What happens when family dynamics intersect with business strategy?

David Kolbe, CEO of Kolbe Corp, shares the highs and hurdles of taking the reins in a family business. With roots in his grandfather’s Wonderlic Test and his mother’s Kolbe Index, David explains how understanding instincts and strengths has shaped his leadership, his family relationships, and the way he keeps fresh ideas flowing.

KEY TOPICS

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and

05:29 David Kolbe on Growing Up in a Family Business 

07:51 Wonderlic Test: Its NFL Legacy and Origins 

10:16 From Law to Leadership: Why David Joined Kolbe

12:30 Working with Family: Lessons from the Trenches 

14:54 Navigating Family Dynamics in Business Decisions 

17:16 When Family Disagreements Rattle the Workplace 

19:40 How Kolbe Corp Helps Leaders Leverage Strengths 

22:04 When Quick Start Leaders Meet High Follow-Through

24:26 Strategic Vision vs. Tactical Execution in Leadership 

26:50 Why Most Businesses Aren’t Built for Innovation 

29:08 The Key to Selling a Business Worth Buying 

31:32 Structuring Teams for Growth Without Chaos 

33:52 Letting Go: How Founders Transition Leadership 

36:17 When the Visionary Isn’t the Business Owner 

38:38 Avoiding Cultural Stagnation in Family Businesses 

40:53 Building Innovation Departments That Last 

43:16 When Tradition Holds a Business Back 

45:37 Empowering Quick Start Talent Without Losing

47:59 Why Accurate Job Titles Matter for Teams 

50:14 The Risk of Over-Titling Employees 

52:39 Creating a Fun and Caring Workplace Culture 

55:00 What “Mandatory Fun” Teaches About Leadership 

57:17 David Kolbe’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 

59:10 Key Takeaways 

1:01:00 Message from the Producer

CONNECT WITH US

⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

Watch this episode on YouTube

Subscribe on ⁠YouTube

Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast

Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠

Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @shawn_d_smith

Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @sangersmith

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. 

LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH DAVID KOLBE

Website: https://www.kolbe.com/ 

Book “Do More More Naturally: Empowering

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@poweredbyinstinct 

Kolbe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kolbe-corp/ 

David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kolbe-b352a99/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KolbeCorp 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KolbeCorp 

X: https://x.com/Kolbe_Corp 

Are your business decisions driven by instinct, or by strategy? How often do you actually stop to tell the difference?

Matthew Confer, the mind behind decision-making simulations used by leading companies, reveals why your gut might betray you, what most leaders get wrong under pressure, and how to sharpen your instincts for critical decisions.

KEY TOPICS

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business 

00:49 Changing Wedding Language: Patriarchy or Progress?

03:06 Can Simulations Make You a Better Leader?

05:32 The Dangerous Default in Team Decisions

06:50 Why Consensus Isn’t Always King

08:01 How Leaders Sabotage Innovation Without Realizing It

10:21 What Really Drives Your Team?

12:40 Adapting Management Styles: The Secret to Better Teams

15:05 Leadership Practice Without the Real-World Risk

17:26 Breaking Through Superficial Motivations

19:30 The Challenge of Scaling a Small Company Culture

21:54 Why Diverse Motivations Strengthen Teams

24:14 Spotting Failure Before It Happens

26:36 The Viral Social Media Campaign Dilemma

29:00 The Cobra Problem: When Solutions Make Things Worse

31:16 The $5 Challenge That Changed Business Strategy

33:33 The Power of Writing Down Decisions

35:53 How Poor Note-Taking Derails Teams

38:32 How Stress Wrecks Decision-Making—And How to Stop It

40:51 Why Your Most Disagreeable Employee Makes the Hard Calls

43:07 Why Failure Is the Best Leadership Teacher

45:32 Building Leadership Confidence in Safe Environments

47:51 When Bravado Backfires in Decision-Making

50:08 Are You Missing Critical Team Feedback?

