Haverin about...

As 2025 comes to a close, sales leaders everywhere are revisiting comp plans for the new fiscal year. In this lively and insightful conversation, Stuart and Bethany talk with Chris Goff — compensation strategist, educator, and author — about what it takes to design sales compensation that actually motivates performance and aligns with business goals.

Chris shares practical lessons from years of experience helping organizations strike a balance between motivation, fairness, and financial discipline in their compensation strategies. From startup simplicity to enterprise-scale complexity, this episode explores what works, what fails, and why.

00:00 – Introduction to Sales Compensation Dynamics

06:58 – Understanding the Role of Sales Compensation Professionals

09:40 – The Complexity of Compensation Plans

12:06 – The Importance of Pay Transparency

14:48 – Navigating Compensation Structures in Organizations

17:14 – The Impact of Company Culture on Sales Performance

17:51 – Advice for Sales Leaders on Compensation Planning

29:27 – Understanding Sales Compensation Structures

31:46 – The Role of Ramps and Quotas in Sales

38:05 – Navigating Mid-Year Changes and SPIFs

46:29 – Compensation Strategies for Startups

52:13 – Future Trends in Sales Compensation

56:11 – Understanding Compensation Plans

57:46 – Paths to Success in Sales

01:00:11 – Matching Personalities to Sales Roles

01:01:19 – The Politics of Sales Compensation

• The art and science of designing effective sales comp plans
• When “equality” can actually kill motivation
• The love–hate relationship with SPIFs and short-term incentives
• Why your comp plan is your real “instruction manual” for success
• How sales leaders can advocate for smarter plan design
• Practical strategies for startups building their first comp models
• What’s next in 2026: AI, consumption-based models, and new incentive trends

Whether you’re a CRO, a sales manager, or an individual contributor reading your new comp plan with curiosity (or dread), this episode helps you decode what really drives sales performance.

🎙️ Guest: Chris Goff

Hosts: Stuart & Bethany

Podcast: Haverin About

👉 Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can learn more about Chris on LinkedIn and on his website salescompguy.com

💬 Have a sales comp story or question? Email Haverin About — Your Experience Could Feature in a Future Listener Q&A!

#SalesCompensation #SalesLeadership #RevenueStrategy #SalesOps #BusinessGrowth #HaverinAbout #Sales SPIFF

n this bonus conversation from Breathing Forward, Stuart and Dr. Peter D’Adamo go beyond lung disease to explore the human side of medicine. Together they reflect on genetic inheritance, inflammation, the philosophy of healing, and the promise of future transplant technologies.

Purchase Peter's NY Times Bestseller "Eat Right 4 Your Type" on Amazon

Peter shares his personal journey with IPF and telomere research, while Stuart connects the dots between family genetics, resilience, and living beyond a transplant. Expect a mix of deep science, humanity, and humor from two veterans of both medicine and life’s harder lessons.

Keywords: Lung Transplant, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, IPF, Telomeres, Epigenetics, Inflammation, Peter D’Adamo, Genetics, Organ Donation, Decellularization, Regenerative Medicine, Medical Storytelling, Resilience

In this extraordinary episode of Haverin About: Breathing Forward, host Stuart sits down with Dr. Peter D’Adamo, renowned author of Eat Right for Your Type and one of the world’s most original thinkers in integrative medicine, genomics, and nutrition.

What begins as a podcast friendship between two transplant survivors unfolds into one of the most thoughtful and illuminating conversations about science, philosophy, and survival.

Diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — the same disease that took his father’s life — Peter’s journey led him through the harrowing process of lung failure, hospitalization, and eventual single-lung transplant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

In this remarkable story, Peter shares:

🫁 His shock at diagnosis and connection to his late father’s fibrosis

🔬 Why science and faith both have roles in healing

🏥 The brutal reality of IPF’s “staircase” decline

❤️ Receiving a lung from a 24-year-old donor from Tennessee — and what that means to him

💊 The strange mix of gratitude, impatience, and rediscovered humility after surgery

💬 How his background in medicine shapes his view of patient care and medical wisdom

🧠 Why he believes medicine is “a dialogue, not a dictatorship”

🙏 The philosophy that’s guided him — stoicism, humor, and quiet acceptance

From reflections on mortality and science fiction-like future transplant tech, to a witty discussion of life with one “good lung and one cranky one,” Peter brings intellect, humanity, and humor to a story that could only be told by him.

🔗 Follow Dr. Peter D’Adamo on Substack: https://pdadamo.substack.com/

Purchase "Eat Right 4 Your Type" on Amazon

💚 Register as an organ donor: https://organdonor.GOV

🎧 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Captivate.fm | Google Podcasts

In this deeply inspiring episode of Haverin About: Breathing Forward, host Stuart reconnects with Dean Mericka, a long-time colleague and fellow lung transplant survivor, to uncover one of the most extraordinary medical and personal journeys imaginable — surviving a rare double transplant: lungs and liver. A further twist - Dean's twin brother also required the same procedures within a year.

Dean’s story begins with a routine hip surgery that unexpectedly uncovered interstitial lung disease (ILD), which later led to the discovery of short telomere syndrome — a rare genetic condition shared with his identical twin brother. Within a few years, both brothers would face life-threatening organ failure and receive transplants at leading U.S. medical centers.

In this powerful and thoughtful conversation, Dean shares:

🫁 The shock of diagnosis and rapid decline in lung function

🏥 The grueling pre-hab and evaluation process at Duke University Hospital

❤️ The challenges and miracles of receiving both a liver and lung transplant — at age 65

💊 Living with lifelong medications, chemo, and complications like PTLD

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The vital role of his wife, Sandy, and family as his “care team”

🌄 How gratitude, kindness, and perspective have reshaped his life after transplant

Dean’s mantra: “You give up one big problem for a bunch of small ones — and it’s worth every one.”

Whether you’re a patient, a family caregiver, a medical professional, or just someone seeking hope in the face of adversity, this episode reminds us all to be grateful for science, family, and second chances.

In this powerful episode, Stuart sits down with Jenny McFarlane, a double lung transplant survivor living with cystic fibrosis (CF), to share her remarkable story of resilience, faith, and purpose. Diagnosed with CF as a baby, Jenny defied the odds for decades before lupus accelerated her lung decline, and she was told she needed a transplant.

In this deeply personal and uplifting conversation, Jenny recounts:

🌬️ Her life before transplant and the emotional decision to move across states for surgery

💔 The fear and hope leading up to “the call” that changed everything

💪 The recovery journey — from ventilator tubes to walking freely for the first time

🙏 Her gratitude toward her donor and how that gift shaped her spiritual journey

💖 How she founded her own lung transplant foundation and podcast to support others

🌅 The unforgettable moment she climbed back up that Galveston hill — breathing freely again

This story isn’t just about surviving. It’s about living with purpose, gratitude, and love after being given a second chance.

If you’ve ever wondered what life after organ transplant is really like — or if you need inspiration to register as an organ donor — this episode will move you deeply.

________________________________________

📬 Read our writing → https://haverin.substack.com

☕ Buy us a coffee with a Ko-fi tip → https://ko-fi.com/haverin

🔗 Listen to Jenny’s Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pre-to-post-transplant/id1486712428

💚 Learn more about Jenny's Foundation → https://www.pretoposttx.com

💡 Become an Organ Donor: Donor.GOV

🎧 Also available on: YoutTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Captivate.fm

______________________________________________________

• lung transplant story
• cystic fibrosis survivor
• Jenny lung transplant
• organ donation awareness
• life after transplant
• transplant journey podcast
• inspirational survivor stories
• CF lung transplant recovery
• organ donor story
• second chance at life
• chronic illness resilience
• Galveston hill story
• transplant foundation
• faith after illness
• healing and purpose
• ⏱️ 4. Chapter List (Timestamps for YouTube & Podcast)

