Get Unstuck & On Target

In today’s episode, Mike talks with former UPS VP Craig Arnold about disaster response logistics.

Craig shares how UPS built partnerships with nonprofits to distribute aid globally, and why embracing failure, egoless collaboration, and humility enabled success. Lessons like involving wider teams beyond leadership apply directly to business partnerships, leadership, and teamwork.

I worked for UPS from 1987 to 2022. I retired and then joined Swoop Aero. My team designs and manufactures drones that, amongst other things, provide last mile delivery of vaccines, emergency medical items, urgent spare parts. We also provide mapping and data gathering services. We build relationships and provide solutions for customers, and potential customers. Our approach is to work with companies to understand their goals and objectives, map supply chains, white board solutions, share industry best practices, and deliver on projects that unlock value. I’m also passionate about the work of the Salvation Army and other NGOs responding to natural disasters. I volunteer with Red Lightning a non profit that I co-founded. We provide logistics and operations services to help our partners optimize their response and preparedness activities.

• How UPS built partnerships with nonprofits like Red Cross for disaster response

• https://swoop.aero/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Dr. Brett Jacobsen. As CEO of Mount Vernon School and Ventures, Brett helps organizations learn how to innovate. He believes learning can provide a competitive advantage over culture and strategy. Brett provides tactics like isolating ideas to small teams, creating parallel tracks, and constantly asking “help me see what you see” to spur momentum. Tune in to pick up tangible tips for getting your team unstuck.

Entering his 15th year, Dr. Jacobsen is the CEO of The Mount Vernon School, Mount Vernon Ventures, and Mount Vernon Online – The Global Online Campus. Leading Mount Vernon through a transformational period since 2009, the School with 1,2500 students strong, has gained a national reputation for innovation in education.

As a result, Dr. Jacobsen launched a Transformation R&D consulting company known as Mount Vernon Ventures, partnering with schools throughout the world. Most recently, in August 2022, Mount Vernon Online, Mount Vernon’s online high school, welcomed its first cohort of students to the School.

Outside of overseeing a portfolio of business units, Dr. Jacobsen frequently shares his journey of innovation and entrepreneurial impact at national and international conferences. The Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized Dr. Jacobsen as one of the 2017 Most admired CEOs in the education category.

• Learning can be a competitive advantage over company culture and strategy

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbrettjacobsen/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Ted Konechne, President of the East Region for AIS. AIS offers inspection and engineering services for home builders, helping them speed up construction without compromising quality.

Ted shares how he focuses on connecting personally with employees during mergers, being curious about regional differences, and celebrating small wins daily to drive accountability and momentum.

Ted Konechne is the President of the East Region for ARCXIS, an industry leader in engineering and new construction inspection services. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the residential building industry, previously working with Pulte Homes, Beazer Homes, and running his own HVAC design/installation business.

Ted is passionate about helping homebuilders deliver quality, energy-efficient homes faster and more cost-effectively. He has been actively involved with the National Association of Home Builders at local and state levels. In 2011, Ted won a National Home Quality Comfort Award for a geothermal home design in Texas.

• Be curious – ask questions and listen to understand others’ perspectives

• Websites: https://www.arcxis.com/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Ted Konechne, President of the East Region for AIS. AIS offers inspection and engineering services for home builders, helping them speed up construction without compromising quality.

Ted shares how he focuses on connecting personally with employees during mergers, being curious about regional differences, and celebrating small wins daily to drive accountability and momentum.

Ted Konechne is the President of the East Region for ARCXIS, an industry leader in engineering and new construction inspection services. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the residential building industry, previously working with Pulte Homes, Beazer Homes, and running his own HVAC design/installation business.

Ted is passionate about helping homebuilders deliver quality, energy-efficient homes faster and more cost-effectively. He has been actively involved with the National Association of Home Builders at local and state levels. In 2011, Ted won a National Home Quality Comfort Award for a geothermal home design in Texas.

