This ExtraOrdinary Life

Kevin talks with Lisa Cooper of Figure 8 Investment Strategies, a group that brings a multicultural perspective to financial advice and investment management. Lisa describes her purpose as creating positive social change through business. Business is potentially a really powerful tool – it’s all about learning how to use it to create positive change. Figure 8 helps people meet their financial goals while using their investments to positively impact others.

Kevin sits down for an inspiring conversation with Tom Ziglar, of Ziglar, Inc. Tom was the President and CEO of Ziglar until eight years ago, when he began speaking and motivating others to change their lives. Tom and Kevin discuss how to live life on purpose, without regret.

Cyndee Lake says that her purpose is helping other people become their best selves. Cyndee is the Chief Purpose Officer of Blank Page, a company that helps people connect to the power of purpose through designing meaningful experiences and creating the space to have big conversations. Your purpose defines your priorities, and your priorities determine what actions you actually take. Cyndee and Kevin unpack the philosophy behind Blank Page.

When James Boettcher was just starting out as a young entrepreneur, the new business he had just bought burned to the ground right before opening day – after he had already invested all of his loan money in renovations. That was Fiasco Gelato, a now-thriving purpose-driven enterprise. James explains how he persevered to bring Fiasco to where it is today, and the benefits of Fiasco’s flexible and humanistic workplace culture.

Forty episodes, that’s nine months of podcasting - it’s been quite a journey! Kevin talks about some of the biggest things he’s learned along the way, first among those is that if he had waiting for clarity before starting the podcast, he’d never have started it! Join Kevin for some heart touching stories from his listeners, and also for a sneak peek of what’s coming in the next few weeks.

Ari Weinzweig opened Zingerman’s Deli in Anarbour, Michigan 36 years ago with one business partner and 2 employees. Now his Zingerman’s has grown to include 700 employees, the original deli, a bakery, a candy manufactory, a Korean restaurant, a coffee company, a roadhouse, a mail order company, and a leadership training enterprise. Kevin sits down to talk to Ari about the special culture and philosophy at Zingerman’s that has allowed the enterprise to thrive.

Kevin sits down with Russ Stoddard, founder of Oliver Russell, a consulting business that is all about creating social and environmental impact. Oliver Russell focuses on four core values: social responsibility, creativity, collaboration, and moving forward by embracing change.

Sometimes we spend so much time comparing ourselves to others that we forget to emphasize what we’re contributing to the world through our business. Kevin talks to author and branding expert Bernadette Jiwa about story-driven branding and the importance of communicating your personal story to the people you want to reach.

Why is joy elusive to so many people, especially at work? Have you ever thought about joy as a business value? Kevin talks to Rich Sheridan about his new book Joy, Inc., and about how to create a radically different kind of workplace culture based on destroying fear and fostering dignity, respect and joy.

While we may embrace the quest for progress and improvement in our working lives as a heroic journey, many of us view travel itself as a time for leisure. In this episode, Kevin and guest Jake Haupert from the Transformational Travel Council and Explorer-X discuss the power of travel to bring greater purpose, passion and meaning to our business pursuits and lives.