Would you rather have people do what you ask because they want to or because you’re the boss and you told them to? In this episode, we talk with Mariam Laes about the importance of being in a position to lead and having influence at the appropriate level to maximize your impact in an organization.

If you're looking for valuable insights on how to navigate the complex world of graduate degrees and fast tracking your career, this is a must-listen episode. Tune in for answers to questions such as:

Should I go to graduate school? Should I get an MBA? Should I join my company’s leadership development program? How do I get on the fast track to being a manager?

It’s not often Sean maintains a friendship with someone who doesn’t think Christmas Vacation is the Christmas movie GOAT, but he’s made an exception with Mariam Laes. With a degree in industrial engineering from Clemson University, Mariam has made the rounds in her career so far, from an executive assistant who forgot to book a car for her boss on a business trip to an associate business unit manager for a major aerospace supplier. Your next great career move could be a result of the one key tactic she adopted.

In part four of our conversation with author Matt McWilliams he coins a new term while describing the value of mastermind groups. He shares valuable insights about how much time you should spend marketing content compared to creating it. We also find out how this guru of marketing went from studying ornamental horticulture in college to writing a book about turning your passions into profits. And for all you Friends fans, there’s a bit of a philosophical discussion about the “hypothetical twelve.”

In business, the only scorecard is making money. So how do you marry passion with making money? Start slow, build a following, and listen to this episode with author Matt McWilliams. The world needs your message, but it’s not going to wait for it.

This episode is filled with some of the worst assumptions people make about leadership and making an impact. Our guest, Matt McWilliams, explains what to ignore, how to lead better, and a simple test anyone can use to validate their assumptions about pretty much anything. It’s just a taste of what can be found in his newly released book, “Turn Your Passions Into Profits.” 

Affiliate marketing is a superpower, and Matt McWilliams claims to be the best in the world at teaching people how to do it profitably. That’s why people call him “The Affiliate Guy.” But whether it’s affiliate marketing or building a rewarding business, helping entrepreneurs is Matt’s passion. His new book, Turn Your Passions Into Profits, teaches you how to do just that from a guy who loves entrepreneurship so much, he oozes it.

I’ll let you in on a secret: 

If you’re thinking of sending your kids to a four year university, you are wasting your money. Get a thoughtful analysis of how to maximize the value of higher education from the perspective of three engineers who have eight degrees and 11 kids.

How do you solve the problem of middle management? That’s where episode 21 left off. Nate Barber, owner of Opgrade near San Antonio, provides the answer. Learn how he uses the “rule of five” to help navigate the naysayers.

When working with a consulting client, these are words you probably don’t want to hear from the CEO: “wow, this was a waste of time.” It has unfortunately happened to our guest, Nate Barber, and it’s probably happened to many of you–even if you were just a change agent inside a company trying to deliver results to your manager. Nate describes what happened and how to prevent it. Also, if you don’t know what it means to be “Hasselhoffed,” pay attention–it could happen to you.