Episodes

  • Ep.170 I Deciding to Make Tough Calls: Leading Well When Stakes are High with Matthew Confer

    Ep.170 I Deciding to Make Tough Calls: Leading Well When Stakes are High with Matthew Confer
    Dec 11 2024
    Are your business decisions driven by instinct, or by strategy? How often do you actually stop to tell the difference? Matthew Confer, the mind behind decision-making simulations used by leading companies, reveals why your gut might betray you, what most leaders get wrong under pressure, and how to sharpen your instincts for critical decisions. KEY TOPICS The bold move leaders can make to avoid catastrophic mistakes before they happen.Why seeking consensus isn’t the best leadership strategy—and what to do instead.The real reason confident leaders fail under pressure.How keeping receipts on decisions can save your team from chaos. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business 00:49 Changing Wedding Language: Patriarchy or Progress? 03:06 Can Simulations Make You a Better Leader? 05:32 The Dangerous Default in Team Decisions 06:50 Why Consensus Isn’t Always King 08:01 How Leaders Sabotage Innovation Without Realizing It 10:21 What Really Drives Your Team? 12:40 Adapting Management Styles: The Secret to Better Teams 15:05 Leadership Practice Without the Real-World Risk 17:26 Breaking Through Superficial Motivations 19:30 The Challenge of Scaling a Small Company Culture 21:54 Why Diverse Motivations Strengthen Teams 24:14 Spotting Failure Before It Happens 26:36 The Viral Social Media Campaign Dilemma 29:00 The Cobra Problem: When Solutions Make Things Worse 31:16 The $5 Challenge That Changed Business Strategy 33:33 The Power of Writing Down Decisions 35:53 How Poor Note-Taking Derails Teams 38:32 How Stress Wrecks Decision-Making—And How to Stop It 40:51 Why Your Most Disagreeable Employee Makes the Hard Calls 43:07 Why Failure Is the Best Leadership Teacher 45:32 Building Leadership Confidence in Safe Environments 47:51 When Bravado Backfires in Decision-Making 50:08 Are You Missing Critical Team Feedback? 52:32 What MBA Simulations Reveal About Leadership Gaps 54:51 The Secret Ingredient to Engaging Training Programs 56:53 Matthew Confer’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 58:20 Key Takeaways 59:45 Message from the Producer CONNECT WITH US ⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠ WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE Subscribe on ⁠YouTube Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠ Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @shawn_d_smith Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @sangersmith Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast. SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠ SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠ MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION? At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER CONNECT WITH MATT CONFER Website: https://www.abilitie.com/matthew-confer/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/ TEDx Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making?subtitle=en Learn To Lead Podcast: https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/ Matt Confer is the VP of Strategy at Abilitie, a Leadership Development company based in Austin, Texas that provides immersive business simulations to a global client base that includes over 50 members of the Fortune 500. Abilitie’s leadership programs have been delivered to over 100,000 professionals in more than 30 countries around the world. Matthew has spoken on the topic of decision making at the TEDx Conference with a talk entitled "Before You Decide" that has been viewed over 500,000 times on the TED website. Matthew also hosts the Learn to Lead Podcast where he speaks with authors, professors, creatives, and business leaders about their leadership journey and how they are working to develop the leaders of tomorrow.
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    1 hr
  • Ep.169 I Deciding to Fight for the Forgotten: Trading the Cage for a Cause with Justin Wren