00:00 – Introduction – Meet Jenny and her story of cystic fibrosis

01:40 – Early life and CF diagnosis

03:00 – When health began to decline & lupus diagnosis

06:00 – Deciding to move for a lung transplant

07:40 – The Galveston fireworks moment: “I’m ready for my transplant”

10:30 – Getting the call – The unexpected timing

13:00 – Facing surgery day fears and waking up after transplant

16:00 – Recovery: walking, chest tubes, and small victories

18:30 – Life after surgery & gratitude for the donor

20:30 – Writing to her donor’s family

22:00 – Meeting other transplant stories through her podcast

24:00 – Spiritual reflections and growing closer to faith

27:00 – Why me? Finding purpose after survival

29:30 – The power of compassion and resilience

32:00 – Stuart & Jenny reflect on community and awareness

35:30 – Jenny’s new chapter: foundation, school, and podcast break

36:45 – One word to describe the journey: “Beautiful”

37:30 – Jenny’s message to future organ donors

39:50 – Closing thoughts: Living with purpose and gratitude

We’re opening our Lung Transplant Series with Stuart’s double lung transplant story—co-hosted with Bethany. From the ICU moment of “We can’t save your lungs”, through a recovery “close plan” (yes, the sock test), to a late-night message from his donor’s mother, this is our most personal episode yet.

Released during the Lung Transplant Foundation’s National Lung Transplant Awareness Week and National Lung Transplant Awareness Day (October 9, 2025), we share what organ donation makes possible—and how families and teams can lead with grace when life hits hard.

You’ll hear about:

• The call that changed everything—and the mindset pivot from despair to plan

• The “close plan” for recovery (walk, walk, walk) and the legendary sock test

• Bethany’s perspective: balancing family, sales leadership, and grief

• Grace at work: how teammates and managers can actually help

• A message from the donor’s mother—and honoring the gift

• Practical ways to protect the immunocompromised in your life

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome & Awareness Week/Day

01:30 Gratitude to Vanderbilt & donor families

06:35 Diagnosis → rapid decline → ICU

15:03 “We can’t save your lungs.” (mindset pivot)

20:48 A match is found & surgery day

24:30 Recovery begins: walk, walk, walk

28:52 The “close plan” & the sock test

32:05 Bethany’s side: family, work, coping

35:00 Grace at work: leadership lessons

38:00 Donor letter - connecting with grief

42:00 How to help + CTAs

44:30 Outro

Listen if you want to: hear a real-world transplant journey, learn how to support loved ones (and colleagues) through crisis, and understand why registering as an organ donor truly changes families on both sides.

Support the show:

📬 Subscribe to the Substack → https://haverin.substack.com

☕ Buy us a coffee with a Ko-fi tip → https://ko-fi.com/haverin

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Lung Transplant Foundation:

🔗https://lungtransplantfoundation.org/

US —Register as an organ donor:

🔗 https://www.organdonor.gov/

UK — NHS Organ Donor Register: 🔗https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/

Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Lung Transplant Program: 🔗https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/program/lung-transplant

Haverin Substack

Breathing Forward: A timeline of resilience:

🔗https://haverin.substack.com/p/breathing-forward-a-timeline-of-resilience?r=2vmx1l

Where are we with Lung Transplants in 2025?:

🔗https://haverin.substack.com/p/where-we-are-with-lung-transplants?r=2vmx1l

Tacro, Tacro, Tacro! (Explaining our antirejection drugs):

🔗https://haverin.substack.com/p/tacro-tacro-tacro?r=2vmx1l

Jenny McFarland’s transplant podcast (Stuart’s guest episode): 🔗https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/if-youre-going-through-hell-just-keep-going-with/id1486712428?i=1000639375812

Negotiation is everywhere. From battling with an insurance adjuster after storm damage to closing multi-million-dollar healthcare IT deals, the skills are the same.