52:32 What MBA Simulations Reveal About Leadership Gaps

54:51 The Secret Ingredient to Engaging Training Programs

56:53 Matthew Confer’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 

58:20 Key Takeaways 

59:45 Message from the Producer

CONNECT WITH US

⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

Subscribe on ⁠YouTube

Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast

Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠

Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @shawn_d_smith

Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @sangersmith

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as

LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH MATT CONFER

Website: https://www.abilitie.com/matthew-confer/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/

TEDx Talk:  https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making?subtitle=en

Learn To Lead Podcast: https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/

Matt Confer is the VP of Strategy at Abilitie, a Leadership Development company based in Austin, Texas that provides immersive business simulations to a global client base that includes over 50 members of the Fortune 500. Abilitie’s leadership programs have been delivered to over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries around the world. Matthew has spoken on the topic of decision making at the TEDx

What drives someone to leave behind a career in the UFC to serve the world's most forgotten people?

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Wren, a former professional MMA fighter who traded his career in the cage for a mission with real impact. Justin shares his journey from a bullied child to UFC fighter, and eventually to his work with

KEY TOPICS

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and

00:50 The 3 Fighters Who Earned Sanger’s Fandom

03:06 From Bully to Fighter: Justin Wren

04:28 The Vision Behind Fight for the

06:50 Building Waves of Change

09:17 Martial Arts as a Shield Against Bullying

13:58 The Painful Path to Finding Purpose

16:23 Battling Addiction in the Cage and Beyond

18:51 Discovering Purpose Through Service

23:33 Waking Up After the Overdose

28:04 The Bonus Rounds of Life

35:13 Why Purpose Replaces Addiction

40:02 The Vision That Led to Africa

44:57 Meeting the Pygmies

51:49 Listening to Create Lasting Impact

56:33 The Risks and Rewards of Serving in Congo

01:03:41 Building Holistic Communities

1:08:23 Justin Wren’s Decision-Making Tip for Business

01:11:05 Key Takeaways 

01:12:59 Message from the Producer

CONNECT WITH US

⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

Watch this episode on YouTube

Subscribe on ⁠YouTube

Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠

Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠

Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠

Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. 

LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH JUSTIN WREN

Fight for the Forgotten: https://www.fightfortheforgotten.org/

Justin’s Official Website: justinwrenspeaks.com

Book: https://www.justinwrenspeaks.com/book

Instagram: @thebigpygmy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-wren-892043255/

It wasn’t until a series of circumstances led him to live among the Pygmy people—some of the most marginalized on earth—that he found true purpose: helping others. “My career was to fight against people, but my calling was to fight for people." Now, he helps others generate impact through their work and community. ‘The Big Pygmy’ returned to the ring with purpose, founding Fight for the Forgotten (FFTF).

FFTF has provided >52,000 indigenous people with access to clean drinking water, replanted thousands of trees, acquired >3,000 acres of land in the name of the tribe and helped 1,800 people out of slavery and into freedom. Current projects include housing, education, healthcare and sustainable livelihoods through community empowerment.

Have you ever felt like life’s become a little too predictable? Maybe you’re wondering if there’s more to see, more to learn—if you could just get a fresh perspective.

Eric Weiner has explored the world as a Peabody-winning journalist, lived in the chaos and beauty of New Delhi, and uncovered the secrets of happiness in the most fascinating places on Earth. In this episode, he shares what he’s learned

KEY TOPICS

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business 

00:50 Stop Spam Texts and Calls: Easy Fixes

03:08 What Makes a Life Meaningful?

03:59 Meet Eric Weiner

06:34 Big Pharma vs. Tobacco: Lessons We’re Missing

08:58 The Dark Side of Corporate Philanthropy

11:23 Is AI Destroying Journalism?

16:03 From Flying Planes to Reporting for NPR

18:18 What South Asia Teaches About Living Fully

20:42 Do Places Shape Who We Become?

