Taking the Leap

Ryan is the Founder, President, and CEO of Niles Industrial Coatings in Fenton, Michigan which he has led for close to 21 years. NIC is a best-in-class safety, coatings, and technology company focused on commercial and industrial painting across North America. As a serial entrepreneur, Ryan has founded and led multiple companies in the home building, commercial scaffolding, commercial services, and investing areas. Ryan is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Medical Technology and is currently in the Harvard Business School President’s Program. Ryan is also a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO). Fun fact, Ryan and I both graduated from Grand Blanc High School, where I was a year ahead of him, so this was fun for me to connect with an old friend. I respect Ryan’s business intellect and how he leads by example, with humility and authenticity, and putting his people first. He has created a unique learning culture within his company and is having a noticeable impact on his community. He is an incredible husband and father who leads with character and integrity and knows how to live life to the fullest.  You will enjoy this conversation, so let's jump in! 

Show Notes:

4:00 – Ryan begins by sharing his origin story. He shares his experience growing up in a family business and why he wanted to leave to chart his own path, leading into why he “took the leap.” He says that his father encouraged him to get out of the family business and pursue something more “stable.”

9:00 – Ryan talks about his experience being laid off from his job in 2002 and the emotions and lessons that came with that. He then begins to start his own business but struggles to get his family to get on board. With the support of his dad, he gets his new business started.

Quote: “I see consistently that at your lowest point at your darkest hour in life, generally, that's when the seeds of your greatest successes are being planted and people just have to have faith through those dark seasons.” – Bob

12:00 – Ryan states that he wants to raise his kids to be fearless because he feels that fearlessness is what built him.

13:00 – Ryan shares how his wife supported him in the “unstable” parts of his career and how his dad’s partnership impacted his life and career. 

15:00 – Rod breaks down the biggest pivots that he made and how fearlessness played into those, one of the decisions being joining YPO. How important is it to him to protect the fearless trait within him to grow and manage his business? 

Quote: “It amazed me. When you really want something, how much you can get done.” – Ryan

19:00 – Ryan delves into his business endeavors with his dad, where he experiences extreme risk-taking. He emphasizes the importance of having high trust with your partner, the power of negotiation, and the efficiency that comes with valuing people and caring about the customer.

Quote: “I think it [the margin] improved more from the culture and what we did once we started investing in the people and our equipment and that's what drove the margin not the pricing, and I think people miss that so often.” – Ryan

26:00 – Ryan shares how he views risk and why he leans into it. Ryan says that recognizing his gift of connecting the dots and being aware of things around him helps him to take risks. He shares that he takes risks when he has fully thought them through and trusts that he understands the risk that he is taking.

31:00 – Ryan shares that his secret power is his ability to pick up the phone to ask questions and be open to opinions and viewpoints. How important are different points of view and perspectives when it comes to decision-making?

34:00 – Ryan talks about his upbringing and struggles with not feeling naturally smart. He talks about the importance of finding your gifts and leveraging them. He says that having humility is vital when realizing your gifts and weaknesses. 

37:00 – Ryan shares the ways that he helps his team find their giftings and lean into them to help them get joy out of what they are doing. He states that teaching his team to understand themselves is the starting point as well as accepting that everyone is a different kind of leader.

Quote: “Our purpose is to unlock potential.” – Ryan

45:00 – Bob emphasizes that it all starts with asking the right questions to unlock value.

47:00 – Ryan delves into what “Niles Industrial Coatings” is doing and the notable projects that they have done and are currently working on. He states that their focus is bringing better solutions to major corporations.

53:00 – Ryan sheds light on the truth that you are going to fail. Why is it important to not always follow the status quo but to be looking for new territories to expand to? How do we learn quickly and recover quickly?

56:00 – Ryan shares why he identifies his company as a “technology company.”

59:00 – Entrepreneurship and business leadership comes with obstacles and sometimes “life or death” decisions. Ryan goes back and highlights times of crisis in his career and shares how he navigated these times.

Quote: “Things are never good forever, things are never bad forever.”

1:10:00 – Ryan dives into his family life and how he has been able to build balance in his life running a company and being a family man. He is honest and says that it is a life of extremes– a lot of business time and a lot of family time.

1:15:00 – Ryan shares his favorite family traveling experiences.

