Following my 2-part conversation in Episodes 85 and 86 with Maurice Hofmann on what he learned about marketing from doing PsyOps in the army, I am going to dive deep into empathy and its role in entrepreneurship. 

Whether you’re a solopreneur, a small business owner, or leader of a mid or even large corporation, understanding the role of empathy both inside your business and customer facing engagement can make all the difference. 

This episode is brought to you by Adaptability Coaching. Want to reduce exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, and increase passion, engagement, and growth in yourself and your company? Learn to turn tough circumstances, reactions, and exhaustion into energy, excitement, and excellence for you and your company. Learn to become fast, flexible, and formidable. Learn more at www.DrYishai.com/Coaching

Connect with Dr. Yishai: 

Podcast Site: https://thebusinesscouchwithdryishai.buzzsprout.com/
Website: https://www.DrYishai.com/

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dryishai/

Instagram: @DrYishai or https://www.instagram.com/dryishai/

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general informational purposes only and shall not be relied on or construed as coaching advice. 

© 2020 Yishai B LLC. All rights reserved. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

You were built for speed.
But right now you feel slower than you look on paper.
Most founders try to outwork that slow-down.
It only burns them out.
Your mind is the only machine your company doesn’t upgrade.
So leaders keep pushing against the wrong thing.
Hosted by doctor of psychology and executive coach Dr Yishai Barkhordari.

DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or coaching guidance. All examples and stories are illustrative. Some examples or stories are composites. Results vary based on personal effort, context, and market conditions.
Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions that impact your business, health, or well-being.
 © 2026 Yishai Barkhordari. All rights reserved.

Maurice Hofmann is the author of “Roadmap to Marketing Success,” a serial entrepreneur, founder of the NYC Marketing Academy, and Global Vice President of Customer Success at Open-Xchange, Inc.

Insight Sunday’s conversation was so jam-packed that I had to share it in two parts! 

On Sunday, Maurice shared his story from being a pre-teen entrepreneur to generate pocket money to joining the army and being involved in Psychology Operations, to founding multiple companies and rising in the ranks of leadership. 
 
 Today, our conversation resumes with Maurice continuing to sharing stories and how they shaped his thought process, teaching him to think, engage with, and learn from everyone that have been a core part of his leadership and entrepreneurial endeavors. 

This episode is brought to you by Adaptability Coaching and Consulting. Want to reduce exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, and increase passion, engagement, and growth in yourself and/or your company? Learn to turn tough circumstances, reactions, and exhaustion into energy, excitement, and excellence for you and your company. Learn to become fast, flexible, and formidable. Learn more at www.DrYishai.com/Coaching or DrYishai.com/Consulting

Guest Links:

Website: https://nycmarketingacademy.com

Book: https://nycmarketingacademy.com/books

Twitter: @moreeze

Host Links:

Podcast Website: https://thebusinesscouchwithdryishai.buzzsprout.com/
Connect with Dr. Yishai: https://www.DrYishai.com/contact
Dr. Yishai’s email: [email protected]
Dr. Yishai’s Instagram: @DrYishai or https://www.instagram.com/dryishai/

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general informational purposes only and shall not be relied on or construed as coaching advice. 

© 2020 Yishai B LLC. All rights reserved. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

You were built for speed.
But right now you feel slower than you look on paper.
Most founders try to outwork that slow-down.
It only burns them out.
Your mind is the only machine your company doesn’t upgrade.
So leaders keep pushing against the wrong thing.
Hosted by doctor of psychology and executive coach Dr Yishai Barkhordari.

DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or coaching guidance. All examples and stories are illustrative. Some examples or stories are composites. Results vary based on personal effort, context, and market conditions.
Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions that impact your business, health, or well-being.
 © 2026 Yishai Barkhordari. All rights reserved.

Maurice Hofmann is the author of “Roadmap to Marketing Success,” a serial entrepreneur, founder of the NYC Marketing Academy, and Global Vice President of Customer Success at Open-Xchange, Inc.

Insight Sunday’s conversation was so jam-packed that I had to share it in two parts! 

