Dose of Leadership with Richard Rierson | Authentic & Courageous Leadership Development

Kenneth Vogt was introduced to me by John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneur on Fire.  One of the great perks of this podcast is the interesting people that I meet and the engaging conversations that ensue. I feel truly blessed to have met Kenneth as he is one of the true leadership thought leaders out there. His common sense, practical viewpoint is truly refreshing and sorely needed for today's world. Who is Kenneth Vogt?  He is a man who has “been there, done that.” He had a stodgy title at a traditional company (controller for a manufacturer), a sexy title at a splashy company (Principal Solutions Architect for a fabulously successful dot com), but mostly he has been an entrepreneur for over 30 years. Kenneth created one of the first e-commerce web sites for a Fortune 500 company way back in 1997 and he has rode the internet ever since. Having worked in entrepreneurial enterprises large and small, he is uniquely qualified to provide clarity about what it takes to create, run and even recreate life-sustaining businesses. As Kenneth describes himself, he pulses "out life-sustaining entrepreneurism like a brilliant laser beam of love."  As “The Clarity Guy”  he brings focus and simplicity to the grand notion that businesses big and small can and must transform the world. Kenneth has lived and worked all over the US, Europe, and most recently Mexico. He speaks several languages poorly (Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi) and English quite well. Don’t forget to check out Kenneth’s website, www.veraclaritas.com, and get a free clarity guide!

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Bob Lutz is one of the most experienced and high-profile auto executives in the world. Having been in the business for almost 50 years, he has left an indelible mark on all three of the big US automakers — most recently GM, where he reinvigorated its previously undistinguished vehicle lineup. Although known for building powerful, muscular automobiles, Bob Lutz is also a forward-thinking realist who has stated that the electrification of the automobile is inevitable. He was behind the development of the first clean car, Chevrolet's Volt, a battery powered electric car that can be charged by plugging into a home electrical outlet. Bob's new book is Icons and Idiots: Straight Talk on Leadership. In this management manifesto, Bob profiles the leaders that made the strongest impression on him throughout his forty-seven year career. Known as Detroit’s "ultimate car guy," Bob is passionate in his desire to make his automobiles the best in the world, with unparalleled styling, performance, quality, and technical excellence. He has been the force behind the renaissance of fresh, bold designs and performance engineering in US cars — such as the Pontiac Solstice, Cadillac CTS, the re-designed Chevrolet Malibu, and the Dodge Viper. Bob’s previous book is Car Guys vs. Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business. The book is centered around the car industry so familiar to Bob. It’s about what happened to America’s competitiveness and why. Leaders who are predominantly motivated by financial reward, who bake that reward into the business plan and then manipulate the variables to hit the numbers. But Bob maintains it’s the enterprise that is focused on excellence and on providing superior value who will see revenue materialize and grow and be rewarded with good profits. Before joining GM, Bob is credited with spearheading the turnaround of the then-hamstrung Chrysler Corporation in the 1990s. Bob Lutz’s knowledge of automobiles is matched only by his organizational know-how. He is celebrated for his legendary ability to manage the design and development of new, spirited vehicles in the face of bureaucratic opposition and organizational inertia. He is also the author of an acclaimed book on his management philosophy that, as you would expect from Bob, challenges the conventional wisdom of the executive suite: Guts: 8 Laws of Business from One of the Most Innovative Business Leaders of our Time A breath of fresh air in an industry known for its blandness and tenuous grasp on the changing realities of its market, Bob stands out as a gifted, bold, sometimes brash, always opinionated, and successful executive. He is a contributor toForbes magazine. Credentials Member, Lotus Advisory Council, the British sports car manufacturer Retired Vice-chairman, Global Product Development, General Motors Corporation Former President, Chrysler Corporation Former Vice President, Ford Motor Company Former Executive Vice President, BMW MBA, University of California at Berkeley BA, Production Management, University of California at Berkeley Fighter Pilot, US Marine Corps Check out Bob's Website: boblutzsez.com

