He's one of those rare people who you meet that exceeds your expectations.

He's accomplished a lot in life. He's done things most of us wouldn't dream of doing.

He's only in his late 40's, there's much yet to be done for Maurice.

When he shares lessons on life, professionally, financially and to live life, he does it in a unique way.

He's just stating the facts.

We went into his background - what caused him to think this way?

What caused him to approach life with such patience, persistence and a view to the future?

What caused him to become a successful executive...

...then become a police officer at night?

Who does that??

How is Maurice financially independent at 47 years old?

How did he do this while working three jobs and raising a family?

He asked questions.

He did his homework.

He developed a plan.

He stuck to the plan.

So amazing in this world if instant gratification and "influencers."

I was not influenced by Maurice.

I was inspired.

He still drives his 2005 Lexus, because, well it, runs.

Could he drive something more flashy? Sure.

But that's not who he is.

He's one of the humblest, kindest, and intentional people I've met.

It was an honor to have him on the program, a stretch guest for sure.

Enjoy.

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They want to take THE shot.

Casey Jacox is that guy.

He's a quarterback.

He's a husband.

He's a dad.

He's found a way to tie all this together into a mission.

To help dad's "quarterback" their lives.

I fully support this mission.

Quarterbacks start each play with a plan - from a playbook.

When they step to the line, the plan makes sense or it doesn't depending on what they see from the defense.

Proceed as planned, or call an audible.

So goes husbandry.

So goes fatherhood.

Our plans may not be the right call.

We must adapt.

Casey and I talk about parenting - how we learned lessons as young men that shaped our approach as fathers.

And how we made mistakes and learned from them.

That's a solid episode of Eating Crow right there.

Follow Casey and his Quarterback Dad podcast...it's worth it.

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He's on a mission to help 1 million dads be better husbands, fathers and leaders of men.

Heck, I was just hoping to get yours truly through a workout today :-).

Jeff's story is relatable.

He's brutally honest about his choices, setbacks and reckoning.

He leads by example.

He leads his family by owning his past and his future.

How many dads can get their family to the gym at 5:30 am?

VERY few.

Imagine the look on your kid's faces when the walk out of the gym and head to school?

They conquer the day. For sure.

Be one of the million dads, moms or friends.

Be intentional.

Be bold.

Be better.

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He's experienced things most civilians can only read about.

He's a warrior.

He's on a mission to help other warriors adjust to a post-military life.

He's also building a company that can help anyone struggling with mental health...and I have to say, what they are doing is incredibly cool.

Greg is very open about his journey, his challenges and his ongoing battle to find peace of mind. Refreshingly honest - it's a lifelong process and most of us think there is a quick fix, there isn't.

I'm a big fan, you should be too.

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His mission is to help other fill their receipt boxes...

...so they can create the life they secretly desire but may not know how to build.

What's the goal? Financial independence. It's not necessarily wealth, it's the freedom to choose where to invest your time.

Nat put in the work - long days, for years, with one goal: To get off the treadmill of corporate life.

Now Nat helps others create a plan to be Masters of their Universe (please tell me you have one of these t-shirts, Nat).

Nat posts daily on LinkedIn...usually wearing a vintage t-shirt with obscure movie lines or classic culture references.

What Nat preaches is not for everyone. Another successful business person posting selfies from his backyard pool (don't forge the cool t-shirts).

Don't let the format mislead you. Nat has discovered, after years of posting, how to reach an audience. People who are not willing to do the work don't understand.

Nat's just running the same process he used to create financial independence to help others.

Seems to make sense.

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Intellectually.

Emotionally.

Instinctively.

I'd never considered "Cultural Intelligence" before I met Loren.

It makes so much sense.

In her book "Becoming the Change: The Power of Cultural Intelligence" she shares her journey and her experiences in building high-performing teams, one human at a time.

I found Loren engaging, intuitive, thoughtful and yet practical in her approach to helping people and teams succeed.

Read her book, subscribe to her newsletter.

It may change the way you think about human capital.

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Paul Watkins is a book you should not judge by its cover.

He's intelligent.

He's well-read.

He's thoughtful.

He's also intentional.

What you may not see at the surface is his penchant for adventure.

Extreme adventure.

Paul is seeking danger.

He's seeking growth.

He's seeking development.

He's also setting an example for his kids.

He wants them to know the world is their oyster - and there for the taking.

I find Paul to be one of my favorite guests and humans.

He is one of the few people I follow on LinkedIn - consuming his Daily Dose.

You should as well.

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They work well together but couldn't be more different.

Will has been in the talent game for some time.

John has been a brand builder and marketer for some time as well.

They understand how people think, and how they work together - or don't.

They've partnered to help companies understand how to build great teams and avoid the wrong mix.

How? They get leadership teams on the same page - about what they need and who they are REALLY looking for.

Seems logical right?

Yet, very few companies truly understand what they are looking for, and what they aren't.

Had a blast with this one, hope you enjoy it.

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Why?

Because Wes' story continues to evolve and needs to be shared.

Wes' was one of our best episodes 3 years ago. He is again.

He's experienced heartbreak, loss, suffering and pain.

He's eaten crow.

He used that pain to change his life.

As a man, as a husband and as a father.

What's amazing, is he's not only sustained this positive change, he's thrived.

Wes runs. A lot.

Now he runs for others, using his endurance events as a platform to raise money and heal minds and souls.

I love this guy.

You should too.

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...selling, that is.

He realized traditional selling techniques pushed potential clients away, unintentionally.

So he started unselling - a strategy he's now perfected, heck, he's even written a book about it.

He's fully transparent about his eating crow moments and how he's completely rethought his approach to selling.

Kevin is also the kind of guy you could have a beer (or a few beers) with and lose track of time.

Listen to his weekly video tips and sign up for his book, "Unselling"

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Big, Bold and on a mission.

John found that school wasn't his "thing".

He also found that sales was.

It fed into his competitive nature. If he couldn't "win" he didn't want to play.

Telling his father that school was tough.

But, like any father that's paying attention, you lean in when your kids need you to.

John's dad knew his son would be successful. He told him that.

That's all John needed. A salesman was born.

John's story of trial and error. Of leading, learning, failing, and learning again is what this show is all about.

He's open about his style, as a leader, a husband and a father. Like most of us, he's still learning.

He's found a home with a company that lets, no wait, encourages, him to be himself.

They've even given him a podcast and he's one of the best in the game.

Follow John Morris, you will smile and learn something every day.

I know I do.

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Now she helps others find the best version of themselves.

Her journey is the stuff of a Netflix series.

She grew up feeling trapped - in her home, in her life.

She left, abruptly and at a young age...on a journey of self discovery.

Along the way she found herself.

Her eating crow moments were at a younger age than most.

It's hard to pinpoint Rachel's gift: part spiritual, part physical, part emotional and part mental.

She can SEE her clients and get to the root of their issues - quickly.

How? She "feels" what they are feeling, visualizes it, sees it...even the the pain.

Sounds like a Netflix series, doesn't it?

I'd watch, and you should too.

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She's a wife, a mother, an entrepreneur and a powerful speaker.

She's been to hell and back. Or maybe the footsteps of Heaven.

Lara's story of loss, sheer will, climbing back, and moving forward is tragic, awe inspiring and life changing.

Now she shares her story with others - to help them realize they can recover from loss, climb out of the depths of despair and become better than they every imagined.

Her crucible becomes a beacon for theirs.

Listen to this episode, follow Lara and change your world.

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He's here to challenge old ways of thinking...the status quo.

Steve walks the talk - in the mountains, literally, he grew up there and they are in his bones.

He's study the history of food - and movement, remarkably, they are inextricably tied to together.

Steve sees excuses as an indicator of poor performance in other (if not most) aspects of life.

I've interviewed a lot of people on this show, he's probably one of the fittest people I've met.

