The Greatness Machine

Latest Episodes:

TGM Classic | Mike Michalowicz | Authorship: The Brutal Essence Of Entrepreneurship Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

How do you define success?

The entrepreneurial path is a long and difficult one, filled with risks and obstacles to be overcome. On the other hand, there are great rewards to be found along that path as well, as long as you have a clear definition of what success means to you.

One path taken by many entrepreneurs is authorship - leveraging their experience, successes, and failures and sharing those insights with their readers. Such a path is often far more difficult than people realize and brings with it its own set of challenges.

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Mike Michalowicz, entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Get Different, Fix This Next, Clockwork, Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan, and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. His books have been published around the world and translated into 10 different languages, and he's passionate about connecting with entrepreneurs.

You'll discover some of the challenges of writing, launching, and promoting a book, and why many new authors only focus on the first part of that process and forget the rest. You'll learn why "success" has almost as many definitions as those who strive for it in business and in life. You'll also discover why Mike believes that marketing is not in any way bothersome - in fact, it's the ultimate, deliberate act of kindness.

Join Darius and Mike as they explore the long and winding road to becoming an entrepreneur, as well as the rewards and pitfalls that can be found along the way.

Topics include:

The challenges and rewards of writing, launching, and promoting a book, particularly for an entrepreneur
How we each define success in different ways, based on our beliefs, experiences, and desires
Why Michael believes that marketing is, in reality, a deliberate act of kindness
And other topics…

Connect with Mike:

Website: https://mikemichalowicz.com/

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

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

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

169 | Larry Yatch | Navy SEAL Teaches Us The 6 Essential Pillars Of Successful Leadership Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

What defines an effective leader? What are the qualities employers look for in a leader?

In an ever-changing workplace, an effective leader is an excellent communicator and someone who empowers their team. Integrity, honesty, and authenticity are essential attributes of a good leader. Good leadership involves defining outcomes and then helping team members use their talents to achieve them.

Larry Yatch, an elite leadership strategist and the creator of the SEAL Success programs, joins us on the Greatness Machine for the second time around to talk about his book, How Leadership (Actually) Works: A Navy SEAL’s Complete System for Coordinating Teams.

In this episode, Darius and Larry dive deep into leadership and discuss the six-pillar system that teaches companies how to effectively structure teams, manage behavior, and maximize self-regulation. They also discuss purpose alignment and the power of language in coordinating action with others.

Topics include:

Larry talks about his book How Leadership (Actually) Works
An overview of the 6 pillars of leadership
Why Larry used to feel unfulfilled despite his achievements
How to produce success as an individual or as a company
Leveraging language for building a good team
Language as a tool to coordinate action with others
The difference between ego and confidence
How to align individual, team, and organizational purpose
The effects of social media and news on a person’s self-regulation
Larry defines culture and leadership
And other topics…

Resources mentioned:

Larry Yatch (Episode 1): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/141-larry-yatch-leading-like-a-navy-seal/id1555334180?i=1000583007928&l=ru

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins: https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Hurt-Me-Master-Your/dp/1544512287

Connect with Larry:

Website: https://www.sealteamleaders.com/

Book: https://www.howleadershipactuallyworks.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-yatch/

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

168 | Andrea Petersen | Building A Purpose-Driven Real Estate Business Jan 20, 2023

Show notes

Is it possible to invest in real estate with little money?

Investing in real estate has proven to be one of the safest and most profitable forms of long-term investing. Contrary to what many believe, you don’t need to have large amounts of capital to get started.

In fact, it is not necessary that you own a property, flip properties, or invest huge amounts of money in development deals in order to enter this lucrative market.

Andrea Petersen, Co-Founder and CEO of the real estate crowdfunding platform School of Whales, joins us on the Greatness Machine to talk about her wide range of experiences from commercial real estate to renewable energy, hospitality, and banking.

In this episode, Darius and Andrea dive deep into real estate investing, crowdfunding, entrepreneurship, success, purpose, and a lot more.

Topics include:

What made Andrea shift from banking to entrepreneurship
What they do and offer with the School of Whales
Where the name School of Whales comes from
How School of Whales differ from Fundrise
What types of returns the School of Whales are targeting
What Andrea envisions the School of Whales to be in the future
How Andrea defines success
Investing in real estate in Miami
And other topics…

Connect with Andrea:

Website: https://www.schoolofwhales.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/school-of-whales/

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

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 | Shelley Paxton | Finding Your True Calling Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

Have you taken a moment to step off the hamster wheel to pause and reflect on whether your life is headed in the right direction?

On today’s show, we interview ex-CMO of Harley Davidson, Shelley Paxton who shares with us her wisdom on purpose, alignment, and discovery. You will learn the real truth about busyness and the importance of figuring out what’s truly important to you.

