The Greatness Machine

Latest Episodes:

223 | Shayla Gifford | From College Dropout to Game-Changing Entrepreneur Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Is college really the only pathway to success?

Shayla Gifford, entrepreneur, loan officer, Branch Manager at Guild Mortgage, VP of Sales Development, and national coach, has proven that a college diploma is not the only key to success.

Leaving behind the confines of a classroom, her insatiable curiosity and unwavering ambition propelled her toward a destiny far beyond what she could have imagined. The journey, however, was not without its challenges. Shayla faced rejection and failure before she found success outside of her comfort zone.

Join us as we unravel the story of a college dropout who defied expectations, defied convention, and emerged as a game-changing entrepreneur.

In this inspiring episode, Darius and Shayla share their invaluable lessons as entrepreneurs. They highlight the importance of persistence, transcending comfort zones for success, being coachable, and thinking bigger. Tune in for motivating insights that will empower your entrepreneurial journey.

Topics include:

What Shayla learned during her involvement in network marketing
What inspired Shayla to value authenticity over conformity
How Shayla handled rejections during her transition into the mortgage business
Finding and appreciating people’s great qualities when recruiting and leading them
The benefits of building a close-knit team and fostering a supportive environment
The importance of persistence and not letting temporary obstacles define failure
Achieving success outside of your comfort zone
How to be coachable and why it matters
What makes a good coach
The value of thinking bigger and not limiting oneself
And other topics…

Connect with Shayla:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaygiff/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayla-gifford-3019396/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGaSsziZzd-RGC4KebhRyqw

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

TGM Classic | Nik Bhatia | Bitcoin as a Digital Version of Gold Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

On today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Nik Bhatia, financial researcher, CFA charterholder, and Adjunct Professor of Finance and Business Economics at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business where he teaches Applied Finance in Fixed Income Securities.

Previously, Nik worked the US Treasuries trading desk for a large institutional asset manager and has extensive trading experience in money markets and interest rate futures.

After starting his teaching career, Nik felt the urge to bring his research on both the international monetary system and Bitcoin together as one to write the book Layered Money: From Gold and Dollars to Bitcoin and Central Bank Digital Currencies.

You'll discover some of the primary misconceptions people have about Bitcoin.

You'll learn how to think of Bitcoin as a digital version of gold.

You'll also discover Bitcoin's current market capitalization.

Join Darius and Nik for this fascinating and eye-opening discussion.

Topics include:

Some of the primary misconceptions people have about Bitcoin
Seeing Bitcoin as a digital version of gold
Bitcoin's current market capitalization
And other topics…

Connect with Nik:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nik-bhatia-cfa-cmt-b549b858/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtc

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

Darius Classic | How to Overcome a Massive Failure Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

In business, failure on some level is inevitable. Whether it be a small stumble or a huge mistake, often the greatest business lessons can be found in those dark moments.

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius shares the story of one of his biggest triumphs, which ultimately led to his biggest failure and the lessons he learned along the way.

You'll discover the story of Darius' first big success that led to his first really big failure.

You'll learn the lessons he took from that failure and how it informed his future decisions.

You'll also discover what it was like to be running a mortgage brokerage during the 2008 collapse.

Join Darius as he offers some insights into recovering from failure in your business.

Topics include:

The story of Darius' first big success that led to his first really big failure
The lessons he took from that failure and how it informed his future decisions.
What it was like to be running a mortgage company during the 2008 collapse.
And other topics...

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

222 | Stacy Spikes | Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

What if the key to unlocking humanity’s full potential lies in embracing the unique perspectives and contributions of those who have been overlooked or undervalued throughout history?

Stacy Spikes’ journey as an outsider in the tech industry is a testament to the power of resilience and determination. Recognizing that he did not fit the conventional image of a successful tech entrepreneur, he fearlessly confronted the barriers before him, driven by a desire to break down not only the mold but also the glass ceiling that loomed above.

His experience navigating the intricacies of the tech world provided invaluable lessons about the challenges of being an outsider. But instead of viewing it as a hindrance, Stacy discovered that his unique position granted him a distinct advantage. By embracing his outsider perspective, he saw the untapped opportunities and unexplored niches that others may have overlooked.

Joining us on today’s episode of The Greatness Machine, Stacy talks about his book, Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider, where readers are taken on a powerful and transformative journey that combines an inspiring memoir with a candid exploration of the challenges faced by a trailblazing business leader.