He's also upped his social media game and is getting the message out there as a coach and leader.

Follow him, I do.

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He's a writer, a bit of a renaissance man, and a leader.

After majoring in Journalism at the University of North Carolina, while playing baseball, he ventured into media.

Stops at ESPN and Fox led to a successful career at a startup, STRIVR, where he played a key role in building out their customer and consulting offerings. This was an important step for Teddy - he had been "commenting" on other people building things - now he was part of the solution.

But, Teddy knew he wanted to write.

He also knew he wanted to teach others.

A funny thing happened, people were looking for his help to build a brand, to become their best...and they were drawn to Teddy's style and methodology.

He started The Process, an online newsletter that helps people become their best.

His inspiration? His dad: "The little things, every day, will make you great..."

That's how Teddy approached baseball, a game of details. He did the little things every day.

His latest newsletter, The Daily Creator, allows him to combine his love for writing and coaching people who want to be better (writers).

You don't "Follow" Teddy, you join his Community...and his Mission.

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Seriously, she's a Dr. of Pharmacy.

She understands how drugs interact with the human body.

She also knows that most drugs treat symptoms, not the root cause or disease.

Dr. Shah is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Functional Wellness Network and the 6th Element...

...an integrative practice is where Dr. Mansi combines the knowledge of her life experiences, additional training in functional medicine and professional education as a clinical pharmacist in order to achieve a state of harmony between the three major aspects of root cause analysis along mind, body and soul

Her approach to wellbeing makes so much sense, just common sense.

I am honored to have met her and hope listeners recognize that wellbeing is something we can all achieve.

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He's real, he's direct, and he's usually spot on.

Paul is like most of us - we've seen the ups and downs in life.

However, Paul's ability to take his learnings and lessons and morph them into content that helps others is rare.

Why is it rare? Because Paul's goal is to serve first.

I've experienced this service. I've also benefited.

Paul's coaching business has flourished because he's lived his lessons and his purpose is to serve others.

And it's valuable, so people are happy to pay, and benefit.

Listen, learn, ask Paul for help, he'll listen...

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The things that shaped who she is are at times difficutl to hear.

Despite these hardships, she's been incredibly successful and she is using her success to build a platform.

She's vocal. She's opinonated. She's on a mission. She's not going to stop.

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When he tells you "I understand." He does.

I'm a fitness guy. I've met a lot of fitness people.

Very few come from a place of struggle and learn the walk before they talk it.

Mike does and did.

Mad respect.

His journey is a bit different.

From peak fitness, to injury, to becoming severly overweight, and all the mental and emotional issues that come along for the ride.

But again, Mike walks the talk.

He knew he had to change.

His comeback was epic.

To the point he realized he could help others do the same because he walked a mile (or two) in their shoes.

Mike is extremely thoughtful but he will hold his clients accountable.

And they love him for it.

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Don and his wife Suzanne, have raised 7 wonderful, godly children.

It's no accident, but there isn't a playbook they followed.

They wrote one along the way.

Rethink the Way You Do Family

You can find their playbook on Amazon at the link above.

BTW, the book is just one aspect of what is now their full-time mission.

Raising godly children is hard. Intentions may be good, but pulling it off is exceptionally hard.

Why? Because we tend to "force" our faith on our children. It's our job right?

While it may be our job, it can't be a goal, it's mission, a way of life.

And it needs to be done by example, love, forgiveness and faith.

You don't "tell" your children to be godly. You show them.

If do the work as parents, you earn the privilege to be their friends when they are older.

I hope everyone reads this book an checks out their website www.crazycoolfamily.com

The world would be a better place for it.

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He's driven to help others live a health lifestyle, without the hype.

He's so passionate about it, he built a company to do just that.

I can relate.

It's tough, but he's not slowing down.

Ben's an inspiration and knows his stuff.

His story inspires and his mission resonates, or at least it should.

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...for leaders.

I've met leadership experts. Most have years of experience to support their lessons.

Others pontificate with little credibility.

Hampton is different. He's not preaching, he's asking questions. A lot of questions.

He's one of the most curious talents I've met.

Curious about leadership.

Curious about people.

Curious about...

...Everything.

And that's my favorite kind of leader.

He's also putting his words where his mouth is, with his Wake Up and Lead Podcast.

Weekly episodes with leaders - curating content for other leaders.

Beautiful.

This young man has big potential.

Follow him, I do.

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He could build you a house, while most men can't change a light bulb.

He can also help you find your calling, because he found his.

Michael fell into coaching - helping others become the best version of themselves.

His story is compelling.

His message is important.

He's also 100% what you see is what you get.

Michael did the hard stuff, he ate some crow.

He also took a chance and it paid off.

Follow this man, he's one of the good guys.

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She's a brander, a doer, an innovator.

Zineb's been doing marketing for a long time.

She's now helping companies build their brands online and offline.

Oh, and she was doing AI before AI was cool.

This is who she is...and I love it.

She will help you find out who you are.

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He sees sales processes like Neo sees the Matrix.

He's also a complex dude, with a rich background.

And he's eaten some crow.

Like many hard charging people, addiction got a hold of him.

He faced it, ate the crow, and turned it around.

He's built companies, he's sold companies, now he's building a Sales Operating System that will make your head spin.

Listen as Steve shares the dark and bright spots...and learn.

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When we recorded this episode he was still honing in on his audience. Not any more.

He's calling out single fathers. He's one of them.

He's calling them to be better.

He's calling them to take a stand.

He's calling them to question everything.

He's also there to tell them it's OK to make mistakes.

Sero is a complex dude.

He's seen some things.

He's experienced things most Americans don't understand.

It gives him a perspective that's refreshingly honest and bold.

He's not afraid to put his brand out there. He's also not for everyone.

The world needs more Seros. A lot more.

His "question everything" approach is something we should all consider.

Listen. Learn. Question. Publicly. Repeat.

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He's a former D1 Football player who showed up and did it every day.

Opportunity keeps knocking for him.

Sometimes it's part of the plan.

Other times, opportunity shows up like a kick to the face.

Ryan's story, as a young business owner (you'll love how that happened), is unusual.

He started behind the eight ball. Now he's Willie Moscone (look him up), having built a multi-million dollar company that continues to defy expectations.

We've all faced adversity. Ryan's response: "OK, that sucked. Now what?"

Listen, learn, and love it.

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She's also a rising star on LinkedIn when it comes to talent development.

Jessica shares her thoughts on building teams, handling tough issues and creating a culture that attracts top talent.

She's helped build Refine Labs into a destination employer while building her own personal brand. Take notice.

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Seriously, Kate Bradley Chernis is funny.

She's also a brilliant CEO of a company changing the way we use Artificial Intelligence in marketing.

Kate's passion for music (she was a SiriusXM DJ - and her husband is literally a rock star) gave her an appreciation for the written and spoken word.

She then turned to marketing, using her verbal gymnastic skills to found a company that learns what customers want and converts any content into social posts that resonate.

Kate is a humble leader, but she's also not afraid to make the tough calls.

I consider Kate a friend and I look forward to following her success.

This is one great episode.

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He spent much of his late teens and early 20's in a heavy metal band - and learned a few things.

Most importantly, he met his wife at a show, and realized he wanted more.

While he was delighting leather-clad fans everywhere, he learned sales from his dad. Not just any "sales", but EPIC sales.

Change your life sales, change other's lives sales.

Dale sold copiers. A lot of copiers.

But the sales machine started to grind him up. He knew there was a better way.

But Dale's way is not the typical way. It's rebellious. It's different. It's not for everyone, but it should be.

He built the Sales Rebellion into a 10,000+ strong community, and he's just getting started.

He's famous, he's humble, he's real and one of the reasons I love this podcast.

Get a cup of coffee, put this episode on and just listen. Sit quietly and listen. You won't be disappointed.

