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

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

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

  • The better your business relationships, the stronger your business with guest expert MaryBeth Hyland
    Authored by MaryBeth Hyland
    MaryBeth Hyland, author of Permission to Be Human: The Conscious Leader’s Guide to Creating a Values-Driven Culture

    Bill Ringle and MaryBeth Hyland discuss how workplace culture is really a product of values and behavior while working from anywhere and especially in small and mid-sized businesses.

    >>> 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
    • Workplace culture is not just about strategy, goals, and structure but also the feelings and emotions that we experience while working.
    • Choose to be a part of the culture keepers. Work to be that person people want to collaborate with and trust.
    • Instead of gossiping or complaining about problems within your workplace, focus on being part of the solution by doing your best to address them.
    Read the Show Notes from this Episode
    • Why her grandparents are MaryBeth’s greatest inspirations. [01:04]
    • MaryBeth shares what signals a healthy relationship for her. [01:45]
    • How her grandparent’s influence influenced how she conducts her work as well. [04:37]
    • The difference between intentionality and strategy. [06:41]
    • How managers should address issues regarding workplace culture. [08:06]
    • David Swarner is a CEO of a construction company who wanted to reignite his company’s strong culture. [11:03]
    • How to identify culture keepers vs. culture killers. [14:14]
    • Workplace culture is connected to wellbeing. [19:07]
    • Aligning your values during burnout. [20:03]
    • One of the worst things a company could do. [24:20]
    • My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [27:04]
    Expert Bio

    Author, speaker, and award-winning company culture expert MaryBeth Hyland found her passion as a facilitator and mindfulness coach, engaging with leaders within all industries to create possibility and ignite alignment between their values and their actions. MaryBeth is the founder and chief visionary of SparkVision and her awards include Circle of Excellence, Innovator of the Year, and Top 100 Women. With a BA in Social Work, MS in Nonprofit Management, and over a decade of experience transforming workplace cultures into flourishing and connected communities, she is committed to values-based mindfulness in the workplace. The Washington Post, HuffPost, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal have recognized her as a powerful thought leader in workplace culture.

    Contact Info and Social Media for MaryBeth Hyland
    • Primary Website
    • Travels From: Baltimore, Maryland
    • Connect on 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.

    • Glennon Doyle
    • United Way
    39 min
  • Lift as you climb – a metaphor for developing the bench strength of your team with guest expert Scott Mautz
    Authored by Scott Mautz
    Scott Mautz, author of Leading from the Middle: A Playbook for Managers to Influence Up, Down, and Across the Organization

    Bill Ringle and Scott Mautz discuss the pressures and opportunities to make a difference as middle managers in a small business.

    Scott Mautz and Bill Ringle discuss Leading from the Middle: A Playbook for Managers to Influence Up, Down, and Across the Organization 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
    • No one is born a manager. Our leadership is a product of our environment and the influence of those who came before us.
    • Middle managers can improve employee retention and attraction with the right approach and skill set. This is why they are the backbone of the organizaton.
    • Learn from good influences and in turn, be a good influence.
    • Read the Show Notes from this Episode
      • Scott proudly talks about his mom and the massive influence on his life helped shape his leadership style. [01:09] 
      • Bob was a former manager at Proctor and Gamble who’s confused expressing authority with expressing anger. Scott shares how his mother’s influence helped him deal with and better the situation. [04:12]
      • The effect of workplace environment and culture on leadership. [07:32] 
      • Defining the middle manager. [08:46]
      • Why middle managers are the backbones of their companies. [09:24]
      • Scott shared how he first conceptualized his book The Middle Manager. [10:33]
      • The importance of influence and influencing people in building a solid company. [11:59]
      • The SCOPE that makes middle management uniquely challenging. [15:16]
      • How to be integral. [17:42]
      • Meaning beyond the book’s subtitle: A Playbook For Managers To Influence Up Down Across The Organization and why he chose it. [19:21]
      • Ryan was a middle manager who was unsure of his responsibilities. [20:34]
      • My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [30:12]
      • Expert Bio

        Scott Mautz is a former Procter & Gamble senior executive who successfully ran four separate multi-billion-dollar businesses. He’s the author of three multi-award-winning, best-selling books, including his latest, “Leading from the Middle: A Playbook for Managers to Influence Up, Down, and Across the Organization” Scott is faculty at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business for Executive Education. He’s a former top columnist for Inc.com where he drew 2 million readers a month and where he was named a “Top 50 Leadership Innovator.” Scott frequently appears in a variety of national media.

