Podcast
Million Dollar Relationships
Hosted by Kevin Thompson · EN
Have you ever been introduced to a person that completely changed the course of your business or your life… so much so, that much of what you have today wouldn't be possible, if not for this person?
Each week on The Million Dollar Relationships Podcast, your host Kevin Thompson interviews successful entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs as they share their personal stories and experience around this very question.
Your invitation is to have a seat at the head of the table as they honor and introduce you to the most valuable people in their lives and remind us that relationship capital is the most valuable asset we possess.
Each week you'll be inspired and motivated to intentionally create more meaningful, rewarding and profitable relationships in your life so that together we can make a far bigger impact in this world.
56episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Built Behind a Hidden Door with Jeremy Barker
May 100:38:30Tap to summarizeWhat if everything you were meant to build was already waiting on the other side of a door you almost never opened? In this episode, Jeremy Barker, founder and CEO of Murphy Door, shares the origin story behind one of the most inventive brands in home design. Murphy Door now controls roughly 92% of global search for hidden doors, ships a door every six minutes, and has served everyone from homeowners building Barbie rooms to the creators of the John Wick experience in Las Vegas. Jeremy didn't start as a businessperson. He was a full-time firefighter paramedic who wanted to build a hidden theater room for his daughters on a tight budget. That creative problem turned into a multi-million dollar company, a patented ladder brand, a real estate portfolio, and a peer review software platform. At the center of all of it is a man who almost missed everything because he used to burn the bridges other people were trying to build for him. [00:03:40] What He Does Founder and CEO of Murphy Door, a Utah-based manufacturer of hidden-door furniture and experiential design Also created Murphy Ladder, a patented collapsible ladder, and Purebrand, a peer-powered customer review platform Holds a growing portfolio of commercial real estate and hotels Ships a door every six minutes; Murphy Door owns roughly 92% of global search for hidden doors [00:04:20] How Murphy Door Started Was a full-time firefighter paramedic trying to build a small hidden theater room for his daughters Couldn't find anyone making the door hardware he needed, so he designed his own hinges Sold the hinges as a side business while still fighting fires; grew to $5 million in revenue by 2016 His wife pointed out he was working 520 hours a month; he left full-time firefighting to focus solely on the business [00:08:00] What Inspires Him Loves helping businesses create immersive experiences, not just products Built the hidden door systems for the John Wick experience in Las Vegas for Lionsgate Gets to work with everyone from 8-year-olds wanting a Barbie room to 70-year-olds building speakeasies and humidors Feels like Forrest Gump every day: sitting across from people he has admired for years and wondering how he got there [00:12:20] The Relationship That Changed Everything: John Porter John Porter was the state president of his local LDS congregation who took a liking to Jeremy despite Jeremy not being a churchgoer He saw something in Jeremy that Jeremy couldn't see in himself and provided the financial backing to help him get there Jeremy openly admits he used to burn bridges, take personal credit for everything, and dismiss the role others played in his success Two bankruptcies and a period of serious depression were what finally shifted his perspective on relationships [00:15:00] How He Pays It Forward Looks for opportunities every day to give, ideally in ways that help the most people with the same amount of effort Helped bring PulsePoint software to his county in Utah, which notifies all first responders of nearby cardiac arrests so anyone can run and help Also supports drug rehabilitation efforts and various community programs Believes giving money is the lazy version of giving; giving time is the real currency [00:21:00] The Vision: Murphy Door as a Manufacturing Laboratory Sees Murphy Door not as a door company but as a laboratory for the future of domestic manufacturing and mass customization Because they source domestic commodities and manufacture locally, their inventory tail is essentially zero This allows full customization: customers choose wood type, handle, size, swing, and finish with delivery in around 30 days Believes tariffs are important because they push companies to manufacture closer to home, reducing logistics waste and supply chain vulnerability [00:26:00] Taking Care of People First Murphy Door employees receive 100% health, dental, and vision coverage, 4% 401k match, tuition reimbursement, maternity leave, and five weeks off Operates on an inverted pyramid: employees come first, customers come second Learned the hard way that happy employees produce happy customers; he was doing it backwards for years Murphy Door holds a 4.9 Google rating across hundreds of reviews [00:33:40] What Every One-Star Review Is Really Worth Doesn't believe in one-star or five-star reviews as true measures of quality Sees every one-star as a 360-degree review opportunity to understand the full experience that led someone there Prefers customers call him directly before leaving a bad review; he will take the call and fix it Created Purebrand specifically to help businesses get more honest, actionable, and complete customer feedback [00:36:20] Founder Fallout: The Book Published a book called Founder Fallout covering 100 questions to ask before taking on a business partner or splitting equity Designed for entrepreneurs who have a great idea and a good friend but haven't asked the hard questions yet Includes a workbook for sitting down with a current or future partner Available on Amazon; his uncle said he should have read it before getting married KEY QUOTES "Murphy Door owns about 92% of the world's search of hidden doors right now. We became the category, which you always dream of." — Jeremy Barker "As much as you hunt for growth in work, you should hunt just as much for the opportunity to give." — Jeremy Barker "I put my employees first and my customers second. It's really hard to have super happy customers if you have super unhappy employees." — Jeremy Barker CONNECT WITH JEREMY BARKER 🌐 Website: https://www.murphydoor.com 🌐 Personal: https://www.jeremybarker.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejeremybarker Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/show/50CKWfljFNI8vmMgJZQUBM?si=c81172a...
