Liesel Mertes is a workplace empathy consultant and the owner of Handle with Care Consulting. Her job is to help companies learn how to support team members through what she calls disruptive life events, something she knows all too much about. 

She experienced a tragedy that could have devastated her, but instead, she found a way to fight through the pain and help others. 

How does she do it? She makes Zero Excuses. 

Listen for:

• Sharing empathy in the workplace
• The importance of psychological safety
• Identifying your empathy avatar

In this episode, you will learn:

• [02:30] – Empathy in the workplace is essential  
• [05:32] – Productivity is tied to empathy 
• [10:02] – Acknowledging someone’s struggles
• [15:28] – Empathy avatars
• [17:02] – Navigating compassion fatigue 

After You Listen:

• Connect with Liesel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieselmertes/
• Learn more about Handle with Care Consulting: https://www.lieselmertes.com/
• Listen to Liesel’s podcast: https://www.lieselmertes.com/blog-2
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Matthew Porter is the President and CTO of EmpowerMe Wellness. While Matthew has experienced substantial professional success, it’s his life outside the office that is truly inspiring. Several years ago, Matthew was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Yet, in the face of overwhelming uncertainty, he makes the most of every moment of every day. He’s a husband, father, ultra-marathoner, and philanthropist with a passion for anonymously helping others.

How does he do it? He makes Zero Excuses. 

Listen for:

• Figuring out what you want your life to be
• Creating a family mission statement
• Inspiring others to give back

In this episode, you will learn:

• [04:50] – Getting clear on your future  
• [08:02] – Effects of MS on the body 
• [10:33] – Coming together with a single word
• [16:34] – Inspire others to give back
• [19:11] – Fighting through uncertainty

After You Listen:

• Connect with Matthew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meporter/
• Learn more about EmpowerMe Wellness: https://www.empowermewellness.com/
• Learn more about the Porter family: https://www.porterhome.com/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Jeff Winters is the President of Sapper Consulting where he and his team help growing companies generate B2B leads, fill their sales pipelines, and secure more customers.

He’s a husband and father of three boys and spends his free time supporting the homeless by raising funds to cover utility bills for a local shelter. You would think someone with his schedule would find it hard to lend a hand. Yet, despite the increasing demands on his time, he believes in saying yes to helping the people around him.

How does he do it? He makes Zero Excuses. 

Listen for:

• Making time to serve others
• Delegating creates room to do more
• Letting values drive decision-making

In this episode, you will learn:

• [02:10] – Optimize your time to serve
• [05:49] – Delegate the things you aren’t good at
• [09:53] – Standardize decision-making 
• [14:13] – The power of values

After You Listen:

• Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyscottwinters/
• Learn more about Sapper Consulting: https://www.sapperconsulting.com/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Heather Younger is the CEO of Employee Fanatix, and is a fierce advocate for strong cultures, manager training, and diversity. 

“It's not about acting on everything. It's about acting on the things that have the most impact and affect the most employees.”

Heather has written two bestselling books, given a Ted Talk, and hosts her own podcast called “Leadership with Heart.” She is also a mom of four kids, has a doctorate in law, and teaches at the University of Denver.

How does she do it? She makes Zero Excuses. And she believes there are zero excuses for not taking a big step towards a diverse, inclusive, and employee-focused culture.

Listen for:

• Listening requires an intent to act
• Don’t separate the human element from the business metrics
• Hearing the truth will make the organization better

In this episode:

• [02:01] – You don’t need to act on everything
• [12:37] – Who decides culture?
• [15:30] – Every metric points back to people
• [17:27] –Don’t over-complicate listening

After You Listen:

• Connect with Heather: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatheryounger/
• Learn more about Employee Fanatix: https://employeefanatix.com/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Tim Leman is Chairman and CEO at Gibson. Under Tim’s leadership, Gibson has been selected as a Best Places to Work in Indiana, recognized as one of 20 Indiana Companies to Watch, and named to the Inc. 5000 list.

“I'm in charge of my life and my calendar, so if things aren't happening, it's on me.”

Even when he’s not working, Tim has a passion for leadership. He writes a regular blog and  his 2015 book, rEvolution – Turn Crisis Into Clarity and Ignite Growth, was endorsed by national business and leadership authors such as Patrick Lencioni. How does Tim do it? He makes Zero Excuses. 

Listen for:

• Speed and action beats perfection
• Block time for your priorities
• There is a solution to every problem

In this episode you will learn:

• [02:18] – What does “Zero Excuses” mean to Tim?
• [08:22] – How Tim creates family space in his schedule
• [17:02] – The truth about multitasking
• [23:02] – How to lose friends and alienate people
• [24:20] – There is always time for...