        Scott Mautz , author of Leading from the Middle: A Playbook for Managers to Influence Up, Down, and Across the Organization.

        Contact Info and Social Media for Scott Mautz

        • Primary Website
        • Travels from: San Diego, CA
        • Connect on  LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
        • Resources Mentioned During the Interview

          Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed so you can explore further.

          • Proctor and Gamble 
          • LinkedIn Courses by Scott Mautz
            • 11 Inactions that Ruin a Leader’s Reputation
            • Building a Better Relationship with Your Boss
            • Change Leadership
            • Change Management Foundations
            • Develop and Promote Your Hybrid Competence
            • Eight Ways You Block Your Success
            • Happiness Habits
            • How Leaders Can Connect Empathy and Results
            • How Leaders Can Motivate Others by Creating Meaning
            • How to Get People to Like You
            • How to Think Big
            • Inspiring Today’s Workforce to Go Above and Beyond
            • Leading with Love
            • Nine Career Lessons You’ll Wish You Learned Sooner
            • One-Minute Habits for Hybrid and Remote Working Success
            • One-Minute Habits for Resilience
            • One-Minute Habits for Success
            • Reorganize and Transition Your Team for Change
            • Staying Positive in the Face of Negativity
            • Sunday Habits for a Better Work Week
            • Ten Habits of Great Decision Makers
            • Ten Habits of Mentally Strong People
            • Ten Signs You’re a High-Potential Employee
            • The Best Leadership Lessons from the Worst Bosses
            • The Nine Best Ways to Invest in Yourself
            •  

              Books Authored by Scott Mautz

              33 min
            • Focus on what matters most with guest expert Erik Qualman
              Erik Qualman, author of The Focus Project: The Not So Simple Art of Doing Less, Better

              Bill Ringle and Erik Qualman discuss strategies, stories, and practical tips for directing your attention and effort where they will have the biggest payoff for you in your personal and business life.

              >>> 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 

              Interview Insights
              Top 3 Takeaways
              • Setting too many goals is setting ourselves for failure.
              • While we focus on achieving goals, the path before us does not only consist of ourselves and the end. People are going to swim in and out of our lanes. Embrace and cherish those moments. But understand that we all have the power to switch lanes.
              • Dedicate your focus and energy on the big, not on the easy.
              Read the Show Notes from this Episode
              • Hall of Famer Michigan State University basketball coach Tom Izzo greatly influenced Erik. They remain in touch even today. [01:42]
              • The importance of not losing sight of your goals and building relationships along the way. [02:39]
              • The barrenness of the busy life by Socrates and why we need to remember to focus on the major items we want to achieve.[04:23]
              • Namesake of the Nobel Prize, Alfred Nobel, is remembered today because he decided to focus on his legacy after a newspaper reported him as dead (mistakenly). [06:47]
              • Write down what will make things easier or unnecessary in your life or business if you do them well. [07:03]
              • The ‘3 Ps’ help you stay true to your goals. [10:44]
              • Erik emphasizes the importance of asking good questions. [15:23]
              • A touching and valuable story of Eric and his daughters as he was training in the pool for his first triathlon. [18:14]
              • My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [20:32]
              Expert Bio

              5x Bestselling Author and Keynote Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 55 countries and reached 50 million people.

              He was voted the 2nd Most Likeable Author in the World behind Harry Potter’s J.K. Rowling.

              He is the host of the popular Super U Podcast and his work has been used by the National Guard to NBCUniversal to NASA.

              Contact Info and Social Media for Erik Qualman
              • Primary Website
              • Travels from: Austin, TX
              • Connect on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
              Resources Mentioned During the Interview

              Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed so you can explore further.