1:18:00 – Ryan shares the main takeaways from his YPO trip to Italy, mainly about family businesses.

1:20:00 – Ryan talks about what motivates him and excites him about his work every morning.

1:25:00 – Lightning round questions.

1:27:00 – Final question: “If you were going to give the State of the Union address tonight and have the opportunity to talk to the entire country, what would you say?

Dr. Darshan Shah is a health and wellness specialist, well-known surgeon, published author, tech entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Beautologie and Next|Health. As an expert on all body systems, he has performed over 10,000 surgical procedures, including trauma surgery, general surgery and plastic/reconstructive procedures. As a health and wellness specialist, he has advised thousands of patients on how to optimize their well-being and extend their lifespan, culminating in the creation of Next|Health, the "Apple Store" of Health and Wellness offering healthspan and lifespan-extending technology and treatments in a beautiful, welcoming environment.
 
 Dr. Darshan Shah started his training at an accelerated MD program at the age of 15 at the University of Missouri and earned his medical degree at the age of 21, becoming one of the youngest doctors in the United States. After surgical training in central California, Dr. Shah then continued his training at the Mayo Clinic, one of the most prestigious medical institutes in the county. After earning his board certification, he went on to open medical/surgical centers throughout California, as well as starting innovative tech companies, creating patented medical devices, and advising dozens of startups in medicine, finance, and tech. Dr. Shah's belief in continual education and self-improvement has earned him alumni status at Harvard Business School, Singularity University, and is a member of YPO (Young President’s Organization.)
 
Dr. Darshan Shah is the oldest of three children. He is very close to his family and attributes his success to the values of hard work, passion for everything you do, and relentless tenacity taught to him by his parents. He lives in Malibu, California with his wife, and two children and loves to travel, exercise, and has a passion to continuously educate himself and others.

SHOW NOTES:

2:20 – Bob asks Dr. Shah to share his origin story and how he was one of the youngest doctors in America to earn his medical degree. Dr. Shah shares what inspired him to pursue this career. Quote: “Going into surgery saved my medical career.” – Dr. Shah

5:30 – Dr. Shah shares how he found himself being 15 years old going into medical school.

6:50 – Dr. Shah discusses what inspired him to pursue medicine, even when discouraged.

11:20 – Bob asks Dr. Shah how he decided to operate his own business as well as practice medicine.

Quote: “You quickly realize that [running a business] is a completely different skill set from being a doctor, and it is an additional skill set to be a leader.” – Dr. Shah

15:00 – Dr. Shah gives insight into how he started learning how to run a business when he was already an expert in surgery.

17:20 – Bob asks Dr. Shah what the 3 most important lessons are that he learned as a doctor starting his business.

22:00 – Dr. Shah begins to tell the story of how he took some time off of work to prioritize his health and the impact of that decision on his career. Quote: “I want to get people healthy, not just treat people with surgery and pills.” – Dr. Shah

28:20 – Bob asks Dr. Shah what he is learning as he shifts his lifestyle and decides to go to the root cause of his patients’ health.

33:20 – Bob asks Dr. Shah’s insight on the multitude of health issues that the US is facing and what demographics are getting access to something like “Next Health.” 

38:00 – Bob brings up common medical controversies where one doctor says something is “bad” while another says that it is “good.” Dr. Shah gives advice on who to trust and who to listen to, especially in the media. Quote: “Whenever you see some sort of controversy, you can assume that there is some sort of truth somewhere in the middle.” – Dr. Shah

41:40 – Bob and Dr. Shah discuss the importance of sleep.

45:00 – Dr. Shah shares how to become the “CEO of your own health.”

51:00 – Bob asks Dr. Shah for his advice on how to obtain healthy, natural foods. Dr. Shah says to eat local, organic foods and to avoid the “dirty dozen” foods that are the most heavily treated with pesticides. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php 

53:00 – Dr. Shah shares the “Shah protocol.”

53:30 – Dr. Shah shares his advice for those on medications and losing muscle mass and those trying to get their weight to a comfortable level.

1:00:00 – Dr. Shah gives insight into what things a man in his late 40s and early 50s can do to help his longevity.

1:03:10 – Dr. Shah shares what people can do to reduce inflammation.

1:07:20 – Bob asks Dr. Shah what he would say to those concerned about mental health.

1:11:40 – Bob asks if there are things that can help people boost performance in a cognitive function or if it is a scam.

