Business Done Differently with Jesse Cole

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149: Dan Cockerell - Magic Culture and Customer Service Jul 30, 2018

Show notes

Dan Cockerell worked for Disney for 26 years. He started as a parking attendant, finishing his career as the Vice President of Magic Kingdom with 12,000 cast members. Today, he sits with Jesse Cole to share how working together with his crew has helped solidify magic customer service and company culture.

"No one at Disney gets anything done by themselves." - Dan Cockerell

Dan Cockerell - Walking the Park

Even after he became a VP, Dan never let go of the little things that make the magic happen at Disney. Every week, he walks the park to see how the cast members are doing, engage with customers, and take a look at the seemingly minute details of the business.

"There are no small things at Disney. And I think in any business, there's nothing that's too detailed." - Dan Cockerell

The magic doesn't happen with the supervisor talking to their managers or with the managers talking to the team staff. The magic happens when the cast members are interacting with the guests. If a business owner can acknowledge how customer service plays a crucial role to success, then they're on the right track towards exactly that.

Cast Members are Guests

In order to create magic, supervisors need to remember that their staff deserve the same amount of appreciation and attention as their customers. The Disney company treats its cast members as guests. By letting the cast experience the same magic they're expected to inspire, managers are able to rest easy knowing that they can provide the same service to customers.

"The magic happens anywhere the cast member is interacting with the guests. And that's where it is. And so you gotta remind yourself to always bring it back to that." - Dan Cockerell

Final Four

1. What's something you've done differently in your life to stand out?

"To be open-minded. I've always taken things with a positive attitude."

2. If you could give advice to someone to stand out in business and in life, what would you say?

"Have an incredibly positive attitude. Find that place where you can add extra value."

3. What's the best advice you've ever received?

"Do your best and then forgive yourself."

4. How do you want to be remembered?

"As someone who cared about people and taught them something to help make their life a little bit better."

To hear more about Dan Cockerell's magical learnings and how he was able to take care of his thousand-people cast, download and listen to the show!

Learn more from Chris McCluskey:

Website - Dan Cockerell

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Jesse Cole is a passionate and engaging business leader sharing other leaders messages, tips and fresh ideas on Business Done Differently. Subscribe to hear more front runners doing it differently and remember to leave him a rating and review on iTunes.

Thanks to Podcast Pilot for the editing, show notes and publication. They take care of it all!

148 : Chris McCluskey - Turn Your Potential into Reality Jul 23, 2018

Show notes

Chris McCluskey is a visionary thought leader frequently cited as "The Father of Christian Coaching." His ability to niche down and create a lifestyle business and movement has made him stand out in business and in life. In today's episode, he joins Jesse Cole to discuss how it's possible to go all-in on family and creating the lifestyle of your dreams.

"The real learning of anything starts when you begin doing it." - Chris McCluskey

Chris McCluskey - Training Coaches from Home

Chris operates the largest Christian training school in the world, Professional Christian Coaching Institute with his wife. The school is a completely virtual community that offers college and graduate-level training. This has allowed Chris and Rachel to work from the comfort of their ranch in the foothills of Ozark Mountains.

The training is tailored for people who wish to enter the coaching profession either part-time or full-time. Whether it's life coaching, leadership coaching, or executive coaching, anyone who wants to acquire the skill sets of a professional coach can be part of the school. And with the traditional requirements of a physical institution done away it, students are evaluated based on their performance in the marketplace.

A Choice Between Career and Family

Career is important to fend for the people you love, and so is spending time with family. Chris came home to his family one night, saw what a rough day it has been for them, and realized how much he'd missed. This was the moment he paused to reconsider the limited career choices his education has presented to him.

"We are very much trained not to be entrepreneurs but instead to be employees." - Chris McCluskey

He chose to do away with that and make a career that will allow him to be home for his family.