Daryl Brewster is the current CEO of CECP.  CECP’s mission is to draw together and empower senior executives of the world’s leading companies to achieve unprecedented progress on societal challenges while driving business performance. CECP offers high-powered connectivity and the platform to multiply investments in solving societal challenges. CECP uniquely enhances its members’ societal initiatives through strategy-related expertise, influential advocates, and awareness building, and by offering members essential resources including a proprietary benchmarking tool, networking programs,research, and opportunities for best-practice sharing. Through more than a decade of work with CEOs, CECP has identified the Top Actions of an Engaged CEO. These actions are carried out each day by leading CEOs and are concrete steps senior executives can take to advance corporate societal engagement within their companies. Daryl has nearly 30 years of executive experience in the US and abroad. He has been an officer for several Fortune 500 companies, served as the turnaround CEO of a publicly-traded company, run five multi-billion dollar business units and currently serves on several privately-held and non-profit boards.  He served as: President of Kraft’s $6 billion North American Snacks, Confections, Cereal, and Pet portfolio; successfully led the business to record top and bottom-line growth. President of the Planters Specialty Products Company; more than doubled the portfolio to $1.6 billion over a four year period. The turnaround CEO of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.; reversing financial declines, clearing up a myriad of financial and accounting difficulties, reducing debt and expanding globally. Managing Director of Campbell's $300 million UK operations; doubled revenue and quadrupled profits. In addition, Daryl served on the board of E*Trade Financial Holding Company and Krispy Kreme, Inc, and currently serves on the board of several privately-held companies. He also has an extensive background in non-profits, having served on the boards of the American Marketing Association; several colleges & university councils; the Y Alliance; CIFF-Funded MANA (Mother Administered Nutritive Assistance), which is focused on reducing childhood hunger around the world; and the RWJohnson-supported Partnership for Healthy Kids, which is working to decrease childhood obesity in the US.

Eric Draper served as President Bush’s chief photographer for the entire eight years of his presidency, photographing him daily in his activities at the office, abroad, and in his personal life. Draper was named Special Assistant to the President and is the first White House photographer to be named a commissioned officer to a U.S. President.  Also during his tenure, Draper directed the photographic and archival conversion of the White House Photo Office from film to digital and took nearly 1-million photos documenting the presidency. Prior to joining the White House, Draper was West Regional Enterprise Photographer for the Associated Press.  In eight years with the AP, Draper covered an array of domestic and international news and sports including presidential campaigns, devastating natural disasters, civil unrest, refugee crises, five Olympic games, two World Cups and many NBA, NFL, and MLB championships. In this podcast you will get a behind the scenes look at the Bush presidency and listen to him describe leadership in action from the tragedy to 9/11, the commitment of troops to Iraq & Afghanistan, and the meeting with multiple world leaders. You will also get a sense of what kind of man George Bush was on a personal level and how he treated everyone; from the janitor to the Queen of England, with the same amount of deference and respect. Eric is the author of the highly acclaimed book Front Row Seat: A Photographic Portrait of the Presidency of George W. Bush.  Front Row Seat presents a compelling, behind-the-scenes view of the presidency of George W. Bush. Through Draper's lens, we follow Bush through moments of crisis that called for strong leadership, such as 9/11; emotional meetings with troops in war zones, wounded soldiers at home, and Katrina survivors; and happy, relaxed times with his wife Laura, daughters Barbara and Jenna, and parents President George H. W. and Barbara Bush. We also see Bush at work within his inner circle of trusted advisors, including Vice President Richard Cheney, National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Capturing moments that reveal the essence of the man, Front Row Seat is an irreplaceable portrait of George W. Bush. Visit Eric Draper’s website here: ericdraperphotography.com