1:13:50 – Bob then asks if coconut oil and MCT oil are good supplements for brain health.

1:14:40 – Dr. Shah states the benefits of Prenuvo whole-body MRI scans.

1:18:20 – Dr. Shah delves into life expectancy and how to protect yourself from things that can typically cause us to die.

1:20:40 – Rapid fire questions: Dr. Shah’s “life-changing” books, favorite college course, favorite HBS professor, favorite place to travel, things at the top of his bucket list, and what he would share if he were giving a State of the Union Address.

Dr. Shah’s books:

“Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity” by Peter Attia, “Food: What the Heck Should I Eat” by Mark Hyman, “Built to Move: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully” by Kelly and Juliet Starret.

Bassel Hamwi has a fascinating career journey, having been in private equity and the banking industry along with being a CEO of start-ups and board member for 19 different companies. He spent 20 years as a senior staff member at the World Bank and was also a CEO and board member for over 12 years in start-ups and financial institutions. Bassel is currently the President of BASY Ventures, an investment and consulting company operating in the US, MENA, West and South Asia. BASY Ventures invests in asset-backed lending and the fintech space and also provides consulting, executive coaching, and board and family governance. Bassel is also the Chairman of GlobalTech, a technology investment and development group of companies operating in MENA, India, and the US. From 2005 to 2014, Bassel was the Founder and CEO of Bank Audi Syria, which became the country’s largest private lender. He is the founding member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) Levant Chapter and the Syrian-American Business Council. He was also a global board member of YPO from 2018 to 2022.

Bassel holds an MBA in International Finance and a BBA in Business Computer Information Systems and Organizational Management from the University of North Texas and he is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Presidents Program and just started an executive leadership program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He has 32 years of expertise in the financial markets and has contributed to publications like the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and the New York Times.

Show Notes:

4:00 – Bassel shares his origin story, upbringing, and how he got to the point he is now in his career. Quote– “I learn from my own mistakes, those are the lessons that are most powerful.”

11:30 – Bob asks Bassel what sparked his determination at a young age to work at the World Bank.

19:30 – Bob asks Bassel how he responded to the catastrophic events happening in his home country when he had to leave his friends and family behind. Bassel shares his learnings and advice in processing the event and pushing through. Quote– “Part of our identity comes from the reflection we have on people’s faces.”

27:00 – Bassel discusses some of the things that he is doing to get help so that he can continue being a leader. He mentions the help of his parents and the benefits of being coached.

33:00 – Bob emphasized that history repeats itself and that our nation’s freedom could be threatened at any time. He proceeds to ask for Bassel’s advice in preparing for these potential events and facing challenging situations. Quote– “I behave in a way that is consistent with my values.”

38:45 – Bassel begins to share what he is doing next and how he is continuing to grow, aligning himself with his values and beliefs.

41:45 – Bob asks why Bassel is so passionate about executive coaching and how he got involved. He then describes the differences between therapy, mentoring, and coaching. Quote– “When you go to bed tired but you feel energized from your work, what were you doing?” ; “Coaching is a thinking partnership.”

49:45 – Bassel tells what he thinks makes a good coach. Quote– “Coaching is also about chemistry.”

54:30 – Bob asks Bassel what he would say to a friend with high potential in their career who may need an executive coach for a specific reason, though they might not see it, to encourage them to look into getting their own coach. Quote – “Not everyone is coachable.”

57:30 – Bob then asks Bassel what attributes the people have that get the most out of their coaching.

1:01:00 – Bob asks if there is anything that is off-limits to ask a coach.

1:04:40 – Bob dives into the importance of having a specific mentor for a child outside the parent to protect their relationship.

1:10:30 – Bassel shares what he sees as the future for his industry regarding changes and developments.

1:20:50 – Bob asks for Bassel’s advice in continuing to educate themselves as they continue their professional development, regardless of their career.

1:24:00 – Bob and Bassel discuss the value of online certifications.

1:31:00 – Bassel shares how to begin your search for an executive coach in your life.

1:34:10 – Bob asks Bassel what he would say if the president were to ask him to give a State of the Union Address to the American people, what is on his heart to share. Quote– “It seems that there is so much division. I would like to figure out what can bring us together.”