25:22 The Idea of “Soul Places” and Finding Your Own

27:34 Benjamin Franklin’s Shocking Life Lessons

36:55 Why Travel Opens Your Mind to New Decisions

39:16 Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues: What They Teach Us Today

44:03 Simplify Decisions with Franklin’s Proven Method

46:31 Why Admitting Flaws Builds Better Leaders

48:32 Franklin vs. the Founders: A Different Legacy

51:00 What We’ll Regret 200 Years from Now

55:47 The Struggle—and Reward—of Silence

56:42 Eric Weiner’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 

01:00:02 Key Takeaways 

CONNECT WITH US

⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

Watch this episode on YouTube

Subscribe on ⁠YouTube

Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast

Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠

Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @shawn_d_smith

Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @sangersmith

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. 

LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠   

CONNECT WITH ERIC WEINER

Website: https://ericweinerbooks.com/

Books: https://ericweinerbooks.com/books/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-weiner-17aa8639/

Eric Weiner is a best-selling author and former international correspondent for NPR, known for his explorations into happiness, wisdom, and what it means to live a meaningful life. From uncovering the secrets of the world's happiest places to the pursuit of genius, his writing invites us on journeys that are both insightful and entertaining. Today, we dive into his adventures and what they reveal about living well. 

Why do some businesses flourish while others struggle, even when everything looks perfect on paper?

In this episode, we sit down with Ray Kelly, Senior VP at Think2Perform, to share the decisions you can make TODAY to bring out the best in each person working in your business.

KEY TOPICS

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Free Online Values Cards Exercise

Ep.17 I Doug Lennick I Deciding to Think About What You Think About: Moral Intelligence

Ep.24 I Ryan Goulart I Deciding to Live According to Your Values: The Neuroscience of Decision-Making

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and

00:49 Is Georgia a Southern State?

03:08 Meet Ray Kelly: Leadership and Culture Expert 

06:23 Walking Away from Corporate Success for Family Values 

08:44 The Science of Better Decisions Through Values 

13:26 Can You Know If a Decision Was Right? 

18:18 Are Your Values Misaligned with Your Actions? 

20:38 Why It’s Hard to Admit What You Truly Value 

25:24 How “Permission to Lead” Drives Accountability 

29:44 Why Changing Habits Feels Impossible—and How to Succeed 

36:58 Turning Painful Change into Fun and Progress 

39:22 “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast”: Leadership in Action 

57:51 Why Leaders Destroy Culture by Failing to Live It 

01:01:01 Ray's Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 

01:02:28 Key Takeaways 

01:03:48 Message from the Producer

CONNECT WITH US

⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

Watch this episode on YouTube

Subscribe on ⁠YouTube

Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast

Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠

Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @shawn_d_smith

Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @sangersmith

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. 

LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠   

CONNECT WITH RAY KELLY

Website:  https://mobile.think2perform.com/about-us/bios/ray-kelly

Ray Kelly joined Think2Perform in 2010 after a 21-year career as a financial services executive. He spent much of his career on the sales side of the business, compiling a track record of high-performing teams. Ray spent 13 years growing and building one of the most successful sales office groups for Ameriprise Financial in the history of the company. Ray’s offices were recognized annually for top sales growth, retention, client and employee satisfaction. His focus on creating a “Leaderful Culture” allowed his group to influence the national organization on major initiatives and created the opportunity for over a dozen of his leaders to be promoted to other positions across the company. Ray has a passion for helping people reach their potential and shaping cultures in which they live. He offers executive coaching/mentoring to leaders of all levels and conducts proven breakthrough leadership development training.

What if all those medical products we trust come with more risk than we think? And how much of that risk is buried in the fine print most of us never read? In this episode, we’re talking to Alexandra from @justtheinserts, who’s made it her mission to help people decode medical inserts, so we actually know what we’re putting in our bodies.

Alexandra digs deep into the pharmaceutical industry's claims, the power of informed consent, and why knowing the full story behind medical products is more important now than ever. Buckle up—this conversation will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about medicine.

