The Wow Factor

Phil Cooke works at the intersection of faith, media, and culture, and he's pretty rare – a working producer in Hollywood with a Ph.D. in Theology. His client list has included studios and networks like Walt Disney, Dreamworks, and USA Network, as well as major Christian organizations from Voice of the Martyrs, The Museum of the Bible, The Salvation Army, The YouVersion Bible app, to many of the most respected churches in the country. He's produced TV and film programming in more than 60 countries worldwide, and in the process, been shot at, survived two military coups, fallen out of a helicopter, and been threatened with prison. And during that time – through his company Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles, California – he's helped some of the largest Christian and nonprofit organizations in the world use the media to tell their story in a changing, disrupted culture. Phil is also a successful author, and his most recent book, Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking, is the definitive book for creative people who have to deliver breakthrough ideas on demand.

I'm excited to have Phil on The Wow Factor to share how a chance encounter with a fellow college student inspired him to major in film and start the journey he's currently on. We discuss the intersection between creativity and leadership and how to cultivate your talents so you can serve others to the best of your ability. Phil also shares his insights on the importance of developing the right mindset and the importance of self-reflection.

"Ideas are the most fragile thing in the world — and if you don't write them down, you'll forget them." - Phil Cooke

"The truth is, if your no has no meaning, your yes has no meaning." - Phil Cooke

"If you're comparing yourself to other leaders, I urge you to bail. Get out of there quick because it's just not going to help." - Phil Cooke

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Why Phil feels God fired him to inspire him
• Why he feels so privileged to be working with nonprofit organizations, such as The Salvation Army and Global Water Mission, to tell their story
• The importance of having the mindset
• Phil shares more about his latest book and why he was inspired to help people stop being afraid of deadlines
• Why Phil believes we're all born creative
• Why sometimes you have to say no to make things happen
• Some of the lies we convince ourselves are true and how to recognize them
• Why we need to stop working on our weaknesses and start focusing on what we're good at
• Why feedback is a gift and how to be gently honest with people in a motivating way
• Why you should block time in your calendar for thinking and reflecting
• Tools Phil uses to write down and record his thoughts and ideas

Phil Cooke's Word of Wisdom:

I encourage leaders to look at their creative team a little bit differently and understand that they can take your message and multiply it in ways you would never dream of. Creativity is the currency of this generation, and we need to value it because it's what will help us get to the next level.

Connect with Phil Cooke:

• Phil Cooke's Website
• Phil Cooke 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

The Hord family is in its 5th generation of family farming, with over 100 years of farming heritage. Located in North-central Ohio, Hord Livestock and Family Farms is a pig, cow, and grain farm. Their team of talented individuals and growing partners strive to raise our animals with care and utilize modern and advanced farming practices to be efficient and sustainable. Professionally, Pat serves as President of Hord Family Farms, and outside of the business, he also serves on several advisory committees for non-profit organizations and is actively involved in the county and local economic development initiatives.

Pat Hord is on the podcast this week to discuss how Hord Family Farms changed as it moved from one generation to the next and the importance of appreciating that each new steward of the business has to have ownership of their own initiatives. We also explore how Pat's relationship with God informs his role as a leader and supports him in empowering his people to achieve. Pat also describes Hord Family Farms' vision of their culture as being like a tree that exemplifies their company's mission and vision.

"We as leaders really need to listen." - Pat Hord

"Our relationship with Christ is the ultimate identity that we need to have." - Pat Hord

"Each one of us as children of God is supposed to use what He's given us." - Pat Hord

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• What Pat learned from tagging along behind his grandfather as a child on the farm
• Why Pat is committed to being a lifelong learner
• The devastating event that triggered a change in Pat's relationship with God
• The idea of stewardship and why it's so important to understand how to protect your business for the future
• Why Pat views his leadership through the lens of being a follower of Jesus
• How the National Christian Foundation has helped Pat get another perspective on what it is to be generous and how it plays out in his business today
• The Hord Family Farms company culture and why the qualities of trust and innovation are a critical part of bringing people onto the team
• Why Pat looks for people who are empowering other people
• How Pat became involved with the Lifewise Academy and how they provide Bible-based character education in public schools
• Where listeners can taste a Hord Family Farm pork chop

Pat Hord's Word of Wisdom:

In our very noisy world today, there are so many things coming at us, so to really value somebody enough to listen and actively listen to what they're saying is invaluable in a leader.