Book Recommendations: “From Strength to Strength Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life” by Arthur Brooks, “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman, “Staring at the Sun” by Irvin D. Yalom, “The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself” by Michael Alan Singer, “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck, and “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know” by Adam Grant, “Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secret’s of the Heart” by James R. Doty

JP Sicotte is the branch leader for Movement Mortgage in Littleton, Colorado. He is passionate about helping every client find the ideal loan package for their home or investment property. He is best known for his short, insightful, "Mustache Mortgage Minute" videos on Linkedin and Instagram. JP is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and was a track and field athlete while he was a cadet. He served in the Air Force for over 23 years as a navigator of the RC135 and C-130 aircraft, having multiple deployments around the globe. He also completed his MBA in Finance from the University of Colorado. 

Homeownership and understanding real estate is a foundational tenet in building wealth. The market is very dynamic at the moment, with interest rates fluctuating and home prices on the move. Everyone I meet from young people starting out looking for their first home, to mid-career professionals looking for a vacation home, and late-career professionals considering downsizing or moving to their retirement destination…seems to be talking about real estate. I could not wait to have this conversation with JP and hear his insights on this market and advice for those ready to make "the leap".  I know you will learn something new in this conversation. 

Show Notes:

4:00 – Bob asks JP to tell us what is happening in the American real estate and mortgage markets. JP unpacks this for the listeners who may be in the process of making a big decision. JP begins by discussing the high-interest rate and lack of affordability.

7:30 – JP encourages those in the market to get in now. He gives his housing market predictions and forecasts.

12:30 – JP discusses his belief in the significance of real estate for the American family building wealth. Quote– “When is the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. When is the next best time? Now.”

14:40 – Bob asks JP’s advice for newlywed young adults who are looking to buy their first home. Bob then asks JP what the wise things young adults can be doing now in preparation for buying their first home.

22:30 – JP advises how to improve your credit score in preparation for purchasing a home.

25:30 – JP gives his advice to people in mid-career who are looking for a vacation home.

28:00 – JP gives his thoughts on Airbnb vs. Vrbo

29:40 – Bob asks JP what those near retiring are asking and things they need to be doing in advance to prepare.

33:30 – JP talks about American homeowners tapping into equity to pay bills and pay down debt and gives his insight on the best ways.

37:30 – Bob touches on JP’s background and asks what drew him to the real estate industry from serving in the Air Force. JP gives how he applies his discipline and learnings from the military in his real estate and financing.

42:00 – Bob and JP reminisce on their favorite planes that they flew in the military and their favorite aspects of being in the Air Force.

50:00 – Bob and JP share how their military backgrounds shaped the way they view the significance of teamwork and how they take that into their respective careers. 

52:20 – Bob asks JP how the military core values of integrity, honesty, and building trust show up in his career now. Quote– “I really do think that I am a bit of a breath of fresh air for people to know that I am working to figure out what is in their best interest.”

53:50 – JP tells us what people should be looking for to ensure that they get someone who is honest and forthcoming when looking for a mortgage advisor.

55:40 – AI is changing every industry. JP shares how he views AI impacting his industry and jobs within the industry. Quote– “I do love the ability to leverage AI, but it definitely is not perfect.”

57:40 – Bob asks JP what books he is currently reading to continue learning and growing.

Book recommendations: “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius, Ryan Holiday’s books, “Outlive” by Peter Attia

1:00:00 – Bob asks JP what he would say if he was invited to inspire and encourage our nation via the State of the Union Address. Quote– “Let’s all focus on the things we agree on and believe in.” JP highlights the importance of focusing on the elements in life we agree on instead of our differences. 

JP Sicotte on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpsicotte/ 

Jim Stirewalt started his career as an entrepreneur at the urging of his father. After growing and selling his company and learning the art of sales he jumped into enterprise sales, growing and leading international sales teams for iconic companies such as Kronons, SAP, and IBM.  As Vice President of SAP, leading the Fashion and Retail business Jim helped grow the business by 247% in his final two years. Jim was head of World Wide Sales for IBM Watson Customer Engagement. During this time, he led the transformation of a 1,600-person sales team in charge of $1.6B in software sales. Furthermore, he helped lead an AI initiative to disrupt markets leading to a pipeline of new business over $100M. He later was part of a $2B divesture of the IBM Watson Customer Engagement business. He also has been the Chief Revenue Officer of CoreMedia Corp, President of Marketplacer, and SVP and Managing Partner of GreyOrange. Jim has vast experience in business, ranging from start-ups to global enterprises.

