Archive for the 'Leadership Courses' Category

Podcast 42: Bringing Your Soul to Work with Alan Briskin

Published at February 18, 2008 in Leadership Courses, Resources, Consulting Organizations, Social Change Agents, Podcasts and Great Books. 0 Comments

I personally had the pleasure of meeting Alan Briskin at a “Thought Leaders Gathering” in San Fransisco. A good friend of mine Craig Neal, has been bringing together some of the great leaders to explore new innovative ways of designing organizations and assisting in organizational transformation. It was at the “Thought Leaders Gathering” that I was introduced to Alan, and was very impressed with is knowledge and personal spiritual quest.

Over the years Alan and I have stayed in touch, and I called him a few months back to see if he would like to do a podcast about his book entitled, “Bringing Your Soul to Work: An Everyday Practice.” He agreed and the attached podcast is an exploration into how amidst the frenetic pace and constant urgencies at work, one is often left feeling barren inside.

There is often the question of “how” that follows any call for a new vision, especially one that includes an orientation that joins the inner life of the individual with the outer need to be effective in the world. Along with co-author, Cheryl Peppers, Alan Briskin set out to provide provocative practices, useful questions, and strengthening exercises to those seeking answers to the “how” question. This book can be very useful to individuals looking to act on what matters and to become more mindful of constructive and destructive patterns — in ourselves as well as in groups and organizations.

Alan BriskinI encourage you to relax and listen to in my estimation, one of the predominant thought leaders in the area of spirituality in the workplace. If you would like to know more about Alan and his workshops and books, please visit his web site by clicking here.


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Podcast 36: The Big Book of Small Business with Tom Gegax

Published at January 8, 2008 in Great CDs, Business Growth, Leadership Courses, Podcasts, Personal Growth Courses and Great Books. 0 Comments

I first met Tom Gegax at a Spirit in Business Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico about 9 years ago. He was one of the featured speakers at the event and I thoroughly enjoyed his subject and content of his talk. I have followed Tom off and on over the last nine years and contacted his office recently to do this podcast about his new book, “The Big Book of Small Business: You Don’t Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants.”
Tom has quite a history as a entrepreneur having started one of the largest retail automotive tire businesses called, Tires Plus. By the time Tom sold Tires Plus to a multinational firm in 2000, it had mushroomed from a sketch on a restaurant napkin to a Midwest market leader with over 150 locations.

If you are an entrepreneur running a business of any size you are going to enjoy this podcast with Tom, because Tom knows what it’s like to run a business with over 1500 employees. Tom has learned how to get the most out of his people and run a world class organization. But more importantly, he learned through his near death experience with cancer how to put his life in perspective and focus on what is important, his own personal growth. Resolved to turn things around, he improved his mental clarity, health and relationships. He noticed that the more he profited on a personal level, the more his company profited. His big lesson from cancer was the challenge as to how he would become more of an “Enlightened Leader”. What he learned was that the more he focused on the well-being of his employees and customers,(as well as his own well being), than naturally his own success followed.

I would like you to set back, relax and learn from a very wise businessmen. Tom will share his insights into the hard learned lessons as to becoming an enlightened and effective leader and on how to do the small things right so the big decisions work.

Tom GegaxIf you are interested in learning more about Tom and his seminars, workshops, books and CD’s please visit his web site Gegax Management Systems by clicking here.

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Podcast 35: Off The Chart Results with Lorna Riley

Published at January 5, 2008 in Leadership Courses, Business Growth, Consulting Organizations, Podcasts, Personal Growth Courses and Great Books. 1 Comment

I first met Lorna Riley at a National Speaker Conference in Los Angeles about 12 years ago. She was one of the main speakers and I was quite impressed with her energy and incredible stage presence. We only briefly met at that meeting not even knowing that we lived in the same town. Just a few months ago I went to an ASTD meeting and guess who was the main speaker? You guessed it, Lorna! We exchanged business cards and promised one another that we would get together for lunch and to get to know one another better. We had lunch a few months ago, and I was so impressed with what Lorna’s company,” Chart Learning Solutions” was doing that I invited her to do this podcast. Lorna is a professional sales trainer and consultant with over 18 years of experience. In our podcast we discuss her book “Off the Chart Results” where she has compiled the thoughts and inspiring wisdom of some of the greatest minds of today such as: Warren Bennis, Margaret Wheatley and James Kouzes.

