Daily Influence

Leadership has never been just about numbers. Behind every financial report, strategic initiative, and organizational outcome are people making decisions every day.

In Episode 798 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith welcomes Leon Morales, President of DNA Behavior International, for a thoughtful conversation on the intersection of behavioral science, leadership, organizational psychology, and artificial intelligence.

Drawing from their shared backgrounds in the military, accounting, and organizational development, Brian and Leon explore why understanding human behavior is one of the greatest competitive advantages an organization can develop.

Together they discuss how behavioral awareness strengthens leadership, why psychological safety is essential for high-performing teams, how AI should support—but never replace—human judgment, and why the best organizations combine disciplined management systems with a deep understanding of people.

Whether you're a business owner, executive, manager, or aspiring leader, this episode offers practical insights into building organizations where people thrive and performance follows.

In this episode:

Why people—not numbers—are the foundation of organizational success

How behavioral intelligence improves leadership and team performance

The role of psychological safety in building high-performing organizations

Why AI should enhance human judgment, not replace it

How SMART Management and behavioral science work together to create lasting organizational success

https://dnabehavior.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leondna

Good intentions matter—but they aren't what other people experience.

In Episode 797 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the gap between intention and action and why responsible influence requires more than simply wanting to do the right thing.

Leaders may intend to communicate better, recognize their people, address difficult issues, or live their organizational values. But influence is ultimately created through behavior. When our words, decisions, and actions consistently align, credibility grows and trust begins to compound.

Brian challenges leaders to consider a simple question: Is the influence I'm creating consistent with the influence I intend to have?

Because self-awareness, feedback, continuous improvement, and values all matter—but without action and follow-through, their impact is limited.

Your influence isn't measured by what you meant to do. It's experienced through what you actually do.

Financial success is not simply about accumulating more it is about making intentional decisions that support your values, relationships, and long-term goals.

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Chad Coe, founder and president of Coe Financial Group, about values-based financial leadership, entrepreneurship, trust, and community impact.

Chad shares how early experiences in sales and entrepreneurship shaped his career, why vulnerability and authentic relationships are essential to building trust, and how emotionally driven financial decisions can create serious and unnecessary consequences. He also discusses a failed business venture that cost him significantly but ultimately redirected him toward more meaningful and rewarding work.

Listeners will learn how to slow down when facing high-pressure decisions, separate facts from fear and urgency, and evaluate choices based on their values, goals, and desired future. Chad also explains how consistency, mentorship, community involvement, and intentional scheduling have helped him build a successful life and positively influence others.

This conversation offers practical guidance for anyone seeking greater clarity, accountability, and purpose in their financial, professional, or personal decisions.

Learn more about Chad and download his free book, Your Financial Dream House, at coefinancial.com. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

www.linkedin.com/in/chadcoe

www.youtube.com/@coefinancialgroup

Instagram @chadcoeofficial 

In this revisit to episode 250 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith delves into the critical role of feedback in personal, team, and organizational growth. Drawing insights from The 'I' in Team Series books—Individual Influence, Positive Influence, and Responsible Influence—Brian explores how to give and receive constructive feedback effectively.

Learn how to develop a culture of continuous improvement through balanced, objective feedback and active listening. Discover the power of respectful communication and timely follow-up in transforming feedback into a tool for positive change. Join us as we build better teams and organizations, one constructive conversation at a time.

#Leadership #Feedback #ContinuousImprovement #TeamDevelopment #PersonalGrowth

How can a simple thank-you letter create lasting influence?

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Erica Gerard Di Bona, author of A Letter Is Better: The Art of Thank You, fundraising consultant, speaker, and advocate for intentional gratitude.

Erica explains how handwritten or typed thank-you letters can strengthen personal and professional relationships, build trust, distinguish job candidates and business leaders, and make people feel genuinely seen and valued. She also shares the childhood experience that helped her discover the power of written communication and why she now sends more than 1,000 letters each year.

Listeners will learn Erica’s practical “Me, You, Us” framework for writing a meaningful thank-you note, how to overcome procrastination and concerns about handwriting, and why authentic appreciation must be specific rather than generic. The conversation also explores how gratitude benefits the person expressing it by creating a positive mindset and providing a tangible way to counter negativity with meaningful action.

In this episode:

• How intentional gratitude creates stronger relationships and lasting influence

• The “Me, You, Us” method for writing an effective thank-you letter

• Why appreciation can improve trust, credibility, fundraising, hiring, and client relationships

• How to make gratitude personal, genuine, and memorable

• Why small expressions of appreciation can create a significant ripple effect

Learn more about Erica and her work at https://artofthankyou.com/ . Her book, A Letter Is Better: The Art of Thank You, is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark.

