On today’s show, we talk with Trevor Tait, Managing Director, Tait and Associates who shares with his distilled wisdom on adding value, failure, and stepping out of your comfort zone.

Back in high school, Trevor’s puny 90-pound build did not stop him from playing football with others who were much larger and stronger than him. This is when he first learnt the importance of “stepping out of your comfort zone”.

Trever went on to study civil engineering at Vanderbilt. And upon graduation, he was hired to work at a large engineering firm. But admittedly, this stint of his was a total failure. Rather than adding value, Trevor was just focused on “blending in”. 

But this experience made him realize that his sole focus should be helping others. 

In the latter half of the show, Trevor shares how he has applied these learnings to his own engineering and real estate development company with much success.

Among other things, Trevor shares his definition of excellence, and the importance of continuous learning and innovation.

Do not miss this one!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• How failing at my first job taught me how to add value as a professional

Resources

Edge Of Excellence Is Brought To You By College Works Painting Internship

College Works Paintings provides college and university students a unique, life-transforming opportunity to build business management and leadership skills, hands-on. The internship empowers students to run their own local businesses, manage their own crew of people, and provide a much-needed service within their communities - while earning money as well as an invaluable experience.

Their internship allows students to not only gain valuable work experience but to help finance their college educations as well. The company is known for having some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

To learn more: https://www.collegeworks.com/students-home-page/

Would you find the strength to pivot and change course if your long-cherished dream came down crumbling in an instant?

On today’s show, we talk to the incredible Ally Becker who shares with us her distilled wisdom on keeping your focus, and showing courage in ambiguity.

As always, we start this show with Ally sharing her definition of excellence. You will learn why you cannot hope to find yourself on the edge of excellence without being present and completely focused.

Back in high school, Ally was focused on her studies and her passion – dancing. However, just a month before her dance trials, she injured herself. And her long-cherished dream that finally seemed within her grasp vanished – just like that.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Ally was quick to pivot and change course. 

Her YEAA internship had stoked her interest in finance. And Ally has recently finished her Masters in Financial Planning. 

Leveraging the YEAA network has enabled Ally to have multiple job offers on hand. And currently, she is figuring out the best way forward.

Tune in and get inspired!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Finding courage in ambiguity

Resources

Edge Of Excellence Is Brought To You By College Works Painting Internship

College Works Paintings provides college and university students a unique, life-transforming opportunity to build business management and leadership skills, hands-on. The internship empowers students to run their own local businesses, manage their own crew of people, and provide a much-needed service within their communities - while earning money as well as an invaluable experience.

Their internship allows students to not only gain valuable work experience but to help finance their college educations as well. The company is known for having some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

To learn more: https://www.collegeworks.com/students-home-page/

On today’s show, we interview Juliet Monteleone who shares with us her thoughts on exploration, discovering your passion, and finding the courage to follow your dreams.

Back in high school, Juliet was admittedly timid, unambitious, and not sure about where her life was headed. As a result, she dabbled in different fields including art, marketing, and psychology before finally discovering her passion – UX design.

You will get a peek into Juliet’s role as a UX designer at Facebook. And how her job requires her to constantly learn and extensively collaborate.

Juliet also gives us an overview of the UX design process, and how it progresses from research to testing to buildout.

This show will surely inspire you to follow your dreams.

Do not miss!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Understanding UX, the blueprint of software

Resources

Edge Of Excellence Is Brought To You By College Works Painting Internship

College Works Paintings provides college and university students a unique, life-transforming opportunity to build business management and leadership skills, hands-on. The internship empowers students to run their own local businesses, manage their own crew of people, and provide a much-needed service within their communities - while earning money as well as an invaluable experience.

Their internship allows students to not only gain valuable work experience but to help finance their college educations as well. The company is known for having some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

To learn more: https://www.collegeworks.com/students-home-page/

Can introverts be good leaders, manage large teams, and run successful businesses?

On today’s show, we interview Ann Chenal who shares with us her distilled wisdom on overcoming self-doubt, turning challenges into opportunities, and how to combat the inner introvert.

Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Ann was instinctively driven to be good in whatever she did. However, she found herself constantly battling self-doubt.

And it was not before she stepped outside her comfort zone to travel across the US that she realized what she truly loved. And this is when she quit per bio & chemistry major to pursue marketing.

