Episodes

  • Alone Again, Or Maybe Not

    Alone Again, Or Maybe Not
    Dec 4 2025
    SHOW NOTES: I heard an "influencer" today on a morning talk show explain that dating, or having any ongoing relationship, is no longer considered favorable. In fact, he pointed out, many people are finding that being single—is "aspirational." Now, I can understand independence and self-sufficiency, hell, I write about them as positive traits. But to seek to remain unattached to another person as "aspirational"? We all need others. We need companionship, love, solace in defeat, and celebration in victory. Many of us have visited foreign lands, scuba dived, engaged in competitions, faced health issues, suffered trauma. Doing so alone makes defeat into cataclysm and victory into evanescence. It's healthy to be able to be effective and happy alone. But I doubt it's healthy to want to achieve that as some aspirational life goal. It takes accountability and sacrifice to be in any kind of relationship. Perhaps being alone isn't so much a goal and as escape.
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    5 mins
  • The Courage of Your Talent

    The Courage of Your Talent
    Nov 28 2025
    SHOW NOTES: I've been consulting, coaching, advising and otherwise helping people to achieve success, personally and professionally, for over half a century. Those clients include CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, top governmental elected officials, executive directors on nonprofits, solo entrepreneurs, entertainers, athletes, and lawyers, accountants, designers, architects, and a myriad of employees. Until the 21st Century kicked in, this was standard work on skills, behaviors, attitudes, and self-confidence. Then things became a bit weird, which was exciting for me, being a resource for people, but scary for them (and, I admit, a bit baffling to me). However, prior to the covid epidemic, it became clear there was a subliminal crisis of confidence brewing which, during and post-covid, burst into the open and became its own pandemic. Many might say the causes were obvious: conflicting medical opinions, tainted political agendas, paranoid conspiracy theories, and all of this inflamed by social media random misinformation and speculation. Yet as I watched the confusion, uncertainty, and vacillation, I realized the actual causes were an unprecedented feeling of powerlessness, an unsatisfied need to receive some kind of "permission" to act, and a profound loss of self-esteem and self-worth. "Self-esteem," for simplicity's sake for the moment, is a confidence in one's abilities to achieve desired results, and an ongoing self-respect irrespective of whether the individual is successful. It's not about ongoing "victories" or "wins," but it is about a permanent sense of "worth." For many people, that has been lost. Like athletes in a "slump" in terms of performance, especially under pressure, people are becoming more afraid, more uncertain, as the turmoil and disruptive nature of our times continue and will not abate.
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    9 mins
  • Process vs Content

    Process vs Content
    Nov 20 2025
    SHOW NOTES: If you want to maximize your business growth, you need to generalize and not specialize. There may be exceptions, but generally, the more potential buyers you have the more business you'll generate. A content expert knows the "what." It may be insurance, or auto manufacture, or solar panels. You sell insurance to people to need insurance, auto manufacture skills to, well, auto manufacturers, and solar panels to people who desire it, have the capacity for it, and have a roof (or a large field). But a process expert knows the "how." It may be sales, customer service, decision making, conflict resolution, or negotiating. And these needs, this expertise, is needed cross-industrially and globally. Problem solving, for example, has three components (hear them on the recording) which are immutable, no matter what the circumstances. These process skills are often called "critical thinking skills," which are not sufficiently taught in schools nor recognized in workplaces. Hence, my highly successful career, and this podcast.
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    7 mins
  • The Bag Lady

    The Bag Lady
    Nov 13 2025
    SHOW NOTES: I don’t want to give this away, suffice it to say it’s about panic vs. calm, and successful marriages vs. rocky ones.
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    5 mins
  • Small Business, Small Minds?