Show Notes:

4:00 – Jim’s origin and the beginning of his fascination for building businesses. Jim talks about
his entry into graphic design and the development of his small business and how he grew it into
a full-service agency over a 7-year span.

13:45 – Jim breaks his journey into three parts: entrepreneurialism (“hustle and sell”), the
power of the network, and execution.

19:00 – Jim talks about how he took the sales leader skills that he learned early on in his career
and took it into his role in corporate America.

23:00 – Bob asks Jim’s advice that he would give to young people who might have a friend or a
peer or mentor who is approaching them and trying to give them executive coaching. Jim’s
advice, “seek people’s feedback actively.” Quote - “Pride is the biggest hindrance to growth.”

28:15 – Jim is in the second stage of his career. He discusses the failures and
successes he has experienced and the lessons he is learning. The importance of knowing the
product, the value proposition, and how it fits into the market. The 3 key elements of a
successful deal are: First, execution sponsorship, second, business value assessment, third, mutually agreed sequence
of events.

40:00 – Jim applies his learnings to a direct-to-consumer model. Jim discusses the consumption
gap.

50:20 – Bob asks how Jim handles the complex changes and difficulties he experienced in his
career. Jim talks about his experience before announcing a vast change in the company.

53:45 – Bob talks about how there will be times in your career where you will be facing a
challenge or obstacle that is high stress and high stakes and you’re asking yourself, “how am I
gonna execute this particular challenge?” Bob gives the advice to operate with a high level of
character and integrity and be honest and take good care of your people. Jim advises to
embrace the situation wholly and to force yourself to be adaptable.

59:00 – Bob and Jim discuss how to embrace the challenging times we have faced and will
continue to face. Jim talks about the importance of adaptability and resilience.

1:04:00 – Bob asks Jim if he has ever found himself in a spot in his career where the timing was
bad, where the product or service was “past its sell date,” or the economy was moving in
another direction and how did he pivot out of these times.

1:10:00 – Jim shares his experience and the challenges of scaling small, start-up companies.
Jim shares the quote, “fail fast forward,” meaning to make a plan, learn from it, readjust, execute.

1:15:30 – Bob begins asking rapid-fire questions. Jim gives advice for young people when
facing adversity, what books he is reading at the moment, the “imposter syndrome," how pride
can be connected to insecurity, and more.
 
Quote - “I grow the most when I am in a place where
I am being stretched.”

Kim has been the President of multiple companies in the fashion and retail industry, spanning a twenty-year career where she led R&D, manufacturing, product design, marketing, and growing market share during some of the most dynamic and challenging retail environments. Kim is passionate about helping women in poverty and used her leadership and roles in companies to help develop and implement an industry-leading approach that provides opportunities for women providing true living wages that allow team members to have real opportunities and thrive and break the cycle of poverty.  You will hear in this episode how Kim is finishing a mid-career sabbatical and entering the second phase of her career with new insights, motivations, and goals of how to best serve and inspire those around her and the next generation of leaders.  Kim has studied finance at Queen’s University and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School President’s Program. She also just completed Oxford University’s “Reimagining Leadership Executive Program.”  Kim is a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and has been a chapter chair and education chair, and has previously been on the Canadian board for YPO/WPO. Kim provides incredible insight and learning from her journey. As you will hear, Kim  is a close friend of mine whom I have a great deal of respect and admiration. I have watched her over the past decade lead in many different environments. She consistently demonstrates class and grace while being tenacious in achieving every goal and overcoming any obstacle in her way. She is loved by all our classmates because she has a true servant-leader heart and cares about everyone she meets.

