The Wow Factor

Mart Green (Trustee Emeritus) began his retail career in his parents' business and now serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for the Green Family Businesses and is the Board Chair of Hobby Lobby. In 1981, Mart established Mardel, a chain of Christian and educational supply stores. In January 2005, Christian Retailing named Mart Green one of the Top Fifty People who have most impacted and shaped Christian retailing in the last half-century. In 2008, he was also awarded the Jim Carlson Christian Bookstore of the Year Award by the Christian Book Association (CBA) for setting standards of excellence in the industry.

Mart Green joins me on The Wow Factor to discuss his journey to build a Digital Bible Library through the IllumiNations project. He shares why he believes it is so important to centralize, digitize, standardize and finalize the Bible texts of the world so even more people can hear His Word. Mart also discusses his early career, why he was inspired to start his own business, and his conviction that living generously is the only way to leave a meaningful legacy.

"I think the greatest person of all time, the "GOAT" who ever lived on planet Earth was Jesus." - Mart Green

"We believe that it's good to give where you live." - Mart Green

"God is a God of now; he's got plenty for tomorrow. Give it away now. He gave it to you. You direct the giving, you get involved, you get the joy of that." - Mart Green

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Why earning his allowance helped Mart understand the value of hard work
• How Mart's family instilled a generous spirit in him
• Why Mart quit school and went back to Oklahoma to start a Christian Bookstore
• What Mart learned early on about leading people
• Mart's role as CEO of Ministry Investments
• What kind of Ministries Hobby Lobby likes to invest in
• How the Green family developed their family mission statement
• The steps Mart is taking to eradicate Bible poverty by 2033
• How IllumiNations got its amazing display at the Museum of the Bible
• The importance of building collaborations and partnerships in achieving big goals
• The next big thing Mart has planned —including working with Dallas Jenkins of The Chosen

Mart Green's Word of Wisdom:

There are three things I'm looking for in people: generosity, humility, and integrity. Those are three character traits that I want in staff, in my friends, and my family.

Connect with Mart Green:

• Mart Green on LinkedIn
• Illuminations Bible

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Other Links:

• https://thesignatry.com/

Steve Brown is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer at Trinity Capital, a leading provider of venture debt and equipment financing to institutionally backed growth-stage companies. He has been a part of the venture ecosystem for over 30 years and is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and the venture capital firms that back them. Steve is on the Board of Directors for invisionAZ, which aims to accelerate the growth of Arizona's vibrant tech ecosystem. He also serves on the Investment Committee for invisionAZ's Arizona-based Venture Fund. Steve earned a B.S. in business administration and marketing from McNeese State University.

Steve joins me on the show to share his ten essential pieces of advice for aspiring leaders and why he is so committed to sharing them with young people in business. I'm thrilled that he has joined me to talk about the power of hard work and the importance of building relationships in business, and I'm sure you'll find his wisdom so useful. Steve also dives into when he realized he had an entrepreneurial mindset and how that manifested in his life.

"You have to have a vision and a dream." - Steve Brown

"We're all about people who are about caring for our people, and them caring for each other, because that bleeds out to the customers, the investors, the service providers, and all the stakeholders of Trinity." - Steve Brown

"Life is about giving and serving." - Steve Brown

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• What Steve learned about the power of hard work from the people around him as a young man
• When and why he started Trinity Capital Inc
• Steve walks us through the steps of the early startup process of a business like Trinity Capital
• How to create a business model that is different
• Why a generous spirit is essential in creating meaningful relationships
• The six central pillars of Trinity Capital's company culture and how Steve consciously developed the cultural identity of the company
• How to create a sustainable culture
• What changes when a company goes from being a private company to a public company
• What the older Steve Brown would tell his younger self about business and life
• Steve's ten key pieces of advice for leaders

Steve Brown's Word of Wisdom:

Live every day as if it were your last, and maximize what you know is right in your life right now because you may not have tomorrow.

Connect with Steve Brown:

• Trinity Capital Website
• Steve Brown on LinkedIn

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Jim Stovall is the President of the Emmy Award-winning Narrative Television Network and a highly sought-after author and speaker. His work making television accessible to the USA's 13 million blind and visually impaired people saw him named Entrepreneur of the Year by The President's Committee on Equal Opportunity; he was also chosen as the International Humanitarian of the Year in 2000. Jim is the author of the best-selling book, The Ultimate Gift, which is now a major motion picture starring James Garner and Abigail Breslin.

