Richard Walsh is joined by Dr. Commander Mary Kelly to explore managing chaos with military principles. Mary shares insights from her career, highlighting the need to adapt and take imperfect action, especially during challenging times like COVID. They discuss succession planning, leadership, and the importance of economic awareness to prevent emotional decision-making. The conversation covers global economic changes, critical thinking, and risk management. Mary also shares strategies for overcoming procrastination, aligning team goals, and the importance of exit strategies. The episode concludes with Mary's views on business as a path to freedom and community impact.
Mary Kelly, PhD, CSP, CDR, US Navy (ret)
Leadership Expert, Economist, Best-selling Author, Keynote speaker, CEO of Productive Leaders
Mary Kelly improves profit growth. As an economist, corporate strategist, and leadership development expert, Mary translates economic data that leaders can use to make the right decisions for their business. Cited in Money Magazine, Entrepreneur, Success, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and by over 500 TV and radio stations, Mary translates theory into action.
One of the first women to graduate from the Naval Academy, Mary served 21 years as a commissioned officer on active duty in the Navy.
Some of her favorite jobs included being an intelligence officer, a counter terrorism officer, a chief of police, an HR director, running a pay and personnel organization, and being part of the team in charge of Pearl Harbor.
With a PhD in economics, she was a military professor at the Naval Academy and a civilian professor at the Air Force Academy.
She grew up in a small business family, and started working trade shows when she was 10.
Author of 15 business and leadership books including 15 Ways to Grow Your Business in Every Economy, Money Smart, Master Your World, 360 Degrees of Leadership, Stop the Barking, Why Leaders Fail and the 7 Prescriptions for Success, 5-Minutes Per Week and 52 Weeks to Building a Better Business, and Who Comes Next? Leadership Succession Planning Made Easy, Mary can be found at [email protected].
(0:00) Introduction and military chaos training
(1:19) Guest introduction: Dr. Commander Mary Kelly
(1:42) Mary Kelly's military career and adapting to change
(3:51) Imperfect action and writing during COVID
(6:22) Succession planning, leadership, and economic awareness
(8:42) Decision-making and avoiding emotional business choices
(12:01) Managing chaos with military strategies
(13:13) Global economy changes and tariff impacts
(15:16) Addressing economic misconceptions
(17:06) Critical thinking and entrepreneurial risk management
(19:40) Crisis management and differentiating real problems
(23:04) COVID-era leadership strategies and generational tools
(26:06) Mary Kelly's writing inspiration and publishing journey
(32:29) Procrastination, decision-making, and risk aversion
(41:46) Five minute plans and aligning team goals
(47:11) Succession planning and unexpected business changes
(52:25) Exit strategy and entrepreneurial mindset
(55:57) Profit focus, understanding costs, and breakeven analysis
(1:01:01) Growth versus scale and the pitfalls of discounting
(1:03:36) Profit's role in community and freedom
(1:07:25) Emotional relationship with money and business as freedom
(1:09:33) Connecting with Dr. Commander Mary Kelly
(1:11:28) Closing remarks