Connect with Pat Hord:

• Hord Family Farms Website
• Pat Hord on LinkedIn
• Lifewise Academy 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

Scott is the President and CEO of National Nail. After a successful career with Arthur Andersen, where he rose to the level of Consulting Partner. Scott has led the transformation of National Nail from a regional building material distributor to a global brand manufacturer of patented building products. CAMO, Stinger, and Pro-Fit are now leading and asked for fastening brands offered at major retailers, independent dealers, and roofing wholesalers alike. He is a co-founder of His Barn Ministries, a ministry focused on developing men to address the fathering challenge facing our nation and our community.

On The Wow Factor this week, Scott shares his insights on the seven ways of living generously at work and beyond. He shares the eight key character traits of National Nail Corporation, where they came from, and how the team ensures that the people in their company model those qualities. Scott also reveals why nearly 20% of the National Nail Corporation employees are millionaires and how the company supports them to successfully manage their money and prepare for retirement.

"I knew one day, I wanted to lead and build something from the inside." - Scott Baker

"Undisciplined people don't make very good co-workers." - Scott Baker

"Courage is one of our traits, and we define it as the willingness to do the difficult - known and unknown." - Scott Baker

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Scott's journey from partner at Arthur Anderson to President and CEO at the National Nail Corporation
• Personal circumstances that meant Scott needed to take a step back from his role at Arthur Anderson and why he needed to take the financial and ego hit
• Why Arthur Anderson was an excellent place for Scott to study various different leadership styles
• How Scott became close to Jesus Christ during a challenging period in his life
• Why Scott is always sympathetic to people going through change
• How the National Nail Corporation has changed since Scott came on board and how much their profits have increased over the years
• Why it's so important to Scott that National Nail Corporation is 100% employee-owned
• The four cornerstones of the company and how they were decided on
• What happens to the employee shares when they retire and how National Nail Corporation sets them up with regular financial advice, so they know how to manage their money in the best way
• How Scott's experience as a cancer survivor taught him a lot about himself
• Why Scott decided to spark extra joy in the giving of his employees by giving them $2500 each to give to others

Scott Baker's Word of Wisdom:

The phrase "I believe in you" is so valuable. Those words "I believe in you" can be life-changing if you back it up with your time investment in a young person.

Connect with Scott Baker:

• National Nail Company Website
• Scott Baker 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

For 20 years, Heather has been helping people and organizations flourish financially. Her roles have included philanthropic advisor to many families and businesses, executive director of a private family foundation, program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and fiscal analyst for the Washington state legislature. A native of Washington state, Heather holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from Duke University and a BA in Political Science and Economics from Central Washington University, where she was a Presidential Scholar. She volunteers with Generous Giving nationally and the food bank locally, and serves on the board of the Strategic Alliance to Fight Exploitation which is working to fight sex trafficking in Washington State.

I'm honored to have Heather on The Wow Factor podcast to share her wisdom on the power of giving and why. Although it's wonderful to give spontaneously, to really move the needle, you need to be strategic with your philanthropy. She tells us all about her generosity caper, how it works and how it came about. Heather also pulls back the curtain on her time working for the Gates Foundation and what it taught her about fostering a culture of giving.

"Sometimes we are generous because our gut tells us to do it right now. But at other times, we have to be strategic to move the needle." - Heather Tuininga

"As entrepreneurs, we learn from our missteps. We fail fast or fail forward, and then take the next smarter step." - Heather Tuininga

"I invite you to be generous with everything you have; to hold your stuff, your time, your money, and your relationships with open hands, and then wait for the nudge to give some of it away." - Heather Tuininga

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Heather's experience of growing up on the Olympic Peninsula and early leadership lessons she learned from her family
• Why she moved from the political sphere and felt called to philanthropy and working in the generosity space
• Heather's role as a loop closer at the Gates Foundation and some of the insights she gained
• Why Heather decided to found 10|10 Strategies to help people give strategically
• Some of the different ways Heather and her team serve families who want to share their wealth
• How being strategic with 80 to 90% of your giving helps move the needle on issues you really care about
• Heather's generosity caper, how the spontaneous giving fund came about
• How Heather is learning to be generous with her listening

Heather Tuininga's Word of Wisdom:

Generosity brings joy — it changes everything.