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Half a Billion Reasons to Believe with Michael Thomas
Apr 2800:34:57Tap to summarizeWhat if the people nobody believed in turned out to be the ones worth believing in most? In this episode, Michael Thomas, CEO of ConnectIDD and former 14-year CEO of My Possibilities, shares how nearly 20 years in the disability space has brought him to one clear conviction: we are at a tipping point. Adults with disabilities are running Ironmans, graduating from purpose-built college campuses, and landing jobs at companies that actively seek them out. The systems are finally starting to catch up. Michael built a 16-acre, 72,000 square foot campus for higher learning in North Texas from the ground up, led a $30 million capital campaign to make it happen, and is now channeling everything he learned into ConnectIDD, a disability empowerment agency helping organizations across the country do the same. At the center of all of it are two mentors who shaped not just his career, but the kind of leader he became. [00:03:40] What He Does and Who He Serves Runs ConnectIDD, a disability empowerment agency that plugs into organizations looking to grow their impact Works with nonprofits, foundations, and businesses serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities Leads complex projects like capital campaigns, program launches, and organizational growth strategies Every engagement is individualized; there is no one-size-fits-all approach [00:06:40] How He Got Here Grew up around disability; his sister, mother, grandmother, and uncle all share a genetic condition Spent time as a kid at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, a specialized children's hospital Started college in music therapy, switched to philosophy when the program was cut, and found his way to the Muscular Dystrophy Association right out of college A fraternity mentor pointed out that the volunteer work he loved, Special Olympics and fundraising events, was actually a career [00:09:40] What Inspires Him: Rooting for the Underdog His father instilled a lifelong habit of rooting for the underdog in any situation People with disabilities are the quintessential underdogs; systems were never designed to elevate them A father in Florida recently led 16 adults with autism and Down Syndrome to complete an Ironman The fuel in the tank is watching expectations get shattered and systems finally start to change [00:13:00] Client Impact: The Garden Foundation in Las Vegas Engaged with the Garden Foundation, led by an exceptional founder who built it for her sister and others like her They had a waiting list for services but were limited by space; helped them identify and acquire a property in Las Vegas The property includes a house and a renovated 16,000 square foot office space with a view over the city The ribbon cutting is in 10 days; they are now serving more people with plans to grow further [00:15:20] We Are at the Disability Tipping Point Twenty years ago nobody talked about inclusive housing or actively hiring people with autism Today companies recognize the talent and loyalty of employees with disabilities Educational campuses, workforce development programs, and inclusive residential communities are now being built across the country His hope: by the time he retires, inclusion is simply the norm and not the exception [00:17:20] The First Relationship That Changed Everything: Linda Smith Linda Smith spent 40 years as chief development officer of Opportunity Village in Las Vegas, named the Mother Teresa of the Desert by the governor of Nevada Her son was born with Down Syndrome and was denied US citizenship not because of immigration but because of his disability She raised more than half a billion dollars for people with disabilities over her career She took Michael under her wing, showed him what intentional relationship building looks like, and has been in his corner for 16 to 17 years since [00:20:20] The Second Relationship: Larry Solomon Larry Solomon was vice president of Human Resources at Dr. Pepper and husband of the founder of My Possibilities Michael joined the organization at 26 and needed refining; Larry was the professional coach who helped him get there The core lesson Larry instilled: take care of your people because they take care of people He was a behind-the-scenes mentor whose influence shows up in everything Michael does today [00:22:40] The Impact: A 16-Acre Campus for Higher Learning Young adults with disabilities were being parked in day programs watching Disney movies; they wanted college and nobody was building it Michael led the vision to build a university-style campus for adults with disabilities in North Texas Linda came out to speak to the board; Larry's coaching drove the professional execution; the team delivered The campus now sits on 16 acres with 72,000 square feet of educational space, offering college-style programs tailored to each person's goals [00:28:40] Go Find Real Community The most important thing missing right now is the ability to truly connect and find community Humans are communal by nature; as we have become less connected, stress, depression, anxiety, and suicide have all risen Real community means being able to say "I'm not well" to people who genuinely care about you His 11-year-old twin sons are already better at communicating emotion than most adults; the younger generation may be the teachers here KEY QUOTES "I think we're at the disability tipping point. Twenty years ago, nobody talked about inclusive housing communities for people with disabilities." — Michael Thomas "We have to take care of our people because they take care of people. It doesn't make any sense not to lean into the support of your team." — Michael Thomas "A lot of therapy wouldn't be needed if we still had community. We would just go talk with people that care about us." — Michael Thomas CONNECT WITH MICHAEL THOMAS 🌐 Website: https://www.connectidd.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connectidd Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: <a ...