In this episode, Darius and Stacy discuss Stacy’s entrepreneurial journey, including his experiences with MoviePass and his motivation to start Urbanworld Film Festival. Stacy shares some key takeaways from his book, Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider, offering guidance to fellow founders, and emphasizing the importance of overcoming mental barriers to success. They also recount MoviePass' rise and fall, its acquisition, and its triumphant return with a sustainable model.

Topics include:

What sparked Stacy’s passion for the entertainment industry that lead him to pursue a career in Hollywood
Stacy looks back at his experience and challenges working on soundtracks at Miramax
How the events of 9/11 have left a profound impact on Stacy’s perspective
How Urban World has helped launch the careers of notable filmmakers and actors
Stacy shares his take on embracing diversity
What motivated Stacy to start a nonprofit festival called Urban World
Co-founding Urbanworld Films and what the company offers to moviegoers
The challenges of co-founding MoviePass and what it took to fund the app
What the future looks like for MoviePass
What inspired Stacy to write Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider
And other topics…

Connect with Stacy:

Website: https://www.stacyspikes.com/

Website: https://www.moviepass.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacyspikes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacyspikes/

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

TGM Classic | David Siegel | The Power and Impact of Community Aug 12, 2023

Show notes

On today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with David Siegel, CEO of Meetup.com, where he oversees its global business. Meetup currently has 52 million members, hosts 15,000 events daily, and has events in 193 countries. David also hosts the “Keep Connected” podcast, devoted to the power of community. He is a business leader and expert in building personal and professional communities.

You'll discover how Meetup started and how it has impacted communities.

You'll learn what happened when WeWork acquired Meetup.

You'll also discover the concept of "Decide and Conquer," 44 decisions that will make or break all leaders.

Join Darius and David as they discuss the power of professional communities.

Topics include:

How Meetup started and how it has impacted communities
What happened when WeWork acquired Meetup
Decide and conquer: 44 decisions that will make or break all leaders
And so much more…

Connect with David:

Website: https://www.meetup.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmsiegel/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Davidmeirsiegel

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

Darius Classic | The Three Most Important Questions For Any Entrepreneur Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

"If you build it, they will come."

Most of us know that line from the film, 'Field of Dreams.' It's inspirational, but not a great strategy when building a business - especially when it applies to the core values of your business.

In June of 2008, Darius attended an event in which he experienced a "gut punch" that completely changed the trajectory of his life and forced him to rethink the way he ran his business.

In this quick solo outing, Darius shares the story of his life-altering experience - and it all came down to three simple questions, starting with, "Does your business have core values?" Core values are powerful tools for any business, but, as Darius discovered, there's far more to them than it appears.

You'll learn why creating core values for your business is important, but only the beginning of the process, not the end.

You'll discover why 9 out of 10 business owners get the idea of "core values" wrong.

You'll also learn about the power of "invisible scale" and how you can use this strategy to massively build your business.

Core values are powerful tools, but only if they're understood and used correctly by everyone in your business.

Stay tuned to the end for an exciting announcement about a new project Darius will be debuting shortly!

Topics include:

Why three questions at an event completely changed the trajectory of Darius' life
Why having core values and knowing what they actually are... are two completely different things
The power of "invisible scale"
And other topics…

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

221 | Jack Daly | Designing Your Life: A Blueprint for Personal Fulfillment Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

Are you tired of simply letting life happen to you, or are you ready to take charge and design a life that truly reflects your aspirations and desires?

In a world where routines and obligations often dictate our daily lives, it's easy to lose sight of our own dreams and ambitions. We find ourselves going through the motions, yearning for something more but unsure of how to break free from the monotony.

Jack Daly, an experienced and inspirational sales trainer, and sales coaching expert, is a true testament to the power of designing one's own life and stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when passion, dedication, and a clear vision converge. From humble beginnings, he defied the odds and carved a path that led him to the life he had always envisioned.

Driven by an unwavering determination, Jack pursued his dreams relentlessly, navigating through challenges and setbacks with resilience and an unyielding spirit. He understood that success was not a stroke of luck, but the result of strategic planning, purposeful actions, and an unwavering commitment to personal growth.

In this episode, Darius and Jack dive deep into a captivating conversation that spans various aspects of personal and professional growth. They explore Jack's early passion for sales, which ignited during his formative years and paved the way for his entrepreneurial endeavors. They discuss the transformative power of setting goals and the significance of writing them down.

