Optics in Action

Your host, Ryan Weiss, talks with the Author of Raving Referrals, Brandon Barnum. Brandon has an impressive background, having built 10 tech platforms over the past 12 years. His journey began in the mortgage business, where he discovered the power of raving referrals. This experience has significantly influenced his current ventures, including HOA Comm and Raving Referrals.

Brandon's purpose is to inspire, uplift, and empower every person on the planet. This mission is evident in his work, where he strives to revolutionize homeowner associations and help homeowners connect with trusted professionals.

Brandon emphasized the importance of people and processes. He believes people are the most important aspect of any business, and the process should serve them. This philosophy is at the heart of HOA Comm, which focuses on three types of people: homeowners, professionals who serve homeowners, and HOA board members.

The goal is to create a referral network within the homeowner app, connecting homeowners with trusted professionals. Brandon firmly believes in the power of trusted relationships and aims to help homeowners find reliable professionals.

To learn more about Brandon's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Ryan's work? Check out his website at https://www.epsoptics.com/.

Your host, Ryan Weiss, talks with the Founder of JCM Academy, John Morley. After graduating with a degree in education, John found himself consulting for IBM and other companies. However, his entrepreneurial spirit was not satisfied. He was still working on his own company while consulting and felt the need to break away from the consulting work. John's entrepreneurial journey was not a planned one. He didn't even know what an entrepreneur was at the time. All he knew was that he wanted to be in business and not work for anyone else. This led him to make a bold decision to leave a part-time job with the government, prioritizing his happiness and future success over money.

John emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, both in business and in life. He believes that building a strong team is crucial for success, as they are the ones who will support you, challenge you, and help you grow. John's journey has taught him the value of collaboration and the power of leveraging the strengths of others.

Process is another key element that John emphasizes. He believes in the power of systems and procedures to streamline operations and ensure efficiency. From his early days as an IT consultant to his current ventures, John has always sought to optimize processes and find innovative solutions to common challenges.

To learn more about John's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Ryan's work? Check out his website at https://www.epsoptics.com/.

Your host, Ryan Weiss, talks with the Senior Vice President of Mesa Verde Trading Company, Jason Rokey. Jason's role at Mesa Verde is primarily in business development. He focuses on capturing upcycled ingredient streams and developing them into pet food ingredients. His work also involves solving problems and building supply chains to meet customer needs.

Mesa Verde is strategically located in the central valley of California, giving them access to a wide range of fruits and vegetables. These are sourced, dried down, and sold to customers. They have also developed other products, such as precooked milo and sorghum flour, based on client needs.

Jason also discussed the importance of data in making better decisions along the supply chain. By providing monthly or quarterly updates to vendors on demand trends, they can make more informed purchasing decisions. This is particularly crucial in industries like pet food where ingredients are seasonal. With better data, potential disruptions can be anticipated and addressed before they happen.

AI technology plays a significant role in spotting trends and providing data back up the supply chain. By analyzing point-of-sale data, decreasing demand for specific items can be identified and strategies can be adjusted accordingly. This helps to minimize inefficiencies and waste in the supply chain, ensuring that retailers have the right amount of pet food on their shelves and that customers receive the freshest products.

To learn more about Jason's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Ryan's work? Check out his website at https://www.epsoptics.com/.

Your host, Ryan Weiss, talks with The Retirement Rocket Scientist of Rocket Science Retirement, Dr. John Knight. John's journey began in a small town near Seattle, where he developed a love for math in sixth grade. His passion for math and physics led him to earn five degrees, including a double major in these subjects. In 1974, he joined IBM and was allowed to work on the space shuttle project at NASA, building software for the spacecraft.

The purpose of John's work was to improve technology and conduct experiments in zero gravity. NASA wanted to build a space station to facilitate longer studies and experiments in space. Additionally, the militarization of satellites was a growing concern, leading to the need for better monitoring systems.

John discussed the challenges faced in measuring all aspects of the space shuttle, astronauts, and the environment. The task was to figure out how to monitor the spacecraft and astronauts effectively. However, there were limitations in terms of the amount of data that could be collected and processed. The spacecraft was traveling at a speed of 17,000 miles per second, requiring precise measurements at the millisecond level to ensure its movement and trajectory were accurately tracked.

John then discussed the concept of reinventing oneself every ten years. He shared his personal experience of obtaining multiple degrees and transitioning between different career paths. He believes that reinvention is necessary to prepare oneself for future opportunities. He also mentioned the importance of companies like Corning and Quaker Oats, which have successfully reinvented themselves over the years to stay relevant in the market.

John emphasized the importance of working and saving for retirement. He explained that it's not about how much money you make, but rather how much you can convert into a monthly income for the rest of your life. He predicts that the world will be very different in the next 25 years, with changes to things like Medicare, Social Security, and global peace. This is why he started his company, Rocket Science Retirement, which aims to help people successfully plan and launch their retirement.

