The Success Factor

Send us Fan Mail

At 17 years old, Todd Garner wrote down “CFO” for career objectives on his mock-up resume for a high school project. In thirty years of work and through seven job changes, Todd managed to fulfill that career objective and still find time to qualify for the Boston Marathon in multiple. 
Todd is one of nine children, raised by a school teacher father that inspired many. Often, familial decisions were monetary-based, which inspired Todd to achieve a financial position where he never had to say “no” to his children. 
Being overly dedicated to his work, he had to reevaluate and find ways to fine-tune his work/life balance with a simple rule, “have dinner with your family.”
Trent Christensen hosts Todd Garner, CFO of ConMed, in an interview that proves that a fourteen-hour workday may not always be the best tactic to success. 
Be early. Go above and beyond. Have dinner with your family.

Support the show

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on YouTube or our Social Media channels:

• Visit our website - thesuccessfactor.me
• YouTube - @thesuccessfactorpodcast
• Instagram - success.factor.podcast
• LinkedIn
• Twitter - @TSuccessFactor
• Facebook - @TheSuccessFactorPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

From B92.1 and Mikey & The Mrs. Podcast, Mikey Foley joins Trent Christensen today for a web-radio show to talk about terrestrial radio…and a few other things. 

Mikey, a self-proclaimed idiot, boasts the perks of doing a job you love, all bills aside. To get past demotivating aspects of life, primarily the demons in your head, Mikey insists that everyone “just do it.” Really profound, Mikey. 

In a world of Howard Stern wannabes, how do you set yourself apart? Just be yourself and carefree—more sound advice.

This southern Utah radio personality brings some much-needed laughter to morning commuters (what commuters are left), accompanied bravely (as some husbands might say) by his loving wife. 

Trent talks with Mikey about leaving the job you hate and finding your voice in radio.

Support the show

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on YouTube or our Social Media channels:

• Visit our website - thesuccessfactor.me
• YouTube - @thesuccessfactorpodcast
• Instagram - success.factor.podcast
• LinkedIn
• Twitter - @TSuccessFactor
• Facebook - @TheSuccessFactorPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

Hanging 1,000 feet in the air from a safety strap on a rescue basket, with a broken foot, esteemed civil engineer, Brad Gilson, clings on for dear life, on a day spent outside of his Utah office.

While some people may view civil engineering as a relatively low-risk job, Gilson is seasoned in canyoneering, competed in the famous Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon, designed and built his own house, and with his wife, they raised a family willing to compete and help in all of his endeavors. 

With an early childhood expectation of chasing down the family med-school dream, Gilson realized he preferred problem-solving sans blood. He mixes his creativity and passion for life with his hobbies and works to build a well regimented and far from dull day to day. 

Trent Christensen interviews the man behind mitigating traffic jams and steering water to those in need in an ever-growing metro. 

GilsonEngineering.com

Support the show

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on YouTube or our Social Media channels:

• Visit our website - thesuccessfactor.me
• YouTube - @thesuccessfactorpodcast
• Instagram - success.factor.podcast
• LinkedIn
• Twitter - @TSuccessFactor
• Facebook - @TheSuccessFactorPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

After eight years of pain, physical therapy with Tim Fearon changed Mike's life. Now, Dr. Mike Heywood runs his practice, DASH Physical Therapy, in Queen Creek, Arizona. 

Dr. Mike, as Trent affectionately refers to him, had initial desires to be a sports physical therapist, as he states that many PTs do. Through schooling and performing his rotations, he narrowed his focus on manual intervention and dry needling. 

From Pain to Gain, Schooling and more Schooling

• Mike shares a story from Milwaukee University and working with some athletes of the Brewers. 

• His rotations in PT school helped him to evolve to what he looked forward to the most. 

• Tim Fearon, the guru of PT, was a guiding light for Mike's drive.

• Undergraduate at ASU in Exercise and Wellness, Doctorate at A. T. Still University

• The 'aha' moment of applicable knowledge in PT

• One of the most challenging questions to answer is, "how long will it take for me to get better?"

• Many people are finally shifting out of the quick-fix mindset, the quick medicine or surgery fix, and into the healthy long idea to work for the fix.

Success, What Does It Mean To You? 

• "Simply put, I like helping people." 

• Personally, Mike just wants to be involved in his kids' life and be a good example for them. 

• Defining success in work starts with defining a patient's goal. 

DASH Physical Therapy

• How long does a typical healing case take, from ACL to rotator cuff tear?

• Case study, from a fender bender to discovering a brain tumor, to an inability to walk.

• The most uncomplicated cases are those with no pain but with restrictions.

• The repetitive movement problems are often related to stress relief activities or passion - it's hard to move a patient away from recurring pain. 