KEY TOPICS

• ​ How reading the fine print on medical product inserts reveals hidden risks and empowers personal decision-making.
• ​ How government policies and liability laws protect pharmaceutical companies but leave patients at risk.
• ​ Why doctors rarely offer alternatives—and how patients can advocate for better options.
• ​ Why Alexandra kept her identity hidden online and the backlash she faced from keyboard warriors.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business

00:50 Carnivore, Veganism, and All the Diets In-Between

03:13 Introducing Alexandra and Just the Inserts

06:11 Father-Son Dynamics in the Workplace

08:35 Alexandra’s Journey to Creating @justtheinserts

10:54 Discovering Medical Inserts and Adverse Reactions

13:21 Explanation of Adverse Reactions and Manufacturer Inserts

15:40 Alexandra’s Daughter’s Health and the Vitamin K Injection

18:00 Risks of Vitamin K Injections and Understanding Its Ingredients

20:06 Potential Adverse Reactions: Vitamin K and Hep B

22:16 Pharmaceutical Liability and Industry Protections

24:36 Streamlining Research for Informed Consent

27:03 Building Critical Thinking Skills

29:29 Learning to Analyze Manufacturer Inserts

31:48 Informed Consent in Health Decisions

34:15 Presumptive Delivery Strategy in the Medical Industry

36:36 Vaccine Shedding

38:58 Shocking Discoveries: Adverse Reactions

41:20 Pushback from Pharmaceutical Reps and the Industry Culture

43:40 Responsibility and Bias in Health Decisions

45:54 Sanger’s Story: Navigating Multiple Prescriptions in Adolescence

48:19 Key Questions to Ask When Receiving a Diagnosis

50:38 Importance of Understanding Drug Families and Side Effects

52:57 Doctor-Patient Dynamics

57:26 Alexandra’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners

01:01:24 Key Takeaways

01:03:04 Message from the Producer

CONNECT WITH US

⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast.

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠ - https://www.amazon.com/Life-Rich-Significance-Transforming-Meaningful/dp/1952654769

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠ - https://www.amazon.com/Plateau-Jumping-What-Change-When-ebook/dp/B0CTXHP5HR

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy.

LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6JMYQ_gBGd5CL2_RzjPYZguX7wD7Qps249iP7aBxHnjUgbrY8F7q8Zes0dA4bnyF8dROTb3O9XNeAIsk5AvA6E%3D

CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRA FROM @JUSTTHEINSERTS

Website: https://www.justtheinserts.com

Instagram: @justtheinserts

Well Considered: A Handbook for Making Informed Medical Decisions: https://www.justtheinserts.com/shop/

Alexandra, the founder of Just the Inserts, provides training and resources for patients and parents to make informed decisions about medical products. Sourced from .gov websites, her book, training course, and website help you make informed medical decisions rooted in knowledge and confidence.

What’s it like to be pulled from your home at just seven years old and set adrift on the open ocean? How do you survive ten years of brutal storms, danger, and isolation on a small yacht with your family?

In this episode, Suzanne Heywood shares the chaos of her childhood spent sailing around the world—constant physical and emotional storms, tight living spaces, and the fight to hold onto hope. She reveals how those raw, unpredictable years forged a resilience that she carried into her career, pushing boundaries and thriving in the corporate world.

KEY TOPICS

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and

00:50 When Sanger Lived on Ramen 

03:13 Introducing Suzanne Heywood 

04:21 Suzanne’s Family’s Decision to Sail Around the

06:37 Early Childhood Questions About the Voyage 

09:00 Suzanne’s Father’s Motivation for the Voyage 

11:25 Questionable Parental Decisions

13:41 Dangers and Limited Food on the Boat 

16:04 Life at Sea: Loneliness, Limited Friendships, and

18:28 Food Shortages

20:46 Stuck on the Boat

23:10 A Manipulated “Vote” to Keep Sailing

32:55 Education as Suzanne’s Escape from the Boat 

40:01 Limited Communication and Correspondence

47:08 Sacrifices Made to Pursue Education 

49:33 Struggles of University Life and Financial Hardships 

51:56 Suzanne’s Reflections on Parental Choices and

57:26 Suzanne Heywood’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 

57:48 Key Takeaways 

59:47 Message from the Producer

CONNECT WITH US

⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

Watch this episode on YouTube

Subscribe on ⁠YouTube

Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast

Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠

Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @shawn_d_smith

Sanger’s Instagram⁠: @sangersmith

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast.