Desires of the Heart

We all have our life questions, but it's counterproductive to dwell on trying to come up with answers that only the future holds. In order to realize one's true potential, it is more important to focus on what we want in life, on that vision that we have of ourselves several years down the road. And only then can we can start working for that goal.

"I can't see what the future's gonna be. What I can discern, if I'll be willing to listen long enough, is the desires of my heart." - Chris McCluskey

Final Four

1. What have you done to stand out in business and in life?

"At night when I lie down I do less gauging, 'What did I do, what did I accomplish?' and more about, 'Who was I?' I check myself on that 'being.'"

2. Additional advice you'd give someone to stand out in business and in life.

"Don't miss the central piece of your purpose, your calling. Get clear on why are you here."

3. Best advice you've ever received.

"In the end if a business fails, it's ultimately not because it wasn't a viable business. It will have failed because your systems failed."

4. How do you want to be remembered?

"I wanna be remembered as a man who knew why he was here, and he lived fully into that purpose."

To hear more about Chris McCluskey's secrets to integrating family, business, and life, download and listen to the show!

Learn more from Chris McCluskey:

School - Professional Christian Coaching

Podcast - Professional Christian Coaching Today

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Thanks to Podcast Pilot for the editing, show notes and publication. They take care of it all!

147 : Stephan Aarstol - Five-Hour Workday Genius Jul 16, 2018

Show notes

Stephan Aarstol is the CEO and Founder of Tower Paddle Boards. He is the genius behind the five-hour workday, which has revolutionized the entrepreneurial industry. Today he shares with Jesse Cole the story of this innovative move and the purpose that drives him to perfect the experience for both his customers and employees.

"We needed to really start measuring things by gross happiness product as opposed to just GDP." - Stephan Aarstol

Stephan Aarstol - Eight-Hour Workdays are Unfounded

The history of the eight-hour workday can be traced back to the dawn of the industrial revolution back in the 1800s. To maximize machines, they were run full-time, all-day. This benefited the factory workers who worked three eight-hour shifts in the span of twenty-four hours.

Fast forward five hundred years later and people are still working the same eight-hour shifts. What people fail to understand is that there is no science to this eight-hour workday.

A Life-Altering Assignment

Stephan used to write articles for a company. They would give him topics to write about, and it was the assignment on a five-hour workday that began it all. In order to finish the assignment, he started an experiment in the company.

It was an uncomfortable exercise, but realizing how it was exactly how he worked, he thought that the entire company should do the same. A series of experiments and one published article later, they had built a brand that was as unique as it could get and kept people happy.

"If you start giving people a lot more time, they can use that time for different things." - Stephan Aarstol

Happiness is Important

When he first implemented the five-hour workday, Stephan hit a lot of walls. His employees left, feeling lost. But at the same time, all kinds of people with different levels of productivity started trickling in, curious and wanting to learn more.

The entire experience has left a great impression on him. And it has made him realize the many ways by which prevailing economic trends have enslaved people. Happiness, therefore, has become more of a privilege than a causal effect of working.

"That flexibility of giving people time and do with it what you want is a huge beneficial thing. And I think some people don't even realize that they need that. But I think it is important for them." - Stephan Aarstol

Final Four

1. What have you done to stand out in business and in life?

“I've always tried to identify businesses that really add something to humanity.”

2. What advice would you give someone to stand out in business and in life?

“Try. Just start it now.”

3. What is the best advice you received?

“Focus more on the downside risk.”

4. How do you want to be remembered?

“For being willing to do what it takes to do what I want and then to share that and help other people to do what they want.”

To hear what Stephan Aarstol thinks about the impact of capitalism on our work mentality, the true benefits of the five-hour workday on productivity, and the merits of a culture founded on happiness, download and listen to the show!

Learn more from Stephan Aarstol:

Tower Paddle Boards

Connect with him on LinkedIn

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Jesse loves connecting and hearing from his listeners:

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Book - Find Your Yellow Tux

Thanks to Podcast Pilot for the editing, show notes and publication. They take care of it all!