Therapy Tech and Procedure

• Dry needling is one of the newer techniques used by Mike besides being a manual intervention.

• Spondylolisthesis is probably one of the most challenging conditions to deal with (and words to spell).

• Plans with DASH Physical Therapy?

• How do you manage your business strategy today?

• One of the most challenging business aspects is employees taking time off. 

• The ever-growing sedentary lifestyle has been a large contributor to the pervasiveness of back pain. 

COVID-19, the Impact and Opinion

• What were the impacts of coronavirus on your business?

•  What's your take on COVID-19

"For eight years, I had pain in my chest and lats and just hurt. I had a herniated disc, and Tim Fearon fixed me. So I've been there. Let's talk if you have any issues."

CONTACT: Dr. Mike Heywood

dashphysicaltherapy.net

480.677.8202

All Social Media: DASH Physical Therapy 

Support the show

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on YouTube or our Social Media channels:

• Visit our website - thesuccessfactor.me
• YouTube - @thesuccessfactorpodcast
• Instagram - success.factor.podcast
• LinkedIn
• Twitter - @TSuccessFactor
• Facebook - @TheSuccessFactorPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

Trent Christensen and Sheriff Mark Lamb hit on some heavy topics, from human-trafficking and drug cartels to border security and defunding the police. Mark Lamb is an American businessman that turned his efforts to law enforcement after a dramatic ride along. Some of his success as the Pinal County Sheriff led to an opportunity to work in reality tv on "Live PD" and "60 Days In." As well, Mark Lamb just published his first book, "American Sheriff: Traditional Values In A Modern World."

From Business To Law Enforcement

• 3 things that helped Mark as a sheriff: Business background, law enforcement, and personal skills.

• Built an internet marketing company to help raise money to run for sheriff. This business ended up becoming a solar company based on necessity and demand.

• A quick lesson on cost-center budgets and making changes to how the previous administration ran budgets. 

Hard Decisions

• Most challenging decisions to deal with as sheriff are often letting someone go that you like. 

• FB notified Mesa PD of inappropriate behavior from one of Mark's officers. 

• Covid-19 isn't my greatest concern; the side-effects from the shut down are my greatest concern. 

• Safety as a parent these days starts with moderating what your kids are doing online. 

• Pinal County is a hub for the cartel and trafficking and MS30. The cartel is transitioning more and more into dealing with synthetics. 

• We have to make sure we have enough boots on the ground for border security, even though it's gotten better. 

Motivation

• What inspires you to do great things? 

• What does success mean to you?

• Mark is a direct descendant of 8 of the occupants of the mayflower. 

• How have you seen success in Pinal County?

• What's the youth redirection program?

Citizen POSSE

• How do you scale these youth programs?

• Citizen's POSSE - what is it? 

• "The goal is never to have to use them, but continually educate them." 

A&E and Reality-TV

• A&E, "Live PD"

• "I'm all about God, Family, and Freedom."

• "60 Days In" Is trending on Netflix right now. 

• Recruiting is hard these days, but we're doing better than most because of these shows. 

• Mark explains the premise of "60 Days In" 

Politics & Social, Boots & Hats

• Talking politics, "what are your plans, just to be sheriff?"

• Mark talks about his Lip Sync Challenge experience and turning a million views in 24hrs and then to 13.5 million. 

• Raised $22k auctioning off his hat for a charity called the American Charities Foundation

Books, Charities, and Websites:

• Donate at AmericanSheriff.org - a charity to help all believe beyond ability. 

• American Sheriff: Traditional Values In A Modern World by Mark Lamb 

• "The book is all about challenging yourself."

Support the show

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on YouTube or our Social Media channels:

• Visit our website - thesuccessfactor.me
• YouTube - @thesuccessfactorpodcast
• Instagram - success.factor.podcast
• LinkedIn
• Twitter - @TSuccessFactor
• Facebook - @TheSuccessFactorPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

Martial Arts Certifications and Styles

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, American Kenpo, Freestyle Karate, and Muay Thai 

• Rhett explains some of the differences/nuances of the different fighting styles. 

• "You got to love learning to get punched and kicked."

• "Fighting styles are more like tools from your toolbox and less like a language. You just need to know which one to use to get the job done." 

• Explains the differences between MMA and UFC 

What does success mean to you?

• My kids, I'd like to slow time down.

• Meditation and self-reflection.

• You have to envision yourself doing something. 

Speaking on failures in life:

• Rhett left HS as a junior. 

• Watching his friends graduate made him feel like he wasn't amounting to anything. 

• Discussing knee problems from the first deployment: And wasn't able to serve in the military because of it. 

• Trent speaks on building a brotherhood, or a friendship, from the ROTC.

Military

• In and out of being a guardsman, and then army for 6-7 years

• Rhett was a guardsman during 9/11 and spoke about how/when he found out. 