Chris Brady is a highly influential business leader, accomplished author, international speaker, community builder, man of principle, and Christian. He co-wrote the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Business Weekly, USA Today, and Money Magazine best seller Launching a Leadership Revolution. In addition to other leadership, business, and community-building books, Chris also authored the leadership book Rascal, which is, just like Chris, notoriously witty, funny, and sparkling with personality. Chris's latest book, A Month in Italy: Rediscovering the Art of Vacation , is already raved about by the critics as "masterful, witty, intelligent, dreamy, and deep, all at the same time." Adored by readers, followers, and live audiences alike, Chris possesses that rare and natural ability to deeply influence people. His exceptional talents for speaking and authoring rival one another, and along with his critically acclaimed books and speaking, his leadership blog has received considerable praise and several awards. Visit Chris’s blog at www.chrisbrady.com Chris is listed as one of the World's Top 25 Leadership Gurus and among the Top 100 Authors to Follow on Twitter (@RascalTweets). He has spoken to audiences of thousands around the world on principles of leadership development and self-improvement in all aspects of life. Mr. Brady contributes regularly to Networking Times magazine and has been featured in special publications of Success and Success at Home magazines. Founder of LIFE: As a co-founder of the LIFE business, Chris is deeply convicted in his principles and his commitment to making a difference. In addition to his conviction to conduct his life based on principle-centered leadership and unwavering integrity, he is unwilling to ask of others what he wouldn’t do himself. The co-founders of the LIFE business are dedicated to educating others on demonstrated and proven strategies for lasting, personal growth in each of the 8 main Fs of life: Faith, Family, Friendship, Freedom, Finances, Fitness, Following, and Fun. LIFE fosters the leader-led development of businesses by bringing together four financially successful industries: Home-Based Businesses, Personal Development, Life Coaching, and Community Building. Books Published: Launching a Leadership Revolution, LIFE, Rascal: Making a Difference by Becoming an Original Character, Leadership and Liberty: Pieces of the Puzzle, Leadership: Tidbits and Treasures, and to be released in 2012, A Month in Italy: Rediscovering the Art of Vacation.

Joe Scarlett is the retired Chairman of Tractor Supply Company and Founder of the Scarlett Leadership Institute in middle Tennessee. Scarlett's long retail career has evolved in recent years into a second career in leadership education. In 2006, Joe and his family endowed the Scarlett Leadership Institute. The institute is passionately committed to improving business leadership skills with a strong emphasis on ethical behavior. Today, scores of companies participate in a variety of high quality leadership and management education programs. A broad range of business leaders are achieving the overarching goal of positive behavioral change. Scarlett held leadership roles at Tractor Supply Company from 1979 until his retirement at the end of 2007. He played a key role in the initiative to return the company to profitability through improved customer service and focused product selection as part of a classic leveraged buyout in 1982. Joe also led the successful 1994 effort to take the company public and during his ten plus years as CEO, the company's revenue quadrupled and the price of its stock increased ten-fold. Tractor Supply Company was honored by Forbes as one of the "Best Managed Companies in America" and Scarlett was recognized as Ernst & Young's Southeast Entrepreneur of the Year. Joe has also served for twenty years on the board of the nations largest retail trade organization including four as its chairman. Joe and his family also founded The Scarlett Family Foundation whose mission is, ‘to provide educational support to middle Tennessee students of all ages'. Joe also serves as a board member of the Beacon Center of Tennessee. Check out Joe Scarlett's Website & Blog!