146 : Randy Cohen - Show Up with Swagger Jul 09, 2018

Show notes

Randy Cohen is the CEO of TicketCity, one of the largest ticket reselling companies in the country. Since its founding in 1990, the company has served over one million customers and sold over four million tickets. Today, Randy joins Jesse Cole to talk about how he's committed to showing up with swagger in everything he does for his customers and employees.

His books, Ticket to the Limit and Show Up With Swagger detail his blueprint to success.

"Don't be afraid to take chances. You gotta be the one head above the sea of heads that stand out." - Randy Cohen

Randy Cohen - Chief Energizing Officer

As the CEO of TicketCity, Randy has always owned up to the title, living and breathing it like the hundred-mile whirlwind that he is. With an energy that is higher than that of an average person, he is able to run his business the way it's meant to be handled.

Energy is contagious. Randy admits that his philosophy of jazzing everyone up, creating an inclusive atmosphere that breathes energy, is the very key to his company's success. His employees average twenty-two years in the company and while they're empowered to do what they want, Randy makes it a point to share his energy with them.

Showing Up with Swagger

Great communication with your team is important for any business to trailblaze. You share with them your wins and challenges and build a culture of trust by maintaining communication.

Charisma helps achieve effective communication. But being present, showing up every single day and being available for your employees when they need you is just as significant.

"You're true to your heart. You show up every day... That's a big part of it—being there for everyone when they need you." - Randy Cohen

Taking Chances is a Must

While TicketCity went viral one ball game, it's difficult to find lightning-in-a-bottle moments that present as opportunities to draw attention. But a huge investment you need to make in order to stand out is to capitalize on risks and chances.

It is in realizing how risk-taking goes a long way that will ultimately determine your fate.

"At the end of the day, if you can win on seven, tie on two, and lose on one in any deal that you're doing, I think you'll come out way ahead." - Randy Cohen

Final Four

1. What have you done to stand out in business and in life?

"Showing up, the WOO WOO philosophy, making it fun, and really, caring and keeping it real and trying to make a difference."

2. What advice would you give someone to stand out in business and in life?

"Do what you say you're gonna do long after the feeling leaves you. When you say you're gonna do something, do it. Don't come up with excuses. Get it done."

3. What is the best advice you received?

"Love what you do, do it well, and keep on doing it."

4. How do you want to be remembered?

"So on the tombstone. You know what, if it just says, 'WOO WOO' with a couple of exclamation points and me pointing with both my fingers at you in front of me, I'm there. In it to win it."

To hear more about Randy Cohen's WOO WOO philosophy and the secrets to showing up with swagger, download and listen to the show!

Learn more from Randy Cohen:

Book - Show Up With Swagger

TicketCity

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145 : Geoff Blades - Do What You Want to Stand Out Jul 02, 2018

Show notes

Geoff Blades is a personal development guru who’s an absolute inspiration and content machine. A former investment banker, he is now one of the top CEOs all over the world. His bestselling books, Do What You Want and The Trump Presidential Playbook are available for you to dive into and learn a thing or two about grabbing attention to bolster your endeavors.
Geoff Blades - Getting What You Work For
Coming from a working class background, Geoff learned from an early age what it takes to afford a better pair of shoes. You need to work for the things that you want and you need. This basic philosophy is exactly what changed the game. “If you put your head down and work hard, you can fundamentally transform your reality.” - Geoff Blades He began taking his education seriously, ultimately landing him in a good university and a job at Goldman Sachs.
What You Want
Very few people can answer what seems to be the most pressing of questions one can encounter in their entire lifetime. What do we want? Geoff believes, however, that it’s not so much as not knowing what we want in life. “Most people know exactly what they want but they don’t believe that they can get it and so they don’t give themselves the permission to open up their mind and go for it.” - Geoff Blades Understanding what we want, however, is only the first step to becoming successful and standing out in life.
Final Four
1. What have you done to stand out in business and in life? “I do what I want.”
2. What advice would you give someone to stand out in business and in life? “Do what you want. Find your edge.”
3. What is the best advice you received? “Own it.”
4. How do you want to be remembered? “For being willing to do what it takes to do what I want and then to share that and help other people to do what they want.” To hear what Geoff Blades thinks about the special snowflake mindset, how he perspires inspiration, and how he fares in business jeopardy, download and listen to the show! Learn more from Geoff Blades: Visit his website Check out his books Connect with him on LinkedIn Follow him on Twitter
Jesse loves connecting and hearing from his listeners: Like him on Facebook Find Your Yellow Tux Book - Find Your Yellow Tux Jesse Cole is a passionate and engaging business leader sharing other leaders messages, tips and fresh ideas on Business Done Differently. Subscribe to hear more front runners doing it differently and remember to leave him a rating and review on iTunes. Thanks to Podcast Pilot for the editing, show notes and publication. They take care of it all!