              • Alfred Nobel
              • The One Thing by Jay Papasan and Gary Keller
              • The Barrenness of The Busy life by Socrates
              27 min
            • When a buyer agrees, it marks the start of benefits that accrue with guest expert Rob Cornilles
              Authored by Rob Cornilles
              Rob Cornilles, author of The Sales Game Changer: How to Become the Salesperson People Love

              Bill Ringle and Rob Cornilles discuss how when guided by the correct principles, selling becomes a vehicle for mutual benefit based on trust, not tricks and gimmicks that cause remorse.

              >>> 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.

              Want Sales Coaching from Rob for Free?

              Get his Sales Game Changer video series at no charge, just for sharing a comment! These are 21 short, insightful videos to sharpen your sales game and guide you on your journey to becoming a sales game changer. It is easy to get started below!

              [fluentform id=”3″]
              Interview Insights
              Top 3 Takeaways from this Interview
              • Selling is not about closing but opening a strong, long-lasting, and mutually beneficial relationship of trust.
              • Focus on the result you are looking for, not on the product. Think of what value the product you’re selling can give to a potential client and how it can help them accomplish their objectives.
              • Take time and effort to know what is best for your clients, do not guess or assume.
              Read the Show Notes from this Episode
              • Star of the The Tonight Show, Johnny Carson, was a memorable influence on Rob. [01:28]
              • Johnny Carson’s impact on Rob reflects in how he engages someone quickly and gives people his undivided attention. [02:35]
              • What does it mean to be a ‘sales game changer’? [04:31]
              • Rob talks about why and how most salespeople are probably trained the wrong way. [06:16]
              • The first Game Changer principle: Result-centered selling. [06:52]
              • What Rob learned selling premium business packages for the Los Angeles Clippers in the shadow of the LA Lakers. [09:10]
              • Why ‘fake it ’til you make it’ will not advance your selling success and what to do instead. [10:39]
              • Rob and Bill role play an example of a sales call. [11:38]
              • Focus on the results the person or the companies you’re selling to want. [12:50]
              • Rob retells the story of Mike Keiser, a top developer of golf courses, and the dangers of guessing and assumptions. [14:03]
              • Rob talks about meeting Stephen M.R. Covey, Stephen Covey’s son. [16:25]
              • Stephen M.R. Covey’s three keys to building a relationship in sales. [17:07]
              • The importance of developing a relationship of trust. [17:31]
              • A humorous story about bad sales by a well-known hotel. [18:49]
              • Rob describes his experience working with the Portland Trailblazers, and the valuable lessons you can apply in your business. [20:54]
              • My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [26:49]
              [fluentform id=”undefined”]
              Expert Bio

              Rob Cornilles has been transforming the way salespeople around the world sell. The first to provide sales training to the powerful and high-stakes world of sports and entertainment, Rob quickly became known as “the sales coach for sports”, consulting with more than 300 teams, leagues, and entertainment companies.

              First launching Game Face Inc., in 1995, with a focus on pro sports and intercollegiate athletics, Rob has gone on to advise, coach, and mentor more than 50,000 executives at over 400 brands worldwide. Rob’s diverse clientele is found not only in sports and entertainment, but also in such sectors as tech, retail, manufacturing, media, and professional and financial services.

              In the summer of 2020, The Sales Game Changer: How to Become the Salesperson People Love, became a bestseller on four continents. On his new podcast, GAME FACE EXECS, he has interviewed such prominent business and entertainment personalities as Meg Whitman, Stephen M.R. Covey, “Gold Rush” creator and star Todd Hoffman, as well as the CEOs of Columbia Sportswear, Cotopaxi, the Houston Texans, and AtHome.

              Rob has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, LA Times, FOX-TV, Sports Business Journal, FOX News’s Your World with Neil Cavuto, and many other television and radio programs, newspapers, and podcasts.

              Contact Info and Social Media for Rob Cornilles
              • Primary Website
              • Travels From: Salt Lake City Metropolitan Area
              • Connect on LinkedIn| Twitter| 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.

