The Greatness Machine

Latest Episodes:

126 | Matt Abrahams | Using Science and Neurology Level Up Your Communication Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

Communication is complex. While most people associate it solely with talking or speaking, a good communicator must also have the ability to listen, question, and provide constructive input. The act of communicating not only allows one to convey information but also helps build relationships, enhances engagement, fuels innovation, and fosters trust.

But just like any other skill, learning to be better at communicating comes with challenges.

Matt Abrahams, author of “Speaking Up without Freaking Out” and host of the “Think Fast, Talk Smart” podcast, names anxiety as one of the challenges on why it can be hard for some people to express their thoughts and ideas. He believes that it is normal to be nervous and goes on to share some helpful tips and routines that can help manage public speaking anxiety.

In this episode, Darius and Matt discuss the types of communication, the ways to become a great communicator, the challenges of public speaking and how to overcome them, the importance of structuring communication plans, and how to leverage and manage public speaking anxiety.

Topics include:

How Matt realized his passion for communication at an early age
Leveraging and managing speaking anxiety
How Ted Talks encourages effective good communication
Tips on how to level up speaking
Things to learn from neuroscience to communicate better
The power of communication when it comes to status
How to leverage communication to elevate status
The importance of listening skills in communication
Structuring communication plans
Hacks for public speaking with confidence
The story behind the creation of Matt’s book “Speaking Up Without Freaking Out”
Hosting “Think Fast, Talk Smart” podcast
Ways for communicating successfully with remote teams

Connect with Matt:

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

Website: https://nofreakingspeaking.com/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-fast-talk-smart-communication-techniques/id1494989268

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

125 | Chris Hill | The Changing Face Of Investing Aug 19, 2022

Show notes

There are things that used to exist 25 years ago that seem strange today. Investors face the unpredictability of markets, corrections and recessions, and the overwhelming amount of information on the internet about investing.

In the "Motley Fool Money" podcast, Chris Hill and a team of analysts break down the implications of stock market movements for long-term, business-focused investors based on the day's top business news and financial headlines.

Chris believes in the importance of seeking the help of professionals when it comes to investing. He also emphasizes that there are still a number of reasons stopping people from investing, pointing out the state of financial literacy in schools then and now.

In this episode, Darius and Chris discuss the evolution of financial media and how the internet has revolutionized the industry. They also talk about Chris’s entry at The Motley Fool and how the company grew and expanded over the years with a mission to help millions of people around the world achieve their financial goals.

Topics include:

What attracted Chris to join The Motley Fool in 1997
The creation of The Motley Fool radio show
What motivated the company to expand and enter podcasting
How the company teaches financial literacy to their employees and the general public
The secret to finding high-quality information in media
Why Chris does not invest in crypto
Finding the best leaders in the investment space
Optimism as the key to investing
The role of values in investing
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

124 | Michael Arrieta | Building the World’s Best Holding Company Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

Today I’m talking with Michael Arrieta, who currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Garden City, a purpose-driven holding company that buys, grows, and permanently holds family-owned companies.

He was an early employee at DocuSign and served as Global Vice President, General Manager, and Chief of Staff to the CEO before he founded MAV Ventures in 2016. Michael also co-founded New Story, a non-profit organization that has built over 2,000 homes in developing countries.

Following his success as a young sales representative at Cutco and after seeking wise counsel, Michael made the decision to move to Silicon Valley, where he joined a startup called Wyse before his path led him to DocuSign in 2014.

With his passion to make small things flourish, Michael started investing in small companies with a mission to help them grow, which later resulted in the creation of Garden City. Michael, through the holding company, envisions enriching the lives of the working class by acquiring family-owned service businesses and putting a culture that’s all about purpose, belonging, and excellence.

In this episode, you will learn the advantages of seeking wise counsel, why hard work is necessary to be successful in life and business, and the importance of knowing your ‘why’ and purpose.

Here are just some of the things we get into:

Michael looks back at his humble beginnings.
How he landed a job at DocuSign in the early years of the company.
The importance and benefits of mentorship.
What made him take the path to become an entrepreneur.
What they do in Garden City and the impact they want to make.