Today, Maurice shares his story from being a pre-teen entrepreneur to generate pocket money to joining the army and being involved in Psychology Operations, to founding multiple companies and rising in the ranks of leadership. 
 
 On Tuesday, our conversation resumes with Maurice continuing to sharing stories and how they shaped his thought process, teaching him to think, engage with, and learn from everyone that has been a core part of his leadership and entrepreneurial endeavors. 

This episode is brought to you by Adaptability Coaching and Consulting. Want to reduce exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, and increase passion, engagement, and growth in yourself and/or your company? Learn to turn tough circumstances, reactions, and exhaustion into energy, excitement, and excellence for you and your company. Learn to become fast, flexible, and formidable. Learn more at www.DrYishai.com/Coaching or DrYishai.com/Consulting

Guest Links:

Website: https://nycmarketingacademy.com

Book: https://nycmarketingacademy.com/books

Twitter: @moreeze

Host Links:

Podcast Website: https://thebusinesscouchwithdryishai.buzzsprout.com/
Connect with Dr. Yishai: https://www.DrYishai.com/contact
Dr. Yishai’s email: [email protected]
Dr. Yishai’s Instagram: @DrYishai or https://www.instagram.com/dryishai/

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general informational purposes only and shall not be relied on or construed as coaching advice. 

© 2020 Yishai B LLC. All rights reserved. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

You were built for speed.
But right now you feel slower than you look on paper.
Most founders try to outwork that slow-down.
It only burns them out.
Your mind is the only machine your company doesn’t upgrade.
So leaders keep pushing against the wrong thing.
Hosted by doctor of psychology and executive coach Dr Yishai Barkhordari.

DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or coaching guidance. All examples and stories are illustrative. Some examples or stories are composites. Results vary based on personal effort, context, and market conditions.
Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions that impact your business, health, or well-being.
 © 2026 Yishai Barkhordari. All rights reserved.

Following my in-depth conversation with Michael Coles this week in Episodes 82 and 83, I am diving deeper into why caring for your people matters in business. I share research and tangible tactics to get you thinking about how you can grow your business by taking care of your teams.  

This episode is brought to you by Adaptability Coaching. Want to reduce exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, and increase passion, engagement, and growth in yourself and your company? Learn to turn tough circumstances, reactions, and exhaustion into energy, excitement, and excellence for you and your company. Learn to become fast, flexible, and formidable. Learn more at www.DrYishai.com/Coaching

Connect with Dr. Yishai: 

Podcast Site: https://thebusinesscouchwithdryishai.buzzsprout.com/
Website: https://www.DrYishai.com/

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dryishai/

Instagram: @DrYishai or https://www.instagram.com/dryishai/

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general informational purposes only and shall not be relied on or construed as coaching advice. 

© 2020 Yishai B LLC. All rights reserved. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

You were built for speed.
But right now you feel slower than you look on paper.
Most founders try to outwork that slow-down.
It only burns them out.
Your mind is the only machine your company doesn’t upgrade.
So leaders keep pushing against the wrong thing.
Hosted by doctor of psychology and executive coach Dr Yishai Barkhordari.

DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or coaching guidance. All examples and stories are illustrative. Some examples or stories are composites. Results vary based on personal effort, context, and market conditions.
Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions that impact your business, health, or well-being.
 © 2026 Yishai Barkhordari. All rights reserved.

Michael Coles, Founder, former Chairman, and CEO of The Great American Cookie Company; former Chairman, CEO, and Board member of Caribou Coffee and (among many other accomplishments), author of Time to Get Tough: How Cookies, Coffee, and a Crash Led to Success in Business and Life. 

Because Story Tuesday’s conversation is so packed and full of value, I decided to share it with you in two parts! 

In the previous episode, Michael shared stories, metaphors and lessons he learned to live by and thrive. We talked about the “Goliath” analogy, stepping into the arena, and dig into Michael’s first and most influential mentor with stories and lessons he learned that served him as a future co-founder and CEO. 