Connect with Heather Tuininga:

• 10|10 Strategies Website
• $20 STORIES - 10|10 Strategies

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

Fadi has worked in the payment processing industry for more than 30 years. Fadi and his wife Kim formed Electronic Cash Systems (ECS) in September 1997, then the US Alliance Group, Inc. was formed in 2007 to offer multiple payment platforms across the US. Fadi and Kim founded the non-profit organization Aiden Whisper in October of 2017 as an avenue to give 100% of all donations raised to deserving causes.

Joining us on The Wow Factor this week is Fadi Cheikha, who talks all about how his childhood in Beiruit shaped his character as a persistent and creative leader passionate about helping those around him move forward in life. He shares the innovative way he got his first job in the finance industry and how it eventually led to him and his wife starting their own financial services company. Fadi and I also discuss his faith, how it manifests in his business, and why it led him and his wife to create a foundation that inspires people to give generously of both money and time.

"Generosity is not about money only. It's about time, and it's about giving and watering the seed that you have." - Fadi Cheikha

"If you are dreaming big and sometimes that dream scares you, you're not dreaming big enough." - Fadi Cheikha

"You learn from your past, you dream in the future, and you live in the moment." - Fadi Cheikha

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Why Fadi decided to come from Lebanon to the USA after his undergraduate degree
• Fadi's first job in a gas station and how he worked his way up to the general manager of 16 furniture stores by the age of 22
• Why Fadi was prompted to move on from the furniture stores by the start of the first Iraq War
• When Kim, Fadi's wife, opened a company selling ATMs and how she persuaded Fadi to join her in building their own company
• What Fadi has found from a leadership standpoint that he looks back on as key drivers that helped their business grow
• The five fundamental principles that Fadi and USAG adhere to, including generosity
• Why Fadi believes that it's so hard for people to dream big, and why it's essential to grow into the realization of what God truly has in store for you
• How Aiden Whisper began and why he is so committed to helping others, allowing his employees the opportunity to serve, and living generously
• The importance of honesty, transparency, and forgiveness in the USAG company culture

Fadi Cheikha's Word of Wisdom:

Know your gifts, live your life according to those gifts, and do not pretend to be somebody you are not.

Connect with Fadi Cheikha:

• US Alliance Group Website
• Aiden Whisper 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

Austin Samuelson is the Co-Founder at Tacos 4 Life Grill, and while their food is something everyone talks about, it's their commitment to the Meal 4 Meal program that is the true difference-maker at Tacos 4 Life. They care about providing the best food and service to provide the most meals for starving children so for every taco, quesadilla, salad, or rice bowl purchased, the restaurant donates 24 cents to Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit organization committed to ending childhood starvation. Since opening the first Tacos 4 Life location in June 2014, the restaurants have raised 25,900,000 meals as a brand.

On The Wow Factor this week, Austin talks about why he and his wife felt called by God to become entrepreneurs and donate to Feed My Starving Children and why they chose restaurants despite knowing nothing about the hospitality business. He shares some of the challenges his team has ridden out to first get off the ground with their restaurant, become profitable, then expand, and how he has listened for God's guidance at every turn. We also discuss how a company's mission and vision shapes who they bring into their team.

"God always shows up just in time." - Austin Samuelson

"God gives you gifts and strengths that you didn't know that you had." - Austin Samuelson

"We believe we can help in starvation, and we're doing that by selling one taco at a time." - Austin Samuelson

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• The horrifying statistic about child starvation that made Austin and his wife decide to do something to make a difference
• How their initial business, Pitza 42, morphed into Tacos 4 Life
• How Austin and his wife found a way to communicate despite the challenges in their life
• Why they chose tacos
• How Austin has scaled the business since 2014
• How they find good people to buy into their purpose and add to their team
• The importance of being clear on your company's values
• What's next for Tacos 4 Life and some of the states they're expanding into
• How Tacos 4 Life weathered the pandemic financially and practically
• How they manage to donate 24 cents per taco purchased to Feed My Starving Children to ensure that needy children have at least one meal a day
• How to learn more about becoming a Tacos 4 Life franchisee

Austin Samuelson's Word of Wisdom:

My WOW comes from Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, Trust God from the bottom of your heart, stop trying to figure everything out on your own." You don't need to solve all the problems on your own, listen to Him, trust in Him, and you won't go wrong.