Lorna was influenced by the inspiring work of Joseph Campbell and “The Hero’s Journey.” She has utilized the concepts of the hero’s journey in the development of a chart to assist individuals in identifying the various stages of personal growth and development. This was so well received by her clients that she continues to refine the process and has created several training programs around the “Four Stages of Off the Chart Results“. I encourage you to listen carefully as Lorna identifies and explains the various stages in our interview, for I believe you will receive valuable information to help you on your own path of personal mastery.

Lorna RileyIf you would like to learn more about Chart Learning Solutions and the various training programs offered by Lorna, please visit her web site by clicking here.

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Podcast 27: In the Dreaming Room with Michael Gerber

Published at November 23, 2007 in Communications, Great CDs, Business Growth, Leadership Courses, Consulting Organizations, Personal Growth Courses, Podcasts and Great Books. 2 Comments

It is with great pleasure that I bring you this interview with Michael Gerber. The focus of this podcast is on his soon to be released book entitled, “Awakening the Entrepreneur Within: How Ordinary People Can Create Extraordinary Companies.” For years, Michael Gerber has been known for his work around the E-Myth. He has transformed over 50,000 entrepreneurs lives through helping them develop systems to duplicate themselves and grow their businesses. He invented, as he puts it, “the Mc Donald’s of small business consulting.”

Michael emphasizes the main reason that small businesses fail is not because their dream is too big, but rather too small and too realistic—it isn’t big enough to sustain more life. In my interview with him we explore what happens when a entrepreneur is impassioned with an idea and a dream. We discussed what happens when he or she wakes up inside and is on fire about their new dream and defines their vision, mission and purpose around the dream to manifest it bring it into reality.

Michael has created this new place that entrepreneurs can practice a new kind of dreaming something he refers to as “Intentional Dreaming.” It has nothing to do with problem solving and everything to do with transforming your whole life and business in a radically creative and strategic way.

Michael GerberI was thoroughly mesmerized by Michael’s energy and passion for the new venture he has embarked upon. In our interview together, you can sense his passion for helping people. I know you will enjoy his ideas, wisdom and advice throughout this podcast. I encourage you to visit his web site by clicking here to learn more about his books, workshops, CD’s.

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Podcast 25: New Agreements in Healthcare with David Dibble

Published at November 19, 2007 in Consulting Organizations, Leadership Courses, Social Change Agents, Podcasts, Personal Growth Courses and Great Books. 1 Comment

I first attended one of David Dibble workshops a few years ago. He had just written a book called “New Agreements in the Workplace.” Some of you might recognize the similar sounding name to don Miguel Ruiz’s book entitled ” The Four Agreements.” This is by no means an accident for David studied the Toltec under don Miguel from 1990 to 1998. don Miguel ultimately kicked David out of his program and told him it was time for him to teach.

David has recently written a new book entitled, ” New Agreements In Health-care”, which focused on how to reform the systems and the thinking of the individuals in the health-care industry. David decided to apply his business knowledge and spiritual wisdom to helping reform health-care in the US. David articulates that the health-care system in this country is in dire need of resuscitation, yet when the questions of what needs to be fixed is thoroughly examined, we find that it’s largely a matter of simply acknowledging and addressing basic system problems. He states that we have become a nation of “sick-care” not health-care.