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His journey from a successful career to drug and alcohol addiction - and back, isn't over. It will never be over.

It's a daily thing.

What makes Kevin special is his openness about addiction - and the fact that it doesn't define you.

He started GR0, a digital marketing company, after meeting his business partner in AA.

They are open about their addictions, recovery and daily battles.

They've created a culture where these struggles are not taboo, they are hoping people discuss them and get help.

I've met people who use their past as a platform for fame.

Not Kevin, he is using his past as a platform for helping others.

His company is growing, so is his message.

Kevin's key takeaway for listeners: Go to www.AA.com and find a local meeting. Go. Listen. Be openminded.

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This episode hit hard for me - it will for any parent.

I saw a post Chris had done on LinkedIn and reached out to learn more. Glad I did.

Chris's son, Tanner was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor - at age 13.

At the time of the diagnosis, Chris asked him "What do you want to do?"

Tanner's response: "Whatever it takes."

That became their motto as Tanner courageously and selflessly battled for 17 months.

Chris took this motto seriously and quit his job to be by Tanner's side.

I don't think anyone can truly understand the loss of a child - unless they've experienced it.

Chris knows that love qualifies you to make the had decisions, and that love is never wrong.

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Their story floored me and I consider it an honor to know them.

Guy had a stroke in 2016 - how it happened is unique, he was a fit dude.

What happened after is the stuff of legend.

Jane, his girlfriend at the time, stepped in, and up. We all need a Jane in our lives.

While Guy's stroke is a big part of their story. His recovery journey and their marriage are the main event.

Guy works hard, he's dedicated, but Jane is the engine that keeps this marriage running. She's the rare combination of passion, love, compassion and determination. These two are not to be underestimated.

They now run JGH Rehab. Notice that it's Jane Guy Harvey Rehab. Jane's name is first, for a darn good reason.

Their goal: to help others recover from the debilitating effects of a stroke.

It's brutally hard work. It takes a long time. And it takes the right mindset in the survivor and the caregiver(s).

If you need a bit of inspiration or life perspective - this one's for you.

You can find more on Guy and Jane here: https://jghrehab.ca/

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...in a subtle "I eat nails for breakfast" sort of way.

I've been following Sonnie for some time and when she agreed to be on the show I had an idea of where I wanted to take the episode...I was wrong.

Sonnie is complex - wife, mother, seasoned and successful business executive.

She's also a life-long learner.

This really stayed with me during the episode - she's obsessed with, well, evoking greatness - first in herself, then others.

She's registered nurse (in a PICU none-the-less, I've seen that first hand...wow) and spent years leading a hospice and palliative care organization.

That's next-level compassion.

Sonnie just left her corporate gig and is now out on her own, evoking leadership greatness.

Sonnie is one of the sharpest people I've interviewed (that's a high bar).

She's also a supermom and now an entrepreneur.

Stay tuned.

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It's no ordinary mission.

Chris is a fisher of men.

Chris is also a husband, a father, an employee and a 2x podcast host.

Chris has dealt with loss, the kind of loss most people can't relate to. Seriously, we just can't.

Chris and his wife turned it into a mission - how to help other parents deal with loss and the grief it brings.

Often this grief spirals into despair, poor choices and a dark path.

Chris created The Lion Within Podcast to help men face and conquer the demons that can distract them from being men of God, husbands and fathers.

In a short time this podcast has attracted a following and more important, followers.

He's extremely soft-spoken, but like EF Hutton, when he talks, you should listen (Google that :-)).

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Side hustles can enrich your team
2. Podcasts are an important part of your go-to-market strategy
3. Pay attention to what your people are dealing with at home

Chris's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Facing loss meant facing himself
2. Grief is different for everyone
3. We are not the only ones dealing with this, how can we help others?

You can find Chris here: https://thelionwithin.us/

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Things most people will never witness.

His path has been a winding journey through self-doubt, insecurity, destructiveness, self-centeredness and ultimately, a spiritual awakening.

Tony is also one of the most intriguing people I've met (and considering this show's premise, that's saying something).

He's raw.

He's still paving HIS path.

He's becoming an amazing husband and father (note, it's an evolving process, with no deadline).

I connected with Tony's writing instantly. He was gracious enough to share his journey and lessons.

I hope to be with Tony on the remainder of his journey. When you encounter people who are deep and have so much to offer, you make it a priority to build a friendship and to continue to learn and be challenged by their approach to life.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Sabbaticals have merit
2. Reading is fundamental
3. Many battles win the war

Tony is a quiet leader. He has "it", the thing people are drawn to in any situation. In his youth he let this power consume him. Now he's harnessed it, using it for good.

Leaders can benefit from his thoughtful approach to words, actions and observation. He battles the resistance one-day-at-a-time.

Tony's Eating Crow Moments:

1. You hit rock bottom the moment you stop digging
2. Facing reality - owning his journey
3. Tough conversations with his parents
4. Adopting the 12-steps in AA, and working them, embracing the spiritual awakening.

You can find Tony here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-albrecht-92457213b/

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I have been chasing him as a guest for a year.

Some of you may know, I started a fitness company in 2009 to help people live healthier lives. At the time, LinkedIn was early, video wasn't a medium on the platform and Instagram was on the rise. I should have been active on both, screaming from the rooftops about how I felt about exercise and eating right, and the simple truths about weight loss.

I just didn't have the balls to be vocal, I was afraid it would offend my business clients. Damn.

Gav does have the balls. He tells it like it is, it's unapologetically necessary - and refreshing.

Gav's journey to fitness champion is unusual.

His journey gave him the first hand experience and knowledge to speak with authority.

I've yet to encounter another influencer who speaks more directly, accurately and simply.

Some people don't want to hear it. They want an excuse. They want a pill.

Gav is brutally honest. The science is simple. Willpower and deeply emotional issues are not.

Yet, because the science is simple, there is hope.

Gav walks us through his journey, his approach and how he found his voice.

And thank goodness he did.

Oh, there will be a Part Two to this episode, we haven't even scratched the surface.

Male stripper. Need to dig into that.

Enjoy.

Gav can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gav-gillibrand/

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Becoming a control freak almost ruined it.

Fortunately, Matt woke up and realized he was holding his company back - just in time.

He had to be better.

He had to lead better.

Ultimately, he had to let go.

The first thing he did? He sat down with his team and shared his epiphany. Then he asked for their help - to become a better leader.

Talk about eating crow. That's a third trip to the buffet.

Matt decided to "paint the picture of what he wants to be and what he wants for success."

He then laid it out for the team.

Most bought in. Some didn't. That was OK.

What happened next was epic.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Rethink everything.
2. Transparency is essential.
3. Work on yourself - and ask others to help you.
4. More hours does not always translate to better performance.

Matt's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Waking up and realizing he was the problem.
2. Giving examples of this to his team (showing them he really gets it).
3. Stepping back and relinquishing control.
4. Knowing everyone won't buy in.

You can find Matt, and his excellent content for leaders on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattblakely3/

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Her name is on the building where her consulting firm has grown into one of the most respected and innovative groups in the country.

I drive by the office frequently.

I've always wondered...

On this, the 38th episode of Eating Crow, we meet Brooks. I should have reached out years ago.

Brooks is brilliant.

She's built an amazing company.

But her new mission is educating people about early detection for colon cancer...you can see where this is going.

At 38-years old, at the peak of her professional and personal lives, she was diagnosed with cancer.

Brooks did what you'd expect. She jumped in.

She resigned as CEO of her own company the next day.

She was going to beat this. And she did.

She learned a lot about cancer, and how early detection saves lives for those diagnosed with colon cancer, specifically.

She's now a champion for not only early detection, but for healthier lifestyles that can prevent or help you weather the treatment for cancers.