In this revisit to episode 248 of the Daily Influence podcast, Brian Smith discusses the critical role of emotional intelligence in leadership. Reflecting on the recent July 4th celebrations, Brian emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and managing emotions to enhance personal and team effectiveness. Learn how to identify emotional triggers, practice empathy, and create a positive and responsible organizational culture. Drawing from insights in the I in Team series, including "Individual Influence: Find the I in Team," "Positive Influence: Be the I in Team," and "Responsible Influence: Build the I in Team," this episode offers valuable strategies to boost emotional intelligence and leadership skills. Join us to cultivate a more resilient and cohesive team environment!

Yesterday, Gregg-Brooke Koleno and Gretchen Gullo reminded us that gratitude can exist even during life's most difficult moments.

Today, Brian Smith takes that conversation into the workplace by exploring why gratitude isn't simply an emotion—it's a leadership discipline.

Great leaders intentionally reinforce what matters. They recognize progress, celebrate effort, and build cultures where people know their contributions make a difference. Gratitude isn't about lowering standards or ignoring challenges. It's about creating an environment where responsibility, engagement, and positive influence become part of the organization's operating system.

If we believe "I Am the Influence," then we must also ask ourselves:

What are we choosing to multiply?

In this episode:

Why gratitude is a leadership discipline—not just good manners

How leaders shape culture through what they consistently reinforce

Why appreciation strengthens accountability instead of weakening it

How SMART Management builds gratitude into organizational systems

The connection between gratitude, responsibility, and positive influence

Subscribe to the SMART Advantage Newsletter for weekly leadership insights and practical SMART Management strategies.

#Leadership #SMARTManagement #DailyInfluence #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessLeadership #Culture #Gratitude #ResponsibleInfluence

How can you experience joy and gratitude while carrying unimaginable grief?

On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Gretchen Gullo, founding broker with @properties in Park Ridge, Illinois. After losing her son and husband within days of each other, Gretchen made the intentional choice to lean into her faith, practice gratitude, and continue serving others.

Gretchen shares how small acts of kindness can transform someone’s day, why gratitude does not require pretending that everything is okay, and how serving others can help us move forward through grief and adversity. Drawing from her personal journey and decades in real estate, she also explains why character is revealed during life’s hardest moments—and why responsible influence begins with our everyday choices.

In this episode:

• How faith and gratitude can help us navigate grief

• Why we can be grateful in difficult circumstances without being grateful for them

• The lasting impact of small, intentional acts of kindness

• How serving others can restore purpose and joy

• Why our words and reactions reveal our true character

• One practical way to become a more positive influence today

Connect with Gretchen Gullo through social media at @GretchenGullo or email [email protected]

The SMART Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/

Artificial intelligence has made information more accessible than ever. But information alone has never been the defining characteristic of great leadership.

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why the future belongs to leaders who think critically, ask better questions, and apply sound judgment—not simply those with the latest technology. As AI transforms how organizations gather information, leaders must become even more intentional about how they evaluate, interpret, and act on it.

Brian explains why thoughtful leadership remains a uniquely human responsibility and how slowing down to think can often produce faster, better business results. Technology can accelerate business, but leadership still determines its direction.

If you want to lead more effectively in the age of AI, this episode offers practical perspective on why disciplined thinking is becoming one of the most valuable leadership skills of our time.

What does it take to move from caring about a problem to actively helping solve it?

On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Chason Forehand, founder of HR-4U and creator of Transformation Kitchen, about building workplaces and communities that put people first.

Drawing from his career in the culinary industry and his own experience with addiction and incarceration, Chason explains how receiving a second chance changed his life—and inspired him to create opportunities for others facing barriers to employment.

Through Transformation Kitchen, participants receive culinary training, professional certifications, life coaching, health and wellness support, paid experience, and connections to living-wage employment. Chason also shares the challenges of overcoming organizational gatekeeping and why lasting change requires collaboration across businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and communities.

In this episode:

• Why living wages benefit employees, businesses, families, and communities

• How leaders can ensure people feel valued, seen, and heard

• Why second-chance employment can help break cycles of poverty and instability

• How Transformation Kitchen prepares people for sustainable culinary careers

• Why meaningful workforce development requires long-term support

• How employers can begin creating more inclusive employment opportunities

• The critical difference between being an ally and becoming an advocate

Chason’s message is clear: supporting a cause is not enough. Positive, responsible influence requires action. Whether you contribute your time, talent, resources, or connections, you can help someone forge a new path forward.

Website: https://hr-4u.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chason-forehand-rcf1222/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformationkitchenorg/

The SMART Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/