My Quest for the Best with Bill Ringle - the podcast for ambitious business owners.

By Bill RingleBusiness Entrepreneurship Management

My Quest for the Best with Bill Ringle - the podcast for ambitious business owners. episodes

January 02, 2023Embrace the paradoxes of leadership to rise to new heights with guest expert Tim Elmore
Tim Elmore, author of The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership: Embracing the Conflicting Demands of Today’s Workplace
Tim Elmore and Bill Ringle discuss how leaders today need a stronger cognitive to deal with the wide range of education, expectations, exposure, and emotions that employees bring to their work.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways
Leadership is not a feature but an identity.
The fastest way to influence people is through serving and problem-solving.
Do not attempt to control the outcome. Instead, influence it when you can.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
Tim fondly recalls the first time he spoke in front of an audience and shared his appreciation for Sean Mitchell, the man who gave him the opportunity.[01:13]
The negatives and the positives of having talent. [03:53]
John Maxwell mentored Tim over 20 years. What was the most valuable skill that John Maxwell taught Tim Elmore? How to have a difficult conversation. [05:04]
What is true leadership and what makes it a challenge to execute consistently? [08:16]
Introducing the three buckets of Habitudes: What is in your control, what isn’t, and what you can influence. [09:11]
Why are most managers guilty of confusing the influence bucket with the control bucket? Mixing up what you can control with what you can only influence. [10:28]
CASE: Terry was a leader who is a poster boy of why it is dangerous to lead with too much confidence and no humility. [13:32]:
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect? What happens when people lead with ignorance and confidence. [15:30]
CASE: Dennis was a Chick-fil-A manager with a drinking problem that affected his workplace. After discovering this, Truett Cathy showed the door to Dennis. What door did Truett Cathy show his manager? The door to improvement. [16:23]
How do you hand over the reins of leadership like a boss? Examples from Martin Luther King and Truett Cathy. [19:06]
Tim created a new Habitude called clean the windows: Giving your team the freedom to work things their way but making the result you want to be achieved explicit. [24:22]
Isaac Newton is a perfect example of achieving exemplary results without supervision. [25:41]
My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [26:50]
Expert Bio
Dr. Tim Elmore is the founder and CEO of Growing Leaders, an Atlanta-based non‐profit organization that was created to develop emerging leaders. His work grew out of 20 years of serving alongside Dr. John C. Maxwell. Elmore has appeared in The Wall Street
Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, Psychology Today, and he’s been featured on CNN’s
Headline News and Fox and Friends to talk about leading multiple generations in the
marketplace. He has written over 35 books, including Habitudes: Images That Form Leadership
Habits and Attitudes.
Contact Info and Social Media for Tim Elmore
Primary website
Travels from: Peachtree Corners, GA
Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
Resources Mentioned During the Interview
Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further.
Truett Cathy
John Maxwell
Martin Luther King
Dunning-Kruger effect
Steve Robinson
Isaac Newton
What are The 8 Paradoxes of Great Leadership?
Paradox One: Uncommon Leaders Balance Both Confidence and Humility
Paradox Two: Uncommon Leaders Leverage Both Their Vision and Their Blind Spots
Paradox Three: Uncommon Leaders Embrace Both Visibility and Invisibility
Paradox Four: Uncommon Leaders Are Both Stubborn and Open-Minded
Paradox Five: Uncommon Leaders Are Both Deeply Personal and Inherently Collective
Paradox Six: Uncommon Leaders Are Both Teachers and Learners
Paradox Seven: Uncommon Leaders Model Both High Standards and Gracious Forgiveness
Paradox Eight: Uncommon Leaders Are Both Timely and Timeless
36 min
December 12, 2022The constellation model of leadership with guest expert Matthew Barzun
Matthew Barzun, author of The Power of Giving Away Power: How the Best Leaders Learn to Let Go
Bill Ringle and Matthew Barzun discuss leadership insights for small business leaders from Matthew’s perspective as a United States ambassador to Sweden and the United Kingdom.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways
Co-creation is a valuable meeting outcome. It occurs when you create something — a product, a plan, a concept — thorugh your interactions.
