Humility opens doors that brute force cannot. Cameron Gunter found a surprising way to change his entire business after finding new methods from unlikely sources. Cameron shared how a $30 million deal turned his career around, leading to the creation of PEG Development (Property Enhancement Group).

"I think humility should be a competitive advantage for everybody. I think it opens up more doors and makes..If you are able to absorb from other people- …. Smarter people than you. Whether you think you're smarter or not, that I think it really just opens up your mind to a lot of other opportunities to evaluate and implement different strategies."

Over the last 15 years, PEG has raised over $300 million. Cameron says his competitive advantage is quite simple: He is willing to learn from anybody and everybody. Couple flexibility with the deep belief in the importance of relationships and you have a glimpse of the way he manages his business.

"So if you don't feel like you're listened to, then why do you care to do business? Am I right? You need to feel appreciated. We all need to feel appreciated. Not that we or any of us are struggling for attention. But there's some level of appreciation that we all need as human beings."

In Part I of our interview with Cameron Gunter, Cameron shares:

How a relationship can turn to a partnership [03:27]

The importance of treating everyone with respect [06:18]

Do not assume you know the right way of doing things. Be open to new methods and ideas [09:48]

Launching a $100 million dollar fund [12:22]

The value of humility in business, even when you are NBA star Shawn Bradley [14:58]

The need for support at the top. Not all relationships need to be transactional. Some are to feel support and have a friend going through similar struggles as a leader in business [16:51]

Cameron Gunters jump from account into a $30 million dollar deal [19:54]

"I think success comes down to excellence and being the best at what you do; and frankly helping others achieve success in their own lives," says Brandon Fugal, chairman at Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors. Brandon claims that it is critical to measure success by increased impact instead of simply by monetary gain. It's not simple though and it took important mentors to teach him how to remain focused on people instead of money. Brandon says:

"I haven't been driven by numbers. I've been very fortunate in that I am well compensated for producing results. And I have been very very blessed to have a career that I truly love, that is my hobby as well. I mean It was a happy coincidence that there are financial rewards in the commercial real estate business. I would tell all of the those that are listening; that success in my view has nothing to do with money. It has to do with excellence."

In Part II of our interview with Brandon Fugal, Brandon shares:

Taking the advice of a mentor with humility and action [00:40]

The importance of walking the walk [08:01]

Integrity and authenticity of character as demonstrated by his father [10:05]

Putting others interested ahead of your own [15:45]

Finding work life balance while understanding the priorities of others [19:12]

"What's your number" "More" A cinematic example of seeing success not in terms of monetary gain but in increased impact [23:07]

Brandon Fugal, chairman at Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors, started his career exactly one week out of high school. Though his focus and determination, he stayed true to his Utah roots and managed to create an international presence. He claims his success is due to prioritizing relationships over transactions. Those relationships include those who have advised him and those he's advised. Brandon says:

"When it all comes down to it business is about relationships. It's not about selling widgets or services, but it's really developing relationships of trust and bringing value to those relationships. And having an impact on the world around you."

In Part I of our interview with Brandon Fugal, Brandon shares:

How to deal with the loneliness felt in the "C" Suite [05:23]

Focusing on bringing value to relationships rather than transactions [12:15]

Taking on a perspective of abundance rather than scarcity [14:54]

Need for specialization to keep ahead of the market [16:55]

What it takes to become a trusted advisor [19:26]

Alex Dunn works to foster authenticity within every facet of his work-life. Whether it is within his role as the president of Vivint or communicating in his personal relationships, Alex believes authenticity is the driving force to getting the best results. He is committed to building a company culture where team members don't have to hide their weaknesses.

"…I think what it does, is it really fosters a lot of trust. Because look, everybody has insecurities and everybody has weaknesses and if you're in a culture where you are not really allowed to kind of expose that, then you're kind of missing, I think, an element of trust."