You can also stream it on:

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greatness-machine/id1555334180

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Vbu3kqMBgfGnu3vMyW5pd?si=f46b738ce5fb4217

Grab a copy of The Core Value Equation book here: https://therealdarius.com/book-order/

Learn how to leverage my proprietary and simple ScaleMAP Method Frameworks here: https://www.dariusclass.com/training-video

Enjoy the show, and don’t forget to spread greatness to the world!

Peace,

Darius

123 | How to Write and Publish Your First Book - An Inside Look Into How I Wrote My Book The Core Value Equation in 90 Days Aug 12, 2022

Show notes

Is writing a book hard?

Today I’m flying solo to talk about the process of writing my first book, “The Core Value Equation,” where I tackled how core values create the ultimate decision-making engine for an organization that consistently produces spectacular results.

Writing and publishing my own book has been on my bucket list for a long time until I made it happen in 2020. Now, looking back at the experience made me realize that anyone can write and publish their own book. It may sound like a daunting task, but it was personally one of the coolest projects I have ever done.

In this episode, I will be taking you behind the scene on how The Core Value Equation was born. You will also learn several tips on how to write your own book and the challenges and benefits of publishing one.

Here are some of the things I get into:

What pushed me to write The Core Value Equation.
How I started the writing process by dictation.
Why consistency matters in writing a book.
The power of editing in creating and fine-tuning a book.
Why most people write a book.

You can also stream it on:

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greatness-machine/id1555334180

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Vbu3kqMBgfGnu3vMyW5pd?si=f46b738ce5fb4217

Grab a copy of The Core Value Equation book here: https://therealdarius.com/book-order/

Learn how to leverage my proprietary and simple ScaleMAP Method Frameworks here: https://www.dariusclass.com/training-video

Enjoy the show, and don’t forget to spread greatness to the world!

Peace,

Darius

122 | Brad Lea | Unlearning As The New Learning Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

Today I’m talking with Brad Lea, an entrepreneur, and businessman, who owns a portfolio of companies. He is the founder and CEO of LightSpeed VT, a global leader in web-based training and communication platforms that enables people to create, launch, and market their own interactive courses and training.

He is the host of the Dropping Bombs Podcast and the creator of the Bottom Line. In 2021, he launched a book titled “The Hard Way: Lessons I Learned the Hard Way, So You Don’t Have To” to help people avoid challenges, heartache, and difficulties in life and business.

With a mission to get the knowledge from the people who have it to the people who need it, Brad founded LightSpeed VT, which has revolutionized online learning and has made a massive impact in the lives of many since 1999. The tech company has led him to become an influential thought leader on social media.

When asked for his advice to become successful, Brad emphasizes the importance of loving yourself, being authentic, and the value of learning sales. He also explains why relationships matter and why people need to leverage each other in order to level up.

In this episode, you will learn the advantages of training people in your organization, the significance of learning and unlearning, the three key things you need to achieve greatness and the long-term benefits of being optimistic.

Here are just some of the things we get into:

His intention in starting Dropping Bombs Podcast.
How Brad got into the world of entrepreneurship.
How LightSpeed VT was born, and who it is built for.
His inspiration for writing “The Hard Way” and three pieces of advice he’d like people to learn.
Why people need to unlearn in order to level up.

You can also stream it on:

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greatness-machine/id1555334180

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Vbu3kqMBgfGnu3vMyW5pd?si=f46b738ce5fb4217

Grab a copy of The Core Value Equation book here: https://therealdarius.com/book-order/

Learn how to leverage my proprietary and simple ScaleMAP Method Frameworks here: https://www.dariusclass.com/training-video

Enjoy the show, and don’t forget to spread greatness to the world!

Peace,

Darius

121 | Sonal Bahl | How to Get 100K+ Followers on YouTube Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

Today I’m talking with Sonal Bahl, an experienced HR Director, and a Career Strategist.Over the course of nearly two decades in human resources, screening over 250,000 resumes and conducting over 5,000 interviews on three continents, she has recruited, built, and evolved highly talented teams. She has experience working with large companies like GE & PwC, midsize family-owned firms & startups.

After realizing she was no longer happy with her employment, Sonal somehow found her way into leveraging YouTube to talk about her knowledge and perspective and started creating videos. When she did not see immediate results after putting out several videos, she decided to move to LinkedIn and uploaded her videos as native content.