Show Notes:

(13:11) - Kim realizes a key to her success was to get near leadership and learn from people who had results.
(17:30) - Kim gives advice to young people starting their careers today.
Quote - "Success Leaves Clues"
(23:00) - Discussion of the "Imposter Syndrome."
(27:00) - The power of testing your assumptions.
(29:00) - Kim talks about the importance and her learnings of taking a mid-career sabbatical.
(41:00) - Bob and Kim discuss work-life balance and the challenge of going all in early in your career to achieve while still seeking balance.
(48:45) - "My mess is my message."
(49:30) - What Kim learned leading her company during COVID. "Cash is King and get lean fast!"
Quote - "No decision is a decision and it is the worst decision you can make!"
(1:00:45) - Kim talks about changes in the e-commerce business and what business leaders need to do. 
(1:07:00) - The importance of having a real relationship with your customer...connection with them.
(1:10:00) - Advice to mid-career professionals who must leap a new direction or career.
(1:16:00) - The importance of having a global perspective.
(1:25:00) - Kim is thinking about using her island retreat as a retreat for other leaders needing a sabbatical in their career.
(1:30:00) - What would Kim say to the American and Canadian people if she was given the chance to give a "State of the Union" address?
Quote "Progress over perfection!"

Book Recommendations:
- Untethered Soul - The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer
- Fearless Heart - Why Greater Compassion is the Key to Greater Well-Being by Thupten Jinpa
- Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
- EOS - Gino Wickman

Vadim Belyakov is from Moscow, Russia and has been a serial entrepreneur since 1999 when ROST XXI Group was founded. ROST main activity was the importation and distribution of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) throughout the entire Russian Federation and it quickly became Russia’s leader in brand sales. In recent years, the company has shifted focus providing real-estate development and back office solutions to medium size multi-national companies doing business in Russia. Vadim is also the President of Uniland, a trading company that distributes a wide range of products to consumers in the Urals. He is a member of YPO and has won multiple awards to including Best Regional Learning Officer, Best Large Personal Event, and Best Overall Experience. 

He has his Master of Arts from the Russian Academy of Economy and is a graduate of London Business School and Harvard Business School. Since 2017 he has been working on the NotAlone App, which is an application for young people who feel alone, depressed, and struggle with Anxiety. The app uses innovative and life-changing technology like an AI bot, online forums, and 20 years of established clinical psychological experience to provide users with various strategies to meaningfully connect and deepen healthy and positive self-awareness. 

Show Notes:

• Not Alone App - Vadim's creation to help people dealing with feeling alone, depressed, and struggling with anxiety.
• (15:00) - How is Vadim dealing with the conflict? What is the mood in Moscow and how are people reacting?
• (24:00) - How has life changed in Russia and Moscow?
• (29:00) - President Putin still has the majority support of everyone in Russia.
• (30:00) - If you are a Russian and oppose the war you are alienated. If you travel outside the country you are alienated. You feel like a compete refugee. You are judged by the actions of the government not your own character as a person.
• (36:00) - How are Russian businesses dealing with sanctions?
• (45:00) - What do Russian people say is the reason this conflict started?
• (52:00) - In Negotiations you understand the term ZOPA (Zone Of Possible Agreement). Before the start of the conflict we had a small ZOPA area but now Vadim believes there is none.
• (1:12:13) - "I believe that iron curtains today are built in our brains by propaganda. It is no longer physical walls." - Vadim 
• (1:15:00) - Professor Rawi Abdelal - HBS Case Study "Russia: A Drama in Three Acts"
• (1:21:00) - Why Vadim is worried that nuclear weapons could be used.
• (1:24:00) - "My heart is for peace." - Vadim
• One final key insight. Vadim does not believe Russia has aims to occupy a country of 40M people that do not want them there. That would not be possible in his mind. If that is the case. What is their objective? Let's assume neither side will get 100% what they want. Where is the compromise that both can live with? My fear is that we are creating a new cold war scenario where we will end up with a larger version of the Berlin Wall and Korean DMZ and a stalemate that lasts for years and future generations must deal with since current leaders and diplomats have been unable to find a solution. 

"The most American thing we can do is think for ourselves, question authority, and demand transparency. When we are faced with the rare moments where we find the unusual convergence of consensus narrative forming...double down on all of the above." 

Adam is the CEO and founder of the Lloyd Group, a prominent managed service provider for small and medium-sized businesses that provide services like asset management, help desk support, project management, cybersecurity, IT governance, and cloud services. Under Adam’s 28 years of leadership, the Lloyd Group has been named on the list of Inc 500 and Inc 5000 fastest-growing companies in America, along with many other accolades and recognitions, including employee satisfaction and corporate culture. Adam has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Adelphi University and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School President’s Program. He also completed the Entrepreneurs Organization MIT Birthing of Giants Program. Adam is a member of YPO (Young President’s Organization) and serves as the Learning Alliance Champion, and was the Chair of the Harvard Business School President’s Program. 