    Ep.169 I Deciding to Fight for the Forgotten: Trading the Cage for a Cause with Justin Wren
    Dec 4 2024
    What drives someone to leave behind a career in the UFC to serve the world's most forgotten people? In this episode, we sit down with Justin Wren, a former professional MMA fighter who traded his career in the cage for a mission with real impact. Justin shares his journey from a bullied child to UFC fighter, and eventually to his work with the Pygmy people of Africa through Fight for the Forgotten. We talk about the challenges he's faced—both in and out of the ring—and the decisions that led him to dedicate his life to defending the weak, loving the unloved, and empowering the voiceless around the world. KEY TOPICS How childhood bullying pushed Justin Wren to become a professional UFC fighter.The devastating toll addiction once took on Justin’s life.A vivid vision of the rainforest that gave Justin a new sense of purpose in life. How Fight for the Forgotten helps Pygmy communities protect their land, access clean water, and foster a sustainable livelihood. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business 00:50 The 3 Fighters Who Earned Sanger’s Fandom 03:06 From Bully to Fighter: Justin Wren 04:28 The Vision Behind Fight for the Forgotten 06:50 Building Waves of Change 09:17 Martial Arts as a Shield Against Bullying 13:58 The Painful Path to Finding Purpose 16:23 Battling Addiction in the Cage and Beyond 18:51 Discovering Purpose Through Service 23:33 Waking Up After the Overdose 28:04 The Bonus Rounds of Life 35:13 Why Purpose Replaces Addiction 40:02 The Vision That Led to Africa 44:57 Meeting the Pygmies 51:49 Listening to Create Lasting Impact 56:33 The Risks and Rewards of Serving in Congo 01:03:41 Building Holistic Communities 1:08:23 Justin Wren’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 01:11:05 Key Takeaways 01:12:59 Message from the Producer CONNECT WITH US ⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube Subscribe on ⁠YouTube Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠ Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠ Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠ Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠ Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast. SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠ SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠ MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION? At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER CONNECT WITH JUSTIN WREN Fight for the Forgotten: https://www.fightfortheforgotten.org/ Justin’s Official Website: justinwrenspeaks.com Book: https://www.justinwrenspeaks.com/book Instagram: @thebigpygmy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-wren-892043255/ Mercilessly bullied as a child, Justin transformed himself into a champion MMA fighter. Despite his success, he questioned the significance of his athletic accomplishments. Each victory brought the thought, “Is this it?” Battling injuries, he slid into painkiller addiction, battled depression, and attempted suicide. He was a champion on the outside but broken within. It wasn’t until a series of circumstances led him to live among the Pygmy people—some of the most marginalized on earth—that he found true purpose: helping others. “My career was to fight against people, but my calling was to fight for people." Now, he helps others generate impact through their work and community. ‘The Big Pygmy’ returned to the ring with purpose, founding Fight for the Forgotten (FFTF). FFTF has provided >52,000 indigenous people with access to clean drinking water, replanted thousands of trees, acquired >3,000 acres of land in the name of the tribe and helped 1,800 people out of slavery and into freedom. Current projects include housing, education, healthcare and sustainable livelihoods through community empowerment.
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Ep.168 I Deciding to Escape the Fishbowl: Disrupt Routine and See Life Differently with Eric Weiner

    Ep.168 I Deciding to Escape the Fishbowl: Disrupt Routine and See Life Differently with Eric Weiner
    Nov 27 2024
    Have you ever felt like life’s become a little too predictable? Maybe you’re wondering if there’s more to see, more to learn—if you could just get a fresh perspective. Eric Weiner has explored the world as a Peabody-winning journalist, lived in the chaos and beauty of New Delhi, and uncovered the secrets of happiness in the most fascinating places on Earth. In this episode, he shares what he’s learned from decades of travel, curiosity, and meaningful exploration. KEY TOPICS Why routine can blind you—and how to step outside it to see your life and decisions more clearly.The unexpected power of limiting your choices: what Ben Franklin and a pescatarian can teach us.How “thin places” like Bhutan reveal truths about where (and who) you really are. Why modern noise—literal and mental—is sabotaging your clarity (and how silence saves it). CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business 00:50 Stop Spam Texts and Calls: Easy Fixes 03:08 What Makes a Life Meaningful? 03:59 Meet Eric Weiner 06:34 Big Pharma vs. Tobacco: Lessons We’re Missing 08:58 The Dark Side of Corporate Philanthropy 11:23 Is AI Destroying Journalism? 16:03 From Flying Planes to Reporting for NPR 18:18 What South Asia Teaches About Living Fully 20:42 Do Places Shape Who We Become? 25:22 The Idea of “Soul Places” and Finding Your Own 27:34 Benjamin Franklin’s Shocking Life Lessons 36:55 Why Travel Opens Your Mind to New Decisions 39:16 Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues: What They Teach Us Today 44:03 Simplify Decisions with Franklin’s Proven Method 46:31 Why Admitting Flaws Builds Better Leaders 48:32 Franklin vs. the Founders: A Different Legacy 51:00 What We’ll Regret 200 Years from Now 55:47 The Struggle—and Reward—of Silence 56:42 Eric Weiner’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 01:00:02 Key Takeaways 01:01:41 Message from the Producer CONNECT WITH US ⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube Subscribe on ⁠YouTube Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠ Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @shawn_d_smith Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @sangersmith Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast. SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠ SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠ MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION? At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠ CONNECT WITH ERIC WEINER Website: https://ericweinerbooks.com/ Books: https://ericweinerbooks.com/books/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericweinerbooks/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-weiner-17aa8639/ Eric Weiner is a best-selling author and former international correspondent for NPR, known for his explorations into happiness, wisdom, and what it means to live a meaningful life. From uncovering the secrets of the world's happiest places to the pursuit of genius, his writing invites us on journeys that are both insightful and entertaining. Today, we dive into his adventures and what they reveal about living well.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Ep.167 I Deciding to Fix the Leadership Gap: Why Culture Eats Strategy Every Time with Ray Kelly