A team operates better as a constellation: Everyone is their own star, but together they form a higher level context and purpose.
Our obsession with “solutionism” blinds us to the fact that not everything is a problem that needs to be solved. Sometimes we’re having difficulties and can just go around them.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
Jacques Barzun, a Provost at Columbia University, author of 40 books, and a man with a great understanding of life was Matthew’s grandfather and his biggest inspiration growing up. [01:22]
What business leaders can learn about meetings from Peter Drucker’s guru, Mary Parker Follett. [03:51]
The Mary Parker Follet Test: What are the four possible outcomes in a meeting? Are you focused on the only one that is worthwhile. [05:30]
We should expect three things after a meeting: To be needed, to need others, and to be changed. [07:05]
How did PowerPoint change the power structure in meetings. [07:41]
What is Amazon’s 6-page brief model of collaborative? [09:03]
Explaining the difference between the pyramid and the constellation. Do you have a one dollar bill to examine? [10:38]
The Internet itself is a constellation. The world’s most impactful innovations and successful businesses are organized this way.[13:38]
“What is the opposite of winning and losing?” [16:03]
Why the West is obsessed with “solutionism,” the idea that everything needs to be solved. [17:48]
After a conversation with stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr, Matthew concluded that leadership is a joke. Seriously. [20:09]
My Quest for the Best lighting round begins. [34:12]
What was former President Barack Obama’s advice for his then-first-time diplomat? [37:00]
Expert Bio
Matthew Barzun has always been fascinated by how we can stand out and fit in simultaneously. He helped countries do both when he served as US Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Sweden. He helped citizens do both as National Finance Chair for Barack Obama by pioneering new ways for people to have a stronger voice in politics. And he helped tech consumers do both as an entrepreneur when he helped start CNET Networks in the early 90s. Barzun was raised on the East Coast, started his career on the West Coast, and settled in the middle in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife, Brooke, and their three children.
Contact Info and Social Media for Matthew Barzun
Primary website
Travels from: Louisville, KY
Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
Resources Mentioned During the Interview
Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further.
Mary Parker Follett
Free download sample of The Power of Giving Away Power by Matthew Barzun
Peter Drucker
PowerPoint
VISA
Stephen Covey- The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Good to Great by Jim Collins
The West Wing
Barack Obama
51 min
December 05, 2022Habits different from what you read on social media with guest expert Wendy Wood
Wendy Wood, author of Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick
Bill Ringle and Wendy Wood dive into the distinctions of what habits are so that with accurate detains and understandings, you can select and upgrade your habits for success as a small business leader.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 350 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways
Our habit-memory comes from actions we repeat because they reward us with the desired result.
People in decision-making positions should lead less from the gut and more from conscious thinking.
Avoid overexerting yourself through willpower and form better habits faster.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
Wendy was inspired by her father, who had high standards in everything he did with his children. [01:44]
The value of setting up high standards resonated throughout her work. Wendy explains how our standards influence the repeated behaviors we create. [04:16]
What role do habits play in running a successful business? [07:07]
While the job may be different and the context may vary, there are reasons why we always go back to what’s familiar. [09:25]
How are habits and rituals related but not identical? [13:23]
Why asking questions is a great habit. [14:55]
How do our habits make up for our limited decision-making ability? [17:10]
Is wearing Michael Jordan’s go-to brand every day a habit or a superstition? [18:19]
The research found that firefighters, especially experienced ones, don’t really have a plan and instead rely on habits. [21:31]
While habits are important, decision makers must dedicate the energy and the time to make better decisions. [22:52]
What are the details of the relationship between habits and willpower? [25:09]
What is your best advice on forming habits? [28:01]
My Quest for the Best lightning round begins.[44:54]
Expert Bio
Wendy Wood is a research psychologist who devoted the last 30 years to understanding how habits work. She is Provost Professor of Psychology and Business at the University of Southern California, where she also served as Vice Dean of Social Sciences.