              • Johnny Carson
              • Stephen Covey
              • Stephen M.R Covey
              • University of Utah
              • LA Lakers
              • Los Angeles Clippers
              • Mike Keiser
              • Gameface Execs Podcast
              • Aaron Hubert
              • Portland Trailblazers
              37 min
            • When you lose your narrative, you lose your way with guest expert Kurian Tharakan
              Authored by Kurian Tharakan
              Kurian Tharakan, author of The 7 Essential Stories Charismatic Leaders Tell

              Bill Ringle and Kurian Tharakan discuss the rudderless leader and how to avoid becoming one by telling a better story to yourself, your team, and other stakeholders.

              >>> 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
              • The story is what keeps a company emotionally and culturally relevant. The narrative, not the product, is a company’s true legacy.
              • Choose how you and your work will be remembered through the story you create. Your story is your most significant brand.
              • The power of our narrative is what makes us charismatic. If we believe that our story is insightful and that it drives us to success, then we will become charismatic.
              Read show notes for this interview
              • Kurian’s biggest inspiration and his ultimate business hero is Steve Jobs. [01:05]
              • How Job reinvented the business world. [02:11]
              • The power of reinvention and how it can help companies overcome obstacles. [03:07]
              • Kurian talks about the power of a story. [05:26]
              • Alfred Nobel chose how people will remember him. [07:21]
              • Is charisma inborn or is it acquired? [08:19]
              • Kurian shares about his client Dave and how he helped him align his vision on how his company should be with running it. [09:59]
              • The customer is always the hero of the business. [14:08]
              • How Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos reinvented the industry. [16:11]
              • My Quest for the Best Lightning Round begins [21:10]
              • Expert Bio

                Kurian Mathew Tharakan is the founder of the sales and marketing strategy firm StrategyPeak Sales & Marketing Advisors and a 27-year veteran of the sales and marketing industry. Mr. Tharakan is also the author of the Amazon Bestseller, “The 7 Essential Stories Charismatic Leaders Tell,” which details how anyone can move people and mountains with the power of story.

                Contact Info and Social Media for Kurian Tharakan

                • Primary Website
                • Travels from: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
                • Connect on LinkedIn | Twitter 
                • Resources Mentioned During the Interview

                  Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed so you can explore further.

                  • Steve Jobs
                  • Apple
                  • Eli Lilly
                  • Elon Musk
                  • Tesla
                  • Jeff Bezos
                  • Amazon
                  • Gene Roddenberry
                  • Star Treck
                  • Authored by Kurian Tharakan

                    29 min
                  • Mastering Earned Media to promote your business with guest expert with Michelle Tennant
                    Authored by Michelle Tennant
                    Michelle Tennant, author of 21 Day PR Action Guide: The Who, What, When, and Where to Launch a Successful PR Campaign

                    Bill Ringle and Michelle Tennant discuss how PR can catapult your expertise and business to the readers and listeners of major business media like CNN and the WSJ to attract new clients and customers.

                    >>> 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
                    • Be thankful if you receive a complaint. It goes to show that someone cares enough to give their opinion about your business or product. Use the gift of complaint wisely to raise standards.
                    • Establish your authority to gain trust. Your authority and your credibility are your best PR.
                    • Listen to what the press needs and do not call them to promote you.
                    Read show notes for this interview
                    • The Bionic Woman (remember Lindsay Wagner?), who has the power of sharp hearing and listening, was a great inspiration to Michelle growing up. [00:55]
                    • Michelle shares her experience being on Good Morning America. [04:17]
                    • A tip that you won’t hear from anyone else about welcoming complaints. [05:47]
                    • Elizabeth Bernstein, a press contact of Michelle’s, shared her frustration with sources who were engaging and giving her good stories, yet not willing to go on the record. Michelle tells how she used that as an opportunity to win for Elizabeth, win for her best clients, and win for Michelle’s company. [07:34]
                    • The value of authoritative media versus social media for promotion. [10:22]
                    • The impact of the pandemic on the press. [15:24]
                    • Case: Kim, a journalist from South Carolina, was having trouble with entrepreneurs who couldn’t understand why they keep getting a ‘no.’ [19:54]
                    • Would you pitch yourself to Oprah or Anderson Cooper? [22:01]
                    • My Quest for the Best Lightning Round begins [23:26]
                    Expert Bio

                    Michelle Tennant , author of 21 Day PR Action Guide: The Who, What, When, and Where to Launch a Successful PR Campaign.