    Ep.167 I Deciding to Fix the Leadership Gap: Why Culture Eats Strategy Every Time with Ray Kelly
    Nov 20 2024
    Why do some businesses flourish while others struggle, even when everything looks perfect on paper? In this episode, we sit down with Ray Kelly, Senior VP at Think2Perform, to share the decisions you can make TODAY to bring out the best in each person working in your business. KEY TOPICS Why your team’s bad habits reflect your leadership.How Netflix turned a failing business into a $300 billion empire by rewriting its culture. Why “average” employees are the fastest way to sabotage your business’s health.Why loyalty doesn’t always belong in your company culture. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Free Online Values Cards Exercise Ep.17 I Doug Lennick I Deciding to Think About What You Think About: Moral Intelligence Ep.24 I Ryan Goulart I Deciding to Live According to Your Values: The Neuroscience of Decision-Making CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business 00:49 Is Georgia a Southern State? 03:08 Meet Ray Kelly: Leadership and Culture Expert 06:23 Walking Away from Corporate Success for Family Values 08:44 The Science of Better Decisions Through Values 13:26 Can You Know If a Decision Was Right? 18:18 Are Your Values Misaligned with Your Actions? 20:38 Why It’s Hard to Admit What You Truly Value 25:24 How “Permission to Lead” Drives Accountability 29:44 Why Changing Habits Feels Impossible—and How to Succeed 36:58 Turning Painful Change into Fun and Progress 39:22 “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast”: Leadership in Action 46:30 Netflix’s Culture Shift: From Failure to $300 Billion Success 51:16 Toxic Values at Work: When Loyalty and Family Fail 57:51 Why Leaders Destroy Culture by Failing to Live It 01:01:01 Ray's Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 01:02:28 Key Takeaways 01:03:48 Message from the Producer CONNECT WITH US ⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube Subscribe on ⁠YouTube Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠ Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @shawn_d_smith Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @sangersmith Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast. SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠ SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠ MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION? At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠ CONNECT WITH RAY KELLY Website:  https://mobile.think2perform.com/about-us/bios/ray-kelly Ray Kelly joined Think2Perform in 2010 after a 21-year career as a financial services executive. He spent much of his career on the sales side of the business, compiling a track record of high-performing teams. Ray spent 13 years growing and building one of the most successful sales office groups for Ameriprise Financial in the history of the company. Ray’s offices were recognized annually for top sales growth, retention, client and employee satisfaction. His focus on creating a “Leaderful Culture” allowed his group to influence the national organization on major initiatives and created the opportunity for over a dozen of his leaders to be promoted to other positions across the company. Ray has a passion for helping people reach their potential and shaping cultures in which they live. He offers executive coaching/mentoring to leaders of all levels and conducts proven breakthrough leadership development training.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Ep.166 I Deciding to Expose the Fine Print: Government Claims on Medical Products w/ @justtheinserts

    Ep.166 I Deciding to Expose the Fine Print: Government Claims on Medical Products w/ @justtheinserts
    Nov 13 2024

    What if all those medical products we trust come with more risk than we think? And how much of that risk is buried in the fine print most of us never read? In this episode, we’re talking to Alexandra from @justtheinserts, who’s made it her mission to help people decode medical inserts, so we actually know what we’re putting in our bodies.