After You Listen:

• Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timleman/
• Learn more about Gibson: http://www.gibsonins.com/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

As we celebrate a full year of the podcast, we want to invite you to join the Zero Excuses community on LinkedIn. You’ll get connected to other business leaders achieving amazing things while staying grounded to their values. 

Zero Excuses has far exceeded our expectations in every basic metric, though the journey has been about more than metrics, but about sharing amazing stories of leaders doing good. Every guest this year touched on their experience with COVID and how they’ve taken a no-excuses approach to their roles as parents, spouses, community members, business leaders, and more. 

As we continue to highlight the good, the goal of our new community is to share stories and learnings and create strategies for eliminating the excuse roadblocks that stop us from being the best versions of ourselves. Now, more than ever, we need to be more intentional, more purpose-driven and learn from each other. Search for it by looking for Zero Excuses on LinkedIn.

After You Listen:

• Connect with the community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13938887/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Josh Driver is an activist and entrepreneur who has been featured on CNN for the nonprofit he started in 2015, but he wasn’t always an activist. While he valued helping others, he first had to eliminate the excuses that kept him on the sidelines.

“We owe it to our community to spend time doing more for others.”

As CEO of Selfless.ly, Josh helps HR leaders develop engaging philanthropy programs for companies and employees to accelerate impact and purpose in the workplace. He also supports multiple nonprofits and entrepreneurs throughout his community. How does Josh do it? He makes Zero Excuses.

Listen for:

• Don’t wait for someone else to get involved
• Philanthropy requires a personal component
• Social impact is no longer optional

In this episode, you will learn:

• [05:05] – The birth of Selfless.ly
• [14:06] – The most common excuses Josh hears
• [18:18] – What motivates Josh
• [23:34] – Why become a B Corp
• [27:04] – What is there always time for

After You Listen:

• Connect with Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuadriver/
• Learn more about Selfless.ly: https://selflessly.io/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Erica Ballard thought she knew what “healthy” meant. She exercised 6 times a week, followed the latest food trends, and had been working in the healthcare industry for nearly a decade. Then she realized–she was wrong.

“What I didn't understand is that the roots of health are stress, sleep, food, and movement. When I realized that, I couldn’t keep selling what I had been selling because it wasn’t true.”

With a no-excuses mindset, Erica set out to understand what healthy living really looks like. Now, she’s no longer a gym rat and doesn’t follow a diet full of “don’ts”. She started her new company, Erica Ballard Health, and works to help people who want to become their healthiest selves by living with no excuses, just like Erica.

Listen for:

• Getting healthy should feel good
• Healthy living is not a destination
• Expecting perfection is a mechanism for failure
• Don’t over-complicate living healthier

In this episode you will learn:

• [04:41] – How to navigate the good and bad information
• [06:58] – Daily habits for success
• [17:21] – How to be present
• [23:42] – How to tear down the excuses

After You Listen:

• Connect with Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericaballard/
• Learn more about Erica Ballard Health: https://www.ericaballardhealth.com/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Kalvin Jones wasn’t willing to accept the lack of diverse candidates in technology as a status quo. He took the simple but repeated requests for coding classes in Indianapolis and founded Code Black Indy, a non-profit organization with the mission to make tech accessible for everyone. 

“If you really want something, there's a way to get it. It may not be easy. It may not be pretty, it may not be fast, but there is a way you can get it done.”

Kalvin’s goal is to help bring smart, motivated, diverse talent to the technology field through school curriculum, community outreach programs, and adult certification classes. How does he do it? He makes Zero Excuses. 

Listen for:

• You can’t prepare for what’s going to come.
• Motivation to learn is crucial.
• If it’s hard, it’s worth it.

After You Listen:

• Connect with Kalvin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalvinbjones/
• Learn more about Code Black Indy: http://codeblackindy.org/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/

Brian Decker is the Director of Player Development for the Indianapolis Colts and former Army Special Forces. After commanding the Army’s assessment and selection program, Brian took the lessons he learned about team development and high performance and applied them to professional football.

“The most fundamental demand placed on high performance or excellence is desire, because the outward expression of your desire is your work habits.”

Brian works to unlock potential in potential and current players by digging into the psyche to uncover what others can’t. He then coaches the team scouts and meets with the head coach to provide a new and interesting perspective. How does he do it? He makes Zero Excuses. 

Listen for:

• What makes someone “elite”
• How resilience and adversity lead to high-performance
• Where does growth really happen?
• The six daily practices to build success

After You Listen:

• Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-decker-54178146/
• Learn more about the Indianapolis Colts: https://www.colts.com/
• Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli/
• Learn more about GadellNet Consulting Services: https://gadellnet.com/