Brooks' Eating Crow Moments:

1. Once diagnosed, she had to make serious lifestyle changes. They were difficult, not natural.
2. Priorities changed. Rethinking work/life/health opened her eyes.
3. Cooking. She didn't cook. Now she grows her own veggies and has learned the joy of healthy cooking and how wonderful it can taste.
4. Exercise. She never considered herself athletic, so she doubled down and learned yoga, movement and mindfulness - amazing the impact they can have for those in cancer treatment and to prevent the debilitating impact stress can have on your health.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Pay attention to your body. It's the only one you get and if something isn't right, check it out.
2. Work will always be there. You must prioritize your health, or you, your family and your company don't get the best version of yourself each day.
3. Her health journey has evolved her company. Today, Brooks Bell has evolved into a dynamic firm, addressing "bigger" problems, forming long-term partnerships with their clients.

You can find Brooks here, along with her mission and messaging: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooksbellinteractive/

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Carlos, and his wife, Susanne, run Life Design, a boutique firm helping others who know there can be more, and want to make the necessary changes to begin living a life they love to live each and every day.

Sounds easy, right?

To realize there is a better way, you must recognize something is wrong.

Carlos opens up about his life, his marriage, his career and how all of them came crashing down.

Something was definitely wrong.

I've heard similar stories.

However, Carlos owned his shit more than anyone I've met.

Every word was raw, genuine and heartfelt.

Carlos has been to dark places.

He received several much-needed slaps in the face and got his act together.

It was hard. It took time.

Susanne is the real hero of this story. She's a masterclass in forgiveness, compassion and fortitude.

Life Design is built on a foundation of experience and tested methods to design a better life.

If you are missing something or don't feel you are in a better place, join them.

Lessons for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Ownership. When something goes wrong, own it and fix it.
2. It's a journey. Building a company or a better life is not an event, it's a life-long process.
3. You need a team. Carlos had strong friends and associates who cared enough to get in his face. We all need people like that.

Carlos' Eating Crow Moments:

1. Realizing he may have lost his marriage and family.
2. Trying to contain the carnage, ignoring that he was the problem.
3. Finding out he had to fix himself first, but with no guarantee he could rebuild his family.
4. Looking in the mirror, after the hard work, and realizing he liked the person looking back at him.

You can find Carlos here: https://www.yourlifedesignjourney.com/

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It wasn't always that way.

Cory's story will resonate with many people struggling to advance a career and maintain a healthy family life.

Cory lost his balance.

He failed at home.

He failed at work.

The he woke up.

He came clean.

First to himself, then his family.

What happened next is an amazing example of forgiveness and faith.

Cory put in the work.

He captured his lessons into a book: Win at Home First

If you are struggling with work/faith/life, this is a must read.

Cory's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Realizing he was not living the life God had provided for him.
2. Owning his biggest mistakes.
3. Admitting he needed help, and seeking it.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. You can win at home and work.
2. Your family needs a vision, but get yours straight first.
3. Every lesson at home translates to something at work.

You can find Cory's book here: Win at Home First

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Regardless of the chaos around him he always has his $h!t together.

We should all pay attention.

As working parents we all struggle with balancing work, family, faith, fitness, etc.

There are self-help books, but who has time?

There are gurus, but who believes the hype?

Then there's Jared.

100% real, 100% living it every day.

Jared doesn't pull any punches.

It's hard.

BUT, like anything else, you first need to show up.

Jared has developed proven techniques to help us become better spouses, parents and leaders.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. There is a difference between your principles and your practices. This hit me hard.
2. Vision, Values, Beliefs and Actions - these go beyond your company and must start at home.
3. Be honest with yourself. If you can't do this, you can't fix anything else.

Jared's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Recognizing his successful, fast-paced career was leaving him empty.
2. Pushing his body beyond his perceived limits opened his mind and soul to do the same.
3. Compliance is not comprehension. If you get it, you need to own it.

Jared is one of my favorites. We've become friends, co-mentors and I truly value his mission.

You can find Jared here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredjgreer/

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He's also the first deaf guest I've had on the podcast. Let that sink in.

Doug's mission is to help people get noticed on social media, and to turn this new found fame into revenue.

How he got here is incredible; he started as a Special Education Teacher, in three different cities.

Now based out of Chicago, his flare for writing has developed into a full-blown digital agency of sorts.

He's also daring, using TikTok and mixing formats (music, video, graphics, text) to develop content for B2B clients, he's changing the game.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. If you want to separate from the pack, you need to be different (maybe even daring).
2. Digital campaigns do NOT need to be expensive, they need to be compelling.
3. Change is hard. Keep doing what you are doing, keep getting poor results. Or, find a pro and let them help you.

Doug's Eating Crow Moments:

I've only had one other guest who didn't really eat crow, they dished it out. Doug's moment may have been when he realized he had a flare for writing and left the teaching world to go out on his own. Scary, but Doug is a grinder and not afraid of anything. He started writing email campaigns that converted faster than most - and got noticed.

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Matt also cares deeply about his family, as a dad and as husband.

In fact, this passion launched a brand: Basic Dad Stuff, where Matt shares everyday stories and snippets about fatherhood.

But that's not what makes Matt unique.

It's his confidence to stand by his beliefs, his ability to own his mantra, with no apologies, that sets him apart.

We dive into parenting, sales, social media and the struggles to keep it all in check.

Matt is the kinda guy you want in your corner as well as the guy you want coaching your kids.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Sometimes it's messy, but focus on the goal and clean up later.
2. We learn every day.
3. Passion sells. Matt has created a brand around passion and people WANT to buy from him.

Matt's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Well, most of his Basic Dad episodes have some crow in them. Fatherhood is humbling.
2. We will never be perfect. Matt shares that even though his Basic Dad Stuff episodes look hilarious and portray fun, he has to work on being a better husband and father.
3. Sometimes, you have to say no. Matt launched a live improv series with two other LinkedIn rockstars, and it gained a following. However, it threw his work/life/hobbies out of balance and they had to shut it down. Tough decision, but sometimes crow isn't cooked properly and is difficult to get down.

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Megan is one of the most thoughtful company and people builders I've met, wise beyond her years.

She battled (and still does) those voices we all hear - about acceptance and meeting people's expectations.

She tackled these voices head on by owning them, which means controlling them.

She's on a mission at Refine Labs, to change the way companies think of marketing and she's building a team of passionate people to join the journey.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. By "finding herself" Megan is better able to understand others. She's rooted, her people know where she and they stand.
2. Don't take on the emotions of others. Empathize but don't internalize these emotions.
3. Megan offers a Masterclass in how to provide difficult feedback.

Megan's Eating Crow Moments:

• Megan realized she was living her life to meet other's expectations. She made a very difficult decision to leave home and travel across the country to go to school - on her own.
• She had to work her way through college in a way most young people can't understand. She ate the crow and made sacrifices, early demonstrations of grit and determination that continue to be hallmarks of her leadership mantra.
• Her first job in NYC was not what you'd expect - but it led to learning and relationships she still treasures to this day.  

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Really Listen.

That's Jahmaal Marshall. He's a listener.

Don't mistake this for a lack of action - it's just that Jahmaal has mastered the art of listening before speaking.

It's a lost art.

He doesn't listen, he listens intently - to understand.

As for action, well, Jahmaal is pretty special there too.

His full-time role is human rights (no, really).

The vision for the International Justice Mission, where Jahmaal works: ...to rescue millions, protect half a billion and make justice unstoppable.

Come on.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Listen to understand. Listening is a great first step, but if you can understand, you can make a difference.
2. Conflict is constant - how you handle conflict can enhance or destroy your leadership impact.
3. Have a conversation - listening and conflict resolution allow opposing personalities and groups to work through differences and usually get to a productive outcome. Recognizing we can agree to disagree, and presenting thoughts in a non-confrontational way - then listening with patience and the desire to understand are the hallmarks of a true conversation.