    Alexandra digs deep into the pharmaceutical industry's claims, the power of informed consent, and why knowing the full story behind medical products is more important now than ever. Buckle up—this conversation will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about medicine.


    KEY TOPICS

    • ​ How reading the fine print on medical product inserts reveals hidden risks and empowers personal decision-making.
    • ​ How government policies and liability laws protect pharmaceutical companies but leave patients at risk.
    • ​ Why doctors rarely offer alternatives—and how patients can advocate for better options.
    • ​ Why Alexandra kept her identity hidden online and the backlash she faced from keyboard warriors.


    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business

    00:50 Carnivore, Veganism, and All the Diets In-Between

    03:13 Introducing Alexandra and Just the Inserts

    06:11 Father-Son Dynamics in the Workplace

    08:35 Alexandra’s Journey to Creating @justtheinserts

    10:54 Discovering Medical Inserts and Adverse Reactions

    13:21 Explanation of Adverse Reactions and Manufacturer Inserts

    15:40 Alexandra’s Daughter’s Health and the Vitamin K Injection

    18:00 Risks of Vitamin K Injections and Understanding Its Ingredients

    20:06 Potential Adverse Reactions: Vitamin K and Hep B

    22:16 Pharmaceutical Liability and Industry Protections

    24:36 Streamlining Research for Informed Consent

    27:03 Building Critical Thinking Skills

    29:29 Learning to Analyze Manufacturer Inserts

    31:48 Informed Consent in Health Decisions

    34:15 Presumptive Delivery Strategy in the Medical Industry

    36:36 Vaccine Shedding

    38:58 Shocking Discoveries: Adverse Reactions

    41:20 Pushback from Pharmaceutical Reps and the Industry Culture

    43:40 Responsibility and Bias in Health Decisions

    45:54 Sanger’s Story: Navigating Multiple Prescriptions in Adolescence

    48:19 Key Questions to Ask When Receiving a Diagnosis

    50:38 Importance of Understanding Drug Families and Side Effects

    52:57 Doctor-Patient Dynamics

    57:26 Alexandra’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners

    01:01:24 Key Takeaways

    01:03:04 Message from the Producer


    CONNECT WITH US

    ⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

    Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast


    Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast.


    SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠ - https://www.amazon.com/Life-Rich-Significance-Transforming-Meaningful/dp/1952654769


    SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠ - https://www.amazon.com/Plateau-Jumping-What-Change-When-ebook/dp/B0CTXHP5HR


    MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

    At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy.

    LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠


    SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

    https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6JMYQ_gBGd5CL2_RzjPYZguX7wD7Qps249iP7aBxHnjUgbrY8F7q8Zes0dA4bnyF8dROTb3O9XNeAIsk5AvA6E%3D


    CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRA FROM @JUSTTHEINSERTS

    Website: https://www.justtheinserts.com

    Instagram: @justtheinserts

    Well Considered: A Handbook for Making Informed Medical Decisions: https://www.justtheinserts.com/shop/


    Alexandra, the founder of Just the Inserts, provides training and resources for patients and parents to make informed decisions about medical products. Sourced from .gov websites, her book, training course, and website help you make informed medical decisions rooted in knowledge and confidence.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Ep.165 I Deciding to Survive a Decade at Sea: From Shipwreck to Scholar with Suzanne Heywood