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. 

LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠   

CONNECT WITH SUZANNE HEYWOOD

Website: www.suzanneheywood.com

LinkedIn:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/suzanne.heywood

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanneheywood1

Suzanne Heywood’s story is anything but typical. At just seven years old, she was pulled from her home and set adrift on a small yacht with her family, facing ten years of brutal storms, danger, and isolation on the world’s most unforgiving oceans. It’s a tale of grit and survival that shaped her into the powerhouse she is today. Now a respected business leader, Suzanne is here to share her wild, unfiltered journey, captured in her memoir, Wavewalker. 

With every election cycle, the noise grows louder—polls, predictions, and endless opinions from every direction. But how much of it is real, and how much is just noise? How can we think clearly and make decisions that serve us, our families, and our businesses?

In this episode, Sanger Smith sits down with Ken Coleman to break down the true impact of elections beyond the headlines. They discuss why polling can be misleading,

KEY TOPICS

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and

00:44 Election Impact on Markets

02:54 Ken Coleman

05:32 The Truth on “Internal Polls”

07:53 Election Impact on the Markets

10:19 Mudslinging by the Candidates

12:46 Trump’s Influence on Political Culture

15:14 Civil Discourse: Is It a Lost Cause?

17:30 How Political Figures Shape the Nation

19:49 Real Leadership Integrity

22:14 Vision Casting in Political Leadership

24:34 When Businesses and Politics Lose Integrity

26:59 Self-Preservation in Second-Gen Businesses

31:48 Integrity vs. Chaos: Why Stability Matters

34:13 Why Chaos Thrives in Politics (and How Businesses Can Avoid It)

36:38 What Businesses Can Learn from Blockbuster

38:53 How Reagan and Trump Shaped American Leadership

41:17 Rejecting Identity Politics

43:44 The Media is Dividing Americans

46:08 Free Speech vs. Temper Tantrums

48:25 How Americans Can Take a Stand

50:49 Returning to Our Values

53:17 The Key to Avoiding Civil Unrest

55:20 Identity Politics and Business

57:26 Ken Coleman’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners

57:48 Key Takeaways

59:47 Message from the Producer

OUR FIRST EPISODE WITH KEN

Ep.141 I Deciding to Find Fulfillment: Purpose Isn’t Found in a Paycheck w/ Ken Coleman

CONNECT WITH US

⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

Watch this episode on YouTube

Subscribe on ⁠YouTube

Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast

Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠

Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠:

Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @sangersmith

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast.

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. 

LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠   

CONNECT WITH KEN COLEMAN

Website: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ken-coleman 

The Ken Coleman Show: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKenColemanShowFullEpisodes/videos 

Instagram: @kencoleman

How do you come back from a 1% chance of survival? How do you fight back when life gives you every reason to give up? John O’Leary didn’t simply survive a devastating childhood fire—he found a way to transform his battle into something far greater. In this episode, John shares the approach that helped him overcome incredible odds and how you can apply it to your own challenges in life.

This conversation isn’t only about survival; it’s about refusing to be a victim, pushing through the hardest moments, and redefining what’s possible. If you're ready to challenge the way you view adversity, you won’t want to miss this.

KEY TOPICS

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life andBusiness 

00:44 The Most Meaningful Wedding Gift: Sanger’s Story

04:18 Introducing John O’Leary

08:45 John’s Life-Changing Moment: Playing with Fire

11:37 How John’s Family Survived Trauma

14:00 John’s Decision to Reject Victimhood

16:25 Stop Comparing Traumas

18:49 Overcoming Tragedy in Marriage

21:14 Putting God and Your Spouse First

26:05 John’s Mother’s Life-Altering Question

30:50 John’s Decision to Fight Against the Odds

33:17 Playing Piano Without Fingers

35:39 Working as a Farmhand

38:00 The Gift of Suffering

40:27 John’s Path to Living Vulnerably

42:51 How John Parents His Kids

45:09 Learning to Ski the Hard Way: Sanger’s Father-SonLesson

47:27 Sharing Your Personal Story

49:50 Saying Yes to Opportunities

52:13 On Fire: Feature Film of John’s Story

54:36 How Saying “Yes” Can Change Your Life

56:57 The World’s Greatest Salesman’s Advice

59:14 John’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners

1:01:09 Key Takeaways

CONNECT WITH US

⁠⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠Watch this episode on YouTube⁠