Business motivational speaker Lt. Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman – The Wingman – is a professional business motivational speaker and author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Never Fly Solo. He teaches organizations and individuals how to build trusting, revenue producing relationships with their employees, partners, and customers while sharing his experiences as a combat decorated fighter pilot and businessman. Waldo overcame massive claustrophobia and a fear of heights to become a highly decorated combat fighter pilot with over 65 missions in Iraq and Serbia. He believes that the key to building a culture of trust lies with your wingmen – the men and women in your life who help you to overcome obstacles, adapt to change, and achieve success. In business and life, you should never fly solo! The solution to winning when the heat is on lies in the ability of every wingman in your organization, regardless of their role, to support the team and be 100% committed to the mission. Through his motivational keynotes and leadership seminars, Waldo applies the same principles that guaranteed his success in the competitive world of aerial combat to success in business and life. His message is simple: whether achieving victory as a fighter pilot or in business, the same qualities that ensure success apply: courage, accountability, preparation, integrity, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence. Check out Waldo's Website Audiences connect with Waldo not only because of his extensive business background, but also because he truly speaks from the heart and has an infectious passion for helping people. Waldo is a graduate of the U.S Air Force Academy and also holds an MBA with a focus on Organizational Behavior. A former top producing sales manager, he successfully led national sales efforts for several cutting edge technology and consulting firms. He is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), which is the highest earned designation recognized worldwide by the professional speaking industry. Only 7% of all professional speakers hold this exclusive designation of platform excellence. Motivational keynote speaker Waldo was ranked one of the Top 40 under 40 Business Leaders in Georgia and has been featured on Fox & Friends, CNN, MSNBC, The Harvard Business Review, Investor’s Business Daily, Lifestyles Magazine, Success Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Dallas Morning News, Business Week, and many others.

Contented Cow Partners is the team of Bill Catlette and Richard Hadden, the authors of the critically acclaimed bestselling “Contented Cows” business book series. They work with organizations worldwide, by speaking at conventions, conferences, and other meetings of corporations, professional associations, and other organizations; delivering leadership training; conducting employee and customer satisfaction surveys; and providing executive coaching. Their mission is to improve organizations’ performance through having a focused, fired-up, and capably led workforce. Their work was among the first to establish a clear connection between an organization’s people practices and its profit performance. Their Message Creating a great place to work is one of the best things a company can do for its bottom line. It’s no accident that the organizations consistently identified as winners also happen to be some of the best places on earth to work. This occurs not as an afterthought, but as a vital, premeditated element of business strategy. Bill Catlette has worked in a variety of Human Resource management and executive capacities with some well known and highly regarded service distribution firms. His corporate ports of call have included assignments with Genuine Parts Company, the Atlanta-based distribution arm of NAPA; Automatic Data Processing, where he served as the company’s Corporate Manager of Employee Relations; and Federal Express Corporation; where, as a Managing Director, he and his staff were responsible for developing many of the Human Resource programs which enabled that company to become recognized as one of the nation’s 5 Best Managed Companies (Forbes), one of the 100 Best Companies in America to Work For, and, without question, one of the true “world class” service organizations. Upon leaving Federal Express in 1989, Bill founded The Westar Group, a human resources consulting firm which concentrates primarily on the areas of Employee Relations, Teamwork, Leadership Development, and Business Strategy. With better than 5,000 hours addressing business leadership groups, Bill is an accomplished speaker and seminar leader. Richard Hadden was a manager for a large savings and loan association in the 1980’s. He learned computer programming and worked as a programmer and systems analyst in the field of multi-user microcomputer software, before the advent of PC’s. He was Director of Product Development for a software house in North Florida before starting his own software consulting business in 1986. While consulting, he taught software design, principles of management, and international economics at Jacksonville University. He began working as a trainer and consultant to corporations and left the university in 1991. Since 1990 he has delivered keynote presentations and training programs for more than 800 audiences on five continents.  