                    Good Morning America Producer Mable Chan calls Wasabi Publicity’s Chief Creative Officer Michelle Tennant Nicholson a “five-star publicist.”

                    Michelle calls herself a “storyteller to the media.”

                    For 30+ years, media friends have solicited her help in crafting news stories by requesting sources, sound bites, and statistics. 

                    Contact Info and Social Media for Michelle Tennant
                    • Primary Website
                    • Travels from:Asheville, North Carolina
                    • Connect on Twitter | LinkedIn
                    • Resources Mentioned During the Interview

                      Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed so you can explore further.

                      • Ken Honda
                      • Tom Bilyeu
                      • Good Morning America
                      • The Wall Street Journal
                      • Shark Tank
                      • Oprah
                      • Anderson Cooper
                      • Authored by Michelle Tennant

                        30 min
                      • Articulating the change you want to be in the world with guest expert Doug Conant
                        Authored by Doug Conant
                        Doug Conant, author of The Blueprint: 6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights

                        Bill Ringle and Doug Conant discuss the importance of creating a blueprint for your leadership style, so that you can share it and have greater impact and fulfillment in your business and life.

                        #Leadership #LeadershipModel #Insights #Clarity #BetterDecisions

                        >>> 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
                        • Your life, your experiences, and the totality of who you are are your leadership. Personal leadership must be authentic to be effective.
                        • Plan for your leadership: Know your purpose. Know what you want to accomplish. Chose how you will show up as a leader.
                        • Leaders understand that delivery matters more than the size of your company or the title on your business card.
                        • Read the Show Notes from this Episode
                          • ”Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.”- A powerful quote from Stephen Covey to Doug, influences and guides his leadership. [01:16]
                          • Doug shares how this quote influenced his project planning. [02:11]
                          • The importance of starting with the task that matters most. [04:15]
                          • The motivation behind his book ’The Blueprint.’ [04:55]
                          • ’You can either walk inside your story and own it, or you can walk outside your story and hustle for worthiness.’- a quote by Brene Brown. [06:56]
                          • Your life story is your leadership story. [08:45]
                          • CASE: Mary, head of HR for a major baseball team, realized that she sets aside what matters to her the most whenever she is at work. Changing that changed her ability to contribute at work and feel greater satisfaction. [10:18]
                          • ‘The Blueprint’ is dedicated to people who feel stuck. Doug gives on how to get unstuck. [13:05]
                          • Plan your leadership consciously. [14:59]
                          • Doug talks bout his previous work experiences, his previous careers, and his 56 bosses. [16:14]
                          • CASE: Stanley, CEO of a small company that became a multi-billion dollar company, had an important insight: One thing he respects and values is team spirit. [18:35]
                          • My Quest for the Best lightning round begins [22:04]
                          • Expert Bio

                            Doug Conant is the founder and CEO of Conant Leadership, which is dedicated to helping improve the quality of leadership in the 21st century. He is passionate about employee engagement and firmly believes in the importance of coming up with your own leadership model.

                            Visit his BLUEPRINT Bootcamp and BLUEPRINT Summit to learn more.

                            Doug was appointed President and CEO of Campbell Soup Company in 2001. Under his leadership, Campbell reversed a precipitous decline in market value and employee engagement; the company has won wide recognition since, including the prestigious 2010 Catalyst Award. When Doug retired in 2011, he received the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) 2011 Champion of Workplace Learning and Performance Award.

                            Doug joined Campbell with 25 years of experience from three of the world’s leading food companies: General Mills, Kraft, and Nabisco. He began his career in 1976 in marketing at General Mills. After 10 years, he moved to Kraft where he held top management positions in marketing and strategy. Immediately prior to coming to Campbell, he was President of the $3.5 billion Nabisco Foods Company where he led his team to improved marketplace performance and five consecutive years of double-digit earnings growth.

                            During his tenure at Campbell, Doug established the Campbell CEO Institute to train the company’s future leaders and ensure that the company’s highest-potential employees were well-equipped to handle the challenges and surprises that inevitably create a leader’s impact and legacy.