On Story Tuesday, our story and the lesson-filled conversation continues with talking about success, the role caring for people – both your teams and your customers – plays in success, and how to engage in the most empowering comparison and competition to drive your personal and business growth. 

This episode is brought to you by Adaptability Coaching and Consulting. Want to reduce exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, and increase passion, engagement, and growth in yourself and/or your company? Learn to turn tough circumstances, reactions, and exhaustion into energy, excitement, and excellence for you and your company. Learn to become fast, flexible, and formidable. Learn more at www.DrYishai.com/Coaching or DrYishai.com/Consulting

Guest Links:

Website: https://michaelcoles.com/

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Get-Tough-Cookies-Business/dp/0820354627

Host Links:

Podcast Website: https://thebusinesscouchwithdryishai.buzzsprout.com/
Connect with Dr. Yishai: https://www.DrYishai.com/contact
Dr. Yishai’s email: [email protected]
Dr. Yishai’s Instagram: @DrYishai or https://www.instagram.com/dryishai/

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general informational purposes only and shall not be relied on or construed as coaching advice. 

© 2020 Yishai B LLC. All rights reserved. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

You were built for speed.
But right now you feel slower than you look on paper.
Most founders try to outwork that slow-down.
It only burns them out.
Your mind is the only machine your company doesn’t upgrade.
So leaders keep pushing against the wrong thing.
Hosted by doctor of psychology and executive coach Dr Yishai Barkhordari.

DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or coaching guidance. All examples and stories are illustrative. Some examples or stories are composites. Results vary based on personal effort, context, and market conditions.
Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions that impact your business, health, or well-being.
 © 2026 Yishai Barkhordari. All rights reserved.

Michael Coles, Founder, former Chairman and CEO of The Great American Cookie Company; former Chairman, CEO and Board member of Caribou Coffee and (among many other accomplishments), author of Time to Get Tough: How Cookies, Coffee, and a Crash Led to Success in Business and Life. 

Because Story Tuesday’s conversation is so packed and full of value, I decided to share it with you in two parts! 

On Story Sunday, Michael shares stories, metaphors and lessons the he learned to live by and thrive. We talk about the “Goliath” analogy, stepping into the arena, and dig into Michael’s fist and most influential mentor with stories and lessons he learned that served him as future co-founder and CEO.

On Story Tuesday, our story and lesson filled conversation will continue with talking about success, the role caring for people – both your teams and your customers – plays in success, and how to engage in the most empowering comparison and competition to drive your personal and business growth. 

This episode is brought to you by Adaptability Coaching and Consulting. Want to reduce exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, and increase passion, engagement, and growth in yourself and/or your company? Learn to turn tough circumstances, reactions, and exhaustion into energy, excitement, and excellence for you and your company. Learn to become fast, flexible, and formidable. Learn more at www.DrYishai.com/Coaching or DrYishai.com/Consulting

Guest Links:

Website: https://michaelcoles.com/

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Get-Tough-Cookies-Business/dp/0820354627

Host Links:

Podcast Website: https://thebusinesscouchwithdryishai.buzzsprout.com/
Connect with Dr. Yishai: https://www.DrYishai.com/contact
Dr. Yishai’s email: [email protected]
Dr. Yishai’s Instagram: @DrYishai or https://www.instagram.com/dryishai/

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general informational purposes only and shall not be relied on or construed as coaching advice. 

© 2020 Yishai B LLC. All rights reserved. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

You were built for speed.
But right now you feel slower than you look on paper.
Most founders try to outwork that slow-down.
It only burns them out.
Your mind is the only machine your company doesn’t upgrade.
So leaders keep pushing against the wrong thing.
Hosted by doctor of psychology and executive coach Dr Yishai Barkhordari.

DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or coaching guidance. All examples and stories are illustrative. Some examples or stories are composites. Results vary based on personal effort, context, and market conditions.
Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions that impact your business, health, or well-being.
 © 2026 Yishai Barkhordari. All rights reserved.

This week on The Business Couch with Dr. Yishai, I sat down to chat with Michael Coles, Founder, former Chairman and CEO of The Great American Cookie Company; former Chairman, CEO and Board member of Caribou Coffee and (among many other accomplishments), author of Time to Get Tough: How Cookies, Coffee, and a Crash Led to Success in Business and Life. 