A 2008 Radcliffe Institute Fellow, and 2018 Distinguished Chair of Behavioral Science at the Sorbonne/INSEAD in Paris, Wendy has advised the World Bank, the Centers for Disease Control, and industries such as Proctor & Gamble and Lever Bros.

Wendy completed her graduate degree in psychology at the University of Massachusetts. She went on to be the James B Duke Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. Having published over 100 scientific articles, she received numerous awards for her research and teaching. For the past 30 years, her research has been continuously funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, and the Templeton Foundation.
Contact Info and Social Media for Wendy Wood
Primary Website
Travels from: Washington, DC
Connect on LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
Resources Mentioned During the Interview
Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed so you can explore further.
Mike Zuckerman
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Nike
Fila
Michael Jordan
51 min
November 14, 2022Smashing through the 'Overlooked Expert Problem' with guest expert Michelle Mazur
Michelle Mazur, author of 3 Word Rebellion: Create a One-of-a-Kind Message that Grows Your Business into a Movement
Bill Ringle and Michelle Mazur discuss creating a pithy statement that brings prospects to do business with you for small business leaders, marketers, and entrepreneurs.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways
Architect a clear and concise message that sticks into people’s minds to carve themselves a unique space in today’s overcrowded market.
Word of mouth is great, but the downside is that we don’t control what people say about us and when they talk about us.
If our message is purely focused on providing a solution, we might miss the group of people unaware they even have a problem.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
Unlike most children, Michelle had unique inspiration growing up in the form of John F. Kennedy. She admitted to being pretty interested, albeit for naive reasons. in politics as a child. [01:00]
Whether it is JFK, Martin Luther King, or any other politician, an apparent common ground they share that Michelle observed was that they master in delivering their message.[03:27]
The downfall now that everyone has the means to market online is that the marketplace has become oversaturated. Michelle emphasizes the importance of messaging in carving your place in an overcrowded market.[06:22]
Michelle, creating a message that captures attention creates a conversation that allows you to cultivate connection.[10:23]
What makes the three-word rebellion works is that it encapsulates the message you want to convey and because it is short, it easily sticks to people’s mind. Michelle shares more examples of three-word rebellions that worked so well.[14:18]
Michelle recalls when she first crystallized Three Word Rebellion and how she turned it into her brand.[16:34]
The ‘Jesse Phenomenon’ and why marketing is not enough.[19:53]
Why solution-focused messages are not as effective as we think and how we may miss potential clients if we simply rely on them. [22:57]
My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [27:50]
Expert Bio
Michelle Mazur is a messaging expert who works with brilliant business owners who are shaking things up but having trouble talking about it. She combines the tools of successful social movements with the qualitative research skills she earned in her Communications Ph.D. to help them craft their powerful, captivating message. Get started finding your 3 Word Rebellion for free.
Contact Info and Social Media for Michelle Mazur
Primary website
Travels from: Seattle, WA
Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram
Resources Mentioned During the Interview
Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further.
John F. Kennedy
Martin Luther King
StoryBrand by Donald Miller
Find Your Red Thread by Tamsen Webster
Five-second Rule by Mel Robbins
Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Fortune 500
Eugene Schwartz’s customer awareness spectrum
38 min
November 07, 2022Navigate from Crucible Pressure to Satisfying Significance with author Warwick Fairfax
Warwick Fairfax, author of Crucible Leadership: Embrace Your Trials to Lead a Life of Significance
Bill Ringle and Warwick Fairfax discuss finding your bearings after a hugely public muck-up for small business leaders.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways
Find yourself and what you want to do. You won’t have a fulfilling career if your primary focus is not disappointing others despite not sharing their vision.