On the Wow Factor today, Jim shares what it was like for him to be slowly losing his sight as he was trying to become an entrepreneur and develop his business, and how Ray Charles was a reminder to Jim that God did have a plan for his life after sight loss. He describes what prompted him to start The Narrative Television Network to support visually impaired people to enjoy tv and films. Jim also shares his belief that if you've got passion, a calling, and willingness, then everything else is possible.

"We walk by faith and not by sight." - Jim Stovall

"you change your life when you change your mind." - Jim Stovall

"Listen to what people say, but really watch what they do." - Jim Stovall

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• The routine physical exam that revealed an unanticipated issue and how it changed the trajectory of Jim's life
• How Jim met his wife and when they figured out the plan for their lives
• How Jim is so productive despite his lack of sight
• The overarching themes in his books
• How he began as a platform speaker
• Jim's philosophy that it is possible to use adversity as a springboard to change your life and why your mindset is the key to your legacy and your salvation
• The details of Jim's most recent book, The Gift of Giving: Living Your Legacy
• Why Jim launched the Crusader Scholarship Fund and the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship
• Why Jim is convinced that every success we have is not a destination, it's a platform from which to view our next big opportunity for success

Jim Stovall's Words of Wisdom:

You change your life when you change your mind — we're all only one decision away from anything we want. The biggest dream you ever had, the most significant thing God ever called you to, is alive and well, and the only thing you've got to do to activate it. Go into that little voting booth in the middle of your soul that only you and God know about, and grab that lever that says yes, and pull it. And if you'll vote yes for yourself in that big dream, you'll find out that God voted yes for you a long time ago.

Connect with Jim Stovall:

• Jim Stovall Website
• Jim Stovall on Twitter

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Kathrine Lee is a life and business strategist and the founder & co-creator of The Ultimate Source, a faith-based personal development system that teaches the practical application of essential life skills. She is an internationally recognized speaker who has worked with Boeing, Disney & DIRECTV and has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and featured in O Magazine, sharing her inspirational story and lessons learned along the way. Kathrine is also the founder of the Pure Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to strengthening families and supporting those victimized by trafficking.

Kathrine joins me today to explain her philosophy on the action steps that will help you move forward in life and how she guides her students through those steps. She shares the events that led to her feature on the Oprah Winfrey Show, why she is grateful for the opportunity to expand her influence and reach out to help others through the challenges in their lives, and how being on the show led to a meeting with President Barack Obama. Kathrine also goes into how she manages the setbacks and successes of entrepreneurship and how she deals with the curve balls that life throws her

" I think producing something, whether it's your paycheck or an outcome, that is something that keeps us alive - we work six days and rest on the seventh, and that's a beautiful thing." - Kathrine Lee

"A setback is a setup for a comeback." - Kathrine Lee

"When we help someone else, without any return for ourselves, we get this incredible brainwash of positive brain chemistry that gives us what is deemed the helper's high." - Kathrine Lee

This week on The Wow Factor:

• How Kathrine grew up an influencer from a very young age and why she regards her work as such a beautiful purpose
• Why rest is just as important as work, and why Kathrine finds it gives her rhythm to her life
• The foundation of Kathrine's spiritual and relational walk with God
• Why Kathrine was existing in mediocrity until a shocking event showed her why she needed to make significant changes in her life
• The importance of finding a mentor that makes you question yourself and how Kathrine found someone who could help her go to the next level in her business
• The Ultimate Source course and why Kathrine put together all the things she would want people to know, drawing on her experience as a mom, a life coach, a business strategist, about the 12 life areas
• How learning how to breathe can support your rest and relaxation
• Why building habits is critical to success
• Kathrine's role in The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life by Dr. Daniel Amen, Rick Warren, and Dr. Mark Hyman
• Why recent social distancing measures can be damaging to people's mental health

Connect with Kathrine Lee:

• Kathrine Lee Website
• The Ultimate Source by Kathrine Lee
• Kathrine Lee on Facebook
• Kathrine Lee on Instagram

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Jennifer Sey is an American author, filmmaker, business executive, and retired artistic gymnast. She was a seven-time member of the U.S. Women's National Team and was the 1986 U.S. Women's All-Around National Champion. Her first memoir, Chalked Up, was released in 2008 and detailed the coaching cruelty inflicted on children in gymnastics. Sey also produced the 2020 Emmy-award-winning documentary film Athlete A, which connected the crimes of Larry Nassar to the broader abuses in the Olympic movement. Sey began working at Levi Strauss & Co. in 1999, rising to Chief Marketing Officer and then Brand President until, in January 2022, she was asked to resign because of her vocal opposition to the extended closure of San Francisco's public schools. She is a mother of four and now resides in Denver with her family.