In David’s new book he stresses that we need to focus on the whole mind-body-spirit connection. That health-care in America as we know it, appears to be careening toward a terminal condition. The source of this disease is a slow and invisible killer that only exhibits its full potential for dysfunction toward the end of the life cycle. The pathogens that are making health-care so sick are the legacy health-care systems in which we are forced to deliver care. Like all systems that resist change in a changing environment, they become more complex and dysfunctional by the day.

In my interview with David, we explore his viewpoint as to what steps needs to be taken to reform the system. His simple but powerful new agreements are already having an effect on several hospitals and health-care providers. David has four simple yet profound agreements: 1) Find Your Purpose 2) Love, Grow and Serve Others, 3) Be a Systems Thinker 4) Practice a Little Every Day. David’s model for transformation of health-care is a combination of best practices, systems optimization, and universal spiritual principles.

David DibbleI encourage you to visit David’s web site by clicking here to learn more about his consulting services, books and workshops. I hope you enjoy this engaging interview with a bright, articulate man who’s mission is to reform our health-care system.

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Podcast 24: Leading Beyond Excellence with Dr. Lisa Williams

Published at November 18, 2007 in Leadership Courses, Communications, Consulting Organizations, Podcasts, Personal Growth Courses and Great Books. 0 Comments

Dr. Lisa Williams is a wonderful, bright, articulate and loving soul. She has blessed our planet with her great energy and zest for life. I was invited to attend one of Lisa’s talks, but was not able to make it. My intuition told me that I needed to meet her, so I telephoned her to discuss her book and consulting practice, Williams Research. I was so impressed with Lisa just from our telephone conversation that I asked her to lunch so we could engage in a more deep and meaningful dialogue. I soon realized that her knowledge was vast and she had a deep passion for helping people transform their lives. During our first meeting I asked her to sit on an advisory board for my company, eLuminate, Inc ., which created, Digital Seed software, an interactive learning platform. She gracefully accepted, and the rest is history, for we have been friends ever since.

Lisa’s book, “Leading Beyond Excellence: Learn 7 Practical and Spiritual Steps to Spiral Yourself to the Top“, is a wonderful easy-to-read book packed full of wisdom about becoming a better leader. It focuses on helping leaders look within to become better leaders and human beings. Lisa states that, “Leading beyond excellence is the process of moving from fear-based self-denial to love-based self-appreciation.”

She uses a wonderful tool called the “Spiral of Influence” to describe the various levels that leaders find themselves. Those levels are survival, security, social, self-esteem, search, surrender, significance. She explains the characteristics that leaders possess at each of these levels and provides concrete actions and steps that can be taken to continue our movement up the spiral to become better leaders. Lisa has short 10 minute exercises throughout her book that ask the reader to reflect on insights to particular questions, what action steps we can take, and personal observations to identify areas we would like to improve. Lisa quotes Oprah Winfrey as saying ” As you become more clear about who you really are, you’ll be better able to decide what is best for you–the first time around.” I love this quote for Lisa is helping leaders everywhere in deciding what is best for them, the first time around.

Lisa WilliamsI know you will appreciate applying Lisa’s wisdom and knowledge without any heavy lifting. Leading Beyond Excellence: Learn 7 Practical and Spiritual Steps to Spiral Yourself to the Top is a quick read and packed full of ideas and practical knowledge on personal and professional transformation and mastery. You can learn more about Dr. Lisa Williams and her workshops, books, CD’s by clicking here.

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Podcast 22: Stand Out! with Simon Vetter

Published at October 28, 2007 in Leadership Courses, Resources, Consulting Organizations, Podcasts, Personal Growth Courses and Great Books. 0 Comments

Years ago I was attempting to get Dale Carnegie and Associates to look at a software system I had developed for sales representatives, when I met Simon Vetter. At the time, Simon was working for the San Diego office of Dale Carnegie as a sales associate. That was quite a few years ago and both Simon and I have moved on to other ventures. However, Simon always kept in touch with me over the years and as a matter of fact I hired him do some marketing consulting for a company that I owned. I have always been impressed with Simon’s tenacity and thorough approach to everything that he does. He is a master at marketing and has developed those skills through study and application in the field of sales. Currently, he is coaching people and organizations on marketing and branding themselves.