• Spent 15 months in Iraq post 9/11

• Proud to live in America, with the privilege that we have.

• Should we (Americans) have been in Iraq?

As a Coach/Sensei

• How do you motivate people?

• How do you pick up on people's different motivational needs?

• "Work hard, or you're gonna get beat."

Balancing Life/Work 

• "I hate stress and a stressful environment: so I finish things."

How's 2020 impacted you and your business? 

• The pandemic led to some hidden fight clubs. 

• What are we going to do if we have another lockdown?

• Discussing business loyalty. "brand loyalty:

2020 Accolades!

• Just won the international open, Jiu-jitsu. 

• I had two students win double gold during this covid year.

• Also had 9/9 students win gold in NAGA (North American Grappling Association)

"It's all about over-delivery."

Support the show

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on YouTube or our Social Media channels:

• Visit our website - thesuccessfactor.me
• YouTube - @thesuccessfactorpodcast
• Instagram - success.factor.podcast
• LinkedIn
• Twitter - @TSuccessFactor
• Facebook - @TheSuccessFactorPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

Necessity is the mother of invention, and [it is] the hand that forces us to become better! Elizabeth Courtois joins Trent Christensen in a heart-warming episode of patience and caring about others. Elizabeth moved from an operator to a project manager at AT&T through a passion for helping others and making work fun. Elizabeth shares her joy for helping others and how this pushed her success. Her son was diagnosed with autism as a child, which built her and her husband's patience. Now, as a Reiki Master, Elizabeth enjoys seeing her family grow and continues to help others through conversation and an alternative medicine called energy healing. 

Climbing the corporate ladder 

• AT&T - principal vendor manager (technology services group "I.T."), project manager, sourcing, not coding. 

• 8 years in the current role (32 years total)

• Started at the bottom as the O operator, and then moved to 411 and information. 

• After 411, went to a service rep (non-management roles with union representation)

What is Success?

• What does success mean to you both professionally and personally?

• "I'm just a helper, that's who I am" - wants to help a customer get what they needed.

• Personally, it's [success] watching my children grow/live. 

• One son is high functioning autism. He's not neurotypical. 

• The daughter has a husband and a four-year-old. 

• ”I enjoy seeing the success with my husband" - together for 33 years.

Autism and Family

• How has life been different for you with a son who has Aspergers?

• A friend's advice based on an episode of Oprah helped Elizabeth to uncover that what was "different" about her son might be autism.

• Elizabeth won't let the term autism define the limitations of her son

• Elizabeth talks about the grieving period of learning about her son's autism

• "It [autism] helped me to become so much more patient and calm because I had to be.

• ”It's opened up the perspective in which my husband and I look at things."

• "He just tells the truth; that's how it is."
Learn More Here

Autism and Work

• Working with the developers, they shared a lot of similar characteristics as her son. 

• Mixing social and professional works for work

• Do autistic people have more difficulty finding a job than neurotypical people that have the comfort of socializing?

• What's the benefit of disclosing that one might have autism in an interview?

• "I love to learn from people" E.C.

• My best means of motivation was to make something fun

Chakra Reiki Master

• If you're feeling down, then help someone else out.

If you're having a bad day, RESET. It's never too late for a mental click.

•Elizabeth talks about balancing energy and explaining chakras. As well. She talks about how she got into chakras.

Support the show

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on YouTube or our Social Media channels:

• Visit our website - thesuccessfactor.me
• YouTube - @thesuccessfactorpodcast
• Instagram - success.factor.podcast
• LinkedIn
• Twitter - @TSuccessFactor
• Facebook - @TheSuccessFactorPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

Former partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Scott Hoyt, joins Trent Christensen to discuss success, hardship, and perseverance. Scott Hoyt talks about trying one of the most protracted cases in US History, getting through mental hardships when life throws you a curveball and spreading your care for others in need. 

Practicing Law & Order

• Scott Hoyt has practiced law for 40+ years

• Law school at UC Hastings College of Law

• Clerked for California Supreme Court for a term

• Joined law firm Rutan & Tucker

• Then to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (nation/international law firm) - insurance coverage region

• After retirement from Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP Scott joined his son at Pia, Anderson, Moss & Hoyt.

• Continues to work in cases, including a case with the Utah Jazz and a player making racial remarks.

• Scott says of defamation; to accuse someone of being a racist in this day and age is a pretty nasty allegation.

• The million-dollar question for a litigator: How do you ‘tell the story’ to win a case?

Law with Asbestos

• Potentially the most protracted case in US history, GAF Corp. v. Johns Manville Corp.

• The case was so big that it couldn’t be tried in a conventional courtroom.

