gregg and Serena explore themes central to the I in Team series, including:

• The influence that begins with self-awareness

• How authenticity creates deeper connection and stronger teams

• The importance of values-driven leadership

• Balancing service with self-preservation

• Using storytelling as a vehicle for healing and impact

• The role of AI as a tool—not a replacement—for human connection

Serena also shares the life-changing shift that inspired her memoir Exposed and the quote that now guides her leadership: “You don’t have to set yourself on fire to keep others warm.”

This episode is a reminder that influence becomes most powerful when it comes from a place of truth, intention, and alignment. Serena’s story will leave you inspired to show up more fully, lead more responsibly, and use your voice to create meaningful impact.

Tune in for a conversation filled with wisdom, courage, and a call to step into your authentic influence.

Connect with Serena at: https://serenamastin.com/