Zero Excuses

Hey Zero Excuses Community. We’re taking time to find really spectacular guests with unique stories. In the meantime, we wanted to share a few interviews Nick has done with exceptional podcasters.

Like this one with Nikki Lewallen on Gut+Science

In the conversation, Nikki and Nick discuss the habits that allow you to live with zero excuses and the power of training and development programs.

Hey Zero Excuses Community. We’re taking time to find really spectacular guests with unique stories. In the meantime, we wanted to share a few interviews Nick has done with exceptional podcasters. 

Like this one with Andrea Butcher on Being [at Work]. 

In our conversation, Nick and Andrea discuss his three core values and how practicing those principles helped him become the leader he is today.

“I love crazy ideas, and I love figuring out how to make crazy ideas reality, and solving unsolvable problems.”

Stephanie Cox, CEO of Lumavate, never takes the easy way out, she’s the type of person who seeks out unbeatable problems to tackle and rolls with life’s punches. That’s why Stephanie wasn’t surprised or stumped when she adopted a pre-teen in the span of a few weeks, switched her high schoolers to a homeschooling program, and became CEO of Lumavate.

In this episode, Stephanie talks about where she gets her ‘what’s next’ mentality. A mentality that helped her face brain surgery for both herself and her daughter.

How does she maintain her eternal optimism? By embracing the Zero Excuses mentality and looking at each new challenge as an opportunity for growth.

After You Listen:

- Connect with Stephanie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniecox

- Learn more about Lumavate: https://www.lumavate.com

- Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/

- Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Key Takeaways:

- No one can look out for you like you can, be your own advocate

- Prioritize your life in a way that works for you

- Start looking at challenges as opportunities to solve problems

Things to listen for:

[04:07] Advocating for yourself

[09:17] Encouraging others to use their voice

[11:47] Using sass for good

[12:55] Leading through stressful times

[18:10] Prioritizing your life according to your needs

[25:39] Solving unsolvable problems

[28:51] Growth as a measure for success

[31:36] Defining what it means to be ‘content’

“Take an inventory of your life. If things aren't adding up, it's time to start subtracting.”

Gary Brackett has experienced extreme highs and lows in his life— from being a part of a Superbowl-winning NFL team to filing for bankruptcy and divorce.

In this episode, Gary shares how he learned just as much from failure as he has with success. Achieving what he thought he wanted—status and wealth—put things in perspective, forcing him to realize family and fulfillment are what really matter. Once Gary reset his priorities, he focused on being happy, giving back, and helping others achieve their goals.

How does he keep things in focus? By embracing the Zero Excuses mentality, staying disciplined, and being intentional about staying true to himself.

After You Listen:

- Connect with Gary: https://garybrackett.com

- Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/

- Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Key Takeaways:

- Strive for the things that fulfill you

- Failure can make you more dangerous if you’re willing to learn from your mistakes

- Don’t psych yourself out, things are always much worse in your head than in reality

Things to listen for:

[01:53] “The speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack”

[03:20] Leadership lessons from playing with the Colts

[04:33] Having a ‘day one’ mentality

[08:04] Keeping your momentum even during dark times

[10:16] Going on the ‘hero’s journey’

[12:27] Gaining perspective on what really matters

[15:45] The Champ Framework

[20:11] Changing your mindset around the word ‘failure’

Throughout her life, Katie ‘Emoji’ Doble has found herself a statistical outlier. In her teens, she lost her mother to cancer, in her 20’s she caught an STD as a virgin, in her 30’s she was diagnosed with a very rare terminal cancer. Finally, she’s met her 40’s being declared disease-free.

Each of those events has taken its toll, but they’ve also given her perspective on the importance of addressing your emotions, giving yourself grace, and setting boundaries.

How does she maintain positivity in the face of hardship? By embracing the Zero Excuses mentality, meeting her emotions head-on, and removing things in her life that don’t bring her joy.

After You Listen:

• Connect with Katie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieortman
• Learn more about First Descents: https://firstdescents.org
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Alex Raymond has lived and traveled all over the world–from the metropolises of Hong Kong, London and Beijing to the small-town tech hub of Boulder, Colorado. "It's all about mindset. I want to have friends all over the place. So I spent a lot of time asking, 'Where would I like to live.'"