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Built in the Dark with Aaron Hale
Apr 2400:37:27Tap to summarizeWhat if the worst thing that ever happened to you turned out to be the very thing that made you unstoppable? In this episode, Aaron Hale, retired Army Staff Sergeant, EOD Team Leader, speaker, podcaster, real estate investor, and small business owner, shares one of the most extraordinary stories of resilience you will ever hear. In 2011, an IED blast in Afghanistan took his eyes. Four years later, bacterial meningitis took what was left of his hearing. He is now both blind and deaf, and he just ran 205 miles across Kenya and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, believed to be the first blind-deaf person to ever accomplish that feat. Aaron doesn't call himself a victim. He calls his injuries divine direction. And through his podcast, speaking, and the way he shows up every single day, he is busy proving that the story of your struggle can become the blueprint for someone else's survival. [00:04:20] Just Back from Africa: The Seed to Summit Trek Ran 205 miles from Mombasa, Kenya to the base of Mount Kilimanjaro over nine days Climbed the tallest peak in Africa, completing a full seed to summit expedition Believes he is the first blind-deaf person to ever accomplish this Fulfilled a plan made 11 years earlier, interrupted by the meningitis that stole his hearing [00:06:20] What He Does Now Speaker, podcaster, real estate investor, and co-owner of Extra Ordinary Delights, an artisan chocolate company Calls himself an excuse killer; uses adversity as fuel, not an anchor Hosts the Point of Impact podcast to show people how to become their best selves [00:09:00] Blind, Deaf, and Still Showing Up Lost his eyes in an IED blast in 2011 while serving as an Army EOD technician Bacterial meningitis in 2015 took the rest of his hearing and destroyed his inner ear balance Uses a cochlear implant connected directly to his auditory nerve to communicate [00:12:20] How He Got Here: From Navy Chef to Army Bomb Technician Got asked to leave college, joined the Navy, and became a chef to a three-star admiral in Italy Left cooking, joined the Army, and became an EOD bomb technician Was on his third deployment when the IED blast happened, just days after seeing his firstborn son turn one [00:14:40] The Relationship That Changed Everything: Kyle Kyle, a fellow EOD team leader, was injured two weeks before Aaron and was already at Walter Reed when Aaron arrived He wheeled into Aaron's room, made him feel the beard he had grown out of defiance, and cracked jokes about his condition He was at full spirit just two weeks after losing a leg That moment showed Aaron he had no excuse to quit; warriors up and down those halls were all still fighting [00:19:20] What Inspires Him: The Gift of a Story In the military, relationships mean survival; you trust the people on your left and right with your life After his injury, he felt like he lost that brotherhood, but it transformed into something new He was given the gift of a story and the ability to flick the light switch on for others Getting to help someone see their situation differently is both altruistic and deeply personally rewarding [00:22:40] The Relationships That Opened the World: Eric Weihenmayer and Lonnie Bedwell Began searching online for blind people living actively: blind plus outdoors, blind plus fitness, blind plus anything Found Eric Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb all seven summits; went climbing with him in the Peruvian Andes at 19,000 feet Found Lonnie Bedwell, the first blind person to kayak the entire Grand Canyon solo; went kayaking with him too These men took his thinking from a peephole to a bay window; he had been thinking far too small [00:26:00] What That Perspective Unlocked Registered for four marathons before ever running longer than a 10K Three of those qualified him for the Boston Marathon, which he ran in 2015 In 2023 became the first blind-deaf person to finish Badwater 135, the toughest foot race on Earth [00:29:40] The Impact He Got to Make: Kilimanjaro with 25 Friends When he arrived at Kilimanjaro, 25 friends, family, and associates had come to be part of the climb Many had never done anything like it; his story inspired them to say yes A close friend from his military real estate mastermind, someone he had spoken with weekly for years, climbed it right alongside him [00:31:00] Aaron's Marathon Training Day Reached out to Team Red, White and Blue for help training for his first marathon They organized a weekly Sunday run called Aaron's Marathon Training Day, open to anyone at any pace Week after week more people showed up; it outgrew him and became a full community movement He got to be the catalyst; it kept snowballing long after it needed him to carry it KEY QUOTES "The difference between a rut and a grave is how long you lay there. I did not want to get stuck on the couch." — Aaron Hale "Someday the story of your struggle may be the blueprint for somebody else's survival." — Aaron Hale "We can't control the blast, but we can control the next step. And almost always, we can't accomplish the impossible without a team." — Aaron Hale CONNECT WITH AARON HALE 🎙️ Podcast: https://www.pointofimpactpod.com 🌐 Website: https://www.outtasightventures.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-hale-1861477 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aclayhale Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher
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The Partnership That Changed Everything with Latif Hamilton
Apr 2100:46:49Tap to summarizeWhat if the business relationship that challenged you the most was also the one that taught you the most? In this episode, Latif Hamilton, CEO of SpiritHoods and founder of The Growth Operative, shares the story behind one of the most creative and resilient brands in fashion e-commerce. Over 16 years, SpiritHoods has generated more than $55 million in revenue, won multiple PETA Libby Awards, and built a cult following that includes artists like Doja Cat and Justin Bieber, all while donating 10% of net profits to animal conservation. This episode isn't just about building a brand. It's about what Latif learned when a complementary business partnership forced him to grow in directions he never would have chosen on his own. And it's about the hard-won lessons around inventory, cash flow, transparency, and the kind of character-driven business that earns customers for life. [00:04:20] What He Does and Who He Serves CEO of SpiritHoods, a faux fur animal-inspired apparel brand, and founder of The Growth Operative consultancy The Growth Operative focuses on e-commerce companies in the $1 to $10 million revenue range Offers a mix of doing the work and educating clients; the goal is never to leave clients dependent Covers SEO, creative marketing, email infrastructure, product development, and design [00:06:40] Why He Fired His Agencies Fired his ad, SEO, and email marketing agencies after repeatedly damaging experiences with all three The problem was not always the agencies; it was going into those relationships without foundational knowledge