Show Notes:

• (11:00) - The key to growth and transformation is moving from thinking you know everything to admitting you know nothing and starting a lifelong journey of self-discovery and lifelong learning.
• (12:00) - Adam created six "Truth North Objectives" to measure everything against to ensure he did not waste any more of his life and stayed on track what is his "True North."
  • 1 - Have a supportive fun, accepting, relationship with my spouse. 
  • 2 - Instill a sense of responsibility and humility in my children.
  • 3 - Have a transparent and deep relationship with my children.
  • 4 - Have a life of no regrets and fear will not stop me.
  • 5 - Achieve a state of acceptance of myself and others.
  • 6 - Have a balance of unplanned time with value-producing activities.
• (19:42) - What is a painted picture exercise? Why is this important for people to do.
• (23:30) - Why working at McDonalds was one of the most formative jobs he had in his life.
• "Hold your kids with open palms."
• (27:00) - "Your network is your net worth!" 
• (29:35) - Adam and Sarah started their business in 1995 with a simple but profound Noble Purpose. "To create opportunities to learn, earn, and live better!" It all centers around building a team and community. 
• "You need to put a process around your relationships!"
• (37:00) - How did Adam get started in business, accounting, and entrepreneurship?
• (41:00) - Everything I deal with in business is people related. Adam shares how the smartest people in the world with poor people skills get passed up and don't advance in their careers. 
• (46:00) - The most successful people have consistent integrity.
• "One of the things I regret most is conversations I have had when I was still emotional about it.
• "You need great relationships with friends who are not afraid to call you on your crap."
• (1:03:00) - Executive education programs are designed for people who want to enhance the education and lives of their peers.
• (1:05:00) - How to design a world-class educational event program. (Connect people, Get People Committed, Get People Uncomfortable)
• (1:15:00) - What does Adam see as similar or different with EO, Vistage, and YPO? 
• (1:22:00) - We didn't focus on building a company...we focused on building a community! 
• (1:33:00) - How is AI changing the world? "What I am most worried about is if in the past what you learned depreciated every five years it is now every 2-3 years. I am most concerned with people not lifelong learners, not subscribing to MasterClass, and not using Coursera.org. These are the people that will become irrelevant and will not get new jobs."
• (1:36:00) - Adam's three core values are "Be Human, Be Accountable, and Be Better!" 
• "Younger people see opportunity and as you get older you see things as threats and move into protection mode."
• (1:46:00) - "I want to double click on that!" :)
• (1:50:00) - "If the American President asked Adam to give a State of the Union Address to the american people what would he say?"

Richard Haykel is the Chairman of Haykel Hospital S.A.L. in Tripoli, Lebanon and Executive Director of CARA Ventures, LLC.  Richie has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Tufts University, a Master’s of Hospital and Health Care Administration and Management from the University of Paris Cite. He is also a Harvard Business School Executive Program graduate and OPM 49. Richie is a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and is home based in Tripoli, Lebanon. 

Show Notes:

• Lebanon has always been at the crossroads between East and West. "It plays a role much bigger than its geography."
• A $6 tax for What's App launched the Oct 2019 revolution.
• (11:30) The financial system collapse has led to 80% of the population in poverty, runs on banks, life savings wiped out for many. Prior to this, the poverty rate was around 20%. Overnight, a majority of the population was plunged into poverty.
• (20:00) "Morally, we needed to walk the talk with our kids." We came back to make a difference!
• "Everything rises and falls on leadership." - John Maxwell
• (22:45) What are the warning signs that this could be coming to your country?
• (30:00) Why are we starting to see a reverse migration from America?
• (31:00) Why are tenured professors at Columbia and Princeton afraid of losing their job?
• (37:00) There is no dollar alternative at the moment.
• (46:00) Bitcoin, crypto winter, FTX collapse and the future of cryptocurrencies...and real estate?
• (49:00) How did the pandemic impact the middle east and Lebanon? Lebanon has the ability to adapt.
• (54:00) How does Hezbollah impact everything in Lebanon today?
• (56:00) What is the impact of Saudi Arabia and MBS in the middle east?
• (1:04:00) The pivot to Asia has destroyed the trust of the United States in the middle east.
• (1:18:00) Why do you invest so much in advanced education and continued education later in your career?
• (1:24:00) Book Recommendations - Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Deep Purpose by Ranjay Gulati, Glass Half Broken by Boris Groysberg Podcast "After Hours"
• (1:30:00) Leadership insights while leading during a crisis.
• (1:34:00) What would Richie say to the American people if he was asked to give a State of the Union address?