You got a double dose of insight this week because our conversation was so packed and full of value.  On Insight Sunday, we discussed the road and meaning of “success,” and what differentiates between the road of failure and the road of success. On Insight Tuesday, we talked about the importance of communication and listening in leadership and business, and Michael’s formula to create an amazing customer experience.

Today, I’m diving deeper into why customer experience matters and my thoughts on Michael Cole's Experience Factor formula.
 

This episode is brought to you by Adaptability Coaching. Want to reduce exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, and increase passion, engagement, and growth in yourself and your company? Learn to turn tough circumstances, reactions, and exhaustion into energy, excitement, and excellence for you and your company. Learn to become fast, flexible, and formidable. Learn more at www.DrYishai.com/Coaching

Connect with Dr. Yishai: 

Podcast Site: https://thebusinesscouchwithdryishai.buzzsprout.com/
Website: https://www.DrYishai.com/

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dryishai/

Instagram: @DrYishai or https://www.instagram.com/dryishai/

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general informational purposes only and shall not be relied on or construed as coaching advice. 

© 2020 Yishai B LLC. All rights reserved. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

You were built for speed.
But right now you feel slower than you look on paper.
Most founders try to outwork that slow-down.
It only burns them out.
Your mind is the only machine your company doesn’t upgrade.
So leaders keep pushing against the wrong thing.
Hosted by doctor of psychology and executive coach Dr Yishai Barkhordari.

DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or coaching guidance. All examples and stories are illustrative. Some examples or stories are composites. Results vary based on personal effort, context, and market conditions.
Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions that impact your business, health, or well-being.
 © 2026 Yishai Barkhordari. All rights reserved.

Michael Coles, Founder, former Chairman and CEO of The Great American Cookie Company; former Chairman, CEO and Board member of Caribou Coffee and (among many other accomplishments), author of Time to Get Tough: How Cookies, Coffee, and a Crash Led to Success in Business and Life. 

Because Insight Sunday’s conversation is so packed and full of value, I decided to share it with you in two parts! 

In the previous episode, Insight Sunday, Michael talked about his relatable stories, struggles, and success. We discuss the road and meaning of “success,” and what differentiates between the road of failure and the road of success. 

On Insight Tuesday, our insightful conversation continues with talking about the importance of communication and listening in leadership and business, and Michael’s formula to create an amazing customer experience.

This episode is brought to you by Adaptability Coaching and Consulting. Want to reduce exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, and increase passion, engagement, and growth in yourself and/or your company? Learn to turn tough circumstances, reactions, and exhaustion into energy, excitement, and excellence for you and your company. Learn to become fast, flexible, and formidable. Learn more at www.DrYishai.com/Coaching or DrYishai.com/Consulting

Guest Links:

Website: https://michaelcoles.com/

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Get-Tough-Cookies-Business/dp/0820354627

Host Links:

Podcast Website: https://thebusinesscouchwithdryishai.buzzsprout.com/
Connect with Dr. Yishai: https://www.DrYishai.com/contact
Dr. Yishai’s email: [email protected]
Dr. Yishai’s Instagram: @DrYishai or https://www.instagram.com/dryishai/

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general informational purposes only and shall not be relied on or construed as coaching advice. 

© 2020 Yishai B LLC. All rights reserved. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

You were built for speed.
But right now you feel slower than you look on paper.
Most founders try to outwork that slow-down.
It only burns them out.
Your mind is the only machine your company doesn’t upgrade.
So leaders keep pushing against the wrong thing.
Hosted by doctor of psychology and executive coach Dr Yishai Barkhordari.

DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or coaching guidance. All examples and stories are illustrative. Some examples or stories are composites. Results vary based on personal effort, context, and market conditions.
Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions that impact your business, health, or well-being.
 © 2026 Yishai Barkhordari. All rights reserved.