Listen to people who can help you instead of allying to yes-men and yes-women. It is better to hear honest advice that contradicts what you want to do rather than just being what you want to hear.
Take accountability for failures and build yourself up from what you’ve learned.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
Defining the crucible and how this moment can shape a leader. [01:31]
Warwick shares the pressure of growing up in a 150-year-old family business and how that pressure further increased after his father’s passing. [03:47]
After taking over the family business, Warwick realized that he and his family don’t share the same vision on running the company, so he sought advice from people who council corporate raiders. [07:02]
The advice that Warwick would tell his younger self. Somehow, he doubts that he can even convince his past self to do otherwise. [10:25]
Warwicks weighs in the pressure of being the one to correct mistakes by the past generations and aligning the vision of the company with that of the founder. [13:50]
After the company declared Bankruptcy, Warwick shares how he dealt with the fallout; how he felt about the media, public perception, and most importantly, himself. [16:07]
Some newspapers rub elbows with politicians, but Warwick proudly shares the no-bias way his father ran The Sydney Morning Herald. [20:13]
Warwick talks about balancing a story by looking at both sides creating a company where people want to work. [23:33]
A discussion about how people get trapped in their echo chambers in modern times.[26:04]
My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [30:57]
Expert Bio
Warwick Fairfax is the founder of Crucible Leadership, a philosophical and practical breakthrough in turning business and personal failures into the fuel for igniting a life of significance. He has been hailed by Forbes as offering “compelling insights for anyone who would like to wake up feeling inspired by their work but doesn’t” … insights rooted not in a checklist of glib to-do’s but in his own experience at the epicenter of one of the most spectacular business failures in the history of his home nation of Australia.
Fairfax was only 26 when, as the fifth-generation heir to a media empire bearing his family name, he led — and lost — a multibillion-dollar public takeover bid. The result? The company founded by his great-great-grandfather slipped from family control after 150 years, leaving him to examine not only his own shortcomings and losses but also his life’s principles and the lessons he learned from family members who came before him and some of history’s greatest leaders. It has been by shaping these insights as a leadership adviser that Fairfax has enabled others to learn from what he describes as their own “crucible experiences” and emerge to lead a life rooted in who they are. His journey has opened a door for men and women from all walks of life to not only bounce back from failure but to become the leaders they were born to be.
Fairfax is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Crucible Leadership: Embrace Your Trials to Lead a Life of Significance (Mount Tabor Media, 2021), the broad appeal of which led it to top Amazon’s charts in business leadership, memoir, and self-help. In the book, he discusses for the first time his thoughts and actions in launching the John Fairfax Ltd. takeover and explains what he learned about himself from that devastating failure — who he was and was not his unique design, purpose, passions, and vision really were.
He shares insights from his experience and interviews other leaders who have leveraged their crucible moments to live and lead with significance on the podcast BEYOND THE CRUCIBLE, available through all major podcasting channels.
Fairfax holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.
He lives in Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife, Gale. They have three children who are in the process of developing their own unique paths to lives of significance.
Contact Info and Social Media for Warwick Fairfax
Primary website
Travels from: Annapolis, MD
Connect on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook
Resources Mentioned During the Interview
Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further.
Beyond The Crucible Podcast- Listen to Warwick Fairfox’s podcast!
The Sydney Morning Herald
Robert Menzies
Joseph Campbell
Theodore Roosevelt
38 min
October 31, 2022You must ascend any mountain of challenges yourself, but you succeed when you bring others along with guest expert Whitney Johnson
Whitney Johnson, author of Build an A-Team: Play to Their Strengths and Lead Them Up the Learning Curve
Bill Ringle and Whitney Johnson discuss the power behind thinking of your team as a collection of S-curves for small business leaders, managers, and rising stars.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways
We need to be explicit with our communication when working in a hybrid or remote workplace because people cannot see what we are doing or any form of non-verbal communication.
You want people who not only pull themselves up the mountain but pull other people up with them on the journey, as well.
