Measure Success Podcast

Latest Episodes:

How to stop making excuses, earn your worth, and market and grow your business, with Craig T. Ingram Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

There are so many reasons a business could potentially fail. But the difference between businesses that weather the storm and those that go under is that their leaders don't treat those "reasons" as excuses. They treat them as learning opportunities.

That's just one characteristic of top leadership that we talk about in this week's episode, with guest Craig T. Ingram. Craig has over 25 years of commercialization leadership and management expertise, creating and implementing effective, out-of-the-box marketing and sales strategies in the MedTech and HealthTech industries.

Tune into the full episode for more on Craig's approach to business growth, how to stand out in a saturated marketplace, the power of saying "yes" often as a business leader, what makes a successful salesperson, and a lot more.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn:

More about what Craig does to help the MedTech industry, and how he started that career path
The big problem with hiring in the MedTech and HealthTech industries — and why that has allowed Craig to offer such a different perspective and approach
The #1 reason people don't earn their worth
Why "doing your best" isn't always enough in business
The top 3 characteristics Craig has noticed from highly successful people with extremely high net worths
Why business leaders should say "yes" more often than "no"
The skills any successful salesperson needs to have in order to communicate the value of their product or service
The difference between strategy and tactics — and why so many people don't realize this difference
How to get past the hurdle of people being "over-marketed" to
Why Craig pictures his day as a marathon, plus some of the habits he's integrated into those days to maintain peak focus as much as possible
Craig's book (and author) recommendations

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Craig's company, Medical Sales Growth
Craig T. Ingram on LinkedIn
Craig T. Ingram on Instagram
Craig T. Ingram on Twitter
"Millionaire Underdog: How to Start, Grow and Explode any Business" by J.T. Foxx
"The Private Equity Playbook: Management's Guide to Working with Private Equity" by Adam Coffey
"The Exit-Strategy Playbook: The Definitive Guide to Selling Your Business" by Adam Coffey
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Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

Overcoming trauma to find success in business and life, with Dr. Don Wood Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

The word "trauma" can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. And many might think it falls squarely in the "personal" realm, not the professional one. But unresolved trauma can actually show up in business — and can even impact what kind of success your organization is able to have.

Our guest this week is someone who has studied the brain and the science of trauma extensively — and works with extremely high-performing people to help them move past their own trauma. Don Wood, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, creator of the patented TIPP method, and Founder and CEO of the Inspired Performance Institute.

Listen to the full conversation for more on the personal story that inspired Don's company, how our brains record and process trauma, what that process can mean for business owners, why self-sabotage isn't actually real, and more.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn:

More about Don's company, the Inspired Performance Institute, plus the personal family story that inspired its genesis
The science behind trauma, and why our brains store traumatic memories in "high definition"
The 4 brain wave states, and more detail about when each one is activated
Why traditional therapy isn't the best modality for getting past trauma
More about Don's specific process for helping someone unpack and move past their trauma
What it means that your brain is actually just a "giant computer" — and why you need new codes in order to get out of the trauma loop
Why Don doesn't believe the brain is capable of self-sabotage
How trauma can show up within a business, and how it can impact strategic planning
The story of how Don helped a Spartan Warrior champion shift his mindset and find even more success
More about the future books Don is planning

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Why the vast majority of strategies fail — and how to break that trend, with CEO Aric Wood Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

More than 80% of strategic plans fail. So chances are, if you're an organizational leader, you're (unfortunately) part of that group. But there are ways to turn that tradition around — and actually execute on the strategies you spend so much time designing.

Our latest guest is an expert in helping companies do just that. Aric Wood is the CEO of XPLANE, a global design consultancy that serves Fortune 500 businesses and global organizations to clarify, communicate, and activate their strategies and drive change in their organizations. He is also the author of the Strategy Activation Playbook.

Tune into the full episode for more on common mistakes that companies make in their strategic planning, the importance of human-centered design in reversing that trend, how many touchpoints you *really* need with your team to actually execute your vision, how to use focus groups to understand barriers, and more.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn:

More about Aric's company, XPLANE
The statistic about strategic planning that was "infuriating" for Aric — and how his company helps to change that stat
What an organization's failure to reach its vision or strategic initiatives boils down to
Why human-centered design is important to incorporate into strategic planning
Why the way companies have traditionally rolled out strategy is a "dinosaur" — and what's changing now
More about the 80-20 rule, and how understanding it can impact change management at your organization
How many touchpoints you typically need with your team (and what kind of touchpoints) if you want to successfully enact a strategic plan
How to use focus groups to figure out the barriers to change at your organization
Why the "smartest person in the room" is actually the "room"
Why rolling out a strategy as a 100-page PowerPoint deck is a bad plan — and what to do instead
The biggest obstacle to actually executing a strategic plan
How Aric measures success with his clients

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

XPLANE consultancy
Aric Wood on LinkedIn
"The Strategy Activation Playbook: A Practical Approach to Bringing Your Strategies to Life" by Aric Wood
"The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman
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Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

How to align work, life, and self to find true success, with coach and author Kevin Lawrence Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

By now, we probably all know that the concept of "work-life balance" is a myth. But there IS a better way of thinking about how we align our work with the rest of our lives (and personalities). And there's no one better to talk about how to do that than our latest guest.

