GrowthReady Podcast

About Richard:
Richard is the CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center, which he founded in 2008 after moving from Philadelphia. With over 20 years of experience, he has trained more than 10,000 bilingual telemarketers in advanced strategies and employee motivation. Richard holds a degree in Communication and Spanish from the University of Arizona and integrates his love for pinball machines into his company culture. He was inducted into the 2023 Abington High School Hall of Fame and annually supports students pursuing world languages.

About the Episode:
In this episode of the Growth Ready podcast, Richard Blank shares his inspiring journey from a Spanish major to the CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared for growth, overcoming fear, and the value of self-respect. Richard discusses his experiences in building a business, navigating challenges, and the significance of mentorship. He also highlights the joy of pursuing personal passions, such as his love for pinball machines, and how they contribute to a fulfilling life. The conversation concludes with insights on maintaining composure in chaos and the journey of growth and fulfillment.

Learn more about Richard and his company thru Linkedin at @costaricascallcenter

Takeaways:

• Being growth ready means being fully prepared.
• Fear can be a motivator if managed correctly.
• Self-respect is crucial for personal growth.
• Opportunities often come disguised as challenges.
• Building a business requires patience and perseverance.
• Passion fuels success in business endeavors.
• Mentorship plays a vital role in personal development.
• Maintaining composure during chaos is essential.
• Self-awareness helps in making informed decisions.
• Fulfillment comes from pursuing what you love.

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About Robbie:
Robbie is the President and CEO of Sigma Engineers & Constructors, a destination workplace for both employees and clients in engineering, construction, field services, inspection, and leadership solutions. While his education and career tell the story of an engineer, a large part of Robbie’s growth journey has come from playing in creative and innovative spaces as he embraces his pedigree for business and entrepreneurship. Whether through real estate ventures, investing in other entrepreneurs and their businesses, or making his own wine Robbie’s career and life story speaks to a very clear theme; a desire to grow and embrace what it means to ready yourself for what comes with it.

About the Episode:
In this episode of the GrowthReady podcast, host Steve Mellor engages in a deep conversation with Robbie. They explore the concept of being 'Growth Ready,' emphasizing the importance of preparation, emotional intelligence, and curiosity in personal and professional growth. Robbie shares his journey from a victim mindset to one of empowerment, highlighting the significance of relationships and self-care in leadership. The discussion also touches on the joy found in leadership roles, the process of winemaking, and the lessons learned from failure. Ultimately, the episode underscores the necessity of continuous growth and the pursuit of joy in all aspects of life.

Learn more about Robbie and his company - Sigma Engineering and Construction at www.sigmaec.com

Takeaways:

• Being GrowthReady means preparing for opportunities.
• Preparation is key to success and happiness.
• Shifting from a victim mindset to empowerment is crucial.
• Emotional intelligence helps in managing relationships.
• Curiosity drives personal and professional growth.
• Finding joy in leadership enhances performance.
• Winemaking reflects the blend of art and science.
• Failure is a stepping stone to learning and growth.
• Self-care is essential for effective leadership.
• Continuous growth is necessary for fulfillment.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Jason Silver, a multi-time founder and author, shares his perspective on being growth ready and embracing uncertainty. Author of "Your Grass is Greener: Use What You Have. Get What You Want. At Work and In Life." He emphasizes the importance of being open-minded and ready to receive growth from unexpected sources. Jason's career trajectory has been non-linear, with a focus on rapid, extensive failure and learning from it. He advises taking small, low-cost steps to test ideas and find out if you're wrong rather than solely focusing on being right. Jason also shares a personal story of losing his sister, which led to a reevaluation of his life and work. In this conversation, Jason Silver discusses the importance of unlearning and reevaluating priorities in order to live a more fulfilling life. He shares his personal experience of realizing that he was overinvested in work and underinvested in the present moment with his family. Jason emphasizes the need to be intentional about how we invest our time and challenges the conventional belief that we have to sacrifice personal life for professional success. He also introduces the concept of the brief back as a powerful tool for effective communication and highlights the value of small changes and low-hanging fruit in achieving personal and professional growth.

Connect with Jason Silver on Linkedin at @silverjay.

Takeaways

• Being GrowthReady means being open-minded and ready to receive growth from unexpected sources.
• Embrace uncertainty and be willing to take small, low-cost steps to test ideas and find out if you're wrong.
• Failure is a valuable learning experience and can lead to personal and professional growth.
• Personal experiences can have a profound impact on our approach to work and life. Unlearning is an important process in personal and professional growth.
• It is crucial to reevaluate priorities and invest time intentionally.
• The brief back is a powerful tool for effective communication and avoiding miscommunications.
• Small changes and low-hanging fruit can have a significant impact on personal and professional growth.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Dre Baldwin, CEO and founder of Work on Your Game, Inc., shares his journey as a former professional basketball player and how it has shaped his approach to personal and professional development. He emphasizes the importance of discipline, structure, and persistence in achieving success. Dre highlights the need to find the right opportunity that aligns with your skills and goals, and the importance of continuously working on your game to improve and produce results. He encourages individuals to assess their game, develop their skills, create opportunities, and repeat the cycle to achieve ongoing success.