                            He is now a sought-after speaker on leading with integrity and other business topics and is the co-author of the New York Times bestselling book TouchPoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments.

                            Contact Info and Social Media for Doug Conant:
                            • Primary Website
                            • Travels From: Philadelphia, PA
                            • Connect on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest
                            • 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: 116: Turning the Coin Over with guest expert Doug Conant
                              • Stephen Covey
                              • Mettle Norgaard – co-author of TouchPoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments.
                              • Amy Federman– co-author of The Blueprint
                              • Brene Brown
                              • Michael Gerber
                              • Thomas Jefferson
                              • Elon Musk
                              • Authored by Doug Conant:
                                31 min
                              • Jennifer Wisdom, author of Millennials' Guide to Management & Leadership: What No One Ever Told you About How to Excel as a Leader
                                Authored by Jennifer Wisdom
                                Jennifer Wisdom, author of Millennials’ Guide to Management & Leadership: What No One Ever Told you About How to Excel as a Leader

                                Bill Ringle and Jennifer Wisdom discuss how to build bridges to greater satisfaction and personal happiness for small business leaders of all ages and levels.

                                >>> 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.

                                Top 3 Takeaways from this Interview
                                • Retain valuable employees by considering what makes them happy and successful and helping them achieve it instead of holding them your standards of what happy and successful is. Considering their feelings and well-being improves retention and will not make them feel like they are just there to do the work for you.
                                • A simple thank you is more powerful than you know. It makes all the difference when we show appreciation to our employees. It shows them that we recognize their work, acknowledge their skills, and it lets them know that they are making a difference. Appreciation does not hurt and is in the interest of both employee and employer. 
                                • Everyone in the company is responsible for the culture. Everyone should proactively work in bettering the workplace culture. 
                                Read the Show Notes from this Episode
                                • Jennifer shares how her mom was a huge inspiration to her growing up. [01:00]
                                • Growing up, Jennifer had an untraditional education, enlisting in the army after high school, and becoming their photo journalist. [01:48]
                                • A discussion on why millennials are our future. [02:52]
                                • an observation on what millennials need to thrive at work. [04:06]
                                • Jennifer shares about Jenna and her problem which a great reminder that people working in the office have other things they want other than a promotion. [05:56]
                                • Millennials are sometime surprised when they are given an opportunity in the workplace. [07:02]
                                • Managers should build relationship with their young employees instead of just focusing with getting information. [09:39]
                                • Leaders want and help their employees to be happy an successful. [10:55]
                                • Jennifer gives a great tip on valuable employee retention. [11:55]
                                • In August 2021 has more people resigning than in the last 30 years. Jennifer gives sage advice on how to improve retention rate. [12:44]
                                • Nancy is a friend of Jennifer who works in a healthcare organization who had a staff member who is difficult adjusting to having Nancy as her boss. With simple thank you, Nancy turned the situation around. [13:50]
                                • People leave when they feel like they have no impact. [14:55]
                                • Yvonne was a scientist who, by her refusal to show her face during meetings, hurt her relationship with her junior employees. [16:24]
                                • My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [20:05]
                                Expert Bio

                                Jennifer Wisdom, Ph.D. MPH ABPP helps curious, motivated, and mission-driven professionals achieve their highest potential by identifying goals and then providing them with the roadmap and guidance to get there. Jennifer is a former academician who is now an author, consultant, and speaker. Her book, Millennials’ Guide to Work, has been highly praised. Recently, she launched her podcast Millennial Wisdom in which she speaks to the Millennial Generation on several topics brought to attention. She has worked with complex health care, government, and educational environments for 25 years, including serving in the U.S. military, working with non-profit service delivery programs, and as faculty in higher education. She is an intrepid adventurer based in New York City and Portland, Oregon.