Kevin Lawrence is a straight-talking coach and author who helps CEOs and executives around the world break through business challenges, grow their companies, defy the gravity of stress, and succeed in work, self, and life.

Tune into the full episode for more on what Kevin describes as "licking toads," the top characteristic someone needs to have in order to be a great leader, tips for effectively delegating, and more.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn:

More about what Kevin does and how he got to this career
What it means to "make it" — and why the traditional idea of making it is actually a sham
How generational wealth can turn into a generational "burden"
How Kevin coaches executives to bounce back, even after hitting rock bottom
Why the idea of "work-life balance" is a flawed concept
The importance of everyone finding the path and type of work that best aligns with their personalities — and why people should give themselves permission to pursue that path
The power of finding "your people"
What "licking the toads" means — and how to overcome the hurdle that metaphor represents
The 75-cent issues that cost $75,000 in the long run
The hardest characteristic to cultivate in order to be an effective leader
One of the biggest lessons that people early in their careers need to learn
How Kevin measures success with his clients
What "resilience rituals" are — plus some examples of Kevin's personal ones

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Lawrence & Co. website
Kevin Lawrence on LinkedIn
"Your Oxygen Mask First: 17 Habits to Help High Achievers Survive & Thrive in Leadership & Life" by Kevin N. Lawrence
Lawrence & Co. on Twitter
The Growth Whisperers Podcast with Brad Giles and Kevin Lawrence
Lawrence & Co. newsletter
"Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter" by Liz Wiseman
"Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill
"How to Win Friends and Influence People: The Only Book You Need to Lead You to Success" by Dale Carnegie
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Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

How to "de-linchpin" yourself and get back to big-picture strategy in your business, with Isabelle Mercier-Turcotte Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

Do you ever feel like YOU are the bottleneck preventing growth within your organization? Unfortunately, it's a common mistake business owners make every day: getting stuck in the weeds, becoming the "linchpin," and slowing down growth.

But there is a better way — one that gets you back into the strategic leadership seat, and that gets your organization back on track. Our guest this week is an expert in helping business owners make that shift (and she's had to do it herself, too). Isabelle Mercier-Turcotte is a "no-nonsense" dynamo, born to catapult heart-centered entrepreneurs and business leaders to build impactful brands, business and lives. She's also one of the few repeat guests on the Measure Success Podcast.

Listen to the full episode for more on how to build a strategy that will get you from where you are now to where you want to go, how to establish a deeper "why" for your goals, the art and science of delegation, and why Isabelle swears by a "gambling fund" at her organization (it's not what you think).

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn:

Why the business and sports worlds have more parallels than most people think
How to connect goals to a deeper "why" and why that connection is so important
What the biggest tax you'll ever pay is — and how to keep yourself from having to pay it
What strategy means according to Isabelle's perspective
How to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to go
Why it's important for Isabelle to "step out of the way" in her own business
What a linchpin means in the context of business — and why Isabelle is trying to get away from being one
The power of having entire weeks with no meetings, client work, etc so that company leaders can focus on big-picture strategy
Why Isabelle promotes "scheduling spontaneity" as well as a "gambling fund"
What "winning architecture" means — and how to integrate it into your life and business
How to stick with your own boundaries and calendar blocks and stay disciplined to creating space for yourself and your own business planning
When you should automate, delegate, or eliminate
How Isabelle measures success in her own life

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

LeapZone Strategies website
LeapZone Strategies on LinkedIn
Isabelle's TEDx Talks
"Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?" by Seth Godin
40 Strategy
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Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

How to avoid common mistakes with your business strategy, with author Jim Gitney Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

If you've ever had a strategic initiative fail at your organization and thought to yourself, "What am I doing wrong as a leader?" this episode is for you.

The truth is, most leaders end up with several failed strategies under their belt. The trick is to stop making the same mistakes and lean into some best practices for strategic planning that *actually* work.

There's no one better to teach leaders how to build that foundation and grow through strategy than our latest guest. Jim Gitney, the Founder and CEO of Group50® Consulting has 45 years of corporate and consulting experience working with over 200 companies in guiding them toward double-digit top line and bottom line growth.