I'm so happy to be joined by Jennifer on The Wow Factor this week — she's with me to share how her unusual childhood as an elite gymnast impacted on her career and leadership style as an adult. She discusses when her interest in making films was sparked and why it is so important to be able to tell a story that resonates with your audience. Jennifer is also candid about the events that led to her stepping down as CMO at Levi Strauss & Co and why it is integral to her philosophy as a leader to be authentic.

"Personal stories can really create understanding and empathy." - Jennifer Sey

"Great ideas can come from anywhere. You need open debate and dissent and lots of talking to get to the really great ideas." - Jennifer Sey

"My job is to create the vision and help make good decisions." - Jennifer Sey

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Why Jennifer walked away from her gymnastics career damaged, broken, and not proud of what she had achieved
• Why Jennifer took a job in advertising after graduating from Stanford
• Why she decided to move from an ad agency to GAP, and finally to Levis Strauss & Co
• The importance of storytelling in the business world and how it helps brands stay relevant
• Some of the leadership lessons Jennifer has found useful throughout her career
• How Jennifer learned to reject feedback that wasn't relevant
• Jennifer's leadership goals, including helping her team create meaning in their work
• Why Jennifer was determined not to be the type of leader who creates a bottleneck by micromanaging people
• What happened in the spring of 2020, when Jennifer was the Chief Marketing Officer at Levis Strauss & Co and how she went from being on track to lead the company to leaving completely
• Why it was important to Jennifer to be able to speak openly about leaving Levis Strauss & Co
• Why Jennifer felt she had no choice but to speak out about public school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic
• How she feels now about Levis and why she's working on forgiving them for the last two challenging years
• What's next for Jennifer, including making a documentary about the impact on kids of the prolonged school closures

Jennifer Sey's Word of Wisdom:

If you can find a place to be your unique self and bring your unique gifts to bear on the work at hand — that's a place for you as a leader.

Connect with Jennifer Sey:

• Twitter: @JenniferSey
• Substack: https://jennifersey.substack.com/
• Jennifer Sey on LinkedIn
• Levi's Unbuttoned Website

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Brad Freels joined Midway in May 1983, became a partner in 1990, and currently serves as the Chairman. Brad is a member of Midway's leadership team and investment committee. Under his leadership, Midway has prospered and become one of the most active developer/investment owners in the greater Houston area. Brad received both his BBA and MBA from Texas A&M University. He is involved with numerous national and local businesses, educational, Christian, and charitable organizations.

Brad joins me on the show this week to talk about what happens when vision and resources come together. He shares his journey as a leader, how he has honed his skills at Midway, and why it's so crucial to appreciate and respect those around you. Brad also describes some of the projects he is involved with, including one on the riverfront in Houston designed to bring the community together by giving them a beautiful leisure space.

"It's just being intentional and having some level of care in your heart." - Brad Freels

"We have such an incredible group of people around here with big hearts." - Brad Freels

"Making money should never be your goal." - Brad Freels

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Brad's family background and his achievements growing up
• How having a mentor helped Brad in his business
• Why initiative is the key to success
• How to use the wisdom of wise people as a motivator
• What happened when Brad took the reins at Midway and why he moved the company HQ to Houston
• Why it is so vital to pour love and encouragement into your team and the people around you as a leader
• Why every opportunity we have is given to us by God, and why it's so essential for Brad to acknowledge that
• The East River project and why it's going to be a game changer for the Houston community
• How Brad has built great strategic relationships with other extremely talented people to help them achieve their creative vision
• Some of the trials Brad has gone through that have helped move him forward

Brad Freels' Word of Wisdom:

Making money should never be your goal because if that's your goal, you're going to compromise yourself and your integrity. Just do what you do well, and the money is a byproduct of success for what you do.

Connect with Brad Freels:

• Midway

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Kendra VanderMeulen is the CEO of the National Christian Foundation, the largest Christian grantmaker in the world. The team at NCF mobilizes resources and inspires Biblical generosity, serving thousands of families, advisors, and ministries nationwide. Previously, Kendra served as the President of the National Christian Foundation Northwest, where she loved growing in her Journey of Generosity and helping those she served to do the same. Kendra received the Distinguished Alumna award in 1990 from the College of Engineering and is the recipient of the 1999 Catherine B. Cleary award as the outstanding woman leader of AT&T. She was also recently recognized by C3 Leaders with the Ralph Palmen High Ground Award.