Two years after turning her back on YouTube, one of her older videos went viral, earning her hundreds of followers a day until she reached her first 100,000 followers.

When asked for her advice on how to get noticed on YouTube, Sonal emphasizes the importance of learning from what successful people do, the value of crafting a good Youtube homepage and creating attractive thumbnail designs.

In this episode, you will learn some helpful tips on how to grow your YouTube channel, what YouTube success looks like, and why consistency matters in playing the long game of building a presence on the video-sharing platform.

Here are just some of the things we get into:

How Sonal found YouTube “success” after an old video went viral.
Sonal’s advice to those who want to grow their YouTube channels.
The importance of YouTube homepage and thumbnail designs.
The tools Sonal uses in building her YouTube channel.
Why YouTube is a trust accelerator.

You can also stream it on:

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greatness-machine/id1555334180

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Vbu3kqMBgfGnu3vMyW5pd?si=f46b738ce5fb4217

Grab a copy of The Core Value Equation book here: https://therealdarius.com/book-order/

Learn how to leverage my proprietary and simple ScaleMAP Method Frameworks here: https://www.dariusclass.com/training-video

Enjoy the show, and don’t forget to spread greatness to the world!

Peace,

Darius

120 | Why We Are NOT in a Recession Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

What is a recession, and are we in one now?

Today I’m flying solo to talk about the US economy, its current state, and what to expect during the second half of the year.

A recession is generally characterized by negative gross domestic product (GDP), rising unemployment, falling retail prices, and contracting measures of income and manufacturing lasting months or years. Recessions are often classified as two consecutive quarters of plummeting GDP growth, which the US economy is currently experiencing.

GDP fell at an annual rate of 0.9% in the second quarter this year, following the last quarter’s decline of 1.6%.

But before we talk about these figures, let’s take a step back and look at the four to five consecutive quarters with the most significant revenue growth in the last 15 years.

US real GDP rose at an annual rate of 6.9% in the fourth quarter of 2021, following a 2.3% growth in the third quarter, a 6.7% pace in the second quarter, and a 6.3% increase during the first quarter of the same year.

Despite the two recent negative quarters, we need to look at the numbers and what they represent. Moreover, a negative GDP growth rate does not necessarily connote that the economy is entering a recession.

In this episode, you will learn about the US economy, GDP, recession, and why running a country is similar to running a business.

Here are some of the things I get into:

The real GDP growth in the US for the first two quarters of 2022.
The definition of recession.
How economists determine whether the economy is in a recession.
Why we need to look at the data and consider the previous quarters.
Why a negative GDP does not indicate a recession.

You can also stream it on:

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greatness-machine/id1555334180

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Vbu3kqMBgfGnu3vMyW5pd?si=f46b738ce5fb4217

Grab a copy of The Core Value Equation book here: https://therealdarius.com/book-order/

Learn how to leverage my proprietary and simple ScaleMAP Method Frameworks here: https://www.dariusclass.com/training-video

Enjoy the show, and don’t forget to spread greatness to the world!

Peace,

Darius

119 | Jesse Iwuji | Side Hustling Your Way to Become a NASCAR Pro and Owner Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

Today I’m talking with Jesse Iwuji, the first and only active US Naval Officer to compete in NASCAR and the co-owner of NASCAR team Jesse Iwuji Motorsports, which he co-owns with HOF Former-NFL player Emmitt Smith. He's also a Keynote Speaker/Motivational Speaker and a NASCAR Driver Analyst for NBC Sports. After realizing his love for sports, particularly football, Jesse started setting goals for himself to be on the A team, get recruited, and play college football. Since he didn’t get to play Pee Wee and Pop Warner football, he had to put in extra effort to grow his talent, skills, strength, and ability. All his hard work paid off when he got recruited by the United States Naval Academy to play college football during his senior year. Jesse saw this as an opportunity to attend a great school, pursue his love for football, and have a career waiting for him as an officer in the US Navy when he graduates. He spent four years playing for the Naval Academy, went to four different bowl games, and had winning seasons all four years. He later became a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO), which developed his passion for cars and racing. His life changed when he finally decided to become a professional race car driver. Jesse explored every possibility, took the entrepreneur route, and started his own business on the sideline while still serving active duty. In this episode, you will learn about football, professional car racing, the importance of having a vision, what kept Jesse going in pursuing his dream, and some helpful tips on how to start living your dreams. Here are just some of the things we get into: What made Jesse loves sports and football. How Jesse realized his passion for car racing. What he did to fund his journey of learning car racing. How he worked his way up from Late Models to NASCAR K&N Pro Series. How his partnership with Emmitt Smith started. You can also stream it on: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greatness-machine/id1555334180 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greatness-machine/id1555334180) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Vbu3kqMBgfGnu3vMyW5pd?si=f46b738ce5fb4217 (https://open.spotify.com/show/0Vbu3kqMBgfGnu3vMyW5pd?si=f46b738ce5fb4217) Grab a copy of The Core Value Equation book here: https://therealdarius.com/book-order/ (https://therealdarius.com/book-order/) Learn how to leverage my proprietary and simple ScaleMAP Method Frameworks here: https://www.dariusclass.com/training-video (https://www.dariusclass.com/training-video) Enjoy the show, and don’t forget to spread greatness to the world! Peace, Darius This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