Anxiety is a performance killer. As leaders, we need to create an emotionally healthy and mentally safe environment.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
Whitney shares her favorite quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson- “Rings and other jewels are but apologies for gifts. The only true gift is a portion of myself,” and why this is relevant to her as a coach. [01:52]
The characteristics of an A-Team, do they appear spontaneously, and what you can learn from Apple. [02:35]
“Communicate, communicate, communicate.” The advantages and disadvantages of remote and hybrid work to communication within a team. [06:31]
Defining the S-curve and its levels: Launch point, sweet spot, mastery. [09:03]
Why you would want a team that is a collection of different levels of the S-curve. Whitney advises on why you would like your team to have 20% of your members in the launch point, 60% on the sweet spot, and another 20% on mastery. [11:50]
How managers can open a conversation on bridging the gap while de-risking resentment. Whitney gives seven pieces of very valuable advice on how we leaders can do this. [15:12]
7 tools to optimize your journey up the S-curve. [20:31]
The DOs and DON’Ts of giving an excellent initial experience, such as onboarding. [21:41]
CASE: Marco Trecroce, the CIO of Four Seasons Canada to highlight the importance of the onboarding process despite already having someone with skills and experience. [23:20]
CASE: Samantha, an exemplary leader whose employees’ trust keeps them safe emotionally and mentally at work. [25:06]
My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [27:21]
Expert Bio
Whitney Johnson is the CEO of Disruption Advisors, a tech-enabled talent development company, and an expert on smart growth leadership: growing your people to grow your company.
Thinkers50 ranked her among the top ten management thinkers in the world in 2021, and in 2020 she was a Top Voice on LinkedIn, where she has 1.8 million followers.
Johnson is an award-winning author, world-class keynote speaker, frequent lecturer for Harvard Business Publishing’s Corporate Learning division, and an award-winning executive coach and adviser to CEOs.
She is the author of several bestselling books, including Disrupt Yourself and Build an A-Team, and hosts the weekly Disrupt Yourself podcast.
Contact Info and Social Media for Whitney Johnson
Primary website
Travels from: Lexington, VA
Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram
Resources Mentioned During the Interview
Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further.
My Quest for the Best interview: 371: The Growth of Your People will determine the growth of your company with guest expert Whitney Johnson.
Disrupt Yourself with Whitney Johnson, another top-notch podcast
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Clayton Christensen, thought leader
How Apple Is Organized for Innovation by Joel M. Podolny and Morten T. Hansen
Marco Trecroce, CIO of Four Seasons Canada
John Davison, former CEO of Four Seasons Canada
Backable: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance on You by Suneel Gupta
Alissa Johnson, chief information security officer Xerox
Authored by Whitney Johnson
32 min
October 24, 2022The ability to change your perspective allows your leadership to shine with guest expert Amer Kaissi
Amer Kaissi, author of Humbitious: The Power of Low-Ego, High-Drive Leadership
Bill Ringle and Amer Kaissi discuss the benefits and disasters resulting from business leaders who lacked (sufficient) humility, the essential component to combine with ambition for small business leaders and founders.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will lock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways
While ambition and humility shouldn’t necessarily be balanced, each should always be present.
If leaders are humble enough to acknowledge their mistakes, it allows their team members to admit when one of them makes a mistake.