Kendra joins me on The Wow Factor this week to talk all about her leadership journey and how her path led her to the Lord, who still accompanies her on her path. She describes how she moved up the career ladder, making a pivot into the technology space en route, but why ultimately, taking some time off gave her the space to really think about what she wanted to do in life. Kendra also shares the details of her work at the National Christian Foundation (NCF) and the joy she finds in helping others to live generously.

"I spent two years trying just walking with the Lord learning how to practice silence and solitude." - Kendra VanderMeulen

"Our mission is to mobilize resources and inspire biblical generosity." - Kendra VanderMeulen

"We get to see lives changed for the givers, we get to see lives changed for the organizations they send the money to, and we get to see our own lives changed as a result." - Kendra VanderMeulen

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Kendra's childhood and teenage years in competitive swimming
• How she found her way into the world of technology
• The challenges of moving up the career ladder with a very young family
• When Kendra came to know the Lord and why that relationship was so meaningful in the moment
• Some of the technological innovations that Kendra has been part of
• What prompted Kendra to request a sabbatical, and how her time away from work helped her gain clarity
• How the generous giving conference energized Kendra and introduced her to so many different experiences and questions
• What is National Christian Foundation (NCF), and how they make it easier for people to deploy resources for God's work
• How donor-advised funds help givers mobilize resources and inspire biblical generosity

Kendra VanderMeulen's Word of Wisdom:

You need to find space in your life for the Lord. There's there needs to be an hour in the morning that's focused on Him and what He has to say so that you can move forward according to His Word.

Connect with Kendra VanderMeulen:

• Kendra VanderMeulen on LinkedIn

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Allen Morris joined his father at The Allen Morris Company in 1980 at the age of 28. Since then, his company has developed 85+ successful award-winning commercial and mixed-use projects with $8.025 billion in business volume. Their portfolio of development projects includes the Florida headquarters for AT&T and multiple district headquarters for Bell South, Florida Power and Light, IBM, Unisys, International Harvester, General Motors Acceptance Corporation, and Lockheed Martin, amongst others. Allen believes his company's legacy of success is due to its unwavering commitment to placing the client's needs first, guaranteeing satisfaction, and delivering what they promise.

I'm excited to be talking to Allen about his recently published book, All In: How to Risk Everything for Everything that Matters, which he wrote as a roadmap for how men can achieve greater effectiveness, fulfillment, and influence when they allow themselves to be vulnerable. He shares what happened when he had a serious accident flying an airplane and why it inspired him to really make his life count. Allen also discusses the connection between old wounds and intense emotions and why understanding that connection is so impactful for inspiring leaders.

"I should not have survived an engine failure at night in an airplane over a wooded residential area — and it gave me a seriousness about wanting to really make my life count and to use my days as best I could." - Allen Morris

"We can lose our connection to the truth about ourselves and those around us because we've shut out our awareness of emotions." - Allen Morris

"Old Wounds and intense emotions have a profound, lifelong influence on our lives that we may not realize." - Allen Morris

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Why Allen found his calling in the family business despite initially seeing it as a stepping stone to other opportunities
• How Allen's father built the Allen Morris Company
• How the business has grown and evolved over the years
• Some obstacles to a leader's personal success and what Allen has learned from his own leadership experience
• How Allen got burned out when he overcommitted, the physical symptoms it produced, and how he got to the heart of the issue
• Why our subconscious is actually outside of our everyday awareness
• Allen's experience of going to AA meetings and how they helped him despite him NOT being an alcoholic
• The value Allen finds in taking part in a circle of grace, creating a space of safety, and being honest with no judgment
• Why people can be so defensive about change

Allen Morris' Word of Wisdom:

Anyone aspiring to be an influential leader understands that it's got to start with you. You need to discover what is holding you back personally and where you can grow more deeply and find more freedom in your personal life because what happens there will be reflected in your business.

Connect with Allen Morris:

• The Allen Morris Company Website
• all in: how to risk everything for everything that matters by W. Allen Morris
• All in Leaders Website

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Managing Partner for Northwestern Mutual – Houston Jeff Reeter pursues life by design as an entrepreneur, servant leader, and strategist. His mission in organizational leadership is wholly developing teams of champions dedicated to excellence in serving others. Jeff is married to Cindy and enjoys outdoor adventures and spending time at the Reeter Ranch with family and friends.