On today’s show, you will learn how running a painting business helped Ann overcome her self-doubt to massively grow her self-confidence.

Among other things you will learn how to change your perspective towards challenges. And why challenges are “launchers” that help you prepare for the next challenge more confidently.

You will also learn why you need to solely focus on what you are doing if you desire to be truly excellent.

This is a show you do not want to miss.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Why excellence is about ignoring what everyone else is doing and solely focusing on your own work

Resources

College Works

On today’s show, we interview Brent Miller, VP, Home Genius Exteriors who shares with us his thoughts on work ethic, chasing growth, and hiring the right people.

As always, we start this show with Brent sharing his take on excellence. Brent reveals why excellence is a highly individualized concept. And why it can mean totally different things to different people. 

Brent then proceeds to share his incredible background story. As a young kid, Brent was always driven, entrepreneurial and looking for ways to make an extra buck. 

So, it was hardly surprising that he quickly snapped up the College Works opportunity while studying at Penn State. 

This segment of the show is particularly interesting as you will get some great lessons in integrity and work ethic. Learn how Brent managed to run a large painting business without compromising his grades

And how College Works helped Brent pay off his entire student loan within six months of graduation.

Brent started his home improvement company, Home Genius Exteriors in 2020 – the year of the pandemic. And managed to clock revenues of $1.4 million with just one employee. 

In 2021, his company had already clocked revenues of $4.5 million just seven months into the financial year.

In this segment of the show, Brent shares how building a dream team is helping him execute his audacious vision. 

This is a show you do not want to miss.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Why excellence is a highly individualized concept

Resources

Edge Of Excellence Is Brought To You By College Works Painting Internship

College Works Paintings provides college and university students a unique, life-transforming opportunity to build business management and leadership skills, hands-on. The internship empowers students to run their own local businesses, manage their own crew of people, and provide a much-needed service within their communities - while earning money as well as an invaluable experience.

Their internship allows students to not only gain valuable work experience but to help finance their college educations as well. The company is known for having some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

To learn more: https://www.collegeworks.com/students-home-page/

What happens when two brothers follow very different paths in life - one taking the entrepreneurial route, the other moving along the corporate path?

In today's show, Matt sits down with his younger brother Jerome to answer that very question. Despite their very different career paths, both ended up ringing the bell on the New York Stock exchange and have more unique perspectives on success.

You'll learn about Jerome's time in the Peace Corps and how it helped him discover an entirely new way of living.

You'll discover why he's built a career around adventure, always willing to try new things and commit the time and effort necessary to feel their full benefits.

You'll learn about his "craftsman" approach to life, as well as the importance of honoring yourself and the opportunities you're presented with in life.

You'll also discover the power of building a powerful work ethic - the willingness to do whatever needs to be done in any particular situation, no matter how menial it may appear on the surface.

Join Matt and Jerome as they compare their very different paths that have led them to success and of course, excellence.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show:

• How Jerome's path took him through the Peace Corps and eventually into Microsoft, Salesforce, Splunk and Dynatrac.

Resources:

College Works

Edge Of Excellence Is Brought To You By College Works Painting Internship

College Works Paintings provides college and university students a unique, life-transforming opportunity to build business management and leadership skills, hands-on. The internship empowers students to run their own local businesses, manage their own crew of people, and provide a much-needed service within their communities - while earning money as well as an invaluable experience.

Their internship allows students to not only gain valuable work experience but to help finance their college educations as well. The company is known for having some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

To learn more: https://www.collegeworks.com/students-home-page/

How do you go from being a hair-dresser to a highly sought-after speaker?

On today’s show, we have John Dijulius who shares with us his distilled wisdom on authenticity, finding your niche, and just doing shit well.

Growing up, John was a terrible student who suffered from massive ADD. But inspite of this, he always had his mother in his corner. John’s mother never stopped believing in him.

And, it was this innate desire to make his mother proud that pushed John to show his best self forward.

John started his career with a cushy job at UPS. But he soon realized that he had to get rid of these “golden handcuffs” in order to realize his dreams.

So, he partnered up with his better half to bootstrap John Robert’s Spa. From almost going out of business in the first month itself, today, John Robert’s employs more than 150 people across multiple locations in America.

Back in 2002, John incidentally discovered that he could make a living (and a very good one at that) as a professional speaker. 