Leaders who promote psychological safety create highly efficient and productive teams.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
His mother, whose passion for leadership and serving others has been Amer’s most significant influence. [01:20]
The similarities and differences between being an organizational leader versus being a leader at home. [06:04]
CASE: Travis Kalanick, Uber’s founder, is about self-awareness and humility. [08:13]
CASE: In contrast to Travis, Jared was someone Amer worked with, whose promotion as COO almost did not happen because of his lack of self-awareness. He acknowledged his mistake, worked to better himself, and eventually proved he deserved the COO position. [12:21]
CASE: Steve Jobs (v2.0) is probably one of the best examples of being humbitious. After being booted from Apple, the company he co-founded with Steve Wozniak, Jobs returned a better version of himself and became a more effective and innovative leader. [15:32]
Why humility and ambition don’t have to be in perfect balance all the time. [18:26]
CASE: Rachel is a leader who proved that ambition and humility can still be conveyed while working online. [21:02]
What can be learned about leadership from the Marshmallow Challenge? The Marshmallow Challenge is where participants (CEOs, lawyers, MBA graduates, and kindergartners) are challenged to build the tallest structure using spaghetti sticks, yarns, and a marshmallow. [23:44]
My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [28:07]
Expert Bio
Dr. Amer Kaissi (“Ah-mur Ky-See”) is an award winning Professor of Healthcare Administration at Trinity University, a Top-15 program.
He is the author of the book “Intangibles: The Unexpected Traits of High-Performing Healthcare Leaders,” which has won the 2019 American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Book of the Year award.

At Trinity, Dr. Kaissi teaches courses in Leadership, Professional Development and Public Speaking and is the Director of the Executive Program. His research focuses on leadership, coaching, and strategy.

Dr. Kaissi is a national speaker with Huron/Studer Group and a faculty member with ACHE. He is a certified Executive & Physician Coach and works with top leaders from all over the country to maximize their leadership potential.

His most recent book “Humbitious: the power of low-ego, high-drive leadership” was published in January of 2022. Dr. Kaissi, an avid soccer fan, lives in San Antonio, Texas with his wife and two teenagers.
Contact Info and Social Media for Amer Kaissi
Primary Website
Travels from: San Antonio, TX
Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook
Resources Mentioned During the Interview
Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further.
Travis Kalanick- Founder and former CEO of Uber
Steve Jobs– Founder of Apple
40 min
October 17, 2022Start by cultivating a change culture with guest expert Barry Moltz
Barry Moltz, author of Change Masters: How to Actually Make The Changes You Already Know You Need to Make
Bill Ringle and Barry Moltz discuss how our brain chemistry helps us survive but not thrive as business leaders and how to become a change master.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways
As romantic as the ‘overnight success story’ sounds, the reality is that change mostly happens in small steps with some mistakes along the way.
Create psychological safety in the workplace by assuring employees that they won’t be shamed whenever they make a mistake. Shaming people can only lead to them playing it safe, which in turn holds them back in their performance.
There is no bulletproof plan on how to run a business without running into any challenges because there are things that are not within your control. To be a ChangeMaster, focus on the outcomes you agreed to create, stay alert to changes, build strong connections, and adapt as needed.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
As a 12-year-old boy scout, Barry appreciated having a sense of responsibility whenever his scoutmaster Chuck Brower addressed the group as ‘men.’ [00:01]
Most changes in the industry do not come from the leaders. Industry leaders are most of the time behind in the game of change. [04:10]
Debunk the romanticization of ‘change’ happening in great leaps. Instead, changes happen in small steps. [06:54]
The truth about financial incentives and why it is more often than a bandage solution to performance problems. CASE: Max was able to complete his job within schedule because of the tempting cash incentive. However, despite the incentive still being available in the following months, he could no longer complete the same task on schedule, proving that cash incentives only provide short-term results. [08:35]
It is important to hire someone who has the right skills and is also culturally fit with the company. CASE: Mark, CEO of a midwest manufacturing company, could not keep employees working for him for more than a week, saw what was lacking and from there changed his processes and now his people stay long-term. [11:20]
The ‘Double Helix Trap’ is the feast and famine of marketing; why do businesses exert great efforts to market when business is needed and then pull back when things are busy, and why does this keep you stuck? [13:34]
Why ‘the challenge of the week’ strategy is distracting? [16:16]
Shaming and blaming your employees for their mistakes only dampen their performance. [17:21]
‘Yes, We Deliver,’ was Barry’s first and unsuccessful company, taught him the importance of investing in the best talent. Lesson: Business success is about executing, not ideas. [21:00]
My Quest for the Best lighting round begins. [23:33]
Expert Bio
Barry Moltz helps small business owners get unstuck.