Listen to the full conversation for more on the top mistakes business owners make when it comes to successful strategic initiatives, what the "business hierarchy of needs" is (and what CEOs can learn from it), the downsides of having too many goals, how to align compensation structures in a way that encourages forward motion on your strategic initiatives, and much more.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn:

Jim's background in strategic consulting, and more about his approach
Why it's important to narrow focus when it comes to strategic objectives, instead of casting a wide net
More about the "five whys" exercise that Jim takes his clients through in order to establish what their most important goal is
How to break strategy down into fundamental elements that everyone within a business can understand and implement
What the business hierarchy of needs is, and why having a strong foundation is so important to creating strategies that succeed
Statistics about why strategies fail
Why mid-level managers typically hold strategic initiatives back
How to correlate compensation structures with successful strategies, and why those systems can't be just about money
How to know when a strategic initiative is going to make an actual impact and really move the dial
The biggest things that businesses struggle with when it comes to moving major initiatives forward
Why every business leader should be able to answer three questions about their strategies: "From what," "to what" and "by when"
Why business is done horizontally, not vertically
How Jim and his team measure success internally

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Strategy Realized website
Group50 Consulting
Jim Gitney on LinkedIn
"Strategy Realized - The Business Hierarchy of Needs: Turning Strategy Into Results" by Jim Gitney
Jim Gitney on YouTube
"The Premonition: A Pandemic Story" by Michael Lewis
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Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

From high school dropout to corporate executive and leadership expert, with Ken Hannaman Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

Our latest guest, Ken Hannaman, certainly hasn't gone down the "traditional" route in life. Even though he was a decent student as a teenager, he dropped out of high school. But it's what he's done in the years since — moving all the way up to corporate leadership positions at some of the most recognizable names in restaurants — that makes his journey unique.

Ken is the Founder and Possibility Mindset Coach at Ungraduated Living, as well as a corporate executive leader of 400+ restaurants.

Listen to the full conversation for more on Ken's journey after dropping out of high school, why a business's success will almost always hinge on one specific metric, the top reasons people don't reach their goals, how to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, and more.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn:

How Ken has not followed the "typical life pattern," including his journey to "abundance" after dropping out of high school
Why your own results and behavioral skills can mean more than your pedigree, and whether Ken has ever experienced challenges because he wasn't a high school grad
How Ken inspires other people through his journey and helps them see what's possible for their future
One of the most important metrics that informs whether a business will be successful, according to Ken's experience
Tips for keeping retention high at an organization
One of the most gratifying and humbling experiences Ken consistently has in his career
How to drive consistent results within a business
Why results depend so much on the manager of an organization
The top reason people never make it to the next level or reach their goals, and why people should turn towards their fear if they hope to realize their full potential
How Ken helps people move past their fear and why it "can't be all about you"
How to "become your own currency"
The Japanese concept of "ikigai" and why it's so helpful in someone's journey to meeting their full potential
The mindset of lack vs the mindset of abundance, and how that mindset shift can transform your life and career
Why and how Ken delegates in order to make the most of his time, plus the concept of "habit-stacking"

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Ungraduated Living
Ken Hannaman on LinkedIn
"Ungraduated: Finding your why and dropping out of outdated belief systems" by Ken Hannaman
Ungraduated Living on Twitter
Ungraduated Living on Instagram
Ken Hannaman on Facebook
"The Dream Manager" by Matthew Kelly
"Business Brilliant: Surprising Lessons from the Greatest Self-Made Business Icons" by Lewis Schiff
"Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones" by James Clear
"The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level" by Gay Hendricks
"The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment" by Eckhart Tolle
"The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life's Perfection" by Michael A. Singer
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Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

How to nurture the best client relationships, with gourmet gift business owner Lucia E. Robles Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Corporate gift giving can often feel stale, depersonalized, and obligatory. But our latest guest, President, co-founder, and Chef Lucia E. Robles, is on a mission to change that — and help companies build better relationships with those they work with. Lucia also knows a thing or two about building great client relationships through top-notch customer service. As the owner of a luxury B2B gourmet gift company, it's a cornerstone of her business.

Lucia is a pastry chef turned business owner, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate, who is the president and co-founder of the high-end luxury B2B gourmet gift company, Lucia & Co. Her firm makes consistent client appreciation gifting possible with their customizable auto done-for-you gift plans, and specializes in working with professionals who have compliance sending and spending regulations.

At 40 Strategy, we're also a client of Lucia & Co. — we can vouch for their excellent customer service and gifts with a personalized touch.