Christopher Wirth - Accountable, No-Quit Coaching | Ep. 144 Jun 25, 2018

Show notes

Christopher Wirth is the founder and president of No Quit Living. He is also the host of the eponymous podcast that rated as a Top 50 Business Podcast on iTunes. A former coach of the AAU, as well as in high school and college levels, he has now upped his game by being a coach in the business world.

A Love for Coaching

Growing up, Christopher loved basketball. He reached the peak of his career as a player in high school, which eventually gave way to his career as a coach during summer when he was in college. With his terrific team of talented players, he was put on the map with high-end coaches wishing to recruit his flock.

“It almost happened by chance that I realized that I loved coaching the kids and I loved connecting with them.” - Christopher Wirth

This love for coaching athletes spilled over into his next career. Business, life, and sports, it seems, have a lot of parallelisms that Christopher realized throughout the years.

Accountability is a Staple

It takes two to tango. A coach holds a player accountable for failure by increasing their laps. But a coach, and an employer, must hold themselves in an even higher level of accountability than anybody else to establish trust within a team.

“That’s the biggest thing we’ve seen. The overlap is the accountability.” - Christopher Wirth

This accountability should jive with a coach or an employer’s efforts to make sure that their teams understand the reason as to ultimate why they’re working together. At the end of the day, this level of awareness determines just how successful a company can be.

Final Four

1. What have you done to stand out in business and in life?

“I try to deliver first.”

2. What advice would you give someone to stand out in business and in life?

“Don’t just follow the norm. Do something a little bit different, but do it genuinely for yourself as well as the other person."

3. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

“Just keep your eyes on the prize and keep going, and when you feel like giving up, don’t.”

4. How do you want to be remembered?

“I wanna be remembered as the individual or company that helped people and motivated and inspired them.”

To hear Christopher Wirth talk about accountability, sports and business coaching analogies, and his mantras to not quit, download and listen to the show!

Learn from Christopher Wirth:

No Quit Living - Website

Like No Quit Living on Facebook

Follow No Quit Living on Twitter

Jesse loves connecting and hearing from his listeners:

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Thanks to Podcast Pilot for the editing, show notes and publication. They take care of it all!

143 Darren Ross Service Freak Jun 18, 2018

Show notes

Darren Ross is the COO of the Magic Castle Hotel in Hollywood CA. His hotel has been rated number 1 or number 2 in all of the Los Angeles area by TripAdvisor. It’s been featured in the best-selling book, The Power of Moments by Dan and Chip Heath. Darren is also the Chief Executive Freak of Service Freak Hospitality, a hotel management company.

“Companies are afraid to do this (free items) because they are thinking short-term profits over long-term plans.” - Jesse Cole

Jesse recently stayed at the Magic Castle Hotel and was absolutely blown away. On his way out the door to do a show in his yellow tux, Darren greets him and knows exactly who is. Darren searched him on his social media prior to his stay. That’s just part of what the Executive Freak does to make his guests’ experience over and above what they would get anywhere else.