Show Notes: 
Grant is a graduate of Brown University and is finishing his executive program at Harvard Business School. He is a Young President’s Organization (YPO) Member. He is the managing director of Benevolent Capital.

• Montgomery Securities – Institutional sales program 
•  First non-MBA member to be hired in the program. 
• “Sometimes it is about timing. Sometimes it is about who you know more than anything else!” 
• Venture Capital is for very early-stage companies to help them get off the ground. 
• Private Equity is generally for later-stage companies looking to grow or transition. 
• Grant became a “Sherpa” at Montgomery Securities  
• (9:00) One of his first tests early in his career was to see if he had the ability to tell people that he didn’t know the answer. Always tell the truth and be honest. 
• Don’t be afraid to apply for jobs where you don’t have all the skills. Skills can be taught. Hiring managers are looking for character, integrity, honesty, interpersonal skills, and communication skills.  
• (12:45) Grant highlights a learning experience as the captain of his crew team when he lost a position in the first boat. 
• “Sometimes out of the bad comes the great!”  
  • You really learn about yourself and life when things go wrong. 
  • Covid presented a learning and growing opportunity for us all. 
• (17:45) Why is tenacity so important? 
• Why did Montgomery Securities start by only hiring Athletes? 
• (24:00) When Warren Buffet is wrong he is barely wrong but when he is right BIG and for a long time. 
• Why did Grant leave Greenwich, Connecticut, and New York City? 
  • Wanted a state with no state income tax 
  • A friend told him to check out Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN
  • Chattanooga was voted “Best small town” in America twice. 
• (34:45) Grant’s advice to his daughters “Free to be you, free to be me.” 
• (40:00) “Our country needs the ability to have more debate.” 
• (43:10) “You feel like we are fighting and arguing and I feel like we are finally communicating.” Grant uses a quote from the movie Jerry McGuire to help demonstrate a point on modern-day politics. 
• Do we believe in free speech and diversity and inclusion or do we not? Today many only believe in this as long as you agree with them. 
• (54:00) How to build a company with a billion in revenue? 
  • The importance of a robust board 
  • Your customers are raving evangelists for your product or service 
• “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast.” – Peter Drucker 
• (55:00) How is Grant training his daughters to have success in life? 
  • Mixed Martial Arts  
• Best Day Brewing – Non-Alcoholic Beer and Athletic Brewing – Are two of the companies that Grant’s firm has invested in. 
• An SPV – Special Purpose Vehicle for each investment in Benevolent Capital 
• They charge NO management fees for the investments in their fund. (The Traditional "2 and 20")... 
• Plus they give all investors a 100% preferred return before they get paid. 
• This is very different from most investment firms. 
• For us to make an investment in a company we need to believe in the company and we have to want to be an evangelist for the product or service. 
• Brett Johnson was running the family business (Targus Computer Accessory Company) and during that time frame after working with PE firms they decided when it was time for them to start their own investment firm they would do it differently. 
  • “We don’t need the management fees to be motivated to be successful.”  
• Why did they invest in Orua Ring? 
• How do they do due diligence in companies they invest in? 
  • Believe in the product – Great Products 
  • Teams when championships. Who is the management team? 
  • Is this in an A or C industry? 
  • What is the exit? How so you exit the investment? 
• Either a big company needs to buy the product or they are buying it so it doesn’t fall into the hands of their competitor. 
• Many times the price they will pay to prevent their competitor from getting it is higher than if they just want it for themselves. 
• (1:26:30) How did Grant and Brett Johnson get involved in Professional Soccer in the United States and Great Britain? 
•  How has the Ted Lasso show helped Professional Soccer? 
• Best Day Brewing is an official sponsor of Professional Pickle Ball! 
• (1:38:00) Grant Johnson’s State of the Union Address to the American People 
  • “Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest until your good is your better and your better is your best!”  
• Book Recommendation 
  •  Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork – Dan Sullivan 
  • Blueprint to a Billion: 7 Essentials to Achieve Exponential Growth – David Thomson 

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