In this episode of Haverin About, Stuart and Bethany dive into the art (and science) of negotiation. With real stories, practical strategies, and a dash of humor, they explore how to:

• Break down 100-page contracts into what really matters
• Use simple tools like index cards to prep for big conversations
• Handle shifting corporate priorities and procurement roadblocks
• Avoid leadership missteps (and land yourself in the “burn book”)
• Trade creative terms beyond just money (references, case studies, conferences)
• Master the hardest negotiation skill of all: silence
• Remember timeless wisdom: “What’s for you will no go by you”
• Whether you’re in sales, leadership, or just want to sharpen your everyday negotiation skills, this episode has something for you.

👉 Subscribe now so you don’t miss future episodes. And if you enjoy what you hear, leave us a review—it really helps others discover the show!

AI is everywhere in healthcare — from flashy demos on the expo floor to workflow tools in hospitals. But how much of it is real, and how much is hype?

In this episode of Haverin About, Stuart and Bethany cut through the fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) around AI in healthcare. T

They share perspectives from both the vendor and healthcare system sides, blending serious insights with humor and stories.

You’ll hear about:

• Why hospitals don’t have one buyer, but an army of “Knights Who Say No”
• The ROI vs. TCO dilemma — hidden costs that kill the promise
• Governance platforms and “unsexy plumbing” as the real opportunity in 2025
• Data, compliance, and trust: the risks that can’t be ignored

Articles Mentioned:

• Joshua Liu's original LinkedIn article that inspired "The Knights who Say No!": - Great article by Joshua Liu on LinkedIn that inspired Stuart's "Knights who say No!" article
• "The Knights who say No!" Substack article: - Stuart's article on the complex network of approval flows inside hospitals and health systems

Timestamps:

00:00 Some gentle havering about The Pitt and “Maybe I should have low-key become a doctor?

05:15 The AI Hype acceleration in Healthcare

11:55 Navigating Hospital Buyers' skepticism

21:13 The Seller's Lens in AI Adoption

23:00 ‘The Knights who say No!’  Navigating Healthcare Technology Sales Challenges

29:52 The Role of Educating to Sell AI Solutions

35:04 External and internal Healthcare AI Regulation and compliance

40:12 The Importance of Governance in AI Implementation

45:33 Closing Thoughts and next week's promo

Listen if you want to: understand how hospital leaders think about AI adoption, where vendors trip up, and what the next 12 months really hold.

Support the show:

📬 Subscribe to the Substack → https://haverin.substack.com

☕ Buy us a coffee with a Ko-fi tip → https://ko-fi.com/haverin

Summary

Welcome to the very first episode of Haverin About! In this launch episode, father–daughter duo Stuart Miller and Bethany Miller Urroz share why they’ve decided to take their years of private conversations about healthcare, business, and technology public. You’ll get to know the hosts, their backgrounds, and what the word “Haverin” really means (hint: structured nonsense with a Scottish twist).

Together, Stuart and Bethany outline the podcast’s format, the themes they’ll cover, and why you’ll want to subscribe for the blend of sharp insights, candid stories, and humor that defines their unique style.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why we started Haverin About
• The story behind the name (and our Scottish roots)
• Who we are: our careers in healthcare IT, consulting, and sales leadership
• The four themes that guide our Substack and now the podcast:
• The Next Generation
• The Briefing Room
• Blethering
• Vision to Action
• A preview of our first full episode: Cutting Through the AI FUD in Healthcare

🔗 Resources & Links

📝 Support and subscribe to our writing at → https://haverin.substack.com

☕ Support the show with a Ko-fi tip → https://ko-fi.com/haverin

Connect with us:

• Stuart Miller on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-miller-haverin
• Bethany Miller Urroz on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanymillerurroz
• 📩 Business inquiries → [email protected]