    Ep.165 I Deciding to Survive a Decade at Sea: From Shipwreck to Scholar with Suzanne Heywood
    Nov 6 2024
    What’s it like to be pulled from your home at just seven years old and set adrift on the open ocean? How do you survive ten years of brutal storms, danger, and isolation on a small yacht with your family? In this episode, Suzanne Heywood shares the chaos of her childhood spent sailing around the world—constant physical and emotional storms, tight living spaces, and the fight to hold onto hope. She reveals how those raw, unpredictable years forged a resilience that she carried into her career, pushing boundaries and thriving in the corporate world. KEY TOPICS How Suzanne’s father’s quest for status put his family through storms, running low on food, and life at sea for ten years.Living in perpetual motion: How Suzanne coped with isolation, chaos, and a lack of control over her own life.Why Suzanne clung to education as her lifeline—and the extreme lengths she went to just to get off the boat. From isolation to Oxford: The pivotal steps Suzanne took to earn her freedom and chart her own course. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business 00:50 When Sanger Lived on Ramen 03:13 Introducing Suzanne Heywood 04:21 Suzanne’s Family’s Decision to Sail Around the World 06:37 Early Childhood Questions About the Voyage 09:00 Suzanne’s Father’s Motivation for the Voyage 11:25 Questionable Parental Decisions 13:41 Dangers and Limited Food on the Boat 16:04 Life at Sea: Loneliness, Limited Friendships, and Schooling 18:28 Food Shortages 20:46 Stuck on the Boat 23:10 A Manipulated “Vote” to Keep Sailing 32:55 Education as Suzanne’s Escape from the Boat 40:01 Limited Communication and Correspondence Challenges 47:08 Sacrifices Made to Pursue Education 49:33 Struggles of University Life and Financial Hardships 51:56 Suzanne’s Reflections on Parental Choices and Financial Strain 57:26 Suzanne Heywood’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 57:48 Key Takeaways 59:47 Message from the Producer CONNECT WITH US ⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube Subscribe on ⁠YouTube Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠ Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @shawn_d_smith Sanger’s Instagram⁠: @sangersmith Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast. SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠ SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠ MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION? At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠ CONNECT WITH SUZANNE HEYWOOD Website: www.suzanneheywood.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanneheywood Facebook: www.facebook.com/suzanne.heywood Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanneheywood1 Suzanne Heywood’s story is anything but typical. At just seven years old, she was pulled from her home and set adrift on a small yacht with her family, facing ten years of brutal storms, danger, and isolation on the world’s most unforgiving oceans. It’s a tale of grit and survival that shaped her into the powerhouse she is today. Now a respected business leader, Suzanne is here to share her wild, unfiltered journey, captured in her memoir, Wavewalker.
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Ep.164 I Deciding in the Election: Thinking Beyond the Mudslinging with Ken Coleman

    Ep.164 I Deciding in the Election: Thinking Beyond the Mudslinging with Ken Coleman
    Oct 30 2024
    With every election cycle, the noise grows louder—polls, predictions, and endless opinions from every direction. But how much of it is real, and how much is just noise? How can we think clearly and make decisions that serve us, our families, and our businesses? In this episode, Sanger Smith sits down with Ken Coleman to break down the true impact of elections beyond the headlines. They discuss why polling can be misleading, how the media shapes our perception of political events, and the importance of focusing on what we can control rather than getting swept up in the chaos. Ken offers insight into what strong leadership looks like in a time of deep division. KEY TOPICS How debates have turned into battlegrounds for insults instead of vision.Why identity politics is creating division—and how a lack of true identity is driving it.What it takes to bring integrity back to leadership when chaos becomes the norm.What companies can learn from political missteps when mission and culture stray too far apart. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business 00:44 Election Impact on Markets 02:54 Ken Coleman 05:32 The Truth on “Internal Polls” 07:53 Election Impact on the Markets 10:19 Mudslinging by the Candidates 12:46 Trump’s Influence on Political Culture 15:14 Civil Discourse: Is It a Lost Cause? 17:30 How Political Figures Shape the Nation 19:49 Real Leadership Integrity 22:14 Vision Casting in Political Leadership 24:34 When Businesses and Politics Lose Integrity 26:59 Self-Preservation in Second-Gen Businesses 31:48 Integrity vs. Chaos: Why Stability Matters 34:13 Why Chaos Thrives in Politics (and How Businesses Can Avoid It) 36:38 What Businesses Can Learn from Blockbuster 38:53 How Reagan and Trump Shaped American Leadership 41:17 Rejecting Identity Politics 43:44 The Media is Dividing Americans 46:08 Free Speech vs. Temper Tantrums 48:25 How Americans Can Take a Stand 50:49 Returning to Our Values 53:17 The Key to Avoiding Civil Unrest 55:20 Identity Politics and Business 57:26 Ken Coleman’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 57:48 Key Takeaways 59:47 Message from the Producer OUR FIRST EPISODE WITH KEN Ep.141 I Deciding to Find Fulfillment: Purpose Isn’t Found in a Paycheck w/ Ken Coleman CONNECT WITH US ⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube Subscribe on ⁠YouTube Join us on ⁠Instagram⁠: @decidedlypodcast Join us on ⁠Facebook⁠ Shawn’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @shawn_d_smith Sanger’s ⁠Instagram⁠: @sangersmith Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast. SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠ SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠ MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION? At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠ CONNECT WITH KEN COLEMAN Website: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ken-coleman The Ken Coleman Show: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKenColemanShowFullEpisodes/videos Instagram: @kencoleman Ken Coleman is a nationally syndicated radio host, best-selling author, and host of The Ken Coleman Show on the Ramsey Network, where he helps listeners find professional passion and purpose. Known for his expertise in leadership and personal development, Ken has authored books like From Paycheck to Purpose and The Proximity Principle.
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    1 hr
  • Ep.163 I Deciding to Refuse Victimhood: He Had a 1% Chance of Survival… with John O’Leary