Topics include:

Jack’s passion for sales began at a young age and led to early entrepreneurial ventures
The benefits of setting goals and writing them down
The importance of defining what success means to oneself
What it matters to put your bucket list out in the universe and share it openly
The value of defining and pursuing one’s own goals and desires in life
Why you should focus on starting and finishing rather than winning
Recognizing and tapping into your untapped potential in all areas of your life
Taking control of your mindset and choosing positivity to eliminate bad days
And other topics…

Resources mentioned:

Open by Andre Agassi: https://www.amazon.com/Open-Autobiography-Andre-Agassi/dp/0307388409

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle: https://www.amazon.com/New-Earth-Awakening-Purpose-Selection/dp/0452289963

Connect with Jack:

Website: https://jackdalysales.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackdaly/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ironmanjack

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

TGM Classic | Jason Feifer | Getting Excited for the Future Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

On today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, host of the Build for Tomorrow and Problem Solvers podcasts, and the author of Mr. Nice Guy and Build for Tomorrow. He's also worked as Editor of Men's Health, Fast Company, Maxim, and Boston Magazine, and has written about business technology for The Washington Post, Slate, and others.

Jason is best known as the guy who gets you excited for the future. He's passionate about helping people become more resilient in a world of constant change, so they can seize new opportunities before anyone else does.

You'll discover how Jason made the decision about what he wanted to do with his life.

You'll learn the one crucial mistake people make when writing for a publication.

You'll also discover why you need to be bad at something, in order to be good at it.

Topics include:

How Jason made the decision about what he wanted to do with his life
The one crucial mistake people make when writing for a publication
Why you need to be bad at something, in order to be good at it
And other topics…

Connect with Jason:

Website: https://www.jasonfeifer.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfeifer/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyfeifer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heyfeifer/

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

Darius Classic | How to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

Are you feeling bogged down by the monotony of your daily life?

On today’s show, Darius talks about enjoying the journey rather than incessantly worrying about the end results.

Like many of us, Darius loves his cup of morning coffee. And he obsesses about getting the right beans, the temperature, and adding the correct amount of milk.

Recently, a friend of Darius’s bought an expensive coffee machine that automated the entire process. While this made it extremely easy to make the perfect cup of coffee, Darius realized that he enjoyed the process of making his cup of coffee way more than drinking the coffee itself.

On today’s show, you will learn why you need to fully immerse yourself in the process to enjoy the outcome.

Darius also shares how the simple act of making a cup of coffee aligns with his SIX Core Values. And why you should strive to apply this same passion and love to all your aspects of life.

Topics include:

Enjoying the journey rather than incessantly worrying about the outcome
Finding joy in the mundane chores that typically bog us down
How to approach every aspect of your life with love and passion
And other topics…

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

220 | Moby and Lindsay Hicks | Rock Legend on How to Create Your Best Work/ Consciousness/Taming the Hungry Ghost Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever wondered how some artists achieve extraordinary success in the music industry against all odds?

Embarking on a creative journey in the music industry can be an unpredictable and daunting endeavor, much like the path followed by the renowned artist, Moby. His journey stands out as a shining example of unwavering dedication and ingenuity in the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry.

Moby, the sonic visionary renowned for his genre-defying soundscapes, has multiple Grammy nominations and a career spanning several decades. Best known for his hit songs “Porcelain,” “Natural Blues,” and “South Side,” he carved out a niche for himself, capturing the hearts of millions worldwide and he continues to be a prominent figure in the music industry, leaving an indelible mark on the world of electronic music and beyond.

In this episode, Darius, Moby, and Lindsay engage in a candid conversation, delving into Moby's decision to pursue music over becoming a philosophy professor. They explore the concept of the "hungry ghost" and achieve true fulfillment, touching upon the pursuit of happiness in entrepreneurial endeavors. Together, they discuss the role of ego in their lives, the need for open-mindedness, and the significance of being receptive to different perspectives, leaving listeners with profound insights into purpose, fulfillment, and self-discovery.

Topics include:

What made Moby decide to pursue music instead of becoming a philosophy professor
Moby reflects on his journey from poverty to material success, fame, and debauchery
The importance of finding meaning, purpose, and value in life
The concept of the “hungry ghost” and how to achieve true fulfillment
What it takes to achieve true happiness in entrepreneurialism
Lindsay discusses the constant striving in her career
The importance of learning from both successes and failures
Moby and Lindsay discuss the role of ego in their lives
The value of being willing to look at the evidence and avoid clinging to preconceived notions beliefs or ideas
The need for curiosity, open-mindedness, and a willingness to listen to different perspectives
And other topics…