After college, Phil brought this work ethic to corporate America. In his early years as an HR professional, he was struck by something he learned while watching a video on the Quality Management Movement. The message was simple but significant: “No matter how good your tools or processes are, they are only as good as the person leading the process.” It was then that Phil decided he wanted to be a leader, not simply a manager. Subscribe to the Dose of Leadership Podcast on iTunes→ After 10 years in corporate HR and earning what he calls a “master’s degree in ‘What the Worst Leaders do in Poorly Managed Companies,’” Phil was at a turning point. It was time to take the leadership truths he had learned and share them with companies who cared and were willing to listen. Van Hooser Associates, Inc. was born. Phil has built an extremely successful career developing and marketing customized leadership keynotes, management training plans, books and videos on leadership. He has taught his proven leadership skills at companies of all sizes throughout the U.S. and around the globe. More than 900 companies have trusted Phil to help their organizations achieve new levels of success. Most recently, Phil has been the mastermind behind a comprehensive leadership development program called “Leaders Ought to Know.” This leadership development plan incorporates in-depth leadership content, systematic delivery, consistent reinforcement and ongoing engagement and interaction to achieve each client’s leadership development goals. President, Van Hooser Associates, Inc. As an entrepreneur and business owner, Phil understands the complexities of building and sustaining a profitable enterprise. Since 1988, Phil has successfully developed and marketed customized leadership keynotes, management training programs, videos and books on leadership. His company consistently experiences double-digit growth. The opportunities to work with executives, mid level managers and first line supervisors of U.S. and international corporations gives him a bird’s eye view of the leadership development plans that work in business today. Founder & Concept Director, Leaders Ought To Know® A comprehensive leadership development program, Leaders Ought To Know® maximizes leadership development through a multi-faceted approach to learning. As founder and concept director, Phil is directly responsible for the strategic and creative direction of this online leadership training program. In this podcast episode Richard & Phillip discuss Phillip's latest book Leaders Ought to Know: 11 Ground Rules for Common Sense   Click for your FREE audiobook →  

Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media. Under Mr. Forbes’ leadership, the company has launched a variety of new publications and businesses.  They include:  ForbesLife, the dedicated luxury lifestyle and culture magazine; Forbes Asia; and Forbes licensee editions published in Africa, Bulgaria , China, Croatia,  India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Latvia, Middle East, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey and Ukraine.  The company also publishes a number of investment newsletters.  Another division of the company is Forbes Investors Advisory Institute. Subscribe to the Dose of Leadership Podcast on iTunes→ In 1996 Forbes entered the new media arena with the launch of Forbes.com. Now averaging 18 million unique monthly visitors, it has become a leading destination site for senior business decision-makers and investors.  Other Forbes Web sites are: ForbesWoman.com; RealClearPolitics.com; RealClearMarkets.com; RealClearSports.com and RealClearWorld.com.   Together with Forbes.com, these sites reach nearly 20 million business decision-makers each month. The company’s flagship publication, Forbes, is the nation’s leading business magazine, with a circulation of more than 900,000. Forbes combined with Forbes Asia and the company's licensee editions together reach a worldwide audience of more than 6 million readers.  The circulation of Forbes international editions is 590,500. Mr. Forbes writes editorials for each issue of Forbes under the heading of “Fact and Comment.”  A widely respected economic prognosticator, he is the only writer to have won the highly prestigious Crystal Owl Award four times.  The prize was formerly given by U.S. Steel Corporation to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate. Click to Tweet→ Awesome Educational Interview with Steve Forbes! In both 1996 and 2000, Mr. Forbes campaigned vigorously for the Republican nomination for the Presidency.  Key to his platform were a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental choice of schools for their children, term limits and a strong national defense.  Mr. Forbes continues to energetically promote this agenda. Mr. Forbes is the author of: Freedom Manifesto: Why Free Markets Are Moral & Big Government Isn't, How Capitalism Will Save Us: Why Free People and Free Markets Are the Best Answer in Today’s Economy, co-authored by Elizabeth Ames (Crown Business, November 2009); and Power Ambition Glory: The Stunning Parallels between Great Leaders of the Ancient World and Today . . . and the Lessons You Can Learn, co-authored by John Prevas (Crown Business, June 2009).  He also wrote:  Flat Tax Revolution:  Using a Postcard to Abolish the IRS (Regnery, 2005); and A New Birth of Freedom (Regnery, 1999), a book of bold ideas for the new millennium. In 1985, President Reagan named Mr. Forbes Chairman of the bi-partisan Board for International Broadcasting (BIB).  In this position, he oversaw the operation of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.  Broadcasting behind the Iron Curtain, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were praised by Poland's Lech Walesa as being critical to the struggle against communism.  Mr. Forbes was reappointed to his post by President George H. W. Bush and served until 1993. Steve Forbes was born on July 18, 1947, in Morristown, New Jersey.  He graduated cum laude in 1966 from Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts.  He received a B.A. in history from Princeton in 1970. Mr. Forbes serves on the boards of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, the Heritage Foundation and The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. He is on the Board of Overseers of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and on the Board of Visitors for the School of Public Policy of Pepperdine University.  He previously served on the Board of Trustees of Princeton University for ten years.