Connect with Austin Samuelson:

• Tacos 4 Life Website
• Tacos 4 Life on Instagram
• Tacos 4 Life on Facebook
• Tacos 4 Life on Twitter
• Feed My Starving Children 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

Norton Rainey is the President at ACE Scholarships, based in Denver, Colorado. ACE Scholarships aims to provide children from low-income families with scholarships to private schools in grades K-12 and to advocate for expanded school choice.

Norton joins us on The Wow Factor to share why education is so pivotal to what children from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve in life. We also discuss how families get in touch with ACE Scholarships to ask for support in getting their children into a school that can help them achieve their goals. Norton also discusses how ACE Scholarships liaises with schools to find the best place for children who want to learn and how securing funding for the entire educational journey works.

"If you have a vision and passion for something, you can achieve it." - Norton Rainey

"The wonderful thing about people who made money is that they just really want to make a difference and believe others can have the same kind of success." - Norton Rainey

"If you're educated, you have a chance; if you're not educated, you really don't have a chance." - Norton Rainey

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• The first lesson that Norton learned about the vital importance of education
• The moment that Norton met Alex Cranberg and how it changed his life
• How ACE aims to lift children out of failing schools and give them access to good quality education
• The ballpark costs of funding a child through private school and how ACE Scholarships raises the money to allow them to attend
• Some of the challenges and setbacks Norton has experienced over the years
• The kinds of schools that ACE Scholarships has agreements with
• What ACE Scholarships are seeing regarding the growth of Christian schools and how COVID-19 has impacted that growth
• How to get involved in the ACE Scholarship program

Norton Rainey's Word of Wisdom:

Belief is so powerful. We believe in the future of our country through education for our kids, so I encourage you to keep believing and keep being optimistic because positivity and joy will make our country better.

Connect with Norton Rainey:

• ACE Scholarships Website
• ACE Scholarships on Instagram
• ACE Scholarships on Facebook
• ACE Scholarships 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

Kate Gardner is the daughter of David Gardner, co-founder of The Motley Fool, a financial literacy platform that helps millions of people attain financial freedom through their website, podcasts, books, newspaper column, radio show, and investing services. In this special episode of The Wow Factor, Kate talks to Drew Formsma, Brad's son, about the responsibility of becoming a responsible steward of your family's wealth.

Kate joins Drew on the show to share her experience of being entrusted with a large chunk of her family's finances at the tender age of 21 and how her parents prepared her for the responsibilities her role entails. She explains what she means by an abundance mindset and how it informs how she sees her financial obligations. Kate also discusses how to develop a self-transcendent approach to life so you are rooted in what you can do for others rather than what you do for yourself.

"I do really want to focus on generosity." - Kate Gardner

"If there is a concept of legacy development, then starting early is a huge tool in creating a culture where the family is able to have important conversations." - Kate Gardner

"What we cultivate together is long-term growth." - Kate Gardner

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• How Kate's parents and grandparents become successful
• What Kate learned about creating a company culture from her family
• How becoming involved with faith initiatives and the church community built Kate's leadership skills and sense of personal values
• The moment Kate realized what her father had in store for her
• How to get your children ready to steward generational wealth
• What stewardship looks like for Kate, and how she chooses what she's going to invest in
• Why living generously is so essential to Kate
• How Kate prays through her financial decisions at a young age
• Why it's important to read and learn about how to manage your financial responsibilities

Kate Gardner's Word of Wisdom:

I would definitely encourage people in my position to know that they're not alone — even if they feel very different from their peers or feel that there's so much responsibility or too many potential paths ahead of them. The next generation has to figure out how to live an integrated life, and families need to think about not just leaving a legacy, but living a legacy.

Connect with Kate Gardner:

• Kate Gardner on LinkedIn
• Magnify (Kate Gardner's Nex-Gens Ministry)
• Ascendants Podcast
• The Motley Fool Website
• The Motley Fool 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

Third-generation jewelry store owner Tom Fox grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during the Great Depression and owned and successful jewelry chain Fox Jewelry Company until he retired in 1990. Always a keen supporter of local charities, upon selling his business, Fox took his philanthropy to a new level when he and his wife established the Tom and Mickie Fox Family Fund, the first donor-advised fund at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. The Fox's donations have enabled Grand Rapids hospitals to update their equipment with the use of robotic technology significantly, and they have also given significant gifts to several Grand Rapids institutions that benefit the entire community.