Today, John is one of the most sought-after experts and speakers in the field of customer service. 

On today’s show, you will learn why fear is a good thing that can push you to be your absolute best. John also shares some excellent tips to help you grow and scale your business.

This is a show you do not want to miss.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Why fear is a good thing 

Resources

John’s Website

John’s Facebook

John’s Twitter

John’s Instagram

John’s LinkedIn

Life As a Daymaker: How to Change the World by Simply Making Someone's Day

Edge Of Excellence Is Brought To You By College Works Painting Internship

College Works Paintings provides college and university students a unique, life-transforming opportunity to build business management and leadership skills, hands-on. The internship empowers students to run their own local businesses, manage their own crew of people, and provide a much-needed service within their communities - while earning money as well as an invaluable experience.

Their internship allows students to not only gain valuable work experience but to help finance their college educations as well. The company is known for having some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry.

To learn more: https://www.collegeworks.com/students-home-page/

On today’s show, we interview the incredible Scott Gladstone who shares with us his distilled wisdom on authenticity, teamwork, and work ethic. 

As always, we start this show with Scott sharing his definition of excellence. Here, you will learn how authenticity is the one thing without which you cannot hope to find yourself on the edge of excellence.

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family left an indelible impression on young Scott and he developed a growth-minded and creative mindset. 

After graduating from Santa Barbara, Scott had a financially rewarding but ill-aligned stint at Bear Stearns. Encouraged by his mentor, Scott decided to quit his well-paying job and pursue his passion for automobiles by joining Sparco USA at the age of 23.

A supplier of high-end racing accessories, Sparco grew rapidly until Scott’s able leadership. However, 10 years later, Scott found himself wanting to transition out after his partners decided to exit and cash in on the company’s success.

So, in 2005, Scott started working as the COO of a much larger, much structured group, Anna’s Linens. 

In 2015, fuelled by his entrepreneurial passions, Scott started a consulting business, Oceancrest Partners, LLC.

Currently, as the President of emotoring.com, Scott is massively transforming the traditional automotive experience.

This is a show you do not miss.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• How being authentic can entrench you on the path of excellence

Resources

Scott Gladstone

Edge Of Excellence Is Brought To You By College Works Painting Internship

On today’s show, we interview Alexis Rabadam, CEO, Finessed Media, Inc. who shares with us her distilled wisdom on motivation, entrepreneurship, and kickstarting a new business in the wake of covid.

As always, we start this show with Alexis sharing her definition of excellence. She reveals how she always strives to go the extra mile – so that they can accomplish something that she is truly proud of.

A passionate singer, Alexis recently started Finesse Media, an event company. But, then covid brought the world to a grinding halt.

Like many of us, Alexis retreated into a shell initially. But she was quick to come to grips with the situation and pivot from live to virtual events. Additionally, Finesse Media is also an e-learning platform for hip-hop artists. 

On today’s show, you will learn why Alexis considers College Works to be the best experience of her whole life. 

And towards the end, she reveals why serving others is the surest road to success. 

Tune in for some massive inspiration. Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• How my ability to succeed skyrocketed after the College Works internship 

Resources

Edge Of Excellence Is Brought To You By College Works Painting Internship

How can you discover your zone of excellence? What are some of the things that you can do to find the right career path that will catapult you miles ahead of the competition?

On today’s show, we interview College Works alum Breanna Brady who shares with us her distilled wisdom on excellence, conviction, and the importance of finding your own tribe.

As always, we start this show with Breanna sharing her definition of excellence. You will learn the importance of critical self-evaluation and perseverance so that you can push yourself from being good to great.

Growing up, Breanna was admittedly confused and considered different professions ranging from law to paediatrics. Ultimately, she decided to pursue Psychology at Stony Brook University. And it was at this juncture that Breanna first came across College Works.

Owing to her competitive nature, Breanna was instinctively attracted to the College Works internship. And, she decided to give the internship her all even though her biggest advocate, her mother, was not particularly supportive. In this segment of the show, you will learn the importance of sticking to your convictions.

Other topics discussed on today’s show include the importance of optimism, flexibility, and finding your own tribe.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Finding your tribe and how a strong support system can help you ride out challenging times

Resources

Edge Of Excellence Is Brought To You By College Works Painting Internship