Alex's company, Kapta, is a purpose-built platform for organizations that want to establish, expand, or improve their Key Account Management function. But it didn't start out that way. As with many startup stories, the initial idea wasn’t gaining traction. Instead of giving up, Alex and his business partner made a massive pivot, fundamentally transforming Kapta to serve a new market.

How did he do it? By embracing the Zero Excuses mentality, focusing on what he could control, and being intentional about life and business.

For teens and young adults with cancer or multiple sclerosis, navigating these diseases in the prime of their life is a lonely endeavor. Ryan O’Donoghue is on a mission to create impact through life-changing outdoor adventures.

“That rock doesn’t care that you have cancer; those rapids aren’t going to mellow out. They’re not treating you any differently.”

After losing his brother, Colin, to cancer at age 28, Ryan founded Rise Above It, an organization committed to advancing the field of adolescent and young adult oncology. Now, he serves as CEO for both First Descents and their for-profit subsidiary, Stoke Broker. 

Through each of these companies, and with a Zero Excuses mentality, Ryan is helping young adults with serious health conditions overcome their perceived limitations and regain their self-confidence.

So often we rush through meals but Adam Vandoski hopes to make eating a shared experience again with his company the Vine Society. 

“If you’re going to eat, it might as well be delicious and with people that you love.” That’s Adam’s philosophy. He believes there's a way to eat in a way that nourishes both your body and your soul. To achieve that, his company provides good food and wine, encouraging people to be purposeful and present with their friends and family. 

With that same philosophy, dinner at Adam’s house is centered around being engaged. How does he find new ways to put in that effort? By making Zero Excuses and getting creative. Listen and learn how you can, too. 

Key Takeaways:

• Capitalize on the time you have to spend with friends and family
• Even virtual gatherings can be taken to the next level with intentionality
• Reflect on what’s important to you and order your life around that

Things to Listen For:

• [02:11] Adam’s unrealized dream
• [05:17] The story behind Vine Society
• [07:57] How a meal becomes more than a meal
• [10:04] The importance of the family dinner
• [13:39] The loneliness epidemic 
• [18:10] Eating in a way that nourishes the soul
• [19:50] What attracted Adam to wine
• [23:16] Connecting when far apart with intentionality
• [27:49] Ordering your life around what’s most important
• [29:27] How to connect with Adam

After You Listen:

• Connect with Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-vandoski-a92b936
• Learn more about Vine Society: ​​https://vinesocietyindy.com/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Keith Ives is a humanitarian, empiricist, and leader with a passion for people and impact. His company, Causal Design, creates cultures of evidence and impact among those working to solve the world’s problems.

Keith knows problems like poverty and hunger require more than just volunteerism, so he’s bringing an evidence-based approach to the issue, empowering his clients to do more effective work.

How does he do it? By making Zero Excuses and translating academic research into practical strategies for major impact.

Key Takeaways:

• You can blend humanitarianism with business
• Barriers only exist when you can’t see another option
• Evidence can be a strong motivator

Things to Listen For:

• [01:05] Signing up for the Marine Corp
• [03:00] Economics plays into serving 
• [04:38] The origin of the spirit of giving back 
• [05:43] What is the mission of Causal Design?
• [06:54] Playing the middleman
• [08:45] Which projects Keith is excited about 
• [11:55] Where economics meets philosophy
• [15:54] Minimizing economic barriers
• [17:59] The mentors that helped Keith get where he is today
• [21:21] Career specialization vs generalization 
• [23:01] Keith’s advice for young businesspeople 

After You Listen:

• Connect with Keith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithives/
• Learn more about Casual Design: ​​https://causaldesign.com/ 
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Casey Crouse is an account manager at GadellNet. He’s also on the Board of the Riley Children's Foundation, the founder of the New Shoe Day Foundation, an advocate for mental health—and an ultra-marathon runner. What a resume of experience! 

In this episode, Nick and Casey mix things up by discussing six key takeaways they learned from running ultra marathons that apply to business and life. 

Key Takeaways:

• Stress can be a good thing when applied appropriately
• Community can be the greatest cheerleader and motivator
• If you expect adversity, you’ll never be surprised

Things to Listen For:

• [01:41] Who is Casey?
• [03:28] The origin of the New Shoe Day Foundation
• [06:17] When stress can be a good thing
• [10:35] If you want to go far, do it together
• [14:44] Systems versus goals
• [22:40] Expect adversity
• [27:11] Focusing on the why 

After You Listen:

• Connect with Casey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-crouse-3572b023/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/