As a small business expert, he is the author of seven award-winning books.
Barry hosts “The Small Business Radio Show” in Chicago on AM820.
Contact Info and Social Media for Barry Moltz
Primary website
Travels from: Chicago, IL and Scottsdale, AZ
Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
Resources Mentioned During the Interview
Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further.
My Quest for the Best interview: 36: Small Town Rules – Interview with guest expert Barry Moltz
Atomic Habit by James Clear
Heidi Grant Halvorson: “It’s not just that people fear change though. Is that they genuinely believe often on a subconscious level that when you’re doing something a particular way for some time, it must be a good way to do things. The longer you’ve been doing that way, the better it is.”
Harvard Business School case study “Who’s Got the Monkey?“
Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Jerry Maguire
Books Published by Barry Moltz
33 min
October 03, 2022Influence accelerates the quality of your business relationships with guest expert Brian Ahearn
Brian Ahearn, author of Influence PEOPLE: Powerful Everyday Opportunities to Persuade that are Lasting and Ethical
Bill Ringle and Brian Ahern discuss improving your ability to influence others ethically as a small business leader.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways
Our mission statement defines our goals and creates a clearer view of our desired results in business and life.
When we help others, building authentic relationships is not about us; it is about them. It is about knowing them, and connecting with them as people, not just prospects.
Influencing others would be impossible if you can’t even persuade yourself.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
“Luck was where preparation met opportunity,” a piece of advice by Brian’s high school football coach, resonated with him. [01:44]
Brian shares his career in the insurance agency and his transition to leading his speaking and training company, and landing his first client, Al. [03:07]
The benefits of creating and using a personal mission statement. [06:09]
How our mission statement correlates with our effectiveness in serving others in a way that serves both them and us? [08:26]
How ‘the liking principle is often the first step of ethical persuasion. [13:28]
The second principle of ethical persuasion: is unity and how it has even more impact than liking. [18:18]
In the book, Influence People, learning from the protagonist, John, shows how reaching out to someone we are deeply connected to is not just helping them; it also feels like we are helping ourselves. [20:17]
My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [24:05]
The principle of authority is the third principle of ethical persuasion. Brian elaborates on the importance of building our reputation in our field. [28:30]
Expert Bio
Brian Ahearn is a dynamic international keynote speaker, author, coach, and consultant. He specializes in applying the science of influence in everyday situations.
He is one of only a dozen individuals in the world who currently holds the Cialdini Method Certified Trainer® (CMCT) designation and one of just a handful to have earned the Cialdini Persuasion Trainer (CPT) designation.
These specializations in the psychology of persuasion were earned directly from Robert Cialdini, Ph.D., the most cited living social psychologist in the world on the science of ethical influence. Brian is also a Competent Toastmaster and a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter.
A cum laude graduate of Miami University, Brian has been in the business arena for more than 30 years and training people for over two decades.
Named one of the Top 100 Influencers of 2016 by the Science of Digital Marketing, Brian’s blog has readers in 200 countries and was one of the Top 30 Psychology Blogs of 2012 according to the Online Psychology Degree Guide.
Brian’s first book – Influence PEOPLE: Powerful Everyday Opportunities to Persuade that are Lasting and Ethical – came out in August 2019 and quickly reached Amazon’s best-seller status in several categories. It was also named one of the Top 100 Influence Books of All Time by BookAuthority. His second book, Persuasive Selling for Relationship Driven Insurance Agents, was an Amazon new release bestseller in several categories.
Contact Info and Social Media for Brian Ahearn
Primary website
Travels from: Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area
Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram
Resources Mentioned During the Interview
Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further.