Ad agencies are incentivized to run more ads, not make them efficient Understanding your own business fundamentals is what gives you real financial freedom [00:11:00] What Inspires Him Loves blowing people's minds with nuances they didn't know existed in their own business SpiritHoods ranks top three for "faux fur coat," a keyword with hundreds of thousands of monthly searches Transparency matters: he is not a gatekeeper and shares everything that benefits the client Character and morality are the lens he uses when choosing who to work with [00:13:40] How SpiritHoods Started Left a remodeling business after the 2008 crash and started researching product-based opportunities A friend wore a faux fur hat made for Burning Man out to dinner and had the most incredible night of his life The three founders wrote the business plan that same night, including the 10% giveback to endangered animals Was in Guatemala working with sea turtles when the call came: get home, there's a trade show in three weeks [00:17:40] The Trade Show That Launched Everything Flew back early and walked into a buttoned-up Vegas fashion trade show as a group of playful young hooligans Their booth was full of stuffed animals and energy while everyone else was stiff and serious Did $40,000 at that first show with only samples and no production locked in Energy and group comradery drew people in; the fun stood out in a room full of pretension [00:19:20] Navigating Tariffs, Fashion's Hard Season, and the Pivot Products are made in Asia and cannot realistically be manufactured elsewhere; tariffs are hitting hard Saw the writing on the wall two years ago and began deliberately downsizing SpiritHoods to stay nimble Major fashion conglomerates have filed for bankruptcy; the sector is under serious pressure Pivoted to consulting full-time, applying 16 years of hard-earned e-commerce knowledge to help other brands [00:22:40] The Content Rule: Entertain or Educate, Nothing Else Every piece of content must sit on a pillar of entertainment or education If you are only reaching out to sell, you are not providing value and you will lose people Giving 150% value, paid or not, is how cult-like brand loyalty is built SpiritHoods items retailed for $120 and later resold on eBay for $2,000; that is what real desirability creates [00:24:40] The Black Friday Story: Transparency That Built a Tribe Realized mid-sale that body suits were discounted too low after customers had already purchased at a higher price Standard practice would be to quietly deepen the discount without telling anyone; they chose not to Manually refunded every previous buyer the difference, which was harder and more costly to do The result was a flood of loyalty emails from customers saying: this is exactly why we love SpiritHoods [00:30:40] The Relationship That Changed Everything: His Former Business Partner Met his ex-partner through a domestic faux fur supply relationship that grew into a full business partnership His partner ran a $50 million B2B company; finance-driven, analytical, and strong-willed They were opposing ends of the entrepreneurial spectrum, which caused friction and created enormous learning They parted amicably, and the lessons in finance, international operations, and inventory thinking shaped everything after [00:33:20] What the Dichotomy Taught Him His partner's rigid, finite thinking protected the bottom line in ways creative thinking alone never could Latif built the brand; his partner built the business infrastructure Artists like Doja Cat and Justin Bieber found and bought SpiritHoods without ever being approached The tension between their styles was uncomfortable in the moment and invaluable in hindsight [00:35:40] The Real Impact: Inventory Turnover and Cash Flow Discipline After the split, Latif blended his partner's financial lens with his own SEO knowledge to build a smarter product system Too much inventory ties up cash; that is one of the top reasons businesses fail As a creative and founder, cutting a product you ...
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Stop Guessing and Start Knowing with Daniel Burrus
Apr 1700:47:52Tap to summarizeWhat if uncertainty isn't the problem — it's that you haven't learned to tell the difference between what can change and what can't change? In this episode, Daniel Burrus, one of the world's leading futurists and a New York Times bestselling author of seven books, shares the framework he has used for four decades to predict technological change with remarkable accuracy. From describing Netflix in 1993 to advising the Department of Defense and Fortune 500 companies on AI strategy, Daniel has built a reputation as someone who doesn't just see what's coming; he teaches others how to see it too. As CEO of Burrus Research and creator of the Anticipatory Organization model, Daniel's work has one core goal: help people find certainty in an uncertain world so they can make bold moves, presolve problems, and shape their own destiny. And in an age where AI is reshaping every industry, that ability has never been more valuable. [00:04:40] What He Does and Who He Serves Runs Burrus Research, a firm monitoring global innovations across AI, robotics, genetics, fiber optics, and more Has been doing this work for four decades, starting out as a biology and physics teacher Serves Fortune 500 companies, the Department of Defense, and entrepreneurs worldwide Works as a translator: takes complex technology trends and makes them actionable for anyone [00:05:20] The Science of Certainty Uncertainty causes hesitation; certainty drives bold moves and big decisions Accurately predicted Netflix, Amazon, and smartphones in his 1993 book Techno Trends Has authored seven books including New York Times bestseller Flash Foresight and Amazon number one bestseller The Anticipatory Organization His goal is not just to share trends but to teach a repeatable process anyone can use [00:08:20] Hard Trends vs. Soft Trends All trends fall into two categories: hard trends based on future facts that cannot be changed, and soft trends based on assumptions that may or may not happen Hard trends let you see disruptions before they hit and presolve problems before they occur Soft trends are changeable; if you don't like one, you can influence it The litmus test: can this trend be stopped or changed? If not, it is a hard trend [00:13:40] The Three Categories of Hard Trends Technology is a hard trend category: wireless went from 3G to 4G to 5G and will keep accelerating Demographics is a hard trend category: 10,000 Americans turn 70 every single day and that is not reversing Government regulation around areas like cybersecurity is a hard trend category regardless of the current political climate Combining two hard trend categories, like demographics and technology, is how low-risk, high-reward innovations are born [00:15:00] Billion-Dollar Ideas Hidden in Hard Trends There is currently no easy-launch boat trailer designed for aging seniors, despite a massive and growing market of older boaters An exoskeleton designed for seniors could prevent the falls that lead to broken hips, one of the leading causes of death in older adults A small Bluetooth