                                Contact Info and Social Media for Jennifer Wisdom
                                • Primary Website
                                • Travels from: New York, NY
                                • Connect on Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter 
                                Books Authored by Jennifer Wisdom
                                27 min
                              • Easily finding the stepping stones to change once you are curious with guest expert Erika Andersen
                                Erika Andersen, author of Change from the Inside Out: Making You, Your Team, and Your Organization Change-Capable

                                Bill Ringle and Erika Andersen discuss what it really takes to change at the personal, team, and organizational levels 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
                                • Head to a conversation assuming that people’s words and actions are done because they believe what they are doing is right. Listening with curiosity and an open mind not only makes for a effective and healthy interaction but also makes us more understanding of the other person.
                                • Change should be meaningful for both the leaders and the people in the organization. So when considering to make changes, leaders should also think why this change will be beneficial and compelling to their people.
                                • Before executing change, leaders should find out which internal group will be the most affected by this change, how it will affect them, what kinds of problem will arise once it is implemented, and what they need to let go and start. Considering these factors help form solutions that help these group transition through this process from having a difficult time, to feeling rewarded, and finally seeing the changes as something normal.
                                Read the Show Notes from this Episode
                                • “Assume positive intent.” This quote guides Erika in her life and in her work. [01:24]
                                • The importance of going into a conversation having in mind that the people are doing what they do because of positive intent. [01:59]
                                • Erika talks about her friend and business partner Jeff, and how assuming he has positive intent despite doing something he knows she does not like, made her listen with an open mind which allowed her to know the reason behind his action. [02:53]
                                • Why change is hard for most people. [04:36]
                                • The concept of homeostasis and why it could be in our nature to resist change. [05:01]
                                • The first stage of change is called the proposed change. It is when change comes to us. [06:23]
                                • In the second stage of change, we ask why this change is happening. [06:41]
                                • When change comes to us, we want to know what happens after it. [07:34]
                                • In her concept of change, Erika defines normal as something that our peers, leaders, or people we admire do or are doing openly. [09:10]
                                • Erika shares when and why she got into podcasting. [09:53]
                                • The true story of 1850s physician Ignaz Semmelweis and his proposal to wash hands and disinfect pre-surgery makes for a great example that change can be so easy and simple yet very hard to do. [11:30]
                                • Leaders influence change. Erika shares how their county leader was able to use this privilege to help people resisting vaccination understand that it is not only easy but also rewarding and normal to get vaccinated. [14:42]
                                • Clarify the change you want to do or implement and why it is needed. [16:38]
                                • After getting clear about changing, weigh in the rewards and risks of doing so. [17:37]
                                • When leaders are contemplating change, they must not only think of what value this change can give them but also consider why it would be meaningful to their employees. [18:12]
                                • An advice on what managers should do if they are having trouble creating an elevator pitch for change. [19:02]
                                • Erika answers what makes a good employee stay? [19:58]
                                • David the president of Spectrum Reach Media Sales, is undergoing a big change in how they do business from rating-based, which has been the way of media companies for 50 years, to impression-based. David and his senior management team answered important what, why, and hows before deciding to move in this direction. [22:06]
                                • My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [28:55]
                                Expert Bio

                                Erika is the founding partner of Proteus, a coaching, consulting, and training firm that focuses on leader readiness. She and her colleagues at Proteus support leaders at all levels to get ready and stay ready to meet whatever the future might bring.

                                Erika advises leading executives in companies like NBCUniversal, Tory Burch, GE, Madison Square Garden, HULU and Viacom, focusing with them on organizational visioning and strategy, team development, and their own management and leadership evolution.

                                She also shares her insights about leading people, staying ready for the future, and creating successful businesses through her books and speaking engagements, and via social media. Erika is one of the most popular leadership bloggers at Forbes.com, and is the author of Leading So People Will Follow, Being Strategic, and Growing Great Employees, and the author and host of the Proteus Leader Show, a regular podcast that offers quick, practical support for leaders and managers.