Today Tom joins me to discuss what he learned from his father as a business leader and teacher and why working in the family jewelry store from the ground up helped him understand some key principles of leadership. He shares the importance of gaining your customer's trust and why should put the work into building a relationship with your clients, and why he felt that the personal touch went a long way when dealing with the rare customer issues and problems the stores faced. Tom also discusses the vital work of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation and how the Fox family became involved in philanthropic giving.

"Make sure you know what the value of advertising is and what medium you should be using to promote your business, if you're not there, right on top of it, you're not going to be successful." - Tom Fox

This week on The Wow Factor:

• Tom's early education and first experience of working in his father's jewelry store
• The store's new business model of 1949 and the problems with being a credit business
• How Tom learned to take over the business when his father was ill
• Why Tom started doing live tv broadcasts himself
• The times' Tom learned from challenges that came his way as a business leader
• Why Tom felt was so important to look after his employees and why he saw the company as a family
• Why it's so critical to have the goods to back up the advertising
• What happened when the business was sold, and the new owner changed the name of the Fox Jewelry stores
• The value of having a good sense of humor and how Tom used it in business
• The difficulties of retail hours and how Tom balanced that with a successful family life
• Why Tom was happy to be proved wrong on a marketing front and why it helps to be willing to try anything
• What is keeping Tom busy these days

Tom Fox's Words of Wisdom:

The customer is right, even when they're wrong. Treat them right, treat them respectfully, and be positive and optimistic in your interactions.

Connect with Tom Fox:

• Grand Rapids Community Foundation Website
• Grand Rapids Community Foundation on Facebook
• Grand Rapids Community Foundation on Instagram
• Grand Rapids Community Foundation on Twitter

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• Words of Wisdom Website
• I Like Giving: The Transforming Power of a Generous Life by Brad Forsma
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter

Dr. Jim Loehr is the co-founder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, which helped train and inspire more than 250,000 business, sports, medicine, and military leaders worldwide. World-renowned performance psychologist, researcher, and author of 18 books, including his most recent, Leading With Character, and the national bestseller The Power of Full Engagement. His 18th book will be available Dec. 8th, published by Wiley. Dr. Loehr holds a Master's and Doctorate in Psychology and is a full member of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Loehr joins us on The Wow Factor this week to discuss why it's critical to be intentional about how you want to run your life and the importance of examining your decisions to ensure you are acting with integrity. He shares why the whole focus of his career has been equipping the area of a person's brain where they are making moral and ethical decisions so that they consciously develop their own personal vetting system. Dr. Jim also explains what he learned at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, working with players such as Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, and Jim Courier, and how that led to him starting the Human Performance Institute.

"Health ignites performance." - Dr. Jim Loehr

"Your treatment of others is going to be the ultimate scorecard for how you measure your life." - Dr. Jim Loehr

"How you treat others is the most important dimension for sustained success." - Dr. Jim Loehr

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• The impact of Dr. Loehr's father's passions and enthusiasms on his path in life
• Loehr's early career as a community mental health specialist and the man who inspired him to pivot and apply psychology to human performance in sport
• How Dr. Loehr used important moral and ethical assets as a launchpad for helping people become incredible competitors in a brutal arena
• What drove Dr. Loehr to study character, and why he decided to share over 30 years' worth of data in his book Leading with Character: 10 Minutes a Day to a Brilliant Legacy Set
• How data fits into understanding sustained high performance
• The two types of character and how they impact an athlete's success
• Why humility and empathy are so necessary for performers, and how those qualities sustain them at the top
• How the gift of generosity helps you connect with other human beings in a meaningful way
• Why culture powerfully determines how we evolve as human beings
• Why your private voice is the most important coach you will ever have in your life
• Why Dr. Loehr is so passionate about working with veterans

Dr. Jim Loehr's Word of Wisdom:

The most precious part of who you are is often the most neglected, but it's in this extraordinary place where you make the decisions that will determine your destiny and the destiny of so many people. Make sure your life purpose is your own. Develop a self-transcendent approach to life so that you are rooted in what you can do for others rather than what you do for yourself.

Connect with Dr. Jim Loehr:

• Jim Loehr's Website
• Leading with Character: 10 Minutes a Day to a Brilliant Legacy Set by Dr. Jim Loehr

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

Videos Mentioned in the episode:

• I Like Veteran.
• I Like Military.