Simon’s recent book entitled, “Stand Out! Branding Strategies for Business Professionals“, is an excellent book for anyone wishing to learn more about personal branding. Simon can help anyone find their unique qualities and talents which will help them in differentiating themselves from the rest of the crowd. In my interview with Simon, he reveals what he learned from the following professionals, who Simon believes are amongst the best at personal branding. Simon interviews are with professional speakers and business people such as: Nido Qubein, Tony Alessandra, Beverly Kaye, Marshall Goldsmith, David Allen, Gayle Carson, Brian Tracy and Jim Kouzes. Simon learned something different with each of these professionals and articulates how they built their strong personal brand. In my interview with Simon he reveals the top ten (10) rules of personal branding, five (5) insights and five (5) commandments.

Simon states that, ” Whatever we do, we leave an impression. We send out signals all the time. It’s like walking through fresh snow. We cannot hide the footprints behind us. People all around us-at work, at home, in the gym, at a restaurant-see and observe us. Our brand is based on the experience people have with us. Every action, every word, every element of our appearance is noted, recorded, and judged by everyone we meet. Ultimately, we always leave a mark and at the same time this is the process of brand building.”

Simon VetterI encourage you to listen to the informative interview on personal branding. Simon discusses important issues as it relates to building a better personal brand and image. I love the quote in his book by Gandhi , ” Be the change you wish to see.” If you want to build a better YOU, then I encourage you to visit Simon Vetters’ site and pick up a copy of his book, Stand Out! Branding Strategies for Business Professionals.

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 20: The Accidental CEO with Tom Voccola

Published at October 28, 2007 in Leadership Courses, Consulting Organizations, Podcasts, Personal Growth Courses and Great Books. 4 Comments

I met Tom Voccola in a very serendipitous manner. I happen to be attending a reunion for my graduating class at University of Santa Monica and had the wonderful fortune of setting next to Tom and his lovely wife Frances with whom I graduated in 2005. As the evening progressed our dialogue become more intense and I become quite interested in what both Tom and Frances were doing through a company they jointly owned called CEO2, Creating Extraordinary Organizations. I found out that Tom had just authored a book entitled, “The Accidental CEO - A Leader’s Journey from Ego to Purpose“, which is about a leader’s journey from Ego to Purpose. Tom, having been a CEO for several different companies, certainly speaks from a position of experience and authority. He has coached and consulted with many other CEOs. It is his own personal journey and the journeys of those other CEOs that make up the content for this new book.

In my interview and podcast with Tom we explore many different and interesting subjects. All of it focused on the personal growth and mastery of a leader through finding purpose. One of the areas I found quite informative was what Tom refers to as the Reactive Identity (Ego Self) and the Creative Identity (Purpose Self). He does a wonderful job in his book of providing the reader with clear examples and diagrams that help you understand the differences. He states that our default operating system is what runs us long before we’re aware that we have one. Our reactive identity pretty much dominates who we are. Without clear knowledge of our purpose, there is little free choice, and our responses to life are simply a reaction-automatic, mostly invisible and dominant-although much can be changed by the user if they ever knew it existed. “Real choice occurs only when we’re aware of the distinctions Ego, Self and Purpose. Until then we are pretty much stuck in the automatic reaction of Ego.”

Tom Voccola How do we navigate through the rough waters of leadership and maintain our course with integrity, purpose, authenticity and humility? What does it take to become a great leader? What sets apart the great leaders from the mediocre ones? These questions and more are the subject of my interview with Tom. I invite you to explore with me a fascinating man and leader in this wonderful interview. You’ll learn what it truly takes to become a leader on purpose. Please visit his web site CEO2 for more information on his workshops, book, and coaching programs.