With her trademark sass and rebel attitude, Shelley shares her incredible life story, and how she ended up stewarding some of the most iconic organizations in the world including Harley, Visa, McDonald’s, and AOL. Shelley stumbled into the world of marketing and advertising because of her dad.

But years later, when she made it to the top of the corporate ladder, she still felt unfulfilled and non-aligned. So, at the height of her success, in 2016, she decided to give it all up and embark on her discovery journey. This ultimately led to Soulbbatical and her new life mission – which is to liberate the souls of leaders and organizations, by inspiring them to realize their greatest purpose and potential.

Topics include:

Building a rabid brand following
The real truth about busyness
How to discover your life’s calling
Purpose of a sabbatical
When your soul smacks you in the face
And more topics…

Connect with Shelley:

Website: https://www.shelleypaxton.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-paxton-759163/

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

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

167 | Kute Blackson | How To Use Surrender To Live An Extraordinary Life Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

What does it mean to surrender and let go of control?

Letting go and surrendering can be a difficult task, but it is often the only way to truly move forward. It takes courage to relinquish control and accept that sometimes life has its own path for us.

But with this courage comes great rewards; when we let go of our worries, fears, doubts, and expectations we open ourselves up to new possibilities in life. By surrendering, we are going with the flow of life while working towards our goals.

Kute Blackson, world-renowned teacher, author, leader, and speaker in the world of personal development, joins us on the Greatness Machine to dive deep into his bestselling book, The Magic of Surrender: Finding the Courage to Let Go.

In this episode, Darius and Kute talk about how people can break free from self-imposed conditions by surrendering and letting go of control. They also discuss how painful experiences and traumas can lead us into finding our purpose in life.

Topics include:

Kute shares what it feels like growing up in a long line of spiritual leaders
Kute looks back coming to the US for the first time to live his calling
How to turn painful experiences into purpose
What it means to surrender and how to do it
Kute shares the story behind writing The Magic of Surrender
Letting go and breaking conditioned patterns
Moving away from ego to seek the truth
And other topics…

Sources mentioned:

Power of One More: https://www.amazon.com/Power-One-More-Ed-Mylett/dp/1119815363

Connect with Kute:

Website: https://kuteblackson.com/

Website: https://www.boundlessblissbali.com/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Surrender-Finding-Courage-Let-ebook/dp/B08LMJ8YQF

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

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

166 | Denise Gosnell | The Vacation Effect - How To Work Half As Much And Make Twice As Much Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

Do you ever feel like there’s just not enough time in the day to get everything done?

We all have dreams of working less and making more, but it can seem impractical. Whether it’s getting through our to-do list at work or completing household chores, finding ways to maximize efficiency and productivity can be difficult.

Although it can be challenging, the good news is it’s possible! Working half as much and making twice as much may sound like an impossible feat, but it’s actually not that hard.

Denise Gosnell, CEO, entrepreneur, strategist, attorney, investor, and the author of the bestselling book The Vacation Effect for Entrepreneurs, joins us on the Greatness Machine to share her secret to running three companies while working on an average of just three days a week.

In this episode, Darius and Denise talk about workaholicism, the American “grind” culture,” and how it is possible to break free from these mentalities and achieve the freedom mindset. They also discuss how to eliminate the feeling of guilt when pursuing the life you have always dreamed of.

Topics include:

How Denise became a seven-figure entrepreneur from humble beginnings
What workaholism taught Denise about money, life, and family
How a tragic fire incident changed Denise’s mindset to be truly happy
What working 80 hours a week look like, its benefits, and challenges
What motivated Denise to do a three-day workweek test for 30 days
Evaluating team members based on results versus hours spent
Some of the stumbling blocks Denise experienced around the framework
How to increase productivity and get more done in less time
How Denise spends her “freedom days”
How to overcome the grind culture and workaholic mentality
And other topics…

Connect with Denise:

Website: https://denisegosnell.com/

Website: https://growbysubtraction.com/

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

Book: https://denisegosnell.com/book

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 | Jeff Booth | Future Shock: The Challenges Facing Currency In The 21st Century And Beyond Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

If asked, there's one ability most of us would like to have - the ability to see into the future and prepare for what's to come.

While no one can truly predict the future, we've gotten very good at using data and technology to make educated guesses about what's coming next.

In today's episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius chats with Jeff Booth, an entrepreneur, tech leader, strategic advisor, proud family man, and the author of The Price of Tomorrow: Why Deflation is the Key to an Abundant Future.

Jeff draws on his 20 years of experience at the forefront of technological change to provide an enlightening look at what's to come. You'll discover why the entrepreneurial mindset and understanding your own impact on the world will be key to creating a better future.