sensor attached to a shoe and linked to a hearing aid could warn seniors of steps, obstacles, and uneven surfaces All three ideas are grounded in demographic hard trends that are already certain [00:25:40] The Skip It Principle: Your Problem Is Not Your Problem Whatever you think your biggest problem is, that is not it; you are working the wrong problem Drill down by asking why two or three times until you find the real, solvable problem underneath A drug company CEO thought he needed 2,000 PhD researchers; the real problem was unsolved molecular challenges, solved by crowdsourcing solutions globally online The makers of Jaws couldn't make the shark look real, so they skipped that problem and showed the shark's perspective instead; the rest is cinema history [00:33:00] AI: Hard Trend, Not a Threat AI getting more powerful is a hard trend; it cannot be stopped or reversed AI gets you 80% of the way to any task fast, but the human 20% is where trust, relationships, creativity, and judgment live Letting AI do everything makes you obsolete; using it to eliminate busy work frees you to do higher-level, more meaningful work Think of AI as a magnifier, not a replacer [00:36:40] What AI Means for CPAs and Every Other Industry Has been contracted by the global accounting association AICPA to map out what 2040 looks like for the profession Tax preparation and auditing will be fully automated, but CPAs will not disappear; their role will shift to anticipatory problem solving and trusted advisory No industry will be decimated; every industry will be redefined and reinvented The mistake is waiting to be replaced; the opportunity is reinventing yourself now with a more consultative, forward-looking skill set [00:43:00] Shape Your Own Destiny Ask yourself what parts of your current work are repetitive and could be handled by AI Use hard trends to identify what your future role needs to look like, and start learning those things now Download his free 25 Tech Trends Report at www.25techtrendsreport.com Download his free AI Strategy Report, with top AI tools across categories and real company case studies, at www.aistrategyreport.com KEY QUOTES "When you're uncertain, you hesitate. When you have high levels of certainty, you write the big check, you make the bold move." — Daniel Burrus "AI is not good at establishing trust. AI is not good at relationships. You gotta remember that this is a machine." — Daniel Burrus "There is more opportunity right now than any other time in history to not just change, but transform every business, product, service and career." — Daniel Burrus CONNECT WITH DANIEL BURRUS 🌐 Website: https://www.burrus.com 📊 Free Report: https://www.25techtrendsreport.com 🤖 Free Report: https://www.aistrategyreport.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielburrus 📘 Facebook: <a href= "https://www...
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The Power of Relationships Over Money with Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew
Apr 1400:26:48Tap to summarizeWhat if everything you've been chasing is already one relationship away? In this episode, Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew, PhD, shares how over 30 years of community work across Dallas, Texas and the nation shaped her into one of the most sought-after voices on social capital, relational leadership, and community development. As President and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, she helps health systems, philanthropic organizations, and institutional leaders connect more deeply with the communities they serve. Froswa' didn't stumble into this work. She built it, role by role, relationship by relationship, from the State Fair of Texas to World Vision US programs to keynote stages at the United Nations and the US State Department. And at the center of it all is a conviction she returns to again and again: relationships are currency, and the right ones change everything. She shares the story of the man who hired her while she was visibly pregnant and on the verge of bed rest, kept her job for months, and became one of the most formative figures of her career. [00:03:40] What She Does and Who She Serves Runs three buckets of work: community engagement strategy, organizational culture and internal social capital, and executive coaching Serves health systems, large institutional organizations, and philanthropic groups Has been doing this work since 1995 and returned to full-time consulting four years ago Rooted in a spiritual belief system, her work always connects leaders to purpose before strategy [00:07:20] What Inspires Her: Watching Organizations Finally Get It Loves the moment organizations shift their strategy and start hitting targets they couldn't reach before Does GIS mapping to help clients identify communities they hadn't thought to connect with Helped design a workforce program for a health system where participants now graduate, get livable wage jobs, and support their families The ripple effect of her work reaches people she may never meet, and that drives her every day [00:09:20] Client Impact: Doubling and Tripling Nonprofit Budgets Worked with organizations connecting into rural and urban communities where they previously couldn't gain participation After a year of training and strategy work, those organizations hit their participation targets Helped design a support services ecosystem around a workforce program, connecting nonprofits to grant writers and partners Several of those nonprofits went on to double or triple their budgets and scale their staffing and infrastructure [00:12:00] Making Money and Doing Good Are Not Mutually Exclusive Pushes back on the idea that profit and community impact are in tension Believes generosity and thriving business can coexist, pointing to the biblical model of Boaz as an example Giving is not just financial; time, talent, and testimony are all resources to steward You can make your community better, profit, take care of your family, and help others all at the same time [00:15:40] The Relationship That Changed Everything: Dr. Terry Flowers Met Dr. Flowers while pregnant and interviewing for a role, after another interview was shut down the moment she disclosed her pregnancy Dr. Flowers offered her the job knowing she was pregnant, then held the position for her through months of bed rest At St. Philip's School and Community Center, she learned program development, budget management, relationship building, and community strategy He gave her one instruction whenever she brought a new idea: figure it out and make it happen [00:17:40] A Mentor Who Never Left Left St. Philip's in 2005 but Dr. Flowers remains in her life as a mentor to this day A former student painted her portrait, which now hangs on the wall at the school His daughters are still in her life; she had dinner with one of them just recently She credits his investment of time and wisdom as the foundation for everything she does now [00:20:20] Paying It Forward: The Story of Misha Met a young woman named Misha at a speaking event in Dallas and committed to being accessible, because she remembered being shut out early in her own career Brought Misha on as a volunteer, hired