James Massa has enjoyed a successful career in high tech industry and extensive involvement with a variety of charitable organizations. James was involved with the ground level of three “start up” technology companies that all reached a successful Initial Public Offering (IPO). James has faced the challenges of small business where business must be achieved in order to meet payroll “next Friday” while facing the pressures of Wall Street expectations for a publicly traded company every 90 days. A software engineer by collegiate training, James also has a degree in business. James went on to spend 13 years at Cisco Systems in a range of executive roles. James recently retired as Vice President and Chief Strategist for Cisco’s Global Government Solutions Group. While at Cisco James grew Cisco’s commercial business in the Southeast US 180% in one year and the Federal government business 300% in 3 years. At the request of John Chambers, Cisco’s CEO, James formed Cisco’s Global Government Alliances organization, Cisco’s Global Defense and Space organization, and Cisco’s Global Government Solutions Group. Through the use of Mergers and Alliance relationships, Government business currently accounts for several billion dollars of revenues for Cisco Systems worldwide. During his career in high tech, James assisted other silicon valley executives by establishing a not-for-profit foundation to help people of affluence connect their area of personal interest with support of charitable works (LTG Foundation “Learn to Give”). He has recently founded Loom Enterprises, an education and consulting organization which teaches and equips companies, governments, educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations on how to form relationships that create exponential growth and achievement of vision. James has served both industry and government through participation on a variety of organizations, some of which are the following: · Appointed by John Chambers, CEO Cisco Systems, as Cisco's Industry Executive Representative for the NSTAC (National Security Telecommunications Advisory Council) to the President of the United States. NSTAC provides the President a forum in which expertise not available inside of government can offer recommendations for national security and emergency preparedness. · Board member of United States Technology Training Institute (USTTI), a The USTTI is a non-profit joint venture between leading US based communications and IT corporations and leaders of the Federal government who together provide tuition-free management, policy and technical training for talented professionals from the developing world. · Board of Directors member for AFCEA, a non-profit international organization dedicated to supporting global security by providing an ethical environment that encourages a close cooperative relationship among civil government agencies, the military and industry. AFCEA serve as a bridge between government requirements and industry capabilities, representing the top government, industry, and military professionals in the fields of information technology, communications, and intelligence. · Board Member for Highway One, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to help government leaders better understand and use information technology as tools to run government more effectively and make informed decisions regarding IT policy. Buy James' new book "The Six Strand Weave...Transformational Relationships for Business & Non-Profits" Check out James' Blog at www.loomenterprises.com

Dr. Mollie Marti is a resiliency researcher, psychologist, lawyer, and adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Iowa. She brings years of experience in coaching a prestigious list of business and athletic clients to her mission of helping leaders thrive and serve. Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes→ She speaks around the globe on servant leadership, mentorship, resiliency, and business ethics. In addition to numerous academic articles, her business success books have been published in several languages. Her latest book about Judge Max Rosenn, Walking with Justice: Uncommon Lessons from One of Life’s Greatest Mentors, is being welcomed as “a timeless handbook for being human.” Click to Tweet→ Awesome Inspirational Interview with Dr. Mollie Marti! Over the past couple of years, Dr. Marti has played a pivotal role in helping her small Iowa community cope with, recover from, and grow through the devastating loss of three teens to suicide. She recently accepted a position as CEO of the non-profit Community Resiliency Project, dedicated to empowering communities to grow resilient youth. With her unique ability to combine the science of success with the art of exceptional living, Dr. Marti serves as a frequent media resource from an apple orchard in scenic northeast Iowa where she lives with her husband, their three children, and a large family of pets. Join her community at www.DrMollie.com for fresh resources to grow your leadership resiliency. Click for your FREE audiobook →  