Law after 2020

• 2020 has been interesting for legal practice. Scott has tried a case by Zoom

• Will courts adopt some of these pandemic methods even post-pandemic?

• Will people continue wearing masks everywhere?

Family, Fostering & Adoption 

• 2 kids when he entered law school and 1 more on the way.

• Fostered children for a time and ended up adopting two.

• Helped care for young mothers in need during their pregnancy terms

Success Tips

• Scott’s motivation in staying fit is so he can do what he loves into his 70s and 80s; everything, including skiing and intense triathlon activities. 

• “I recommend law school if you are committed to working your butt off.”

• Challenges will come up: You can be a victim, or you can take action.

Support the show

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on YouTube or our Social Media channels:

• Visit our website - thesuccessfactor.me
• YouTube - @thesuccessfactorpodcast
• Instagram - success.factor.podcast
• LinkedIn
• Twitter - @TSuccessFactor
• Facebook - @TheSuccessFactorPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

Jeremy Benson, owner/operator of iFix'em Phone Repairs, is what some may call the "everything guy." It's clear through his history and speech that he is anxious and willing to take on tasks in all shapes and sizes. Trent interviews Jeremy about the shifts and challenges early on in Jeremy's life, leading to his approach to take on anything. 

Jeremy shares mindset, tools, and a sense of adventure that helped him become the achiever he is today. Jeremy, the open-book, talks about everything from mastermind classes to focusing on the presentation of employees' personalities to establish that strong customer connection. It's clear that passion flows through his veins, and creativity is always cooking. 

From Mesa to Vegas to Queens Creek

• Born in Mesa, Arizona, he moved to Vegas when the economy "took a crap."

• Recruited by a high-end luxury condos business

• He went from building high-end lux apartments to managing them as a maintenance supervisor. 

The Foreclosure Story

• Forced into relocation for income, just to get laid off ten days later 

• "You have no idea how far $20 can go until you're broke."

• Why collect unemployment when you can just work for it?

• How we lived on roughly $2000 per month, on side hustle income alone

Marriage and Family

• "My marriage grew so much because of the struggles that we went through."

Kids are expensive: joking, but not really.

Entrepreneur or Visionary?

• From anti social media to teaching classes on it.

• Never be stupid about going out on a limb to be an entrepreneur. 

• I know how to hustle. Working in and out, day and night on phone repair. 

What does success mean to you?

• Success as a business owner means not being owned by your business.

• Success is having the freedom of time and location.

• It's all about hard work and intention.

• Continue to educate yourself. 

• It’s about risk, but also being conservative has to be in the back of your mind.

Mastermind Groups

• There's a big difference between a networking group and a mastermind group

• I didn't use to be such an extrovert; much more an introvert

• Serial entrepreneur

• EVERYONE should have mentors! 

Support the show

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on YouTube or our Social Media channels:

• Visit our website - thesuccessfactor.me
• YouTube - @thesuccessfactorpodcast
• Instagram - success.factor.podcast
• LinkedIn
• Twitter - @TSuccessFactor
• Facebook - @TheSuccessFactorPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

Nate Knight is a workaholic, to say the least. At just 30 years of age, Nate has been apart of the police force and meandered through a body farm to build his skills on his way to being a successful Crime Scene Investigator. But, this is just part of what Nate does, as he is also a real estate agent servicing the great Phoenix area. 

Trent Christensen talks with Nate Knight about balancing life and work and his challenges splitting himself between two very different work industries. 

Real Estate Agent

• Just be there for your clients, build the references.

• No 1. Build relationships beyond the transaction.

• If anybody needs help, and time allows it, I’ll be there - no matter the distance.

Crime Scene Investigator

• From police force to CSI

• 5 minutes of fun and 8 hours of paperwork.

• How do you process the “hard cases?”

Just Be a Good Human

What does success mean to you?

• Prioritize your family, time in business, and desire for success. 

• Anyone can be successful in this world - “you gotta have desire, goal, and fire.”

• It’s ok to have a bad day.

COVID-19 (It’s changing everyone’s life, and we can’t ignore it)

• What’s happening in RE due to COVID?

• “I think the whole world is freaking out!” (speaking on vandalism)

Beyond The Success Chat

• Success in CSI - The “body farm.”

• CSI - tv interpretation, real or not?

• What are your thoughts on the happenings with Floyd?

• Will we see rioting after the election?

• How are you voting? Not republican/democrat, but mail-in or in person?

• Artificial fans at sporting events - how awkward. 

Final Thought

• Work hard and be good to people.

Support the show

Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on YouTube or our Social Media channels:

• Visit our website - thesuccessfactor.me
• YouTube - @thesuccessfactorpodcast
• Instagram - success.factor.podcast
• LinkedIn
• Twitter - @TSuccessFactor
• Facebook - @TheSuccessFactorPodcast