her, and took her along to World Vision and then the State Fair of Texas Misha eventually became a VP and hired Froswa' as a consultant, then brought her into a new project she had been building for years That morning, Misha was texting her about an upcoming event, still leaning on her wisdom and knowledge [00:23:20] Relationships Are Currency Tells entrepreneurs directly: you don't have a money problem, you have a relationship problem The right relationships give access to everything you need Real networking is not passing out cards; it is thinking about how to serve people well In an AI-driven world, relationships and trust are the most durable currencies anyone can build KEY QUOTES "You don't have a money problem. You have a relationship problem. You get the right relationships, you'll get access to what you need." — Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew "Anything that you want is usually connected to people. So build relationships and love people well." — Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew CONNECT WITH DR. FROSWA' BOOKER-DREW 🌐 Website: https://www.drfroswabooker.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/froswabookerdrew 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/froswa.bookerdrew Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher
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Relationship Capital Is the Real Currency with Lyndsay Dowd
Apr 1000:27:33Tap to summarizeWhat if the most valuable investment you could make isn't in your business, but in the people around it? In this episode, Lyndsay Dowd shares how nearly 30 years in sales and leadership, including 23 decorated years at IBM, led her to found Heartbeat for Hire, a consultancy helping executives build cultures that actually drive results. She didn't take the easy route to get there. She got fired six months after leaving IBM, sat with the shame of it for a month, and then asked herself three questions that changed everything. Today Lyndsay coaches C-suite executives, delivers bold keynotes, hosts a top 2.5% globally ranked podcast, and runs a live leadership show on LinkedIn. Her message is simple but radical: the best leadership tool you have is your humanity. Lyndsay shares how one unexpected LinkedIn connection led to a Harvard lecture, a Times Square billboard, and a personal board of advisors that keeps her grounded as an entrepreneur. [00:03:40] The IBM Years, the Exit, and the Firing That Changed Everything Spent 23 of her 25 corporate years climbing the ranks at IBM, leading broken and first-of-a-kind businesses Left for a new opportunity and was fired just six months later, a total shock for someone known as the person you call to do the hard stuff I sat with shame for a full month before asking: what am I good at, what do I love, and how can I help people the most? Those three questions led to the founding of Heartbeat for Hire [00:05:40] What Heartbeat for Hire Does Coaches individual leaders and C-suites on modern leadership Delivers keynotes, has published two books, hosts a top-ranked podcast and a live LinkedIn show Also runs LinkedIn and storytelling workshops for executives [00:06:00] What Inspires Her: The Gap Between Bad and Great Leaders When she asks a room who has had a bad leader, a hundred percent of hands go up instantly Far fewer hands rise when she asks who has had a great leader Her mission: show the world what good leadership looks and feels like Good leadership is not complicated; it is small behavioral changes in language and awareness [00:09:00] Client Impact: Humanizing the CFO-Turned-CEO Worked with a CEO who admitted: I think people respect my work, but I don't think they like me Coached her to welcome every new employee publicly on LinkedIn, a seven-second action with an outsized impact Taught her to speak about her company the way she would over cocktails, not in boardroom monotone Core lesson: introduce the personal; leaders no longer need to separate work identity from human identity [00:14:20] Power Skills: Why Trust Is Your Currency Rejects the term "soft skills" and calls them power skills instead Trust is the foundational currency of leadership; fracturing it in front of others reverberates far and wide Safe spaces unlock inspiration, risk-taking, and people's best work How a leader handles failure, their own and their team's, is just as important as how they celebrate wins [00:16:00] The Relationship That Changed Everything: Scott McGregor and the Outlier Project Noticed one man kept showing up across all her LinkedIn connections and set up a coffee chat; that man was Scott McGregor His community, the Outlier Project, brings together roughly 800 entrepreneurs, veterans, athletes, and leaders choosing to live extraordinary lives Has since brought over 70 people into the community herself [00:17:00] What the Outlier Project Unlocked Opportunities flowed from the community: a Harvard lecture, a Times Square billboard, and appearances on over 100 podcasts Her entire personal board of advisors is made up of Outliers, the people she calls when she doubts herself The community solved the loneliness of entrepreneurship when family and friends couldn't understand what she was building Members share best practices on podcasting and speaking, and get direct access to legends like Guy Kawasaki every week [00:19:40] The Mavericks and Hustlers: Her Most Memorable Leadership Moment A leader who promoted her twice asked: how do you want to run the business? And meant it She took that autonomy back to her team and launched a storytelling program: explain what you sell with zero jargon, as if speaking to a retired school teacher The first story sparked immediate collaboration, with salespeople realizing they had solutions their clients were already asking for The program grew to 500 attendees per call, and that team still calls her years later to talk about it [00:24:20] Lead with Heart Because Results Depend on It Leadership done well isn't about feeling good; it's about generating results Her storytelling team crushed their numbers quarter after quarter because they had trust and psychological safety Churn-and-burn leadership signals to your team that burnout is expected, and they will follow your model Simple reminder: take a breath before reacting, and always lead with heart KEY QUOTES "I don't call them soft skills. I call them power skills. Creating trust and creating psychological safety is a power skill, and the best leaders understand that trust is your currency." — Lyndsay Dowd "When you become somebody's leader, you become the topic of dinner conversation. So you better be thinking about every move you make." — Lyndsay Dowd "If you wanna 10x your results, start leading with heart. That's the big difference maker." — Lyndsay Dowd CONNECT WITH LYNDSAY DOWD 🌐 Website: http://www.heartbeatforhire.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndsaydowdh4h 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyndsaydowd 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndsaydowdh4h 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lyndsaydowdh4h Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | <a href= "https://www...