Chris Widener is widely recognized as one of the top speakers in the world today. He has spoken all over the world in places like Germany, Spain, Russia, China, Egypt, Singapore, Australia and of course, all over the United States and Canada. Chris speaks to groups as small as 100 and as large as 25,000 people. His clients are a “who’s who” of American businesses and organizations, including notables like General Electric, Cisco Systems, Microsoft and the Harvard Business School. Chris’ dynamic, practical and engaging speeches will have your audience laughing one minute and learning timeless truths of success the next. Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes→ Chris was hand selected by two of the legends of the speaking world to work with them and he now carries on their legacy. Jim Rohn, one of the most successful speakers of the last 50 years, and also known for being Tony Robbins first mentor, made Chris his last protege and worked with Chris the last seven years of his life. Chris and Jim co-authored the Jim Rohn One Year Success Plan as well as Jim’s last book, The Twelve Pillars, which has become an international best-seller. Jim called Chris “The Leader of the next generation of personal development and leadership experts.” Click to Tweet→ Awesome Inspirational Interview with Chris Widener! Zig Ziglar, considered to be the greatest motivational speaker of the 20th Century, personally chose Chris to co-host his television show, True Performance. Chris’ two books, The Angel Inside, and The Art of Influence are the only two fiction books Zig Ziglar endorsed in his entire life. Along with co-hosting True Performance, Chris also hosted his own show, Made for Success, where he interviewed some of the top business achievers and thought leaders of our time. Chris considers it a privilege to be able to speak to people and help them lead successful lives,and to become extraordinary leaders and masterful salespeople. Businessman Chris Widener began a small publishing company called the American Community Business Network in the 1990′s. Chris then changed the name to Made for Success and grew the company into a large business selling tens of thousands of personal development programs through large retailers like Costco, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, Target and Barnes and Noble. He sold that business to his partner in 2009 to focus on his speaking, writing and coaching exclusively. Author Chris is the author of twelve books and over 450 articles on success, leadership, sales and motivation. His best-selling books include The Angel Inside (which has also been optioned as a movie), The Art of Influence, The Leadership Rules, Live the Life You Have Always Dreamed Of, Twelve Pillars, and the sequel to Twelve Pillars, Above All Else. Chris has also produced over 80 cd’s and dvd’s on a wide range of topics. You can check out all of Chris’ books and cd’s/dvd’s by clicking HERE. Coach and Mentor Chris has been a personal and professional development coach since 1988, helping people lead successful lives. Currently, because of his busy speaking schedule, Chris only takes ten coaching clients at a time. To find out more how you can have Chris coach you personally, click HERE (hot link to coaching page). In 2012, Chris founded www.TwelveCoaches.com where he and eleven coaches Chris personally selected give free video coaching for your business. Click HERE Check out Chris' Personal Website: chriswidener.com Also check out his latest collaboration: twelvecoaches.com Click for your FREE audiobook →  

Steve Miller is the founder and president of Millwood Incorporated a provider ofindustrial pallet and packaging materials and services that include recycling and warehousing. Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes→ At the age of 19 Steve believed that God had called him into business just as a pastor is called into ministry. This belief in the call provided the strength needed during the many struggles of a start up. Millwood’s first facility was started in Holmes County Ohio at the location where his fathers business had been destroyed by a fire. Millwood has since grown to establish itself as a unique company with over 1300 team members in 27 facilities throughout the North East United States Steve along with his partners Chip Trebilcock and Ron Ringness believe it is their responsibility to provide the opportunity for growth of each team member in business, spiritual and family maturity. Millwood has a team of chaplains on staff to assist in this goal. Millwood also provides camps for the children and invites team members to join them on annual mission trips. As a volunteer and board member for EQUIP, Steve has traveled throughout the world training leaders in biblical leadership principles. Steve also sits on various boards that include: New Covenant World Missions – A medical mission to Guatemala Sports World Ministry – Sending Pro athletes into High Schools to share their testimony Turnaround Community Outreach – An intercity ministry in Canton Ohio Faith Family Church – A family ministry in Canton Ohio