• Be curious – ask questions and listen to understand others’ perspectives

• Websites: https://www.arcxis.com/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Monte McDowell, the owner of ARCpoint Labs of Atlanta, a lab testing and services company. Monte helps his clients with workplace drug testing, DNA-based tests, and clinical lab services. He leverages nearly 30 years of HR experience to provide consultation around health, drug screening, and safety.

Mike and Monte discuss the transition from corporate HR executive to business owner, including the ups and downs. Monte shares lessons on adapting expertise to a new field, seeking quality mentorship, networking consistently, and having grit through sales challenges and rejections.

Human Resources consultant and entrepreneur. Franchise owner of ARCpoint Labs, a full service clinical lab testing service. We help employers maintain safe and drug-free workplaces, and individuals take charge of their health and wellness with direct access to toxicology and advanced clinical lab panels. In addition, we offer paramedical life insurance exams.

Our cost-effective lab collection and testing solutions are performed by our team of certified, licensed professionals. Gwinnett County, Georgia.

• Monte made the transition from corporate HR to becoming a business owner through buying a franchise. It allowed him to leverage his expertise while still being new and challenging.

• Websites: https://www.arcpointlabs.com/atlanta-northeast/

In today’s episode, Mike talks with Steve Fisher, a founding partner of Strategy Partners Group. Steve helps his clients get “unstuck” from short-term tactical thinking and make the transition to long-term strategic planning and growth.

He discusses the importance of having a written, structured growth plan with metrics, and how to delegate parts of the plan effectively while still holding people accountable. Steve also talks about the role trust plays in executing strategy, especially in mergers and acquisitions when cultures need to merge.

HONESTY + DISCRETION = A TRUSTED STRATEGIC PARTNERWhen it comes to financial matters and money management, Steve’s Core Values include Honesty and Discretion. As a trusted strategic partner, Steve treats a client’s confidence as if it was an attorney-client privilege. Steve knows he must remain vigilant and cautious about protecting what his clients tell him. His discretion builds trust so clients feel comfortable talking with him.

NOT YOUR TYPICAL NUMBERS GUYSteve possesses an engineer persona through education and early career experience. But his transition into finance was natural since he’s very detailed and thorough. With his linear thinking and inclination for being process-driven, most people are surprised to find Steve both relatable and personable. Steve has years of experience taking complex conversations and making sure everyone involved in the decision-making understands what’s being presented. People often ask him, “What did the CPA just say?” And Steve will translate for them.

GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEMSteve has long been inspired by this famous quote from Yogi Berra, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” He learned from a former boss who served in Vietnam as a Marine to slow down both his mind and body and “quiet the noise” when matters get stressful or challenging. Then he focuses on one thing: What’s the big problem to be addressed?

FINANCE FOR EVERYONEIn addition to using his knowledge and skill with clients, he has been privileged to collaborate with training professionals to co-develop and present curriculum entitled “Finance for Everyone.” Steve served as a subject matter expert for Panasonic’s Executive Training program. He also served as a speaker for Human Resource and Management Professionals from a variety of companies at Emory University’s Continuing Education Division.

• The difference between tactical and strategic thinking

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-fisher-cfo/

In this enlightening episode, Mike sits down with marketing guru Michael Wolfe, the brains behind Bottom Line Analytics. With a knack for turning data into captivating stories, Michael reveals how he helps clients revolutionize their marketing strategies for a better ROI.

Get ready to unravel the mystery behind effective marketing and discover how a single sandwich sparked a sales explosion for a major brand. Dive into the numbers, anecdotes, and insights that will change the way you approach your marketing game.

Want 2-8% more revenue without extra marketing costs? Let’s chat. I’ll make you a “data-driven marketer” and turn insights into growth. With 30+ years’ experience, I’ve worked with giants like Coca-Cola, AT&T, and more.

My passion? Boosting your revenue and ROI. I’m all about optimizing your marketing. Let’s innovate together and achieve results. Here’s my expertise:

• Crafting compelling ads for real ROI.

• Learn how to measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts like a pro.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wolfe-b53716

In this captivating episode, Mike dives into an insightful conversation with Eric McCarthey, a seasoned boardroom virtuoso. Eric brings his wealth of experience as a strategic leader, offering invaluable insights into the dynamics of successful boards and transformational leadership.