                                Contact Info and Social Media for Erika Anderson
                                • Primary Website
                                • Travels From: New York, New York
                                • Connect on LinkedIn | Twitter | 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: 133: Make Learning Sweet – Featured Interview with guest expert Erika Andersen
                                • Proteus International – consulting firm helping leaders envision a better future and build stronger skills.
                                • Proteus Leadership Show – Erika Andersen interviews business leaders.
                                • Be Bad First: Get Good at Things Fast to Stay Ready for the Future by Erika Andersen
                                • Ignaz Semmelweis – discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever (also known as “childbed fever”) could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics. Puerperal fever was common in mid-19th-century hospitals and often fatal. 
                                • Pat Ryan –  founder and retired chairman and CEO of Aon Corporation.
                                • Spectrum Reach Media Sales – discussed in the case study of organizational change.
                                • Proteus International – consulting firm helping leaders envision a better future and build stronger skills.
                                • Proteus Leadership Show – Erika Andersen interviews business leaders.
                                • Be Bad First: Get Good at Things Fast to Stay Ready for the Future by Erika Andersen
                                • Ignaz Semmelweis – discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever (also known as “childbed fever”) could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics. Puerperal fever was common in mid-19th-century hospitals and often fatal. 
                                • Pat Ryan –  founder and retired chairman and CEO of Aon Corporation.
                                • Spectrum Reach Media Sales – discussed in the case study of organizational change.
                                37 min
                              • The special sauce that enables rapid growth in restaurants can be used in your small business with guest expert Peter LeSar
                                Authored by Peter LeSar
                                Peter LeSar, author of Restaurant Strong: The First Principles of Restaurant Outperformance

                                Peter LeSar and Bill Ringle discuss the idea of business first principles, which allow you to focus on the few key factors that make your business stand out as distinctive, rather than trying to be all things to all customers.

                                >>> 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
                                • Look for, and maximize opportunities to drive your business.
                                • In whatever business you are in, figure out what needs you’re meeting to satisfy your niche.
                                • Respond to your market’s needs uniquely, and distinctly, and be sure to address those needs better than your competitors.
                                Read show notes for this interview
                                • Someone who inspired Peter was his 8th-grade History teacher, Mrs. Beck. [01:31]
                                • Mrs. Beck’s message served as a lesson that helped Peter grow Thunderbird Resorts from 5 guys to 5,000 people strong. [02:59]
                                • Peter shares the principles, and best practices restaurant owners or any business owners should practice to be successful. [03:36]
                                • Understanding how to add value to your business. [05:37]
                                • Defining roadblocks in the right ways. [06:16]
                                • Brian is a restaurateur from the midwest and one of Peter’s clients, his interesting twist on a staple food gave him an edge over the competition. [07:30]
                                • The visibility gap between what entrepreneurs see their visibility vs. how visible they are in the market. [08:31]
                                • How entrepreneurs come across the ‘road less traveled.[10:07]
                                • The great thing about breaking patterns. [12:04]
                                • A big challenge in the restaurant industry is that restauranteurs do not consider themselves solution providers. [14:37]
                                • McDonald’s and other fast-food restaurants are exemptions as they provide a solution to the human physiological need for quick fuel. [15:13]
                                • High-end fine dining restaurants also serve needs such as the need to self-actualize oneself. [15:47]
                                • Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs. [16:26]
                                • Chick-Fil-A and how they addressed the physiological need of fast food and the human need to be recognized. [17:47]
                                • A powerful message by Peter on how to get the best of something. [19:27]
                                • My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [25:20]
                                • Expert Bio

                                  Peter LeSar has gone from ground zero through IPO in the hospitality business. 

                                  He has spent a decade breaking down the First Principles of Restaurants, meaning the base layer of knowledge of what matters most and what works best in this industry. 

                                  Peter LeSar is an officer and 2nd largest shareholder of Thunderbird Resorts, a publicly-traded hospitality company. 

                                  Peter has been President of a $50M, 1,500+ employee hospitality company in Asia and CFO of a publicly-traded hospitality company with $200M in sales in 7 countries across the globe. He is the founder of two restaurants that were recognized by The World’s Best in its Discovery Series.

                                  Contact Info and Social Media for Peter LeSar

                                  • Primary Website 
                                  • Travels from: Tampa, Florida,
                                  • Connect on Twitter | LinkedIn
                                  • Resources Mentioned During the Interview

                                    Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed so you can explore further.

                                    • McDonald
                                    • The French Laundry
                                    • Abraham Maslow
                                    • Chick-fil-A
                                    • Authored by Peter LeSar

                                      35 min

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

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