Robert Cialdini
Aristotle
John Updike
Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Voice Dream
Amy Franko
My Quest for the Best interview: 223: Adopt a Modern Seller Paradigm to Excel with Amy Franko
Vanessa Bohns
My Quest for the Best Interview: 343: Your colleagues, clients, and even strangers in line for coffee are more open to your influence than you might think with guest expert Vanessa Bohns, PhD
34 min
May 09, 2022Resolving conflict is a critical skill for workplace relationships with guest expert Dr. Paul White
Dr. Paul White, author of Making Things Right at Work- successfully managing conflict at work
Bill Ringle and Dr. Paul White discuss insights around expectations, indirect communications, burnout, and rebuilding trust for small business leaders.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways from this Interview
Conflict does not happen instantaneously. There are minor signs of tension rising, like how some of our co-workers behave differently towards us than they usually do. Recognize the signs and acknowledge the issue before it escalates.
When we deprive ourselves of the things that replenish us, such as sleep, rest, or a break in between tasks to keep up with the unrealistic expectations we set in our heads, we are leading ourselves to the path of burnout.
Practice direct communication as it does not only gives clarity with what you need and what you mean, it is only a sign of respect, that you trust this person to listen, and you are not bypassing them.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
Paul shares his insights on avoiding or minimizing conflict in the workplace.[01:05]
Workplace conflict is the result of conflicting goals. Paul shares the telling signs that conflict is brewing and why these happen. [02:29]
In his research with Dr. Chapman, when they were writing The Five Language of Appreciation In The Workplace, they discovered that the same language that gives people affirmation could be the same language that could hurt them. [03:27]
If we unintentionally offend someone we work with, Paul advises us to use the ‘I’ statement to resolve the conflict before it escalates further. [04:48]
Paul shares his own story with Steve, a guy he worked with. Despite being good and hardworking, their personality and working style do not match his, making them uncomfortable working together. [06:22]
Psychology says that empathy is not inborn; instead, it’s a form of perspective-taking we develop during the progression of our life. Paul elaborates on why our current culture struggles in developing empathy. [09:15]
Managers can teach and develop empathy to avoid conflict, see things granular, observe, and put themselves in the role. [11:40]
The expectation we create for ourselves when in conflict with reality can lead to burnout. [15:29]
When we deny things that replenish us to satisfy our expectations, bad only worsens. [17:07]
Paul explains why indirect communication is a sign your workplace is toxic. [19:27]
Paul gives some reasons why direct communication is still avoided in most workplaces despite being the best way to be clear with what we mean. [20:45]
Being critical is different from being condescending. [22:34]
My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [27:20]
Expert Bio
Dr. Paul White is an author, speaker, and psychologist, who helps “make work relationships work.”
He is the co-author of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace with Dr. Gary Chapman and his book, The Vibrant Workplace, had been released in April 2017.
He created and developed The Motivating By Appreciation Inventory, Appreciation at Work Implementation Kit, and The Toxic Workplace Prevention & Repair Kit which helped many workplaces to become an environment full of positivism and grow towards health.
He also co-authored various titles such as Rising Above a Toxic Workplace and “Sync or Swim” with Dr. Chapman & Harold Myra.

Dr. White is called upon as an expert resource by U.S. News & World Report (online), BusinessWeek, Entrepreneur.com, FastCompany, Fortune/CNN.com , FoxBusiness.com, Huffington Post LIVE, Chicago Tribune, and BizJournals.
Contact Info and Social Media for Paul White
Primary Website
Travels from: Wichita, KS
Connect on LinkedIn | Twitter
Resources Mentioned
Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed so you can explore further.
Dr. Paul White’s interviews on My Quest for the Best:
231: Become Fluent in the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace with Dr. Paul White
236:The causes of and cures for a toxic workplace with guest expert Dr. Paul White
346: You create a vibrant workplace one high-quality appreciative interaction at a time with guest expert Dr. Paul White
Dr. Gary Chapman co-author of The Five Languages of Appreciation in The Workplace
Jennifer Thomas, Dr. Chapman’s co-author of The Five Languages Of Apology
36 min

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