118 | Darius Interview on Young and Profiting Podcast with Hala Taha Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

Today I had the opportunity to appear on the Young and Profiting Podcast hosted by Hala Taha, where I talked about the entrepreneurial lessons I learned from my father, my experience working at the White House, how I built and grew my businesses through partnerships, my reason for stepping down as CEO of Money Source, and the importance of running a core value-driven organization. After realizing I was unemployable during my internship at the White House, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming my own boss and built my first business, Twin Capital Mortgage, with my twin brother. Things, however, did not come easy as I spent years and years pivoting, learning, and figuring out how to build a business through partnerships. I ranked #9 on Glassdoor’s list of Top CEOs of Small and Medium Companies in the US running The Money Source and have led organizations that have won numerous Stevie awards, been named “#3 Best Place to Work” by San Francisco Business Times, and have landed at #40 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing companies. But despite achieving all these recognitions, I decided to step down as the CEO of TMS. That move allowed me to reassess what I truly wanted to do, resulting in the release of my first book, The Core Value Equation, and the launch of the Greatness Machine Podcast. And just recently, I launched a product called Scale MAP Method, where I help CEOs grow their companies. In this episode, you will learn about my entrepreneurial journey, the epiphany that made me step down as the CEO of my previous company, how I learned about the importance of core values, and my inspiration for launching my book and podcast. Here are some of the things Hala and I get into: The entrepreneurial lessons I learned at an early age. The reason why I was almost fired from my work at the White House. How my first business, Twin Capital Mortgage, turned out to be. Why I stepped down as the CEO of the Money Source. Launching The Core Value Equation, The Greatness Machine Podcast, and Scale MAP Method. You can also stream it on: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greatness-machine/id1555334180 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greatness-machine/id1555334180) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Vbu3kqMBgfGnu3vMyW5pd?si=f46b738ce5fb4217 (https://open.spotify.com/show/0Vbu3kqMBgfGnu3vMyW5pd?si=f46b738ce5fb4217) Grab a copy of The Core Value Equation book here: https://therealdarius.com/book-order/ (https://therealdarius.com/book-order/) Learn how to leverage my proprietary and simple ScaleMAP Method Frameworks here: https://www.dariusclass.com/training-video (https://www.dariusclass.com/training-video) Enjoy the show, and don’t forget to spread greatness to the world! Peace, Darius This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

117 | Who's Living In Your Emotional House? Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of https://therealdarius.com/the-greatness-machine-series/ (The Greatness Machine,) Darius is flying solo during his mini-sabbatical/pseudo vacation in Mexico to discuss who's living in your emotional house and what we're doing about our past. In this episode you'll discover: - How a chance encounter with Ed Mylett and his book, 'The Power of One More,' changed Darius' thinking. - The concept of 'cleaning your emotional house' and identifying what type of emotional house you have. - The importance of dreaming with imagination and dreaming about a compelling future for yourself. Join Darius as he challenges you to consider your emotional house and the emotions you want to have living there each day. Enjoy! What You'll Learn in this Show: How Ed Mylett’s book, 'The Power of One More,' has become a game changer in Darius' life. Your ‘emotional house’ and the emotions you choose to fill it with. Why dreaming with imagination and dreaming about a compelling future for yourself is so vital to happiness and success. And so much more... This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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