Connect with Dre on Linkedin at @dreallday

Takeaways

• The foundation of success is discipline, structure, and persistence.
• Finding the right opportunity that aligns with your skills and goals is crucial for success.
• Continuous improvement and working on your game is essential to produce results.
• Assess your game, develop your skills, create opportunities, and repeat the cycle for ongoing success.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

David Conway, a mindset mentor, discusses the power of manifestation and setting goals. He emphasizes the importance of living your life through what you teach and applying the principles you teach to your own life. Conway explains that goals are often misunderstood and that the purpose of a goal is not just to get something, but to grow as a person. He also highlights the need to protect and value your own mind, as it is the source of your potential. Conway encourages listeners to relax into their goals and visualize their desired outcomes.

Connect with David through his website at www.conway.consulting

Takeaways

• Live your life through what you teach and apply the principles you teach to your own life.
• Goals are not just about getting something, but about personal growth.
• Protect and value your own mind, as it is the source of your potential.
• Relax into your goals and visualize your desired outcomes.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Jesse Hernandez, founder of Depth Builder, emphasizes the importance of focusing on the human side of work as a leader. He shares his personal journey of realizing that driving results and treating people as things was not effective or fulfilling. By shifting his focus to serving and developing his team, he achieved better results and built stronger relationships. Jesse highlights the power of listening to build appreciation and trust, and the importance of asking open-ended questions to empower others. He also discusses his book, Lean and Love, which applies the principles of lean management to personal relationships.

Connect with Jesse on Linkedin at @jessedepthbuilder

Takeaways:

• Focusing on the human side of work as a leader leads to better results and stronger relationships.
• Listening to build appreciation and trust is a powerful skill that requires practice and intention.
• Leaders should ask open-ended questions and involve others in problem-solving to empower them.
• Applying lean management principles to personal relationships can improve communication and connection.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Chuck Cooper, founder of Whitewater Consulting, shares his journey of transitioning from the corporate world to starting his own consulting company. He emphasizes the importance of valuing individuals and building trust and unity among teams. Chuck discusses the significance of real-life experience and wisdom in leadership and the need for effective communication. He highlights the need for leaders to remain curious and ask questions, as well as the importance of creating personal mission, vision, and values. Chuck also emphasizes the need for leaders to reward themselves and give themselves grace.

Learn more about Chuck at www.whitewaterconsulting.net

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Antonio Vaglica, a former athlete turned entrepreneur, shares his journey of building two successful businesses and the importance of small consistent habits. He emphasizes the need to focus on micro wins and daily habits to achieve long-term success. Antonio discusses the role of sports in entrepreneurship and how it provides valuable lessons in resilience, teamwork, and failure. He also talks about his consulting firm that helps growth-oriented entrepreneurs maximize their enterprise value and his community, Consistency Wins, which supports high achievers on their entrepreneurial journey. Antonio highlights the importance of mindset, personal development, and building a strong team to achieve success.

Takeaways

• Small consistent habits lead to long-term success
• Sports provide valuable lessons for entrepreneurship
• Mindset and personal development are crucial for growth
• Building a strong team and network is essential for success

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Dr. Sharon Hull, founder of Metta Solutions, LLC and author of 'Professional Careers by Design,' discusses the importance of being intentional in our careers and lives. She emphasizes the need to press pause, reflect on our values, and make decisions that align with what matters most to us. Dr. Hull also highlights the shift happening in the workplace, where employees are seeking organizations that prioritize intentionality and provide a custom-crafted experience. She provides a framework for discernment, managing change, and taking a lifelong perspective on our careers. The book offers practical guidance for individuals and organizations to navigate career choices and create a meaningful work-life balance.

Connect and learn more about Dr. Hull via this link - www.drsharonhull.com

Takeaways

• Press pause and reflect on your values and what matters most to you in your career and life.
• Be intentional in your decision-making and align your choices with your values.
• The workplace is shifting, and organizations that prioritize intentionality will have a competitive advantage.
• Dr. Hull's book, 'Professional Careers by Design,' provides a framework for discernment, managing change, and taking a lifelong perspective on your career.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Cullen Talley a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and coach, discusses the importance of competitiveness and discomfort in achieving success. He shares his personal experience as a competitive swimmer and endurance athlete, highlighting the mindset required to stay in discomfort and push through challenges. Talley emphasizes the need to start small and gradually increase discomfort levels, setting clear goals and measuring progress along the way.

He also stresses the value of having a third-party perspective to hold individuals accountable and remind them of their commitments. The conversation explores the importance of having a support system and working with a coach to achieve success. It emphasizes the need for perspective, a plan, and proven results when choosing a coach. The discussion also highlights the dangers of the coaching industry becoming saturated with unqualified individuals. The conversation concludes with insights on the process of starting a business and the importance of sitting in discomfort to find clarity.

You can learn more about Cullen through his website at www.exitmomentum.com

Takeaways

• Competition starts within oneself and involves pushing through discomfort.
• Discomfort is about doing what is necessary, even if it's not what you want to do.
• Start with smaller levels of discomfort and gradually increase intensity.
• Setting clear goals and measuring progress is crucial for success.
• Having a third-party perspective can provide accountability and remind individuals of their commitments. Having a support system and working with a coach can help accelerate success.
• When choosing a coach, look for someone with perspective, a plan, and proven results.
• Beware of the dangers of the coaching industry becoming saturated with unqualified individuals.
• Starting a business requires sitting in discomfort and asking difficult questions.
• Clarity and success come from taking the time to find answers and making deliberate choices.

Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and Career Competitor by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community
Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @careercompetitorpodcast