To learn more about John's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Ryan's work? Check out his website at https://www.epsoptics.com/.

In this podcast episode, your host Ryan Weiss interviews Michael DeLon, the founder of The Paperback Expert, a company that helps entrepreneurs, business owners, and thought leaders publish their own books.

Michael shares his unique business model, which involves guiding clients through a speak-to-write process, allowing them to create a book without writing a word. He discusses how having a published book can position individuals as experts in their field and aid in their business growth. Michael also emphasizes the importance of having a clear, catchy message to connect with the audience. The episode concludes with a discussion on Ryan's upcoming book, which was developed with Michael's assistance.

To learn more about Michael's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Ryan's work? Check out his website at https://www.epsoptics.com/.

In this podcast episode, host Ryan Weiss interviews Dr. Susan Cain, co-founder of the Corporate Learning Institute. They discuss the importance of aligning people and processes for business growth. Dr. Cain shares the history of the Corporate Learning Institute and its focus on experiential learning.

They also talk about the importance of understanding client objectives and designing customized training programs. They discuss various models for achieving clarity in goals and roles within teams. The conversation emphasizes the need to balance productivity demands with employee well-being and development.

To learn more about Susan's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Ryan's work? Check out his website at https://www.epsoptics.com/.

In this podcast episode, you host Ryan Weiss talks to Adam Norton, the General Manager of Chicago Glue and Machine. In this installment, they discuss the importance of aligning people and processes for business success.

They highlight the need for a strong team, effective training programs, and the ability to adapt to market conditions. They share insights on improving processes, developing good habits, and the significance of change management. They conclude by emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement and mental strength in both personal and professional growth.

To learn more about Adam's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Ryan's work? Check out his website at https://www.epsoptics.com/.

Your host, Ryan Weiss, talks with the President of In Plain Sight, Dotty Posto. Dotty started her career as a business analyst and project manager. However, she often received feedback that she did not play well with others. It was a challenging time for her, but it was also a period of self-discovery. It wasn't until she was introduced to change management that she realized her gifts and talents were not aligned with project management.

This realization led her to become the manager of change management and organizational development at Harley Davidson. Here, she learned the importance of aligning gifts and talents with the work one does. It was a turning point in her career and life.

Dottie sought the help of coaches to improve her self-awareness and make lasting changes. She emphasizes the importance of an outside perspective in helping individuals see what they can't see on their own. This realization led her to start her own coaching business, In Plain Sight, where she helps people see what is in plain sight for others but may not be apparent to themselves.

To learn more about Dotty's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Ryan's work? Check out his website at https://www.epsoptics.com/.

Your host, Ryan Weiss, talks with the President and Visionary of Radcom, Angie Dianetti. Radcom sprouted from the tech writing and instructional design industry, with a mission to help companies extract the best from their employees through training and documentation. However, Angie was quick to point out that training and documentation are not always the panacea for performance issues. Often, the root cause of the problem needs to be identified and addressed.

When asked about the pain points they solve for clients, Angie explained that clients often want to 'fix' their people, assuming that training is the answer. However, Angie challenges this assumption by asking a simple question: do the employees sometimes do things right? If they do, then the problem is not a knowledge issue. It's crucial, Angie believes, to understand why employees aren't consistently performing well. The problem could be related to tools, experience, incentives, or the environment.

In the face of advancing technology like AI and machine learning, Angie emphasized the need to humanize work. She believes that while tools may change, the fundamental nature of humanity remains the same. Technology may impact certain fields, but it also creates new opportunities and jobs.

To learn more about Angie's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Ryan's work? Check out his website at https://www.epsoptics.com/.

Your host, Ryan Weiss, talks with the Client Strategist of VisionSpark, Kat Lockhart. Kat Lockhart is not just a strategist; she is a visionary who understands the importance of hiring the right people for companies. VisionSpark specializes in hiring integrators. They have developed a unique assessment tool called the Talent Impact Profile (TIP). This assessment measures cognitive and behavioral traits to determine if a candidate aligns with the success parameters of a specific role.

Kat emphasized that hiring based solely on technical knowledge can lead to costly mistakes. Companies risk losing 3 to 14 times the salary if they hire the wrong person. With 82% of companies struggling with hiring, VisionSpark aims to change the narrative by providing a proven process and focusing on selling candidates on the company rather than the other way around.

Kat emphasizes the importance of hiring the right person for a position, not just based on resumes and metrics, but also considering cultural fit and values alignment. She explains the hiring process at VisionSpark, which includes their own assessment called the Talent Impact Profile (TIP).

Kat invites listeners to reach out to Vision Spark for a conversation about their needs and to explore potential solutions. She praises VisionSpark's commitment to being a genuine and heart-centered organization, led by a servant leader.

To learn more about Kat's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Ryan's work? Check out his website at https://www.epsoptics.com/.