In Part II of our interview with Alex Dunn, Alex shares:

The benefits of building a company culture where team members don't have to hide their weaknesses. [04:34]

Building a strategy and execution to increase business value. [07:09]

The importance of focusing on the execution and proper inputs for desired outcomes. [10:15]

How focus on the right things can get you through the ups and downs. [12:00]

How to not mistake movement as progress in building value in your business. [16:57]

An account of how a multi billion dollar sale ended with low stock prices and no closing. [20:32]

How to use the apprehensions of others in investing in your business to better create a plan to mitigate risks. [26:32]

To Alex Dunn, president of Vivint, authenticity is the cornerstone to success. When business leaders are authentic, they focus on their strengths. When we focus on our shoring up our weaknesses, we end up "playing not to lose" rather than "playing to win," and we lose ourselves to second guessing.  Without true authenticity, you are not contributing, just copying. And when you are copying, your business becomes replaceable. Alex recommends finding that strength of conviction to push for a unique contribution.

"…you have to have a really strong perspective on what you think. And what you think the opportunity is, what you think the investment thesis is. And you have to have courage of your convictions around that… There are also has to be a kernel of truth."

Without trying to copy other successful businessmen or strategies, Alex developed his own convictions in how he manages his business. Through self-awareness, he focuses on his strengths and capitalizes on what makes him unique. He says:

"Now what I have realized is that the most successful people- and this is something that I believe pretty strongly is:  they strengthen their strengths and not their weaknesses.  And so that to me is being authentic to yourself because you realize; here's what I'm good at."

In Part I of our interview with Alex Dunn, Alex shares:

How the financial prospects of a company can change in a year. [03:36]

How to view rejection and acceptance while maintaining authenticity when pitching a business. [06:37]

What role your conviction and "a kernel of truth" play in building a business. [08:15]

Why self awareness is important as a business leader or entrepreneur. [11:45]

How to overcome the temptation to emulate other successful business leaders and entrepreneurs rather than being authentic. [16:00]

Strengthening our strengths rather than focusing on our weaknesses. [21:24]

Coming up with an idea doesn't make you an entrepreneur. You have to transform that idea into a self-sustaining business. John Pestana explains the steps that took one of his ideas into a $100 million company.

It's all about focus. It takes dedicated focus to keep the integrity of the idea intact, dedicated focus to control expenses, and dedicated focus to keep the customer's needs at the forefront. But staying focused requires a high level of patience. John says:

"Because everybody wants success instantaneously. But.. your entrepreneurial journey is like a funnel and you start on the outside of that funnel and every single year you look towards the center of the funnel and you see all these successful people and you're like, man, how do I get there?

…..You now are the person because you had the grit. You just kept moving forward because so many people just do it for three months, six months, a year, they try and do their business, right?" 

In Part II of our interview with John Pestana, John shares:

Do you have a billion dollar idea? [00:56]

"John, I'm making money while I'm sleeping." [02:57]

Do a "whole bunch of" market analysis [04:28]

Continually pivot and focus [05:27]

There's a lot of delusion involved in being an entrepreneur [11:02]

The fundamentals to getting $100 million in revenue [16:39]

The Illuminati secret to success! [18:58]

"It's not just business, it's all personal." John Pestana tells us how he started his career as a teenager programming his dad's HP financial calculator and eventually co-founded two of the most successful data collection agencies in the world.

As an entrepreneur, he believes empathy and delegation are the foundations of his success. Through empathy for those around him, John creates a culture of productivity and positivity. Through delegation, he uses his strengths and surrounds himself with those who fill his holes.

Especially within the entrepreneur world where ideas come and go, businesses spark and then dim, relationships must be prioritized. You can take an idea anywhere if you have the right team to float it.

"It's amazing how hard it is to start a company, to get customers on-boarded, to deal with, you know, the interactions of customers, with employees, with just everybody involved and keeping everybody happy. I, I joke a lot that it's like trying to keep a rock band together, you know? Here, you're just trying to keep everybody moving the ship forward, just keep the band together. And that's one of the keys to success."

In Part I of our interview with John Pestana, John shares:

A brief history of Omniture [00:56]

Why trusting data is so important [04:33]

Lessons Learned: from Omniture to ObservePoint [06:52]

Find your basketball and spend a lot of time doubling down on it. [17:41]

My parents helped me learn a lot of patience and empathy for people. [24:22]

People aren't trying to piss you off [27:50]

The problem with airports [31:01]