You'll learn why technology is a deflationary force, and why the current political and financial system impedes that deflationary effect. You'll also discover some of the challenges facing currencies around the world, such as the inflation/deflation cycle, and the manipulation of global currencies to gain trade advantages.

Topics include:

Why it's essential to focus on an entrepreneurial mindset and realize how much your impact in the world matters
Why technology is a deflationary force and what the rapid growth of technology means for the future
The future of currency, including a true understanding of inflation and deflation, as well as the political realities that affect them
And other topics…

Connect with Jeff:

Website: https://www.jeffreybooth.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffBooth

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

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

165 | Robert Kerbeck | From Hollywood to Wall Street: How Robert Kerbeck Got His Spying Job While Working As An Actor Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

Corporate spying, also known as industrial espionage, refers to the act of obtaining confidential information about a business or organization for the purpose of gaining a competitive advantage. This can be done through a variety of methods, including computer hacking, physical theft of documents, wiretapping, and infiltrating the organization with undercover agents.

One common technique used in corporate spying is social engineering, which involves manipulating individuals into divulging sensitive information. This can be done through phishing scams, pretexting (creating a false identity or pretext in order to obtain sensitive information), or baiting (offering something desirable in exchange for information).

Robert Kerbeck, the founder of the Malibu Writers and a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, joins us on the Greatness Machine to look back at how his career shifted from acting on theater stages to doing his apprenticeship as a corporate spy.

In this episode, Darius and Robert dive deep into the world of corporate spying and the most common techniques used in industrial espionage. They also talk about the effects of ransomware attacks on businesses and how these can be prevented.

Topics include:

How Robert stumbled into a spying job while working as an actor
Robert shares important advice for job seekers
The most efficient method for extracting data
The most elaborate ruse Robert has ever conducted
How do corporate spies get paid
The legality of corporate espionage
Robert talks about writing his book Ruse: Lying the American Dream from Hollywood to Wall Street
How ransomware is a big problem for businesses
Ways to protect businesses from ransomware attacks
And other topics…

Resources mentioned:

Andrew Bustamante on TGM: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/101-andrew-bustamante-from-cia-operative-to-ceo/id1555334180?i=1000561746615

Ruse: https://www.amazon.com/Ruse-Lying-American-Hollywood-Street/dp/1586423169

Connect with Robert:

Website: https://www.robertkerbeck.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kerbeck-12aa7a11/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/robertkerbeck

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

164 | The Greatest Lesson I Ever Learned; How I Discovered The Gift Of Gratitude Jan 06, 2023

Show notes

What are you grateful for the most?

Gratitude leads to greater happiness and joy in life. It allows us to reflect upon our accomplishments and appreciate the things that we have at the moment. The act of gratitude allows us to embrace everything that makes our lives meaningful.

Today, I am flying solo to talk about my journey of discovering the gift of gratitude and how it changed my life for the better.

In this episode, I will talk about how I managed to fight the voice of discontent in my head, how I turned from being ungrateful to realizing all the good things in my life, and all the lessons I learned from living an ungrateful life for so long.

Topics include:

How I discovered the gift of gratitude and how that moment changed me
What prompted me to almost quit my nine-figure business
Why I started writing a list of things I want to accomplish
How I realized that I was living a life of ungratefulness
Why being ungrateful is costing you happiness
And others topics…

Resources mentioned:

Power of One More: https://www.amazon.com/Power-One-More-Ed-Mylett/dp/1119815363

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 | Andre Norman | Solitary Confinement to Ambassador of Hope Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

From a childhood filled with gang violence and illiteracy resulting in a 100+ year prison sentence to a successful career as a speaker, author, and Harvard Fellow - it sounds like something out of a Hollywood film. In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with the "Ambassador of Hope," Andre Norman, to discuss his incredible and inspiring journey, as well as the circumstances that shaped his decisions at a young age.

You'll learn how he struggled with illiteracy and systemic racism in the inner city of Boston and how they factor into his choices. You'll discover how the path he was on eventually led to a series of convictions, eventually resulting in a sentence of over 100+ years. You'll learn how a two-year stint in solitary confinement led to an epiphany and a new path for Andre's life... one that eventually led to Harvard University.

You'll also learn how systemic racism and classism pervade the country and results in a society where 4% of the population makes up 50% of the prison system. Andre's story is powerful and ultimately triumphant. He is living proof that, while we all have the potential to rise above our circumstances, there is still a great deal of work to be done to create a society where every person has the opportunity to discover their greatness.

Topics include:

Andre's struggles with poverty and illiteracy growing up in the inner city of Boston
How he ended up with a 100+ year prison sentence
The epiphany that changed his life and put him on a path that eventually led to becoming the "Ambassador of Hope”
The effects of the systemic racism and classism that still pervades the country
And other topics…

Connect with Andre:

Website: https://andrenorman.com/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-norman/

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