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Building a Business on Relationship Equity with Don Martelli
Apr 700:24:27Tap to summarizeWhat if every client you've ever landed traced back not to a cold email, but to a conversation you had years ago with someone you genuinely cared about? In this episode, Don Martelli shares how a career that began in the newsrooms of the Boston Globe evolved into a mission-driven PR and strategic communications consultancy built entirely on relationship equity. As CEO of the PR Bunker, Don works exclusively with health and human services organizations, nonprofits, and healthcare and education clients whose work makes a real difference in people's lives. Don spent over 25 years in PR, strategic communications, and marketing across agencies of every size, growing one from $1.5M to $6-8M in revenue before deciding to burn the boat and build something of his own. Six years into running the PR Bunker, he hasn't made a cold call or chased an RFP since, and he has no plans to start. Don shares how three men shaped everything he knows about showing up, slowing down, and paying it forward in business. [00:03:40] From Reporter to PR Guy: What Don Does and Who He Serves CEO of the PR Bunker, a mission-driven PR and strategic communications agency Former journalist at the Boston Globe covering business and politics Serves nonprofits, healthcare, and human services organizations with one filter: do they have a big heart? Work centers on storytelling across media, marketing, and donor engagement channels [00:05:00] Why He Finally Started His Own Company Spent years growing agencies for other people, including taking one from $1.5M to $6-8M in revenue Tried and failed to buy the agency he helped build Reached a crossroads in his mid-to-late forties and asked: what have I actually built that's mine? Had one honest conversation with his wife, burned the boat, and launched the PR Bunker six years ago [00:06:40] The Impact That Keeps Him Going Partnered with Hearth, a Boston nonprofit fighting elder homelessness Pitched a reporter a story about Lisa, a formerly homeless woman who now works for the organization Turned that one story into a 2.5-week marketing campaign that generated $225,000 in anonymous donations This is the kind of full-circle storytelling that drives everything he does [00:08:00] 100% Word of Mouth: How Don Builds Business No cold calls, no cold emails, no RFPs Built entirely on networking, one-on-one conversations, and what he calls "relationship equity" Every interaction is about asking: how can I help you? Who do you want to meet? Treats his network not as a stack of business cards but as a living, monetizable asset [00:12:00] The First Relationship That Changed Everything: Peter Morrissey Don's first PR boss after leaving the Boston Globe, one of the OGs of Boston PR Taught Don the fundamentals: how to dress, how to read a room, how to pitch a story Helped Don understand what a media pitch was and how to manage his own workflow and accountability [00:13:40] "Efficiency Over Speed": The Sticky Note That Stuck Don made a major mistake at work and Peter walked over, wrote four words on a sticky note, and put it on his screen: efficiency over speed Don didn't fully grasp it in his twenties but carried it with him his entire career Now passes that same note and story on to every person he mentors Has since stuck the same note on the desks of people under him when he sees rushed, sloppy work [00:16:40] His Father: The Original Pay-It-Forward Guy Lost his father at just 56 years old At the wake, the funeral home had to extend hours by 90 minutes because of how long the line was That moment revealed how many lives his father had quietly touched through service, generosity, and community Realized he was cut from the same cloth — his father had the attributes of both Peter and Ed [00:17:40] Batman and Robin: Ed Caso and the Art of the Story Ed Caso was the number two at Peter's agency — the hardened complement to Peter's nurturing style Taught Don the discipline of knowing what is and isn't news Much of Don's crisis communications work today traces directly back to what he learned from Ed Peter and Ed together were like Batman and Robin: different styles, one outcome [00:19:20] Full Circle: Passing the Torch Half an hour before recording, received a call from a former mentee named Evan Evan had spent five years building his network, launched his own successful company, and called Don just to say thank you The lesson Don passed on was the same one Peter gave him: "efficiency over speed" and "your network is your net worth" Also mentoring a 22-year-old named Elijah, who just hit $2M in revenue before graduation by focusing exclusively on relationship-based selling KEY QUOTES "Efficiency over speed. I sat on that. And I said, "What does it really mean?" — Don Martelli "Your network is not this thing where you collect business cards that sit in your desk drawer. It's really an asset. It's a part of your business." — Don Martelli CONNECT WITH DON MARTELLI 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donmartelli 🌐 Website: http://www.prbunker.com Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher
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The ABCs of Leadership with Marcia Martin
Apr 300:32:59Tap to summarizeWhat if the key to transforming an entire organization started with the same foundation you learned in kindergarten? Marcia Martin is one of the most prolific influencers in thought leadership over the last 40 years. Renowned as a top transformational trainer and executive coach worldwide, she has provided training for global organizations in over 20 countries. Her clients include Capital One, Warner Bros., InterContinental Hotels, American Cancer Society, Chase Bank, Allianz, McCain Foods, Evian Water, Danone Group, and Hard Rock International. A pioneer of the human potential movement, Marcia served as Vice President and Board Member of Erhard Seminars Training, now known as the Landmark Forum, helping grow its graduate base from inception to millions within a decade. She has consulted for LifeSpring, Robbins Research, Jack Canfield Seminars, Wealth Dynamics, and the Money and You Seminars, and notably organized the film shoot of The Secret: Law of Attraction with Executive Producer Rhonda Byrne. Her memoir, Sex, Power and Transformation, is available now on Amazon. [00:04:00] At the Birth of the Human Potential Movement Marcia was present at the very beginning of the human potential movement in San Francisco in 1971 Left the University of Washington at 20 for a spiritual quest during the era of the flower children and Haight-Ashbury Apprenticed with her aunt, a clairvoyant healer and esoteric astrologist, who taught her to go inward for answers That training shaped her core belief: answers come from within, not from outside of yourself [00:06:00] Werner Erhard and the EST Years Attended Werner Erhard's very first guest seminar and recognized his message as