The Eric Mueller Show

Is anyone out there a fan of magic, card tricks or mind reading? If so, I think you’ll especially enjoy today’s guest. Now don’t worry, even if magic is not your thing, I’m still confident that you’ll feel uplifted and motivated after tuning in to this episode of the show.

Allow me to introduce Ben Whiting.

Ben is an award-winning magician, actor, and playwright turned speaker. As an entertainer, he performed in over 30 countries, had multiple television appearances, and his clients included the likes of Crystal Cruises and Oprah’s HARPO Studios.

Recognizing his passion for helping others, Ben began focusing on keynote speaking and leadership development. In 2016, he delivered his first TEDx talk and was hired by a leadership development firm shortly thereafter to deliver leadership training around the globe. Within two years, he moved from leadership trainer to senior consultant at the firm. His leadership consulting clients have included international companies like UNiDAYS, as well as Fortune 50 corporations such as Schlumberger.

Today, Ben runs his own consulting firm employing magic and entertainment as tools to teach and inspire corporations, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions around the globe.

Get ready to learn how to connect like a mind reader.

Highlights of the episode:

- Action trumps planning and done is better than perfect

- How you can connect with your clients like a mind reader

- What it’s like to perform street magic in downtown Chicago

- The secret sauce to developing your craft, no matter what it may be

Ben’s recommended reading list:

- Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results by Rob Biesenbach

- Born Standing Up by Steve Martin

- The Thought Leader’s Practice by Matt Church

- 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly

- Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

- The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins

- The Getaway Car by Ann Patchett

- Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

For more information on Ben, visit his website: http://www.benwhiting.com/

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Today on the show, you’ll be hearing from a vibrant, optimistic spirit who possesses a keen vision for what it takes to grow as an entrepreneur.  As a networking guru and innovative thinker, Will Kitchen has assisted countless individuals in realizing their entrepreneurial dreams. He currently serves as the Director of Innovative Community Engagement at Winona State University and leads an initiative called StartUp Winona State. This program provides support for new entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and connect with the people that can best help them pursue success.

Will’s career has taken him all over the world. From consulting for IBM throughout the US and Asia to serving as COO for a food manufacturing company in Belgium, he has illuminated his business skills internationally. He co-founded a company called Tele-Systems Associates and has more than 10 years of experience in distance learning, teaching and technology arenas. Additionally, Will and his wife’s philanthropic endeavors have brought numerous artistic events to Winona and surrounding areas, such as the Great River Shakespeare Festival and Frozen River Film Festival.

Highlights of the episode:

-What is an entrepreneurial ecosystem?

-Tips for networking and discovering the value of that entrepreneurial ecosystem.

-How Will co-founded a Zoom-esque company back in the 1970s (before the internet!)

-The importance of not giving up on your success journey. Keep trying and trying!

For more information about Will and his role at WSU, visit https://www.winona.edu/startup/

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Jordan Harbinger is a Wall Street lawyer turned interview talk-show host with an approachable style and knack for securing high-profile guests. He is known for his expertise in communications, social dynamics and networking. His show, The Jordan Harbinger Show, was selected as part of Apple’s “Best of 2018.”

A snapshot of Jordan's notable guests: Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban, Matthew McConaughey, Dennis Rodman, TI Harris, Ray Dalio, Tony Hawk

On The Jordan Harbinger Show, Jordan deconstructs the playbooks of the most successful people on earth and shares their strategies, perspectives, and practical insights with the rest of us. He has hosted a Top 50 iTunes podcast for over 14 years and receives over eleven million downloads per month, making The Jordan Harbinger Show one of the most popular podcasts in the world.

Get ready to learn from one of the best podcasters to rock the mic.

For more information about Jordan and his show, visit https://www.jordanharbinger.com/

Subscribe to The Eric Mueller Show: Apple Podcasts, EricRMueller.com, Spotify

This time around, we have the pleasure of diving into the mindset of an active Chief Executive Officer, overseeing a company that has served its community for more than 145 years. Headquartered in Winona, MN, Merchants Bank is responsible for more than $2.6 billion in assets and was the fifth-largest banking organization headquartered in Minnesota as of year-end in 2020.

Greg Evans joined Merchants in 1989 and served 18 years in Winona as the Bank’s senior vice president/director of marketing. From 2007 through the end of 2013, Evans served as one of the Company’s four regional presidents, with leadership responsibility for markets of Cannon Falls, Red Wing and Hampton. He was named President & Chief Executive Officer for Merchants Financial Group, Inc., and Merchants Bank, N.A. in February of 2017.

Listen to Greg speak on the importance of growing your organization from within, what it takes to be the leader of the team as Chief Executive Officer and how fostering a competitive spirit will help push you in the direction towards your full potential in life.

Join me as I interview John Lee Dumas, founder and host of the award-winning podcast, Entrepreneurs on Fire.  He has created over 2500 episodes, amassed over 1 million listeners per month and is spreading entrepreneurial FIRE on a global scale. 

JLD's energetic presence on the mic is sure to ignite your ears!

His new book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success, is due to launch today (3/23) and is available at UncommonSuccessBook.com

Also, visit EOFire.com to set YOUR entrepreneurial journey on FIRE!

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the second interview of The Eric Mueller Show! Meet Donald E. Letendre. The Dean of the largest, most complex college of pharmacy facility in the United States. Don has been at the vanguard of change in healthcare throughout his career. As a leader, he has helped pioneer the development and implementation of standards that have influenced the operational strategies of hundreds of hospitals and health-systems throughout North America.

Don and I explore the habits of successful leaders, the importance of personal commitment to family, how to triumph in the face of adversity, and to embrace humble beginnings. Don’s message regarding what makes his inner clock keep ticking towards success is one you don’t want to miss!

Are you ready to get your COVID-19 vaccine? Feeling anxious about the side effects that might occur when you finally receive the dose you’ve been waiting so long for?

Tune in to hear my views on COVID-19 vaccinations through the lens of a practicing pharmacist.

Key questions answered in the episode:

1. How do COVID-19 vaccines work to promote immunity?

2. When will I be able to get my vaccine?

3. Side Effects: What to expect and how to treat them?

4. Does a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA? (Hint: No, it does not!)

5. Have you received a vaccine yet, Eric? (Another hint: Yes, and I’m still alive!)

Helpful source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html

Investing has been a passion of mine for quite some time. I often enjoy studying the intricacies of the stock market to find new ways to build my portfolio.  In this episode, I share a few tips that I have learned through my experiences investing, and I also describe my take on the recent “short squeeze” in the stock market.

Disclaimer: The content of this episode consists of my opinions for your informational use only.  I am not a financial advisor.  You should make your investment decisions based on your own judgment and opinions.

Learning how to formulate goals that fit your individualized game plan in life is crucial.  Many people can easily explain their long-term goals, yet are unsure of how to begin creating a straightforward plan towards realizing those goals.  In order to attain success in the long-term, you'll want to succeed in the short-term too.  Celebrate your short-term wins to motivate you to persevere going forward to your ultimate goals.

In this episode, I break down the THREE factors that I believe will play a significant role in your construction of a master plan to begin making progress towards both your short-term and long-term goals in life.

We have arrived at the first interview of The Eric Mueller Show!  Allow me to introduce one of my idols, Mr. Bob Kierlin.  Bob founded Fastenal Company in 1967 in Winona, Minnesota and has since built it into the largest fastener distributor in North America.  Listen to him share insight through his experiences on starting a business, creating a powerful company culture and giving back to the community.  I know that Bob's wisdom on what it takes to be successful will motivate you to chase your dreams! It most certainly has for me.