“Our job is to compel our customers...to scream about us without asking them to do so.” - Darren Ross

Darren Ross Creating the Magic

In the early 2000’s, Darren had a secret shopping gig and went to the hotel. His first encounter was a hotel employee smoking at the front desk. The owners were dedicated to the hotel and placed him first as general manager to begin the process of rejuvenating the hotel built in 1957.

“I purposely stay away from technology...it takes away from what our business is, the face-to-face experience.” - Darren Ross

The hotel is a renovated apartment complex that’s limited by its age and space. There’s no bar, room service, spa, elevator, etc., but this does not stop them from creating an amazing experience for the guests.

Drawing from His Childhood

A lot of the experiences at the hotel come from Darren’s personal experiences from childhood. There’s a hotel stay, in particular, that’s he’s fond of. Imagine an unlimited Hershey Kisses fountain and kids. He doesn't remember the hotel and Darren can’t tell you the color of the carpet but he does remember the experience and that’s what he strives to create for his guests.

“You’ve got to put yourself in your customer’s shoes... (to) experience and realize there are friction points. - Jesse Cole

Final Four

What have you done to stand out in business and in life?

“I think honesty and accountability are incredibly important. We all make mistakes. I like to run into the problem instead of running away from the problem.”

What advice would you give someone to stand out in business and in life?

“Be generous."

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

“Apply hotel principles to your business.”

How do you want to be remembered?

“Generosity and kindness in his personal life and business.”

To hear Darren Ross talk about how the demand for his hotel is so high and how he empowers his employees, download and listen to the show!

Learn from Darren Ross:

Service Freak Academy

Connect with him on LinkedIn

Magic Castle Hotel

The Power of Moments Book

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Book - Find Your Yellow Tux

Thanks to Podcast Pilot for the editing, show notes and publication. They take care of it all!

142: Piyush Patel - How to Create a Culture That Matters Jun 11, 2018

Show notes

Piyush Patel is the founder of Digital-Tutors, a company providing e-learning opportunities for visual effects artists specializing in film and video games. He has built a culture founded on mutual respect and orange-induced creativity that continues to guarantee success for him and his flock.

His book, Lead Your Tribe, Love Your Work is up for grabs on Amazon!

“I found out that my biggest competitive advantage was my culture.” - Piyush Patel

Piyush Patel - Orange for Creativity

The tech world has been defined by blacks and grays long after its conception. Piyush figured that in order to stand out, they needed to embrace their own color. Deciding on using orange effectively differentiated them from everybody else.

Piyush also says that orange is the color of creativity at work, an effect coming full circle when the color was first chosen for their brand.

Overcoming the Culture Hurdle

Piyush remembers a time when he hated going to work. This is hugely attributed to the fact that the basic foundation of any company, its core values, weren’t established.

“I had to kind of go on this journey myself of ‘Who am I?’ and ‘What am I gonna stand for?’ And that’s gotta be the company core values.” - Piyush Patel

Realizing what these values are, Piyush came back to a company that has started to turn around and grow into the big thing that it is now today.

Final Four

What have you done to stand out in business and in life?

“I have stayed true to who I am.”

What advice would you give someone to stand out in business and in life?

“Don’t try to be somebody you’re not."

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

“Even if people tell you you can’t do it, only you can say you can’t do it.”

How do you want to be remembered?

“I wanna be remembered as somebody who changed the world.”

To hear Piyush Patel talk about his orange culture and tribe love, download and listen to the show!

Learn from Piyush Patel:

Book - Lead Your Tribe, Love Your Work

Connect with him on LinkedIn

Follow him on Twitter

Jesse loves connecting and hearing from his listeners:

Like him on Facebook

Find Your Yellow Tux

Book - Find Your Yellow Tux

Thanks to Podcast Pilot for the editing, show notes and publication. They take care of it all!