Ep #79: Struggle and the Road of Success Part 1 with Michael J. Coles

Michael Coles, Founder, former Chairman and CEO of The Great American Cookie Company; former Chairman, CEO and Board member of Caribou Coffee and (among many other accomplishments), author of Time to Get Tough: How Cookies, Coffee, and a Crash Led to Success in Business and Life. 

Because Insight Sunday’s conversation is so packed and full of value, I decided to share it with you in two parts! 

On Insight Sunday, Michael talks about his relatable stories, struggles, and success. We discuss the road and meaning of “success,” and what differentiates between the road of failure and the road of success. 

On Insight Tuesday, our insightful conversation will continue with us discussing the importance of communication and listening in leadership and business, and Michael’s formula to create an amazing customer experience.

This episode is brought to you by Adaptability Coaching and Consulting. Want to reduce exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, and increase passion, engagement, and growth in yourself and/or your company? Learn to turn tough circumstances, reactions, and exhaustion into energy, excitement, and excellence for you and your company. Learn to become fast, flexible, and formidable. Learn more at www.DrYishai.com/Coaching or DrYishai.com/Consulting

Guest Links:

Website: https://michaelcoles.com/

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Get-Tough-Cookies-Business/dp/0820354627

Host Links:

Podcast Website: https://thebusinesscouchwithdryishai.buzzsprout.com/
Connect with Dr. Yishai: https://www.DrYishai.com/contact
Dr. Yishai’s email: [email protected]
Dr. Yishai’s Instagram: @DrYishai or https://www.instagram.com/dryishai/

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general informational purposes only and shall not be relied on or construed as coaching advice. 

© 2020 Yishai B LLC. All rights reserved. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

You were built for speed.
But right now you feel slower than you look on paper.
Most founders try to outwork that slow-down.
It only burns them out.
Your mind is the only machine your company doesn’t upgrade.
So leaders keep pushing against the wrong thing.
Hosted by doctor of psychology and executive coach Dr Yishai Barkhordari.

DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or coaching guidance. All examples and stories are illustrative. Some examples or stories are composites. Results vary based on personal effort, context, and market conditions.
Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions that impact your business, health, or well-being.
 © 2026 Yishai Barkhordari. All rights reserved.

Have you ever struggled with stress? 

Not only do we sometimes get overwhelmed with too much stress, sometimes we don’t experience enough of it when we need to! 

In Part 3 of my multi-part series on Practical and Tactical Emotion Engineering, I continue covering emotions you want to experience and you want people working in your business to experience plus emotions you wish you could reduce or avoid altogether. 

Whether for yourself in business, for your teams, or for your clients – I’m sharing the fundamental principles you need to understand, reverse-engineer, and handle whatever reactions arise to help you learn how to create the ones you want. 

Along the way, I will break down examples, cover how you can design your work environment, cultivate an empowering culture, and how to respond to or even anticipate issues even before they show up.

This episode is brought to you by Adaptability Coaching. Want to reduce exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, and increase passion, engagement, and growth in yourself and your company? Learn to turn tough circumstances, reactions, and exhaustion into energy, excitement, and excellence for you and your company. Learn to become fast, flexible, and formidable. Learn more at www.DrYishai.com/Coaching

Connect with Dr. Yishai: 

Podcast Site: https://thebusinesscouchwithdryishai.buzzsprout.com/
Website: https://www.DrYishai.com/

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dryishai/

Instagram: @DrYishai or https://www.instagram.com/dryishai/

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general informational purposes only and shall not be relied on or construed as coaching advice. 

© 2020 Yishai B LLC. All rights reserved. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

You were built for speed.
But right now you feel slower than you look on paper.
Most founders try to outwork that slow-down.
It only burns them out.
Your mind is the only machine your company doesn’t upgrade.
So leaders keep pushing against the wrong thing.
Hosted by doctor of psychology and executive coach Dr Yishai Barkhordari.

DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or coaching guidance. All examples and stories are illustrative. Some examples or stories are composites. Results vary based on personal effort, context, and market conditions.
Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions that impact your business, health, or well-being.
 © 2026 Yishai Barkhordari. All rights reserved.