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Podcast 18: The Highest Goal with Dr. Michael Ray

Published at October 13, 2007 in Leadership Courses, Podcasts, Personal Growth Courses and Great Books. 0 Comments

The Highest Goal: The Secret That Sustains You in Every Moment A good friend of mine, Craig Neal who is the founder of Heartland Circle a wonderful group that helps in the development of thought leaders, recommended that I give a few of his close friends a call to inform them about our new software Digital Seed. In the process, and by no accident, I started a dialogue with Dr. Michael Ray a fascinating professor at Stanford University. As I endeavored to find out more about Michael I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he was the author of a book called “The Highest Goal: The Secret That Sustains You in Every Moment” of which I had just made a purchase of at Amazon. I had not read the book yet, but was intrigued by its title and content. As our dialogue ensued I not only got to learn more about the creativity course Michael has been teaching at Stanford, but I got to understand more about the authenticity of the person behind the course.

I found Michael to be an interesting man with deep soul and warm heart. I instantly found myself very comfortable as I spoke with him on the phone, and was able to take our dialogue deeper, delving into the spiritual aspects of his creativity course. I know you’ll find this podcast quite interesting as I interview Michael, a man with tremendous depth and insights into how we develop and evolve our creativity. We discuss the Heros’ Journey, defining your intentions and purpose, and becoming more compassionate in our relationships.

If you are wondering what this all has to do with creativity and why this kind of content would be taught in a business course at Stanford University, then just set back and relax and enjoy the journey and exploration into how to evolve your creativity from within. You will find that this podcast has two half hour segments. I was so interested in Michael’s message in our first interview that I asked him to do another podcast. It is not necessary to listen to these podcasts in any particular order, for you will receive tremendous benefits no matter where you start.

I would like to encourage you to visit Dr. Michael Ray’s web site for more information on his books, courses and lectures.

Dr. Michael Ray Part One (1)

Part Two (2)

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Podcast 9: “One” The Art and Practice of Conscious Leadership with Lance Secretan

Published at August 20, 2007 in Social Change Agents, Leadership Courses, Podcasts, Personal Growth Courses, Retreats, Mentors and Great Books. 1 Comment

Lance Secretan Book - One: The Art and Practice of Conscious LeadershipI first met Lance Secretan many years ago at a Spirit in Business conference in Santa Fe, NM. I remember being quite impressed with his presentation on the CASTLE principals. In my podcast with Lance we discuss the CASTLE principals in depth. CASTLE is an acronym which stands for Courage, Authenticity, Service, Truthfulness, Love and Effectiveness. These principals may sound simple in concept, but not as easy to integrate into our lives and businesses.

The focus of his new book is about the new leader for the 21st century. Lance discusses how we have become detached from our innate sense of oneness which creates “separateness thinking.” He explains how this separateness thinking has created many of the problems both in our business and personal lives. One: The Art and Practice of Conscious Leadership will help the reader explore new refreshing ideas about leadership and find ways to create a greater sense of connectedness. Understanding the CASTLE principles has lead many to exceptional personal growth, and has transformed the lives of thousands. If you would like to lead your life more consciously and become more connected to the people at your work and at home, One: The Art and Practice of Conscious Leadership outlines the principles of Courage, Authenticity, Service, Truthfulness, Love and Effectiveness and they are definitely worth reviewing and considering for integration into your personal values as a leader.

I love how Lance ends his book with an invitation to join his community. He quotes the lines by John Lennon’s ode to oneness, Imagine:

You may say I’m a dreamer,
but I’m not the only one,

I hope some day you’ll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Lance SecretanIf you want to reawaken personally as a leader and build strong communities of support and oneness, then Lance’s book “One” The Art and Practice of Conscious Leadership is a must read. For more information on Lance Secretan’s workshops, retreats and blog please visit his website.

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