Subscribe on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠

Join us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @decidedlypodcast

Join us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Shawn’s ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @shawn_d_smith

Sanger’s ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @sangersmith 

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast.

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠⁠

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠⁠

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. 

LEARN MORE: ⁠⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠⁠

EXCLUSIVE STORIES IN THE NEWSLETTER:⁠⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠⁠   

CONNECT WITH JOHN O’LEARY

Website: ⁠https://johnolearyinspires.com/⁠ 

Live Inspired Podcast: ⁠https://johnolearyinspires.com/podcast/⁠ 

Blog: ⁠https://johnolearyinspires.com/blog/⁠ 

John O'Leary faced unimaginable challenges as a child after a devastating fire explosion left him with severe burns and a 1% chance of survival. Today, he inspires people who feel like they’re stuck going through the motions of life to confront their struggles and find strength in their stories, overcoming the temptation to continue coming up with excuses that hold them back. John is a two-time national bestselling author and host of the top-rated Live Inspired podcast.

Have you ever felt like your marketing message isn’t hitting home? Are you struggling to differentiate your business in a sea of competitors who all seem to say the same thing? What if the real issue isn’t your product, but how you’re communicating its value?

Guy Kawasaki has mastered the art of evangelizing great products—and in this episode, he’s sharing why most companies are getting it wrong. As the chief evangelist of Canva and a key player in the rise of Apple’s Macintosh, Guy knows what it takes to stand out. We dive deep into why businesses overlook the deeper purpose behind their products, how AI is transforming industries, and why failing to embrace innovation could leave you stuck in the past—just like Kodak. Get ready to rethink your marketing and discover the tricks to making your message resonate.

KEY TOPICS

How most businesses overlook the deeper purpose behind their product, leading to a weak marketing strategy.

The Opposite Test: How to identify if your marketing message sets you apart, or just blends in with competitors.

Why companies get stuck on old business models, like Kodak, and miss out on groundbreaking innovations.

How AI is reshaping industries—and why companies need to embrace it now or fall behind.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision Making in Life and

00:50 Price Gouging in a Hurricane 

03:17 Guy Kawasaki: Chief Evangelist of Canva

04:09 From Law School to Silicon Valley

13:26 From Selling Jewelry to Macintosh 

15:50 Evangelizing Your Business

18:09 The Opposite Test: A Simple Marketing Strategy 

20:30 The “Think Different” Campaign 

22:45 Steve Jobs’ Influence: Predicting What People

25:05 The Role of Luck in Venture Capital 

29:47 Kodak’s Mistake: Failing to Adapt

32:05 Finding the True Essence of Your Business 

36:48 You Can’t Predict Everything 

43:42 Metaphors in Startups: Why Being “The Uber of X”

46:00 AI and Kawasaki GPT

52:40 Ways to Use Closed AI in Your Business 

57:18 How AI Will Impact Jobs and the Workforce 

59:45 Will Everything Become Automated?

1:02:03 A Fully AI McDonalds

1:04:13 Using Canva in Your Business

1:06:36 Guy’s Decision-Making Tip

CONNECT WITH US

⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

Watch this episode on YouTube

Subscribe on ⁠YouTube

Join us on ⁠Instagram

Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠

Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠

Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for post-production of the Decidedly podcast.

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. 

LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠   

CONNECT WITH GUY KAWASAKI

Website: https://guykawasaki.com/

Remarkable People Podcast: https://guykawasaki.com/remarkable-people/

Books: https://guykawasaki.com/books/