    Ep.163 I Deciding to Refuse Victimhood: He Had a 1% Chance of Survival… with John O’Leary
    Oct 28 2024
    How do you come back from a 1% chance of survival? How do you fight back when life gives you every reason to give up? John O’Leary didn’t simply survive a devastating childhood fire—he found a way to transform his battle into something far greater. In this episode, John shares the approach that helped him overcome incredible odds and how you can apply it to your own challenges in life. This conversation isn’t only about survival; it’s about refusing to be a victim, pushing through the hardest moments, and redefining what’s possible. If you're ready to challenge the way you view adversity, you won’t want to miss this. KEY TOPICS ​How a near-fatal fire taught John the ultimate lesson in resilience—and why it's relevant to your life today.​Refusing to embrace victimhood: Why most people settle for excuses instead of pushing past their pain.​How John’s parents preserved their marriage despite tragedy, and why to continually choose God and your spouse over everything else.​Breaking free from the chains of self-doubt: What you can learn from John’s story to overcome your own limitations. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life andBusiness 00:44 The Most Meaningful Wedding Gift: Sanger’s Story 04:18 Introducing John O’Leary 08:45 John’s Life-Changing Moment: Playing with Fire 11:37 How John’s Family Survived Trauma 14:00 John’s Decision to Reject Victimhood 16:25 Stop Comparing Traumas 18:49 Overcoming Tragedy in Marriage 21:14 Putting God and Your Spouse First 26:05 John’s Mother’s Life-Altering Question 30:50 John’s Decision to Fight Against the Odds 33:17 Playing Piano Without Fingers 35:39 Working as a Farmhand 38:00 The Gift of Suffering 40:27 John’s Path to Living Vulnerably 42:51 How John Parents His Kids 45:09 Learning to Ski the Hard Way: Sanger’s Father-SonLesson 47:27 Sharing Your Personal Story 49:50 Saying Yes to Opportunities 52:13 On Fire: Feature Film of John’s Story 54:36 How Saying “Yes” Can Change Your Life 56:57 The World’s Greatest Salesman’s Advice 59:14 John’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 1:01:09 Key Takeaways CONNECT WITH US ⁠⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠⁠ ⁠Watch this episode on YouTube⁠ Subscribe on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠ Join us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @decidedlypodcast Join us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ Shawn’s ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @shawn_d_smith Sanger’s ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @sangersmith Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast. SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠⁠ SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠⁠ MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION? At ⁠⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. LEARN MORE: ⁠⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠⁠ EXCLUSIVE STORIES IN THE NEWSLETTER:⁠⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH JOHN O’LEARY Website: ⁠https://johnolearyinspires.com/⁠ Live Inspired Podcast: ⁠https://johnolearyinspires.com/podcast/⁠ Blog: ⁠https://johnolearyinspires.com/blog/⁠ John O'Leary faced unimaginable challenges as a child after a devastating fire explosion left him with severe burns and a 1% chance of survival. Today, he inspires people who feel like they’re stuck going through the motions of life to confront their struggles and find strength in their stories, overcoming the temptation to continue coming up with excuses that hold them back. John is a two-time national bestselling author and host of the top-rated Live Inspired podcast.
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    1 hr and 2 mins