aligned with what her aunt had taught her Joined the team and became Senior Vice President of EST, helping grow it from 30 people to over 800,000 graduates Was responsible for marketing, sales, training guest seminar leaders, and filling all events Learned both what to do and what not to do by watching how fame and wealth changed people up close [00:11:00] Organizing the Film Shoot for The Secret Co-created the Transformational Leadership Council with Jack Canfield, bringing together top thought leaders and coaches Received a call from Rhonda Byrne, an Australian TV producer, asking to film the group for what became The Secret Ended up organizing the entire film shoot, squeezed into a tiny borrowed office at her country club in Aspen, Colorado Rhonda's skill in editing made the cramped shoot look cinematic [00:19:00] The Night Werner Put Her in Front of 2,500 People Marcia started out speaking to guests on the edge of a bed in a bedroom; groups grew to 20, then 50, then hundreds The day of a major 2,500-person event, Werner told her she would be leading it instead of him She refused, panicked, and was furious; her largest audience to that point had been 150 people His advice: find one person in the crowd, look at them, and remember how much you love them [00:24:00] Empowerment Over Micromanagement Werner's decision to trust Marcia with that event became the defining lesson of her leadership philosophy Most senior executives she works with today are micromanagers who unwittingly signal they don't trust their people Her belief: if a leader is micromanaging, it is not just a lack of trust in others but a lack of trust in themselves True empowerment means giving people room to make mistakes and grow into their potential [00:27:00] The ABCs of Leadership: Her Three-Day Transformation Marcia's flagship offering is a three-day intensive for senior leadership teams of entrepreneurial organizations Covers leadership, championship performance, communication mastery, relationships, confidence, mindset, and causing action Mentored by Buckminster Fuller, Peter Drucker, Jerry Weintraub, and Werner Erhard; she now passes those lessons on KEY QUOTES "So many human beings look outside of themselves to find answers. We haven't been taught how to go within and connect with our own higher power." - Marcia Martin "Werner was smart enough to give me the room and the empowerment to get it done. He didn't micromanage me, he trusted me and he made a good bet on me." - Marcia Martin "I've figured out the concepts, the fundamentals, the ABCs of leadership and championship performance, and put them together in a way that is fun." - Marcia Martin CONNECT WITH MARCIA MARTIN 🌐 Website: www.marciamartin.com 📚 Book: Sex, Power and Transformation — available on Amazon 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcia-martin- 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/marciamartinproductions Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher
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Why Phone Service Should Be Free with Derek Ting
Mar 3100:30:30Tap to summarizeWhat if the frustration of a college student with a phone bill became the seed of a company serving 10 million people? Derek Ting is a multifaceted entrepreneur and filmmaker, known as the co-founder and CEO of telecom company TextNow, offering free mobile services, and also as an actor, director, and writer of action films like Agent Recon, starring alongside Chuck Norris. A native of New York with roots in Hong Kong, he splits his time between LA and HK, blending tech innovation with entertainment.. In this episode, Derek shares the relationships that shaped his path, from a mother who sacrificed to give him access to the right environment, to a sixth-grade friend who introduced him to computers and investing, to the one investor who said yes when everyone else said no. His story is a masterclass in building something meaningful from the ground up. [00:03:00] Who Is Derek Ting? Co-founder and CEO of TextNow, a free phone service app Started the company 16 years ago as a college student tired of paying for phone service Currently serves 10 million monthly users [00:04:00] The Birth of TextNow The first iPhone charged separately for texting, calling, and data; Derek saw a better way Aha moment: users were turning iPod touches into phones because they couldn't afford service Recruited a college classmate to build out the full product; he became co-founder [00:05:20] Phone Service Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury Many users had no other way to communicate with friends and family You need a phone number to book a doctor's appointment or apply for a job That realization turned a texting app into a much bigger mission [00:07:40] From Hobby to Business: The Early App Store Days The iPhone SDK let anyone, including college students, build and sell software for the first time First app: a daily recipe app for a dollar; then a lemonade stand video game TextNow grew from that same spirit of building things to solve his own problems [00:12:40] Cashflow Crisis and the Last Door He Knocked On Reinvested everything into carrier infrastructure, wiping out profit, then ran out of cash Knocked on every VC door in Canada in 2011 and collected rejection after rejection Remembered a man whose niece was a customer and who had mentioned he was a VC Reached out, met him at a conference, played it cool, and closed the deal; he is still a shareholder today [00:17:40] Where TextNow Is Headed Mission from day one: make phone service completely free The flywheel: more free value drives more users, more advertisers, and more revenue to fund more features Customer base is diverse: young people, those in financial rough patches, anyone needing a second line [00:20:40] The Relationship That Started Everything: His Mom Derek's biggest influence is his mother, a Hong Kong immigrant who prioritized his education above everything She stretched her finances to move him from public to private school in sixth grade That decision changed his peer group and opened doors he never would have found otherwise [00:22:00] The Sixth-Grade Friend Who Sparked It All At private school Derek met a friend who was already building computers and buying stocks in sixth grade He learned about technology and economics simply by spending time around him Without that friendship, Derek believes he would never have ended up in tech or business KEY QUOTES "Phone service is expensive and it's actually not a luxury. It's a necessity. You need it to get a doctor's appointment, to apply for a job." - Derek Ting "I was running out of doors to knock on. The last door I knocked on became the door that worked out." - Derek Ting CONNECT WITH DEREK TING 🌐 TextNow: www.textnow.com 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/derekting 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/derekting Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher
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