141: Jordan Harbinger - Starting Differently Jun 04, 2018

Show notes

Jordan Harbinger is the host of The Jordan Harbinger Show Podcast where the most successful people in the world have been guests. With his unique way of starting up things and forging relationships, he has become an indispensable force in the business industry.

“Instead of giving up or cramming himself [like], you know, the square peg to a round hole, he forged his own path.” - Jordan Harbinger

Jordan Harbinger - Hacking the System

Jordan confesses that he wasn’t exactly a self-starter. In fact, he had alternating phases of misbehaving and excellency throughout his academic journey. These instances of truance could’ve contributed to what seemed to be an eventual rebelliousness, but it wasn’t the case.

“I just really hated the way that the system worked. And I found, what was in my opinion, better ways to deal with those situations.” - Jordan Harbinger

He wasn’t being rebellious on purpose at all. Jordan just refused to give up on himself.

Against the World

His burgeoning penchant for going against the current was set in stone when he took the plunge and decided to invent his own concentration. Jordan went to college wanting to get practical skills for business. And get them he did.

He took up several language, political science, and economic courses, consulting from time to time with school officials to guide him. In the end of it all, he graduated as the sole University of Michigan alum with a degree in Integrated International Commerce.

“Which one says leader? The guy who plummeted through the spreadsheet class and just got it done or the person who’s like, yeah, this isn’t working for me, let me just make an entire major of myself?” - Jordan Harbinger

Final Four

What have you done to stand out in business and in life?

“I stand out by making sure that I leave other people better than I found them ideally.”

What advice would you give someone to stand out in business and in life?

“Any time something doesn’t go your way, you should ask yourself, what are the parts of this that I had within my own control?"

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

“At least once a year, really take stock of what you’re doing and ask yourself if this is the direction you wanna go in.”

How do you want to be remembered?

“This person created something that people used to become better.”

To hear Jordan Harbinger talk about his story, life’s mission, and “relationship” advices, download and listen to the show!

Learn from Jordan Harbinger:

Advanced Human Dynamics

Check out his website

Follow hm on Twitter

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Book - Find Your Yellow Tux

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140 : Dov Baron - On Purpose and Loyalty May 28, 2018

Show notes

Dov Baron is the host and executive producer of Leadership and Loyalty Show. His podcast has earned him not only accolades but a huge following of leaders on all levels of success as well. He is a leader among leaders, whose purpose-driven life has made him stand out in his career.

He is the bestselling author of Fiercely Loyal: How High Performing Companies Develop and Retain Top Talent.

Dov Baron - The Fall That Changed Everything

There are moments in our lives that we always remember, and there are moments that we never forget. For Dov, that moment in June 1990 probably sits at the top of his list of unforgettables. While on a rock climbing expedition, the adrenaline junkie and successful career man fell face first from a height of 120 feet.

“It was the opportunity to break me open and reveal the truth of who I am on a purpose level.” - Dov Baron

It was the end of his life as he’d known it. But it was a lot like breaking open the shell of who he was. It made him re-examine the purpose behind everything that he did.

Purpose Equals Giving

Humans have six basic needs. The first four of them is all about oneself. It took hitting rock bottom, quite literally, for Dov to realize when enough is enough.

“Purpose is not about what you get, it’s about what you give. So happiness comes from what we get, but fulfillment comes from what we give.” - Dov Baron

Once Dov realized what he’s meant to do in order to give to others, he began changing his approach. He’s now known as a speaker coming to the aid of organizations who wish to cultures of loyalty and purpose, led by purpose-driven leaders.

Final Four

1. What have you done to stand out in business and in life?

“I’ve been real.”

2. What advice would you give someone to stand out in business and in life?

“Master your story. Find out what your story is that will inspire others."

3. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

“You must be real.”

4. How do you want to be remembered?

“Dov Baron was a father to many.”

To hear Dov Baron talk about putting one’s heart above one’s smarts and how to take care of your tribe of talents, download and listen to the show!

Learn from Dov Baron:

Website - Full Monty Leadership