    Small Business, Small Minds?
    Nov 6 2025
    SHOW NOTES: •Why do such a staggeringly large percentage fail? •They don't respond to inquiries when busy. •They tend to create prices based on wealth of buyer. •They don't show up, don't return calls, don't finish on time. •They don't bill in a timely manner, so cash flow is an issue. •They don't consider repairs and warranties for the buyer. •They tend to seek perfection rather than success. •They use shortcuts and blame others when they don't work. •They aren't proactive, only reactive. •They act as if their educated, wealthy customers are stupid. •They don't actively seek referrals. •They act as if the customer's ideas are absurd. Other than that, they're run wonderfully and their rate of failure is due to climate change.....
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    8 mins
  • The Decline

    The Decline
    Oct 30 2025
    SHOW NOTES: It seems as if civilization, especially the arts, are in decline. Famed authors are "mailing it in" (or really writing to try to sell a screenplay, not a book). Laugh tracks have to remind us when the writers think something is funny, but otherwise it isn't. Quiz shows, talk shows, news shows all seem out of the same mold, which is 50 years old. No newscaster ever says to a politician being interviewed, "But you didn't answer my question. It was a 'yes or no' question." Despite the decline, athletes, celebrities, news anchors, and politicians receive obscene salaries, endorsements, and benefits. We seem to have lost our taste, misplaced our judgment. We're receiving pap and being told it's wagyu beef. You might find it easier to be getting around these days. But that might have nothing to do with quality or smarts, but rather just the direction in which society is heading.
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    7 mins
  • The WhaleSale™

    The WhaleSale™
    Oct 23 2025
    SHOW NOTES: Strategic WhaleSale™ Approach- Alan and Lisa discussed the concept of "WhaleSales," which involves targeting large, high-value clients to maximize revenue and efficiency. Lisa shared her experience of landing a significant whale deal that transformed her company's growth and stability, emphasizing the importance of alignment with the C-suite and strategic goals. They highlighted that whale sales should be an intentional strategy for businesses and not an accident, with Lisa noting that her company made it a cultural standard to pursue such deals annually. WhaleSale™ Strategy Insights- Alan and Lisa discussed the concept of "landing a whale" in sales, emphasizing that it involves making friends and providing value rather than killing opportunities. Alan shared his experience of undervaluing a sale early in his career and highlighted the importance of changing one's philosophy to pursue larger deals. Lisa agreed and added that internal opportunities within existing client bases should also be considered. They discussed the need for relevance and preparation when targeting larger buyers, with Lisa emphasizing the importance of having relevant case studies and experiences. The conversation concluded with Lisa questioning why more people do not incorporate whale sales into their business planning. Value-Driven Career and Deal Making- Alan discussed his concept of career progression, from surviving to thriving, and emphasized the importance of building value rather than focusing solely on pricing to secure "whale deals." Lisa shared her experience of using whale deals to attract top talent and boost morale, while also highlighting the non-financial benefits of such deals. Both agreed that focusing on value and expertise, rather than just financial gain, is crucial for long-term success. Strategies for Lucrative Whale Sales- Alan discussed the three parts of a sale: the original payment, expansion business, and referral business, emphasizing that "whale sales" offer more lucrative opportunities due to larger suppliers and customers. He suggested focusing on creating more value in the marketplace rather than just increasing revenues, as this could lead to significant revenue growth.Lisa shared a personal anecdote about encouraging a friend to secure a corporate client to boost their small retail business, highlighting the strategy's potential for businesses of all sizes. Whale Sales Strategy Insights- Alan and Lisa discussed the concept of "whale sales," which involve large, infrequent, and long-lasting transaction. Alan emphasized the importance of meeting senior clients, preparing thoroughly, and facing fears to succeed in high-stakes sales. Lisa highlighted how whale deals can create a defensible moat and increase business value. They agreed to collaborate further, producing articles, videos, and other content to help others implement a whale sales strategy.
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    35 mins
  • David McCullough

    David McCullough
    Oct 16 2025
    SHOW NOTES: My tribute to one of the greatest historians in our history. This is the speech he made in 1995 when receiving the hugely prestigious National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He was also awarded two Pulitzer Prizes among dozens of other awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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    5 mins