Jahmaal's Eating Crow Moment:

• The passing of his father and his year of questioning. He reflected on his passion and turned his grief into his mission to help others "find themselves."

Love this guy - you will too. Enjoy

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Why? Because he owns everything, the good and the bad. So refreshing to chat with another crow eater.

He played hockey in college and his leadership style reflects his view that teams must flow together, on a singular mission but each with a role to play.

Matt is extremely thoughtful when it comes to building a winning culture.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Mission matters. Not the fluffy, framed saying on the wall in the lobby mission, but a mission that defines who walks through the door every day. You are either on board, or you should find another mission.
2. Culture starts at the top, with action, reinforcement, solicited feedback and constant tweaking. Most important - ownership.
3. There are problems everywhere waiting to be solved. His latest company, Exhale, is a perfect example, and it's cranking.

Matt's Eating Crow Moments:

1. After years of solid growth and tremendous investment, personally and professionally, a sudden career change had him take stock of where he was and what he wanted to do next.
2. A continuing Eating Crow Moment: Market feedback. Test your product, price, position constantly and listen to the market. Eating a bit of crow now and then allows you to find the sweet spot that registers with clients.

Check out Matt at https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewtsheehan/ and www.exhaleathome.com

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He kept it buried far too long, until it nearly wrecked him.

Now his mission is to help other veterans practice mindfulness as they transition from the military to civilian life. We "civies" could learn as well. How to overcome trauma or stress to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Jon is a true hero, the stuff of movies (not kidding, there are books and movies about his Seal Team). It was an honor to have him on the show, heck just to meet Jon.

As with most "real" heroes I meet, it's not just his actions, bravery, and frankly, "badassness", it's Jon's humility. We learn what inspired Jon to join the military (it's really more practical than inspirational - to start).

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Take a breath. Heroes perform in the most stressful situations (life and death). All of them, including Jon, talk about taking a breath in these moments to collect yourself, allowing your mind, body, and soul to operate in harmony. It's more than physical, it's also chemical. Practicing this in the non-flow moments is actually more challenging for veterans.
2. Keep moving. Even as Jon's mental state was quietly crushing him, he kept moving forward. This was a subtle lesson and so important for those of us who find it difficult to get out of bed some days. Get up, keep moving, then follow the next lessons.
3. Ask for help. When issues are trapped deep inside, don't be afraid to ask for help, or at the very least, say "this is how I'm feeling..." Just talking about your thoughts and emotions can begin to unscramble the issues you are facing and allow others to help you carry the burden. Family, friends and professionals all play a role. Open up to them.
4. This is an ongoing process. Rome wasn't built in a day. It took Jon a while to see results, but he stuck to it. Mindfulness involves relaxing the mind, body and spirit and it doesn't happen over night, nor does it ever stop. Embrace it.

Jon's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Recognizing he needed help. Very hard for a Navy Hero to acknowledge these feelings.
2. Staying at it. When Jon first started practicing mindfulness he was extremely skeptical. He stayed with it.
3. Finding his new path. Jon could be successful in any pursuit, but like many veteran's he wasn't sure what his new mission would be. He's on several missions today but he's found his lane AND his voice.

You can find Jon here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmacaskill/

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It didn't start that way.

Barbie had a moment, one of those "I knew right then..." things when she decided welding was her thing. At first it was about pursuing her passion.

Her movement? Trades are cool.

Barbie has always marched to her own drum. She's brilliant, passionate, and more importantly, 100% true to herself.

She stood the entire time we talked, coffee cup in hand, and shared the fears and challenges of starting your own business and balancing the work with the art.

And I loved every minute of it.

She apprenticed as a welder, learned the craft and paid her dues, but then she took it next level. Barbie's work is breathtaking and she does it by feel, look, and raw talent.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Outsource. Barbie learned early on that for her business to scale she had to bring in outside help. One of her best moves: Someone to handle her video and social channels.
2. The art of self-promotion, without losing your soul. Barbie's presence on social media feels genuine, her content is there to entertain, impress and help you appreciate art and craft. She recognizes this self promotion puts food on the table, but that's it, it's part of her job, not to drive her ego.
3. Do quality work, promote it, and more work will follow. Barbie rarely looks for work now, people come to her.

Barbie's Eating Crow Moment:

• Ditching the traditional path for her passion. College, the big job, etc. Those things weren't for Barbie and aren't for many people. Thankfully Barbie has shown the way for other incredibly talented people to forgo the norm and pursue careers in trades, crafts, etc. - the backbone of our country.

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Jim is also a hero of mine. No kidding, a stretch guest for sure.

I've used his book, The Corporate Athlete, as a bible of sorts - rules to live by for employee wellness. It's an honor to have him on the program.

Jim shares how, after 30+ years of research into human performance, his last book, Leading with Character, revealed a new way of thinking about leaders and high-performers. His learnings and teachings about energy, exercise, nutrition and mindfulness are still critical - but it's character that is the leading indicator of performance.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Most leaders never take the time to identify their own core values, instead defaulting to a reflexive form of decision making.
2. With the right motivation, you can begin to strengthen your character and become a moral and ethical leader capable of creating lasting change.
3. Even good leaders are vulnerable to corruption. Learn how human evolution and contemporary culture can lead us astray without our even knowing it.

Jim's Eating Crow moments:

1. Jim eats a bit of crow every day. Through journaling, he reflects on his successes and failures and learns from them.
2. After 30 years, he smiles when he explains how he had no idea how important character is to leadership and performance.

Enjoy, but have a pen ready, Jim drops some serious knowledge.

Pete

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He is a performance coach, author, dynamic public speaker, tech visionary and thought leader.

There's so much more.

Mike is a ball of energy...he exudes it.

He has invested in learning and growing - himself, his companies and his family. He's always pushing forward.

More importantly, Mike had some tough lessons - healthy portions of crow, that shaped his drive and desire to help others.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Never stop learning. Mike continually invests in learning - serious financial investments - that produce returns.
2. You need to find out what you are made of. How well can you take a punch? Can you get up off the floor and go again?
3. It doesn't matter what business you build - just make sure you work to become the best at it.
4. Find a team. Mike has a close group of people around him who are not afraid to call him out; he trusts them 100%

EATING CROW MOMENTS:

1. One big one - he got burned, and it cost him dearly. Most people would have folded their tent right there. Not Mike, he dusted himself off and went right back into the ring.

You can find Mike here:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ciorrocco/
• http://www.nationsbranch.com/c-roc/
• http://www.themikecroc.com/
• https://join.peoplebuildinginc.com/links

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Heck, he's the kind of person we should all be around.

David is the last episode of Season One of the Eating Crow Podcast.

We could not have picked a better way to end 2020.

David's story is the stuff of movies.

I'm thinking Denzel, maybe Jamie Foxx or the late, great Chadwick Boseman as the right guys to play David.

In his book, "Getting Undressed, from Paralysis to Purpose" he describes his approach to life. The title says it all.

David is highly educated, a successful basketball coach, mentor, leader and man of character.

David received his Master of Business Administration in Finance from Duke University and his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Wisconsin–Whitewater (trivia, my wife's alma mater - and where we met, that's another story).

His career path includes time spent in Banking, Finance, Education and Athletics.

His ability to overcome obstacles and to achieve success in the face of adversity is what makes his story inspiring and motivating to others.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Perspective is so important. David met someone in his first days in a rehab hospital that changed his view of the world.
2. Leadership comes in many forms. David coached basketball from a wheelchair in a manner most men could only dream of.
3. No obstacle is worth crying about. David opened many companies and educational institutions to the need for handicap access. Literally, unapologetically - he showed up and didn't complain, he just "did".

David's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Getting fired as a coach. I love this part of his story. Despite his persona, results matter and he was the first to admit it.
2. Asking for help. David has learned the art of asking for assistance in a way that puts people at ease.