Listen to the full episode for more on how companies can be better gift-givers, the secret to top-notch customer service, the power of intention-setting, and more.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn:

More about Lucia's business, which involves B2B gifting
The key to great (and sincere) customer service
The mistake that people (and companies) make when it comes to gift-giving
How Lucia went from foodie and pastry chef to small business owner
Some of the growing pains Lucia has experienced as she's grown her business
Why Lucia's company was a remote and hybrid-first workplace from its inception
Some of the metrics Lucia uses to measure success within her company — and her life
The value of not being on Zoom, according to Lucia, and why she does so much of her business on regular phone calls
Why Lucia "meowed" at her co-workers in her previous corporate job — and what the experiment says about communication
Why intention-setting is so important in Lucia's daily life, plus other regular habits she's integrated
What a "cleaner" is in the setting of a business, and why it's not always possible to train someone for that role

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

How to build habits that help you reach your goals and build your best life, with mindset and business coach JM Ryerson Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

If you're a human being, chances are you've failed to reach at least one goal in your lifetime — if not several. But when it comes to actually achieving what you set out to achieve, your daily habits and rituals can make an outsized impact. So, how do you consistently incorporate those healthy routines that move you forward? How do you keep yourself out of the rut of bad habits?

Our guest this week is someone who has mastered the art of habit-building. JM Ryerson is an international speaker, mindset and business coach, host of Let's Go Win podcast, and best-selling author of two books. He helps high-performing leaders define and execute their individual leadership styles in order to grow the impact of their businesses.

Listen to the full episode for more on JM's two and a half hour morning routine, the principles he teaches his coaching clients, the one-word question someone has to ask themselves if they haven't hit their goals yet, simple ways to integrate healthy routines into your daily life, and more.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn:

More about JM's background, including his time building 3 companies in the financial services world, and how he got into coaching
Some of the key coaching principles JM uses to help his clients transform their lives
One of the most important questions you can ask yourself if you're stuck somewhere and aren't yet where you want to be
The power of habits and rituals when it comes to accomplishing your goals, plus JM's advice for integrating more consistency into your life
Why JM says a pen and piece of paper is the best form of therapy available
How JM keeps track of his daily routines to keep himself accountable
The two things that someone always has control over
Why JM sees himself as a "lifestyle coach", instead of a "life coach
How to keep yourself on track even when life happens, and why he integrates pieces of his morning routine throughout the rest of his day
Whether or not you should use calendar blocks and scheduling in order to keep yourself accountable to your goals and habits
What meditation means to JM and why it's so important for him to integrate into his life
How to keep perspective and remain present with your loved ones, even when you don't feel like you have any energy to give
How JM measures success with his clients and in his personal life
The 7 areas of JM's life that he checks in with regularly to make sure he's reaching his goals and living his best life

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Let's Go Win
JM Ryerson on LinkedIn
"Legendary: A simple playbook for building and living a legendary life, and being remembered as a legend" by Tommy Breedlove
"Let's Go Win: The Keys To Living Your Best Life" by JM Ryerson
"Champion's Daily Playbook: Let's Go Win!" by JM Ryerson
"The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success" by Darren Hardy
"The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business" by Charles Duhigg
"Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action" by Simon Sinek
"Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork" by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl
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Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn

How to make innovation work and thrive with entrepreneurship expert Louis Foreman Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

Not every small business succeeds. In fact, most don't. But entrepreneurs should follow certain principles — and avoid common pitfalls — to give themselves the best chance. Our guest this week, Louis Foreman, is one of the best to teach us the ins and outs of entrepreneurship (he even started his first business when he was still in college).

Louis is the founder and Chief Executive of Enventys Partners, an integrated product design and engineering firm. Over the past 20 years, Louis has created 9 successful start-ups and has been directly responsible for the creation of over 20 others. He is the inventor of 10 registered U.S. patents, and his firm is responsible for the development and filing of well over 700 more.

Listen to the full episode for more on the questions someone should ask before they start a new business, how to leverage crowdfunding in your fundraising strategy, top mistakes that entrepreneurs make, and more.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn:

More about how Louis got started with entrepreneurship, including the story of his very first business, which he started in college
How Louis pivoted from some of his earlier businesses into what he's doing now
The key characteristics it takes to make a small business work, plus the 5 questions someone should ask themselves before they start a business
The different types of capital an entrepreneur can use to finance a new business, and what a new owner should solidify before they pitch to investors
How to leverage crowdfunding to pursue other types of investment
How to eliminate uncertainty from investors' perspective, and why it's so important to have an exit strategy
Some of the biggest things that entrepreneurs overlook, plus examples of how brands can differentiate themselves from the competition
What people value within the marketplace, and how entrepreneurs can figure out what's most important to their ideal customers
How Louis measures success — in his own life, and within the companies he's worked with
The activities and habits Louis has kept up that have kept his energy and productivity up
How COVID shifted Louis's typical business travel schedule and made him rethink how to provide value to the people he worked with