“I'm a human being. I am not a machine. I'm just like you. I just chose a different career.”

— Tammy Barlette

I had the pleasure of speaking with Tammy Barlette, a retired US air force fighter pilot with 3,000 flying hours and over 1,500 hours of combat support assisting and protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, Tammy is a mental performance coach, a speaker, and the founder of Athena's Voice.

We discuss:

• The importance of not losing the big picture
• The power of the PEZ approach
• Aligning goals with values for the best chance of success

“Social media has mastered intermittent reinforcements as well, or even better, than a casino's slot machine.“

– Ana Melikian

FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out. We’ve all felt it. It’s a staple of the teen years, but it does not disappear in adulthood. Gina Bianchini’s book Purpose is not directly about FOMO, but it inspired me to dive deeper into how FOMO ties into purpose and conditioning.

We discuss:

• An example of classical conditioning
• Why operant conditioning differs from classical conditioning
• Understanding the impact of FOMO on our actions and purpose

“A good mission statement, in my opinion, is seven words or less and can be answered with a yes or no.”

– Josh Patrick

I had the delight of speaking with Josh Patrick, the founder of the Sustainable Business and former blogger for the New York Times. Josh is passionate about helping private business owners create extraordinary value with their businesses and lives.

We discuss:

• The importance of attaching clarifying statements to values
• The makings of a good mission statement
• How visions are different from missions

“Insights are not enough to sustain lasting change.”

– Ana Melikian

Many people live moment to moment in a reactive state, leading to burnout and demotivation. Reactivity breeds stress. Today, we’re looking at a different way to move through the day by turning reactivity into creativity.

We discuss:

• The value of creating space between stimulus and response
• Understanding the triangle of thoughts, feelings, and actions
• How to recognize that all outcomes are valuable learning experiences

“If you surround yourself with the people who've actually done what everyone else is talking about, you cut your learning curve by 10 years.”

– Greg S. Reid

I had the pleasure of speaking with Greg Reid, a top 10 rated keynote speaker by Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazines, an award-winning author who has published over a hundred books in 45 countries, and a filmmaker who produced an Oscar-qualified film—Wishman, streaming worldwide.

He is also the founder of the Secret Knock, a Forbes and Inc. Magazine top-rated event focused on partnerships, networking, and business development.

We discuss:

• The power of persevering through challenging times
• Clarity of goals and dreams as a guide for decision-making
• The value of seeking counsel from experienced and knowledgeable individuals

“The audience doesn't want the middle. They want new and different. And to do that, to swim against the current, you need to be creative and to be creative, you need a touch of the madness.”

— Lawrence Kasanoff

I had the delight of speaking with Larry Kasanoff, a legendary movie producer. Larry has made movies such as Platoon, Terminator 2, True Lies, Dirty Dancing, and Mortal Kombat, alongside animated movies. He knows firsthand that massive success requires taking big risks.

We discuss:

• Finding success in unconventional ways
• Examples of embracing a touch of the madness in movie production
• The history of progress in film production and how AI fits in

“A dialogue is not an event. It’s a process that’s not going to happen in one meeting, and it’s a journey that requires a lot of commitment to listening, to honesty, and to vulnerability.”

– Bhakti Karkare

I had the delight of speaking with Bhakti Karkare, a leadership development consultant and learning strategist known for her work with groups, individuals, and organizations. Her decade-long corporate experience with global HR teams helps her bring unique cultural insights to consulting and speaking engagements. 

She is on a mission to help leaders learn to use the power of dialogue to create inclusive, engaging, and more human workplaces.

We discuss: 

• Three shifts in perspective that empower Bhakti’s practice as a master facilitator
• Why true, powerful dialogue is beyond speaking and listening
• The difference between a conversation and a dialogue

“Teacher’ sounds like you’re supposed to teach when you actually need to lead the learning. Sometimes, we lead the learning by teaching, but there are more ways to lead learning other than teaching.”

– Lee Jenkins

I had the pleasure of speaking with Lee Jenkins, an author, speaker, consultant, and recognized expert in improving educational outcomes. Lee has spent the last 50 years learning from world-class experts while working as a teacher, principal, school superintendent, and university professor. 

His mission is that every child has an educational experience that promotes and encourages their natural love of learning.

We discuss: 

• The Jenkins Curve and the shortcomings of the modern school system
• Using data and student assessment to bring joy
• Teaching children how to be good losers and winners

The patients would sit up after their veneers had been placed and just cry. For the first time in their lives, they feel like they have the confidence to smile, talk, and eat. That was my ‘why.’”

– Mark Willes

I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Willes, a winner of the ACDS Outstanding Scientific Advancement in Cosmetic Dentistry award for his work with no-prep veneers. He donates his time to “Give Back a Smile,” a nonprofit whose mission is to assist rebuilding the smiles and lives of adults who have suffered dental injuries from domestic violence.

We discuss: 

• How the desire to be at the forefront of innovation energized Mark in his work
• How seeing the impact of his work on other people’s lives motivated him
• Why Mark had to found a new company from scratch and what he learned from the experience

We’re all connected as humanity. When we’re not in sync with ourselves, it’s difficult to create harmony and be in tune with everybody else.”

– Maris Segal

I had the delight of speaking with Ken Ashby and Maris Segal, whom I met at the Best You Expo in LA. They are known for being master connectors, incredible speakers, and transformational coaches. They have a book published this year called The RFactor: Discover the Universal Rhythms for Leading Prosperous Relationships.