With a remarkable career spanning leadership roles and board positions, Eric sheds light on the inner workings of board committees, the essence of the duty of care and loyalty, and the power of cultivating a kind and thriving company culture. He shares a remarkable story of partnering with Ralph Lauren, unraveling the challenges, and the pivotal role of kindness in turning a struggling company into a success story.

Tune in to this episode to discover boardroom secrets, unravel the magic of successful transformations, and explore the art of leadership through the lens of a seasoned expert.

Eric McCarthey brings a wealth of experience to the boardroom, combining a diverse background with a passion for strategic transformation. With a remarkable career spanning various leadership roles, including private equity CEO, venture capital managing partner, and former corporate officer at Coca-Cola, Eric is a seasoned expert in steering businesses toward success.

Eric’s expertise extends across numerous domains, from strategic business transformation and brand positioning to mergers and acquisitions for competitive advantage. He excels in cultivating sales and service systems, optimizing supply chains, and driving revenue growth. Furthermore, his proficiency in business recapitalization, IoT, digital transformation, and cyber security is highly regarded.

Beyond his corporate accomplishments, Eric’s contributions as Past Chair with Vistage International, the world’s leading CEO membership organization, highlight his commitment to fostering CEO leadership development. His insights are sought-after, making him a published author on sales leadership, high-impact boards, and a compelling public speaker on leadership and relationship development.

Eric’s dedication lies in shaping exceptional value creation and seizing new growth frontiers, making him a trusted authority in the realms of business strategy and leadership.

• Ever wondered about the secret sauce behind successful boardrooms? We spill the beans on how high-performing boards really operate.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmccarthey1/

In today’s episode, Mike O’Neill dives into the world of podcasting with Jason Croft, a seasoned podcasting expert and founder of Media Leads. Jason shares valuable insights on authenticity, repurposing content, and how to overcome challenges in the podcasting journey. Don’t miss out on this engaging conversation!

In his 30+ years in media, Jason Croft has worked around the globe creating professional content in wide-ranging roles and projects from producing award-winning movies to shooting for exotic animal shows in Texas and Alaska, to producing content for the largest boxing event in history.  He has interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs and industry experts from behind and in front of the camera. 

He’s been the successful host and producer of numerous shows including Startup Dallas, The Jason Croft Show, Strategy + Action, and Concentric.  As a frequent speaker and guest on podcasts, he teaches people how to create leadership-level content.  Through his company, Media Leads, business coaches and consultants hire him to build their own Power Content Machine

• Title for this episode (max 70 characters): “Podcasting Tips: Authenticity, Repurposing Content, and Getting Unstuck”

• Website: https://thejasoncroft.com

In today’s episode, Mike O’Neill engages in a captivating conversation with Terri Lonowski, a renowned expert in soulful listening and communication. Terri shares her insights on the power of active listening combined with empathy, highlighting the transformative potential it holds for personal and professional growth.

Discover the five elements of soulful listening, the importance of self-care and self-discovery, and the impact of inspired action. Join us as Terri unveils the secrets to cultivating meaningful connections and unlocking your full potential through the art of soulful listening.

Authentic, deeper communication through evolutionary listening!

When we are heard and supported on a deep level, our potential is unleashed. Problem is, we don’t feel heard, and the consequences are devastating. As a solution, I created a five-element holistic approach called Soulful Listening®️, to soften loneliness, inspire greater human potential, and heal the communication divide experienced in relationships, at work and in our personal lives. I know first-hand the power of deep listening. Through my Grandma Helga’s all-in listening my potential was set free, and I eventually ended up on a TEDx Stage and at The White House – twice. A sought-after national and international speaker, I’m eager to share this powerful gift! Soulful Listening®️ keynotes, workshops, TV, or podcasts appearance inspire deeper, authentic, fulfilling communications through evolutionary listening. The world needs it, and together we can soften loneliness and inspire greater human potential!

• Discover the transformative potential of soulful listening and its impact on personal growth and relationships.

• Website: https://soulfullistening.com/