THIS IS A MUST LISTEN.

You can find David here:

Website: www.davidcooksspeaks.com

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3hbogw6

Facebook: facebook.com/dcespeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-cooksspeaks-mba-20001210

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He is also an energetic entrepreneur.

Billy helped me start Eating Crow and I a consider him a dear friend, mentor and inspiration.

Billy's background in movie and TV production created a springboard to a successful career at Tesla and then ANOTHER career in podcasting.

We weave his background through present day and learn about the power of onboarding employees into the "mission", storytelling and the impact a podcast can have in a B2B marketing program.

Billy announced (right here on Eating Crow!) that he is launching a new company, Podify (that name!!!??).

Podify is a podcast research, production, editing and distribution company with cool tech and super smart passionate podcasting people.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Onboarding employees has a bigger impact on success than you might think.
2. Inspiring confidence is Billy's top leadership requirement.
3. You need to connect with employees the same way you do with customers if you want them to stick around.

Billy's Eating Crow moments:

1. Realizing he just paid someone to teach him how to make movies. He better make a movie. Took 7 years.
2. An experiment on the day he graduated from film school inspired his first film.
3. He should have gone all in earlier.

You can find Billy below:

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

Websites:

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insight-out/id1475737247  (Apple Podcasts link)

open.spotify.com/show/2KT2AvbVzyLjudoGTrz1bU  (Spotify link)

fortheloveofpodcast.com/  (For the Love of Podcast - web)

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He experienced loss in ways a man of his age can't imagine.

His despair nearly wrecked him.

Instead of spiraling out of control, Wes checked himself...big time.

Wes' story is important for anyone dealing with loss and heartbreak.

He maps out a plan for not only surviving, but thriving.

It wasn't easy, it's still not easy.

But it can be done.

Perseverance.

Discipline.

Goal setting.

The support of an amazing spouse who was also suffering, yet was there every step of the way.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. You get knocked down, you get back up.
2. Wake up early, seize the day.
3. Incremental improvements lead to big changes.

Wes' Eating Crow Moments:

1. I'm aware of I got a problem
2. New Years Eve
3. Opening up is the key

You can find Wes here:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wes-claytor

Blog: http://wesclaytor.com

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Her company, Bean Sprouts asks each employee to name themselves after a fruit or veggie. Bean Jovi, The Podfather, etc.

She even signs her emails, "peas out."

It's not a gimmick, it's how they operate at their core.

As a female founder and CEO she's experienced the challenges of raising money and growing a business.

Especially a business she knew nothing about.

By the end of our call I was ready to apply for a job.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Go where your customers are
2. Training is everything
3. Weed in vs. weed out

Kelly's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Closing their first store
2. Hiring a COO for a 20 store company when they were at 4 stores
3. Navigating COVID

It's not often I put a follow up after the Eating Crow Moments. Frankly, Kelly and her partner, Shannon, are really sharp operators. They have a unique ability to see around corners and anticipate critical market shifts. For example, they use a revenue share with their partner destinations vs. paying rent. This has allowed them to not only survive the COVID downturn but look at 2021 as a growth year.

You can find Kelly here:

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

Website: http://www.beansproutscafe.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeanAppetit

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He has multiple degrees in English, Literature, Marketing and Political Science - just to name a few.

What's intriguing is how Jake applies his learnings to his craft - as a marketer and customer advocate.

Jake understands that marketing is as much of an art as it is a science, perfect for someone who is so naturally curious.

We dive into applying sound practices for product research, onboarding, growing and retaining clients.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Marketing is about pattern matching
2. Genius doesn't scale
3. Narrative non-fiction is a must - to learn the art of storytelling and Erik Larson is one of our favorite authors

Jake's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Don't innovate in a vacuum
2. Fall in love with the problem, not the product
3. Market timing can help, or hurt

You can find Jake here:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jakesorofman

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Quite the opposite, he has a lot to say.

However, unlike many people who have a lot to say, Ravi can support his rhetoric with experience.

Our discussion was one of the most enjoyable and natural conversations because he has mastered the art of listening as well as speaking.

So rare, so important for his craft.

Ravi worked in banking and travel for large companies and start ups. He learned and retained every lesson along the way.

He realized he should be helping others design and deliver content on stage and virtually.

This is not your usual coaching and consulting company - this is next level.

Ravi also has a background in theater and uses expression and story telling in a way that few people in his industry can pull off.

Ravi could deliver a killer talk with an iPhone on a subway. Anyone watching in the car with him will be moved, literally, tears will be shed, laughter right after. Even more powerful, those watching the video will have the same response.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. To sell a product, raise funds or impact an audience, you need to establish a villain, then the antagonist or the hero as your product or service.
2. Metaphors are powerful for technical presentations. The more complex the tech, the more powerful the metaphor. "Imagine this box is a football stadium full of water..."
3. Less is more. Deliver a powerful and impactful message concisely and leave them begging for more. Most people will not remember what you said, but they will remember YOU and HOW you said it.

Ravi's Eating Crow Moments:

1. A don't try this at home experience at university when his team didn't come together on a project, so they improvised.
2. Be aware of "commission breath". Loved this analogy.

You can find Ravi here:

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

Website: https://calendly.com/ravirajanicoaching

Enjoy

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He is pretty serious about it, unless he's on an episode of Lead, Laugh, Love.

Brian offers his views on everything from humor in the workplace, emotional culture and how to focus remote workers.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Trust is basic building block and emotional culture is built on trust
2. Humor should be natural and not the culture goal
3. Meetings are disgusting

Brian's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Staying a job he hated until a life changing event made him rethink his goals
2. Turning a 3x college dropout into a PhD and adjunct professor

Brian is a fountain of knowledge - drink up.

You can find Brian at:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brianmharman

Website: bmhallmark.com

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In other words, he gives geeks the confidence to drop kick a presentation into next week.

Asger's story is relatable. He felt a calling, but fear kept him from pursuing his passion until he realized he needed a change. He shares some intimate stories of his childhood that helped define him and also influenced his early stage presence.

Asger's Eating Crow Moment:

• Learning to dance to impress a girl. He didn't get the girl, but he can salsa like nobody's business.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

Asger shares his tips for delivering technical presentations, including his three step process:

1. Intention
2. Structure
3. Delivery

Asger has also developed several courses:

• The F.E.A.R. free S.P.E.A.K.E.R. system™
• 4S + 1S speech structure™
• 7C storytelling system™
• S.T.A.R.T. system™
• P.B.S. – Personal Branded solution™

To learn more about Asger you can find him below:

Website: http://www.talerne.dk/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/asger-lindholdt-www-talerne-dk

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Why is this episode important for Leaders and Entrepreneurs?

1. Working parents should listen to this (especially working moms). April figured it out.
2. It takes a village. Learn how April outsources her weaknesses.
3. We all need to be inventors. Part mad scientist, part operator, part marketer and all salesperson.
4. Iteration is key. Its about the numbers. Statistically, inventors fail most of the time. Who else does? Sales people.
5. Be where your customers are.

Aprils' Eating Crow Moments:

1. Her first licensing deal did not go as planned.
2. At some point you need to take care of yourself. After some challenges, they stepped back and rebuilt their family's health foundation and amazing things happened.

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Jimmy gained notoriety as a very successful basketball player at the University of Virginia. He was the MVP of the Eastern Regional Final and played with Ralph Sampson and against Michael Jordan. The stuff of legend.

When he speaks about basketball, his face lights up. He is currently the Radio Color Commentator for the UVA Men's basketball team and stays close to the game, but the things he learned from the game and the people around him shaped his career.

Raised by a single mom and living paycheck to paycheck, Jimmy learned the importance of earning and saving - financial stability drove Jimmy in a time where others were spending as fast as they brought it in.

After a short career in coaching and successful career on Wall Street, a client planted a seed: "When are you going to go out on your own, Jimmy?"

That seed grew and eventually, this calculating and thoughtful father of two took the leap and started his own firm.

The rest is history. He grew his business thoughtfully, with trust as his platform.

Jimmy's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Recognizing basketball was no longer his future, and making a big career change.
2. Be slow to hire and quick to fire. We all have a story, he does as well.
3. An agenda is not always the best idea for a client meeting - unless it starts with the CLIENT's objectives.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Jimmy's Five Pillars of Success.
2. How dropping an egg may be the best way to achieve your objective.
3. You can't speed up one's perception of you or trust.
4. Start-ups need to gather bones.

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That makes some people uncomfortable. Mission accomplished.

Jason founded Mission Six Zero, a Leadership Training Consultancy (and so much more) after a decorated military career. Jason is a Green Beret, THE Special Forces branch of US Special Operations (more on that in the podcast).

Jason received three Bronze Stars, one with a V for Valor and is the author of Deliberate Discomfort, the template for any leader to develop an elite team and as a result, elite company. It's the best book on Leadership I've ever read, and the reason we are doing this podcast.

I could stop there, that's enough. That's more than most civilians (like me) could ever hope to see or accomplish. But there is so much more.

Jason is extremely humble, a trait I am learning most Special Operations veterans display at all times. I think it comes from years of intense training and the confidence to know you can handle any situation, with no need to prove it. Damn.

Jason started a company right out of the military - with no business experience. Why? Because he wanted more, he wanted to help others...it's how Special Operations is wired - help the person next to you be better. Mission first, team second, teammate third. That's how great companies win.

We talk about starting a business, leading others on the journey and the difference between silent and quiet professionals.

I learned things about leading that would never have occurred to me, or others for that matter.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Jason's Eating Crow Moments:

1. Understanding "Who am I?". Find out what you stand for, what you think about on your own time. Then build your mission around what it is you are passionate about and stand for.
2. Trust but Verify. Extending trust before it is earned is unnerving. It's the first step in building a team. Then verify. Hold your team and yourself accountable.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Mission: You must have a mission, your company must understand this mission. Alignment, purpose and direction.
2. Six: Create and demonstrate a "Got your six" mentality. Let your team know you have their backs and build trust, loyalty, respect and commitment. You can't lead without these important attributes of a successful team.
3. Zero: You need a baseline - a true north. This acts both as a compass but also the standard by which you measure all improvement.

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She is also a very successful businesswoman. Amy has climbed the ladder and at times, stepped on a few heads, but she always gets the job done. That was "pre-wake-up-call" Amy. "Post-wake-up-call" Amy is a different person.

Amy's crow is personal, yet she's willing to share it to help others - and that's what makes Amy amazing. When we prepped for this podcast she shared her story - it was raw and surprising...as a parent and as an executive.

Amy pivoted her life and career and is an example to anyone trying to balance work and family. She's now a business owner, wonderful wife and mother and is focused on helping others tackle the unknown and challenges of mental illness.

Amy's Eating Crow Moments:

1. A revealing 360 showed her that despite her success she may have been leaving dead bodies on the side of the road.
2. The moment when she realized her attention needed to be at home vs. work. And NOW.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Understanding the Ego/Empathy ratio (I'll let her explain, but it's brilliant).
2. At times you need to clean the pantry - at work and at home.
3. There is no formula for employee communication. Everyone is different and in a different place.

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He's also one of the most talented people I've ever met. What makes him special is his gutsy decision to turn his talent into a career and grind it out.

Alex ran amok as a kid. I've seen it before...too much talent bottled up inside to care about school or to respect authority. He needed to express that talent and he did. Then the real world came knocking: "Hey Alex, time to get a job, blah, blah, blah..."

Alex went down the traditional path but always felt he had a different calling. He was meant to be a creator. His passions were music and video. So, he dabbled. It didn't work, so he put his passions back on the shelf.

After realizing he had more to offer, he dusted off his hoodies and tank tops and started producing hilarious but yet content rich videos on LinkedIn. They sucked (according to Alex) but the LinkedIn community felt otherwise. They were unique, people were learning the power of content, and they wanted to LEARN MORE.

Alex had a business. He just needed to make the leap from worker bee to entrepreneur. He did, and the rest is history.

Alex's Eating Crow Moments:

• When he was 19 he realized he had to get his shit together.
• Recognizing his talent was being wasted in the "real world"

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Talent comes in many shapes and sizes. Every employee (especially you) has a talent. Find it, nurture it, let it run.
2. When you FEEL it in your gut, you need to act.
3. Being an entrepreneur is really hard. Be ready to grind, and miss a lot of the mundane.
4. However, if you LOVE what you do, you won't care.
5. Leadership can be external. Alex is a leader, for his clients. They rely on him and he owns it 100%

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She grew up with two brothers who played D1 Lacrosse and gave as many bruises in the backyard as she received. It's why she was such a successful litigator and now runs her own law firm.

But there's more to the story. Much more. Holly left a promising career on the West Coast to be near family and that meant starting over in a place where the old-boys club ran the show. That didn't stop Holly, she proved herself and landed in what appeared to be the right job - until she did a gut check and realized she wanted to help people more than she wanted to make money.

That meant starting her own firm, choosing her own clients and giving back to her community. I took more notes during this podcast than ever before and when I reviewed them, I felt completely inadequate. She does it all and gives back more than most.

You will be fascinated by Holly's rise to the top, the stories of clients who thought she was the court reporter and how a blue blazer and khakis do not define a successful attorney.

Holly's Eating Crow Moments:

1. When she realized she had to change the stigma around substance abuse and how its inspired her charitable work.
2. Recognizing she can't do everything at her firm - she needs specialization and help to retain balance.
3. Knowing what kind of clients she wants - and the fact that the big money is sometimes in other places.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Diversity is not just race, gender or skin color. It can be about experiences, cultures, mindset, etc. Enrich your team with different experiences and see them thrive.
2. Map your behaviors to your goals. Where do I want my company to be in 3 to 5 years? What sacrifices or changes am I willing to make to support these goals. Many entrepreneurs do not define an exit or a long-term goal and spend considerable time and money doing what others expect rather than what they'd like to accomplish.
3. Map charitable giving into your plan - and get engaged with time, talent and treasure.

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I titled this podcast for a reason...the more I get to know this fine man, the more I learn the depth of his knowledge and character. Yes, Marques went to Howard University - he's clearly educated. Yes, Marques played professional football - he's clearly driven and talented. However, his real depth surfaces after this...

Most people will be attracted to Marques' story, it's the stuff movies are made of. He was on top of the world, then he was cleaning bathrooms. His book, the Success Cycle, describes this story. Read it, learn how he persevered and the lessons he offers in helping others meet their goals.

We spend much of our time digging into winning cultures, leadership and the mistakes that cost him his business. Marques is blunt in describing his mistakes. Refreshingly so. He's told the story 100's of times.

What will surprise our listeners is the depth of knowledge Marques brings to his clients around sales, organizational and operational effectiveness, scaling businesses and shaping culture. Frankly, I was blown away at his conviction and his ability to support his advice with concrete examples.

Marques' Eating Crow Moments:

• When a key executive walks out the door - Marques gets a wake up call, but he had clearly not heard it ringing.
• Realizing he had more to offer this world. THE pivotal moment in his personal and professional life when he made the decision to become a public speaker, but it's evolved into so much more. I'm already picking Will Smith to play him in the movie.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Great organizations have a clearly established vision.
2. Leaders emulate this vision - every day.
3. Leaders then surround themselves with people who own aspects of this vision and compliment the leader's weaknesses.
4. Vet your people. Spend time making sure they are aligned, professionally, personally and ethically.
5. Start small, build and adapt as you grow. Sometimes the people that helped you initially are not the same people you need today.

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Ed's Eating Crow Moments:

• A 360 15 years ago opened his eyes to needed improvements in his leadership style
• Learning that our internal lens may be very different from that of our teammates

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Leadership tone is critical. An entire organization can shift culture based on the tone from the top
2. Push decision making to the edge. Hire the right people and let them do their job, then coach areas for improvement.
3. Listen as Ed describes the key attributes he looks for in any leader/manager. Some of them surprised me.

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Todd Wiebusch tells us how a series of All-Star Specials led to a partnership that has lasted to this day. Its a good thing he has a strong business partner because Todd brought his "Anti-Bio" to the podcast - a remarkable list of his top 10 eating crow moments (read, epic failures).

His resume of lessons learned is extremely self-aware, humble, retrospective and frank. It's also why I find Todd to be one of the best leaders, business operators and investors I've had the pleasure of working with. Todd values the right stuff: energy, loyalty, trust, work ethic and common decency.

Todd's Eating Crow Moments (longest list in this short podcast's history):

• Turning down a job because he already had one..and watching the person who took it retire at 41.
• Moving up north and enduring 3 brutal winters and admitting to his wife: "Yep, we should move"
• Market timing - both good and bad
• Bad investments - well, they seemed like a good idea at the time
• Foreign basketball teams - see previous bullet point
• Leverage matters, so do good negotiating skills
• LOIs are just a piece of paper with good "intentions"

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Survive. 2000/2001, 2008, 2020. Make the tough decisions, even the ones you think you can't - just survive
2. No assholes. There's more hear than you think
3. Be transparent - to investors, employees and customers - and stay close to your customers

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He's also a gracious mentor and community builder. Don shares his story, weaving in some of the most poignant and relevant lessons we've had on Eating Crow.

What skills does Don look for when hiring?

What's the most important lesson he's learned to drive success at customers and ultimately for his companies?

What does diversity and inclusion mean to Don? How is he bringing this to companies and individuals? Hint, it's not what you think.

Don doesn't want someone else's touchdown - listen to find out what this means, it's brilliant.

Don's Eating Crow Moments:

1. The importance of setting expectations
2. A serious shift in his leadership style and "what might have been"

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Empathy and emotional intelligence - every leader needs to learn and practice these critical behaviors
2. How we need to rethink the recruiting process to factor in diversity and still hire the BEST candidate for the job
3. Don is a killer salesman - and the customer he stole from me

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Tucker leads Savills, a Global Commercial Real Estate firm's Raleigh, NC office. He's a former Division 1 Swimmer (and captain) who brings his competitive spirit to his role and is usually at the top of the food chain.

We speak to Tucker about his career, the impacts of the work-from-home culture on office environments, recruiting athletes and developing talent.

Tucker's Eating Crow Moment: Realizing his talents would be better served in sales. I think Tucker dishes out more crow than he eats.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Me Space vs. We Space: Thinking about how employees will operate in a blended work environment
2. Where'd all the knowledge go? Tucker brings up a REALLY interesting point about how the work-from-home culture is impacting knowledge transfer from generation to generation...it's a bit unsettling and something every leader needs to plan for

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Cris is an accidental entrepreneur and he's far better at it than he knows (he's also pretty humble). Not many people can successfully turn a passion into a career. After dabbling in several different jobs, Cris took an internship at a radio station in LA and the rest is history, or at least part of history.

Cris's crow is of a different variety - he had to look deep at his passion and after a series of "downsizing" events he realized he should gobble up and shift his focus. He also has a voice for radio - not because he doesn't have a face for video, he's handsome enough, in a radio personality sort of way :-).

Cris created Bands to Fans, a business centered around helping musical groups and individual artists develop a presence on social media - with quality and thoughtful content. Music was already changing, but with COVID, a musical act without a way to connect to their audience online simply becomes irrelevant.

Listen how Cris got is first gig (he asked for the order) and learn how it has evolved. He's a joy to have on the program and a first class human.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Follow your passion. We've heard it before, but Cris took a crazy leap and is truly happy.
2. Find your niche. Social media is a big business, so are "podcasts" and video interviews. Cris found a niche that was not being addressed and doubled down.
3. Be in the moment. How Cris got his first gig was completely spontaneous - but he jumped at the right time. Fear was not an issue and trust me, Cris is not a sales dude - he's got guts and great timing.

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Gary talks openly about his team responded, how they watched other amateur and professional sports teams handle the pandemic and the impact of the decisions they made - as well as the response from parents and players.

Gary lives soccer and as a former college athlete and parent to three more you can see how he struggled with the desire to keep the club active, player and parent safety. Youth athletics, or any extracurricular activity, play an important part in the development of a child. The sudden halt of every activity and the impact socially, mentally, emotionally and physically will be studied for years. Gary and I speculate on what this could mean, as parents and leaders.

Key Takeaways for Leaders:

1. Making tough decisions when your peers may not be.
2. Serving two masters.

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Fast forward and now Josh hosts two podcasts and helped drive the success of one of the country's most successful SaaS companies. He's one of the funniest men on the planet and has a very humble way of sharing his pitfalls and successes (and amazing timing) so that others can benefit from his experiences.

Josh can also rock a Members Only jacket and a mullet in 2020. Somehow he pulls it off.

Josh's new passion, Be Au Sum, is well, a movement and a podcast. Josh inspires us with stories of people making a difference through action.

Josh inspired me to start Eating Crow and it's an honor to share a meal with him.

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Pay it forward. Josh benefited from a mentor and is constantly trying to pay it forward - and it's authentic as heck.
2. FOSO (Fear of Starting Out) Put yourself out there. Josh was nervous about doing a podcast, but he did it. 78 episodes later he's still honing his craft. If you don't start you won't learn the early lessons that lead to long-term success.
3. Be Au Sum. Josh is living proof that if you treat people well, good things happen.

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Rich is also a handsome bald man - not saying that's why he's on the program but it makes me feel better. I met Rich when I saw a LinkedIn post of his announcing his new venture - Rich Font Creative. He was putting himself out there, in a new town and in a new profession. I could relate so we met and I knew in an instant this was a special human. Rich is EXTREMELY humble - he says he has "opportunities", I'll let the podcast speak for itself on that, but suffice it to say, it's one of the best ways I've heard someone describe our need to fail and learn along the way.

We could have named this episode using several powerful quotes from Rich but the first one hit me - so here you have "There is no Plan B". Wait for it....

Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. Rich has "opportunities" - one of the ingenious ways to think about how we should view our faults
2. The importance of mentors. Rich speaks highly of his father and how he influenced his life.
3. Being in the moment. Rich provides a key insight to parenting, heck, even leading a team with a crisp example of how he notices when he needs to engage with his kids, even if they do not know it. What's more important is Rich gets off his ass and does it.

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Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. How to think on your feet and turn a disadvantage into an advantage - Who's taking Skip's place?
2. The art of learning - Gary consistently seeks knowledge to better himself and his company
3. Servant leadership - Gary leads by example, puts his employees first and recognizes his team for their success, not his

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Key Takeaways for Leaders and Entrepreneurs:

1. You can start at any age. Bob was in corporate America for a long time. Then he hung out a shingle and made mistakes. These mistakes led to success and a thriving practice.
2. Hiring can't be digitized (well, not all the way). At the end of the day, hiring is based on your gut. Software can help streamline it, but you are taking a chance on very limited information, designed to reduce risk. You're not buying a car, you are betting on a human being.
3. We can thrive in the Zoom culture - if we double down on listening. Follow up questions and complete focus are necessary to make a connection and drive culture through a web cam, but it CAN be done.

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I've eaten my share.

We'll meet people from all walks of life who've mastered the art of eating crow and hear the key moments in their personal and professional lives when they had to rethink their position and make a critical pivot - often saving a company, a family and their careers.

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