Jeff is on the podcast this week to discuss what it means to be a good leader and why he wanted to write Do Life Differently: A Strategic Path Toward Extraordinary to help others live a prosperous and rewarding life by being their authentic selves. He shares what it means to be a mentor to your people and the importance of building your team up and helping them believe in themselves. Jeff also talks about how he finds the right people to join his team by ensuring they understand the heartbeat of Northwestern Mutual and the culture there.

"Seek first to serve and love and care and matter and make a difference and be a catalyst in the life of another person." - Jeff Reeter

"We hire smart heads, but the final decision on who joins the firm has to do with hearts." - Jeff Reeter

"Fear may be the most common, but love is the most powerful." - Jeff Reeter

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Why Jeff chose to become a life insurance agent at Northwestern Mutual straight out of college
• Jeff's story of his interaction with a colleague's father and his revelation about what it means to others to have good leaders
• Why we should pray in the good leaders and learn from the bad ones
• How to ask God to guide us and stay in his footprints better as leaders
• Why your best investment is to bet on yourself rather than placing your faith in external factors
• Remember that you need to remind, speak over, and encourage your team
• Jeff prioritizes heart in prospective employees - because he can help them with training and head knowledge, but he can't change their fundamental attitudes
• How to support people who have fear and doubt creeping in
• What Ranch Reboot is and how it helps men pursue God in a powerful, abundant way
• Why writing the book Do Life Differently: A Strategic Path Toward Extraordinary was such a labor of love for Jeff

Jeff Reeter's Word of Wisdom:

We, as leaders, need to reject passivity. Leaders should become comfortable being uncomfortable. I've got an acronym that I love. Best bold hope - balance, excellence, service, and truth, then be, own, love, and do, and finally help, others, pursue, extraordinary.

Connect with Jeff Reeter:

• Jeff Reeter on LinkedIn
• Do Life Differently: A Strategic Path Toward Extraordinary by Jeff Reeter

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Jeff Jackel is Co-Founder, and Chief Strategy Officer of Client Giant, a tech-enabled client care and concierge service helping business owners and operators in the USA and Canada drive unparalleled repeat and referral business. As Client Giant's co-founder and Chief Day Maker, Jay O'Brien is dedicated to delivering unparalleled client experiences, acts of employee appreciation, and making people's days on behalf of business owners across a broad spectrum of industries.

Jeff and Jay of Client Giant are with me on the show to share how they got connected and why they were inspired to move into the gift-giving space. They discuss the importance of investing in repeat and referral business rather than using a scattergun marketing approach of handing out tacky branded swag. We also dive into how the Client Giant gifting process works, how they decide what gifts and experiences to offer, and where their new opportunities lie.

"Step one is recognizing that it's your ethos, and your personal way of doing things to treat people well and to care more about relationships than transactions." - Jeff Jackel

"I believe most people are still missing the mark in truly knowing what a thoughtful gift isn't— it's not pointing directly back to themselves as the gifter." - Jay O'Brien

"We create moments for your clients that are more impactful than you could do on your own." - Jeff Jackel

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• How the pair moved into automated thoughtfulness and scaled it
• Why it takes a lot of time and effort to understand what kind of thank you gift to give
• How Jeff and Jay have successfully navigated their partnership
• The importance of feedback from early adopters
• Some of their early learning curve moments
• Who Client Giant helps and how they help customers give thoughtfully
• What kind of experiences and gifts Client Giant offers, and why they have different tiers
• Why they're so specific about every aspect of the experience - including the gift bag
• Some of the gift options that have bombed and what they have learned from that experience
• Touchpoints that Client Giant can cover for their clients that proactively solve pain points
• Industries that Client Giant work in
• New opportunities for Client Giant, including employee happiness

Jeff Jackel's Word of Wisdom:

Business leaders need to understand that growing a relationship with a smaller number of people will ultimately be more fruitful than hitting the absolute masses and doing what everybody else is doing.

Jay O'Brien's Word of Wisdom:

My advice to any business owner is to constantly reevaluate each new strategy and decision by taking off your business owner hat and putting on your consumer hat.

Connect with Client Giant:

• Client Giant Website
• Jay O'Brien on LinkedIn
• Jeff Jackel on LinkedIn
• Special promo on Top of Mind service clientgiant.com/wow

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter